Epistle of the Damned

by M. Lee Mendelson

  They opened the door, and inside was a large, makeshift altar. It looked like the others they had seen. It had a large black shroud covering the table. The shroud was saturated with fresh blood. On the ground in front of the altar was the massive carcass of a young bull that had had its throat cut. The bull was laid gingerly on a bed of red roses, soaked with blood. The table sat in the middle of a large red pentagram painted on the floor. At each point of the star was a tall candlestick with the melted remains of black candles.

  Mike searched all over the room. No Amanda.

  “Oh God, maybe she’s still alive,” he said to Rob.

  “Maybe, pal. Don’t give up yet.”

  As other units arrived, Mike searched the surrounding property. When he walked over to the bonfire pit, he looked down. He was horrified by what he saw.

  Mike screamed, “NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOO!!!” as he fell to his knees. “DAMN YOU, GOD DAMN YOU!!!”

  Everyone on the scene jumped at the sound of his screams as they echoed through the swamp, drowning out the sound of the frogs and crickets.

  Rob and several others ran over to the fire. “Mike? What is it, pal?”

  Robert was astonished to see what had made Mike cry out. At the edge of the fire ring was a partially burned piece of bloodstained white cloth with pink teddy bears. In the ashes of the fire were the sooty, charred bones of an approximately three-foot-tall child. Through the now empty eye sockets that had once cradled two beautiful, blue eyes, Rob could now see inside the pitifully little skull containing the remains of sizzling, fleshy material. The jaw, with two missing front baby teeth, was stuck open, positioned in a perpetual scream of terror, but no sound emanated from the desecrated remains. In fact, the only sound that could be heard was Mike’s muttering through tightly clenched teeth, “I’m gonna get this motherfucker. He’s gonna pay!”

  An all-points bulletin was immediately issued to be on the lookout for a black four-door Ford Taurus bearing Florida tag DVLINME. Within the hour, the radio crackled with a barely audible, “Dis--t-h, 317, I h-ve a visu--l on th-- -lac- -ord Tau--s.” Because they were so far out of town, Mike could barely make out the scratchy radio transmission.

  “Did I hear someone just call out they have the car? Listen up!”

  Several minutes passed and they heard, “3--, --spat--, we hav- the dr--er in cus-ody. En rout- to the di--ict off--e.”

  Mike called on his cell phone and spoke to the dispatcher, “Dispatch, this is Detective Carson. We have terrible radio reception out here. Did I just hear someone say that they stopped that car?”

  The dispatcher responded, “That’s 10-4, Detective. They are en route to the office with the driver at this time.”

  “Tell them to put him in interview room two.” Two was Mike’s favorite room. He’d had good luck interviewing people in that room and would take no chances tonight.

  “Rob, we gotta roll. They got that son of a bitch!”

  “Let’s do it!”

  Mike told Lieutenant Eberle, “We’ve got to go, sir, we got the guy.”

  “Go get ‘em. We’ll hold down the scene. Crime Scene is on their way out. We’ll keep you up to date.”

  12:51 a.m. Mike and Robert arrived at the station. “Where is this asshole, Sarge?”

  “He’s in your room Mike, just the way you like.”

  Mike went to the observation room on the other side of the one-way mirror. He spent almost twenty minutes sizing his guy up before going in to interview him. The suspect, Mark Kearcy, had no prior criminal arrests. In fact, he was a model citizen by all accounts.

  Yet, there he was, in handcuffs, all six feet, one hundred ninety pounds of him. He had a sinister countenance, black hair that came to his shoulders, and a long, black beard. He appeared to have all of his teeth. His hazel eyes stared at his reflection in the mirror with a distant gaze, as if looking across a great plain at a far-off mountain range. He had an upsetting grin on his face. He wore a black t-shirt with black jeans. His black leather boots still had a coat of mud that looked like the mud from the swamp.

  Mike thought to himself, so there you are, you baby killing psycho. I’m gonna burn your ass, just like you burned that precious little angel.

