Before.

Elijah Pope a young black man with a few petty crimes to his name is casually strolling along Maple Street Orange county California enjoying the sun shine when suddenly he is surrounded by a dozen squad cars and hauled off to jail.

The date is 6th July 2011 and Elijah is shocked when a Detective informs him that he is being charged with multiple murders and will held in custody until his court date.

Elijah knows that he hasn’t killed anyone and doesn’t understand how the cops could make such a mistake but he is confident that when he stands trial the judge will throw out all charges against him.

A month later he appeared before judge Walter B Carruthers charged with murdering twenty people.

His defense lawyer Paul Drew seeing that the evidence against his client is overwhelming offers only token counsel letting the prosecution railroad proceedings and after a ten week trial he is sentenced to death despite proving that he was out of state when five of the murders occurred.

Judge Carruthers stated that the DNA evidence proved beyond doubt that he was guilty of the heinous crimes and the only suitable punishment was death by electric chair.

Pope in a fit of rage attacked his defense lawyer before being dragged away by four court marshals screaming ‘You haven’t seen the last of me Mr Drew and Judge Carruthers, I will come back from the grave and drag you two down to hell.’

As the courtroom clears a young man very similar to Pope in appearance pulls a hat down over his face before walking out satisfied with the verdict.

Twelve years later just before dawn on the 21st September 2023 after exhausting all avenues of appeal Elijah Pope is escorted into the execution chamber by a half dozen guards where he is quickly tied into the electric chair with thick leather bindings.

A guard snaps a meta skullcap into place and Pope looks into the viewing room to see who up to watch him die, he is pleased to see his parents sitting front and centre but his mood shifts when he notices Paul Drew his defense lawyer looking back at him ‘One day motherfucker you will die by my hands’ Pope promises Drew who steps back in fright.

‘Enough Pope’ Warden Ian Baldacci a crusty old Irishman proclaims ‘Do you have any more last words before you meet your maker?’

‘I am an innocent man Warden and if you kill me today i promise that i will come back and take you amongst others down to hades where they too will meet their maker.’

At 5 am Warden Baldacci waits for the prison chaplain to finish his prayers for the condemned prisoner then he flicks the switch causing Pope to thrash and buck around violently.

Smoke fills the confined space thankfully because it blocked his parents from what happened next to their sons body, both of his eyeballs exploded and his cranium caught fire but worst of all was when the leather bindings around his hands dug deep into his flesh.

Popes skin was half cooked which caused the bindings to easily sever both of his hands that fell to the ground with a thump.

At 5.22 Pope was pronounced deceased and soon he was put into a pine box along with both of his hands and loaded onto the back of a truck and driven down to a dank corner of San Quentin and buried in an unmarked grave.

Three months later on a moonless night a pair of hands break through the dirt covering Popes remains and astoundingly the skin on the hands are unblemished free from any signs of decay.

The hands quickly scale the wall of the prison, slither under the razor wire and fall down the other side free to avenge their owners execution.

Vengeance will happen come hell or highwater.

After waiting for a few hours the pair of hands hitch hike a ride on a sanitation truck.

Just on 8.30 the hands seemingly knowing where exactly to jump off their ride do the deed and land outside a large building then scramble to a small garden near the entrance.

Ten minutes world renowned orthopedic surgeon Edwin Rothchild takes a seat near the garden to smoke a cigarette and to his astonishment he notices movement then the pair of black hands emerge like an octopus from it’s secret garden.

A patient of his, Patrick Redman, lost both of his hands in a boating accident back in September but due to having A B Negative blood one of the rarest types of blood in the USA he has been unable to find a suitable donor.

Knowing that it was completely unethical Doctor Rothchild picks up the hands takes them upstairs to his office where he disinfects the hands takes a small blood sample before placing the hands in a sterile cooler.

Just before lunch he gets an email from pathology and the results are positive, the blood from the donated hands match Patrick Redman’s blood type.

Rothchild immediately organizes an operation for tomorrow morning and after a marathon procedure the hands were successfully attached and a month later Redman was released from hospital a new man even though he now had black hands on his white body.

Redman’s recovery astounds his physiotherapist who has never seen a patient rebound so quickly and two weeks later he is released from the hospital and sent home.

