by R E Swirsky
"I'll find a way to contact you. Please don't give up, Ricky. We'll figure something out."
"Whatever," he replied flatly. He turned and gave Bobby a weak high five and slumped off down along the side of the house towards home.
CHAPTER 63
"This is so exciting," Simon said to Sarah as he carried in another box. His white teeth almost shimmered as he smiled at her. He almost seemed more excited about the new home than Sarah did.
"It is very exciting, and I can't thank you enough."
"I just love this old house!"
Simon set the box down next to Sarah's bright red suitcase and danced around the room. He purposely pointed out all of the features he loved about the home. Sarah followed him about as he pranced and spewed out his many delightful expressions.
"Ah, look at the lintel above this door. It's so exquisitely crafted."
"Okay already, Simon. It's nice. I get it. You don't have to do that anymore."
"Do what," he feigned surprise.
"I know it's not as nice as yours and it's old. Look at that door there," she said and pointed towards the kitchen. "The hinge is crooked. I don't think that door will even close all the way, but this old house does have the charm I was looking for."
Simon put his hands together with palms touching and laughed again. "You are so sweet." He pointed at her with a limp hand. "I can't fool you, can I? But this is a very nice house."
She nodded, pleased that she had someone as solid as Simon nearby. "It is nice. And it's so close to my new job at the University. That is really why I wanted it."
They unloaded the rest of what Sarah had. She had been on a shopping spree over the last week selecting tables, chairs, cutlery and linens. Simon was with her through most of it and helped to pick out the essentials. Only a few of the larger items had arrived, but it was enough to start to give the home the lived in feel Sarah was looking for.
By the time evening came around, the living room looked almost homey. Sarah asked Simon to stay for dinner and he readily accepted. The two shared a candlelit dinner. It was the first dinner she cooked for anyone since the salmon for Gerald, and it bothered her to think about that.
The two shared a bottle of wine and talked about what the future held, but Sarah couldn't stop the past from creeping in. It was a night like this many years ago when she and Gerald first moved into the house in Calgary. She was so happy that day, and the laughs she shared with Gerald echoed in every conversation with Simon.
CHAPTER 64
Tommy sat in Marilyn Sanderson's office and waited patiently. He was hoping he could sound convincing in the plea he was about to give his counsellor.
Marilyn walked in the room and smiled. She was pleased to see Tommy came to talk to her. He hadn’t asked for a one-on-one session before, and he could see the surprise on her face. They exchanged greetings and Tommy got right to the point.
"I wanted to see you about a few things. I passed all of my courses, and I wondered how that works now for me graduating?"
"You did exceptionally well," Marilyn replied with eagerness to engage Tommy's enthusiasm. "You have completed all of the required courses to obtain your General Equivalency Degree. It's not quite the same as graduating with the rest of your class, but it does mean you will receive your high school diploma. Congratulations," she said enthusiastically and reached out her hand to Tommy with another smile.
Tommy smiled back and accepted her handshake. "That is such good news. I know my mom would have loved to see this day."
Marilyn frowned briefly, and Tommy caught her change in attitude. Tommy had kept all of his emotions at bay since he was incarcerated. This was the first emotional response relating to his parents that he had openly disclosed to Marilyn.
"I am sure she would be proud of you, Tommy," Marilyn replied. Tommy could see that Marilyn felt a door was suddenly opened. He had pushed it open purposely, and it was time to seize what he could from that opening.
"I was thinking, Mrs. Sanderson, that the trial will be starting soon."
"Yes, I heard it was coming up."
"Oh, yes," Tommy replied. "Jury selection is next week. I was hoping to ask for something I've never asked for before."
"And what would that be?"
"Well, I think I've been very good holed up in here up until now. I've followed all of the rules and gone to all the classes I was supposed to. I even volunteered in the kitchen preparing the food boxes and meals for the homeless."
"Needy, Tommy. They weren't homeless."
