Where Angels Go to Die (Book One of The Silver Society) OLD EDITION!

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Benny arrived in California a few hours later.  An attractive woman met him at the airport.

     "Benny!" She exclaimed. "You haven't changed a bit!"

     "Margo? It can't be!" Benny said. The last time he had seen Margo Porter, she had been twenty-four and in law school, the new wife of Gregory Porter. She still had curly blonde hair and wore stylish glasses that framed her sparkling blue eyes. "You've gotten better looking with time."

     "You liar," Margo said. She hugged him. "It's been so long, Benny. Gregory was thrilled to hear from you."

     "Where is he?"

     "He insisted on staying home because he was very close to translating a prophecy he's been working on for months. He's excited you're here, but you know what a work-a-holic he is."

     "Yes, I remember."

     "Would you like to get something to eat before we head back to the house?"

     "Yes, that actually sounds fantastic right now. I'm starving."

     "Great. Follow me; I know a place that will satisfy every craving your stomach ever dreamed of."

~*~

     Gregory Porter was studying the last line of the prophecy with horror in his eyes. "No," he whispered. "It can't be..." He stood up and began pacing around his study. Had he translated it correctly? Was it possible that the key was so much closer than he had thought? He and Margo had plans to head back to Salem as soon as they could to help Benny with the mystery, but it now appeared that this was unnecessary. In one sentence, Gregory had solved it.

     "Hello, Gregory," a short, round man with a balding head said.

     "Mitchell," Gregory replied, stunned to see his long-time friend standing before him. "How did you get in here?"

     "I have ways. Now, my dear old friend, I am sorry to say, it ends."

     Suddenly, Gregory understood what was happening. "E tu, Mitchell?"

     "Indeed."

"This goes deeper than I suspected, then."

     "Will you make this easy, or will you fight?"

     "You know I'm not one to go down without a fight, Mitchell."

     "I was hoping you'd say that." He grinned and pulled out a knife.

     "Not a sword in the back, then?" Gregory asked.

     "No, Gregory, never in the back. There is no honor in that." Mitchell charged at Gregory, who moved out of the way just in time. Gregory ran toward the door of his study, determined to escape, but Mitchell was quicker than he looked, and he jumped onto Gregory's back and tackled him to the floor. Gregory screamed as Mitchell rolled him onto his back and pinned him down. Mitchell stabbed him twice before Gregory managed to free his legs enough to fight back.

     "There is no honor in killing me, regardless of your method," Gregory said. "I once considered you my friend. I trusted you. I suppose that makes me naïve, but it doesn't make me willing to just lie on the ground awaiting my death at your hands!"

     "Fool! You won't escape me," Mitchell said. Again, he charged at Gregory, and this time, he stabbed him through the chest.

     Gregory clutched the knife in his heart and looked into Mitchell's eyes, searching for some sign of the person that had been his best friend since they were toddlers. There was no remorse, sorrow, or pity in those cold gray eyes. There was no emotion that resembled anything even remotely human.

     "What have you become, Mitchell?" Gregory asked.

     "I chose power, my friend," Mitchell said. "And I have no regrets."

     "Then stab me again, for pity's sake. Kill me! Or will you leave me here to bleed to death?"

     "It does seem a bit cruel," Mitchell said.

     "Free me from this hell, Mitchell."

     "Anything for an old friend," Mitchell said. He pulled the knife from Gregory's chest and stabbed him again, his attack much more deliberate this time. Gregory took a few pained final breaths and closed his eyes. He never opened them again.

~*~

     Margo and Benny arrived at the house an hour and a half after they had met at the airport. "Gregory, we're home," Margo called. No response came. "Greg? Oh, he must have gotten lost in his work again. Come on, we'll check the study." She led Benny toward the study.

     "Margo, wait," Benny said suddenly. He could smell the blood and felt death in the air. "Something's wrong."

     "Nonsense," Margo said. She reached for the doorknob, but Benny grabbed her hand.

     "Let me," he said. He opened the door slowly. He lowered his head in disgust at the sight of his old friend's corpse, and turned to warn Margo not to look, but he was too late. Margo's delicate flesh paled and she fainted into Benny's arms.