THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     At exactly 6:36 a.m. on January 31, 1989 Norman was taken from his cell for the last time and the feeling he had was like a hermit crab crawling out of it's cramped shell. He was brought to the processing department for the release procedures. As he was signing all the necessary paperwork one of the officers handed him a large box saying "This was delivered for your release."

     Norman looked at the long box curiously and opened it, where he found, to is delight, a three piece grey gabardine suit, a white dress shirt with french cuffs, a grey silk tie, a pair of dress socks and a pair of Italian leather cap toe shoes, along with a set of silver cuff links in the shape of an X! Norman stood at the sergeant's desk slipping out of his denim prisoner's uniform, like a snake shedding it's skin, as he proceeded to dress himself in front of the officers whom had stood guard over him the last ten years. Norman felt a sense of pride and dignity come over him instantly as soon as he was attired in the expensive garments; which fit his athletic, tall, muscular body perfectly, as if tailored made for his measurements. Even the guards remarked how dapper and dashing he looked, saying he was very lucky to have a friend on the outside that cared enough about him to send along such a posh gift. Yes, a good friend indeed, he had replied. Now our Norman stood there for a minute not sure what to do next, for his time had been carefully monitored and his movements relegated to the schedule of the prison guards. "Well, all you've to do now is be sure to report to your parole officer next week and please Norman..," the sergeant said "try and stay out of trouble. Don't let me catch you back in here." he said extending his hand.

     "Oh aye!" Norman said as he looked at the men in blue for the last time.

     "There's a car waiting." one of the other officers said as he and another guard escorted the prisoner, un-cuffed, down the long hall through the barb wired fences, on that bitter cold morning as a light dusting of snow began to fall, their breath a mist of silver as Norman was let out of the locked, armed gates, a free man. His heart raced like a grey hound chasing after a rabbit as he saw a stylish, new, long black town car with tinted windows parked at the entrance to the old prison. The driver stepped out, a charcoal grey camel hair coat draped over his arm.

     "Your coat sir." the middle aged Englishman said helping Norman into the warm garment, bundling up against the early morning winter air. "Your gloves." the driver said as he handed them to Norman who was anxious for him to open up the back door, for surely he thought Xavier would be sitting in the car waiting for him. However, the backseat was empty as Norman climbed in disappointed. His driver gave Norman a friendly smile as he sat behind the wheel, pulling away from the prison. Norman turned around in his seat watching as the old stone fortified structure slowly disappeared in the back ground and out of view forever. Each mile the driver put between  Norman and the prison walls made him feel  more relaxed and hopeful of the future.

     Now Norman sat back and felt something in the pocket of his coat. He reached in and pulled out a small manila envelope. There inside he found an English passport with his picture, but someone else's name. Bengiman Pruce, it read.There were several visa stamps to many different countries with dates from 1978-1989. As he flipped through his new passport he found a birth certificate folded up inside, it too read Bengiman Pruce, born 31 of October 1955. Now the only thing right about the birth certificate was the birth year. Norman looked at his photo on the apparently legal document, he repeated in his mind Bengiman Pruce, Bengiman Pruce. It took about a quarter of an hour for 'Bengiman' to snap out of his mind numbing trance when he had the sudden realization he had no idea where he was going "Driver?"

     "Yes Mr.Pruce?" the driver looked back in the rear view mirror.

     Silent, vacant stare "Where are you taking me?"

     "Mr.Pruce, I apologize, I am not at liberty to say."

     Our newly named Bengiman sat back intrigued by what his old friend Xavier was up to, but really Bengiman was just so thankful and happy his dear friend had not forgotten about him. It was a long drive, where ever they were headed, and Bengiman enjoyed the ride through the snow covered English countryside. The bare trees so dark in the wood, mists rising up over the rivers and streams, quite country cottages with wisps of grey smoke trailing up from the chimneys. Picture fucking perfect our Bengiman thought, however as they headed south he began to recognize the scenery, for his driver had taken him to Kent. He became anxious as the car pulled in through the black iron gates of the local cemetery. They proceeded down a small gravel road past the many long rows of tombstones and statues of weeping, winged angels. All the blood which ran through Bengiman's veins was like ice water and the heavy weight of dread overcame him.

     The driver stopped the car turned and said "We're here Mr.Pruce." next he got out of the drivers seat and opened up the back door for his passenger. It took Bengiman a moment to step to his feet as he looked uncertain where to go "Over there Mr.Pruce." the kindly driver pointed  "See the wreath of red roses? I believe they were your mother's favorite."

     Norman Pierce looked over and saw the flowers at some distance and he began walking slowly, carefully through the snow, towards his mothers grave. The pain and the heartache and loss of his dear sweet lady began billowing up in his heart, as bitter tears of regret began welling up in his eyes. As he grew ever nearer to that hallowed ground, Gertrude's heartbroken little boy did not hear the sound of his driver departing the cemetery grounds, leaving the broken man alone with his pain. The headstone was a beautiful, magnificent, solid pink granite stone, carved with climbing vines of roses and thorns. The words Loving Mother, Gertrude Ashley Pierce, 1926-1985, of course he knew this could have only been erected and paid for by Xavier and his sisters. After his lamentations Norman/Bengiman heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the long gravel road, he turned to see a  white stretch limousine pull up alongside the path. As he stood at the foot of his beloved mother's grave, he watched in shock as he saw the driver open up the back door, where to his delight he saw a familiar looking, tall, dark haired, handsome man standing with his hand extended, helping out of the back seat a petite, raven haired beauty. It was, no other than, Felina and her brother!

     "Sweetheart!" Felina called out to her dearly missed friend.

     "Felina! Xavier! Oh my Christ!" he yelled across the headstones running, nearly slipping on the path in his excitement. He ran towards his darling girl, sweeping her up in his arms as she kissed his lips, tears of love and joy staining her rosy cheeks as Xation threw his arms around both of them. "God it is so great to see you!"

     "Look at you! My God you are built like a Spartan Warrior!" Xation exclaimed seeing his friend who was now a full grown, mature man after so many long years.

     "And you! Xavier! You're not a young lad anymore! Older, much more mature looking! You look like a captain of industry!" he exclaimed for he was a boy of 19 when last they saw each other.

     "That is because I am, Bengiman." Xation refered to him by his new identity for the first time.

     "Oh Bengiman!" Felina sighed with an ecstatic smile "My brother Xation, and I have waited so long!"

    "Xa.., tion?" Bengiman said slowly sounding out the name a little confused.

    "Yes, Xation, sounds almost exactly like Satan!" Felina laughed then she turned and said "Come Bengiman, it is far too cold here. We need to go somewhere where it is warmer, do you not agree?" Felina gave one of her illicit little smiles and said "We would like very much to take you back to Argentina with us and make you part of our family." a pause, followed by silence as this sank in to her friend's brain. "That is, if that's alright by you?"

     Xation Day looked over at his loyal friend and smiled "We will make it worth your while, after everything you have done to protect my freedom and my name, please, for you must be repaid."

     Bengiman Pruce looked at his dear friends and with no thought of his parole or the future he extended his hand to his wealthy and influential friend and said "Cheers mate! I thought you'd never ask!"

     "Then come, we will go!" Xation exclaimed "For we have waited far too long for this day!" he smiled warmly and said "We have reservations for lunch at the Guinea, in London, and we have much to discuss about your future," Xation smiled warmly at his good and faithful friend saying "so let us be on our way."

  THE END

Chapter 20 continues

     So it was Norman quickly adjusted to his new life in prison, and, being that he was such a large, giant of a man, Norman was never troubled by the other inmates, who would rather be his friend than his enemy. However, Norman did not want any friends or companions so he kept to himself, rarely speaking. Ever quiet and brooding as he went about his back breaking, laborious task of smashing rocks in the quarry for her Majesties construction projects. He, along with the other prisoners, were served three square meals a day, of the blandest food he had ever had the misery of eating. Day after day in the work yards led to Norman developing muscles he did not even know he had, and after a few years he was built like a 'brickshit house' as they say in the Southern States of America. So he passed his time each day, deep in thought of the memories he had of wine and women, and fabulous dinners with his good friends. Norman looked forward to each night when the inmates were given two hours in their cells before lights out. This is when he would lie on his tiny bunk bed and get lost in a classic novel he had purchased from the commissary, with the stipend Felina gave him each month. Norman was so thankful for her kindness and generosity, as well as the many letters and post cards and the amazing photographs she had sent; which he plastered all over the walls of his tiny cell. Thankfully, because of Norman's propensity for violence and the sheer size of him, he was allowed to have a cell all to himself. 

