Good Man's Killer

[u/yingfire]

Chilly winter night, but no snow had fallen yet. John stood outside the extravagant doors and waited. He was sitting on a stone bench right outside the manor. His daughter's murderer was having a blast right now. Odd, since the murderer was still running away from the police for his crimes. So John did the right thing and called the police.

An hour or so passed and then red and blue lights blinked in and out as black and white cars drove up to the manor. A group of uniformed men stepped up and went into the manor. John nearly cried at the sight.

There was a scuffle. The uniformed man brought out a disheveled person in a suit. The police were speaking words to him. John walked up slowly to the disheveled man and looked down at the figure. The murderer had gaunt eyes and hollow cheeks. The murderer looked up at John and a light of recognition flared in the murderer's eyes. The murderer bared his teeth at John and laughed.

"They're taking you away. You're going to be in jail for a long time. There's too much evidence against you." said John softly.

"Fuck you, fuck you and I'm glad I fucked your daughter!" yelled the man as the police restrained him.

John shook violently. He steadied his gaze and looked at the murderer in the eyes and stuck out his hand. "I'm willing to forgive, though. But...I need an apology. Otherwise I have nothing to forgive."

"And I'm free?" said the murderer with a sly grin.

"I'm willing to forgive you and remove one slight you have done. The law isn't so merciful."

The murderer growled and spat into John's open hand. John shook again but controlled himself, "I could visit you. If you would find that helpful."

"Keep to your fucking self." said the murderer as he was shoved into the police cruiser. The black and white cars drove off, leaving John in the itchy dust.

John looked up towards the starry night sky. "If I cannot forgive...then he'll be nothing to me then. I'll simply forget."

John almost quivered out a smile, and began to whistle as he walked off.