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Chapter 128 — Prison confessions
In next day Cruz suddenly appeared at Mary and Mason's place.
"Any news?" Mason asked after usually greetings.
"I found Ross McDermott," Cruz nodded. And after a pause he adds: "He's jailed in the state prison."
"Prison?" Mason asked dumbly. He did not expect it.
"Yes. Served for 10 years for killing his father. And he'll there for much more."
"I want to talk to him," Mason emphatically said.
"With whom?" Mary went to them and anxiously looked at her husband.
"With Ross," Mason answered. "I feel deep inside my gut that he has all the answers."
At this moment the doorbell rings. Mary goes to open the door and immediately calls for Mason. The court courier stands on the threshold.
"Mr. Mason Capwell? You have the notice."
"Thank you, Joe."
Mason took the paper and signed. Then he looked at Mary.
"Is it about MacLean?" she guessed.
"Yes, the court hearing scheduled for tomorrow. Cruz, can you arrange the meeting for me?"
"I'll try. By the way I found McDermott via McLean's ways. He contacted with McDermott for three times over last two weeks."
"Okay," Mason nodded. "So we have a good chance to finish this unpleasant history in the very near future."
Cruz left and Mary silently hugged Mason.
"I'm scared," she admitted quietly.
"Everything will be fine," Mason pulled her closer.
"I want that finally it's over."
"It does. Soon. I promise."
* * *
At the same evening Mason accompanied by Cruz and prison guards walks through the long corridors of the San Quentin. Another turn and more one... and they entered the visiting room. Just the room without the usual glass barrier.
"He is not considered as a particularly dangerous criminal," Cruz said.
Mason nodded, waiting for Ross McDermott. They waited for another quarter of an hour until the door finally opened and the guard led the handcuffed prisoner. He immediately raised his hands waiting for handcuffs will be removed, but the security guard yelled "Even not dream". Then he added, addressing to Mason and Cruz, "Push the button when you finish" and slammed the door.
Mason, Cruz and Ross were left alone.
"I do not know you," Ross bleakly looked at his visitors. "Who are you and what you want from me?"
"I'm Mason Capwell, the former classmate of Colin Stewart. And detective Castillo."
In Ross' eyes something flashed.
"Yeah, Capwell. I see you decided to revive old days in The Great Valley School, are you?"
"Something like that," Mason sank in the chair, crossed his legs. Cruz leaned against the doorpost and silently watching at both of them.
"Well, what do you want?" Ross leaned back in his chair. "Sorry, I can not offer you drink," he threw up his cuffed hands.
"What do you remember about one dark night that happened many years ago?"
"There were a lot of dark nights. What exactly do you mean?"
"Colin Stuart's fall."
"Oh, you know. But I know nothing about it. Well, I can see Stewart pulled your tail, Capwell?"
"How you knew?"
"Well, I do the reading newspapers. He accused you in his injury."
"But also you aware that I had nothing to do with it, right, Ross? You know it better than others."
"Do you blame me?" Ross barked.
"I know you welcomed Colin. And I know that someone want to accuse me in his fall."
"And so? I liked this kid, he so funny did everything what I told him."
"For example, steal the antique desk set?"
Ross paused then said: "I'll say no more."
Mason also leaned back.
"Why did you kill your father?" he melancholy asked.
"Why do you want to know? Everything is in my record."
"Why did you kill him?"
"The old bastard robbed me of my inheritance," Ross grinned. "I've been sharpening his teeth at him and it's was the last nail."
"And it's cause that you killed him?"
"I just said it."
"What he did to you? And what did you to him?"
"Capwell, why you ask me these questions? What are you, turn to the damn shrink?"
"I want to understand."
"Me? What the devil? Though it's no secret. He just could not stand me. And he sent me to our beloved school when his next whore hitched up him and he's married her."
Mason turned white, before his eyes flashed color spots. All sudden lined up in the harmonious picture. Now he knew what happened that night. And he was afraid for the first time of all time.
"That's why you came up with this scheme. You wanted your father took you out of the school. And you were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake — and Colin's one and eventually my too."
Ross looked at Mason and then nodded.
