The strange case of Washington street
By Valentina Bais

Fiumicello (UD), December 2013
Printed on the 19th December 2013

Chapter 1

It was a cold day of Autumn in Washington and the sky was covered by hundreds of clouds.
Jimmy was sitting in his room.
He was waiting for something, but he didn't know what was going to happen that day.
It was a very strange evening and he was scared: the day before he met a strange tall man with dark hair, dark eyes and a mad smile.
He was wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers and dark boots.
His skin was white, but there were something of dark in his soul.
He told Jimmy that something of terrible was going to happen the day after, but he wasn't able to say what.
Because of that meeting, Jimmy couldn't sleep that night and that morning he wasn't able to eat anything.
In Jimmy's room everything was in order and the silence reigned over the house.
Suddenly, someone knocked at the door.
The poor boy was scared and didn't know what to do.
He ran all around the room to find something to defend himself from the stranger that was knocking at the door more and more.
In the meanwhile the stranger kept on knocking stronger and stronger.
Then there was a terrible noise: the strange man came into the house.
There was a scream, then the silence.

Chapter 2

The next morning Jimmy's house was calm and noiseless; nobody knew what happened the day before.
The silence that reigned over the building made the neighbours suspicious, so they decided to go to Jimmy's and see what was wrong with him.
But when they knocked at the door nobody answered; the lights were out so everything was in the dark and they couldn't see anything or hear any noise.
Jack, the neighbours' father, decided to break the door and enter into the dark gloomy house. He hit the door stronger and stronger,as long as the door broke.
Then they entered in the hall and turned on the lights.
The first thing they saw was a note on the table, but Jimmy was not at home.
Jack held the note in his hands and read:
-Jimmy has made a terrible mistake in the past, so he has to pay for it with a big sacrifice. Maybe you will not see him alive again. Maybe.
The family burst into tears: Jimmy was a good boy and they couldn't believe that someone wanted to kill him!
So they decided to call the police: -I'm sure that they will know what to do- said Jack.
His son and his daughter went into Jimmy's room, sat on the chair where he was sitting the day before and cried for hours, while they were looking at their friend's things.

Chapter 3

David Smith was an investigator.
He was a young handsome man with blonde thick hair and his eyes were as blue as the ocean. His skin and his eyebrows were white like the snow and his smile was something of incredible.
He was tall and slim and that day he was wearing an elegant black suit and a red tie.
David was intelligent, cheerful, friendly and had all the best qualities that a boy could have, but he had only a defect: he couldn't stay far away from danger.
When he was a child he loved playing at the investigators and capturing killers and criminals and when he was six years old he already knew what he ws going to do in the future.
That morning David received his first commission: a young boy called Jimmy was disappeared and he had to find his kidnapper.
He was very excited and afraid because Jimmy's life was in his hands and he was the onlyone that could help him.
Ha prepared his luggage, put on his coat, his hat and his black sunglasses and went to the airport.
Destination: Washington, Jimmy's house.
David was ready and his fight against the criminality was started.

Chapter 4

David Smith arrived at Jimmy's house on the 8th October, in the morning.
The police was all around the building but nobody had found a sign yet.
They only indication they had was the strange man's note.
When David read it, his blood froze.
-That's a very strange case. Why did the man abduct Jimmy?
What mistake did Jimmy do in the past to deserve that?- said the investigator.
He was holding and turning the note in his hands, when he saw an address on the other side of the sheet of paper
-Aha! I don't think you are so stupid to write your address on the note where you say that you want to kill a boy... maybe you want to incriminate me... or maybe you only want to negotiate for Jimmy's life. See you soon, Mr kidnapper!
So he took his gun, put on his coat and his bright black hat and went into his red sporting car.
While he was looking for his keys in his bag, he had a terrible presentiment.
The sky was covered by lots of clouds and it was going to rain: the weather looked like Davis Smith's humor and a strong cold wind was blowing and whispering a warning message.

