Epilogue 1

The bright morning brings with it no joy. Virginia State Troopers fill the building, the House on Haunted Hill is now under their control. The guests have departed, but to Trooper barracks rather than their homes. Harry Houdini and his companions, still in costumes, are surrounded by three over coated Federal Agents, Lieutenant Patrick Carroway and a team of VST and CSI personnel.

"I don't want to believe it," Houdini, face scrubbed of the black-and-white makeup that had characterized Watson Pritchard, says for the dozenth time. No one counters him this time.

"The force of killing Carly Simon moved the robot off line," Shepherd finishes her answer to Carroway's final question. "He couldn't reposition the robot; its placement along with the props had been precisely measured to allow it to function independently. He probably intended to accidentally jostle it later, to cover himself before the next performance."

"I won't believe it," Houdini repeats.

Shepherd knows the man is in shock, and sympathizes, but she's growing tired of the chorus. "Your partner decided nothing beat the free advertising of a murder house like a real murder on opening night." Her words seem to hit him as hard as they had the first time she's told him of the confession wrung out of the prisoner. She pushes this into the chink in his armor of denial.

"I don't know why he thought he wouldn't be caught," she continues. "He seems to have just assumed he wouldn't be. He tried to corrupt the evidence on and about Simon's body with that display of hysterics, but he never did get rid of the most damning evidence: the software or the souvenir photo."

She never did believe Matt Nicholas was stable; this is more than enough proof for her. She suspects this case won't conclude in a jail but an institution.

x

"But he loved her," Houdini protests, still trying to force some sense into the situation. The others can see why he continues to fail.

"At one time maybe he did. Maybe he still does, that's for the doctors to figure out. Maybe he grew tired of a one-sided love affair and she was reduced to a means to an end. He wanted his project to succeed, decided this was the best - or at least the fastest - way for it to become famous." She tightens the overcoat around herself and declares to all:

"I neither know nor care. We have his confession and his own photo of the murder. Computer Forensic Investigators can trace how he reprogrammed the robot, that's all for the Troopers now."

"But he was my partner. My friend."

"Then you have my sympathy, Mr. Houdini." She turns to Carroway. "And you have our testimonies. I'll see to it you have our written reports as soon as possible, but we're returning to Washington."

It feels so nice to be able to say that with no chance of being overruled. Their Federal power outweighs the Troopers' local authority, and her car and driver wait outside. "We're going home."

She turns and stalks out to the foyer and the finally open front door. Abby and Michelle have little choice but to follow. "And Abby?" she says as they head for the huge iron gate.

"Yes?"

"The next time there's a Girls' Night Out, I'm picking the spot."

"Yes, ma'am."

Epilogue 2

Later this morning, in the huge Church of Saint Mary the Virgin on New York Avenue, Special Agent Timothy McGee has shared a chaste kiss with Siobhan O'Mallory during the traditional exchange of Peace. She has returned to her place at the triple seat in the right side of the Sanctuary.

Reverend George Donaldson, officiating at this morning's Eucharist, has noticed that over the past several weeks their newest congregant has been moving forward in the nave. He used to be very inconspicuous in the middle to rear of the church but since his proposal on New Year's, he's been getting gradually closer to the Sanctuary. Donaldson suspects McGee doesn't even realize it himself but he's no longer inconspicuous. He is, in fact, third row right, closer by the week to where his fiancé sits.

Donaldson entertains a private speculation that, at the rate the Investigator's going, if the future McGees don't leave soon for that Ireland honeymoon Siobhan's been filling his ears with since Valentine's Day, the man will be in the Sanctuary with them by the end of the month.

x

The Priest steps down to the head of the center aisle to make his announcement which Church rubrics require over three successive weeks. The microphone attached to the collar of the green and gold chasuble carries his words throughout the huge nave.

"I publish the Banns of Marriage between Mr. Timothy McGee and the Reverend Siobhan Marie O'Mallory. If anyone can show just cause why they may not legally be married in accordance with God's law, you are bidden to declare it. This is the Second Time of Asking."

.

Next Episode: Ultimatum. Consequences of a former case threaten the agents and death invades the bullpen.