“Welcome, Doctor,” Faust murmurs. “This is an unexpected visit.And you’ve brought the police?”
“Yes,” Kelly replies. “I want my wife. These gentlemen are hereto see you give her to me.”
Faust ushers them down the hall. “Come. I have very sad news toshare.”
“What are you talking about?”
“As you know, we’ve been plagued with sickness this winter. Iintended to write, Dr. Kelly, but there simply hasn’t been time. I regret toinform you of Hester’s passing. Her loss affected all of us at Ironwood.”
The four men enter the parlor and Faust shuts the door,offering his guests a seat.
Kelly remains standing. “I don’t believe it. Show me the body.”
“Out of the question. Her corpse has been burned.”
The police officers seem to accept my death without comment,but Kelly continues on at Faust. “Let me talk with the nurses who tended her.”
“They are no longer employed at the asylum.”
“Then show me the surviving patients.”
“Regretfully, there were none.” Faust walks back to the door,opens it. “I am sorry if I appear unfeeling in regards to your circumstances,but I need to get back to work.”
I am surprised that Kelly does not protest. Instead, he seemsto completely unravel, weeping and embracing Faust before leaving the parlor.More shocking still, I hear a quick flipping, sliding motion.
Kelly has taken something out of Faust’s coat and slipped itinto his own. Did he pick the doctor’s pocket? “Thank you for doing what you could,good fellow.”
Apparently Faust is unaware of the fact he’s been stolen from.“Well certainly. You’re, um…most welcome. Although, I must insist you leavenow. Watts will show you out.”
Faust calls the guard, and Watts joins the men in the hall.“Accompany our guests outside, please.”
But Kelly begins to cry again, like a man completely shattered.I’d almost believe he meant those tears, if I didn’t guess he was conning themall. “Might I have a moment to collect myself?” he asks. “Could I trouble youfor a handkerchief? And perhaps a drink?”
Faust goes to collect the requested items. Paper rustles asKelly takes the stolen note out of his pocket, and I assume, reads it. Could itbe the one I sent to Honeycutt? He gets to his feet and steals down the hall.Kelly is almost to the stairwell when the door opens a crack.
“She’s in the basement,” Davis whispers.
Titus and Roy are so caught up in their game of cards, theydo not notice the quiet jangle of the door knob, the scratch of some metaltool. Both pockets and locks? Kelly is a talented fellow. The doorswings open a few seconds later. Then Kelly’s at my side, cutting the cords atmy wrists. My arms drop and blood flow returns to them, feeling like pins andneedles in the flesh. The Reaper’s gift of pain relief is beginning to fade.
I try to be independent, to stand on my own, but I sag into Kelly’sarms. He examines my wounds quickly and wraps me in his cloak. The pressure ofthe heavy material resting against my back is agony. Pushing it off my skinonly makes things worse.
“I’ll get you out of here, sweetheart,” Kelly says. “They won’thurt you anymore.”
The other language I can’t repeat. The curses he mutters as hisshoe slides out from under him, when he realizes the floor is slippery with myblood. Kelly picks me up and Titus and Roy move to block the door.
“It’s over, don’t you see?” Kelly asks. “Your coworker here canattest to the fact that I’ve come with a police escort.”
“That’s true,” Davis replies. “He did.”
“If you’re smart, you won’t involve yourselves further in thiscrime.” Kelly takes another step forward. “Faust is destined for prison or thenoose. Do you wish to join him?”
Speaking of Faust, he enters the chamber in a rush, followed byWatts. The doctor pushes past Roy and Titus. “This does complicate matters,”the madman says, advancing upon Kelly and me. “I cannot let either of youleave. That would ruin everything. And some sacrifices are acceptable if theybenefit society.”
“What benefit?” Kelly asks, holding me closer.
“My research of pain stimulus, of course,” Faust says, soundingapologetic. “I’ll find my journal, after you’re both dead and buried. I am sosorry it has come to this, pet.” He takes something from his pocket.
What is it?
Davis shouts and jumps in front of me. “No! Don’t.”
My head nearly cracks when a gun fires, and then all turnsquiet for an instant before pandemonium breaks out again. As Roy, Watts, andTitus run from the room, Kelly lowers my legs to the floor.
In my weakened state, I drop to my knees and crawl over towhere Davis fell. Gods have mercy. Why did you do it? I reach for his hand. Theskin feels smooth and unlined against my palm.
Kelly charges Faust, who is thankfully slow to fire again, andrips the gun from his hand. He punches the older doctor several times andthrows him against the wall. Faust weeps, begging for his life. “Stop.I’m sorry. I’ll be good.” The madman sounds like a child who fears he’sgoing to be punished. Amid his pitiful cries, Kelly’s policemen join us,demanding that the situation be explained.
The good doctor kneels down at Davis’s side and gives a briefaccounting to the lawmen as he examines my friend. The sound of snapping metal ringsmakes me jerk. No cuffs! I won’t wear them again! Yet the policemen do notbother me. Instead, it is the asylum guards who are now the ones in irons. Theyimmediately turn on their employer.
I hear all this happen, and none of it matters, for I amcradling a dead boy. I had forgotten Death was still in the room. There is noheartbeat, no breath left in my friend’s body as I feel the Reaper take him tothe next world.
Versare cum Deo. Be well, Davis.
Holding his cooling corpse, our mingled blood drying on thefloor, I hear the policemen drag a screaming Faust away and lock him in thePit.
30
Sic transit gloria mundi.
So
