Method Of Madness

METHOD OF MADNEESS also by BradKelln Lost Sanity METHOD OF MADNESS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER BY DDAR If El I III DnHU IVCLLIi INSOMNIAC PRESS copyright © 2002 by Brad Kelln All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permisT sion of the publisher or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from CANCOPY (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), i %nge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E iE$. Edited and designed by Jan Barbieri Copy edited by Richard Almonte Kelln, Brad, 1970Method of madness /Brad Kelln. ISBN 1-894663-28-4 I. Title. PS857I.E5864M47 2002 C8i3'.6 C2oo2~9O38i6-2 PR9I99-4.K42M47 2002 The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program. Printed and bound in Canada Insomniac Press, 192 Spadina Avenue, Suite 403, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2C2 w,ww.insdmniacpress.com Take care in the confrontation of evil Do not be lost in the blackness that hides beneath the still surface. Without strength or service, madness waits. Take care in the confrontation of evil because although you may seek, you shall not see. —excerpt from an unpublished portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls This page intentionally left blank ONE "Is it a painful thing to lose your mind?" Dr. Michael Wenton posed the question to his graduate level course in forensic psychology. Wenton's six-foot-four frame made the podium in front of him seem small—somehow out of proportion. His freshly dry-cleaned Eddie Bauer dress pants and white shirt gave his muscular frame a clean, calculating presentation. His appearance nicely matched his personality. At the age of 38, Wenton was considered an authority in the field of forensic psychology. He specialized in the study of psychopaths and violent serial offenders and had written landmark books in the area. He was currently fulfilling his least favourite aspect of being a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax—teaching a course—especially since it was scheduled on Saturday afternoons. The small classroom of doctoral and masters students stared at Wenton. No one dared venture an answer to his rhetorical question. He was infamous for more than once making a student break into tears for a careless answer. Wenton looked over the students slowly, without expression. He leaned heavily on the podium, looking more tired than bored. "Well, is it a painful, horrible thing to lose your mind?" A few of the braver students nodded yes. It was barely noticeable. "It's not," Wenton announced with obvious disdain. "If you knew you were going insane, you wouldn't be insane, would you? People who go crazy and commit horrible offenses have no idea until it's far too late. That's the trick: no one knows they're insane until the bodies start to pile up." METHOD OF MADNESS- 7 Catherine Mercer could barely breathe. Even the air around her seemed different. Heavier. Thicker. Something. The house was quiet—Saturday afternoon quiet. The kids were downstairs watching cartoons and her husband was napping in the bedroom. Catherine was usually at her Bible study group at Holy Saviour Lutheran Church, but not today. She pressed her back against the upstairs hallway wall. She darted her head back and forth, looking for the slightest sign of movement. Not me, she thought. Not this afternoon. Not ever. She slipped along the wall, her arms outstretched