Patrick is grateful for his new hands even though they came from a black man, he continued to improve everyday and was looking forward to going back to work and visiting his parents in Virginia.

After stepping out of the shower a few days later Patrick notices sometime written on the steamed up mirror I AM BACK MOTHERFUCKERS-ELIJAH POPE.

Panicking Patrick wipes the mirror clean and after dressing he boots up his laptop and Goggles Elijah Pope. ‘What in the fuck? They gave me the hands from a dead serial killer.’

Looking at the offending hands Patrick shakes in horror because the black skin has crept up his arms just past his elbow and when he looks down below his boxer shorts and his skin there is now black just below his knees.

After downing a triple scotch Patrick lies down on the couch to settle his nerves and sleep off the booze but as he dozes his DNA is still being taken over from the DNA of a very dangerous man seeking vengeance for his unjust execution.

A week later Elijah Pope leaves the apartment leaving the memory of Patrick Redman behind.

Knowing exactly where is he headed Pope jumps on a bus which takes him within a half mile of his first target Warden of San Quenton Warden Ian Baldacci.

Inside his home Baldacci is soaking in his tub relaxing after another hard day when the bathroom day is kicked in and a vaguely familiar black man enters holding a metal toaster ‘Good afternoon Warden I hope that you have washed all of your sins away because I am here to avenge my execution.’

‘Remember me Warden?

‘Pope? But it can’t be I saw you die and I also watched while you were buried just to make sure that you that you were never coming back.’

‘Well here I am Warden to let you know that you executed an innocent man when you killed me that day.’

While Pope was talking he plugged the toaster into an outlet and without another word tossed the toaster into the soapy water than stood back and watched as his first victim on his quest died in a shower of sparks.

NOW.

Pope feeling hungry after the killing wandering into the kitchen and made himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and as he ate Elijah went upstairs looking for cash to and soon found $600 in a dresser draw.

Downstairs pope grabs the Warden’s car keys and his service weapon than he re enters the bathroom and after unzipping he unleashes a torrent of piss all over the burnt body floating in the tub. ‘See you in hell Warden.’

After washing his hands Pope looks into the mirror and is happy to see his own reflection looking back at him’ Welcome back Pope now lets go kill more of the fuckers who found me guilty and sent me to the chair for a crime I didn’t commit.’

While he drives the Warden’s BMW along Santa Monica Blvd Pope to careful to stay under the speed limit because the last thing he needs is to attract attention to himself.

He completely ignores the ocean views because his mind has gone back to the day when he was found guilty of murdering 13 young females when he could prove that he was out of state when five of the murderers were committed? Plus how could the authorities conclusively say that the DNA found at all of the scenes.

Slamming his hand against the steering wheel Pope knows that the only theory that makes any sense is that he has a twin brother that his parents never told him about but surely his parents would have spoken up at his trial if that was the case?

Elijah wants answers and he wants them now but than he decides that his parents can wait awhile because first he will visit judge Walter B Carruthers a man who seems to think that he is beyond reproach.

After he has taken care of the judge pope plans on killing his so called defense attorney who just sat in his chair ignoring flaws in the prosecutions case.

While pope’s anger rages 30 miles away at the Redman household his sister who has been trying to contact her brother for three days is inside looking for signs of a struggle or another reason why Patrick has gone off the grid and.

Wendy knows that Patrick still recovering from the operation where he received a double hand transplant should be at home convalescing so she calls 911 to report her brother missing.

But unfortunately the police will be searching for a person who no longer exists or does he?

Growing frustrated Pope doesn’t know where to find his next two victims but it is a weekday so maybe they are both at the courthouse but where in the fuck is the courthouse screams as he again slams the steering wheel.

‘The courthouse is located at 38 Scyamore Avenue Los Angeles in three miles takes the exit.’

Elijah cant get a grip on where the voice is coming from but he gets an instant boner that he begins to rub.

God the voice sounds as sexy as hell ‘Hey lady what is your name?’

‘I am Siri, ask me a question and I will answer it.’

‘Um okay, does a bear really shit in the woods?’

‘No sir they use the restroom at the nearest gas station and use groundhog fur to wipe their butts.’

‘Haha good one Siri, now listen carefully because this is a serious question Is my cock the longest in the county?’

