by Peter Ponzo
everything? Because he was the devil's kin and he dismantled her body and when he saw me he knew he had made a mistake and he would come after me and ..."
"Wait a sec," I says. "Old Polly got it, too. So who cut him off?"
"My jays," she says, and she smiles and takes a sip of tea. "I told Terrence. He knows." Then she puts her cup down and smiles right at me and says, "I'm surprised he didn't tell you."
That dirty shit, Cleaver. He knew all along? He knew who killed Polly?
"Your jays?" I says. "Who the fuck ... uh, who's that?"
"Jonah and Joshua," she says, then she starts collectin' the cups, then she leaves the room and when she comes back she's got a rag or somethin', and it's pink!
"Here," she says. "Put this on. It's a shawl that once belonged to my mother. It would look good on you." Then she comes back of the sofa and I just sit there and she drops the shawl over my shoulders. She straightens it out, running her hands down my back, slow and soft. She's a wierdo! Then she comes out front and looks down at me and says, "Doesn't it look nice? Joshua, don't you think it fits, perfectly? Jonah, don't you think it makes a beautiful shroud?"
Joshua? Jonah? Is she nuts? Then I sees these two big guys in the corner of the room. Was they there all the time? Then they come out of the dark and they comes toward me.
Ian Woolner
When Mr. Cleaver left I phoned my assistant. Chuck was at the office, as usual, and even seemed pleased to hear from me.
Before I had a chance to say anything, he says, "They're back. The killers are back."
"Because of the letters?" I said.
"There's something else," Chuck said. I could see his grin, imagine his delight. It was something I had missed. "The Bullas gal. She's gone off to Dunnborne."
Damn! Rita Bullas was possibly the next victim. Now she plays right into the hands of the killers.
"But you've got her followed, right?" I said. "And you know where she is, right? So maybe it's a lucky break. Maybe -"
"No. Like I told you ... the killers are back," Chuck said. I know he wants me to ask a question, displaying some ignorance of an obvious fact.
"Okay, Chuck. What am I missing?"
"This morning we found the Fenton boys. They were holed up in some mountain cabin. Then they show up in Dunnborne, this morning, at the house where the Fenton gal is staying." He waits.
"So?" I said.
"That's precisely where the Bullas dame is, right this minute." He grins, right through the phone.
Damn!
"I'm heading to Dunnborne, now." Then I hang up, then I kiss my bewildered wife goodbye and drive to Dunnborne.
We knew that there were two killers. I had convinced Chuck that the bodies of Leah Farrel and Father Pollicciano had been mutilated by different people. Similar, but different. The Fenton boys were natural suspects. They had opportunity - and motive. Or, at least, enough motive for them. For years, they had been Connie's closest and best friends. Then Leah Farrel enters the picture. The boys are enraged and tear Miss Farrel apart. Connie thinks it's the priest; tells her brothers. She's afraid, so they tear the priest apart. Maybe to please Connie, maybe to throw suspician off themselves - but they're not smart enough for that. To please Connie. Two killers. Two J's.
I looked at the speedometer: 85 mph. Better slow down. It was starting to snow or rain or maybe a bit of both.
Then, another of Connie's best friends enters the picture: Terry Cleaver. He moves in with Rita Bullas. Connie is displeased. Her brothers start up again, with the pink letters, to please Connie. Yet, we can't find the brothers.
The "Welcome to Dunnborne" sign had blown down last Fall, and someone just leaned it against a tree. It was still there, now half covered in wet snow. I drove straight to Fenton's house, expecting to see Bullas' old Chev out front, but the place was deserted. I peered into the windows. Nothing. If Rita Bullas had come here, she wasn't here now. If the Fenton brothers had come here, they weren't here now. I went back to the car and talked to Chuck over the phone.
"So where are they?" I asked.
"How should I know?" he said. "Aren't you right there? I should be asking you that question."
"The police tail," I suggested. "Remember? You were to put a tail on Bullas. So has he reported in?"
"Well ... he lost her. He dropped in for a coffee ... apparently it's cold and damp and when he came out ..."
"I know bloody well what the weather's like!" I shouted. "I'm right in the middle of it!" Then I hung up. Then I drove to Clem Broden's place. He was sleeping, but came to the door and made some coffee and we talked. Clem seemed to know everything. Maybe he knew something about the Fenton boys.
