What to read: "Outsider" - new novel by Stephen King

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

An excerpt from the new book of the king of horrors about a convoluted and brutal crime that took place in the small town of Flint City.

In the inconspicuous car without identification marks, no one else said a word. Ramage pulled into the police station parking lot and parked his car in an empty space in the lane marked "FOR SERVICE VEHICLES ONLY." Ralph turned to the man who was training his son. Terry's baseball cap - a baseball cap with the Golden Dragons insignia - slid to the side like a teenage rapper. A T-shirt with the same emblem was knocked out of his sweatpants, his face glistened with sweat. At that moment Terry looked as guilty as a hundred devils. Unless there was even a hint of guilt in his eyes. Those eyes were staring at Ralph with a silent reproach.

Ralph had a question that he couldn't wait.

- Why him, Terry? Why Frankie Peterson? This year he played for you in the Minor League? Have you laid eyes on him for a long time? Or was it just an opportunity that turned up and you took it?

Terry opened his mouth to argue again, but realized that there was no point. Ralph won't listen to him. Now it will definitely not be. None of them are going to listen to him.

Better to wait. Yes, it is difficult, but in the end it can save him time and energy.

“Come on,” Ralph said softly and casually. - You wanted to say something, so say it. Tell me. Explain. Right here and now, until we got out of the car.

“I'll wait for my lawyer,” Terry replied.

“If you're innocent,” Yates said, “you don't need any lawyer. Come on, convince us of your innocence if you can. We'll even give you a lift home.

Still looking Ralph Anderson straight in the eye, Terry said, almost inaudibly:

“You did very badly. You didn't even check where I was on Tuesday night, did you? I didn't expect this from you. - He hesitated for a second, as if lost in thought, and added: - Beast.

Ralph had no intention of explaining to Terry that he had discussed the matter with Samuels, although the discussion did not last long. They have a small town. You start asking too many questions, and the rumors will reach Maitland in no time.

- This is a rare case when nothing needs to be checked. Ralph opened his door. - Let's go to. While we are waiting for your lawyer, we will arrange you as expected, remove your fingers, take a photo …

- Terry! Terry!

Not listening to Ralph's advice, Marcy Maitland followed the police car in her Toyota. Jamie Mattingly, their neighbor, herself offered to take Grace and Sarah to her. Both girls were crying. Jamie too.

- Terry, what are they doing? And what should I do?

Terry momentarily wrenched his hand out of Yeats's grip, which was holding his elbow.

- Call Howie!

He didn't have time to say anything else. Ramage opened the door marked FORBIDDEN BY OUTSIDE, and Yates pushed Terry inside, shoving him roughly in the back.

Ralph lingered in the doorway for a moment.

“Go home, Marcy,” he said. - Drive until the newsmen come running here.

He almost added, "I'm sorry," but he wasn't sorry. Betsy Riggins and the state police guys are waiting for Marcy at the house, but she still needs to go home. This is the best thing she can do. The only thing she can really do. Perhaps he should have felt sorry for her. At least for the sake of the girls - they are certainly not to blame for anything - and yet …

You did very badly. I didn't expect this from you.

Ralph shouldn't have felt guilty after hearing the reproach of a man who raped and brutally killed a child, but somehow felt it. Then he remembered the pictures from the scene - so horrible that he wanted to go blind.

Bill Samuels put it all point by point, accessible and simple. Ralph agreed with him, as did Judge Carter, to whom Samuels applied for warrants. First, everything is clear in the case. There is no point in pulling the rubber when all the evidence is there. Second, if you give Terry time, he can escape, and they will have to find him before he finds another Frankie Peterson himself to rape and kill.

Detective Anderson: I'll show you six pictures of six different people, Mr. Franklin. Please select from them a photo of the person you saw in the backyard of the Shorty Bar on Tuesday evening July 10th. Do not hurry. Look carefully.

Franklin: Yes, I can see right away. Here it is, number two. Coach Tee. That's how it is, I can't even believe it. He coached my little son in the Little League.

