Geraldo by Abby Moran (best historical fiction books of all time .txt) 📖

I couldn’t believe Mike was gone. I sat on his bed right onto yet another index card. I wonder if this was his signature thing to do. I was almost afraid to open it up and read it but at the same time I was afraid of where Mike was going. Maybe if he was on the kill again I could stop him in time. I took a deep breath and opened the index card slowly.

Dear Jim,
Please do not worry. I am fine. I am taking some time to think by my favorite lake. Did you ever notice how lovely it is there? I hope you like riddles, Jimmy. A hard one is on your way.”
Sincerely, Mike

What type of riddle did he mean? He knows I’m not that good at them and give up easily so it must be just for fun. I went to the lake and saw a man just sitting silently by the water. “Mike what are you thinking?” He swept his hand across the water making small waves appear. “The lake is quite beautiful don’t you think?” I just saw out of the corner of my eye his pocket knife in his pocket. I didn’t respond to his question and he didn’t ask again. “I love it here at the lake Jim. It is so beautiful but I believe it needs decoration, wouldn’t you think?” I didn’t know what to say. “Mike what is going on?” He smiled and breathed heavily.

“Geraldo was killed at a lake Jimmy.”

“I know.”

“Of course you know. You were there.”

“Mike?”

“You were there to watch the knife stab through his body and you didn’t stop it!”

“It happened way too quickly Mike….I didn’t know what to do.”


He slid his hand through the water again. “Not that it really matters now. Does it Jimmy?”

He was really scaring me now. What was he planning?

“Oh wait now I remember I had said of a riddle to you, did I not?”

I nodded and tried to seem happier but I was truly scared of him right now.

“A man walked into a bar but never went back home. Explain this.”

I didn’t understand what this had to do with anything but I played along. “Did he move away afterwards?” this wasn’t really the best guess but I hadn’t a clue.

“No.”

He seemed distracted in the water but at least he answered me.

“I’ll let you think about it Jimmy. You only clue is that it is a simple answer. If looked upon to intensely you will never know the answer.” Okay. Nice clue Mike. This was irritating and I pondered at it for a week. Mike did his same routine every day which was to go to the lake for three hours just looking at the lake.

“I give up. I really don’t know the answer.”

He grinned but said nothing.

“Mike…..you are really worrying me. Why don’t you come back to the house… watch some TV and just relax?”

He just wasn’t talking to me. “Well if you change your mind that is exactly what I’ll be doing.”

I’d never really take Mike as the nature guy but I have to admit he’s pretty calm there……a little scary but at least calm. I haven’t any clue why he gave a difficult riddle that is supposedly simple. I heard a sigh as I walked towards home and glanced only to see Mike had decided to join me.

“Thanks for changing your mind.” All he did in reply was grunt.

In other news, the investigation of Mae Bunsen’s mysterious murder is still under full operation. As of today, these few facts about the case can be revealed. Her son Geraldo was murdered a day before. There was a bottle of vodka in the trash and neighbors are referring her to as an alcoholic wife with no sense of direction and no purpose in life. More details will be broadcasted later in the case.

Mike’s eyes were glued to my television set. I couldn’t watch this anymore. I grunted and pretended to be quite sore.

“Mike, be a pal and get me some water…my feet are just killing me tonight.” He nodded and headed for the kitchen.

I turned the channel to an antique roadshow and waited for Mike to return.

“What happened to the news?” Mike asked and eyed me.

“Well look at you! You can talk after all! The news went off for the night.”

“Oh. So I guess this is good night then.” He slowly walked to the guestroom

“Mike you aren’t acting right. I’m really worried about you.” He shook his head and looked at me.
“I haven’t slept. I haven’t eaten much. Those things change a man.” That was all he said before he left and I heard the creaking of him getting into bed.

I woke up and rolled over to my other side.

“Oh my… what the…..Mike! What are you doing in my bed?!” Mike grunted realizing I was waking him up.

“What am I doing in your bed? You’re in mine Jim.”

I started to protest but looked around the room to realize I really was in his. What happened last night? What got into me?

“Oh sorry Mike, when did I come in last night?” Mike rubbed his eyes again and again.

“Last night? Oh not to late….just around midnight!”

I felt bad. I let Mike sleep (he was going to anyway) and I got up to start making breakfast.

The crust from my eyes was stinging and I thought for just a second I might still be dreaming. Then I smelt something in the kitchen, not the normal rotten fish smell. I’d never smelt anything like it, it was the worst smell I’ve ever smelt. I am not a dog but in spite of my dignity I started smelling around for it. The lay down freezer (which I don’t use ever since I got the refrigerator) is where the awful stench was coming from.

But what could possibly be in there? It’s nothing I would know about, considering that would be rotten food and booze. I patted the freezer and something moved inside it. I sighed in relief, a little critter just got caught inside and it must’ve had to do its business or something. So I went to get my cage so I could catch it and free it. I grabbed it from the living room and went back to the freezer. “It’s probably small Jim so just do it.” I told myself. Carefully I started to lift up the lid but before I could peek inside Mike jumped out of bed and stopped me.

“Don’t go in there again.” He said to me sternly as he shut the lid hard.

I stood there for a moment in shock, then slowly back away and made some eggs.

Mike was heaving hard from all the commotion of the morning. He eventually caught his breath and sat down at the kitchen table to eat breakfast with me. I cleared my throat hoping to get a clue to why I couldn’t go in there.

“So what’s in it Mike?”

“It isn’t something to be concerned about.”

“Well it sure has quite the smell.”

“Just let it go Jim.”

“How are your eggs?”

“Fine.”

That was the end of our morning chat. I cleaned our plates and went to bed, as soon as I woke up Mike had already left for the lake. Good god I didn’t understand that man. This whole killing his wife thing has really changed him. He’s a new man, but not the man anyone would like to see. Even I can see he is much stranger than his usual self.

I still don’t understand the stench, the riddles, and the reason for blaming me so much for Geraldo’s death. I mean no I didn’t stop it but I didn’t kill him either. I don’t think, given these circumstances, I could even try to sleep with Mike still in the house, at least not well. I went to Mike’s room and picked up his notecard he leaves me.

Dear Jim,
I thank you for the hospitality but I have some unfinished business. No today I am not at my usual lake. Don’t try to follow me; I need to be alone for a little while. I’ll be back later at night. Please be patient and don’t wait up.
Sincerely
Mike

Well this is confusing. What was his “unfinished business” anyway? I was hoping it wasn’t another one of his famous murders that I was going to be involved in for shielding him. Oh boy, should I follow him? I figured I should anyway.

So I went into my shed to get my 9 millimeter pistol just in case. I always keep it in my wooden box I created as a kid. It’s way too big for just my 9 millimeter but it works and nobody will think that’s what it’s for. As I was daydreaming of that day making the box, I opened it to find there was no gun in my box. Mike had taken my gun with him. So against my bad gut feelings I decided to try and follow Mike without any weapon or source of protection. I revved up the engine of my car and drove off following some foot tracks Mike had made in the mud.

When the footprints stopped short I was right behind Mike in an alley closest to a parking garage. I saw my gun in his hand pointed at some man in a hoodie I didn’t know.

“I know you did it.” Mike had a stern voice but I could tell his hands had a slight shake to them holding the gun pointed at someone, finger on the trigger.

“Look man, I didn’t do anything!”

The man had his hands up and was not hiding the fact that he was terrified. His whole body was shaking and he couldn’t stop screaming everything he asked or said.

“I know you did. That day by the lake? You killed my son.”

The man pleaded and begged for Mike not to shoot, he swore he