The Thirteenth motive

Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many countries. Fear of the number 13 is termed triskaidekaphobia. In crime too, 13 finds a special place.

‘They call him Parry “Dexter” Priest. His bludgeoning chop-logic moves can be comparable only to that of a grandmaster. By far, he has terrorized the Bay Passat neighborhood with his murderous puzzles and treacherous killings’ Sarah arguing against the defense counsel, paused for a moment. There was drop dead silence in the jam-packed court hall.

‘Mr. Justice, this man has executed 13 cold blooded murders with meticulous perfection. Under his resplendent face and innocuous looks, lies a malicious cutthroat. On the ill-fated day of 13th August, 1996, he butchered 16 people.’

‘The records and evidences speak the truth. So without further arguments, Mr. Justice, I request you to punish the devil’ and she turned to her seat and looked at the defense counsel.

‘Your Honour, the dear prosecutor has mentioned the facts. It is very much true that Parry killed 16 people, the reasons were unknown to this day’ when everybody burst into laughter.

‘You are in the defense box’ chuckled Sarah from behind.

‘But….’

‘But his psychiatrist Dr. Roberts has something to say in this regard. May I, with your kindest permission …’

The judge nodded in affirmation and an old man rose.

‘There wouldn’t be a ground for somebody to commit a murder other than the following widest possible reasons, spanning over social, economic, physical, psychological and biological considerations.

1.Depressive
2.Psychotic
3.afflicted with organic brain disorder
4.psychopathic
5.passive aggressive
6.alcoholic
7.hysterical
8.juvenile (the child was the killer)
9.mentally retarded
10.sex killer
11.compassion
12.ritual

These are however, contained to the books of criminology. Your Honour let me introduce the “13th motive”. Possession. Though the rational world may rule this out, there are recorded cases in the past where similar incidents have taken place. My client, under the puissance of a negative force, perpetrated to this bloodshed.’

‘You must have heard of Willy, the famous serial killer of the 60’s. Please read these documents and medical reports regarding Willy.’

Willy is one of the most notorious serial killers, the world has ever seen. He would approach an unsuspecting victim and would pounce on his skull with his one inch long canine, and the victim supposedly dies. Willy was convicted of killing 13 people and was sentenced to 13 life terms. Later on Willy supposedly met a painful death when he was serving as a prisoner.’

‘What do we have to do with Willy?’ the federal judge asked with a distraught smile.

Dr. Roberts continued, ‘The evidences produced, the recordings of Parry etc. all confirm one thing. Please do have a look at these old photos of Willy. He always had a peculiar grin on his face, and he would show his left canine which is an inch longer than the normal which he himself called, the Devil’s Grin.’

‘These photos of Willy would confirm the same.’

Again Sarah interrupted, ‘Parry is copying Willy’s pattern. He‘s inspired by his killings’

‘Now, this was a confidential matter and was never made public. Moreover, my client neither met Willy nor read anything related to him’ said Dr. Roberts.

‘Please go through these photos and video recordings. You can clearly see the influence of Willy on Parry, particularly the Devil’s grin.’

Sarah interrupted ‘You mean to say, Parry was possessed by the ghost of Willy?’

‘I don’t need to say more about this case I guess. At the culmination of this argument, I would request you to acquit my client of these murders for the above said reasons’ said Dr. Roberts looking at the judge.

There was absolute silence in the court hall following these proceedings. Everybody in the hall were awaiting eagerly the sensational judgement.

And he looked at defense counsel and grinned, winking his eye, as if they won the case.

The judge gave a deeper look at Parry, and finally pronounced his judgement.

‘Going by the criticality and the inconclusiveness of the case, I want Parry to be under the psychiatrist’s care for a year, and this case be studied conclusively, and I acquit him of all the charges against him as alleged by the prosecution counsel’

Sarah stood in shock after hearing the judgement, but was even more shocked to see the Devil’s grin on Dr. Roberts and the defense lawyer.

‘Mr. Justice, please for a second, look at them….’, when the judge turned back and Sarah screamed in fright. He had the Devil’s grin too.

Sarah ran out of the court hall and made it to the road. She immediately called for a taxi, and pulled opened the door latch stepping into it.

‘Where do you wanna go, Ma’am?’

‘Hmm… to the Paradise Square’ she answered scratching her nail against her canine.

The driver was looking at her through the rear view mirror, ‘Your left canine, that’s big’

She smiled and looked at him. ‘So is yours’!!!!’