     Norman had become a voracious reader, for the stories he read were his only escape from the hell of his existence. Were it not for tales by Washington Irving, John Melville, Mary Shelly, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Browning, Isak Dinesen, Harper Lee, John Steinbeck and the master, Ernest Hemingway, our poor Norman would have gone stark ravening mad. While he got lost in these fantastic works of fiction, the world outside was passing him by. Norman had missed the rise of the Police and Sting, the Irish band U2 and Bono, and England's own Def-Leppard, the dissolution of such legendary bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones. The arrest and conviction of Peter Sutcliff, the Yorkshire Ripper, who had terrorized the nation for nearly a decade, brutally murdering over thirteen prostitutes and attacking seven in the Leeds area. The birth of MTV. The nightmare of the rise, and spread, of a newly discovered lethal disease called, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; which would decimate the population of Africa as it spread to all corners of the globe. Leading England's own Bob Geldof to create the world wide music festival, Live Aid. Norman missed the wedding of the century when 20 billion people watched Prince Charles marry a shy, young, 19 year old, beauty from Scotland named, Lady Diana Spencer. He also missed the births of the two crowned princes William and Harry. Yet, among everything he did not get to experience, the only one regret our Norman had was, he was not there for his mother's funeral. For she had passed in the summer of '84 on her way riding on a bus up from Kent to the prison to see her son, as she had come twice every month to visit with him. Old Gertrude had been devastated by her son's Manslaughter conviction and his incarceration, but she loved her boy just the same. She had been feeling a bit dizzy and lightheaded that morning, and halfway there on the road to the prison his mother suffered a massive stroke and died right there in her seat. Norman was shattered by the news he received later that day from the warden. There was only one thing Norman would ever regret about his life and that was not being there for his mother, when she needed him most, for this Norman would never forgive himself.

     This is how he spent those long years isolated from the outside world, only the newspaper and letters from Felina and Serena to keep him up to date on the goings on, outside the thick prison walls. Then early in January 1989 Norman was summoned before the Parole Board to be updated on his pending release; which was scheduled for the 31st later that month. Norman could hardly believe ten long years had finally come and gone. However, there were still the formalities to deal with as he was instructed by the Board on the conditions of his release. He would be on probation for 5 years, during which he was to report to his parole officer twice each month. He was forbidden from voting, associating with known felons, the use of narcotics was strictly forbidden and his urine would be tested randomly to confirm he was 'clean'. The prisoner was also forbidden from traveling outside of the United Kingdom. However he was allowed to travel throughout Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Norman sat and listened quietly, he thanked the men of the Parole Board and agreed to the terms and conditions of his probation, signing all the corresponding documents to that effect. Then he was escorted, handcuffed, back to his prison cell where he had only three more weeks left to serve out his sentence. As Norman settled down in his bunk with a well worn copy of 'The Old Man and the Sea', he suddenly realized he had no idea what would become of him after he was released. Now the worry and dread of an uncertain future began to creep into his head. Though he needn't worry, for Felina and Xation had already made plans for their dear friend's future. In fact, Felina was already in London with her brother making arrangements to get Norman out of the country and securing the paperwork for Norman, for he would have a brand new identity and name.

Chapter 20 begins

     "Xation!" came Felina's brother's voice over the telephone, as she lie in her bed with the copper headed, young bell boy, of the Savoy named Quentin.

     "What?" she asked a little 'sex drunk' wishing she had not answered the phone.
     It was Thursday morning and Xavier/Xation had raced down to the Student Union to phone his sister's hotel room after his Socio-Economics class. "Xation, Xation Day."
     "Xation?" she sounded confused.
     "In my text book, the word was taxation, but the word was hyphenated at the margin, Ta-, on the next line was printed xation!" Xation said jubilantly, as if he had discovered some hidden secret of the Universe.

     "Hmm..," Felina paused as she watched the tall, well endowed Quentin slip up out of her warm bed and dress himself back into his hotel uniform.

     "What do you not like about it?" Xation asked sincerely.

     "No, I think it is the most unusual, sexiest, name I have ever heard.., Xation." she repeated, Felina paused as Quentin gave her wink and exited her room.

     "However..?" Xation said disheartened.

     "Do you not think it sounds too much like.., SATAN?" Felina spoke truthfully.

     "Yes! Of course! That is why I like it!" Xation shouted.

     "Ay! Dios Mio!" Felina laughed then said to her brother "Xation Day? This is what you want?"

     "Si Senorita!" Xation shouted over the phone, pleased with his new moniker.

     "Very well." she agreed

     So it was about 60 days later, after all the proper paperwork had been filed, Xation Day received all his new documentation, his birth certificate, passport, a newly issued student I.D. everything he needed to take on a newly named identity. Even on his diploma, two years later, the name read, Xation Day. He had managed to graduate at the top of his class and secure a much coveted position with Morgan Stanley in Manhattan. Xation had done very well for himself, a nice apartment on the upper west side, successfully making commission off his clients, whom he urged to invest in I.B.M. For what was once a high yielding class project, had produced much dividends off their initial investment. Xation never once stopped thinking about our poor Norman, locked up away in Her Majesties prisons. The tech stock had been soaring and Xation had a nice pile of cash for his good friend, whenever he would be released. Xation was not always working and alone in the big city, for during the Spring and Fall his sisters, Felina and Serena would come and visit, staying with him at his high rise apartment overlooking Central Park, for fashion week.

     Now Serena was finally told of Norman's fate in the Fall of '83. She had been begging Xation to invite Norman out to party in the city with them. Until one day when Felina had taken enough of her little sister's whining about the situation, when she opened up her mouth and the truth came tumbling out. Xation, as well as Felina, were not sure how their little sister Serena would take the terrible truth of the story they had to relay to her. However, Serena was no longer a stupid little girl, no. Our strong Serena, nearly 21, admired our Norman for his courage and bravery to stand alone for his crime. From here on Serena and her sister Felina made a point over the next six years to send post cards from all over the world, and letters with photographs of the two of them in bikinis, with oiled, bronzed skin on white sandy beaches, from St.Tropez, to Bimini. These tokens of admiration and honor were the highlight of our incarcerated Norman's confinement, as he languished at her Majesties pleasure from 1978 to 1989. But in the meantime Xation Day, and his seductive sisters spent their time growing older, and wiser and richer. Yet they never failed, at every meal together, to raise a glass to their dear friend Norman Pierce.

    

End Chapter 19

     A short while later Xavier sat, speeding down through the heart of London in the Mayfair district, behind the wheel of his expensive new automobile; which he had eagerly accepted from his sister,whom he was taking to dinner at Wheeler's of St. James off Piccadilly, the finest seafood restaurant in all of England. Felina had never been and she enjoyed the ride through Green Park adjacent to Buckingham Palace Gardens all wet with the unyielding rain. Felina was glad she had made her brother so happy with her gift. So they arrived at the famous restaurant, which had been at 72-73 St. James Street since 1856, both were ravenous as they sat at their well appointed table, Felina opened up her menu at once and, forgoing all pleasantries with her waiter, she began a long list of items she required for her and her brother's sustenance. For it was nearly six o'clock, twelve hours since they last ate breakfast. However the waiter did not know this, he was too astonished the petite, beautiful woman could order so much food. "Start us off with two pints of Fullers London Pride, and for our appetizers.., 1 Salad of Cornish crab, 2 prawn cocktails, 2 bisque of crab Newburg, an order of smoked salmon with brown bread and butter." Felina paused for a moment to let the server catch up "Xavier, how does grilled Dover sole a la salamadre with Swede puree and buttered spinach sound for me, and pour vous.., grilled lobster with herbs and Bearnaise sauce?"

     "Yes!" Xavier said his mouth watering as she spoke.

     "Yes, everything I just said and what ever my brother would like." Felina gave a warm smile to her lovely waiter who would take the utmost care of her service at the, beyond expensive, fine dining establishment. 

     After a few pints of Fullers and a bit of easy conversation between plates of exquisite cuisine Xavier sat back in his chair gazing out the window to the street where he saw his shiny new sports car beading up with water from the rain. Xavier turned and looked at his sister with her big brown eyes and soft rosy cheeks, then she smiled when he said "Thank you again Felina for buying a car for me. You are the best sister a brother could ever have, but tell me?" he paused taking a sip of his ice water. "What have I done to deserve this?" 

     Felina laughed a little and said "Nothing.., yet." she gave a coy look.

     "And there it is! I can feel the pull of the little string attached to your benevolence and generosity, my dear, sweet sister." Xavier shook his head hoping her request would not be so bad.

     "I need for you to change your name." she said plainly.

     Xavier was not sure he heard her correctly "Change my,"

     "Yes." Felina interrupted. "Westernize it."

     The two sat across the table from one another looking into each other's eyes, Xavier could see his sister's mind working like a finely tuned watch, she was setting the gears in motion for something, but Xavier could never be sure which direction he would be pulled, so he asked the most important question ever devised "Why?"

     Felina leaned over the table a little, as a dead serious look came over her face, as if they were in both great peril "As you know, our dear friend will not be able to be with us for a very long time.., and just in case our friend lets some information slip." she sighed and shook her head "For if the wrong word goes in the right ear.., well that always proves to disastrous. Believe me brother, by doing this you will help yourself in more ways than one."

     "Go on." Xavier said with a hint of consternation.

     "You will be entering one of the most cut throat industries, the world of high finance, stocks, the markets and with a foreign sounding name like..," she paused seeing Xavier had taken a bit of offense with her statement. "All I can say is, if you stay in London or work on Wall Street, you are in a very prejudice business. Listen, Xavier people are racist all over the world, whether we like it or not." Felina tried to focus her meaning for him to clearly understand "I have traveled all over the world, as you well know, and the majority of men I have met, say we will begin with the Englishmen, who hate Scotsmen, who hate the English, who hate the French, who hate the Germans, who hate the Americans, who hate the Mexicans, who hate the Americans, who hate the Canadians etc.. etc... etc..." she threw her hands up in disgust, then she sharpened her eyes upon him like a sharp eyed eagle locking target on it's prey " So I ask you brother, on a business card, who do you think would get more calls and pull more clients in New York, London, Paris, Munich? Senor Diaz or Mr.Day?"