  Suddenly Mark’s countenance changed. His hazel eyes became a solid, shiny jet-black. His grin changed to a wide, smug smile that showed off his bright ivory teeth, and said in an eerily deep voice like a demon out of a horror movie, “I don’t think so, Michael, but you can try!”

  THE ONE

  M ike nearly fell from his stool. “Did you hear that?”

  Rob responded, “Hear what?”

  “What he just said!”

  “What are you talking about, Mike? He didn’t say anything. He’s just been sitting there with that same eerie ass grin. I think you must be exhausted, buddy. It’s been a long, emotional night.”

  “Yeah, and it’s not over yet.”

  Rob replied, “Are you ready for this?”

  Mike said, “I’m ready. Let’s get him.”

  After checking all the recording equipment to make sure it was operational, Mike and Rob entered the interview room. Mark seemed disinterested that the two detectives had entered the room. He continued to stare blankly at his reflection in the mirror.

  Mike started off, “Good morning, Mr. Kearcy. I’m Detective Carson and this is Detective McDougal. Are you comfortable? Would you like some water?” Mike seethed inside, convinced about what this scum of the earth had done, but knew it was necessary to make the suspect comfortable.

  “Mr. Kearcy, do you hear me?”

  Void of any emotion, Mark responded, “I hear you, and no, thank you. I don’t want any water.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, just let one of us know.”

  “Actually, come to think of it, a cup of water would be nice.”

  Rob replied, “No problem, I’ll be right back.”

  As Rob left to get him a cup of ice water, Mike sat in the room alone with Mark. He continued, “Mr. Kearcy, do you know why we’re here this morning?”

  Mark’s gaze now turned to Mike, and it appeared that his eyes once again changed to a glossy black. He seemed to see right through to Mike’s soul and his voice changed, sounding like a multitude of voices speaking in unison. “Of course, we know why we’re here,

  Michael. Do you know why we’re here?”

  “How did you know my name?”

  The voices replied, “We know everything, Michael. Soon you, too, will understand. All will be revealed. Your time is closer than you think.”

  Unnerved, Mike quickly got up and left the room.

  Rob was coming back and saw Mike standing in the hallway, sweating and looking on edge. “Hey man, are you okay?”

  “This case is really getting to me. This guy is creeping me out something awful.”

  “Why? What happened while I was gone?”

  “He called me by my first name. Did we ever mention our first names?”

  “Not so far as I can recall. He called you by your first name?”

  “Yeah. He looked right at me and called me Michael. How could he have known that?”

  “Let’s go review the video. I gotta see this for myself.”

  Mike and Rob went into the media room and rewound the tape. “Here’s where I got up to get his water. There you two are, and he’s still staring into the mirror.” The two watched the video for the next sixty seconds. “And here you are getting up and going outside. He never said anything, Mike.”

  “How is that possible? Rob, am I losing my mind?”

  “No way, my friend. Look, this is turning into a nightmarish case. In my seven years in Major Crimes, I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. Do you want me to take over the interview?”

  “No, just give me a few minutes to collect my thoughts.”

  “Take your time, bud. I’ll stay by your side from now on. I don’t think either of us should be alone with this asshole. Maybe he’s using some mind fuck tech
nique on you. Just hang in there, pal.

  We’ll stick together.”

  Mike and Rob re-entered the room and started the interrogation. Rob stated, “Here’s your water, Mark.”

  After picking up the foam cup with the ice chips and water, Mark said, “Thank you, Detective McDougal.”

  Mike said, “Okay, let’s begin again. I’m going to start by reading you your rights.” He read his Miranda warning from a sheet of paper, and Mark acknowledged that he understood his rights and was willing to answer questions.

  “Okay, if you could just sign here for me acknowledging that you understand your rights.”

  “My pleasure, Detective. There’s no need to bother with any lawyers.”

  Mark signed the paper, and then sat back, expressionless once again. “For the record Mr. Kearcy, could you please state your name?”

