[THE LAWYER, THE PSYCHIATRIST, AND THE POLICEMAN]

5 pm.

“Are you the one who asked to see me?”

“I was just about to ask you the same question.”

“My name is Sarah Vale. I’m supposed to be meeting someone here for a psychiatric evaluation. You?”

“I’m Dennis Mather, a lawyer meeting someone to discuss legal matters.”

“What legal matters?” she asked when a cop car pulled up with a sticker of Andre Paul.

Whoop!

Whoop!

“Detective Stedman here. Which one of you guys am I supposed to be taking down to the jail?”

Pause for a minute, that is not where the story begins!

But what a strange story this one will be!

Let us take it from the top!

3 people are about to meet at the same spot with no idea who told them to meet there.

ONLY WHY!

A lawyer, a psychiatrist, and a policeman are meeting on Mike Krout Rd, house 666 – a small black house next to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Who are these people?

First, there is Dennis Mathers, a 56-year-old black lawyer from Westchester, who is now getting in his car and heading to the address.

Second is Sarah Vale, a 27-year-old psychiatrist who was finishing her last sessions of the day and will be heading out shortly.

Lastly was Detective Simon Stedman, a 49-year-old white officer from the Nepa Town Police Department, who was now speeding to the address with sirens on.

But before we proceed any further. Please follow me back a bit earlier to see the coming together of this unlikely trio.

2 HOURS EARLIER…

3.pm

WESTCHESTER, NEW YORK.

Mather & Matter Law Firm.

Dennis was rushing to his office to finalize some paperwork for an upcoming client when his secretary bombarded him with an unusual phone call.

“Sir, there is a man on the line for you; he is not giving a name. Should I send him through or have him call back?”

“No, send it through.” He said, sat down, and picked up the phone.

“Hello, Dennis here. Who am I speaking to?”

“Mr. Mather, I have just lodged 1 million dollars in your account, another million when the job is complete,” someone said.

“Wait, what?” Dennis asked with surprise.

“Check your account.” The man told him.

He quickly checked, and a million dollars was indeed lodged.

He was surprised again.

“Okay, this is a lot of money. What is this job?”

“You will meet at the address 666 Mike Krout Rd, Lennord County, at exactly 5 pm.”

“And what will I be doing?” he asked.

“Legal matters,” the man said and hung up.

Dennis immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed out.

“Sir is everything okay?” the secretary asked.

“Yes, close up, I will be back late,” he said, and left.

59 minutes later…

3:59 pm.

SAGETOWN MEDICAL.

Sarah Vale’s office.

The doctor was now wrapping up her last session of the day.

“It is almost 4 pm now, Cal. I will see you next Saturday,” said Doctor Vale, getting up to shake her patient's hand.

“Okay, Doctor,” he said, and left when the doctor's phone rang.

It was an unknown number, something she despised, but answered anyway.

“Sarah Vale Here,”

“Hello, Ms. Vale, I have just lodged 1 million dollars in your account.”

“Click.” She hung up and hissed.

“Fucking scammers,” she said, and hissed again when a message came from her bank alerting her that a million dollars had just been deposited in her account.

The man called back. She immediately answered.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“Another million will be lodged when the job is complete.”

“What job? Who is this?” she asked.

“Meet at 666 Mike Krout Rd at exactly 5 pm.”

“And, what happens there?” she asked.

“An evaluation,” he said, and hung up.

Sarah was left dumbfounded as she stared at the phone in silence, before rushing to her secretary’s office.

“Hey Christe, I'm going to step out for a little bit,” she said and walked off.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes, I will be right back.”

“But you are leaving your car keys.” She spoke.

“I don’t need them, and you can close up,” Sarah replied and left in a hurry.

45 MINUTES LATER…

Nepa Town Police Department.

4:45 pm.

Dispatch Gracie Miller, a fat black woman, was falling asleep at her station when a sudden phone call woke her. Gracie jumped up to her colleagues, who were teasing her, when she answered the call in a tired voice.

“911, what is your emergency?”

“I’m at 666 Mike Krout Rd, I did something bad, I need you to send an officer to take me away,” said the caller.

Gracie looked at the others.

“Sir, we will have an officer from the Sage Town department assist you,” she said.

“It must be an officer from Nepa Town,” he told her.

The officers pandered.

“Sir, we are 30 minutes away from Sage Town,” Gracie said.

“Stedman is currently in Sage Town. Have him check it out,” one cop suggested.

“Okay, we will send a Nepa Town officer to your house,” she said when the caller hung up.

“What a weirdo,” she whispered, and called Detective Stedman, who immediately answered with a jolliness.

“Miss me already?” he asked.

Gracie laughed

“You wish.”

“How can I help you, Gracie?” he asked, smiling.

“Some weirdo just called and said he did something bad, and wanted an officer to come take him away,”

“What? Where?”

“666 Mike Krout Rd,”

“But that is Sage Town. Why didn’t you send a Sage Town cop?”

“That is what we told him, but he said he strictly wanted a Nepa Town officer,”

“That is weird, but okay, I will check it out,” he said, then hung up.

The Detective turned his light bar on and sped off.