     This thought had never even fucking occurred to Xavier Antonio de la Rosa Diaz, but it only made sense, based on the way he was treated when he was relegated to being just an average, poor foreign student living in a dorm. Xavier knew money could overcome any prejudice, but now he realized that formula only worked at school. In the real world, where vast sums of money and corporations were concerned, name was everything, just like a brand. Xavier mulled this over as his sister ordered desert then he sighed and said "Well, yes I guess that makes sense." 

     "Well it's coming out of my mouth! Of course it makes sense!" Felina gloated. "Now I have the forms here for you." she said taking the papers from her snakeskin purse. "Now I filled everything out, see."

     Xavier looked at the documents neatly written by Felina's hand, all the spaces were filled, except for the space for the New Name. "What can I change my name to?"

     "Well, we can change Diaz to Day, that is easy enough" Felina said entering Day for his new last name. "The rest you can think about later, however, I leave on Friday so you must have at least decided on a first name. Also I need a copy of your passport and student I.D. I can obtain a copy of your birth certificate from the university student records office tomorrow. So Mr.Day? Ready for a sherry trifle and poached pears in cream?"

     So it was the two had a wonderful delicious dinner together retiring back to Felina's hotel room to hang out with each other and watch a bit of t.v. Felina went over every detail of Norman's hearing with Xavier who was shocked to learn of her morning visit to the courtroom. It did Xavier's heart good to know she had gone in his place to see Norman off. Xavier made her tell the story over again, so she told the story to him three or four more times. A little after ten o'clock Felina was interrupted by her brother's light snoring, as he had fallen asleep with his head on the pillows, next to her in bed. Felina leaned over turning off the light wondering what the future would hold for her brother, just barely 20 years old, with his whole life ahead of him. She could never foresee where his life would lead, but Felina had made a promise to herself, and God, that she would always do whatever must be done to keep her brother safe from harm. Oh our dear, sweet, Felina, if only she could know what the cruel Fates had devised for her future, the suffering, the heartache and the loss of lives, perhaps she would have not slept so soundly that night.

      

Chapter 19 continues

     Felina stood grasping the railing, she felt faint watching Norman go, her stomach was twisted in knots and it took her about twenty minutes to gather her thoughts and courage. Then she departed the crowded galleries above the courtroom, as more hearings proceeded for the day. Felina found herself down stairs searching the long corridors in the old, cold stone and marble courthouse 'The Old Bailey' as it was referred to by the common folk. After what seemed an endless search, Felina found the Department of Accounts for Her Majesties Prisoners. Here Felina, being a kind and loving friend to Norman, opened up a commissary fund account for him, in the amount of 500 Pounds. To which Felina would add money to every month for the next ten years, for that is the sentence our Norman would receive at his trial by judge for the crime of Manslaughter.

     As Felina made her way back outside to her awaiting limo she let out a deep sigh as she opened up her umbrella dashing out to the car down the long steps from the courthouse in the pouring rain. "Where to now Madame?" the old driver asked.

     "Now I must go to the Argentine Consulate, at 27 Three King's Yard, just off Bond Street." she informed the driver who gave her a warm and friendly smile.

     "Bond Street, always good for shopping." he cheerfully recommended, but Felina could not think about shopping in the designer boutiques just now. No, she needed to pick up the forms for a change of name. For she knew she must convince/force her brother to change his name, just in case Norman slipped up and gave away the real truth of their terrible story. This might prove to be difficult, but she was older and wiser than Xavier, and Felina was more than willing to buy him a little sports car, if need be, so she proceeded with the utmost confidence.

      Around 4:30 in the p.m. Felina drove out in a little red Porsche 911 Turbo she took for a test drive from a local auto dealership. Xavier came out of his class where he saw his sister standing in the hall flirting with one of his professors. Overjoyed to see her, Xavier's, face lit up as they locked eyes and he smiled, lovingly kissing his sister on the cheek, giving her quick squeeze in his strong arms. "Felina, you are so beautiful. You always make me so happy when I see you." Xavier said in the manner in which he was accustomed to speaking to his dear sweet sister, whom he worshiped and adored.

     "Sweetheart." Felina said her amber eyes sparkling "How was your day?"

     "Much better now you are back here with me."

     "Are you hungry?"

     "Famished." Xavier said rubbing his grumbling stomach.

     "Excellente! Here, catch." she said tossing the keys to the little red Porsche with a curious smile.

     "What? You bought a car?" he said a sudden rush of joy filling his heart, as Felina was always finding ways to surprise him.

     "Perhaps." Felina gave a wink and a little laugh as she ran down the corridor shouting "Come see if you like it!' Xavier slung his book bag up over his shoulder as he chased after his sister playfully out of the building. As his classmates and instructors looked on, not sure if the two were brother and sister, or boyfriend and girlfriend. This was not unusual, for Xavier was unusually close to both his sisters.

     Xavier ran out in the rain full of excitement, jumping into the 'sweet ride' laughing and thrilled when Felina explained he could drive it back to the car lot, and if he wanted the vehicle than it was his. Now Xavier had no idea this gift would come with one tenuous string attached to it, but as for now he threw his arms around his benevolent sister kissing her on the lips saying "Thank you Felina! I love you so much!" another kiss on his sister's lips and Xavier fired up the 300 horse power engine, they buckled into the bucket seats and Xavier went tearing off down the wet roadway his heart racing with excitement of finally having a car again! This had been a very difficult time for Xavier and, for now, this little present took his mind off his dear friend sitting in a prison cell. Though Norman would have been very happy for Xavier if he had known about Felina's surprise. And when Norman was sent a notice of his account balance in the commissary,  he too was surprised knowing, full well, Felina was behind it. This act of friendship and loyalty was of great comfort to Norman as he would endure thousands of nights alone, without his dear friends, whom he missed terribly!

Chapter 19 begins

     Norman cleared his throat, as he stood up straight, pleading his case to the judge of his Summary Hearing. "I was there sir, stealing half a million pounds in cash, among other items" a gasp came over the gallery, even Felina was taken aback by the sum of money he had gotten away with.

     "Did you know the victim?" the judge inquired.

     "No your Honor, I did not." he paused then spoke again before the judge could ask his next question. "Nor did I lay in wait, or premeditate his death, in any way, shape, or form. I will confess to Manslaughter and waive my rights to a trial by jury in the Crown Court."

      The judge made a notation in Norman's file then continued on his course of questioning."Will the defendant please explain to the court just how Mr.McDowell came to perish?"

     Norman sighed and began his story/lie in a clear voice that filled the courtroom as the hushed crowd gathered around him and above him listened intently "I had been back in the study, where the safe is located. It had taken me two days of work to crack it open, whereupon, your honor, I discovered the huge stacks of cash. No sooner had I placed the money in an emptied, deep desk drawer and had come out to the living room, prepared to leave.., well that's when everything went 'pear-shaped'." here he paused for dramatic affect, letting out a heavy sigh shaking his bowed head as he continued with the thread of his story/lie "I heard someone come in the front door, the victim your honor. Now if you can only imagine this poor lad had come home to find me, giant of a man, my nickname's 'Goliath', he was screaming.., terrified, I dropped the heavy drawer full of cash as he, the victim, ran towards the telephone." here another pause another sigh. "Your honor, I could not let him make that call to the police.., so I, in a moment of desperation and panic, without thinking clearly I.., I remember I grabbed a tall glass candlestick and struck, the victim," Norman referred to Teddy, thus wise, for he could not, did not wish to, say his name. "However, when I hit him, it took a few times to get him to go down..," here a few members of the gallery, women, shook their heads in revulsion as they listened to the tale "As I have stated to, Chief Inspector Fowler, I thought the candlestick was made of glass, but it was solid lead crystal and was very heavy, causing the massive head trauma." Norman began thinking of that day, how it really happened, but no matter what spin he tried to put on his story, one fact always remained the same, Norman had bashed in a young man's skull, exposing the brain. "It happened so quickly, your honor, three or four seconds maybe.., then after the victim stopped moving, motionless at my feet, it occurred to me then what had happened. I panicked, I threw the crystal candlestick down on the floor, then I knelt down beside the poor lad. I was in a state of shock, but I wanted to check his pulse and see if he was still, indeed, alive. I thought if I felt a sign of life I could call emergency services, who could transport him to hospital." short pause, head shake, sigh "So I reached down to feel his neck, but with the latex gloves on I could feel nothing, I pulled off the glove, where it fell to the floor. I tried again to feel a pulse.., but all was lost, the final blow had been to much for his body to bare, and I knew he was dead."

