I Didn't Do It!

I Didn't Do It!

by

Victor L. Arnette

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Victor L. Arnette at Smashwords

I Didn’t Do It!

Copyright 2010 by Victor L. Arnette

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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I Didn’t Do It!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5

Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10

Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15

Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20

Chapter 21 - Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25

Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28 - Chapter 29 - Chapter 30

Chapter 31 - Chapter 32 - Chapter 33 - Chapter 34 - Chapter 35

Chapter 36 - Chapter 37 - Chapter 38 - Chapter 39 - Chapter 40

Chapter 41 - Chapter 42 - Chapter 43 - Chapter 44 - Chapter 45

Chapter 46 - Chapter 47 - Chapter 48 - Chapter 49 - Chapter 50

Chapter 51 - Chapter 52 - Chapter 53 - Chapter 54 - Chapter 55

Chapter 56 - Chapter 57 - Chapter 58 - Chapter 59 - Chapter 60

Chapter 61 - Chapter 62 - Chapter 63 - Chapter 64 - Chapter 65

Chapter 66 - Chapter 67 - Chapter 68 - Chapter 69 - Chapter 70

Chapter 71 - Chapter 72 - About the Author

Chapter 1

David smiled to himself as his date got up from her seat in the theater to visit the women’s room. He looked at her tight rear end as she moved down the aisle and thought, Man, she’s HOT!

He had wanted to ask Megan out for several months since meeting her at the restaurant where she works, when he and his best friend Jim had eaten there, but had not thought she would say yes. She was so beautiful that he was sure she already had a significant other or guys asking her out so often that he wouldn’t have a chance. Plus, his friend Jim had expressed an interest in her too, and David had thought that if Jim asked her out, she would probably go out with him first. Jim always had a way with the girls.

When she waited on his table a few days ago, she had asked if he had seen the new horror movie playing next door. He told her no, but that he would love to take her. He was nearly speechless when she had replied with, How about this Friday night? David stammered out, Sure! thinking how awesome it would be to see her again in just two days!

He had only been half watching the movie because he kept looking at her whenever he thought she wouldn’t notice. She had long blonde hair, worn swept back over her ears, thin, beautifully arched eyebrows over pretty blue eyes, a cute, slightly upturned nose, and pouty pink lips that he was just dying to kiss. From his visits to the restaurant, he also knew that she was a year younger than his own 24 years, about an inch shorter than his own 5’11", slender, with apple-sized breasts, and a slim waist.

David stopped his musings when he realized that Megan had been gone for a bit longer than he had expected, but then again, she was a woman, and woman did tend to take longer than men, especially when using public facilities. So he settled back into his seat and watched some of the movie.

The flick was a gruesome one about a serial killer whose trademark was cutting out the eyeballs of his victims to add to his collection. It seemed to be a good movie but it was hard for him to follow everything since he had paid so little attention to the first half.

He looked at his watch and realized that Megan had been gone for over 20 minutes. He decided that was a bit too long and got up to check and make sure everything was okay.

When he got to the lobby, it was deserted. He walked over to the restrooms and knocked on the door to the women’s room. After waiting for an answer, he pushed the door open a little and called out, Megan is everything okay? He did not hear an answer. He waited a few seconds and called out again after a short while, but to no avail. David looked around the lobby again, but it was still deserted. He wondered if maybe she had gone next door to the restaurant where she worked but could not imagine why she would. He walked across the lobby to the front doors and poked his head out to look next door. The restaurant was closed. Well, David said to himself, she didn’t go over there.

He walked back to the women’s restroom door and was about to open the door to try calling her name again when he heard a high-pitched scream from within. Abandoning any sense of propriety, he shoved open the door and rushed in! He careened headlong into a young girl running out knocking both of them to the floor! He remembered seeing her in line at the snack bar earlier. He grabbed at her arm to try to help her up. She screamed again and ran past him out into the lobby. He got up and stepped around the corner to look into the room. There was blood all over the floor. In the middle of it lay his dream date, Megan, her empty eye sockets staring up at him! He fell to his knees in shock. He heard some more screaming and realized that the voice was his own!

Chapter 2

Detective Stephen Grant pulled up in front of the movie theater and turned off his car. The only thing he had heard over the radio was a murder with bodily mutilation. That could mean just about anything. As he got out of his vehicle, he stuck his badge wallet in his jacket pocket so the badge would be visible. He stretched as he stood next to his car, wondering if this was going to be another clumsy crime that he would be able to solve with less than twenty questions or if it would actually be one that required real police work. So many crimes here in the Flint area of Michigan were committed by would be master criminals who would actually be better at crime if they had stayed in school long enough to learn more than just how to tie their shoelaces. He was fed up with dealing with crimes a fifth grader could solve. He approached the front doors of the theater and a uniformed police officer admitted him. He had to duck a little as he entered as he was a very tall man, being 6’ 7 ½" and built like a football linebacker.

