# 91 CASCARILLA CASTLE

by

Vic Shanky

#91 CASCARILLA CASTLE, looked like the only shimmer amongst a sea of dark woods. It was one of the only few farm houses in the locality, spread over many acres. A drive down 20 kms from the freeway between cities would reach you to the gate of the farm house. It was from there that the building looked like the only bright thing encircled in a jungle of darkness. Then a curved, long passageway with a slope downwards, for about 100 meters through the plantations would lead to the entrance of the castle.

The clock finished its 12th ding as Tanav looked up at it from the bed. He locked the suitcase that he had just packed and got ready to leave. He wore a long overcoat that hid his informality inside. He knew he was late. He dragged the suitcase along the floor up to the door and placed it there. Then leaving it there he disappeared into the attached bath. He pushed the switch down to put on the bathroom light. Before that lit, all others went dead.

It was a power cut that happened only once in a blue moon in these parts of the world. Tanav didn’t know where he was stepping .He stepped back and called out loud

“Annie ……”

Annie didn’t hear.

“Annie………..you there?”

He saw a faint light outside the door of the room. He walked along .The light came from downstairs and its unsteadiness explained its origin as a candle. He went out and looked down to see Annie carrying a candle walking up the apples and pears. She walked up slowly minding each step with her head down and silently. Though she looked a little spooky at that moment with the candle in her hand, she was a gorgeous ghost.

” Are you finished dear” she asked as she looked up.

“Yeah….Did you lock the front door?” he asked.

”That was the first thing I checked when the lights went off”, she said matter of fact.

“Got to run, its getting late”, she said.

She wore a black turtle-neck jersey over blue Jeans. Her long blond hair didn’t get as much attention as her hourglass stats did. Tanav nodded and moved out of the bedroom reluctantly. He lifted the suitcase and said “Let’s move dear”. They started to walk down. It was completely dark everywhere around except for the few yards around them that the candle served. And more often than not, darkness brings along with it silence as an add-on. As they had got midway, they both were shaken, hearing a thudding sound all of a sudden. Both realized it was the front door and someone was knocking hard at it.

Both stared at each other standing where they were.

”Who could it be so late?” whispered Annie knowing Tanav had no idea.

The knocking got harder as he walked down and towards the door. Annie followed him with the candle.

”Who is it?” asked Tanav a little loud.

The knocking continued without an answer. Annie placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered “Don’t open until you get an answer”.

Tanav ignored her and shouted again. “Why don’t you speak up?”

The knocking stopped for a while and Annie walked back whispering “Don’t open until I get back.”

She went towards the kitchen. It was totally dark now and as the knocking had stopped Tanav unlocked the door and pushed the knob down.

He opened the door cautiously ready to duck over any attack. There was nobody there .He opened the door fully and still didn’t see anybody. It was a little brighter outside as the moon had come out full. Watching every angle he moved out of the door. The air outside was completely silent and unmoved. He knew there was surely someone out there trying to hide away. He walked along the marble-floored portico closely watching between each pair of pots that were laid to either sides of it. As he reached the end of the long colonnade, he gave up and turned around. He was shaken for the second time when he all of a sudden saw Annie with a thick long baton in her hand, standing at the door.

“Who was it Tanav?” she asked as he walked back.

”Someone who knocks and doesn’t want to get in” he said a little loud, teasingly.

They both went in and closed the door behind them. Annie then placed the candle on the teapoy. Both sat on the sofa.

” I guess there is someone outside and we would better wait for some time before we make a move” Annie insisted, a spot of fear showing on her face.

”That sounds sensible but we can’t wait for too long” replied Tanav.

They were looking at the door anticipating the knocking could start again. But that didn’t happen.
“Must be the postman on a night shift!” joked Tanav and laughed slightly.

Annie also joined him. As they were just kidding looking at the door, they were horror-stricken hearing something fall upstairs. It sounded like the breaking of some porcelain material.

Both suddenly stood and looked up. The darkness showed them nothing. “Who is it?” shouted Tanav.

” Common speak up” followed Annie again taking the baton in her hand.