  Mark responded appropriately, providing all information as requested. Now with all the legal formalities out of the way, the interview could begin.

  “Mr. Kearcy.”

  Mark interrupted, “Please, call me Mark.”

  “Okay, Mark, if that makes you more comfortable.”

  “It does, thank you.”

  “Mark, can you tell me where you were last evening?”

  “Oh yes, I was out at the camp.”

  “The camp?”

  In the same placid voice Mark replied, “Yes, our camp. My friends and I get together there, occasionally.”

  “Where is this camp?”

  “It’s in the Everglades out off Highway 27. I believe you know the place.”

  “Yesterday morning between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., can you tell me where you were?”

  With a smile and a heavy sigh, Kearcy answered, “I think you know that too, Detective, but I’ll play your game with you. I was in my car around the corner, waiting for the Rollins’ to go to sleep. Do you know they are real night owls? I had to wait for several hours before all the lights were out. Then I had to wait to be sure they were asleep so I could enter without being noticed.”

  “Explain to me how you got in without tripping the alarm?” Conceitedly, Mark replied, “Detective, didn’t you find my ID on the dresser? You know I installed the alarm. I never activated the sensor on that window. After I removed the screen, I checked to see if the window was still unlocked the way I had left it. To my delight, they, like most people, never check their window locks. Why would they if they never open the windows? Of course, once I was inside, I knew how to override the system.”

  Mike looked at Rob in disbelief. Was this guy really confessing this easily?

  “But, why Amanda?”

  “For years we’ve been searching for the perfect girl. I found one last year in Brandon and my associate—I believe you know him, Jeremy— retrieved her. But someone, Detective Carson, spoiled those plans. But as you know, everything happens for a reason, and I believe my master was truly waiting for little Amanda.”

  Mike proudly responded, “Yes, I do seem to recall a little something about that incident last year. But why Amanda?”

  “Because Detective, she was exactly what He wanted. Perfect in every way. I can imagine how proud she must be now.”

  When he heard that, Mike had to restrain his emotions to keep himself from reaching across the table and beating the hell out of this sicko.

  “Why would she be proud?”

  “Because Detective, Amanda was chosen from among millions of other girls, but she was to be the one to fulfill the prophecy.”

  “What prophecy would that be, Mark?”

  “The one foretold by our High Priestess, Priestess Sable, before she was ushered into the netherworld.”

  “Priestess Sable? Who was Priestess Sable?”

  “She was the one chosen to summon the powerful Moloch from beyond. He now roams freely in this realm. He protects us, and in return, we serve Him.”

  “So how does Amanda fit in?”

  “Since ancient times, select children were honored and chosen to be a sacrifice to Moloch. This was always a great honor for the children and their families. In return for their loyalty, Moloch would provide their culture with bountiful crops and peace. He has always required the sacrifice of an innocent child. Amanda was the child chosen, and was required for him to fulfill his vow to our Priestess. In return for bringing him forth and freeing him from the bonds of his unearthly realm, he would grant her the desire of her heart. Amanda is her gift to Him, and now it’s complete. She has fulfilled her promise and now he will honor his oath to her.”

  “How was she sacrificed, and why?”

  “Her innocent blood was required to be co-mingled with that of the consecrated bull. Their throats could only be slit with a Sacred Horn Blade, and their blood would be sprinkled together upon the altar to signify their eternal union.”

  “Then why was she burned?”

  “The burning of the innocent’s flesh has always been required to release the soul from the bondage of this world. The young one is now free to wander the realm of her beloved. Can you see now why she would be so proud? Forever abiding with our Lord Moloch. And

  now, the Priestess awaits her betrothed.”

  “But you said she’s dead?”

  “No, Detective. Her physical form is no more, but her spiritual body is alive and in waiting, serving alongside Moloch.”

  The interview continued for over two hours. Mark confessed willingly to abducting and killing Amanda.

  Mike finished the interview by asking, “You understand what you have confessed to Mark, correct?”