‘I can’t tell from here sir, why don’t you stick it out the window and let the cops decide.’

‘Jesus Siri you have a sexy voice but you really need to develop a sense of humour.’

‘But enough with the small talk Siri, now how about you still me the quickest way to the courthouse and make it snappy because I have a killing to attend to and hopefully I will be able to kill two birds with one stone.’

‘Sure thing Shorty. in 500 yards take a left on Metcalfe Street’ Pope bites his tongue and turns as directed ‘In 300 yards turn left on Ridgeway’

Seething inside continues to drive ‘In another 800 yards turn into Oceanview Avenue.’

Pope can’t stay quite any longer ‘I will have you know Siri that the only thing short about me is my temper so please keep your opinion to yourself.’

‘You have reached your destination, now before you exit your vehicle please make sure that everything is in place because the last thing the public needs to see is a one inch man in full bloom, have a nice day.’

‘Jesus what a fucking bitch’ Pope snarls as he parks and turns the engine off.

Pope sits inside the stolen BMW for a few moments to get his bearings and scope out the courthouse.

After a few minutes Pope steps out into the midday sun leaving a full palm print on the windscreen just so the authorities know who they are dealing with, Elijah Pope is back and soon the streets of Los Angeles will glisten as the blood of his victims pools before flowing into the gutters of hell.

As he trots up the courthouse steps Pope’s face lights up when he notices his defense lawyer Paul Drew sitting on a park bench just metres away eating his lunch while reading a newspaper.

Pope doesn’t notice the carefully manicured flower beds as he walks down a gravel path because he hasn’t come for a picnic Elijah is here to inflict pain and avenge another who did him wrong.

‘Um excuse me but are the attorney Paul Drew by any chance?’

Drew looks up at the young black man standing before him who looks vaguely familiar ‘Yes I am attorney Drew can I help you with something?’

‘Yes I would like to discuss a case with you if I may?’

‘Of course but I am on my lunch break so just call my office and make an appointment and talk about any legal matter that you have.’

Taking a seat on the bench Pope looks into the eyes of a man who has no idea that his life is about to come to a grisly end ‘The case that I want to talk about happened in July 2012 and you were my attorney but you did little in the way of defending me, instead you sat back and let the prosecutor railroad my case and in turn I was found guilty of murdering 13 women even though i proved that I was in another state when five of the murders occurred.’

Drew lowers his newspaper and for the first time looks at the intruder and when he finally recognizes the man sitting a few feet away his bowels turn to water ‘My God Pope? It can’t be I watched you die in the chair and I saw your pine box lowered into the ground before the hole was filled in with dirt.’

‘Pope you were convicted because your DNA was found on all of the victims so there was little that I could do to save you.

Elijah can see that life has been kind to Paul Drew but it is about to get a whole lot worse ‘Did it ever occur to you that I might have a twin brother who would be guilty of the murders? Because being twins we would share the same DNA.’

Drew is growing increasingly anxious and continually wipes his palms on the crumpled suit pants that he has worn into court for over a decade than fitting his appearance because he looks a lot like the ‘smoking man’ character on the old X Files show Drew lights a cigarette to calm his nerves and work out a way that he can escape and warn the court guards.

‘Do you have a twin brother Pope?

‘Not that I know of but it is the only explanation because I didn’t murder anyone.’

Sensing that Drew is about to call for help Elijah leans forward begins to squeeze the attorneys throat ‘Sorry Drew you seem like a nice enough fellow but you sent an innocent to the chair and for that I sentence you to death.’

It takes five minutes but eventually Drew stops struggling and dies in Pope’s arms ‘Excuse me but what is going on over there.’

Pope spins around to see an elderly woman walking a small dog approaching him ‘Thank God you are here, I think this man is having a heart attack, can you ring 911?’

Thankfully the lady stops in her tracks to call for help and when the paramedics arrive a few minutes later to assist Drew he slinks away unnoticed.

A big crowd has gathered to see what is happening and Pope uses the diversion to walk up the courthouse steps in search of Judge Walter B Carruthers, the man who sentenced him to death and to his surprise Carruthers is standing on the top step a mere twenty feet away.

Removing a steak knife that he stole from the Wardens home Pope walks up the steps and without fear plunges the knife between the judge’s ribs into his heart killing him instantly.

