11. A Death in the Kitchen (D1)

__ R. Lee Munson came to in the throne and, for a moment, forgot everything that had happened. For the briefest instant, he thought he had just dozed off in the elaborate chair and allowed Ardelene and the Bird Tester to escape.
__ That notion was further confirmed by his inability to move. His head throbbed with a migraine-like intensity, his drool was bloody, and the side of his head itched where the blood had dried to his scalp, but he was aware enough to see the silver cocoon he was trapped in. He had been duct taped to the chair.
__ "Ardelene. Ard--." It was the Bird Tester. He backed away from Munson as though the imobilized killer could spring out of the throne and attack. Apparently, Munson thought, the scrawny should-have-been-dead bastard was left to guard him while Ardy....
__ She came out of the bedroom toweling something off. It was his Glock. She got it wet. How did she get it wet? What, did she hide it in the damn toilet!?
__ "Give me the bullets," Ardy said to Douglas. He only hesitated an instant before handing over the two clips.
__ "Hurry. He's coming to."
__ "It's okay. He's secure." Ardy examined the pistol for a few moments before snapping the clip into place and charging a bullet into the chamber. She then gently lowered the hammer so she wouldn't accidentally shoot. Ardy clicked on the safety. She was a pro -- somehow -- and Munson became slightly aroused by her prowess.
__ Noticing his attention and smile, Ardy smiled back. "Amazed, R. Lee?" I learned it from you.
__ The mention of his name and an indication of a tactical intimacy made him want to profess his love then and there.
__ But Ardy's mood changed, darkened. She pointed the Glock at his face and took a step forward.
__ Douglas winced and stepped back. Hand held up to block the gory view, he said, "Don't shoot him in here, like that. That's murder. He's defenseless."
__ "He's a murderer," Ardy said.
__ Munson studied the end of the barrel. It wasn't shaking at all. What happened while he was out cold?
__ Douglas said, "You don't need to drop to his level, Ardelene. Please... put the gun down."
__ "You have no idea what he was thinking of doing to me."
__ "I could imagine. But, please, Ardelene. He's tied up. He ain't going anywhere. We should call the cops."
__ Ardy paused, pulled her finger off the trigger, and lowered the gun before saying to Douglas, "I do know. I know exactly what was in his mind."
__ Munson didn't know how she did it. He didn't know how she knew about Clye, how she knew something would go down if he didn't move both his car and her truck, or how she knew how to handle a pistol. There were no such things as psychics. He was sure of that. Whatever Ardelene Jacobi was doing was some kind of parlor trick.
__ Maybe you're right. Maybe I should kill her. __ Of course you should, dummy. But now you're 'all tied up.' __ I'll get out soon enough. __ Sure you will. __ I just gotta turn on the charms, get her to loosen this crap. __ And what about the Bird Testing Homo? __ I'll kill him while she watches. __ Ooh, that'd be hot. __ Oh, I know. __ I can't wait.
__ Ardy then told the scrawny Douglas to sit on the couch while she explained everything. She covered every detail from the time Munson walked in the door, including what she sees and how she feels when she's in a trance. And how glints of light seem to set it off.
__ "You never told me any of that. 'N I asked kindly," Munson called over.
__ Douglas glanced up. Ardy ignored him. She finished, "And I can prove it."
__ "Prove it?" Douglas said. "How can you prove it? You want me to think of a number?"
__ Ardy glanced around the room as if looking for something. Not finding a glinting light source, she said, "Nah. No, don't. Just think about what you want to do. Is there a plan you made with your life that you don't want your mom and dad to find out? Is there something you've been harboring? A secret. Something only you would know?"
__ Douglas shuffled uncomfortably. "I-I'm not sure. I-I don't think -- Um, Ardelene, you don't have to --"
__ But she was already off. Spotting the stained crystal ball on the floor, she went over to it, picked it up, and marched off to the kitchen with it, leaving Douglas alone with the killer.
__ Douglas' and Munson's eyes met. The sound of water running hissed in from the kitchen.
__ Munson lowered his head and stared out from under his eyebrows, arching them into the best sinister glare he could command. "I'm gonna kill you, cowboy. I am."
__ Douglas gasped and winced. His eyes darted to the duct tape binds. He wringed his hands and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Y-You aren't gonna kill nobody, mister."
__ "You wanna be first?"
__ Douglas stood bolt upright and called toward the kitchen, "Ardelene? You okay?"
__ The water stopped running. Then came a crash and a thud, not much different from a bowling ball dropping on a flimsy metal table full of silverware. The sound of a body falling followed immediately after.
__ Munson craned his neck toward the adjoining room. He called, "Ardy! Ardy girl!"
__ Douglas called out too, "Ardelene," and ran toward the kitchen, making sure to cut a wide path around the throne where Munson was held.
__ At the kitchen doorway, he said, "Oh, my God."
__ "What is it?" Munson tried rocking the heavy chair, scooting it so he could get a better view. The heavy furniture wouldn't budge. "What is it, idiot!? She okay?"
__ "No," Douglas muttered. "She ain't."
__ Munson grunted and strained at his bonds. Sure something horrible had happened to the woman of his designs, that could've been prevented if not for this dummy storeclerk, he was desperate to escape and run to her. "Get me outta this!"
__ Douglas stepped into the kitchen and knelt by Ardelene Jacobi's side. He leaned over her to see if he could see how far the steak knife was embedded into her chest. The handle wasn't moving because she had stopped breathing. Douglas inched back to avoid the slowly spreading pool of blood edging toward him.
__ Tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks. Douglas Testerbird weeped for the loss he had never known, and would never have the chance to know. He placed one hand on her shoulder and one on her stomach. Neither moved or reacted to his touch.
__ In the other room, R. Lee Munson's shouts became a chaotic din over Douglas' screaming sobs.
__ And Ardy watched it all unfold below her.