P R O L O G U E
12 March, 1975 Home of James Hubbard
He never went in to his shed except to check on the fuse box or get more ammo for his rifle or crossbow. All of the tools that he had where strewn across the benches that lined the walls. They hadn't been used since the house had been built ten years ago. After that they sat for no better purpose than to collect dust.
He was only wearing a pair of jeans under his robe, and being the middle of March, the night was particularly cold. For no reason, it seamed, the electricity to his entire house had turned off, and hoping it was only a loose fuse, he came out to check on it.
The fuse box was at the back of his shed, to the right of the big pegboard that the various tools should hang from. He walked up to the metal box and saw that the steel door hung ajar, opening it all of the way, his flashlight illuminated the small black switches that had all been flipped to off. Checking the labels again he saw that they had indeed been turned off. It must have been Sam, he thought. Sam was Mr. Hubbard's gardener who was the only person to enter the shed on a regular basis. He disliked Sam, who returned the favor, but kept him on since he worked cheap and did a decent job. Sam had most likely come in here and shut down the electricity to the house as a prank.
There was a quiet rustle, like a gentle zephyr blowing by a bush behind him.
Turning his head to view the rest of the small shed he saw a shadow beside the bench, no more than three feet away. He turned his light onto the figure and illuminated a man, slim and in his early forties. James Hubbard stood for a moment in confusion as to who this man was, but he was not standing for long, as the strange man pulled out a heavy wrench from the cluttered counter top and swung it around to hit Mr. Hubbard in the neck. His spinal cord snapped as the large piece of steel knocked him unconsciously to the floor.
Not wanting to rush things, the intruder laid Mr. Hubbard down on the cold concrete floor, unfolded his robe off of his left side and set to work. He opened up the black bag that he had set bellow the work bench and removed a small knife. Using the freshly sharpened blade, he made a small incision across Mr. Hubbard's left side, just below the rib cage. Using a few more of the tools from his bag, the man spread the skin to reveal a large muscle, which he pushed aside to make visible the small dark red organ that was Mr. Hubbard's left kidney.
Using a curved pair of scissors, the man cut the large veins that connected the kidneys to the circulatory system near the middle of Mr. Hubbard's back. The blood flow increased as the small organ was removed. Using a pair of electrified pliers, the man sealed off the blood coming from the artery. He placed the kidney into a plastic bag and sealed it into a small thermos filled with crushed ice.
He pulled out a roll of thread used for sewing up wounds and a needle. Threading the needle he set to work at closing up the opening.
When he had finished, he packed away the thermos and his various tools before looking back at Mr. Hubbard, who was now becoming semi- conscious though he would have no feeling below his neck.
"Well, Mr. Hubbard, what shall I do with the rest of you?" Hubbard merely made a small gurgling sound before passing back into unconsciousness. The intruder looked up at the pegboard on the back wall of the shed. Hanging there were a few tools and other various items, but there was one thing that caught his interest, a quiver of arrows and a hatchet.
12 March, 1975 Home of James Hubbard
He never went in to his shed except to check on the fuse box or get more ammo for his rifle or crossbow. All of the tools that he had where strewn across the benches that lined the walls. They hadn't been used since the house had been built ten years ago. After that they sat for no better purpose than to collect dust.
He was only wearing a pair of jeans under his robe, and being the middle of March, the night was particularly cold. For no reason, it seamed, the electricity to his entire house had turned off, and hoping it was only a loose fuse, he came out to check on it.
The fuse box was at the back of his shed, to the right of the big pegboard that the various tools should hang from. He walked up to the metal box and saw that the steel door hung ajar, opening it all of the way, his flashlight illuminated the small black switches that had all been flipped to off. Checking the labels again he saw that they had indeed been turned off. It must have been Sam, he thought. Sam was Mr. Hubbard's gardener who was the only person to enter the shed on a regular basis. He disliked Sam, who returned the favor, but kept him on since he worked cheap and did a decent job. Sam had most likely come in here and shut down the electricity to the house as a prank.
There was a quiet rustle, like a gentle zephyr blowing by a bush behind him.
Turning his head to view the rest of the small shed he saw a shadow beside the bench, no more than three feet away. He turned his light onto the figure and illuminated a man, slim and in his early forties. James Hubbard stood for a moment in confusion as to who this man was, but he was not standing for long, as the strange man pulled out a heavy wrench from the cluttered counter top and swung it around to hit Mr. Hubbard in the neck. His spinal cord snapped as the large piece of steel knocked him unconsciously to the floor.
Not wanting to rush things, the intruder laid Mr. Hubbard down on the cold concrete floor, unfolded his robe off of his left side and set to work. He opened up the black bag that he had set bellow the work bench and removed a small knife. Using the freshly sharpened blade, he made a small incision across Mr. Hubbard's left side, just below the rib cage. Using a few more of the tools from his bag, the man spread the skin to reveal a large muscle, which he pushed aside to make visible the small dark red organ that was Mr. Hubbard's left kidney.
Using a curved pair of scissors, the man cut the large veins that connected the kidneys to the circulatory system near the middle of Mr. Hubbard's back. The blood flow increased as the small organ was removed. Using a pair of electrified pliers, the man sealed off the blood coming from the artery. He placed the kidney into a plastic bag and sealed it into a small thermos filled with crushed ice.
He pulled out a roll of thread used for sewing up wounds and a needle. Threading the needle he set to work at closing up the opening.
When he had finished, he packed away the thermos and his various tools before looking back at Mr. Hubbard, who was now becoming semi- conscious though he would have no feeling below his neck.
"Well, Mr. Hubbard, what shall I do with the rest of you?" Hubbard merely made a small gurgling sound before passing back into unconsciousness. The intruder looked up at the pegboard on the back wall of the shed. Hanging there were a few tools and other various items, but there was one thing that caught his interest, a quiver of arrows and a hatchet.