DEADLY REVENGE

Chapter Six

The constable arrived at Caleb Mack's house and entered into the front hallway. His assistants were already there and had searched the house for any clues or evidence of wrong doing. He turned to one of the assistants, "show me the body." He said as he followed the assistant into the kitchen.

"It's a pretty gruesome site" the assistant said just before they entered the kitchen. "The body's on the floor at the far side, sir."

The constable took in the scene. Gruesome wasn't even the word for what he saw. There on the floor was Caleb lying in a pool of his own blood. A meat cleaver stuck out his head with multiple knives sticking out of his body. He was as white as a ghost as he had completely bled out from his attack. The constable looked around the kitchen but didn't see any evidence of anyone else being in there. If someone stabbed Caleb with that many different knives then he would have left his footprints in the blood. There was no way he could have avoided it. He crouched down next to the body. Whomever did this didn't just want Caleb dead, he wanted Caleb to suffer his last breathes in sheer agony. This is an act of vengeance, most definitely." He stood up and turned to one of his assistants. "Is there anything missing from the house?"

"No sir. As far as we can tell nothing looks disturbed anywhere else in the house."

"I figured as much. Get the body to the morgue right away. I'm going to see his parents now and let them know that their son is dead so they can make the proper funeral arrangements. Also, I want to ask them if they knew if Caleb had any enemies." With that said he left the townhouse and headed in the direction of the Mack estate. He knew Caleb and his close knit friends were all up to no good most of the time. But ... for someone to do this?" He thought to himself. Was this just a bazaar coincidence that his best friend was just killed by a falling chandelier? It had to be. There were so many witnesses to Thomas's death that there was no way it could be a murder. Just a freak accident. It had to be.

It didn't take the constable long to get to the Mack Estate. It was actually just down the street from Caleb's townhouse. He dismounted his horse and tied him to the hitching post and then walk up to the door and knocked. A few minutes later a footman answered. "May I help you sir?" He said.

"Yes. I am Constable Redding. I would like to speak with his lordship and his wife." He told the footman.

"Very good sir. Come in. You can wait for them in their sitting room. I'll go fetch them right away."

"Thank you." The constable replied. He stood in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back. He hated this part of his job. Especially when the deceased was so brutally murdered.

A few minutes later Lord Mack and his wife entered the sitting room. "You wanted to speak with us, Constable Redding?" He asked.

"Yes. It's a very delicate subject. I think it would be best if you and your wife sat down first."

Lord Mack motioned for his wife to sit as he took a seat himself right next to her. "What's this all about Constable? Has my son done something wrong again?" He asked, almost in a disgusting voice.

"No, sir. He hasn't done anything wrong this time ...." He stopped because he didn't know exactly how to tell these parents that their son was murdered in the most hideous fashion.

"Well, if he didn't do anything wrong then why are you here?" Lord Mack said, now getting a bit angry for this visit from the town's constable.

"I don't know how to tell you this so I'll just say it. Your son was murdered last night."

"Murdered! How the hell could that happen? Where ... why ... why would someone murder Caleb? He never hurt anyone in his life!"

Lady Mack just stared for a moment at the constable in total shock. And then the news sunk in. She screamed out, "NO! That can't be possible! You must be mistaken constable!" Tears were flowing down her face as her husband gathered her up in his arms. He then turned his attention back to the constable. "Are you positive it's Caleb? He asked in a very serious tone.