Pope would have liked to have had a chance to look into the judge’s eye so that he knew who had killed him but it wasn’t to be it wasn’t to be instead he lowers the judge to the ground and screams ‘Please help me, I think he is having a stroke or something.’

When a few court guards rush over Pope stands back than casually walks back down the steps than turns around and looks directly into a security camera to give the cops positive proof that a ghost from the past is back to spill as much blood as he can.

Pope is smart enough to know that his run of good luck won’t last forever so he needs to find a place to lay low for awhile.

Warden Baldacci’s body was found by his housekeeper not long after his murder.

Esamelda a middle aged Mexican immigrant who has worked for the Mister Baldacci for over a decade knew something was wrong as soon as she opened the front door and smelt the odour of burnt flesh than the distressed woman followed the smell into the bathroom where she discovered her boss’s pink blistered body floating in the bath tub.

A squad car is the first to arrive, one of the uniformed officers walks around to the backyard to make sure that the perpetrator isn’t lurking around whilst the other officer is confronted by Esamelda who has been waiting outside. “Please hurry my boss is dead in bath tub and he smell bad.’

Not really knowing what he is walking into the officer draws his service weapon before opening the front door, as soon as he enters the smell of burnt meat hits him ‘Jesus it smells like someone has spit roasted a hog in here and forgot about it.’

After scoping out the rest of the house the officer goes back outside, closes the front door than he tells Esamelda that the house is now a crime scene and that she is not to enter under any circumstances ‘No worry me not go inside but officer boss’s car gone maybe killer take it.’

Detective Eric Robinson and his partner Marc Freed arrive on the scene quickly followed by people from the crime lab.

Robinson is a huge black man who has been on the force for almost twenty years, he was an excellent quarterback in college and looked set for a great football career but when his younger sister Sabine was found murdered Eric joined the police academy after college.

His partner Marc Freed is a new detective joining the ranks just a month ago, with pasty white skin and eye glass’s he wouldn’t look out of place at a nerd convention.

After speaking to the pair of uniformed officers guarding the front door Robinson and Freed enter the crime scene and they are soon joined by the medical examiner Melanie Brewster a young quirky woman with multi coloured hair ‘Good morning Detectives lets see what we have.’

‘Smells like a BBQ to me’ says Freed ‘My Papa used to make a mean pork roast when I was a kid.’

Immediately on entering the bathroom Dr Brewster points to all of the fingerprints covering the bathroom mirror ‘I bet that these prints will not match those of our victim, when my assistant arrives I will get him to canvass the whole house for more prints.

‘Of course we will need to eliminate the housekeeper and Mister crispy here but I have a creepy feeling about this one, leaving all of his prints on the mirror it is like he is taunting us.’

‘How do you know that the prints belong to a male Punky? Robinson enquires.

Brewster ignores the use of her nickname ‘Well first off I can’t see a female killing a man in his bathroom with a toaster, a woman is more likely to use a small pistol or spike a drink with poison plus our victim has been urinated on which would be easier for a man to do but I could be wrong and if I am I will gladly buy you a box of Krispy Kreme’s Bubba.’

Robinson smiles on hearing his old nickname from his college days. ‘Touche’ Doctor. could you please send some prints off to the lab pronto because the sooner that we caught this sicko the better.’

‘Will do and I will try to send you my full report by tomorrow at the latest.’

After saying goodbye to Brewster Robinson and Freed go outside to interview the housekeeper.

They find her sitting in her vehicle near the curb crying silently, she cringes away when she notices a huge black man approaching, then she remembers that she saw him enter Mister Baldacci’s house earlier so she exits her battered old ford to greet them ‘Hello policeman I hope you catch bad man soon’.

Robinson smiles at the housekeeper to reassure her ‘We will do all we can to find the perpetrator, now I am Detective Robinson and this is my partner Detective Freed, can I please have your name and the name of the deceased?

‘My name is Esmarelda Garcia and I have been cleaning for Mister Baldacci for a decade.’

‘Thank you Esmarelda now tell me all you know about your employer.’

‘Mister Baldacci was retired and lived alone ever since his wife Mary died in an auto crash back in 2020 and they have two children but I have never met them, I think they move down south somewhere.’

