This chapter: forced suicide, death, sexual situation
His father is depressed after the death of his wife and unborn child. They tell him, as well as Alfred and Matthew, that she had died from common household poisons, most likely from inhaling the fumes.
Matthew doesn't say anything and their father falls into his alcohol bottles.
Alfred had thought everything would be better now that there is no younger brother involved.
Matthew tells him some suicide statistics. He looks it up on the internet.
Their father's death is ruled a suicide. It was not.
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This next man is at once the same as the others and yet vastly different.
Peter tells him the man's name is Francis. He says that Arthur and Francis had been close but constantly fought with each other. Alfred asks how close and Peter shrugs.
Alfred observes Francis.
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He quickly finds out the man leaves a string of broken hearts behind him, if only to help heal his own. Within a few hours it is obvious to Alfred why Arthur and Francis might have fought so much, if what Peter tells him is true.
If they were close, he wouldn't have known it. Francis is comfortable flirting with everything that moves. Peter says Arthur talked about 'that perverted, bloody idiot' more than he talked about anything else.
"It was more like complaining actually," Peter says, sitting on the bed of Alfred's hotel room and swinging his legs back and forth. "But it was pretty much all he talked about."
Arthur has only been dead for one day. From how carefree Francis seems, Alfred is sure they don't keep in contact constantly, or Francis is used to not hearing from Arthur for a time. They were close but not that close.
Alfred uses that to his advantage.
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He "bumps" into Francis the next day. He'd called Matthew that morning and explained his situation. He and Peter are not too far from Matthew's current position, as Alfred had just been to see his brother. Matthew agrees and lightly reprimands Alfred for being so careless as to involve a child. But, he doesn't disagree that any child who would so willingly kill his older brother wouldn't be a good addition to their family.
Peter wants to come with him but Alfred tells him his brother will be by to pick him up. He hugs Peter once more because they will likely not see each other for a while before leaving.
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Francis is undoubtedly the easiest victim to trap. The man is no stranger to one night stands and even one day stands, which Alfred hadn't thought a real thing but has proof of. How one person has such libido is beyond him.
All it takes is a smile and a batting of lashes. Alfred knows he is aesthetically pleasing to look at. Francis, as it so happens, has an eye for pretty things.
Admittedly, Francis is one of the better lays he's had. The man obviously has skill in that department. Alfred almost feels bad depriving the world of it.
Almost, but not enough to stop his plans.
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It had occurred to him that Francis, who participated in very brief encounters before separating from his partner, might become suspicious if Alfred came up to him again. But, he is surprised when it is Francis who calls him.
In an effort to seem genuine, Alfred had given Francis the number of the phone he was currently using. He'd winked and told the man to call him when he wanted a good time again, then left before the man could comment or get his pants on.
Alfred is thankful for the excuse to get close to the man again.
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He asks after Francis's personal life; what friends he has, his job, his family. It is meant to be small talk but Alfred uses it to better understand his prey.
Francis mentions Arthur, having no way of knowing Alfred knew the man. Alfred asks about him and Francis huffs through a long winded explanation of why that man is the biggest pain in the ass in existence.
"And not in the good way."
However, he also comments that he hadn't heard from Arthur in awhile. Alfred, ever keeping the appearance of a curious, potential lay, wonders aloud if that is unusual. Francis says yes.
Alfred anticipates Arthur's body being found. Sometimes seeing trauma in his victim's friends is just as gratifying as killing the victims.
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He doesn't have to wait long. The smell is always what gives bodies away. Usually he would dispose of them where no one would find them, but he'd decided Arthur's case deserved attention. Plus, he wanted the message he'd carved in the man's chest to make it to the others in the town, perhaps in the towns over as well.
Ignoring family is a crime worthy of death.
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He calls Francis when the death of Arthur Kirkland makes it on air, in the newspapers, in local magazines even. He offers support and comfort.
They meet for lunch and Francis wonders what Arthur's family thinks about his death.
"Especially Peter. Poor boy was so close to Arthur."
It is at that moment when Alfred knows Francis and Arthur where not that close at all.
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The pleasure is so intense with this one he almost backs down to wait another day(or two or three). Between cries and moans and arching his back for more, more, anything the other will give, he is almost too far gone to remember his name, let alone his plan. But he manages to keep a level head.
His legs are shaky when he stands, and his ears burn when he hears Francis laugh softly on the bed. Alfred glances back at him and smiles. He asks if Francis has anything to drink. Francis tells him whatever he wants is his. Alfred asks if he wants anything.
"Just a water, merci."
Alfred hides the smirk that wants to surface and fetches the drinks. He adds a little something to Francis's from his bag.
He stares at Francis's unconscious body before slitting the others wrists. Tragic suicide after the death of a beloved friend, he thinks, and laughs.
He wipes the knife's handle clean and places it loosely in Francis's hand.
This has been most satisfying.
He packs his things and leaves that night.