"Okay, needy. And I really think I've stepped up and offered myself up to helping others."
Marilyn simply nodded and let Tommy continue.
"I mean, I've done so much while I've been up here. I even volunteered and helped with the counselling sessions."
"So where are you going with all of this, Tommy? You have been very good and your volunteer efforts are appreciated greatly by everyone involved here."
Tommy heaved a heavy sigh. "It's just that the trial is coming up fast. Once it starts, it's going to be a crazy ride. Especially for Jason. You know what he's like. Always following behind me. I know that once the trial is over we'll only have a few weeks together. I turn eighteen in August. When I'm eighteen, I'm guessing I'll be transferred up to Drumheller to serve out the remainder of my term. Jason will be left here all by himself."
"I still don't understand what you are asking. You both have come a long way during your stay here."
Tommy shrugged. "I guess that's what I am really asking about. I've done a lot. Jason has done a lot. We both miss our parents so very much. Especially Jason. Once I'm gone, he will be all alone. Being locked up hasn't been a fun ride for either of us, and I was hoping that I could ask a favour."
"A favour? That really depends, Tommy. You know everyone up here appreciates how you have both been very cooperative and disciplined. What kind of favour are you looking for?"
"I was really hoping that I could have… well, Jason and me both actually. I was hoping that after all we have been through and how we have both completed our schooling and with the upcoming trial and all… that Jason and I could have one last meal outside of this place."
"Uh, you are asking for a..."
Tommy interrupted. "Jason and I have been locked up here for nearly eight months. Once the trial starts, there will be a circus following us every time we leave this place to go to court. And when it is all over, we both know we are going to jail for a long time. I was hoping we could enjoy one last meal at a regular restaurant before this all kicks off."
Marilyn nodded. "You are asking me for a day pass? I don't think..."
"No, not even a day pass. I was thinking more of just an escorted day out. Just for Jason and me to go out for a pizza. Maybe even to a place we've been before. Marlon's Pizza maybe. Just something to help us keep strong and focused after all we've lost."
Marilyn looked sternly at Tommy and studied him very carefully. He could see she was not expecting such a request.
"An escorted day out?" she repeated.
"Yes. Just one last pizza. You can call it a reward for how well we've listened to you and the others and never gave you any trouble. Or maybe it can be a reward for having graduated. I don't know, maybe it's just a sympathy request because we won't see the outside for a long time. Either way, I really want Jason to have something to hang on to."
Tommy searched Marilyn's eyes. He hoped that he had struck some compassionate chord deep inside her and that some sympathetic vibrations were slowly spreading.
"It's obvious, Tommy, that you have been talking to others about the day escorts. We do offer this as an incentive to some inside here, but your case is much too different. You have been charged with a severe act of murder, and it is not normal for inmates charged with such serious crimes to be allowed passes of any kind outside these walls."
"But you know why we are really in
here. Both Jason and I. I mean if we both had parents, relatives or a home to stay in until the trial, I doubt we would even be in here. We'd be under house arrest. We really have nobody. Jason and I have no family left. We only have each other. That's why we are in here," he pleaded, hoping to catch some sympathy.
Marilyn wasn't buying it. "You are in here because you boys killed your parents, Tommy. Of course you have no parents or family to go home to now. You killed them."
Tommy next asked a question caught Marilyn totally off guard.
"But you don't know why we killed them, do you?"
It was the answer everyone, including Marilyn, searched for from both boys since they came to the Spy Hill facility.
"No we don't," she said emphatically. She was clearly perturbed that Tommy was now playing a game, and the truth was the bargaining chip. Tommy could see she was not impressed.
"It is a difficult question to answer," Tommy said and let Marilyn continue to think about what he asked for. "But there is an answer to why we had to do what we did."
He purposely let a little bit of the truth escape for the first time. He could see Marilyn grab hold of his words. She had her first taste at a motive. Tommy could see fear in her eyes, and he knew she wanted to know more.
