Night Mask Read Online Free PDF Page A

None of the nuns had been there when the two murders had occurred, and none of the priests at the adjoining church knew anything about any murders.
    â€œYou might try Father Daniel,” a young priest told them, walking the cops out of the church and back to their car. “I know he was here during that time frame.”
    â€œHe’s retired?” Lani asked.
    â€œIn a manner of speaking,” the young priest said with a smile. He wrote an address on a slip of paper and handed it to her. “You’ll find him working there. He owns the business.”
    Lani looked at the paper. “Dan’s Flowers?”
    â€œYes. Good day.”
    Father Daniel was a very pleasant man in his late fifties. “Not Father anymore,” he told them. “I got married and kicked out on my butt. My wife works downtown. What can I do for you folks?”
    Leo took it and explained.
    â€œAh, yes. I remember those murders well. I’ll go to my grave believing that little shit Jack Longwood killed them both.”
    Lani perked up. “Jack Longwood?”
    â€œHe was nine years old when the first murder happened, ten when the second one occurred. The devil’s own child, that one.”
    â€œYou don’t mean that in the Biblical sense, do you?” Lani asked.
    â€œIndeed, I do,” the ex-priest said flatly. “The boy was born with the mark of Satan on him. Just being around him caused the hair on the back of my neck to rise up, and created chill bumps on my flesh. He was a born liar, thief, sadist, pervert, and God alone knows what else. Oh, and a murderer, too. At least in my opinion.”
    â€œWhere is he now?” Leo asked.
    â€œIn Hell, I hope. How about some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”
    Lani and Leo waited while Dan took two phone orders and then the three of them sat down on stools behind the counter, mugs of coffee before them.
    â€œJack and Jim Longwood. Rich boys. Their parents were very very wealthy.”
    Were? Leo thought. “From around here?”
    â€œYes. Jack was a twin. His brother, Jim, left here right after their parents were murdered. That was back in, oh, let’s see, ’79, I think it was. You can find all the details on microfilm at the newspaper offices.”
    â€œThe murderer ever caught?” Lani asked, a sick feeling growing in the pit of her stomach.
    â€œNo. Of course, it was Jack. Or maybe Jim. I always had doubts about him, too.”
    â€œThe officials at the school weren’t too helpful in this matter,” Leo said. “I can’t believe some of them didn’t know about this.”
    â€œOh, they knew. They all know. Even the newest additions know. I think it’s required study. But you couldn’t get them to talk about it under torture. All records of the twins were ordered destroyed years ago.”
    â€œBy whom?”
    â€œChurch officials, I presume. I really don’t know. I had been, ah, seduced by the pleasures of the flesh and booted out when that happened.” He laughed, and it was a good laugh, full of humor. “But that’s another story. Jack and Jim Longwood. They’d be ... well, about thirty-two or thirty-three now. And no, I do not have any idea where either of them might be.”
    â€œTheir parents’ wealth?”
    â€œAfter their murders?” Dan shrugged. “I guess the boys got it. The mansion is still standing, unoccupied. The story I hear is that it cannot be sold, ever.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThe boys ordered it, I suppose. It’s one of the town’s mysteries. Longwood’s lawyers were, and still are, I suppose, in New York City. Good luck in trying to find them. No one around here can. Or if they can, they’re not talking.”
    â€œSo the boys would be wealthy?” Leo asked.
    â€œOh, my God, yes. Worth millions of dollars. Longwood was just as peculiar as his offspring, so he set things up in such a way that