This one went out today:: Titled "Vengenance"
The figure was always a shadow, half hidden behind outdated drapery in the front window of the aging and weathered Victorian home on the end of the street. Children often ran by, laughing, as they pushed each other into the overgrown yard, challenging the other to pull a prank and ring the doorbell. Everyone wanted to glimpse the object of many sordid tales and rumors of the town’s gossip chain, but the door never seemed to open for anyone or anything. So it was sometime before those in the neighborhood noticed that the strange figure that once stood at the window didn’t stand there anymore, and the demise of the lonely old woman undiscovered, until the smell of putrid decay penetrated the dainty nose of the self appointed neighborhood watchdog, Adalay Thompson.
“Sheriff, you need to get up to the old Ledford home. I think Ms. Sarah finally kicked the bucket!” She demanded of Rudy Garrett one afternoon.
“Adalay, what has gotten you up in a dander today?” His voice suggested that he had already been down the road of her nosiness before and didn’t want to be bothered in the humid heat of the day.
“There is a god awful smell coming from that house, and you need to get up there and investigate!”
“Alright, alright. Keep your skirt on.” He sighed lazily hanging up the phone. Grabbing his cowboy hat off the hat-rack by the door, Rudy stepped into the sunlight. Squinting up to the sky before putting on the prerequisite shades most of the good old boys in the Georgia force wore, he shook his head as he climbed into the patrol car and headed up the road to the Ledford house.
Adalay Thompson was always sticking her nose into other people's business and Ms. Sarah was just a kindly little old lady who didn't bother much of nothing. He hated to go knocking at her door just to satisfy Adalay who snooped more than anyone else he knew. He had visited Ms. Sarah a few years back in his younger days, when there was some disturbance reported by an out-of-towner who claimed she was the sister of a Mr. Nathanial Clemens and that Mr. Clemens was to wed Ms. Sarah and had disappeared, after breaking their engagement. Mr. Clemens' sister had the whole town in an uproar saying Ms. Sarah had killed her brother and disposed of the body.
“Rudy Garrett,” Ms. Sarah's soft spoken manner always captured the attention of whoever she addressed. “I buried Mr. Ledford a long time ago and have been a widow for these long years. I don't believe that I am the marrying kind anymore.” She smiled slightly as she offered him a plate of cookies.
Taking one, he bit into the soft chewy morsel and nodded. “Yes Ma'am I know, but when someone makes any kind of accusation like that, you know it's part of my job to follow up.”
“Yes, I understand. If I see this Mr. Clemens, I'll be sure to let him know to contact you.”
With that Ms. Sarah ushered him out the door, and closed it firmly behind him. It was the last time he really saw anything of her. She became more and more of a recluse, keeping watch at the window during the day, and at night a small light burned from the upstairs window into the wee hours of the morning. He always wondered what she was doing up so late.
Pulling into the circular drive of the old home, he saw Adalay was already standing on the front porch holding her nose. As he exited the vehicle he noticed a rather pungent odor.
“Either she's dead or she got something that crawled up into the basement and died, because I've never smelled anything like this before.” Adalay commented as Rudy climbed the wooden stairs leading up to the front door.
“Now Adalay, I want you to be kind and stay out of the way when I go knocking at this door. Do I make myself clear?”
“Whatever you say Sheriff.” She nodded taking a couple of steps back.
Rudy tapped on the door with his knuckle. After waiting for several seconds, he knocked again, but this time louder, calling out Ms. Sarah's name. When no response came, he beat on the door with all his might. Walking to the front window, he peered inside, past the dusty curtains.
“What the...?” The question came as a surprise and intent on getting in quickly he kicked the door down.
Adalay followed the Sheriff into the darkened home. Furniture lay strewn amidst broken glass from pictures which had been knocked off the wall. The house was in shambles.
“What happened here?” Adalay gazed around the small foyer into the adjoining room.
“Ms. Sarah?” Rudy hollered.
“Look over there!”
Squinting into the dim hallway, Rudy noticed the basement door. Axe marks were chiseled the middle of the door from the direction of the basement, and the door hung from its hinges, torn almost in two.
“Do you suppose they got in that way, through the basement?”
Rudy touched the wood, feeling the splinters. “I don't know. Adalay, you need to wait outside.” He whispered as he drew his gun.
Being the stubborn woman she was, Adalay clung to Rudy's back as he followed the axe marks in the floor and up the staircase, seeming cut into the wooden planks as the intruder chased someone to the upper level of the house.
Carefully and quietly they made their way to the third story. Standing at the top stair, Rudy paused at the sight of another mangled door.
“The smell is worse up here!” Adalay whined.
Rudy furrowed his brow at her. “Do you not know what 'wait outside means' Adalay?” He shook his head.
The two tiptoed to the end of the hall. When they reached the room, Rudy threw his back against the wall and with his gun, eased the door opened.
“Oh my God!” Adalay exclaimed gagging.
Centered in the bed was the decomposing body of Ms. Sarah. Draped over her was what appeared to be a man's body, shrived, his suit covered in dirt. His skeletal hands still clutched the axe which was deeply embedded in the chest of the old woman. Rudy took out a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his nose.
Edging closer he pulled on the ragged material of the jacket of the man. The body came up, ripping from the arm sockets. Adalay screamed as the mummified man fell at their feet.
“What in heavens is that?” She cried.
“It looks like the remains of a dead man, that's been buried a long time.” Rudy observed.
“Well who is he?”
Digging into the protruding back pocket of the trousers, Rudy pulled out an aging black leather wallet. Carefully unfolding it, he rubbed at the dirt covering the driver's license.
“I'll be a monkey's uncle.” The Sheriff whispered, amazed at what he saw.
“Rudy Garrett, who is he?” Adalay demanded.
“Nathaniel Clemens.”
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