CHAPTER 65
Jason was looking forward to his regular workout as he walked through the busy hall towards the gym. Out of nowhere, he was suddenly slammed hard against the cinder block wall, and the wind was knocked right out of him. He crumpled to the ground and immediately turned upward to see who blindsided him.
Doogie grinned and bounced lightly from side to side on his feet. He pointed at Jason. "Told you I'd get yous didn't I?" he said proudly.
Jason grabbed hold of his right shoulder and tried to stand up. He could see a number of other inmates stopped to watch and were excited to see if this was going to escalate in to some fiery confrontation.
"That was really fair," Jason said.
Doogie continued to bounce up and down, and he moved about quickly to Jason's left, then right and then back again.
"Who said I was fair?" Doogie laughed. As soon as Jason had finally righted himself, Doogie quickly reached forward and tried to slap Jason on the head, but Jason ducked away at the last moment.
"Ho-ho, Jason. Good move!" He quickly reached forward again, and this time he connected with a slap across the top of the head.
"What is your problem, Doogie?" Jason shouted. "Why are you such an ass hole?"
"Me? I thinks I'm a pretty nice guy." He turned to the crowd that watched eagerly. "Ain't I a nicest guy?" he said to the crowd. A few nodded, but most just stared noncommittally and looked eager to watch the scene unfold.
"I'm not going to fight you. Not in here."
Doogie grinned again. "So what are yous saying?" Doogie stepped in close to Jason's face. "Yous are never getting out of here. I think yous just scared. A coward."
"I'm no coward."
"Well then prove it. Throws a punch at me. C'mons."
"No. A bigger man knows when to fight and this ain't that time Doogie. You aren't worth it."
Doogie stopped his bouncing and put his finger up to Jason nose. "Yous are scared."
"Not of you. Never, Doogie."
"Fights me then." Doogie slapped Jason hard across the face and quickly took a fighter’s stance with his fists clenched.
Jason turned his reddening face away and began to slide himself down along the wall and away from Doogie. He refused to be engaged in a fight.
"Where do yous think yous're going?"
"Away from you," Jason replied and continued to move away. Doogie followed him as Jason crept along the wall. The crowd followed the two boys.
Doogie suddenly grabbed Jason by the collar, spun him around and pinned him against the wall.
"Do it!" Jason yelled. "Go ahead, Doogie! Hit me again!"
Fire burned in the back of Doogie's eyes.
"I heard you were supposed to be released soon, Doogie. If you beat me up, I don't think you'll be going anywhere. So go ahead, Doogie. Punch me again!"
Doogie maintained his position and held Jason tight against the wall. He suddenly released his grip and shoved Jason hard onto the floor.
"I am leaving today. Yous'll still be in here rotting always, Jason. But I'll be back outs there living. Yous hear me? Yous'll be rotting! Rotting like the stinking pukes that yous are. Your brother too!"
Jason remained on the floor and stared up at Doogie towering above him. "I will see you again, Doogie," Jason said with conviction. "And when I do, you'll wish you hadn't. And there won't be any audience to witness what's headed your way."
"Yous just try, Jason. I'll see yous coming a long ways afore."
Jason pushed himself to his knees and then stood up and leaned against the wall. "Just like last time with Tim?" he asked smartly.
"That was different."
"Your day is coming."
Doogie took a step closer, put his hand up to Jason's face and tapped him softly on the cheek. "Yous a dead man, Jason. Dead." He smiled and turned away.
CHAPTER 66
Sarah didn't know what was happening when she opened the front door at her new house and a camera and microphone were shoved in her face. She looked around startled and spotted the news van parked at the tip of her driveway. Another one zipped down Founder's Road towards her house.
"Hello! I'm Rich Denton from Channel Five News. I was hoping to ask you a few questions about the upcoming trial."