     There was a moment of silence for about thirty seconds as the judge made another notation on Norman's file. At this exact time a sudden rush of a sneeze began tickling at Felina's nose and she tried to suppress the urge to sneeze, but she was unsuccessful as she let out a loud "Achoo." A few in the courtroom looked up and over the judges right shoulder where they saw a young dark haired vixen looking embarrassed, and then it happened. Norman looked up as well. Now when he saw the ravishing Felina standing there at the railing of the balcony his hearted melted like wax over a flame, with the sheer delight of her presence. "God bless you!" Norman said loudly as all eyes were drawn to Felina; which normally she adored, but now was not the time for attention, a bright red flush came across her face and she felt a slight fever to her brow. Norman looked away from his cherished friend, giving his full attention to the judge, his demeanor did not change but his heart and his spirit was lifted to know Xavier's sister, Felina, whom he worshipped and adored had come, all the way across an ocean to be here, for him. Norman gave a silent prayer of thanks to God, whom he did not worship or adore. Next the judge spoke to the prosecution "Can you establish 'Mens Rea'?"

     One of the barristers stood and addressed the ruler of the court "No your honor, we recommend the crime be established as the charge of Manslaughter. We accept his full confession, that he acted alone, and had no prior knowledge of the victim. We accept his guilty plea, and his refusal of a trial by jury. With our recommendation to the Crown Court to punish the defendant with a sentence of no more than 15 years confined, in her Majesties prisons, to hard labour." 

     Now there were a few more statements made about, such and such date of Crown Court trial by judge, etc... and this and that, and what have you, however, our Felina could only hear the statement of the prosecutor saying 'HE ACTED ALONE'! That was all she needed to hear, and in a brief moment Norman was taken down out of the courtroom, and as he turned from the judges bench Norman looked up briefly at the face of the beautiful Felina who had tears welling up in her dark eyes. Felina knew she would not look upon him until Norman would be released from prison, 10 or 15 years from today. Then as Felina watched her dearest, charming Norman  led away in handcuffs back to a prison cell, she knew she would be there that day when he was returned to the World. Then a line from an ancient English poet crossed her mind 'With you my child I wish to play, I'll give you gifts if you will stay. I'll pick you flowers and presents bring and dress you like a noble king'. Felina did not know how long our poor Norman would be incarcerated, but she was bound and determined to welcome him back into her family. For he had shown the utmost Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor to Xavier her only  brother. Norman would be handsomely rewarded for his courage and protection, this Felina would see to personally.

End Chapter 18

     Early Monday morning Felina was up by seven making sure her brother had a good breakfast before having the limo, provided by the hotel, take Felina and Xavier back to his campus just in time for his first class of the day. Felina also made sure to impress upon Xavier he should throw himself into his studies and lay low and out of the local pubs and clubs. She also obtained his banking account information making a deposit in a large sum of cash into his checking account, like all good sisters should. After her little trip to the bank, Felina was driven over to the local magistrates court where Norman was scheduled to appear before the judge for his Summary Hearing. Felina, dressed in a dark designer day suit with a short skirt, a fitted waist coat with gold Chanel buttons, felt nervous as she walked under her umbrella in the ever present London rain. There were handsome men dressed in three piece suits with their briefcases, she found several quite dashing, however, she was not on the prowl for flesh, no, not today. Felina's heart was as heavy as a tombstone as she walked up the grey stone steps up into the aged three story court house. People were milling out about in the long corridors as Felina made her way up to the galleries where the public went to gather to watch the outcome of the hearings and trials etc... Here Felina found a little spot off to the side which overlooked the judges bench, facing out over the courtroom. She gazed down at the crowded court room filled with barristers, solicitors, assistants dressed in red robes wearing white ornately curled wigs. Felina thought this a bit archaic, but this was England, land of pomp and circumstance, still she thought they all looked silly. However when the judge came out of his hidden chambers, and all in the court rose for him, whose robes were much more resplendent than the 'commom lawyers' Felina felt a strange power of charisma and regalness to the old man who looked like the elderly Sir Lawrence Oliver.

     Felina watched mingled up on the balconies with the crowd, she noticed a few journalists and reporters gathered over to her right, she knew they had to be from the Sun, the Times, the News of the World, what have you. She felt a bit of revulsion for these viper writers, however, were it not for the stories Felina had read in the papers about Norman's terrible crime, Felina would have no information about Norman at all. Lost in thought, anxiously waiting for the bailiff to call out Norman's case on the docket, she watched as each criminal was brought up into the courtroom from a staircase directly under the old, oaken paneled room. Each man was brought up one by one in handcuffs, the charges against the individual would be read, a court date set in either the Magistrate Court or the Crown Court where more severe offences could be dealt the harshest penalties under law. There was a case, or two, that were dismissed for lack of evidence on the side of the prosecution, or lack of a witness who had not shown up to court to testify. It was about three quarters of an hour before Norman's case was called, due to a back log of cases. Then, that Monday morning, on a cold grey day at 11:37 a.m. the bailiff stood and said "Your honor the court will now hear case #19630327-48, one Norman Reginald Pierce has been accused of the crime of murder in the Death of one Theodore Maxwell McDowell, respectively" a hush fell over the crowd both in the galleries of spectators above, and down below in the courtroom as the doors from the stairway were opened and out stepped two police officers leading the prisoner up into the courtroom.

     Felina heard a few whispers next to her saying 'look at the size of him', 'he's as big as a monster.' Norman towered over the officers and everyone in the court. Felina watched on baited breath as she beheld her friend handcuffed and defeated before the judge up in his witness box. Felina could see his face and look into Norman's eyes from afar, but of course he did not notice her standing up on the left side of the balcony over the judge's shoulder. No, his attention was clearly focused on the proceedings. Felina said a silent prayer for she was nervous for Norman, her heart racing so fast she felt surely it would burst. Felina felt so sad seeing Norman in custody, brought out like the creature from Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, chained and shackled before the leering townspeople. Felina knew her dear friend Norman was not a monster in any way shape or form, Felina's purse of mercy and pity would forever be full for Norman. He had killed a man with his own hand to protect her brother, to keep them both out of trouble and now here Norman stood before the judge, the court, God and everybody. He had come to answer for his crime, Felina was happy she could be there with Norman that day so that he would not be alone, even if he did not see her there, she was, and that was all that mattered. Felina quieted her mind and listened as the prosecution presented it's case, and what they said stunned her and the members of the gallery. "Your honor we ask the charge be reduced to the Crime of Manslaughter."

     "On what grounds?"the handsome old judge said a bit confused.

     "The prisoner has given his full confession, as I have here for your eminence." the lead prosecutor said handing a thick stack of papers 'the confession' to the bailiff.

     The seasoned judge looked at the stack of papers, sighed, then turned his steel-blue eyes on Norman who looked as if someone had just walked over his grave. "Mr.Pierce, please do tell the court how you came to be inside the McDowell house that day?"

     Once more a hush fell over everyone as the 'star' of the summary hearing began to speak.

Chapter 18 continues

     It was around six a.m. when the sun arose slowly over sleepy London Town, Felina and her brother had fallen asleep holding each other in one another's arms through the distress and angst for fear of the future. Every moment Felina dreaded a knock at the door from the police. As Xavier stirred she opened her eyes and sat up in bed feeling chilled to the bone. Felina got up out of bed as her brother rolled over and continued his not so peaceful sleep. She got the fireplace going then she sat at the little desk and phoned room service; which, like all five star hotels, had 24 hour room service. Felina took a quick shower before her sumptuous breakfast was delivered along with the morning paper. Xavier awoke to the smell of bacon and sausage and pancakes and fresh coffee. He sat down at the table by the window; which overlooked the Thames and the Victoria Embankment Gardens. The sky was cold and grey on that September Saturday morning a hard rain began to fall, striking against the windows of the Edwardian style hotel. Felina read the news of Norman's case as Xavier sat there a moment in silence eating up the delicious breakfast, though it tasted like bitter ashes in his mouth.
     Felina sat back sipping her fresh squeezed orange juice when she said to her brother. "Listen, I think we should hang around the hotel this weekend. I do not want to risk loosing you just yet."
    "Do you think,"
    "Please, do not interrupt me." she said snapping at him a little, only out of her duress. "It says hear in the paper Norman has been questioned by the Police all day and night, yesterday. He will be taken to appear before the Magistrates Court for a Summary Hearing on Monday." she paused then gave a little smile "It says here 'the prosecution is going for the charge of Murder. However, this charged may be reduced to the crime of Manslaughter, based upon the accused's confession to the Police: whom have confirmed Norman Pierce stated, under oath, he acted alone.'!" Felina said the familiar joy of happiness coming to her voice once again.
     Xavier was shocked and elated, though somewhere in the back of his mind he still did not feel safe from the long arm of the law. "I can not believe it!" Xavier said incredulous.
     "Do you know what this means? If he is convicted of Manslaughter he could be out in 10 or 15 years! And he swore, under oath, he acted alone! Xavier can you believe it?!" Felina stood in excitement nearly knocking the table over as she ran over to her brother, jumping up, embracing him as he held his elated sister in his arms, Felina's little toes just barely touching the carpet.
     So over the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the two siblings stayed at the huge hotel: with its three fine dining restaurants, a plush bar and lounge, indoor pool, health club, salon, fitness center, steam room, massages, body treatments, facials and the like, Felina and Xavier lived the high life, relaxing and drinking the finest wines, eating the finest foods. All the while our Norman languished in a cell at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. And our poor Norman was not the easiest prisoner to confine. At six feet five inches, 245 lbs, he could not easily fit in the bunks, and he was very muscular, and had a propensity for violence. So the officers assigned to watch over him had to also keep him isolated from the other prisoners. Norman had been questioned for hours and he had been honest with the detectives. Of course he could NEVER tell them the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God! Norman tried to get comfortable in his little bed, his feet and legs dangling off the end of the bunk; which felt more like coffin than a bed. Norman could only wait until Monday to plead his case before the judge. As he lie there he thought only of his poor Mum and the shame he had brought to her. If only he could see his mother and give her a hug and tell her everything would be alright. But that would not happen, nothing would ever be okay again Norman had killed a man and been caught by forensic science and the finest detectives the World had ever seen.

