Criss Cross Read Online Free PDF Page B

shouted, “All rise, please.” The people in the courtroom rose to their feet as Judge Leiberman approached and stood behind the old mahogany bench where he had presided over many a trial.
    The judge banged his gavel. “You may be seated now. Will the defendant, David Edward Stokes, please stand.”
    Silky slowly climbed to his shackled feet. He rose regally and majestically, chains and all. His attorneys, Judd Nelson and Rick Bowker, flanked him.
    Judge Leiberman looked at him with disgust. Silky was unaffected by this. “Would you like to address the court before your sentencing, Mr. Stokes?”
    Silky turned slowly. He swept the crowd with his intense gaze. He turned back to face the judge. “Yeah. Kiss my ass.”
    Judge Leiberman shook his head. “You have absolutely no remorse or regrets. Do you, young man?”
    Silky’s eyes fluttered shut as he relived the sensuality. The sheer adrenaline pumping power of the moment he strangled and marked a woman. He loved the feel of the portraits he could conjure up at will. It was a self-induced motion picture.
    His victims danced before his shut lids in all their terrorized glory. The lips of the women were bloated from strangulation. The silk panty hose knotted around their throats sent a stroke of pride trembling through his flesh.
    An “X” was branded on their foreheads. In fascinating succession, they leapt before his eyes, each and every one of his six masterpieces.
    Silky tugged himself reluctantly from the warmth of his reveries. He lowered his voice to a sultry, seductive tone. “I regret that I don’t have enough time to tie my panty hose around the necks of the whores in this courtroom today.” There was a single gasp from the audience.
    â€œThat’s enough,” Judge Leiberman said.
    â€œI’ll tell you when it’s enough,” Silky replied.
    Judge Leiberman puffed up with indignant anger. “How dare you? This is my courtroom—”
    â€œâ€”This is your hell. All of the judgments that you’ve made . . . my dear judge will come back to you. That’s the beauty of being me. By that which you judge, so shall you be judged.”
    Silky leaped aerobically, chains and all, in the air. His body twirled in a full complete circle. He landed on the defense table on his feet. “You will burn!”
    â€œGet him down!” Judge Leiberman shouted.
    â€œI am wrath! And you shall see it!”
    Silky’s attorneys were in a state of shock. They jumped away from the counsel table. The crowd gasped. People were shouting. The police guards wrestled Silky down from the table to the floor. They fell in a sprawling heap. Finally, they pulled on his chains, yanking him to his feet, back into a position of respect.
    â€œI’ll be back!” Silky shouted. “Only this time I’ll be eating your young! Like I said! I regret I don’t have enough time to tie my panty hose around the necks of the whores in this courtroom today!”
    Silky laughed—the sound was like nails scraping against a blackboard. The high-pitched wail soared through the courtroom. The octaves of his voice climbed higher and higher. The sound of it was so dark it produced a scattering of shivers throughout the audience.
    Outrage and pandemonium broke out in the courtroom. Judge Leiberman banged his gavel in fury, restoring quiet and order to his court.
    The judge pronounced his sentence. “You have been found guilty on all counts of first-degree premeditated murder. You will be put to death.” Judge Leiberman banged his gavel a final time. “Court is adjourned.”
    Silky’s laugh was the only lingering sound in the room. The media ran to file their reports. The spectators breathed an uneasy sigh of relief. It wasn’t easy to get the sticky feel of Silky off their skin.
    Silky finally stopped laughing. He tilted his head proudly and knowingly.
    Patrick Hayes closed his