When he looked around the lobby, he saw several more uniformed officers, a few movie theater employees (judging by their uniform shirts), and a small number of other people all standing towards the rear of the lobby. He asked the nearest uniformed officer where the actual crime scene was and the officer directed him towards the women’s restroom. He could see that the crime scene technicians were already in there so he postponed viewing the scene for himself so he wouldn’t get in their way.

Of the people standing by the rear wall, one young girl, about 14 or 15 years of age, and one young man, about 23 or 24 years old, were the only two that seemed shaken up and upset. The girl was with an older woman, who he assumed was her mother. She looked very agitated and kept pointing at the young man while talking animatedly with the movie employees. The young man was standing by himself. Detective Grant decided that he would interview him first, and then talk to the young girl and her guardian. He started toward the small group.

From where he stood, David watched a very large, neatly dressed man with medium brown hair approach him. He was huge! He was wearing a dark blue suit with a badge hanging from the breast pocket. The man introduced himself as Detective Grant and asked David what his name was. David Andrews he replied. The detective also asked him a bunch of other questions like age, address, etc. David answered the questions with all the energy of someone at a job interview for a position that they do not really want. Then the detective started asking questions about that evening.

Detective Grant asked him what he had seen and David filled him in on his asking Megan out; the movie date; Megan missing for a short while, presumably to go to the bathroom; and then how he had found her in the women’s restroom on the floor. When the detective asked him how long he had known Megan, he told him that he didn’t really know her, but knew of her from his many visits to the restaurant next door over the last four months, and how this evening had been their first date.

Then the detective asked, Did you have any reason to wish Ms. Jackson to come to any harm?

David answered, What? No Way! I wanted to date her!

Do you know of anyone else who might? asked Grant.

No, like I said, I didn’t really know her that well. I wanted to get to know her better, but this was our first time out. David replied.

The detective looked at him for a minute without speaking, and then asked, Did you ask Ms. Jackson out tonight, or did she ask you out?

I asked her a couple of days ago about seeing the movie tonight. Why does that matter?

I am just trying to make sure that I have as many details as possible. Detective Grant said as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to David, but he declined.

You’re acting nervous, Mr. Andrews, is anything the matter? The detective asked as he peered at him.

David was flabbergasted! Well, how am I supposed to act? I found my date dead on the floor of the women’s bathroom with her eyes missing!

Please calm down and lower your voice Mr. Andrews. There is no need to raise your voice. I am simply making an observation and asking you a question. Detective Grant put a hand on David’s shoulder. Why don’t you sit down and relax for a while and I’ll come back after you have had a chance to calm down some.

David mumbled, Okay., and sat down on one of the benches lining the walls of the theatre lobby. He covered his face with his hands and took a few deep breaths. When he dropped his hands, he could see that the detective was talking to the young girl and the older woman with her. He thought to himself, Man, this detective is acting like I had something to do with this. It’s just like in one of those T.V. police shows where they interrogate people harshly, trying to coerce a confession.

Chapter 3

After the detective left him, David thought back to earlier in the evening. After screaming until he could barely breathe, David had run out of the restroom, yelling for help. By the time he got to the lobby the young girl he had run into was there with an older woman, and they were talking excitedly to several people with theatre t-shirts on, including the manager. David had screamed at them to call an ambulance and the police. They had all shrank back from him and the manager had gone to his office to make the phone calls.

After the police had arrived, they had the manager and his employees lock all the exit doors and inform all the moviegoers in the theatre that they were being detained by the police until further notice. They had an officer stationed just inside of each of the six movie theatres to keep control. They were currently getting all the names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone there. Luckily for them, they were small theatres.

David looked back over at the detective in time to see him shaking hands with the young girl and her mother and letting them leave. The detective said something to one of the uniformed officers and started towards where David was sitting. As Grant approached, David stood up, wiping the palms of his hands on his pants.

Are you feeling better, Mr. Andrews? Do you think we can talk some more about what happened this evening?

David sighed and said, Yes, I believe so.

Detective Grant looked down at his notepad, then up at David and said, According to the young lady, when she went to go to the restroom earlier this evening, she saw you peeking out the front doors of the theatre like you were looking for someone or maybe making sure there was nobody outside.

David explained again about looking for his date after she had been gone too long to go to the bathroom. He admitted looking outside to see if she had maybe gone next door to the restaurant where she worked.

The young girl told me that when she saw the body and screamed she tried to run back out of the restroom and was attacked by you. That you tried to stop her from getting away.

David’s eyes got big and he said, No, I didn’t try to attack her at all! I was coming back to the restrooms to knock on the door again, heard a scream, and ran into the women’s room where I crashed into the girl as she was trying to run out! When I got up off the floor, I just went on in and looked and that’s when I saw Megan on the floor, all covered in blood!

