“No. They needed a suspect. He was a likely one. And he was, quite possibly, the guilty one.”
“They hanged Goucher,” Donna said. “So he certainly wasn’t responsible for the attack on Maggie Kutch and her family.”
“In a way, he might have been. Look at what Maggie did after the killings. She moved out of the house, took in Wick Hapson, and opened Beast House for tours. I think she and Wick decided they’d be happier without Mr. Kutch, killed him using an MO similar to the Thorn murders, and cooked up this business about a beast to cover themselves. When they saw how much interest there was in this fictional beast of theirs, they decided to profit from it by opening the house for tours.”
Larry shook his head and said nothing.
“One thing,” Donna said. “I can’t see a woman murdering her own children.”
“That part threw me, too. It still throws me, in fact. For their beast story to hold up, though, the kids had to go.”
“She wouldn’t do it. No mother could do that.”
“Let’s say it’s unlikely,” Jud corrected. “Mothers have been know to murder their own children. What’s more likely, though, is that Wick took care of the kids.”
“Your theory is ridiculous,” Larry said.
“Why?”
“The beast is a rubber suit with claws.”
“No.”
Donna frowned. “Do you think it was Wick Hapson tonight?”
“If it was Wick, he’s damn strong for a man his age.”
“Axel?”
“It can’t be Axel. He’s too short, too broad in the shoulders, too awkward in his movements.”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s the beast,” Larry explained. “It’s not a man in a rubber suit, it’s a beast!”
“Just tell us why you’re so sure.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“I know. The beast is not human.”
“Will you believe me when I show you its costume?”
Smiling strangely, Larry nodded. “Of course. You do that. You show me its costume, and I’ll believe.”
“How’s tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night will…” He was silenced by a knocking on the door. 3.
Donna watched Jud cross to the door and open it. “Well hello,” he said.
“Is my mother here?”
“Sure she is. Come on in.”
Sandy, hair rumpled from sleep and her blue robe a bit too small on her, stepped into the room. When her eyes met Donna’s, Sandy sighed with exaggerated relief. “So there you are. What are you doing in bed?”
“Keeping warm. What are you doing
“You were gone.”
“Just for a few minutes.” She looked at Jud. “I guess I’d better get back now.” She climbed out of bed, and moved with Sandy toward the door. Jud opened it for them. She wanted to kiss him good night, wanted to hold him tightly, feeling his strength and warmth against her body. Not in front of Sandy, though. Not in front of Larry.
“See you in the morning,” she said.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“Sure it is.”
He walked beside Donna, not touching her. Sandy ran ahead of them. She opened the door and waited.
“You go on in,” Donna told her. “I’ll just be a second.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Shut the door, honey.”
The girl obeyed.
Standing against the door, Donna held out her arms to Jud. He stepped close and embraced her. He smelled faintly of soap. “Cold out here,” she said. “You’re so warm.”
“This morning, you told Larry you’re not married.”
“Divorced,” she said. “How about you?”
“I’ve never married.”
“Hasn’t the right girl come along?” she asked.
“There’ve been a few ‘right’ ones along the way, I guess. My line of work, though…it’s too chancy. I didn’t want to inflict that kind of life on anyone.”
“What line of work is it?”
“I kill beasts.”
She smiled. “Is that so?”
“Yep.” He kissed her. “Good night, now.”
CHAPTER TWELVE 1.
A frightened outcry startled Jud awake. He looked through the darkness at Larry. “You all right?”
“No!” The man sat forward and hugged his knees against his chest. “No. I’ll never be all right. Never!” And he began to cry.
“Once this thing is settled,” Jud said, “you’ll be fine.”
“It’ll never be settled.
“Whatever it is, I’ll kill it.”
“Will you?”
“That’s what you’re paying me for.”
“Will you cut off its head for me?”
“None of that.”
“I want you to. I want you to cut off its head, and its cock, and…”
“Knock that off, will you? I’ll kill it. Nothing else. None of that dismemberment shit. I’ve seen enough of that.”
“You have?” The voice in the darkness sounded surprised and interested.
“I did some work in Africa. Saw a lot of heads lopped off. One fellow kept them in his freezer, and liked to shout at them.”
Jud heard quiet laughter from the other bed. The laughter had a strange sound that made him nervous. “Maybe I ought to take you back to Tiburon tomorrow. I can finish the job alone.”
“Oh no. No you don’t.”
“We might both be better off, Larry.”
“I’ve got to be here when you kill the beast. I’ve got to see it die.” 2.
At six o’clock, Jud’s alarm clock woke him up. The alarm didn’t seem to disturb Larry. Climbing from bed, Jud stood on the cool floor and removed his leg bandage. The four parallel lacerations were dry, dark marks about three inches in length. They hurt, but they looked as if they would heal without much problem. He went into the