Chapter 18 begins

     Felina made her way up to her room at the Savoy with the help of rather attractive, young bell boy named Quentin who had a piercing stare and copper colored hair. Now, were the circumstances different, she would have gladly enticed this dear sweet young lad into her seduction, but unfortunately the dire straits Felina and her brother were trapped in would not allow her to do so. So she gave the tall, brown eyed, 19 year old a more than generous tip for bringing her luggage up to her room. Where she found her brother an emotional wreck, Xavier was curled up in bed, listening to classical music on the radio, weeping into his pillow. Young Quentin did not know what to make of the situation so he handed the petite, raven haired, ebony eyed, beautiful, foreign woman her room key with a cheerful smile has he slipped the twenty pound note into his pocket then he turned and said to her "Please do not hesitate to call down for me, if ever you need anything."
     "Muchos Gracias." Felina said in her native tongue as she gave the flirtatious bell boy a little wink. Then she closed the door, exhausted from her travels. Felina called over to her brother as she went and sat on the bed beside him. Xavier did not stir, or turn to look at her, nor did he embrace her, which Felina thought was rude, seeing how she had just moved Heaven and Earth to reach him. Xavier was frozen with the fear of her reaction to the story he would now have to tell her. And he was sore afraid, every fiber of his being as tense as wire. However, Xavier knew he must confess all to his loving sister. He knew what a terrible disappointment he would now become to Felina and his entire family, weighed with the fact he could also soon be arrested for the crime of murder. Xavier knew by telling no one, or notify the authorities, by refusing to contact emergency services for Teddy, or rendering him any aid, that he had willing subverted justice and been an accessory to murder after the fact; which meant that Xavier was just as responsible, culpable for the crime, as if he had been the one to bash the boy's brains in. "Xavier," Felina said as she reached over with her hand gently rubbing her brother's back to comfort him a little. "I have been reading the Times, there is a two page article on Norman and the murder and robbery." Felina paused not wanting to ask the next question, but ask she must "What do you have to do with all of this?"
     Xavier let out a heavy sigh then he rolled over sitting up next to his sister on the bed. He gave her a look as if to say 'I have done the most terrible thing and wish I were no longer alive', his dark eyes stained red with weeping, a torrent of tears streaming down his cheeks. Her tall, virile, handsome, athletic brother looked like a little boy who has just accidentally killed his own dog. Xavier threw his arms around his sisters tiny shoulders, which could little bare the weight of his muscular body. Felina embraced her brother as he wept for himself and his dear friend, then he said through sobs and short breaths "I have to tell you what happened.., my dearest sister.., but I really do not wish to."
     "Xavier." she paused a serious tone coming to her voice, the likes of which he had never heard before. "It is imperative that you tell me all of it, everything, now tell me everything, now, all of it now tell me!" Felina said harshly because she knew she could no longer act as friend and confidant to her brother, no, her role had changed forever by his actions, now Felina would forever play the part of his sole protector. So she had to know everything in order to keep him safe, for she had read in the newspaper article about British Law; which, according to the law of the land, stipulated the crime of murder is an automatic life sentence in Her Majesty's Prisons.
     "I have to start at the beginning." Xavier said as he sat up straight wiping his eyes and as his sister kicked her high heels off. Felina scooted to the back of the bed sitting up against the many soft pillows as she curled up under the covers in her little dress as she felt an icy chill run up and down the length of her spine. Xavier laid down beside her resting his head on her chest as she sat up in the bed listening to her brothers tale of crime and murder. "We had gone out sometime in September..." Xavier began the story of how the two met the two stupid girls, how Norman wanted to teach them a lesson etc... the stolen jewelry, the New Years Eve party, the fight with Sean, when Felina heard of this for the first time she was shocked by Norman and her brothers actions. However when Xavier got to the part of the story about Teddy,  how Xavier described the beating death of his classmate at the hands of Norman, Felina was absolutely mortified. Her brother had been part of the murder of a human being, one of God's children. Felina was beside herself with confusion and frustration, for she did not have any power to control the Fates or Destiny. After Xavier grew silent and had no more of his terrible story to tell, Felina sat shocked in silence, as still as the grave, of this moment she only could remember she was crying, she turned and tried to pray, unable to find any words of supplication to the Lord to say. Felina remembered she was crying, as her tears all rolled away. Felina embraced her brother tightly in her arms knowing if Norman implicated her brother in the terrible crime the Police would come and take Xavier straight away.

End Chapter 17

     Felina had caught her plane on a Trans Atlantic flight aboard the Concorde, out of the Ezieiza International airport in Buenos Aires, it was a cold day and she looked forward to a speedy arrival in London. After a short flight Felina entered in to Greenwich mean time and when she landed at Heathrow it was quarter past ten in the p.m., even though she had only been on a three and a half hour flight aboard the super sonic transport. Felina was relieved to land as she always hated crossing the ocean as the thought would creep into her brain that the plane could just disappear below the vast dark ocean and just, disappear. Poof! Gone forever. However she and the other passengers were in the well trained hands of the pilot, and the Fates had not conspired against them that day. So it was she made her way off the jet and headed toward the luggage carousel to retrieve her Louis Vuitton suitcases. Now as she walked through the terminal, Felina noticed the evening edition of the Times of London being put out at the news stands as eager customers were quick to snatch up a copy for themselves.
     Felina  went over and purchased her own edition, and there what she saw plastered on the front page in black and white was our Norman, an old mugshot from a few years back, with the screaming headline 'McDowell Murderer Arrested!' Felina nearly fainted as she walked, shocked over to the baggage claim area. In the fifteen minutes she had to wait, Felina found herself sitting on a long row of seats, the noise and order of the world around her, all was deaf to her ears. She could only hear the sound of her beating heart and the pulse of blood which rushed through her veins. As she read the terrible story, re-hashed by the editors for the blood and gore factor, the writer of the article made sure to re-cap the story, by describing in detail the circumstances of the bludgeoning death of the handsome young man, whom Felina thought she recognized. For it was true she had met Teddy last Summer whilst Xavier was dating Olivia, Teddy's sister, though Felina could not recall this fact, not at this time of her great distress.
     Felina could not believe this was happening, that big, sweet, loveable Norman could beat a person to death. Then it struck Felina, Norman could have only done this in defence of her brother! She was clever and as intelligent as a woman can come, and she knew, instinctively, Norman and Xavier must have gotten into some sort of trouble. And that was always where she could find her brother, where there's trouble. Felina focused her thoughts on the entire story, knowing full well, in England a person accused of a crime is assumed guilty and they must be the one to prove their innocence, not the government. Felina felt deep in her heart mercy, and love, and pity for Norman and the boy he killed, but she knew it could only be her brother's fault. So Felina gave up a silent prayer to God and made a vow unto him, promising to hire an attorney to help Norman get a sentence of Manslaughter instead of Homicide, and she prayed for Norman to keep his mouth shut about her brother's involvement, because she was damn sure Xavier had to have something to do with this terribleness. Felina was afraid, but she could not let her brother go to jail. So she gathered up her suitcases, along with her courage and determination, then hired a taxi to take her to the Savoy where Xavier was pacing the floors in the hotel room, anxiously awaiting his sister's arrival.

