|
Chapter 124 — Capwells investigates
In the next day everybody gathered at Capwell's house looking forward for the investigation. Only exception was Charlie because of his young age.
Mason and Mary appeared here in afternoon: Mason had to spend all morning in the courtroom. By this time all the preparatory working was already done: Cruz borrowed the case of the accident in Great Valley School from police archive, Eden with Kelly questioned both their parents.
Seeing their loved older brother they attacked Mason from two sides. Mason was not like to be questioned. He wants to read the copied police case, but he was not allowed.
"We need clear evidence, you know," Cruz reminded and opened his notebook.
Mason took a deep breath and sat down on the sofa.
"Go ahead, inspector. But I can hardly add much to the already known."
"Do not think about it," Kelly said. "Just tell us."
"About what?"
"About the accident," Cruz said. "And from the very beginning. Everything you can think of."
And Mason again repeated the story about Colin's blaming, waiting the punishment, the cry in the night and saving by Sophia. When he finished there was silence. Cruz wrote something and then closed his notebook.
"Your story is identical with the data that we already know," he admitted.
Mason shrugged.
"I'm not surprised. I also warned that I will not useful."
"We're still not done," Eden protested.
"No yet? But I already told everything."
"About Colin's fall of Colin you indeed did. But we are interested not only facts but also the air which was around the school."
"Mason, did you like it?" Eden interrupted. "I mean before the incident."
"No," Mason shook his head.
"Missed home?" Ted asked.
"Yes, I missed, of course. But it was not because my homesick feeling."
"And why?" Cruz reached for his notepad again.
But Mason helplessly shrugged his shoulders: "I do not remember."
"But so even?"
"Since then it took more than twenty years! I do not know! The atmosphere was oppressive."
"Okay, let's leave it for some time. Do you remember how the father brought you there?" Eden asked.
"Very little. He had long discussions with the head school principal. I was bored."
"You and Colin quickly become friends, did you?"
"He came there later when it began classes. And instantly became the leader. The most popular boy in the school."
"In the school?" Eden echoed.
"Yes. His glory soon spill over elementary school classes."
"And why he became so famous?" Cruz asked.
"His charisma. He could be very convincing when he wanted and also had a good imagination. He was good in telling stories and even some teachers came to listen to him. In addition, he is well studied and feared nothing."
"And so what brought you and him together?"
"The anatomical atlas," Mason chuckled. "One night we confronted face to face in the library, wanting to see it."
Ted snorted. Kelly laughed. Eden and Cruz exchanged smiles.
"So you're become friends... and you do not know what caused him to end this friendship?"
"No.
"But something had to be done? You were close friends, why would he suddenly break away from you?"
"Do you think I never puzzled over this, Eden? I do not know!"
"But any suggestions you have?"
Mason paused.
"Yes, something happened. But quite unfounded."
"We all come in handy," Cruz hastened. "So what are you thinking?"
"In the week before the incident the new boy was brought to the school. He was older than me and Colin. And I have sometimes thought that this guy Ross is trying to make Colin his pet."
"Maybe you're just jealous?"
"May be. I said that the assumption was unfounded. Rather just some feeling."
"What was name of this guy?"
"Ross... Dermont, I think. But I'm not sure."
Cruz wrote the name and looked up Mason.
"Do you have any suggestions that Colin could do in that room where he climbed out by the rope? Why he did it?"
"Is this not in the police report? Colin is not dead; he had to tell the police his version."
"His version we have, but I want to hear yours."
"I have not it. May be he could get out for a dare. What was this room?"
"Do not you know?"
"No.
"But you said that you got the key from the room where Colin got out."
"It had the number belonging to the second floor. I decided that it can not be accidentally."
"Yes, it was the room on the second floor, inhabited and designed for teachers, but at that time it was empty."
"Oh," escapes from Mason and he fell silent.
"What is it?" asked Cruz.
"Well, you should know if you have Colin's story. It's "treasure trove"."
""Treasure trove"?" He frowned. "I do not understand."
"Is it means that Colin did not explain what he was doing in that room?"
"No," Cruz replied reluctantly. "He said that he came there by accident, attracted by the light and the open door. Do you know something about this room?"