Chapter 5

- 4, Washington street- said David when he arrived at the address written on the note.
He went out of his car, closed the door of his red Ferrari, held the gun in his pocket and rang the doorbell of an old gloomy house.
The windows were closed, so he couldn't see anything in the filthy old building; some glasses were broken and between them there were lots of cobwebs.
He waited for some minutes, but nobody answered; so he decided to open the door and enter.
When he looked into the gloomy room he saw only darkness and dirt... and some yellow teeth that were laughing at the end of the hall.
- You're welcome- said a loud voice from the corner of the entrance.
Mr Smith trembled.
- I was waiting for you, Mr David Smith. I'm sure that you are looking for someone. What do you think, Jimmy?
Suddenly, the strange man turned on the lights, so David could see Jimmy bound on a chair with a dirty rope on the right side of the room.
-You are a monster! How can you bind an innocent boy on a chair? What did he do to deserve that?
-Well, ...because of hm my poor wife has dead!
She had an uncommon illness and he was the onlyone that could save her life, but he was too coward. He was too scared about the operation that could save Jane, so he decided not to go to the hospital on the day of the operation and because of him she died!
I hate him and my life without Jane.
I hate everybody in the world because they can't revive my wife!-
Suddenly, someone opened the door
-Don't be stupid, Jeremy!- said a feminine voice.

Chapter 6

-Jane? Are you alive? I can't believe it... it isn't possible... you... you died two years ago... - said the man.
-But it's the truth. The doctors thought that I was dead, so they decided to inter me alive. I was trapped in my tomb and I survived there for three days eating insects and drinking the rain. A man that was walking near my tomb heard my scream and released me. I waited for you for days, but you have never came to see me or to dedicate me a prayer, so I decided to go away and never to come back again.
But when I knew that Jimmy was disappeared, I immediately understood who was the kidnapper: you!
How can you be so cruel? I understand Jimmy's scare: he didn't want to risk to die for me, a common stranger.- said Jane
-But i thought that you were died...
-...and so you decided to kill an innocent boy!You are a monster! I don't want to see you anymore!- said angrily the kidnapper's wife.
So she ran away slamming the door.
Jeremy, the kidnapper, burst into tears.
-I only wanted to revenge her, and now she hates me! She's right: I'm only a cruel monster, but I made that only because of my love.
He went near Jimmy and cut the rope around the chair where Jimmy was sitting.
To tell the truth, Jane wasn't gone away: she stood behind the door and listened to Jeremy's speech.
When she heard his words she returned back and embraced his husband.
-I know that you have made that for me, but don't even try to do a similar thing anymore!- said Jane. Then, they burst into tears of happiness and embraced one another.
Dave, the detective, looked at Jeremy and Jane together, then held Jimmy's hand and said:- I think that my work here is finished. It's time to go home, Jimmy!
Jeremy looked at the boy and said:-I know that I've been a cruel monster with you, but I was blinded by the anger and didn't understand what I was doing... can you forgive me?-
-Of course!- answered Jimmy.
Jeremy smiled and Jane, David and Jimmy did the same.

Chapter 7

That night Jimmy and David talked with Jeremy and Jane for hours and hours under the blue star-spangled sky.
Even the gloomy house wasn't as terrible as that was a few hours before and the beads that the rain left on the cobwebs between the broken glasses of the windows were shining under the light of the moon.
Now Jeremy was sitting on the chair of his little kitchen and he was holding his wife's hand; he was looking at the floor and scribbling something on a sheet of paper.
Jimmy and David were sitting in front of them; they were very tired but happy to have saved Jimmy's and Jeremy's life.
After fifteen minutes of silence, Jeremy decided to speak:
-You can't even imagine how much remorse I feel... I'm very sorry... I promise you I'll never do something like this anymore...
-We know it, Jeremy- said Jimmy- I can understand your anger and I know that you are really regretful.
- I agree with you- said Jane- And, after all, I'm very proud of my husband: fortunately he has understood that he was going to do a madness immediately.
At the beginning, David didn't say anything, but after a few minutes he decided to take part in the conversation.
- I've never been in love with anyone, but I can imagine how much big was your sadness until you saw Jane alive...
-No, in my opinion you can't. But I appreciate your compassion: I promise you I'll never forgive what you did for me this afternoon.
Because of you I've just discovered that Jane is alive and now my life has still a meaning.
David smiled, then they stopped talking and looked one another in the eyes for all the night: sometimes the silence is more important than a thousand words.