‘Mister Baldacci worked at San Quentin before he retire, He was the warden or something and his car gone, killer maybe took it?

‘What type of vehicle was it?

‘A shiny white BMW.’

‘Thank you again, now give Detective Freed your address and phone number while I go talk to the uniforms.’

Robinson asks one of the cops guarding the front door to start talking to the neighbours if they have seen anything and report directly to me if they tell you something important.’

After telling Esmarelda that she should go home Robinson joins Freed who is sitting in the driver seat of their squad car ‘Back to the bat cave Robin and step on it.’

‘Did any of the neighbours tell you anything useful Freed?

‘Most of them didn’t notice anything unusual but one did, he said that he saw the victim’s vehicle drive from the scene around 10.30 this morning so least we have a timeline of when the murder happened.’

‘Good work Freed, hopefully we can solve this case quickly, with all of the fingerprints left behind Brewster should be able to identify the perpetrator if he is in the data base and I would be mighty surprised is he isn’t.’

While Robinson is contemplating whether to ask Freed to pull over at Krispy Kreme so he could grab a tray of assorted donuts when dispatch radioed to inform him about a double homicide outside the courthouse on Sycamore.

Freed activates the lights and siren and heads towards Sycamore ‘Step on it Freed because I have a feeling that we will locate Baldacci’s BMW near the courthouse.’

They arrive to complete mayhem with people blocking the street trying to see what is happening, Freed jumps out as soon as he parks, screaming at a few uniformed Freed tells them to remove the rubberneckers from the crime scene then tape off the whole block ‘If anyone complains take them in for loitering.’

‘Good work Freed, now lets go see who our two victims are’ Freed follows his superior up the steps where a victim is laying under a sheet.

The Detective in charge confronts Robinson ‘Hello Bubba, Richard Hartly 45th precinct’

‘Hello Hartley, this is my partner Detective Freed, now has anyone identified the victims yet.?’

‘Yes’ Hartley replies pointing down to the blood stained ‘This victim is the honorable judge Walter B Carruthers and the other victim was slain just over there in the park, he has been identified as a local defense attorney Paul Drew.’

‘What about the murder weapon?

‘Drew was strangled and the judge was stabbed with a knife that was left beside the judges body, it was bagged and sealed as evidence.’

‘Plus all of the CCTV evidence will be collected and hopefully we will be able to identify the perpetrator, I can’t say much more until the medical examiner see’s the bodies and performs the autopsies.’

‘Thanks Hartley send me all of your notes and I will Doctor Brewster to do the same.’

After saying goodbye Robinson and Freed walk towards the park but Robinson stops in his tracks ‘Look across the road Freed and tell me that you see a brand new white BMW ‘Sure do partner but how do you know that it belongs to Baldacci ‘I don’t but I have a gut feeling about it.’

After returning to the squad car Robinson types the number plate into the computer ‘Well what do you know Robin the BMW does indeed belong to Ian Baldacci and Brewster we surely find a shitload of prints all over it and also we have a warden a judge and an attorney all murdered within an hour of each other.’

‘All we have to do is find a connection between the three men and when we do we will know who the killer is.’

Six miles away Pope is sitting on a bus heading south, he has no idea where he is going, all he needs is to find someplace safe to hide out for a while.

When the bus almost reaches the city limits of Santa Barbara Pope notices a small sign advertising a room for rent out front of a modest bungalow.

Alighting from the bus Pope walks back to the bungalow and after sizing the place up he walks up to the front door and knocks ‘Can I help you young man’ an elderly white lady asks from behind a locked screen door ‘Um yes my name is Ethan Pugh, how much a week to rent the room?’

‘$180 a week plus utilities but if you help me with the chores and drive me to different places once in a while you can stay rent free.

Once again Pope’s luck stands firm ‘Okay you have a deal, when can I move in?

‘Dont you want to inspect the room first Mister Pugh?’

‘That wont be necessary I trust you.’

‘Come inside young man, my name is Evelyn Carter, let me show you to your room.’

Pope follows the old lady down to the back of the bungalow until they reach a spacious room with a double bed and it’s own bathroom ‘This was my son’s room but Richard never made it home from Vietnam.’

‘Sorry for your loss Missus Carter, the room is perfect.’