Moments later, when Detective Stedman arrived on the scene, he saw two people standing outside, a man in a suit and a woman in office wear. The officer parked and stared with confusion.

“Which one of you guys am I supposed to be taking down to the jail?” he asked.

“What?” Sarah replied.

“Well, someone called, saying they did something awful, and wants to be taken in,” he told them, and exited his vehicle. They all looked at each other, then at the front door.

“Well, let us go in and see who it is who called us,” said Dennis.

Sarah knocked twice.

Knock! Knock!

“Come in,” said a deep but calm voice on the other side.

Sarah quickly opened up, glancing at the others, who seemed hesitant to enter.

She then proceeded.

Both men gazed with oddity

“Are you guys coming or not?” she asked.

“Yes,” they said.

“BOOM,” They closed the door.

Around the dining table, a man sits in a silky black robe and a shiny black mask that hides his face, while he stares back with eyes of intentional suspense.

“Please follow me,” he said, slowly getting up, heading for the back, when Officer Stedman asked.

“Sir, are you the one I’m supposed to be taking a statement from?”

The man paused.

“Or my devil, depends on who wants to speak,” he said abruptly and continued to walk. Sarah chuckled, looking at the others, then followed the man.

The masked man had led them to a bonfire that was burning, with 4 chairs.

3 beside each other, and one in the front.

“Please have a seat,” he said.

When the others sat down, the man sat in front, crossed his legs, and began shaking them.

Sarah couldn’t stop observing his meticulous mannerisms.

“Could you please tell me what we are doing here?” she asked.

“Why rush when you will have to wait for the answer?” he said.

“Well, can I at least get your name?” she asked, looking at Dennis, who seemed rather intrigued by his black mask.

“I don’t know my real name, but the name my bearer gave me was Gregory.”

“So, isn’t Gregory your real name?” Dennis asked.

“Is Dennis your real name?”

“I would love to believe so, is it not?”

“Can we please get on with this?” said Stedman, who seemed a little agitated.

“I murdered my wife,” the man blurted out, which took them off guard and sent a shiver down their spines. Officer Stedman looked at the others to see if they had heard what the man just said.

“Sir, these are some serious allegations. Are you sure of what you are saying?”

“I never joke,” he replied.

“I can see that,” Sarah said.

“So why did you call us here?” she asked.

“The reason you three are here is to answer 3 questions. But not until I tell you why I killed my wife.” He said, then stopped shaking his leg.

“Please don’t interrupt me,” he said.

He then began.

“I love my wife; I truly do. But she fails to see who I am, even after explaining it for 10 years.” He said. “My wife is a great woman; she does everything for me.”

“Well, so, I thought, until I found out she was playing mind games.”

“Mind games?” Sarah asked.

“Yes. Everything she did, she did it for her.”

“Like?” she asked.

“Washing my clothes, cooking my food, and sex,”

“But I would do that for my man, too, so I don’t see what is wrong with that.”

“But are you doing it for him, or you?” he asked.

Sarah paused.

“Anyway,” he said, and continued.

“Every Wednesday, she does my laundry, the only day my mom stops by.”

“She wants me to abuse her during sex, only because she wants to tell her friends her man is rough in bed.”

“I see. So, she does everything that she can to gain validation?” Sarah asked.

“But that’s not enough reason to kill someone.” She said.

“Ms. Vale, I’m a very peaceful man who practices calmness in chaos, and I have mastered it in only 15 years.” “I have budget bravery for everything life brings, so she could get the chance to be around a valiant soul. Someone who doesn’t complain but fixes, which also fixes her with anxiety.” “But even with all of that, she is sightless to the cramping of my meekness,”

“So, she is cramping your style?” Sarah blurted out and continued.

“So, if I’m understanding you correctly, you are saying she thinks you are weak, for being humble, without knowing that you being humble is what makes her strong?”

The man smiled, “Precisely,” he said, and continued…

“She tends to complain about everything that comes her way. Without a proper plan and execution. She never attempts to solve anything.”

“So, what she has a problem budgeting for, you have to budget for it to keep her happy?” Sarah asked.

“I wouldn't call it happy,” he said.

“What do you call it?”

“You didn’t have to ask Ms. Vale; I couldn’t tell you that without telling you why.”

“Sorry,” Sarah replied with a chuckle.

“I call it Balance.”

“Balance?”

“Yes. For no one can truly be only happy when the negative lives inside us.”

“If you set free your ego and find oneself in others, then you will acquire balance or happiness, as most call it.”

“So, a balance between positive and negative,” said Sarah.

“Continue,” she said.

“Ms. Vale, all idea has to reach a process. For the idea to work.” He said.

“Elaborate,” said Stedman, who just now felt like joining in.

“How did you become an officer? Did you lie in your bed and chant a magical word, then attain a cop status? No! You had gotten up, taken the test, and trained correctly?” he asked.

“I see what you are saying,” Stedman replied.

“Who the fuck is this guy” Sarah thought, without realizing she was dazing away.

“Sarah,” said Dennis, patting her on the shoulders.

“What?” she asked.

“You are drooling,”.