Chapter 17 continues

     "This is the United Kingdom calling." the over seas operator spoke "Are we reaching Miss Felina de la Rosa Diaz?"
     "Si." Felina spoke and she could hear her brother Xavier breathing on the other end of the line.
     "Will you accept a collect call from, Sir state your name."
     "Xavier." he answered sounding distressed and anxious.
     "Yes operator. Thank you." Felina said waiting to hear the sound of the over seas operator to click off the phone line. "Xavier, what is wrong?"
    Xavier stood in the phone booth trying not to start screaming and weeping. "It's Norman, something terrible has happened." his words came trembling out of his mouth as Felina felt faint.
     "Is, he dead?" she asked not wanting to hear a positive response.
     "No.., HE'S not dead." Xavier hinted a little.
     Long pause. Felina assessed the situation and when she came to the understanding of what her brother's words meant her body became very rigid as she sat down at the kitchen table over her breakfast; of which now she wanted to vomit up out of her stomach. "Xavier..?" long pause as her concern turned towards her brother. "What trouble have you two boys gotten yourselves into?"
     "You have to come to London! I don't know what to do or where to go!" our young, devastated Xavier began crying, warm, wet tears as he stood shaking in the red phone booth.
     "I have new students and classes this weekend at my riding academy!" she shouted, but Felina knew by the sound of her brothers dismayed voice she had to go to England at once.
     "Felina please! For the love of God! Come and help me!" Xavier implored.
     "Listen to me Xavier! You have to get hold of yourself, try to calm down! And for Heaven's sake stop crying! Pull yourself together so I can think!" Felina chided him, as her mind raced wondering what the fuck had happened. "This is what is going to happen. Humberto and Helio can take over my classes this weekend. It is a little after 9:00 in the morning. I can catch the Concord around noon get there in four hours. That would put my arrival after 10:00 p.m. on London time..," she paused "I will phone the Savoy right after this call, I can book a room with my credit card over the phone. So I need to you to hang up with me and go straight to the hotel! I will let them know to be expecting you shortly. Now this part is very important Xavier. I need you to go straight up to the room and stay there all day until I can get to you! Promise me no hanging down in the lounge or drinks by the pool! Stay out of sight until I can get there and see if we can sort this all out." she sighed deeply worried for her only brother. "Xavier, are you in any trouble yourself? Is anyone looking for you?"
     "No, not yet." he answered as he wiped away his tears trying to inhale deep breaths trying to calm himself.
     "Xavier, do not worry. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Now hang up the telephone. I need to make my reservations. Now remember, I love you and everything is going to be alright!" Felina comforted him, as she said a silent prayer that her words would be proven to be true someday. However, as for right now, Felina could not be sure until she knew the whole story.
     As for our bewildered Xavier he hung up the phone, opened up the phone booth door and wandered down the city streets heading east towards the Savoy; which was miles away but Xavier didn't care, he did not want to take a taxi or take the tube, so he walked on in a daze, his satchel of school books slung over his shoulder as he proceeded with his head down, a sad look of defeat upon his face. He did not notice any of the pretty girls walking by dressed in their summer clothes, or the businessmen who passed by with their umbrellas. Xavier felt like a ghost walking amongst the living, and for the first time in his life, Xavier Antonio de la Rosa Diaz wished he were dead.

Chapter 17 begins

     Xavier settled down at his desk for his last class of the day around 3:00 p.m. He was extremely anxious as he knew he would be let out by 4:30 p.m.; which gave him time to get back to the residence hall, have a shower and a shave, get dressed, call a taxi and be at the restaurant by 5:30 p.m. Xavier wanted to get there a little early in case Norman was waiting at the bar. Just as class was about to start his classmates quieted down as the Professor entered the room. As Proffesor Edmundson was about to close the door and lock out any tardy students, a pretty young girl of eighteen named Ashley ran in quickly. She was out of breath for she had run all the way up the stairs, down the long hall. Panting, trying to catch her breath, Ashley had a great look of excitement about her as she stood at the front of the class and informed them all "I just heard on the radio." pant, pause, pant "They've just arrested a man for Teddy's murder!"
     Xavier went ice cold as he heard the students give up a cheer, for Teddy was well liked on campus and his former class mates breathed a sigh of relief. Xavier heard someone ask her "Who was it?"
     "Some bloke out of Soho, he ran a locksmith shop, he's called Norman Pierce."
     Norman Pierce.., echoed through his brain, as Xavier experienced an uncomfortable numbness creeping through every fiber of his being. He had a ringing in his ears and the people around him seemed to be talking and moving in slow motion. They went on saying things like 'that bastard is just lucky England doesn't have the Death Penalty!'
     "If he had killed him in France they would give him the guillotine!"
     "No, they don't do that anymore! The French government abolished the guillotine in 1973! Isn't that right professor?"
     "You are correct!" he replied.
     "No way! They used to behead people just a few years back?" a girl asked incredulous.
     "Well, it wasn't out in the open, just a small enclosed courtyard, a couple of guards I suppose."
     "Xavier?" the girl to his left turned and touched his hand "You alright?" Xavier shook his head no. "Aw, that's right, you and Teddy took some of the same classes together, you dated his sister Olivia last Summer." she said with great compassion.
     Xavier cleared his throat trying not to have a stroke and he stammered "I.., I am.., his parents must be so relieved." here Xavier managed to stand though his legs felt like they were made of jelly. He gathered his books and went over to his professor's desk. "Professor Edmundson, may I be excused, I would like to go and phone Olivia, Teddy's sister, if that is alright by you."
   "Of course laddy, with all our condolences to you and his family. I know you and Teddy were close." Professor Edmundson said shaking Xavier's hand showing great kindness to him, even the girls all came round giving him sweet hugs and kisses on the cheek. Oh, if they only the truth, the horrible, terrible truth, Xavier thought. He hurried out of the building in a panic, the blood pulsing with a rush of blood in his ears. God Damn it! he screamed in his head. Xavier did not know what to do as he found himself wandering around campus consumed by the terrible fear that he too would be called into question over the murder. Xavier was in a state of shock and dread. The next thing Xavier knew he had left campus, at some point, and he found himself in a telephone booth about a mile or so from his dorm room. He picked up the receiver and told the operator he needed to make an international collect call to his sister, Felina, in Argentina.
   

End Chapter 16

     It was after midnight, during the first hour of that fateful Friday, when Norman had come back early with two fine young lasses he pulled from one of the local nightspots. The lure of a cocaine party in a suite at the Dorchester was an easy lure. When Norman had the girls, age 20 and 21, back at his suite he laid out several lines of the 'Bolivian Marching Powder', as he called it, and played some tunes on the stereo. After they had gone through half of the double album called 'Love You Live!' by the Rolling Stones, all the cocaine, marijuana, and each other, Norman saw them off in a taxi around four a.m. However, exhausted as he was, Norman stayed up drinking whiskey, unable to sleep. His insomnia was not caused by his drug use, or his conscience, no, our poor Norman had been plagued with the worst nightmares imaginable. Last night he dreamt he was on a bus, chained alone, as it drove along the road through the city, with no driver at the wheel. The buildings around him, outside the windows of the bus, had been burned down to the ground, with many sections of the city still ablaze, far off on the horizon of the obliterated waste land. Then, somehow, the bus began to catch fire and Norman could feel the heat and horror of the flames. Then he awoke shaken, stirred violently back to reality by his mind. Each time he awoke after the terrible, haunting dreams Norman was always in a foul, negative mood.
     So it was, Norman drifted off to sleep, too wasted to recall any of the frightening visions that visited his troubled mind. However, when he awoke, around seven in the a.m. Friday morning Noman was in the most agitated mood he had ever been in his entire life. Norman had even cursed abusively at the little old man that had brought up his breakfast from room service, his complaint was his coffee was too hot! "That's what I hate about this country the coffee is always too damn hot!" he had shouted along with a string of epithets and the old man thought what a spoiled, fucking twat, this loud, overbearing, obnoxious, giant, bald, asshole was. The old man apologized, though he should have not, he just turned his back to Norman, rolling his eyes making a mental note to spit in this fuckers coffee, to make sure it was at an adequate temperature next time. Norman felt bad, but a good English breakfast and a pot of hot coffee was just what he needed to calm his nerves. So Norman ate his breakfast, had a shower and shave, dressing up in one of his silk and linen summer suits before he headed over to his shop to check in with Lillian.
     Now Lillian had taken charge splendidly and was busy preparing that weeks pay packets for herself and the two employees she was in charge of. Lillian was always upbeat and cheerful, always good for a laugh, so Norman told her he wanted to give her a rise in pay, as she had done so well managing the little shop. Gladdened by this unexpected news Lillian reached up, throwing her arms around her employer's neck, kissing him on the cheek, with a joy and delight in her heart. "Now if I could only have your flat upstairs, I might just have to take you out to dinner!" she laughed sweetly, with a nudge of her elbow and wink of her eye. Norman laughed along with her, then he thought that might not be such a bad idea, her taking the room upstairs and having 'dinner' with her. But Norman had other dinner plans to think about for he would be, at long last, meeting up with Xavier in about nine hours. Norman needed something to do with his time as his workers spent a busy Friday going out on calls dealing with the hapless customers. So Norman went down to the British Museum, to clear his head as he walked through the long galleries filled with stolen treasures from Ancient Egypt, the priceless artifacts from the cradle of civilization; which the British Government had refused to return to the Egyptologist at the Cairo Museum. The Rosetta Stone sat before Norman who stared at it for a long time. There in it's glass case Norman wondered if it would ever be returned to Egypt, it was stolen by the French during the time of Napoleon, then sold off to the British. Norman thought of the hypocrisy committed by the 'men in charge' whom would have Norman put away for stealing all the items he had taken from his fellow British citizens. But there was no court in the world, or judge who could proclaim to the English Government 'Give back what you have taken.' Typical! Norman thought to himself as he wandered off to the portrait galleries. Now when he entered an exhibit, entitled the Masterworks of G.W.Stubbs, Norman was amazed to see a wall of paintings of horses, of the likes of which he had recognized as the style and manner of the painting he had given to Harry the Bastard for the information on the man in Slough. As a docent came through with a group of tourists he heard the young woman state one of the smaller paintings from 1792 was worth well over Two Hundred Thousand Pounds, or nearly $400,000 in American Dollars. Norman let out a loud laugh as he realized Harry had fucked him out of all that money. However, none of that mattered anymore, Norman scored big with money in the McDowell's safe, and, after all, that's why they call him Harry the Bastard! However, Norman thought he was more of a Tricky Dick!
     After a time Norman grew hungry for lunch so he stopped at one of the outdoor cafes near the Museum District and had nice lunch and a bottle of red wine. Norman grew a bit sleepy after his enormous lunch of salmon, lobster and shrimp, roasted potatoes, etc... so he took a short stroll along the avenues on this cool early September day. A few white billowing clouds drifted in front of the sun in the blue sky and the city was busy with the sounds of cars passing by, people mingling with one another on the streets, as a gentle breeze blew down from the North. Norman was in a much better mood then when he had awoken this morning and he smiled at those he passed along the way as he made his way through the lush Hyde Park and over to his hotel.
     Norman had a quick shower thinking of Lillian as he relaxed in the steamy water, then he wrapped up in his plush terry cloth robe, turned on the radio and rolled up a spliff as he reclined on the sofa. After about twenty minutes, just after one o'clock there came a loud knock upon his door. Norman jumped up thinking the valet had returned with the suits he had sent out to be cleaned and pressed. However, when Norman threw open the door, it was not the young valet he was expecting. There in the doorway stood four Metro Police Officers and a detective. Norman stared down at the tall man with black eyes, dark hair in a grey flannel suit who said " Norman Pierce! I am Chief Inspector Detective Fowler of Scotland Yard, and I  am hereby placing you under arrest  for the murder of Theodore Maxwell McDowell."
     Norman gave a strange smile opened up the door motioning for the policemen to enter the room and then he sighed, folding his arms across his chest, giving the officers a disapproving look, and said to the Chief Inspector "What took you so long?"