‘After spending all afternoon trying to find a connection between the three murders Robinson and Freed have found nothing of consequence, even a sugar hit from a dozen donuts failed to provide an answer.

But just as they were about to head home Robinson’s cell lit up ‘ Well if it isn’t Doctor Brewster, I hope that you have some good news for me?

‘Well yes and no Bubba, first I have identified the killer through fingerprint and CCTV evidence and that evidence is 100% conclusive but here is the part that you won’t like, the fingerprints belong to a dead man.’

‘What are you talking about Brewster a dead man? There must be some kind of mistake?’

‘The prints have been analyzed a few times plus the CCTV evidence shows a perfect match to the dead man’s mug shot, the perpetrator is one Elijah Pope who was convicted of murder 2012 and he was executed at San Quentin on the 21 September 2023 and buried in the prison the same day’

Robinson can’t believe what he is hearing but he stays calm ‘Okay Punky, I need to exhume Pope’s remains and take a DNA sample to make sure that we are talking about the same man so I will send an email to the judge requesting an exhumation order post haste.’

‘Okay Bubba let me know when you get it and I will meet you at San Quentin.’

Two days later on a typical sunny Califorian morning Robinson and Freed arrive at San Quentin armed with the exhumation order and an hour later once the paperwork has been cleared they are driven down to a dank dark corner of the prison to find Doctor Brewster standing near a plot of ground waiting for the digger to start scooping the dirt from the grave.

Watched by the Warden and other state officials a pine box is brought to the surface and lowered to the ground.

At first no one notices anything unusual but then Brewster takes a closer look and notices that the lid of the pine box is splintered in the middle, Brewster calls the warden and Robinson over and the trio inspect the small opening ‘It is almost like something escaped from inside Pope’s coffin.’ the Warden gasps.

A prison trustee steps forward with a crowbar ‘Quickly man’ the Warden screams ‘Get that lid open then step back.’

Once the lid is removed everyone present inhales sharply because inside the pine box a pristine body stares back at them with unseeing eyes ‘How it that possible’ Robinson asks Brewster ‘He should be nothing but skin and bones.’

‘I don’t understand it either Bubba but have another look and tell me what you see.’

Robinson leans in ‘Holy fucking shit, the body is missing both hands.’

‘Well I guess that explains the fingerprints.’

‘Yes it does’ Robinson replies ‘But how did a pair of hands escape from being buried six feet under the ground and are now walking around killing people in the same body that is laying at our feet?’

Freed shakes his head while Brewster takes skin and blood samples than all of the onlookers walk away except for the digger man who once again lowers Popes body back into the dirt.

THREE MONTHS LATER.

Down in Santa Barbara Elijah Pope using the alias Ethan Pugh has settled in nicely at Evelyn Carters bungalow, the two opposites instantly clicked, Elijah has helped his elderly friend with her shopping done most of the work around the house and has even painted the interior walls cream.

Today Mrs Carter is seated in the backseat of her old Plymouth wagon giving Elijah directions to her garden club’ take the next left Ethan we are almost.’

Feeling a bit like Morgan Freeman is that old movie ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ he does as asked and pulls in to the curb ‘Thanks Ethan, Oh I have been meaning to tell you but the skin on the back of your neck has turned white, you might want to go to a doctor and get it checked out.’

Pope trying not to panic replies ‘Thanks Mrs Carter I will go to a doctor tomorrow, have a good time with your friends call me when you want to go home.’

When he arrives back at the bungalow Pope strips off his clothes goes into Mrs Carters room and stands in front of her full length mirror ‘Holy shit the motherfucker who got my hands must be reclaiming his body.’

Most of Pope’s body is covered in white splotches, even his hair is starting to straighten and turn light brown.

Elijah knows that he has to confront his parents before it is too late.

After throwing a few things into a travel bag Elijah runs out to the Plymouth Pope hightails it back to garden centre and calls Mrs Carter ‘Hello Evelyn, I need to get of town for a while, my parents are having a few health issues.’

‘I know all about your parents and how they let you down Elijah, Yes, I know your name is Elijah Pope, take my car and do what you think needs doing, you have been good to me and for that reason I will you a 24 hour head start before I call the police, goodbye Elijah.’

