Chapter 7

What a setup! Trask thought as he read the shaded indents.

Looking up, he saw lights beginning to shine in the windows throughout the street. Knowing that Betty Hanscombe's body was safely hidden inside the trunk, he thought it was a good idea to get out of the car quickly before he was seen inside. He opened the door and quietly shut it. Casually strolling to the street corner, he looked at the shaded-in page underneath the street lamp:

Mrs. gave two grand to a detective and he's on to you. If we're going to score the family fortune, do as I tell you. Take Mrs.' gun and meet me at the Blue Whale. I've secured a vial of benzodiazepine. BH will pass by the Blue Whale to get here, and I'll be waiting in my car. Bring the gun and I'll kill her myself. Detective will be following you. When he comes in, dose him with benzo and plant Mrs.' gun and the IOU on him. Toss vial down the drain under the sidewalk. Detective will not remember a thing and Mrs. will be questioned and have motive as an accomplice for hiring him to kill the woman she believed you were having a fling with. With Mrs. out of the way, all assets will be turned over to you, and you'll do just as we planned-share, and share alike

Shaking his head in shock and disbelief, anger burned deeply within him. Whoever wrote this had a heart as dark and evil as the Devil himself. He looked behind him in the direction of the parked sedan, studying the layout of the alley way. In his mind, he tried to imagine and piece together the scenario as it happened based on the time that had passed from when he awoke and based on evidence he had gathered:

2:15 a.m.

The sedan sped through the city limits. The destination was Collinwood. Betty Hanscombe, filled of adrenalin and determination, would stop at nothing to expose her scum ex-lover. Out of nowhere, a white vehicle comes in the opposite direction straight for her. Screaming as she swerves, the oncoming car swipes hers, running her on to the sidewalk as she slams her brakes. The assailant, wearing a hood with the eyes cut out, grabs the poor girl out of the car, covering her mouth and dragging her inside the Blue Whale.

2:20 a.m.

Paul Stoddard arrives inside, his face covered as well, but his voice unmistakable to her. After handing the gun to the assailant to hold Betty at bay, Paul demands that she give him the notepad. Of course, she refuses. Hell truly had no fury as this beautiful young woman scorned. Unknown to them, she had taken care of things to where, no matter if she loses her life, the truth would be delivered to Mrs. Stoddard and she would win.

"You have something that belongs to me, and I'll give you to the count of ten to give it to me." Paul sneered at her. His partner held the gun steady silently, not saying a word.

"Do you think threatening my life means anything to me, Paul Stoddard?" Betty fired back. "You've taken away my father, his life of comfort at Collinwood, and everything he worked so hard for. I'm just as guilty as you are for that, but I know you killed him and publicly shamed him! My baby is hidden away safely, and I have nothing left that can be taken from me, so your threat means nothing. Everything you've done will be delivered to Mrs. Stoddard if I live or die. All I have left is to expose you for the filthy slime you are. So do what you have to. No matter what, you've lost!"

Paul stood at a loss for words, unsure of what to do or say. The assailant holding the gun spoke quietly. "The child..."

Paul saw what his partner was leading to. Feeling a new sense of wicked determination to break her, he spoke again, his tone grim and sinister. "Yes...our daughter. You know I can find out where she is. I'll soon have all the money and the entire Collins fortune in my hands, and I plan on getting rid of every single shred of evidence of her existence. No matter what it takes or what I have to do. I will find her, but..." he smiled wickedly. "If you give me what I want, I may forget all about her. Whatever happens to that girl depends on you. Now, give it to me."

Unable to restrain herself, Betty charged toward Paul with unnatural fury. Paul ran toward her and they began to struggle. With a wild punch to the right side of his face, Betty knocked him down to the ground. Knowing that she could not be stopped, the gunman grabbed her and pushed her back across the room, sending her falling back on to one of the tables. Before she could come to a complete stand, a shot was fired that flung her body back on top of the table. Her eyes were wide open, and her lifeless body lay still on the table top.

The gunshot! Trask remembered. I heard the gunshot. That's what brought me there! I was following Paul Stoddard and ran inside the back entrance when I heard the gun fire. When I ran inside, there were two people with their faces covered who jumped me. I fought them off as best as I could, but that's the last thing I remember. That had to be around 2:45am, or so. One of them must have knocked me out cold, dragged me into the washroom, and planted the gun and IOU on me!

Detective Trask turned in the direction of the back door. When they left in a hurry, one of them must have tried throwing the benzodiazepine vial into the sidewalk sewer drain, but didn't know that they had missed. They were in too big a hurry to get back to Collinwood.

Trask held Betty's diary in his hands as the morning sun slowly began shedding its light over the town. Another thing they didn't count on is that Betty knew someone would find her diary and carry out her last wish for her. I can't let that beautiful young dame die for nothing. If I take this to the police first, they may not listen to me because it involves the Collins family.

Trask sighed as his shoulders shrugged. I hate to admit it, but Mrs. Stoddard was right and needs to know first. I have to get this to her now. I have to get to her first before her husband does.

After walking past the Blue Whale and further into town, Trask noticed a phone booth inside the hotel window and went inside. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, his hand gripped the receiver tightly before picking it up. He started second guessing himself. Should I call Collinwood first? There's been a murder! What should I do? She told me to make sure I contact her first before anyone else. She didn't know that murder would be involved, though.

His thoughts raced as he tried to calm himself and breathe deeply. After finally settling for the lesser of two evils, Trask closed the sliding door and looked around to see if anyone was watching. He decided to go with his first instinct.

"Operator?" he spoke solemnly. "It's Jerry Trask. Get me Collinwood, please."

(DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Dark Shadows. This story is a creation of my own within the universe of Dark Shadows with the sole intention of entertaining the reader. I do not profit or receive any royalties from the owners of the property, Dan Curtis Productions)