A Murder in Mayberry

Part5/8) Captive: William

William was resigned to his fate. He knew he had mental problems and he understood and accepted this, but there was no excuse for stupid. Anyone who was stupid enough to walk into the den of the devil probably deserved to be there. William walked right through the door.

On the day that William left Donnelly Apartments, he walked down Riverside Drive and instead of cutting left and going by his old workplace, he cut right and got on the walking trail. He was headed to his old, under-the-bridge home. It served well as a home in the past. It was near town, sturdy, and while not the warmest, kept the wind off. If there was enough cardboard and newspaper, the under-the-bridge home was warm enough not to freeze to death. It was not that cold today so he felt he had a little time to scavenge for insulation. For now, he was going to just get his stuff situated and get settled.

Smelly Freddy had other plans.

"This is my place now, William " he said. "Been here a year or more. Ain't enough room for us both. Go somewheres else."

William nodded.

William went back up the trail and headed out 103 towards Flat Rock, near the quarry, and behind the school. He walked a mile or so. He settled in a place he lived in prior to the bridge, deep in a strand of woods and far enough from the school so no one would complain that there was a creepy, homeless man behind the school staring at the kids. Hopefully, he wouldn't get shot by hunters. Muzzleloading season was open now a week. William knew from experience that when rifles and shotguns entered the mix, the woods could get crowded. He'd be avoiding more than the landowner then. He would stay here for maybe a week until he made a better plan.

William was well hidden and that is why it took Charles Livengood three days to find him.

Charles, boy scout troop leader of troop 151, Order of the Pine, branched off from the troop that day. He tried to think like William and realized that since William's old under-the-bridge home was taken, maybe he lived somewhere else prior to the bridge. He went back to talk to Smelly Freddy.

"Yeah, William used to live out in the woods, 'afore he got this great spot," said Smelly Freddy, "This is my spot now. William's over near the quarry, behind the school 'bout a mile or so. Ain't nearly as nice as this place though."

With vague directions, it took Charles another day to find William. It was not easy to convince him to come back to his place, but he used his secret weapon. "Bernie has been sick with worry. I promised I'd bring you back," he said.

That is why William got in the car and rode with Charles to his house. He went to the basement to help Charles get a surprise for Bernie - her favorite wine - and walked right into the cell that was now his home.

Of all the captives Charles ever brought home, William recognized what was going on immediately. No denial, or what is going on, or there's been a mistake. He was completely aware of his circumstances and predicament. Whether William was suffering from a grief so complete as to cause a break from sanity or just suffering from a break in normalcy and reality after three cold nights in the woods, William recognized his plight immediately. He knew right away this was bad, real bad.

William was in the den of the devil, and this devil did not have a blue dress on or have plans to go down to Georgia.