Scott Wittenburg - The May Day Murders

Ann looked herself over again decided that Jerry would most likely approve of her attire. In fact, his eyes would probably pop out of their sockets when he saw her, she mused. And the funny thing was that she didn’t care if he gawked at her tonight-she was tired of dressing conservatively all of the time just because she was afraid Jerry might get all worked up and start putting the moves on her. Karen was right-she really was being sort of a prude. She had the post divorce jitters and the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Karen had probably been right about something else. If she kept stalling and putting things off for too long, she might well let Jerry Rankin slip right through her fingers.

His suggestion to go bowling tonight had thrown Ann for a loop but she had to admit she was looking forward to it. She still fell a little apprehensive about his being here to see Amy and her date off to the dance, though. When she had informed Amy that Jerry would be here at the house before her date arrived, the expression on her face had told Ann that her daughter wasn’t too crazy about the idea at all. But surprise of surprises-she hadn’t objected. Ann realized that this was probably because Amy was excited about the dance and hadn’t wanted to put a damper on anything by getting into an argument with her mother.

Ann checked the time-it was almost 6:30. Jerry would be here any minute. She knew that Amy was still in the bathroom and wondered if she realized how late it was getting. She decided to go downstairs to let her know.

Just as Ann turned around and started for the door, she heard a scuffle and voices out in the backyard. She ran over to the bedroom window and peered down. It was too dark to see anything because she hadn’t yet turned on the backyard lights. Then she realized that she had indeed turned on the lights. She had done it just after getting off the phone from Sam. So why were they off now?

She heard voices again. It sounded like two men arguing, and one of the voices sounded like Jerry’s. In an instant, she ran out of the bedroom and fled down the stairs. She stopped and glanced out of the living room window and saw Jerry’s car parked in the driveway, She ran through the kitchen and laundry room to the back door. There was a knock at the front door just as she started to open the back door.

Ann ran back into the living room and peaked through the curtains. She saw Jerry Rankin and another man standing on the porch. The other man’s back was to her. Ann couldn’t see very clearly, but it looked as though Jerry was holding the other man’s arm-as if to keep him from escaping. Ann opened the door and let out a gasp.

There stood Jerry Rankin gripping the arm of a young man who looked to be around the same age as Amy. The boy had a welt over his right eye and there was a trickle of blood oozing out from a cut on his lower lip.

“Jerry! What happened?” Ann exclaimed.

Jerry’s expression was a mixture of concern and rage. “I caught this little bastard peeping through your bathroom window!”

Amy! Ann thought. She’s been taking a shower! Ann’s blood pressure shot up.

Jerry shoved the boy forward through the doorway pinning his arm behind his back as he did so. He stood just inside the doorway and explained. “When I pulled into the driveway, I noticed that the light in the backyard suddenly went off. I thought it was peculiar so I ran back to the fence to be sure that everything was all right. I spotted this little twerp peaking in the bathroom window so I jumped the fence and headed toward him. He saw me and started running the other way, but I caught him. Then he resisted and tried to get away from me, so I slapped him around a couple of times.”

Ann watched Jerry as he forced the boy over to the center of the living room and glared at him reproachfully. Ann was practically in hysterics at the moment and wasn’t sure what to do or say. She could see the boy more clearly now and she looked him over. He appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen with a peach fuzz baby face and short brown hair. His expression was absolutely forlorn as he stared down at the floor. In spite of the allegation against him, Ann felt the slightest pang of pity for him for some odd reason and it was more than obvious that he was absolutely terrified of Jerry Rankin.

“His lip is bleeding-I’ll go get a damp cloth,“ Ann suddenly said.

Jerry shot her a scornful look. “You should let him bleed to death!”

Ann ignored his remark and went into the kitchen. Her hands were trembling as she held a dishcloth under the tap and struggled to compose herself. It wasn’t until she was half way back to the living room that it finally hit her: the boy she was feeling sorry for only a moment ago was not only a peeping Tom that had trespassed on her property but most likely the same pervert who had been making those obscene phone calls! Ann clenched her teeth with great determination as she returned to the living room and handed the dishtowel to the boy.

“What’s your name?” she demanded.

The boy brought the towel to his injured lip and replied slowly. “Larry Underwood.”

“And what exactly were you doing in my backyard, Larry?”

The boy blinked his eyes a couple of times and turned away from Ann. “Looking into the window.”

“Why, may I ask?”

Larry Underwood continued looking away from her. “I was trying to see Amy.”

Ann got right up in his face. “So you know my daughter-is that correct?”

The boy nodded slowly.

“And do you attend Woodcrest High?”

Larry nodded again.

“And is this the first time you’ve snooped around my house or have you done it before?”

“The first time-I swear!”

“Tell Mrs. Middleton the truth, you little pervert!” Jerry glared. “That’s not what you told me outside.”

Larry Underwood’s eyes went from Jerry Rankin to the floor. “Maybe a couple of times before.”

Ann then said, “And have you been making obscene phone calls to this house?”

The boy faced Ann and replied,” No! I haven’t done that and I’m really telling you the truth now!”

Ann looked over at Jerry, who had the boy in an arm lock. “He denied making the calls to me, too. I don’t know whether to believe him or not.”

“I swear, Mrs. Middleton. I have never called your house. I’ll admit that I’ve snooped around a couple of times, but that’s all-you gotta believe me!” he pleaded.

“What’s going on?”

All three turned at the same time and saw Amy standing in the hallway. She was wearing her bathrobe and her expression went from bewildered to absolute shock when she recognized Larry Underwood.

“What are you doing here, Larry? What happened?”

No one answered right away, so Jerry Rankin took over. “Go ahead Larry. Tell Amy what you’re doing here.”

Larry gave Ann a pained look of desperation as if to say “please don’t make me tell her.” Ann decided to remain silent to see if Larry Underwood would have the guts to confess his crimes. Amy, in the meantime, was staring at her mother for a clue as to what was going on.

Finally, when it became apparent that Larry wasn’t going to speak, Ann said, “Larry was peaking in the bathroom window at you, honey.”

Amy’s face turned beet red. Her eyes went from her mother to Larry to Rankin before she turned around bolted up the stairs to her bedroom, sobbing as she ran.

Ann ran after Amy. When she reached the upstairs landing, she saw that her daughter’s bedroom door was closed. She knocked on it softly.

“Can I come in, sweetie?”

Moments later, Amy replied, “I don’t care.”

Ann entered the room and found Amy lying in the bed crying. She sat down on the bed and began stroking Amy’s damp hair comfortingly.