Chapter 8

The next morning the sun was shining and the sky was as blue as the Ocean.
A cool wind was blowing and there were no clouds in the sky.
Dave greeted Jane and Jeremy and took Jimmy home.
When his neighbours and his parents saw him, they ran to David's car and embraced him with all their strength.
The family burst into tears and laughed for a long time because of the happiness. Then Jimmy's father said:
-You have made a great job, Mr Smith. How can I reward you?
David blushed and answered:
-I didn't make anything: I only read an address and went to the kidnapper's house... the destiny made the remaining. But, after all, I'm very proud of the result of this mission: this was my first assignment.-
So Jimmy went into his house and celebrated his return home with his family.

Chapter 9

After taking home Jimmy, David returned home with his heart full of happiness and emotions: now his little friends was at home and Jeremy had just found his wife alive.
He went in his red car, turned on the engine and went to New York, his hometown.
As soon as he entered in the hall of his house, the telephone rang:- Mr Smith- said a loud and familiar voice -I've just made a terrible mistake.... I don't know what to do... I'm really upset... I'm sorry, I'm sorry... but... I need your help... NOW!- the man who was talking at the phone shouted, then he burst into tears.
David recognized the voice and answered:- Jeremy! What have you done? Why are you crying?-
-I have just made the worst mistake of my life- he said.
-I have just... I have just... I have just killed Jane.
David fainted and fell on the ground.

Chapter 10

When David stood up from the ground he didn't remember what happened a few minutes before... not immediately...then his cheeks became white.
He couldn't believe in what Jeremy said to him at the phone... he wanted to kill Jimmy because, in his opinion, his wife dead because of the boy... and now he had just killed Jane... but why?
-It's time to go- said David.
So he went out and took a plane to Washington.
When he arrived at Jimmy's home he was completely wet: his hair and his clothes were full of water.
-We have got a problem: Jeremy has... has just killed Jane and... and I don't know the reason.
He phoned me this morning telling me that his wife dead because of him...
I'd like to go to his home and see what happened.- said the investigator.
-But we should call the police because that man is very dangerous: he tried to kill me and now he has just killed his wife!- said Jimmy.
-I know it- said David -and you're right. Could you call the police, Jimmy? I'm very tired because of the travel and the shock...-
-Surely, David. Now you have to have a rest and sleep.
I promise you that tomorrow we will visit Jeremy... in jail!

Chapter 11

Dear diary,
today has been a long and hard day.
We have just visited Jeremy: now he's in the most safe prison in Washington and he will never attack other people again.
When I went into his cell he was crying and looking at the ground.
At the beginning I was sorry because of his situation, but then I remembered all his crimes and entered in his new uncomfortable house with all my fury and anger: he has lost all my respect since he killed his wife, Jane.
Now his home is a gloomy flithy and dirty place; there's only a little fenster from which enters only a sunbeam.
The floor of his cell is very cold, almost icy, and the four dark dirty walls seem to soffocate you.
I couldn't believe in what I saw... but that's the penalty for all his crimes!
When I started to talk to him he started to tell me only lies and tried to find an excuse for everything I said:
-Jane was evil! I didn't want to kill her but it happened only because of her malice! I hate her! She has destroyed my life!- and bla bla bla...
He looked like a mad man and I was even afraid about him.
Jimmy now is at home, his warm and comfortable home, and is celebrating his return home with his family.
Fortunately he's alive... not like Jane.
How can a man be so cruel?
No... maybe he's not cruel... maybe he's only mad, and mad people don't understand what they're doing: they can do the most terrible crimes and think that what they have just done is right.
I hope that in a few months he will understand the seriousness of his crimes and he will give his life a meaning again, but i know that it won't be easy: he has just killed Jane, the meaning of his life.
Now I'm very tired... tomorrow morning I will phone to Jeremy's prison to know something about his first day in his cell.
I think that I'll also phone Jimmy: I'm sure that now he's happy with his family and he will live his life in peace, without Jeremy.
Now I think I'll go to bed... see you tomorrow!
Love

David Smith