Ten

Chapter Twenty-Four

Epilogue

The next day, the young man who drove the boat arrived with instructions to bring Mr. DeGeneres' groceries inside the house. He did so and parked his boat almost on top of the spot where Chloe's body was resting under the water. But he did not notice the body at all. Once in the house, he found Gabe's bloody and lifeless body on the floor. This was all the young man needed to know. He dropped the groceries and dashed out to the boat and sped all the way back to the mainland.

Hours later, state police were on the island trying to determine what exactly happened. State Detective Damien Juarez, an acquaintance of Robert Hayes, was the lead investigator. It was the most baffling murder investigation that he encountered in his entire career and special agents from the FBI were brought in to assist with the investigation. More than a month was spent there on the island and many theories were put forward by other investigators, the most popular being a hit by one of the cartels.

However, Detective Juarez was quite thorough in his process and pursued all avenues. He looked at all of the victims and tried his best to draw a parallel between them, but still came up short. After a month on the case he recorded a memo:

"I've been on this case for weeks, but I'm still at a loss as to what happened. Ten bodies were discovered in the house, six men and four women, all killed violently and without a discernable motive. Two of the men were found their hands bound, one of whom was tortured, while the other was bludgeoned to death.

One of these men, Mr. Miles DeGeneres, the owner of the residence, was bound to a chair and tortured before being killed with a sexual gratification device at least a week before the others. As for the other nine, we have absolutely no idea what happened. Although it appears that some of the victims, apparently most of the female ones, seemed to have carried out these killings.

One of these female victims, notable attorney Ms. Bibi Worthington, was found stabbed through her femoral artery with a knife. But her fingerprints were found on a gun that we believe killed wanted child killer Enrico Malatano and ex-con Gabriel Alvarez. Her prints were also found on a blunt sexual device that was used to bludgeon Mr. Dominic Stephenson of tabloid fame.

However, it is our belief that Detective Hayes was stabbed with a knife and then killed with a hatchet prior to this second shooting and that his likely killer was Ms. Chloe Eckart, a teacher in the local country school system. In fact, I believe that it is in the realm of possibility that Ms. Eckart may have killed several of the other victims as well. Though how or why she may have carried out these murders out is not fully understood.

Although Detective Robert Hayes, a colleague of mine, appears to have been killed by Ms. Eckart, it appears also that he was stabbed by an unknown assailant, though the motive for either attack is unclear. Ms. Eckart has also been confirmed as the killer of Ms. Worthington, through finger print and DNA evidence, though the motive is also not understood.

The hammer that likely killed Carl Miller, the other bound man, contained prints from Mr. Alvarez and Ms. Kelly Santos. The evidence in this case points to Ms. Santos as Mr. Alvarez seems to have been killed by this point, although his prints were found on an axe that was not used in any of the killings, but damaged several areas of the house.

Ms. Santos was killed by an arrow fired by a crossbow found on the residence, though no fingerprints or DNA evidence was found near the weapon. The last woman, a legal immigrant named Isabel Garza, was also mysteriously killed, but by in injection of poison. Who performed this murder is anyone's guess.

The last person killed appears to be Ms. Eckart, who was drowned after apparently stepping on a bear trap inside a sunken rowboat. It is not known who set up the bear trap or who may have been shooting at Ms. Eckart.

But there is one thing of which I am certain, but I have no evidence of it whatsoever. There was an eleventh person in that house. Whoever this man or woman is, they're out there somewhere. My gut tells me that the boat driver, Douglas Price, was somehow involved. But as there was no evidence to hold him we had to release him after a few days of questioning.

To be honest, I'm getting sick of this case. It's like a problem that can never be solved. Shit..." he paused shrugging, "I need a vacation after this one."

With that he turned off his recorder and called it a day.

***

Several months later, several men and women sat in a very fine room. They were of all different sorts and each had their own reason for being there. But one thing all of them had in common; each of them had a secret.

There were several chairs set up and refreshments available on a table in the corner. But not many of them took advantage. Most of them were becoming uncomfortable, for they had been waiting a long time and they were getting impatient.

A heavy, older, slightly balding man in a grey suit with a red tie stood up and complained out loud, "This is bullshit! How long are we going to have to wait?"

Some of the others asked him to settle down, and he rolled his eyes and complied.

Not long after that the attractive young brunette, whom they had been introduced to earlier, entered the room carrying a small stack of files, which she set on desk in front of all of them and sat in the chair behind the desk. She was wearing an expensive looking skirt suit and her hair was put up into a very conservative bun and she wore metal rimmed glasses, which didn't do much to hide her natural beauty.

"I want to apologize for the delay. I am the estate attorney, and I will now begin the reading of Mr. Woolworth's Last Will and Testament..."

"Well it's about time," growled the man in the grey suit.

"Is there a problem?" the pretty young lawyer asked.

"No problem, Sweetheart," he answered, "So long as you get to the good part. That is the part where I get my money?"

Madeline smiled politely, "Please be patient with me, Sir. I am making it my mission that you'll get exactly what's coming to you."

The End