“What?” she asked again when she noticed saliva leaking on her jacket

“Shit sorry,” she said when the man handed her his handkerchief.

“Thank you,”

“Please continue,” she said, placing her jacket across her lap.

“My wife thought she was a woman of God, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.”

“But then it hit me that I cannot have her thinking she is a person of god, when she is not.”

“Explain,” said Dennis.

“Okay, let us talk about Jesus for a little, shall we?” the man said, and continued.

“After the Messiah had undergone his hardship of life, he realized something called the God consciousness, a consciousness that leads him to contentment, the reason why he began his work at age 30.”

“Interesting,” said Dennis.

“Very,” the man replied.

“You see, Jesus had openheartedly believed no one is better than anyone, and anything can happen to anyone at any given notice. And all that we need is food, shelter, and a good toilet.”

They all laughed.

“What is so funny?” he asked.

“Nothing, you are just funny,” said Sarah, with a little smirk.

“Don’t forget we're talking to a possible murderer,” said Stedman, looking at Sarah, who was flirting.

“Possibility?” the man asked.

“Well, we haven’t seen a body yet,” Dennis said.

“I see, then I will take you to the body soon enough,” he said, and proceeded on.

“Now stop and think for a second of all the evil this world carries, such as betrayal, jealousy, greed, lust, and so much more, and now imagine this man is the only being on earth who is truly in control of his evil.”

“Call it the devil if you will,” he said.

“It's heartbreaking to see that the young Jew had to die for that, weird but wonderful perks of his.”

“I guess that is why they say, only the good die young,”

Stedman sighed.

“But what does this have to do with your wife?” he asked.

“Well, to be a true Christian or a person of Jesus, one would have to be Christ-like in their humility,” he said.

“You surely have a way with words,” said Stedman, wondering where he was going with all of this.

“Detective. My wife cheated on me, I forgave her, but she still laid the burden of being sorry on me. Even after explaining why.” He said.

“Maybe it was guilt, but why did you forgive her?” Sarah asked.

“It’s just flesh touching flesh,” he said.

“I don’t respect the human body enough to care what human bodies touch, I respect only the human mind, it's where all the beauty lies.”

“Look at you, Ms. Vale. Even with your hourglass shape, you are ugly to me, until your mind says otherwise.”

“Beauty is on the inside for you, huh?” she asked.

The man stood up and turned his back to them before speaking again.

“After analyzing everything, I concluded that this woman was just using me to get by. I also realized she doesn’t know the true purpose of life, and that is why I have decided to set her free.

“As in kill her?” Stedman asked.

“Yes, and we have now reached my 3 questions,” he said, turning back around.

“Mr. Lawyer man, am I guilty of this heinous crime?”

“Ms. Psyche woman, am I mentally ill?”

“Mr. Policeman, do you think I deserve to be locked away?”

They all looked in silence. Officer Stedman was about to answer, but couldn’t, because the porch door suddenly opened, and a woman came out with shopping bags, smiling.

“Honey, I was calling you,” she said.

“Who are your friends?” she asked.

“The mask again,” she said.

The masked man turned around.

“We were just discussing your personality,” he said.

“What?” she asked, with hesitation.

Sarah looked at the others.

“I told them I killed you, so I was explaining why I killed you,” he said.

“Is this some joke? I will go make us some tea; you want any?” she asked, laughing and walking off.

The others couldn’t stop looking. Officer Stedman quickly got up, but wasn’t as agitated as before.

“Listen, buddy, if I didn’t enjoy your knowledge, I would lock you up for wasting my time.” He said and walked off. He then hissed. “You know what I quit,” he said and left immediately.

The lawyer looked at the man deeply.

“Don’t do it,” he whispered and walked off.

Sarah stood there, staring.

“So why didn’t you just leave her? She asked.

“Then she would be the same to another nice guy,” he said.

Sarah walked off. She went back outside. Dennis hadn’t left yet.

Sarah started walking down the street when he stopped her.

“Ms. Vale, hold up,” he said and approached her.

“You think he is going to kill her tonight?”

“Why do you say that?” Sarah asked.

“I think all he wanted was our opinion on the matter, before he did it.”

“He paid you to say that?” she abruptly asked.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she instantly said.

She then quickly changed the topic.

“I must say there is something sinister about him, but something peaceful as well,” she said.

“So, what do you think?” he asked.

“I’m not sure what to think, but I don’t think our job is done yet,” Sarah said.

“So do we report this?” she asked.

“I think we should leave him alone. There was a cop present, and he left it alone,” said Dennis.

“But you just said he is going to kill her.”

“I could be wrong,” he said.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Ms. Vale. You have a wonderful day,” said Dennis and walked off.

Sarah was about to walk off when she saw the man looking at her from his window, and between them, once more, Sarah couldn’t stop staring at him, when he whispered:

“IT'S EITHER HER OR ME…”

The man quickly removed his mask. What Sarah saw raised a sudden surge of goosebumps all over her. She panicked, walked off, then whispered something to herself.

“SHIT, HE IS A VAMPIRE?” SHE SAID.

AND RAN AS FAST AS SHE COULD.