  “Oh yes, Detective. I fully understand. And it doesn’t matter what happens to me in this life. I was chosen and I will receive my reward in the next. I will walk beside my Holy Master.”

  As Mark was escorted to a holding cell, Mike and Robert talked about what had just happened.

  Robert said, “That was one of the easiest confessions I ever witnessed. Usually, easy confessions are given out of guilt. But I saw no guilt and no remorse in this guy at all. He seemed pleased with himself.”

  Mike said, “I think the guy’s a sociopath. I hope he doesn’t get off with an insanity defense.”

  “Me either.”

  The next day in court, Mark was arraigned on first degree murder charges. Mike was present and anxious to witness the initial court hearing. As expected, the defense attorney pled not guilty by reason of insanity.

  The prosecuting attorney was a beautiful, auburn-haired woman. She wore a skirt that came to about her knees, and Mike could clearly see that she worked out. Her calves were toned, and she did not wear stockings. The skin of her legs was silky smooth and shiny. She didn’t need hose. When she stood up, she stood at just over five feet, but just barely with low heels on. Mike had always been attracted to shorter women. Her hair was long, and she wore glasses to read, which accentuated her green eyes. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Mike was smitten.

  Twenty-seven-year-old Meredith Porter was an exceptional lawyer with the District Attorney’s Office. She had been working in the misdemeanor crime division for the previous two years. She had recently been promoted to the felony division, specifically high-profile cases. This was her first big case. After she presented her case to the judge, and easily convinced him that Mark should be held with no bond for the heinous nature of his crime, she turned around to exit the courtroom.

  Standing before her was Mike, all six feet three, two hundred twenty-five pounds of him. Mike’s white dress shirt was form-fitted and accentuated the V-shape of his muscular frame. His blonde hair was neatly parted and combed to the right, and his pale blue eyes stood out against his bronze tan.

  Their eyes met and they were fixated on each other for a few seconds. Mike wondered if she felt the same attraction that he did. He smiled, as he hoped that her blushing was a sign that she was struggling to hide her attraction to him. He held the courtroom door for her as she exited. Mike, too, was trying to maintain a professional composure.r />
  As she exited through the door, Mike asked, “So, do you think we’ll put him away for good?”

  Meredith responded, “I’m sorry, who are you again?”

  “I’m Detective Carson.”

  “Oh, you’re the famous Detective Carson.” Unknown to Mike was the fact that all the ladies at the District Attorney’s Office spoke very highly about him. Every time he would go there for a deposition, they would secretly gather to drool over him.

  “Nice to meet you, Detective. I think we have a pretty good chance of putting him away for a very long time. Actually, I’m going to be seeking the death penalty. You did an incredible job catching him. I’m so sorry about the girl. I read your report and cried. It still horrifies me.”

  “Thank you. Yeah, it was bad.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to get going. I have a deposition in an hour. I’ll be in touch.”

  Beaming, Mike said, “I look forward to it.”

  As she walked away, Mike caught her looking back, and then she quickly turned away in embarrassment. He thought she was blushing. Mike watched her all the way until she got into the elevator. Before the doors closed, they once again made eye contact and they both smiled.

  Mike returned to the office and spoke to Rob. “Man, have you seen that new Assistant D.A?”

  “You mean Meredith Porter? Yeah, I’ve seen her. She’s not new, though. She’s new to the felony division. Good luck on that one. I hear she doesn’t date, especially cops.”

  “Oh yeah? Sounds like a challenge.”

  “Well, if anyone can do it, rock star, it’s you.” Rob quipped.

  Three weeks passed, and Mike received a subpoena for a deposition about the Kearcy trial. Kearcy was still in jail, and the Grand Jury was set to review the case in another week. Meredith needed statements from Mike about the case.

  “I’m going to meet with my future bride on Friday!” Mike told Robert.

  Robert laughed, “Man, you’re really hung up on her, aren’t you?”

  “I gotta tell you Rob, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

  “Ten bucks says you don’t get her number.”

  Mike smiled, “You’re on, pal.”