Innocence

Innocence
By Doris Ruth Mackey

         "What you read in the paper is a lie." Peter was exhausted and desperate as he sat on the couch pleading with Linda to help him. His clothes were filthy and he hadn't slept or eaten in nearly a week. "I'm innocent! If you won't believe me, I don't know what to do."

         Linda looked at the headline again. She couldn't even begin to imagine the man sitting in front of her, committing such a horrible crime, but there it was in black and white, including four gory pictures. "Peter, they say you killed four people. Why do they think you did it? Tell me what happened."

         Peter looked up at her, relieved to at last find someone who was willing to hear his side of the story. "Jake talked me into going to this party with him. When we got there he disappeared. I didn't know anyone there and I was bored. I guess I had too much to drink and passed out. When I woke up, I found four dead people. I didn't know any of them. I looked for Jake but couldn't find him." He picked up a throw pillow and clutched it tightly to his stomach trying to ease the pain. "I called 911. Blood was spattered everywhere, including on me. When the police arrived, they looked around and decided because I was still alive, I must've done it. I don't really know how I got away, but I've been wandering and hiding for five days."

         He looked up at her again and then toward the kitchen doorway. "Linda, could I please have something to eat?"

         She couldn't help feeling sorry for him. "Of course, you lay down and get some rest while I fix you something."

         For the first time in five days, he felt safe. He allowed the fatigue he felt to take over and fell asleep.

         Linda went into the kitchen and said to the man waiting there, "He's here, in the living room. What are we going to do?"

          The man smiled and said, "I've called 911. The police will be here soon.

         She kissed him. "Jake, I really don't like doing this to Peter; it's not right. He doesn't have a clue as to what you've done." Her eyes widened with surprise. "Jake, what's the gun for?"

         Jake smiled. "Don't worry, Dear. I know exactly what I have to do."

         When the police arrived, Jake had his story ready. He told them how he'd found Peter standing over Linda's body and then killed him while fighting over the gun.

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