09 – PAYBACK
‘Doctor, let’s be serious, this Alfi of yours confesses to murder a man at Phone Bar and everything fits perfectly. Witnesses’ statements, the bar’s layout, and what’s more, even this story about a car! Some years ago the victim indeed drove a white van with a sign MEAT AND SASAUGE on its side and 6 YKW 141 registration number. May you tell me, Doctor, how he knows about it?’ Inspector was annoyed.
‘Dear Inspector,’ the doctor said patronizingly, ‘I have called to you myself when I put two and two together, but I can’t explain how my patient has learned about the yesterday murder. However I must remind you we are at the psychiatric ward and not everything is easy to understand. I’m convinced the CCTV will confirm Alfi was in his room all day yesterday as he has been there for the last seven years, completely isolated from the world outside. How could he be fifteen kilometers away if he was in the next room? With all due respect, Inspector, you are telling such fantastic tales and it makes me wonder whether I shouldn’t examine you!
‘Alfi’ the psychiatrist went on, revelling in his own voice and an impeccable accent, ‘was sent here seven years ago at the court ruling. I was to assess his sanity in a different case. After two weeks or so a true culprit was caught and Alfi was cleared of charges. Unfortunately, we found during the tests the patient had difficulties with separating dreams from reality and Alfi stayed here. I don’t know if he would ever be able to leave the ward, because he confabulate and sleep more and more.”
‘Could I see his file?’the inspector asked peacably. ‘I’ve got the court.’
‘No problem since you’ve got the required documents.’ The dDoctor stood up and took four fat files from the top shelf. ‘You can use our social room. Feel at home.’ He smiled vicioulsy.
The inspector left the social room the next day. He was pale and he had a page with two columns, one with a head WE and second with a head ALFI. Both contained identical entries.
‘Doctor, Alfi had come to you a year before the investigation in the well–known case of Mr. Lullaby. Of course it could be a coincidence if not for this.’ Inspector gave the psychiatrist the notes. ‘Look, most of this data hasn’t been in media, but Alfi knows it although he’s been here for seven years. He has no access to a radio, newspapers or a car, but knows about victims’ relations with satanistics sects which haven’t beed disclosed by us. Do you understand, Doctor? No radio station aired the program, which according to your notes Alfi was listening to in his car, but its contents is hundred percent consistents with our findings.’
Inspector lighted a cigarette. At first Doctor wanted to protest, but then he opened a window and without asking for permission helped himself.
‘Doctor’ the inspector went on ‘nobody has investigated this durda.com thing yet, but everything is explained in Alfi’s file. By the way, an hour ago I got a text saying that Max, the victiom from Phone Bar, had also an account on durda.com and the sect people had known him for a long time. Apparently Max supplied animals to those freaks. It was the reason they sacked him from the butchery. And the poem – we haven’t published it anywhere”.
‘Fuck, I’m not blind’ the doctor forgot himself ‘but please understand, it’s impossible! You’re impling Alfi is Mr. Lullaby and Max from Phone Bar is his last victim. I can understand the files contain his confession, that in your eyes they are an undisputable proof of his guilt and explain matters which even you haven’t managed to solve. But even if bodies are found in places indicated by Alfi, he has a cast-iron alibi! For seven years he hasn’t left this building!”
‘He’s a murderer and I tell you more – he’s only a cog in the great killing machine!’ the inspector said firmly, took his cigarettes and notes and left.”
The psychiatrist waited for ten minutes, then pushed the intercom button.
‘Yes, Doctor’, a male nurse said.
‘Bring Mr. Lullaby to my office…’