Chapter 16 continues

     Xavier tried to contact Norman again on Saturday night but to no avail. He called Sunday afternoon twice and later in the evening he was told by Lillian that she had given Norman his message. She said Norman would be very busy this week but he said he would still meet him on Friday for dinner. Lillian also stated Norman had wanted Xavier to come out and stay for the weekend. "So we'll see you at weeks end sweetheart." Lillian said warmly, adding "Perhaps you and I might have a drink or two."
     "That sounds delightful." Xavier said realizing Norman's gorgeous, young employee was flirting with him. Xavier was relieved Norman had not been taken in by the authorities as of yet, and he looked forward to seeing his friend again, though he wished it could be sooner.
     Xavier spent Monday getting acquainted with his new professors and classmates, as well as familiarizing himself with the syllabuses for each of his four classes. Xavier settled down that first week into his Junior year adjusting to the new residence hall and his dorm mate, whom was easy to get along with, thank God. However, no matter how much Xavier threw himself into his matriculation's, at the back of his mind, and in the pit of his stomach, Xavier had a gnawing feeling of doom. For he knew it could only be a matter of days before the police close in on their killer. Now, as we all know, Xavier did not have much of a relationship with the Lord, but that did not prevent Xavier from praying to him.
     So every morning and every night Xavier prayed his prayer unto the Lord. However, Xavier felt deep in his heart that he had not much faith in his Heavenly Father so why then should his Heavenly Father have any faith in him, he thought. For Xavier was taught, and knew, God hears all prayers, but Xavier was also well aware that only the Lord can decide exactly which prayers are answered, and just whose wishes are granted. Lacking much belief in himself Xavier held fast to what little faith he had in the Lord and he prayed "Jesus, God, Lord in Heaven, I pray for my dear friend Norman. I pray you not let him be taken away until I can see him again." such was Xavier's prayer, wish and desire. Though, unfortunately for Xavier and Norman, the Lord heard many other prayers over those long Summer days. Prayers for Justice. Prayers for Vengeance. Prayers for Solace. The Lord heard also the blood from Theodore Maxwell McDowell crying out from the ground where his body lay beneath the tombstone of his grave. 

Chapter 16 begins

     It was near the end of August when Xavier arrived back in London settling down in his new, larger dorm room in the newly built Ruben Hall. However during his Junior year he was required to share the space with another student. Luckily Xavier knew the lad, a foreign student like himself. His name was Peter Kogos and he was from Athens, studying finance as Xavier was. The young Greek was intelligent, handsome, cheerful and charming, and he had collected a string of broken hearts whilst at the University. Peter was always in a fine mood, with a smile upon his face. However, though Xavier was a bit jealous of his charisma and wit, Peter was just a few inches shorter than the tall, athletic Xavier, so this allowed the Argentine to feel superior to him.
     Xavier had come in late in the evening with all his bags from the airport, and as he unpacked his belongings Xavier discussed with his dormmate his summer break and time he spent with his family. Peter was pleased to hear Xavier tell of the golf outings with his father, and the scratch polo games he played at his family's vast ranch North of Buenos Aires. Xavier's face lit up when he told Peter how happy he was when he got back to the Ranch and found his mother had not sold his string of polo ponies as she had threatened after last summer's accident on the polo grounds of Cowdray. Peter and Xavier recalled that terrible day last Summer, for Peter had been in attendance that day, and he reminded Xavier it was an accident and he should not harbour any guilt over the tragedy. However, young handsome Peter had no idea on Earth what guilt Xavier was harbouring in his heart, his guilt was not for the polo player he had crippled. No. It was, of course, for his classmate Teddy whom he saw beaten to death not so long ago.
     Now here, Peter wanted to change the subject from the terrible accident and the events of last Summer so he said to Xavier. "Say, I guess you haven't heard." Peter stared wide eyed over at Xavier who suddenly felt a cold chill creep up his spine. "About Teddy McDowell."
     Xavier remained calm asking "What about him?"
     "Someone bashed his brains in a few months back, it's been in all the papers." Peter said with a terribly serious, mournful look on his face.
     Here Xavier turned as pale as a bottle of milk, all the blood draining away from his face as he stood there, mouth hanging open, unable to respond. After what felt like an eternity Xavier said "Oh my Christ! Do the police know who committed the crime?"
     "Nah, not yet, though they did find a glove with a few fingerprints. All they need is time to go through all the files and Scotland Yard should have their man soon." Peter went on with all the gory details he had read in the paper, but Xavier tuned him out as he had gone numb inside. He wanted desperately to get in touch with Norman. Xavier had promised to meet him on the first Friday in September for dinner, but that was a week away. With no phone in his room Xavier excused himself, saying he was going down to the student union for a pack of cigarettes; which surprised Peter for he never knew Xavier to be a smoker. Of course he was not, Xavier just needed an excuse to go to the student union to use the pay phone.
     Xavier was nearly the only one in the building, a few students were watching a Doctor Who marathon on the tele, having a few lagers. Xavier sat down on the little stool by the phone box and inserted his coin, then he dialed the number to Norman's shop. With each ring his heart beat faster as he tried not to be overwhelmed with worry while he waited, then he heard a woman's voice saying "Pierce Locksmith, how may we service you?"
     "Lillian?" Xavier thought he recognized her voice. "Is Norman about?" he asked praying she would hand the phone over to his dear friend.
     "No.., I'm afraid he is unavailable." Lillian said and she too recognized Xavier's deep, sexy, Latin voice. "Is there something I can help you with?" she said seductively for she had an enormous crush on the handsome Latin male.
     "Are.., when do you expect him back? Is he out on a call?" Xavier grew very concerned she would give him some bad news.
     "He went out to visit his mum in Kent, he should be back sometime tomorrow, love." Lillian informed him and Xavier sounded extremely relieved by the news.
     "Thanks! Will you tell him I called, this is Xavier." he said the tension in his body easing up a bit.
     "No problem sweetheart." she paused then said softly "So, what are you up to on a Friday night? Fancy a pint?" long pause "Hello? Are you still on the line?" Lillian said disappointed "He must've hung up."

