Chapter VII

What in Tarnation

I awoke in a gasp for air, a sharp pain swept over my body which felt very much so unpleasant. My joints were stiff and I found it hard to move, after some struggle I managed to prop myself up against the bed frame. I noticed my shirt had been removed and several bandages covered my body; I was also unfamiliar with the place of residence I was currently staying in; it was not my own. I began to recall the events of last night; I had been wounded quite devastatingly yet by some miracle there had still been breath in my lungs and my heart continued to beat.

A familiar face walked in through the bedroom door that I recognized as Abigail Hobbs, carrying a tray of assorted goods and a glass of milk.

"Oh! Your awake, Mr. Hathorne, how did you sleep? I shall retrieve my husband." She said in a soft and kind voice, seeming relieved to see me still breathing.

"Please, call me John my dear." She placed the tray of baked goods on the bedside table and left to tell her husband who I knew to be William Hobbs. I sampled one of the biscuits, which was quite delicious, and slowly sipped the milk; however I did not feel I could stomach much more.

A short moment later William entered the room, accompanied by Abigail.

"I see your awake, rough night; wasn't it Hathorne?"

I nodded in agreement, feeling the aches and pain all over.

"I feel I must ask, John, did you happen to see the face of your attacker?"

"Sadly I did not. I had been awake at my desk working thoroughly on this investigation as I often do when suddenly I heard the floor creaking behind me; I turned around to lay eyes on the intruder when I found a knife being jabbed at me. The lights were off and I hadn't time to see their face before that sharp blade pierced my soul."

"Tis a shame. The crash of your desk falling over was loud, loud enough for us to hear the next door over. You are very lucky we had still been awake, otherwise we would be grieving another death this morning." With that he changed my bandages once more and they exited the room.

I was able to walk, if only slowly and with the aid of leaning on walls. I walked down the stairs, not without struggle, where I once again met up with William; who informed me that Abigail had gone to pay visit to Ms. Mary Eastey. After preparing for the day and a good amount of chatter in front of the campfire; we both left the house to see what else was going on this morning. It was now May 9th, of the year 1692. It was dark and cloudy, as if a storm were coming; the air was warm but it was humid with a cool breeze.

Outside of the house we saw the rest of the town gathered in town square. We saw Abigail and decided to join her; no doubt more gossip was going on. However; the town could not afford to simply keep punishing people without evidence.

"Last night I was attacked by the devilish witch who reins havoc on our town! Damn the rotten soul who thought they could get the better of me!" Mary Eastey shouted out, showing off a vest which had a single gun shot in it over her chest. The town hollered in agreement, she had made quite the role model of herself, being portrayed as the one who the witch could not kill.

"I was also attacked last night by the killer. If it were not for a certain friend I would be dead in the ground right now." I said to the town, today everyone was more calm and collected, obviously they had realized the importance of solving this crime and put behind them the fears of murder.

"Well out with it, who were behind the attacks you two? Obviously we are dealing with more than one murderer here, so surely someone must have caught a glimpse of the killer." Said Edward Bishop.

"Unfortunately I was not in a position where I was able to see my attackers face." I proclaimed, "So I am unaware of who tried to kill me."

"Flummery." Said Lydia Dustin,

"Actually, friends, I believe I may have something that could be of use." Abigail spoke up, "Last night, I was sitting in my living room next to the window, watching the towns late night activity as I have done out of caution the past while now, when I witnessed Mr. Deodat Lawson enter Mary's house! I did not know why, however it only makes sense now that he must have been her attacker, for no other being was seen entering or leaving that household last night!"

"Preposterous!" Shouted Lawson, "the woman lies!"

"The intruder was of his masculine build." Eastey added in.

The town slowly considered the possibility and was taken in by the likely hood of Lawson's guilt. He argued and denied having anything to do with the attacks of course. The town voted and nearly everyone voted Deodat up the stand where he would be judged.

"You're all insane, I tell you!"

"Give it up, Lawson, we have a witness; it's no use." Claimed a citizen.

"I am the towns doctor, you here me? I save lives, not end them!" this was his last struggle in a hope of persuading the town; however, I already knew who the doctor was and it was not him. The votes were in and the majority of the town raised their hands, the only ones who didn't were those to frightened of making enemies. Deodat Lawson's death had been confirmed.

"You are all fools, fools I say! You will never catch us; I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for that old hag!"

The noose was tightened around his neck.

"The Mafia will prevail!"

And we felt a moment of security when the devil before us drew its last breathe.