"Trial?" Sarah asked. She stepped further out onto the front porch and feigned a smile as she tried to understand what was going on.
Rich nodded and extended his hand. "Yes. The trial of Jason and Tommy Oliver."
"Who?" Sarah replied cautiously. She accepted his outstretched hand and shook it.
"The Oliver boys. The ones that killed their parents last year."
Sarah looked past the reporter to the cameraman who attempted to capture every word and image. She watched as another camera crew from the second news station tumbled out of their own van as quickly as they could and dashed up the drive.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
"Peter and Marie Oliver were murdered last fall by their two teenage boys. The trial date was just announced moments ago, and we've come looking for some perspective or comment from the new owner of the home where the murders occurred."
Rich pushed the microphone in Sarah's face and waited for a response.
Sarah placed her hand up to her mouth. "Oh my god," she said. "My house? I didn’t know."
"I'm sorry you have to hear it this way." Rich looked over his shoulder defensively as the other news crew raced up towards the house. "I'm wondering if I can have a private word… maybe inside, alone?"
Sarah shook her head. "Uh, no. I really don't have anything to say." She tried to absorb what she had just heard. She remembered the realtor had wanted to tell her about the history of the home. Would she still have bought the house if she knew? She didn't have the time right now to process that thought.
"Please miss. I only want a word or two."
Sarah shook her head, apologized and stepped quickly back inside her house and closed the front door. The reporter rang the doorbell and knocked again, but Sarah refused to answer. She heard about the Oliver murders when they first occurred, but she didn’t really followed the story since she had been struggling with her own escape from Gerald at the time. Following the news was the last thing on her mind.
She waited inside until the reporters finally gave up on speaking to her. She moved to the dining room and peeked out the window. Both news vans remained out in front of her home. The reporters stood with their backs to her, while their cameramen captured the reporters with the house behind them. Sarah felt a flutter inside. She suddenly felt should be wary about what had just happened.
CHAPTER 67
&n
bsp; Gerald arrived home from work after he stopped for a few drinks at his usual watering hole. He knew he should not have driven, but it had been a rough day at work and he just didn't give a shit tonight. Gerald argued with his foreman at the end of his shift and was told he was close to losing his job. He heard this rant many times over the past few years, but tonight it was different. His boss suddenly stopped yelling, threw his hands in the air in a gesture of complete frustration and told Gerald to report to the big guy first thing in the morning. He was filing a written report against Gerald to have him dismissed.
Gerald slammed the front door and went directly to the half-full bottle of whiskey that waited patiently for him on the counter. He poured himself a strong shot over ice and flung himself on the sofa. He was still irritated over the incident with his foreman. He hated feeling so powerless when he couldn't control a situation! He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. He flicked mindlessly through the channels while his mind raced madly over what he wanted to do to that chicken-shit boss of his.
It was the supper hour, and most of the local stations were broadcasting the news. As Gerald lifted the whiskey to his lips and flipped from channel to channel, he suddenly jumped up and spilled some of the whiskey across his lap. What he spotted on the screen stunned him. He flipped back a few channels and there she was. Right there on Channel Five News. He only caught her image for a second, but it was Sarah. Sarah was standing with a microphone shoved in her face for a moment before she disappeared behind a closed door. Gerald sat himself up straight and watched as the next image showed a reporter standing out in front of a large Victorian house talking about an upcoming trial. Gerald new about the murder; it was all over the news. Like Sarah, he never paid much attention to the story at the time, but things suddenly changed.
Gerald tried to recall what he knew of the murders, and he quickly remembered they happened in the town of Bluffington, just south of Calgary. Of course, Sarah would run back there to Bluffington. Why not? Bluffington was where he first met her as a striking, young girl when he worked on that job at the University.
"Gotcha," Gerald whispered softly and chugged back the rest of his drink. He let the liquid fuel the fire that burned inside of him. A sinister smile spread across his long face, and he laughed aloud.