Tanav took the baton from her and picked the candle up in the other hand. He started to climb the stairs .There was no other sound and he moved carefully watching every place the candle covered. Annie was trembling slightly and kept following him. As he reached the bedroom he bent over the door and looked around with the candle. He saw nobody there. Then he continued along the corridor which led to the balcony. As the light in his hand reached the end of the corridor Tanav shouted in panic “Hey get back Annie” and pushed Annie back. Annie then saw a man sitting on the floor leaning over the balcony door and pointing a siege gun at them.

“Hey you………how did you get in here?” asked Tanav in a shaky voice. Annie guarded herself behind him and looked over his shoulder. The man just kept staring at them from there even without blinking, the gun still focused at Tanav’s face.

“Common speak up, who are you and how did you get in?” Tanav asked again furiously.
The man never bothered to reply .He remained a serious shooter concentrating on the bull’s eye. He then slowly pushed himself up by pressing on the floor. They could now see him clearer. He was at least a couple of feet taller than Tanav, dark and wore a formal outfit. He had a very serious look on his face. Still not saying anything, the man indicated to them with his gun to walk back. The man only spoke with his actions. “What do you want of us? Speak up….”said Tanav again, a little calmed down as he walked down the stairs. And as anyone expects he said nothing.

They were directed towards the sofa by the man. Annie again kept the candle on the tripod .They were pushed down on the sofa while the man still kept the gun staring at them and standing in front of them . Then he looked around the living room. Pointing the gun still at them he walked back towards the main door and made sure it was locked. Then he put the key in his pocket. Walking towards the dining room he still kept his gun focused. As he went into the kitchen Tanav moved a little to reach the phone. He quickly picked the receiver and dropped it on the table knowing that he’ll be back soon. As he came out and looked at them to see if they were unmoved, Tanav pretended as he did nothing. Then the man opened the door of the cellar which was next to the kitchen. Again giving them a glance he went in and the door creaked behind him. Soon Tanav reached the phone again and dialed .He was very glad to hear a ‘Hello’ for only the first ring. He soon whispered in a hurry and even Annie could not hear him clearly. He dropped the phone back. The man hadn’t yet got back. Tanav got up and picked the baton silently and walked slowly towards the cellar door .Annie followed him. As they were close to the door, the door opened and the man stepped out.

Seeing them so close, the man again pointed back the gun at them.” Hey you get out of here”, shouted Tanav with the baton positioned to swoop.

“Whatever you are up to, your games are over. I called the cop and he is here anytime.”

The man had still no reactions, still his gun raised.

” Are you dumb, why don’t you speak?” asked Tanav.

”Deaf!” said the man in a hoarse tone and smirked. Then he laughed loud and wild enjoying his own joke. The two kept staring at him.

Still laughing the man said “Drop it down or I’ll make it your last day”.

Tanav dropped the baton and walked back. Both sat again in their places on the sofa and the man walked around them and sat on the chair facing them. Relaxing, the man looked at both of them and stretched the gun towards Tanav. “Hi, Ansh”, said the man. Tanav nervously shook him by the gun.

“Tanav and she is Annie” he said pointing to her.

”Look, I told you I have called the cop and your game is over. Get out of here” continued Tanav.

Just as Ansh started, the door thudded and all the three turned at it.

The three of them stared at each other. Ansh took a while and then took the key out and threw it to Tanav and said “Let him in” and grinned. Tanav looked very surprised. He did not know why on earth Ansh wanted to get into trouble. He got up and walked to the door. The knocking kept going and Tanav opened the lock and pulled the door back. Soon another man in a long overcoat got in pushing Tanav back and raising his gun in a hurry. He moved around shouting “Where’s the bastard?” Tanav turned around and pointed to Ansh. He wasn’t there. He looked at the opposite settee and his mouth dropped as he saw Ansh sitting next to Annie and caressing her forehead which had a wound and she lay unconscious there. Ansh soon pointed at Tanav and said very nervously to the cop” It’s him, get him, the man’s crazy, he hit Annie, my wife……….….”

Ansh was very quick to make Annie unconscious by hitting her on the forehead using the mount of his gun and he was much quicker to make her his wife as she could not object.

“What ……..This man’s impossible, he is lying; don’t believe him exclaimed Tanav very furiously.
Ansh still caring about her wound said “Get him, he is mad, I am Tanav and I called you”

The cop was confusingly shuttling the gun between Tanav and Ansh.

