He had watched the
case unfold vicariously, in connection to his own ongoing events,
for weeks the Police
had sort to track down the murderer of the young woman, and now
through the use of forensic evidence that had been achieved.
Gary Henessey knew
that for him the events would be just as unfortunate, he and two
other Gentlemen were facing charges of fraud relating to, Insider
Trading, False accounting and financial mismanagement, it was clear
and and the two members related to the Board Of Directors were facing
long prison sentences, unless something could be done. “But how to
silence the main witness?” he inquired whilst watching the face of
the man convicted of the young woman's murder, a single print of the
third finger thus leading to him being indicted for the crime.
“If only there was
a way to get to Richardson, he muttered. Right now he'll be on the
stand giving evidence at The Royal Courts Of Justice, and what with
the Press and Media, plus the heavey police pressence, it would be
impossible to get to him. And even if we could hire a hitman it would
still result in our convictions, even more so. There must be a way/”
he told himself.
It was then that the
phone wrang. Instinctively Gary leaned over and picked it up on the
small red triangular table, where he usually rested his drink. By
the sound of traffic it was clear that either Clive or Patrick, was
phoning from outside The Royal Courts Of Justice, no doubt concerned
about how the case was going.
“Hello, stated
Clive, Gary can you hear me, Patrick's about to be cross examined by
their Prosecuting Council, I've already been through it.”
“How did you do?”
Inquired Gary anxiously.
“Not good, there
wasn't much I could say in our defence. Richardson was and is, the
companies auditor, we should have been more careful, for goodness
sake we're facing over Twenty nine years in prison, my girlfriend's
left and I don't think we'll have much of a future when we do finally
get out of prison.”
Gary thought of
this, he considered his home, his job and his career, and how he was
prepared to do anything to protect them.
:They want you in
the witness box in three days, I'm telling you this chap they've got
has already torn me to pieces, our legal team is trying their best
but the Judge keeps throwing out any objections they can come up
with. I'm telling you, if we cannot find a way to silence Richardson
we're all finished.
“Alright, I'll
find a way. Stated Gary, leave it to me. He then replaced the phone.
In truth he had no idea what he was going to do, he just needed time
to himself. The forensic evidence, that was what caught the man whom
had killed that young woman, her body found in a field, the murderer
had tried to cover it up with twigs and branches, he had even tried
wiping of the fingerprints, however it was clear he had not done a
good job. And Gary knew that since he had a conviction for drinking
and driving had occurred three years ago, his fingerprints would be
on file, and any suspicion concerning the murder of Richardson would
fall on him, especially since it was all his idea in the first place.
Yet Richardson had to be stopped, “Before it was too late.” he
muttered
Instinctively he
arose from his chair, and convinced fresh air would improve his
thoughts, he put on his coat and along with his keys and shopping
bag, went out in order to think. “Perhaps the last ounce of freedom
before the end of the trial, he concluded. He decided not to take his
car, instead he chose to walk to his local library. Ironically he was
a big Agatha Christie fan, and had gone there for inspiration. The
woman behind the counter smiled, knowing him quite well, usually they
would spend a few moments talking amiably, before he'd take out his
usual books. This time however he did not feel like talking,
especially not to the Prosecuting Council when the time came.
The woman looked up
from her desk, and smiling, politely stated:
“Hello Mr.
Henessey, did you enjoy the last Agatha Christie?”
“Yes thank you,
I'm looking for one I haven't read yet, plus some other books that
might be of interest.”
“Well, you may
notice that we've had a change round, the Crime Fiction has been
moved opposite the Fantasy and Occult Section.”
“I'm sorry,
fantasy and what?”
“The Occult
section, you know, Voodoo, black magic that sort of thing, spells,
wax effigies, that sort of thing. Mind you being a down to Earth
Businessman, you don't look like the sort that would be interested!”
“Well I'll give it
a quick look. Just incase. He smiled politely before going over
there.
He knew what a wax
effigy was, and even though he was no expert in the world of The
Black Arts, he was desperate for a solution and was prepared to try
anything to save his freedom and especially his career. He read how a
wax effigy made of that person, could be used to represent the
individual in question, and that whatever happened to that person
would happen to the individual in real life.
He read on, learning
that for it to happen, you needed things closest to the person,
mainly connected to either themselves, blood, sweat, hair, he began
to think. He still had that letter from Richardson, written six
months ago at the start of the inquiry. It had a small trace of dried
blood on it where Richardson had cut himself shaving, and had been in
too much of a rush to write the letter before allowing it to heal
properly. Plus there was his fingerprint sweat stains, it as clear he
had been frustrated that day, no doubt having discovered the events
that had lead up to this case;
“Could it work? He
inquired, there was only one way to find out.
Taking out another
Agatha Christie, plus the book on The Black Arts, and two books by
random thriller writers as he referred to them. He thanked the woman
behind the counter and set off to buy items the book specifically
instructed him too.
He spent over two
hours looking for plasticine and chalk and wax candles all over
London, however , having finally achieved all this he arrived home in
order to perform the deed in question.
Removing the carpet
from his bedroom, he set about drawing a pentagram as the book had
instructed, then carefully filling in the strange words before
placing each candle in one of the five points. Before deciding to
light them with matches he set about making a crude effigy of
Richardson before going to get the letter and inserting ripped up
pieces containing Richardson's blood and sweat into the body. Before
placing it in the centre. He then went to get the matches and light
the candles. Kneeling down he began to mutter the incantation
described within the book, at the same time pressing his thumb deep
into the neck of the effigy. There was no change of weather, no
lightning or thunderstorm and definitely no drop in temperature that
he might have expected.
Disappointed at this
he put everything away placing the effigy on the table and the items
in a draw having blown out the candles and rubbed out the chalk. He
then decided to go to bed, the time now 9:37. “Get an early
night.he told himself, you're going to need it;
It was round about
four in the morning that he was awoken by the heavey sound of
knocking and going out towards the entrance in his pyjamas, noticed
the reflected blue light from the heavy set glass of the door,
opening it he noticed a Police car in the distance. A WPC sat in the
driving seat, a Policeman next to her, however he was more concerned
with the Officer standing there in front of him, a note book and pen
in his hands, he stated:
“You are Mr. Gary
Henessey?”
“Yes, why what's
happened?”
“Do you know a man
named Neil Richardson?”
“Yes, he's our
company's auditor.”
“And the main
witness in the ongoing fraud trial, that you and two of your
colleagues are being accused of'
“Yes, why, what's
happening?”
“Mr Richardson was
found dead in his hotel, he had strangulation marks on his neck, we
checked the files of all those related with this case. I'm afraid
they exactly match those of the one with have for your drunken
driving conviction, you need to come with us sir, you're under arrest
for murder; We'll wait here while you get dressed.'
“I haven't been
anywhere near him, I've been in my house all the time; I have no idea
what is happening here.”
However Gary decided
it was best to get dressed, it was whilst about to in his Bedroom
that he stared at the effigy of Richardson, noticing clearly the
indented prints within the neck for all to see.
The End
