Jury Killer

The bullet traveled long and hard. The ear of Lester Wakens the target. It clipped his ear and entered Lester’s head at 3:17 PM. Lester was getting ready to feed the hogs. A little early, but there was a revival meeting at his and his wife’s church. His wife Kareen heard the shot while taking an apple pie out of the oven for the fellowship tonight. It sounded close the reason for her concern. She had sense enough to set the pie on the top of the stove and shut the oven door. She had turned off the heat minutes before the pie finished baking. Gathering her dress around her, she rushed to the barn. Lester lay on his left side, his life gone from him. Kareen screamed and knelt beside her husband. The second bullet caught her in the same place. She died clutching her husband’s hand.

Danny Pilson had died in the electric chair the night before. The jury found him guilty of murdering Katlin Baker. In the last few minutes of his life, he swore he didn’t do it. All his appeals gone, even the Governor turned his back on him. They strapped him in the chair just before midnight. His daddy set stone faced in the viewing room. His mother weeping. The warden, watching the clock, gave a nod to the officer holding the lever. The man brought it down with an audible click, and Danny stiffened. 2000 volts surged through his body; His mother screamed. His father clenched his fists. The other witnesses gave an audible sigh of relief. One more murderer off the streets. As sheriff of Fayette County, I had seen it all before. This was my fifth execution in as many years.

When the Wakens didn’t show up for church as they always did, the good reverend stopped by on his way home after services. He said he had heard the shot in the afternoon but thought it was the Jannis kid just plunking tin cans. He paid little attention to it. Now he wished he had. We searched the woods and found nothing. Not even shell casings. We notified the rest of the jury.

I sent my deputies out to alert the other eleven. Too late, we found Miss Ellen Edwards in her backyard by her clothesline. The bed sheet she intended to hang on the clothesline lying beside her. Upon examination, we found the same MO. Shot right behind the left ear. One bullet, one death. Now there were ten we had to protect.

I went to see Danny’s father. Warren, my chief deputy, and I set a mile down the road while my SWAT team surrounded the cabin.

When they were in place, I pulled into their driveway and banged on the front door. Zack answered in his underwear. When he saw me, he frowned. He flung open the front door.

“What you want?” Pilson growled.

Irritated, I said. “You think killing them will change anything?”

“What you talkin’ bout? Killing who?” Zack said, perplexed.

“The members of your son’s jury?” I said, one hand on the screen door and the other on my pistol.

He laughed. “Well, how bout that? Somebody’s doin’ the work for me.” The smile spreading crossed his face made me think he did it or if not, he knew who it was.

“How about I arrest you for triple murder?” Reaching for my handcuffs.

Zack held out his hands. “Go ahead. Hook me up. I got five guys that’ll swear I was at work, then we’ll find out who’s embarrassed. I can see it now: the headline’ll read Sheriff Bight sued for false arrest. Now either charge me or get off my land.” He slammed the door.

I grinned at Warren. “Guess we’ll leave.” Then loud enough Danny’s daddy could hear. “We’ll be back with a warrant for your arrest.”

But we never came back with a warrant. I was halfway to my vehicle when we heard a shot and a woman scream. I grabbed my pistol. Warren already had his out. The SWAT team gathered around us. The door to the house flew open. Mrs. Pilson ran down the steps. “He shot himself. Zack shot himself. He’s dead. He’s dead.” We had a female deputy with us. Sobbing, she ran into her arms.

“Keep her here.” I said to Wanda, our female deputy. I approached the open door to the house with caution. Warren was behind me so close I could hear him breathing. I wasn’t sure we weren’t walking into a trap. They made it plain many times they had no love for me. Zack Pilson set on the couch; a pistol gripped in his right hand. His sightless eyes staring at me. Blood still spreading crossed the front of his chest. I holstered my pistol, the threat gone. “Better call the coroner.” I said to Warren. The coroner confirmed what we already knew: Zack Pilson died from a single gunshot wound to his chest.

Sure, we had found the killer; we relaxed and closed the case. Despite that, something bothered me. In the investigation, his buddies swore Zack Pilson was at work.

Two weeks went by with peace. I was at home relaxing in my bath. The phone rang. My wife making dinner answered it. A few seconds later, she came into the bathroom. “That was Warren. He’s on his way to the Higgen’s place. Mary found Ben laying by the tractor dead. Single gunshot wound to the head.” She handed me a towel.

“Bring me the phone, hon. “She rushed out of the room. She punched in Warren’s cell phone. My wife held it to my face as I dressed. “Warren, what do we know?”

He spoke over the siren. “Same MO. He was working late in the backfield. The one behind his house. Didn’t come in for supper. His wife took the pickup back there and found him. Called us. He’s still there,” Warren said.

“Ok, you know what to do. I’ll be there fast as I can.” I buckled on my pistol, kissed my wife, and ran to my SUV. I knew Ben. Had known him since high school. Backing out of the drive, I hit lights and siren.

Things slowed down after that. A month and sometimes six months would go by without a murder. Then another member of the jury would be killed.

Matt Widens was the last member of the jury to die. Setting in his backyard after mowing the front. The bullet clipped his left ear and entered his head. It had been eleven years since he and the rest of the jury had sent Danny to his death. I pulled the rifle from my eye was a sigh. I had used the silencer this time. They would find him later. He looked like he had fallen asleep. Something that happens to men in their 80s. He slumped over on the table. I had taken my time. I was no longer sheriff, having lost the last election. At 55, I worked part time at the post office. Matt was on my route. I would discover the body tomorrow morning. If somebody didn’t find him tonight. My opponent drummed me out of office. Said I couldn’t catch a cold, let alone the jury killer. That was alright I was ready to retire.

I was tired. I had killed 19 people, including wives. I had intended to kill 12, but some women got in the way. In the woods, I buried the rifle in a waterproof case. I marked the location with a rock, not that I thought I would need it again. Starting the pickup, I put it in gear and glanced at the clock on the dash. Almost 6. My wife would have dinner on the table. Pork chops corn and garden salad. How did I know Danny didn’t kill Katlin? Because I killed Katlin Baker and four other women.