End Chapter 15

     Norman spent the first week at the hotel getting up early and going back to his shop to open it up for Lillian, whom he trained to run the shop handing over a set of keys to her, making her manager. Norman hired two licensed locksmiths to work out of the shop so he did not have to go out on anymore calls. Money was not an issue for Norman, as he still had well over Three Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Pounds remaining, so a good salary was easy to provide for his shop manager Lillian and the two men she was in charge of. Now Lillian was concerned, and rightly so, but Norman allayed her fears when he explained his mother was getting on in years and he had bought a little cottage for her out in Kent, England's Garden Country. He said he needed time away to spend with her, and this was all true. Norman had purchased a quaint little house for Gertrude to get her out of that tiny third floor apartment, and let her live the rest of her life in the clean air and sunshine of the English Countryside. Gertrude was elated Norman's business was doing so well and her much beloved son was able to provide her the luxury of her own home. Norman went out to visit her many times during those hot summer days, but in the evenings he was always back out in the clubs and pubs of London staying up into the wee hours, bringing back home a few trollops now and again. Norman scored with a lot of amazing birds that summer, because he had a lot of money and an enormous cock. However, Norman always made sure they left in a cab before he went to bed, he also made it a point never to call or contact any of the women ever again. They would soon have plenty to tell the press and try to make a name for themselves.
     It was on such an occasion, in late July, around three a.m. when Norman had sent one of his latest conquests home in a taxi when he sat up in bed drinking a bit of whiskey. Setting the empty crystal highball down on the marble nightstand Norman curled up in the cool, comfortable, large hotel bed and soon he was fast asleep exhausted from drinking and fucking all night. After what seemed only a few minutes there came a gentle tapping on his door. Norman sat up and slowly went over to the door thinking the random girl had come back to his room. "What is it?" Norman said as he opened the door.
     "Norman!" Felina said with a giant smile and a brightness to her eyes. Serena stood behind her smiling in delight upon seeing Norman's face.
     "Oh my Christ!" he said shocked to see the two young ravishing Latin women standing at his door. "What are you doing here? Where is your brother?"
     Felina smiled saying "He is in the next room!" the three embraced warmly giving sweet kisses upon the cheek. Then suddenly and without warning Felina began kissing Norman deeply upon the mouth, as the three embraced tightly, holding each other close to one another. Norman was absolutely in ecstasy and that is when he awoke.
     Panting, and grasping one of the pillows, Norman wiped his eyes realizing it was all just a dream, a terribly exciting dream. Norman drank another glass of whiskey and tried to fall back asleep, instead he lie there staring up at the ceiling reliving all the memories of his friendship with Xavier de la Rosa Diaz and his amazing sisters. Norman had a sick empty feeling in his heart that he would never see those three, his foreign friends, ever again. This was very painful, but Norman was a man, and men must go through much pain, humility and degradation. Peace of mind does not come freely to a man who has taken the life of another. Whiskey can only drown so many memories. A man must live with what he has done, and the crimes and offense he has committed by his own hand. Norman wished he had a deeper understanding of God. He knew wrong from right, there was no excuse, there would be no mercy, there would be no pity, there would be no forgiveness. Now the Lord might find forgiveness for our Norman, but our Norman could never forgive himself. So these are the thoughts and consternation's which plagued Norman's heart and mind that entire summertime. Fall would soon be fast approaching and September was only four weeks away. So Norman did his best to carry on in this way, looking forward to that Friday when he would meet his friend Xavier at the Guinea for dinner, a few pints, a few laughs and some steaks.

Chapter 15 continues

     Monday morning came and went, Norman was quite productive going out on thirteen calls, he worked hard and was hungry and tired when he called it a day. He said goodnight to Lillian, locking up his shop and heading upstairs to his quiet flat. It was around seven in the evening when he finished his dinner and plopped down on his comfy sofa, switching on the television, as he opened up the evening edition of the London Times. Norman had been anxiously awaiting any news about his crime in the newspaper, and tonight his long wait was over. For there on page three, Norman saw the story of the young man's murder, a picture of Teddy was printed next to a picture of the 'murder house'. Norman became very nervous and worried as the realization set in that he was living on borrowed time. Norman knew the long arm of justice would be reaching out for him soon. When? He could not say, but soon. Norman could feel a terrible pain deep in the pit of his stomach. He read the article, disappointed to see the police had released a list of all the items stolen from the house. Harry read the same article and promptly hid away the Stubbs painting, along with everything else he had received from Norman through nefarious means. Harry, very easily, could have turned Norman in to the authorities but that would implicate himself and draw unwanted attention from Lady Justice, and this would never do! So Harry, along with everyone who owned the stolen goods, kept their mouths shut. No one would get involved, nor would they incriminate themselves, so they all kept quiet. However, fingerprints speak for themselves. Three latent prints were taken from the latex glove and the brilliant, scientific minds in one of the worlds leading forensic laboratories used a few strips of plain, ordinary, scotch tape to obtain the much needed evidence. Unfortunately, for the era in which the detectives lived, there were no computer date bases of criminal fingerprints available, and DNA testing was not yet an advanced science. However, there was a records department that contained, secured away in file cabinet, after file cabinet, after file cabinet, etc.. over one million fingerprints taken from criminals and trouble makers over the past thirty years. So it was up to three detectives, England's finest dactylographers, who were well practiced and trained at the art of studying fingerprints. Chief Inspector Detective Fowlers's team would sift through the files and locate the evidence they needed desperately. The C.I.D team would, indeed, find a match contained there in the endless files, it was only a matter of time and patience. It would be a long hot summer for the detectives.
     Now our Norman had been arrested on several occasions in the past for, what else, fighting. If he had only been able to control his temper when he was seventeen, nineteen and in his early twenties the police would have never arrested him or even know who Norman was. But the evidence, his fingerprints, the match to the killer's glove, was just waiting to be uncovered. Norman Pierce set his mind in a different direction, away from panic and fear. Instead he packed up all his clothes and, of course, he filled one of the suitcases with the McDowell's money he had taken from the safe, just before he bashed in Teddy's brains. The money was the only thing he had left from the 'murder house', well that and all the crates of liquor, and the marble bust of William Shakespeare. Norman had only taken the sculpture because he thought it looked like something a smart person would have in their home. But now Norman hid it in the back of his closet covering it with a blanket, because, according to the list of stolen items it was a rare, hand carved, white Carrera marble bust of the Bard from the 18th century. Norman filled another suitcase with a few bottles of whiskey, vodka, champagne, along with a few grams of cocaine and a large amount of cigarettes and marijuana. He called up a car from the service and highed himself over to Hyde Park where he checked into a two room suite at the Dorchester, one of the most luxurious five star hotels in the World. Here Norman would spend the long nights that summer being treated like a king. How much time he would spend there was up to the police and detectives who were looking for the 'vicious killer', as Teddy's murderer was being hailed in the press. So Norman settled down in the posh comfort of his hotel suite, drinking whiskey and smoking weed and, even though he was in the most comfortable feather bed with silken pillows and sheets, our poor Norman could not sleep.

Chapter 15 begins

     Now Saturday came and went for Norman uneventfully, he opened up his shop, went on a few calls, trained Lillian how to grind out a set of keys on the machine etc... Business was brisk with customers, helping to keep Norman's troubled mind distracted. The evening was almost over, there had been no news or word of Teddy's death as of yet, for his body still lie decomposing on the cold tile floor of his family home. The rotting corpse would not be discovered until the following morning when Teddy's ex-girlfriend came 'round to speak to him, as he would not answer her calls since they returned back to England five days ago. She was very worried, so in her concern she drove up from her flat in London to see him. However, when she drove up she saw the front gate open and Teddy's Maserati parked under the portico and the great house seemed deserted.
     She knocked on the door, no answer, all quite and still within the grand house on this muggy, overcast summer Sunday morning. "Teddy?" she called out knocking louder and louder on the old, oaken door. Convincing herself perhaps he was out back, or in the shower, she turned the door handle and as the great door creaked open, the smell of death, and rotting flesh filled her nostrils and she began to gag and vomit all over the carpet when she saw her ex-boyfriend Teddy dead on the floor.
     Screaming. Crying. Terror. Tears. A switch went off in her head, and soon thereafter the initial horror, she dialed  999 to summon the police who arrived about fifteen minutes later. Now when the constables found the tragic scene of blatant murder and robbery, they called down to London to C.I.D. Scotland Yard. Within the hour Chief Inspector Detective R. Fowler arrived with five of his officers to assess the situation and investigate the new crime scene. The hysterical young woman, their first witness, whom had found the murder victim, was able to give her account, along with the telephone number of the hotel on St.Bart's where the dead lad's family were on holiday.
     "Good afternoon Inspector." the local constable welcomed the Inspector to the crime scene.
     "Good afternoon." the Inspector replied "But enough with these pleasantries. I trust nothing has been touched?"
     "No sir!" came the old local police officer's reply then he stammered and said "All except this." the old man held up a blue latex surgical glove on the end of a pencil. "It's turned inside out, they dropped it beside the body. I reckon your boys down at the laboratory can get some latent prints off it, I reckon."
     "Seargent!" Inspector Fowler shouted to one of his men as they milled about taking photographs of the body and the house. "Secure that item carefully!" one of his officers complied gingerly setting it in a small brown paper evidence bag. The inspector surveyed the grisly scene, the horrid stench of murder most foul filled the warm house; which had been stripped of most everything but the furniture. "Right then." he sighed gazing down at the bloated corpse, head beaten in, blood and brains congealed on the floor, the face of the once handsome young man bashed in. Another life lost to the madness of a criminal mind, Fowler thought. He instructed one of his officer's to escort the young lady back to headquarters in London to get her statement, while the Chief Inspector made the sad phone call to the boy's mother and father.
     "Mr. McDowell, Mr. Ronald McDowell of St.Alban's England?"
     "Yes?" came a confused reply over the other end of the line.
     "Mr.McDowell, My name is Raymond Fowler, Chief Inspector Detective Fowler, from Scotland Yard." he said calmly.
     "What on Earth has happened Chief Inspector?" the voice on the other end of the line sounding gravely concerned.
     "It would appear your home has been burgled.., and your son has been found, murdered." a long pause as the information seeped into the distressed father's brain. "I regret to inform you, young Theodore's remains were discovered only this morning, He has been deceased for sometime. Teddy's body has been positively identified by his former girlfriend, whom found your son earlier today." another pause, disbelief, anguish, anger, terror in the voice on the other end of the line. "I do extend my condolences on behalf of the entire Criminal Law Enforcement Department. We need you and your family to return to England, at once. Perhaps you, or one of your family members, might have some information that might lead us to the answers which could help us solve this case, and perhaps help us catch our killer and thief."