The detective looked at him and smiled, So you said. You seem to be a nice enough person, but then, I just met you. I want to believe you, but the fact remains, somebody killed your date. Therefore, until we find out more, the only people we have at the scene are you and a 15-year-old girl who is near hysterics. Now, as long as you do not have any business that will take you out of the county in the near future, you are free to go. When I need to talk to you again, I have your number.

David spread his hands in front of him, No, I don’t have any plans to go anywhere, anytime soon. I would appreciate it if you didn’t call my work number though. The place I work is very corporate anal and just being questioned by the police could be enough to lose me my position there.

Grant smiled and said, No problem, I have your home and cell numbers. I am sure you would never ignore my calls, or forget to call me back, would you?

David replied that he would always call right back. The detective gave him back his driver’s license and told him he could leave. David looked at the door of the women’s restroom as he went by it, and then just looked at his feet as he walked out the front doors of the theatre. When he got to his car, he was shaking so badly that he dropped his keys twice before getting his car door unlocked. He started the engine, and then sat there for a minute, trying to calm down enough to drive home without getting into an accident.

Chapter 4

Once David got home, he felt exhausted. As he undressed, he noticed that he had smears of dried blood on his hands and shirt, as well as his pants legs. God, he thought, no wonder everyone was staring at me as if I was crazy. I hope this didn’t make me look like I had something to do with Megan’s death. He threw the clothes into the laundry basket, wondering if he would be able to get out the bloodstains. He stepped into the bathroom and started the water in the shower so it could heat up. He looked at himself in the mirror and started replaying his date in his head, from meeting Megan at the restaurant, finding her on the restroom floor in a pool of blood, to his discussion with the police detective. He blinked and realized that he could no longer see himself as the mirror had fogged over. He adjusted the temperature and climbed in under the hot water. He showered quickly, then toweled off and padded to the bedroom wearing just his towel. He pulled on a pair of boxers and lay down on his bed. As tired as he felt, he lay there staring at the ceiling replaying the evening’s events, over and over in his head. Why did something like this have to happen? Did Megan have a jealous ex-boyfriend that was upset at her being out with another guy? If so, was this other guy going to be coming after him next? David did not think either of his exes were crazed enough to have done something like this. Both of them were already dating other men. He didn’t think he had any other enemies or anybody mad enough at him to kill. What if it was someone that didn’t know either of them?

David rolled over and put the pillow over his head. He finally fell asleep, but woke up several times in the night and had trouble getting back to sleep each time. By 9:00 a.m. he gave up on trying to get anymore sleep, and got up. He performed his usual morning routine: toilet, brush teeth, wash face, and dress. He didn’t have any plans for today – he had wanted his schedule free in case his date went really well – so he put on some jogging pants and a sweatshirt. He went into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee and get a bowl of cereal. He didn’t really feel hungry, but knew he needed to eat. He ate his breakfast while the coffee was brewing; then went to the front door to get the paper.

When he pulled open the front door, he felt a rush of apprehension. He looked out from his doorway, wondering if anyone was looking at him and why he was feeling that way. David thought to himself, I didn’t do anything wrong. He decided it must be some guilty feelings over the way that detective had questioned him. He picked up his paper and decided that maybe reading the paper and drinking his coffee would help clear his mind of last night’s horror. He set the paper on the dining room table, a big brown wooden table that could easily seat a family of six, and went back to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee.

When he sat down and opened the paper, he almost spilled his coffee. The headlines read YOUNG WOMAN KILLED AND MUTILATED! The only picture accompanying the story was of the front of the movie theatre. David carefully set his coffee down and, taking a deep breath, read the story. The story basically just told how a young woman was killed in the theatre restroom and that her body had been mutilated. It didn’t say how she had been mutilated though. The story also described how the police had spent a long time interviewing the woman’s date, but that no arrests had yet been made. Great, David thought, that makes it sound like her date, meaning ME, is the one that killed her! What am I going to tell the guys at work? They all know I was going out last night. I don’t want everyone at work wondering if I had something to do with this. Maybe the police will have figured out who did this by Monday.

He took a sip of his coffee and realized that it was just lukewarm. He went back to the kitchen for a fresh cup and decided to try to read the rest of his paper, still wanting to clear his head of last night. He skimmed headlines and sections, hoping to find something to catch his attention, but just couldn’t get into reading anything else. Frustrated, he went to the living room and turned on his T.V., only to see a bit on CNN about the murder. He clicked off the T.V. and tossed the remote on the couch. He decided to take a look on the Internet to see if he could find out how to get blood out of his clothes.

David flipped on the power switch to his computer and sipped his coffee while waiting for it to boot up and be ready to use. Once it was ready, he went to a search engine and searched for methods to remove or clean bloodstains from clothing. Most of the sites that he found had different recommendations depending on the fabric of the clothing, but the majority seemed to agree that washing the items of clothing in