The Godwulf Manuscript Read Online Free Page B

Dennis got up-we weren't asleep; we never go to sleep till very late-and asked, 'Who is it?' I couldn't hear what they said. But he let them in. That's why I think he knew them. When he opened the door they came in very fast. One of them pushed him against the wall and the other one came into the bedroom and dragged me out of bed. Neither one said anything: Dennis said something like, `Hey, what's the idea?' Or `Hey, what's going on?' One of them had a gun and he held it on both of us. He never said anything. Neither one. It was spooky. The other guy reached in his coat pocket and came out with my gun."
    "Is that your gun on the floor?" I asked.
    She wouldn't look but nodded.
    "Okay, then what?" I asked.
    "He handed my gun to the first man, the man with the gun, and then he grabbed me and turned me around and put his hand over my mouth and bent my arm up behind me and the other man shot Dennis twice."
    "With your gun?"
    "Yes."
    "Then what?"
    "Then-" She paused and closed her eyes and shook her head.
    "Go on," I said.
    "Then the man that shot Dennis made me hold the gun in my hand and shoot it into Dennis. He held my wrist and squeezed my finger on the trigger."
    She said it in a rush and the words nearly ran together.
    "Did he have on gloves?"
    She thought a minute.
    "Yes, yellow ones. I think they might have been rubber or plastic."
    "Then what?"
    "Then the one who was holding me made me lie down on the bed. I didn't have anything on but my top. And the other one poured some kind of dope in my mouth and forced it shut and held my nose till I swallowed it. Then they just held me there with a hand over my mouth for a little while. Then they left."
    I didn't say anything. If she'd invented that story coming out of a narcotic coma, she was some kind of special species and nothing I could handle. She might have hallucinated the whole thing, depending on what she had taken. Or the story might be true.
    "Why did they make me shoot him after he was dead?" she asked.
    I discovered as I answered that I believed her.
    "To hook you on a paraffin test. When you fire a handgun cordite particles impregnate your skin. A lab man puts paraffin over it, lets it dry, peels it off, and tests it. The particles show up in the wax."
    It took a minute to register. "A lab man, you mean the police?"
    "Yes, honey; the police."
    "No, can't we get out of here? I'll go home. You won't say anything. My father will pay you. He has money. I know he can give you some…"
    "Your boyfriend, dead in your apartment, killed with your gun, you gone? They'd come and get you and bring you back. Do you know a lawyer?"
    "A lawyer, how the hell would I know a freaking lawyer?"
    She looked desperately toward the door.
    "I'm splitting, screw this scene."
    Her voice had gotten harsh and tough with fright, and I noticed her lapse into the jargon of her peer group as her fright increased. When she'd been clinging to me she talked like a young girl in college. When she wanted to get away from me her voice and, language changed. I held her against me with my arm around her shoulder.
    "Listen," I said. "You are in trouble enough to pull up over your head and tie a knot in. But you're not in it alone. I'll help you. It's my line of work. I'll get you a lawyer in a bit. Then I'll call the cops. Before I do, though-" She started to speak and I squeezed her. "Listen," I said, "When the cops come don't say anything, don't talk to them, don't argue with them, don't be hostile, don't be smart. Do not say anything to anybody till you talk to the lawyer. His name is Vincent Haller. He'll see you soon after you go downtown. Talk only with him present and say only what he says you should. Have you ever been busted?"
    "No."
    "Okay. It's not anywhere near as bad as you think it is. No one will hurt you. No one will grab you under a bright light and hit you with a hose. You'll be okay, and you won't be in long. Haller will take care of you."
    She nodded. I went on.
    "Before I make my call-do