"Like all the boys who studied in the school at the time. The room was considered cursed.'
"Why?" Eden surprised.
Mason did not answer. He was silent for a long time then raised his head and looked around at everybody.
"If I remember something from that time that its scary stories that went around our dormitories. Partly they were inspired by the history of the school."
"And what it had so special?"
"Well, in short it was pretty rocky. As far I remember the school was established at the beginning of the century. It has been closed for three times because an ill-treatment of students, its founder was hanged for beating to death by one of boys. Later it was bought from his heirs and by the time I got into it already earned the good reputation."
"How do you know such details?" Kelly narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Oh, it's never were secretly. Inside the school, of course. In fact the new owner bought the school because of its original glory and just slightly changed the statute. He was a zealous advocate of strictness and discipline. And diaries of former pupils were his favorite means of intimidation. We even forced to memorize individual places of it's as a punishment for being late and minor violations."
"Hrmph," Cruz said when Mason was silent. "And what about the room? Why are you named it as a treasure trove?"
"Because we named it so. They were believed that in the thirties there lived the Arab sheik's son who hidden there the big gem — his mascot. One night one of the jealous students tried to steal it but the diamond shone in his hands and he was blinded by bright light. He pulls out the diamond from his hand and seeing nothing went in the wrong direction, fell out the window and died. In next morning Arab boy was found dead in his own bed. The legend is silent as to whether he killed by his envious or he died when lost his magic talisman."
"What the story!" Kelly shuddered. "Mason, do you think that Colin could climb out there because this legend?"
"He could. As far I remember the story was very interested for him. But its does not explain the attempted murder."
"Of course, it explained!" There was suddenly Charlie's voice. "Probably someone ran across his path. Waited until Colin finds the diamond and when he fell someone took the treasure!
"What are you doing here?" Eden was outraged. "I told you to walking outside until we're grown-ups talking."
"I can not miss this! Curses, jewelry, the murder!"
"I think you already were said that listening is not good," Mary said.
Charlie put out the tongue. Mason threw the quick look at Ted. He stood up.
"Charlie, come on, swim in the pool."
But the boy shook his head.
"I want to help," he said. And with the challenge he added: "Mason is my brother! I also have the right to be here!"
"I'm also Mason's brother," Ted reminded.
"You're not real brother, just half-brother. And I'm natural brother."
"Let him here," Cruz suddenly said. "Just sit quietly, you understand, guy?"
"Cruz, are you sure--"
"Give him a chance, Eden. You can see that he is a grown man."
"Well, all right," Mason got up, took Charlie's shoulders and led him into the corner. Seated in the chair. "Sit here while we're talking."
Charlie folded his arms across his chest and made a face. Mason shook his head and went back to the others.
"Where we stopped?" he asked, sitting on the sofa.
"At the reasons," Cruz said. "School stories are good thing but they do not give any motive to wish the death of Colin."
"But there was the diamond!" Charlie said out of his corner.
"Charlie, it's just the legend," Mary moved over in the chair next to him. "If there was any diamond probably it was already found for long time ago."
"Certainly," Mason said.
"Why did you call the room "cursed"?" Eden asked.
"Because there were such rumors. It was empty for a few days. Earlier the teacher lived there."
"Was he fired?"
"No. He had the bad accident, and it is rumored that he gone the crazy. And he is not the first one who did."
"It's so cool story!" Charlie gasped with delight.
Mason reached for the archive folder and began reading it.
Terse police documents... But something was really interesting. The rope that Colin gripped in his hands was broken because it was frayed. However, there have been other scrapes and so deep that the detective doubted it could even support the weight of a teenager. The school quietly resisted the investigation, withheld information. Mason picked up the paper with Colin's version of the story. It's were written a few months after the incident. The story was so enchanting that Mason was surprised that such evidence could be included in the case. Colin reported that at midnight he's go to a toilet and on the way he noticed a moving light spot as if someone's going ahead of him with a lantern. He followed and ended in the empty room on the second floor. The room immediately became dark but by moonlighting Colin saw that it's window wide open and the rope running outside. He came back and suddenly heard voices in the corridor. He was afraid that he will catch in the wrong place and punished, and without thinking decided to go down the rope. And fall down.