As Elijah drives towards Armadillo Texas Patrick Redman’s DNA continues to fight the foreign DNA that has invaded his body and even though the battle isn’t over right now Redman is winning the fight.

Michael Pope and Wendy his wife of forty years are preparing for bed when a knock on the front door startles them both, they don’t get many visitors especially at night so being the dutiful husband Michael who’s nickname is Fred because of his resemblance to Fred Flintstone strides over and opens the front door only to step back in bemusement ‘Who are you ? And what do you want at this hour?’

On the stoop stands a weird looking black man with a very bad case of vitilago ‘Hello dad, can’t you recognize your own son, it’s me Elijah and I am after revenge.’

Wendy who has been hiding behind her husband screeches in horror and would have collapsed to the floor if Elijah hadn’t rushed forward and caught her.

After making sure that his mother was okay Elijah steers her onto a couch and tells his father to go sit next to her ‘Is this some kind of trick’ Fred demands ‘ Because we saw with our own eyes Elijah die on the electric chair two years ago.’

‘Yes that is correct I did fry but now I am back.’

‘How could you sit there and watch your own son die when you both knew that I was innocent.’

‘What are you talking about? Elijah was sentenced to death because he committed all of those murders, the DNA evidence was irrefutable.’

‘Yes it was mother but I was out of the state when many of the murders happened but no one would believe me including my own parents.’

‘Now tell me and tell the truth do I have a twin brother?’

Michael and Wendy share a look between them causing Elijah to slam his hand on the coffee table ‘Tell me and make it quick because I am running out of patience ‘We didn’t lie to you Elijah’ Wendy whispers ‘You did have a twin but the nurse told us that he died at birth and your father and I believed her until just after you were executed when…’

‘Don’t say another word Wendy’ Fred cautions.

At the sound of the basement door opening a look of horror comes over the faces of Fred and Wendy Pope causing Elijah to spin around only to see a black man standing behind him brandishing a 38 special ‘Well well if it isn’t my twin brother Elijah, you are looking a little pale like you just escaped from your grave or something.’

Elijah has little strength left so he takes a seat on a couch ”So what name did our parents give you before your so called death but first tell me why you murdered all of those women and let your own brother go to the chair.’

‘You were the perfect scapegoat Elijah, I got away with murder while you crackled and fried on old sparky.’

”But I never even knew that you existed so why target me?’

‘Because we share the same DNA but mainly because you got to grow up with your own family while I got taken by a nurse and then sold for adoption to an abusive family who treated me like human garbage and do you know what they named me Elijah?’

‘Elijah hasn’t got the strength to reply ‘My name is Eric Ted Gacy, my adoptive parents, who I killed when I was about seventeen, name me after two serial killers so what chance did I have?’

‘But enough family bonding for the moment, how are you here and not still buried and why is your skin white except for your hands and also you even talk like a white man.’

‘The lord works in mysterious ways Eric, all I know is that my hands were surgically attached to a white man named Patrick Redman who lost his own hands in an accident but now my time is over Patrick is here ready to reclaim his body.’

Turning to his parents Elijah wishes them many more happy years together ‘And you Eric well you can burn in hell for all I care.’

‘No no no, I get to have the final word not you Elijah, now stand up so I can shoot you and send you back where you came from.’

Before anyone can say anymore the front door is kicked in by a rescue squad who storm in followed by Detectives Robinson and Freed.

Gacy is quickly cuffed and taken to a squad car outside ‘Did you get it all Elijah?’

Pope is too weak to respond instead he points to a cell phone sitting on the coffee table ‘Well done Elijah, now that we have your brother’s confession on tape he will go to prison for the rest of his life.’

Fred and Wendy are both too stunned to speak so Robinson fills the in ‘We caught up with Elijah before he arrived here and he agreed to try to get a confession.’

‘But how did you know that Eric was here?’

‘I didn’t, Freed and I thought that maybe you or your wife might say something incriminating but instead we hit the jackpot.’

A year later Eric Ted Gacy is sentenced to death by electric chair while Patrick Redman is fit and healthy happy to be back with his family and friends.

He loves cooking on the grill flipping burgers with tongs held by one of his black hands.

Over in a corner of San Quentin Popes remains settle down to rest for eternity.

Justice has been served.

THE END

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