"Yup, they was here," he said. "Gone now, though." Then he sucked on an empty pipe and grinned.
"Where?" I asked. "Do you know?"
"I figure they took the little guy to the cabin," he said.
"The little guy?" I said. "You mean Rita Bullas?"
"Yup."
"Damn! She's in grave danger. They'll kill her, you know." I got up to leave.
"Nope," Clem said.
"I know your theory. It's was your favorite Press story for months: Pollicciano implicated in the death of Leah Farrel. I just don't believe it. The Fenton boys. They have motive and ..."
Nope," he said. So I waited for him to say something more, but he just grinned from behind his pipe. I headed for the door. "Connie," he said, then paused for a long time, then didn't continue that sentence but started another. "The little guy's safe, so long as the jays are around ... and they are around."
"What the hell does that mean?" I said, a bit angry. But old Clem just grinned, so I left. When I got to the car, I realized I didn't know where this cabin was located. I could phone Chuck. He would be pleased to tell me something I didn't know. I got out of the car and was about to head back to Clem's house. He'd know where the cabin was. Then I saw the old Chevy drive by, heading for the Fenton's old house on the edge of town. My tires spun on the gravel as I pulled after the the Bullas car.
Terry Cleaver
I was frantic. I had returned home, Rita's home, after seeing Inspector Woolner, and she was gone. I searched for a note; none. I called Buck Tormin to see if she went to work, even though it was Saturday. He seemed concerned that she was missing. Was that concern for Rita? It probably meant he'd have to get another computer operator. I went to the grocery store, the beer store, the local movie house, Kelly's bar ... she was really gone.
Then, somehow, I knew where she'd be. When I saw her last, we were reading the last pink note ... and Rita was mumbling something about Connie Fenton. She'd go to Dunnborne. She'd ask Connie ... what? I didn't have the slightest idea how Connie could help Rita, but I felt sure that was where she had gone.
When I got to Dunnborne, I drove straight to Connie's house and banged on the door. No answer. Then a car drove up and Woolner got out.
"They're not there," he shouted. "The place is empty, but I think I know where they are. Hop in." I got into his car and he headed to the Dunnborne Press. They were in the newspaper building? Not likely.
"Mr. Woolner, I think ..."
"Wait here. I'll only be a minute." Then he ran to the door and pushed it open and disappeared. In a minute he reappeared, slid into his seat and we took off in a big hurry. "The cabin," he said. "We'll find them there."
I wasn't sure where we were going or even whether we were loking for the same person ... or persons.
"Rita's gone," I said. "After I spoke to you I went home and ..."
"Yes, I know. She came here, to Dunnborne, and Miss Fenton's brothers came here, and now they're all at a cabin in the hills." He looked at me. "And I'm afraid that Rita Bullas is in danger."
I could hardly breathe. Sweat was running into my eyes. Except for the hum of the engine, it was quiet for some time.
"I'm afraid, but I'm not sure why," I said. "You told me, this morning, that you knew who killed Polly. You told me ..."
>
"The Fenton brothers," he said, still staring straight ahead at the black and slushy road. "And they have Rita Bullas."
I felt sick, again. It seemed like I'd been sick all day. I looked at my watch. Just after 11:30.
Pink
Soon ... the sister of the devil will no more evoke the lust of men, no more display the evil pink, no more walk the earth to do her evil.
Great Lord of the World, Breath of Life, weep not for the damned for I will cleanse the world of the devil's kin.
Clem Broden
How long can I keep this secret, this evil secret.
I loved Norah. God knows, I loved her dearly. And she made me promise to watch over the child, even as she gave birth, even as she moaned with the ache of creation, even as she cried with tears of joy, with tears of pain. And I did promise, for what was Benjamin to do? The man had cried out, speaking of the devil and the evils of mankind. Even as his wife gave birth, he spoke of the cursed sexual act, of the devil's game which must be played to provide renewed life.
Norah had been afraid. Benjamin had not forgiven her having yet another child. One day, we shall see justice done. Benjamin Fenton cannot continue to harbour such evil feelings in his bosom, such depraved desires to eliminate all that is pink. I sit here, knowing all yet doing nothing. I must act now, not only to protect Norah's child, but to stop these senseless killings. Connie is safe in her brothers' keeping, yet Benjamin will stop at nothing to destroy her. I must act now … finally, after years of torment, years in which I remained anchored to a life