Chapter 8: The Window:
The Stranger's POV:
I saw her through her window. She got into bed. I then got out my rope and swung to her window. I was about to grab her, but she woke up and saw me and screamed. I then had to leave.
Mirabel's POV:
Scott's Mother came in. "What happened?"
"I saw him," I said, "he came in!"
Wilfred's POV:
I was talking to Hollie at the county music hall. "What are you asking," asks Hollie.
"Think about it," I said, "we could look for the missing corpses!"
"Let me see if I get this straight," says Hollie, "there's a killer on the loose, killing people and taking their corpses and you want us to interfere with a police investigation? We'd either be killed or arrested!"
"Or we could get rewarded," I said, "think about it."
"Fine," says Hollie, "I guess it couldn't hurt... mainly because you can't feel pain when you're dead."
Mirabel's POV:
"Enjoying yourself," asks Scott.
"Excited," I said, "do other people come here?"
"Of course," says Scott," this is one of the most popular places."
"It doesn't seem that proper to me," I said.
"Don't worry," says Scott, "your reputation's safe. You don't have to worry about wax figures or seeing monsters in your dreams."
"There still seems to be something wrong with those wax figures," I said, "I can't figure it out, but I think Prof. Jarrod might be hiding something. That Joan of Arc statue... it even had the earring on the same ear as Liselotte. I don't think he could have been able to see it in a picture. I think it is Liselotte."
"Mirabel, I'm gonna take you to Det. Winton's office tomorrow," says Scott, "I want you to tell him exactly what you told me here now. He's a policeman, he knows. He'll convince you once and for all that no such thing could happen! Now, relax Honey and enjoy the show."
. . .
We were then at the police department.
"I know it sounds fantastic," I said, "but you asked me to tell you everything."
"You can see this idea's become an obsession," says Scott, "an unhealthy one if you ask me."
"You said Jarrod's a crippled," says Det. Winton.
"He uses a wheelchair," says Scott, "he can walk with crutches, but not very well."
"Such a man would have to study the pictures very carefully," says Det. Winton.
"There, you see," asks Scott, "that's how it's done. Ever to detail the features to make it true to life."
"Why should Joan of Arc have her right ear pierced," I asked.
"Why not," asks Scott, "they wore them then."
"Two," I said, "not one! I don't know, Detective, it's not a suspicion, it's more like a fear or intuition."
"Well, intuition isn't much help in police work," says Det. Winton, "facts are what we need. Suppose you forget about it and let us do the worrying, okay?"
"You mean you'll investigate it," I asked.
"Of course he does," says Scott.
"Yes, that's what I mean," says Det. Winton.
"You both think I'm crazy," I said.
"Oh, we think nothing of the kind," says Scott.
"It was very good of you to listen and be so patient," I said, "thank you." We then shook hands. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," says Det. Winton.
Wilfred's POV:
"Why are we back at this horrible place," asks Hollie.
"I overheard Mirabel say something about this statue being her roommate," I said, "this might be a clue on where the corpses are."
"She also says there's a man with a deformed face after her," says Hollie.
"Wax Corpse," I said.
"What," asks Hollie.
"Because he might be making was sculptures out of dead bodies," I said, "now, let's check out the others."
"Must we," asks Hollie, "they make me sick."
"Let's go," I said.
Mirabel's POV:
I decided to feel the Joan of Arc's face.
"So, you did come to see me, my Marie Antoinette," says Prof. Jarrod, "or was it that you came to see?"
"Mr. Jarrod, I'm so so sorry," I said, "I know I'm not supposed to touch the figures..."
"But you couldn't help yourself," says Prof. Jarrod, "I understand. This is Averill and Igor."
"How do you do," asks Mr. Averill.
"Igor isn't impolite, he simply cannot talk," says Prof. Jarrod, "Leon is an artist in his own right. It was he who did the wax work on the figure of Joan of Arc. Does she still seem real to you?"
"As real as life itself," I said, "of course her hair is different, but that doesn't change her face. What puzzles me is how can you get such detail from a photo? Was Liselotte wearing her earring when the police photographed her?"
"I don't remember," says Prof. Jarrod, "was she, Leon?"
"No... no I don't think so," says Leon, "the police removed the jewelry from the body, wouldn't they?"
"And yet you were careful to show it's been pierced," I said.
"If I missed a detail like that, Mr. Jarrod would be most displeased," says Leon, "he insists on reality."
"I can understand that," I said.
"Just a moment," says Prof. Jarrod, "there's something in the box Leon is carrying that I think would interest you. Open it." Leon opens it and it's my face. "Mr. Tennyson gave us permission to do a cast of the head he did of you. Leon has just finished it in wax. Do you like it?"
"It's sort of a shock to see your head detached that way," I said, "I guess it's a very good likeness."
"Yes and no," says Prof. Jarrod, "Tennyson, like all artists, has too much imagination. He couldn't improve on nature. What I need for my Marie Antoinette is you! The real you! Nothing else would satisfy me. Would you come and see me again, My Dear?"
I nodded and they left.
Wilfred's POV:
"They just creep me out," says Hollie.
"But you have to be impressed with the workmanship. He even has a Dracula."
"It'z poor quality," says this mysterious guy, "he vasn't even close on vfe King of all Vampirees! and people zhould ztop calling him count!" The man then leaves.
"Weird," I said.
"Wilfred, do you remember how my neighbor has disappeared," asks Hollie.
"Yes," I asked.
"Well, John Wilkes Booth looks just like him!"
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, Wilfred and Hollie talk to Det. Winton. The man who criticized the Dracula sculpture is the real Dracula.