Now Playing: The Darkness
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Episode Twelve
concluded with:
“After Jesse was stabbed, he attempted revenge. He grabbed the letter opener
and used it as a weapon against his uncle, but he died before he could complete
the task. A wounded Adrian pocketed the opener and staggered out of the house
before Bart made it downstairs.”
“He forgot about the safe where Jesse kept his winnings. No doubt, he planned
to kill Wyatt Cummings and then leave this area for good.”
Both men went silent, contemplating the grotesque events which had almost led
to the hanging of an innocent man. Bertram Lowrie looked down at the corpse of
Adrian Monahan. “There is a darkness in the human soul which is far more
terrifying than any ancient superstition.”
Episode Thirteen
***
Bart McRae
placed a large sack of flour on the back of a buckboard and looked sheepishly at
the two detectives who had helped him load the wagon. “I sure do appreciate all
that you gents have done for me.”
“Thank the
folks at the bank,” Dehner said. “It was their idea for you to work that
deserted ranch and eventually own it.”
“Yeah, but
you fellas loaned me the money for a buckboard and supplies. I plan to pay you
back. I’ll send the money to your office in Dallas
“And you
must immediately send a letter to your mother in Dallas
“Yes sir,
I’ll do that!”
McRae said
good-by to the two detectives and watched as they walked toward the train
station. He boarded the wagon but didn’t head immediately for the ranch. There
was an important stop he had to make first.
Pulling up
in front of the Monahan Residence, McRae jumped from the buckboard and walked
swiftly toward the house. He paused at the entrance and then opened the door,
making as little noise as possible.
He stepped
quietly down the hallway and entered the study. There was still some dried
blood on the carpet, which didn’t surprise him. The black cat sleeping in the
chair didn’t surprise him either.
“Thought
I’d find you here,” McRae said in a soft voice. “I’ve got a deal to make with
you.”
He began to
pet the cat. “I’ve always been superstitious. Would you believe I let an old
man with red ink running down his face convince me he was a ghost?”
The cat
meowed.
“The Good
Book says a lot about not being taken in by crazy stuff; guess I haven’t read
that part enough.”
The cat turned
its head, indicating it wanted its ears scratched.
Bart
obliged. “So, I want you to help me. I got this little ranch. Reckon you could
keep the place free of rodents? As pay, I’ll let you sleep inside. On rainy
days you can stay inside all you want.”
McRae
picked the animal up. The cat was tense but didn’t try to jump away. “I’m gonna
name you ‘Black Cat’. Not very original, but it will help me end my silly
superstitions.”
Bart McRae
walked back to the buckboard carrying Black Cat, who began to purr in his arms.
Tomorrow: Rance
Dehner returns in a thrilling western adventure, Last Job.
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