Rohm came into the lounge room, he marvelled at the ostentatious design, it was a beautiful house and the family who owned it were obviously were rich.
"Rich family, huh?" he said to the stoic Alger.
"Yes, the Carter's are quite wealthy, quite reputable too, donate a lot to the arts."
"Just have a crazy son?" Rohm surmised, "Every family's got one. What is he: schizophrenic?"
"No, just a very troubled young man," Alger replied calmly, absently straightening a throwover on the lounge.
"Ah, rich kid's problems then? His friends overdose or whatever, or has he always been like this?"
Alger just quietly replied: "No, in fact, up until a few months ago John was an emergency room doctor as Chicago County General, the chief resident, he just...lost one too many of his friends and family and something in him just...snapped, I suppose."
Rohm immediately felt guilty and more than a little perturbed; he had seen basket cases before, but he had never really come across one that had not been like that always or at least had induced themselves through drugs.
"Goodnight Det. Rohm, thank you for your help finding Mr Carter tonight, I and the Carter family do appreciate it, we do not forget a debt, I'll show you out." He could tell that the wispy old man was ushering him out, trying to purge the house of his presence. This family had secrets, what a surprise.
"No, I can show myself out, don't mention it Mr Alger, it's my job."
"Thankyou and goodnight."
"Morning." Rohm corrected, disappearing into the chilly April night.
When he was gone, Alger relaxed into a chair, closing his eyes for a well-deserved nap but it was only momentarily as it wasn't long before the tortured screams drifted down from above and Alger was running to Carter's side.
He knelt beside the cot, trying to wake the struggling Carter, he had kicked away his sheets and was arching and writhing to get out, to get away from something.
"Abby!" He screamed,"Abby! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Alger tried to shake him awake and he steadied himself at his side, trying to prevent Carter from hurting himself.
"John! John, wake up! It's just another nightmare, you have to wake up," He chanted, shaking him.
His eyes snapped open and they stared mystified into Alger's own for a second before Alger was pulled down onto his chest, Carter's thin hands trying to hold onto him.
"I killed her," he uttered and Alger injected him with another sedative.
"I killed her" he moaned in his chemical stupor, "I killed Abby."