Read Online Henry Franks by Peter Adam Salomon - Free Book Online Page B

as he pushed past Henry, pulling his consultation jacket off as he walked, leaving bloody fingerprints on the white sleeves as he slid out of it.
    â€œDad?” his son said, the word distant and barely more than a whisper through the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears.
    He looked over his shoulder as he fumbled with the keys, trying to slide the right one into the deadbolt. “Didn’t have time to clean up after work,” he called as the key finally slid home.
    He slammed the door shut behind him, the echo storming through the house like thunder. William threw the coat into the corner and ran to the bathroom. Heavy curtains covered the window in there, as well, and he was rushing too much to turn on the light. In the dark shadows he turned the hot water on and began scraping at his hands to scrub off the blood.
    The water steamed and turned red as he held his hands underneath it. He scrubbed, over and over, rubbing his hands together. His fingers trembled as he tried to get all the blood off. In the darkness it was difficult to see if they were clean or not, so he just kept scrubbing.
    Tears fell into the sink, mixing with the blood as he stood there, boiling his hands until they were sterile. Still, he didn’t stop until the water turned cold.
    Discovery of Two Additional Bodies Leads to Calls for a Town Hall Meeting
    Saint Simons Island, GA—August 19, 2009: In what has become an all-too familiar scene this summer, Glynn County Sheriff’s Officers were called to the beach beneath the village pier where an early morning fisherman discovered two bodies behind a piling.
    Charles Bensen, 63, and his wife, Gertrude, 59, residents of Manchester, NH, were visiting family when they were reported missing earlier this week.
    Preliminary autopsy reports list blunt force trauma as the preliminary cause of death.
    â€œAt this time, it would be counterproductive to speculate on any connections between this unfortunate occurrence and any other ongoing investigations,” said Staci Carr, District Attorney of Glynn County.
    â€œWe will continue to follow all leads and value all contributions from the community,” said Major Daniel Johnson of FLETC as they sealed off the beach.
    The Bensens are the fifth and sixth deaths in Glynn County this summer, all allegedly from blunt force trauma. While preliminary research has not shown any connection between the victims—Sylvia Foote, Crayton Mission, Paul Wislon, Derrick Fischer, and the Bensons—police spokesperson Carmella Rawls has issued a “No comment” when asked for further details from the official autopsy reports.
    Brunswick mayor Jim Monroe has announced a press conference and town hall meeting for August 20, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Glynn Academy auditorium to discuss recent events. All interested parties are invited to attend.
    Margaret Saville, PhD
St. Simons Island, Glynn County, GA
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Patient: Henry Franks
(DOB: November 19, 1992)
    The leaves of the palm tree, brushing listlessly against the window, were brown and dying. One sprinkler head peeked out above the dry grass but no water shot forth and patches of dirt had broken through. Henry turned back to the doctor, his fingers resting on his wrist, trailing the scar.
    â€œHenry.” Her pen hung like the sword of Damocles over her legal pad. “I was wondering if you ever sleepwalk.”
    He shrugged.
    â€œAre you still tired when you wake up?” she asked.
    â€œSometimes,” he said.
    â€œWhen?”
    He looked out the window, then pulled his hair down in front of his eyes.
    â€œHenry?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œCan you try to remember for me?” she asked.
    â€œWill that help?”
    â€œMaybe. You might be having blackouts and not even realizing it.”
    â€œBetter,” Henry said with a shrug, “to ask Elizabeth.”
    â€œElizabeth?”
    â€œOr Victor.”
    â€œThey’re not real,