"So, you think that Mr. Benchley can help you? I did not think that Louis Benchley had that kind of influence." Albert Thatcher asked, amused, of his client, Frank Carruthers "Is he your drinking buddy?"
"Not him. Amos Benchley"
"What can he do? He's not even here."
"He can convince the prosecuting attorney to make it easy for me."
"Bribe him you mean? You realize that it is illegal. And you are in enough trouble. I can help you, but you must be realistic. You were caught with the evidence. They best you can do is to trade information for leniency."
"Amos Benchley can do it. He and Heather Mattox She has been in trouble with the law and knows what can help me."
"And why should she?"
"I have something of hers. Something that she forgot in Midler's place."
"Mr. Carruthers, please stop telling me things that will make me break the law. Do not tell me what it is. Give it to me to hold in a sealed envelope in confidence, so I do not know what it is."
"Will you contact her?"
"I will" Thatcher sighed. He always kept within the letter of the law. And most of the time with its spirit. But he was curious and his curiosity make him get more involved that he should be. "Tell me more about Mr. Benchley. What is your relationship with him?"
-0-
Professor Romney was in good condition, Amos was told, but was still resting and too groggy to welcome visitors… In any case, he was in good hands.
The smells of the place bothered Amos. Too much pain… and death hovering on patients… and blood. But he could control himself. He had already fed so he could endure it. He stopped to look at Dinah who was doing better.
Beverly was there too and was a bit abashed for having accused Amos "I do not blame you. That's what Irina wanted, to have me blamed for what she did. But she is gone."
"You took care of her?"
"There was a rite of banishment. No, I did not need to kill her – even if I could. As for her accomplice… he was just another victim. He is gone now and no threat to anyone."
Dinah stirred and she muttered some words…
"She has said 'Trenton' a couple of times. It probably has a bad memory – from her time as an urban terrorist."
Dinah opened her eyes. "Yes. Might as well hear it. We had the best intentions, really. Fight against the system and its injustices. Strike out for out principles… Long Live the Revolution and all that. We just made a lot of damage and changed nothing. We did put a few bombs to make our point. We assumed that no one would be hurt. But one man was killed, in Trenton…and… and I never told anyone about it, not even the lawyer mother hired to get me released in her custody. So, I ended up locked at home, doing penance….And you too Amos, seem to be doing penance too."
"So that's what Victor Booth had on you?" Beverly asked.
"Yes.:
"And you…"
"I did not tell him not to go digging. I did not tell him to try to kill mother. He did it himself And Uncle Louis was justified in shooting him dead, seeing Mother bleeding on the floor. That's what the police said.:
Beverly smiled inwardly. The more secrets she knew the more power she would have and with power came the chance to make something of herself. She would not abuse her power nor remind the Benchleys she had the upper hand, just count on their gratitude….
-0-
"Albert Thatcher kept within the law, most of the time" Heather commented. "He did not want to lose his license. But he knew tricks. He had the notebook sealed and put in his file by Frank. But he knew how to reopen and reseal it. So, he read Midler's notes and learned what was really going on. So, there was a vampire in Benchleytown. And one that you could do business with… A plan formed in his head. And the first part was dealing with me."
-0-
"Miss Mattox, you and Mr. Benchley should help my client."
"Why do you think that we can do anything?"
"Because of what Dr. Midler wrote in his notes - - now in then possession of Mr. Carruthers."