Mason thoughtfully folded yellowed pieces of paper. It seems that the police even did not try to understand if the injured child hides something or just wildly fantasizes. He had no doubt that Colin imagined the story from beginning to end. But... in his words was not words about the charges against him. Mason Capwell never mentioned. His name appeared only in the part of the teacher who found Colin — after Mason's cry. Turns out if Colin did not immediately become to blaming him?
"It's goes to show," Cruz agreed, and Mason realized that the last phrase uttered aloud.
"I think someone else was involved," Eden suddenly said.
"I agree," Cruz said. "Mason, you recently saw your former friend. Do you think he knows what was happened that night?"
"Unlike."
"Can we believe in his story?"
"I would not. I think he make up all of it."
"And its' leading us to the next question. Why? Why would he lie to police?"
"May be he defended someone?" Kelly suggested. "Or, conversely, he's afraid of someone?"
"Then he must know that he cannot blame Mason. Or he deliberately calumniates him?"
"I do not believe," Mason said slowly. "I think Colin was sincere in his belief that I'd make up his accident. Probably I should visit him again."
"Not now," Cruz shook his head. "You gave me quite a lot of information, I need to process it."
"We do not have much time."
"To sue us is not for Colin's favor," Mary replied. "I think he will wait to the last."
"I do not understand what he can expect. In fact there are uncertainties, but no hint either a lead to you. In my opinion he's just trying to act on your nerves, play on the guilt," Eden said thoughtfully.
"I think the same thing," Mary supported her.
"All true, but it is too early to relax," Cruz warned. "Stewart may keep some information in the sleeve."
"Most likely it's someone's testimony," Mason said. "One of the former students told him something. The weight of such a story is almost nothing. But who knows."
"I need make the call," Cruz stands up. "I'll work the oracle the police department. We must try to find the detective who did keep the case."
At home Mason locked in his study. Alone. Family talking stirred up his soul. Even in morning he could sworn that he remembered nothing about his life in Great Valley School but now it floated before his eyes. His classmates' faces, the dark school building, long hallways, cold dormitory... How much it turns out kept his memory!
In the master bedroom Mary waiting Mason. She's torn between her desire to comfort him and let him be alone. Finally she broke down and went to the study. Tugged the door and realized that it's locked. She knocked softly.
Heard the sound of knocking Mason silently cursed. Why she would leave him alone! For a moment he felt the temptation to pretend that he is not here. But then he got up and opened the door. Of course it was Mary.
"Let's go to bed," she takes his arm. But Mason did not move.
"I want to be alone now," he said and returned behind his table.
Mary silently followed him, tried to hug his back. Mason pulled out of her hands, walked to the window, leaned back against the wall.
"I'm very sorry for little boy who you told us today," she said. "But... Mason, he was in the past."
Mason shook his head.
"I know."
"Then why you do withdraw into your shell again? Do not doing it, please."
"You do not understand."
"I do not need to understand. I just feel--"
"What do you feel? What?"
"I feel like you need me."
"I don't."
Mary feels her cheeks burning with offence, she felt a strong desire to turn around and leave. But she afraid to do. If she does not break through this wall now they can move away each another for ever. But what she supposes to do? What she need to say to him that he would stop to defend himself from her?
"Yes, now you need no one," she finally said. "You built the thick protective wall around your heart. You've already recorded every of us as your enemies, right? And I'm among them. I am not your enemy, Mason. I do not wait for chance to strike you under armor. I just love you..." Her voice broke treacherously and she pressed her hand to her lips trying to hold back tears.
Mason almost physically felt the icy wall around his heart becoming melting. He quickly got up and come to Mary, pulled her close to him. Mary burst into tears; he pressed his cheek against her hair.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered hoarsely. "I'm so sorry--"
"I am not your enemy," she said again. "How can you think so?"
"I never did. Never."
"Then do not go anymore where you can not go back."
"I'm not go away anymore. I did not want. I love you very much. I need you."
"I know," Mary gave a wry smile. "Do not scare me like that. I will not survive if you ever turn into Mason, the Iceman."
"I was the Iceman for too long time to immediately forget how it feels. But I will do everything do not to make it again."
"Do you promise?"
"I do. I swear."
|
|