“No, I am Tanav, It was me who called you, this man’s crazy, and I don’t get what he is up to. Annie was just fine, this bugger should have hit her, believe me” said Tanav nervously.

More nervous and fearfully Ansh said “This man is a real psycho, he hits Annie and says I hit her, next he would surely say I killed Annie’s sister and hung her in the cellar!!”

Tanav had no idea what Ansh was speaking about. He knew nothing about the cellar or about Annie’s sister.

“Annie’s sister?” Tanav exclaimed as his mouth had almost dropped down to his neck.

”She never had one” he continued.

Ansh got up making Annie lean over the sofa and said

”Oh that’s great, now that’s acting for you, officer. He does not want to throw that on me this time, but asks who is Annie’s sister, who he just killed and also hit Annie while she went to her rescue. This mans a bloody murderer. ”

The cop had the gun pointing at Tanav now who stood there bewildered.

“But why did he kill her sister??” asked the cop.

“I don’t know. I told you the mans crazy .He was seeing her for sometime now and this evening he just broke in drunk ,hit her and dragged her into the cellar. They probably had a fight or something” said Ansh with an innocently disguised tone.

Tanav grudged and moved towards Ansh to hit him.

” Stay there, don’t move” shouted the cop.

”You are barking up the wrong tree, officer” Tanav said halting, still throwing obscenities at Ansh.

“I told you Annie had no sister. This man is Ansh. He must have broken in when the lights went off and I went out to check who knocked at the door. He must have carried the body in and hung her in the cellar” said Tanav impatiently.

“But I don’t understand how he could do all that so quick…..” continued Tanav. But then realized, for a man who can build up a gag so quick, it wasn’t that tough.
“Now he turns it on me and calls Annie his wife, Only Annie can tell you what’s the truth but she ……………….”, he said looking at Annie who still was torpid .

The cop stood there confused, Ansh looked innocent and Tanav irritated. Just as Ansh started to say something the cop interrupted “Shut up, enough, Lets get in the cellar.”

The cop opened the cellar door and Ansh led in first with the candle in his hand. Tanav and the cop followed him .The door creaked again after the three got in. Annie still laid-unconscious on the sofa. The cellar was very spacious and a lot of things were dumped .Ansh leaded with the candle .It was a narrow and low-roofed cellar. He turned right and stepped down .The light coming from the candle slowly showed in frames the body of a middle-aged women hanging from the roof beam .Her eyes wide open and head dropping down on her left.

“There she is, she is Afi, Annie’s sister, and he dragged her all the way and hanged her here “, said Ansh and looked back. Both Tanav and the cop stood there with wily looks on their faces each pointing a gun at Ansh.

“That’s it buddy, your game is over. You were very smart but yet not smart enough. Its time we share the truths”, said Tanav and grinned.

” You did build up a nice story about Annie and Afi but weren’t smart enough to figure out who you built the story for, is not a cop!”

The man gave back a smile and said “Aneez, nice meeting you Ansh “.

Tanav continued “ Aneez ,Annie and myself are part-time housebreakers .We were riding down the street and saw the lights of the Cascarilla castle still on so late in the night. We planned to give a look in. Annie and I went in. We found the front door unlocked and nobody seemed to be home. Aneez waited outside in the car while we packed up everything .When we were about to slip away, the lights went off and the door thudded.”
He paused for a while and continued “Well about Afi and the murder, who could know better than you……..?”

They kept the gun still on Ansh. Ansh took a while before he again spoke in a hoarse tone” Afi’s the owner of the Cascarilla castle.”

“What, she’s the owner? Then who are you?” asked Tanav and Aneez.

“I am a cop”, said Ansh.

Tanav, Annie and Aneez were cuffed to the window railing of Ansh’s station wagon on their way back .Still on the highway, Ansh drove silently when Tanav asked

“There still remain two mysterious things, officer”.

Ansh turned and asked “And what could that be?”

“Who killed Afi and how were you there??” asked Tanav curiously.

“I was informed about the death by her watchman”, Ansh said matter of fact.

“And who killed her?” asked all the three at once.

“Herself”, said Ansh and drove away.

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