"You're quick-witted, Capwell. How did you manage to catch me?"
"Not matter. I think now you do not make sense to pretend innocent lamb. Maybe now you did tell me what you did?"
"And add couple of decades to my sentence?"
"No add to sentence for a dead man," Cruz said from the doorpost.
"So you know it," McDermott good-naturedly replied.
"We know that doctors give you no more than five years of lifetime. Even in the best case."
"Be aware Capwell, I'll deny everything."
"I do not doubt it. So how you got the idea to make "the accident"?"
"I knew that there were too small things that could get to my father," Ross said with a sigh. "I was 14 and I was ready to do anything in order to be back in the family."
"Even commit a murder? Did you want to kill Colin?"
"Honestly I did not care. I wanted that something happened in the school that would cause her father to take me out. Stewart just got under my hand and became the sacrificial lamb."
"How did you get him to agree?"
"Get to agree?" Ross laughed. "This kid so looked in my mouth that I'd no need even to talk him into. He gladly agreed to help me find the diamond in "the treasure room".
"Why do you need to make up the false stealing and put the blame on me?"
"Why, why... and do you not get it yet? I do not like to get in jail and I needed someone who would pay for what happened. The insult to the guy who accused you in stealing was a great motive. And poor Colin agreed to play pranks on you without any questions. In next day the thing would be found."
"But something went wrong."
"Yeah. I misjudged Stewart. He decided to scare his classmates and lowered from the roof the cardboard figure of school theatre club."
"Damn!" Mason blurted out. Now he did remember that just before Colin's fall all of the school was buzzing about the preparation for the school performance of Oliver Twist.
"Yes, it was daubed cardboard. He almost ruined my plan when raising turmoil. Well and then everything was easy. I pulled him down from the roof using the rotten rope and he naturally falls. Then I just open the door to the treasure room and put the key for you."
"And if Sophia did not take me at night, in the morning I never be able to wash away the charges," Mason said slowly.
"Bingo! I would tell everyone that I saw you coming out of the treasure room. The key would be the ultimate proof of your guilt."
"You are so sincere. But why Colin did blame me now? He surely knew who was held the rope when he did fall."
"Of course he knew. And also he "knew" that you wanted to revenge for his betrayal."
"You, of course, told him its version. When?"
"About a year ago. He came here and began to ask what did happen then. He blamed me."
"And you turned on me hand as originally planned?"
"Yes, I did. Then I still had hoped to leave here alive."
"It's strange that Colin believed you."
"There is nothing strange. I made sure to hide the ends."
"Is arson of the school your job?"
Ross nodded. "When you suddenly taken away from school I was really was in a cold sweat. Fortunately Stewart crashed too hard and could not immediately be questioned. My father actually came for me but I'd scared that police found out about me for a long time. And as soon as I got the opportunity I covered all tracks."
"Guess that you were not pleased by Colin's visit."
"It is an understatement. But it's my hands held the rope and I had to somehow get out."
"And he believed you?"
"I was not interested as the object of vengeance for him. You were a much more suitable figure. I threw a few facts to him and he gladly swallowed the bait."
"But he becomes to investigate for the past year. Why he had not blamed you earlier?"
"Ask him I know nothing about that," Ross becomes upset. "It's over. I hope that this moron would leave me alone now. How did he bore me!"
"Who?" Mason raised his eyebrow.
"Stuart, of course. The last months he constantly calling me — personally or through his henchman — and want to be advised how he could take you in the best way."
Mason and Cruz looked at each other.
"I am not going to thank you," Mason said. "I hope I never see you again."
"Both sides, Capwell," Ross replied without be offended.
Mason pushed the button and the guard led McDermott out.
"Are you okay?" Cruz put his hand on his shoulder.
"Yes," Mason shrugged. "Did you record it?"
Cruz silently pulled the small tape recorder from his jacket and pressed a few buttons.
In the empty visiting room again sounded Ross' voice. "Honestly I did not care. I wanted that something happened in the school that would cause her father to take me out--"
"I think that this record will satisfy all of Mr. Stewart's claims," Mason frowning said. "Let's get out of here."
"Let's go," Cruz agreed and they walk towards the exit.
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