Geezer Paradise (38 page)

             
Thomas looked confused.  "No, I din't try ta run nobody down.  I don't even drive."  I believed him. 

             
"But you put that bomb under my house, and threw that bottle of gasoline at Willey's house, and dropped those snakes into Willey's kitchen, didn't you?"

             
"I din't mean no harm.  I wuz jest tryin' ta scare you guys off."

             
"Thomas," Willey said.  "John Flaherty is dead and his company is out of business.  So he won't be buying your farm." 

             
Thomas looked up at Willey.  "He's dead?  Are ya sure?"

             
"Yes, I was there when he was killed."

             
"Damn, I never get a break."  Then Thomas mumbled something, almost to himself.  It sounded like, "The end of the Night Stalker."

             
"What?" I asked.

             
"Nuthin," Thomas said.

             
Willey said, "Thomas, why don't you go home and leave us alone?  And take your chicken with you."  We helped Thomas out of the chair and walked him to the door.  Thomas shuffled on home.

             
"Imagine that crazy old coot trying to scare us out of here," Willey said.

             
"He almost did.  And Flaherty finished the job."  After Thomas left we called it a night.  I walked back to my own place.  A falling star shot across the night sky.  Was that a sign of good luck?  I hoped so.  I locked the door behind me and crawled into bed.  It felt good to be home again.

The End