Detective Anderson: And mine too. Thank you Mr. Franklin.

Franklin: Lethal injection is not enough for him. He must be hung. And so that he suffocates not immediately.

Marcy pulled into the Burger King parking lot on Tinsley Avenue and pulled her cell phone out of her bag. Her hands were shaking so badly that she dropped him to the floor. Leaning behind him, hit the steering wheel with her head and burst into tears again. Howie Gold's number was in her contacts. Not because the Maitlands had reasons to keep their lawyer's speed dial number, but because Howie and Terry have coached the kids' soccer team for the past two seasons. He answered on the second ring.

- Howie? This is Marcy Maitland, Terry's wife, - for some reason she explained, as if they had not dined together once a month for the second year, since 2016.

- Marcy? You are crying? What happened?

It was so monstrous that she did not even immediately find something to say.

- Marcy? Are you here? Have you had an accident?

- I'm here. I am good. But Terry … Terry was arrested. Ralph Anderson has Terry arrested. For killing that kid. They said so. For the murder of Frank Peterson.

- What?! Are you kidding ?

“He wasn't even in town! - howled Marcy. She herself understood that she now looked like a teenager in hysterics, but she could not do anything with herself. - He was arrested. And they said the police were waiting at the house!

- Where are Sarah and Grace?

- Jamie Mattingly, our neighbor. Everything is fine with them. “Although after their father was arrested in front of them and taken away in handcuffs, it’s certainly not all right with them.

Marcy rubbed her forehead and thought there might be a bruise. She herself wondered why she cares. Because, perhaps, newspapermen have already gathered at the house? Because they'll see a bruise on her forehead and think Terry hit her?

- Howie, will you help me? Will you help us?

- Of course, I will help. Terry was taken to the station?

- Yes! Handcuffed!

- It's clear. I'm on my way there. Go home, Marcy. Find out what those cops want. If they have a search warrant - and most likely they do, because otherwise why would they go to your house - read all the papers, ask what exactly they are looking for, let them into the house, but they have nothing speak. Do you understand me? Do not say anything.

“I… yes.

“Peterson was killed this Tuesday, if I'm not mistaken. So, wait…”In the background muffled voices sounded on the phone, first Howie’s voice, then a woman’s voice. Apparently Elaine, Howie's wife. Then Howie picked up the phone again. - Yes, on Tuesday. Where was Terry on Tuesday?

- In Cap City! He drove …

- It doesn't matter now. The police can ask you this question. They can ask you a bunch of questions. Tell them that you will be silent on the advice of your lawyer. You understood?

- Y-yes.

- Do not let them intimidate, catch or persuade. They can do it.

- Yes, I understood.

- Where are you now?

She knew she had seen the sign, but she decided to check it anyway.

- At the Burger King. Which is on Tinsley. I pulled into the parking lot to call you.

- Are you okay? Will you get there yourself?

She almost told him that she hit her head, but decided to remain silent.

- Yes.

- Take a deep breath. Take three deep breaths. Then go home. Follow the signs, observe the speed limit. Turn on the turn signals at all bends. Does Terry have a computer?

- Of course. There is also an iPad, only he hardly uses it. And we both have laptops. And the girls have mini iPads. And of course smartphones. We all have smartphones. Grace got hers for her birthday, three months ago.

- You should be provided with a list of everything that will be seized.

- Can they really take our things? - There were hysterical notes in Marcy's voice again. - It's so easy to pick up and pick up ?! Are we in Russia or in North Korea ?!

- They can only take what is specified in the order. But I want you to make your own list. Do the girls have smartphones with them?

- And you thought? They do not part with them.

- Good. The cops might want to take your smartphone too. Give it up.

- And if they take it anyway?

Is it really that important?

- They won't take it. No charges have been brought against you, and they cannot take anything of yours. Go home. I'll come as soon as I can. We'll figure it out, I promise you.

- Thank you, Howie. She burst into tears again. - Many thanks.

- Not at all yet. And don't forget: high-speed mode, full stop at stop signs, turn signals at all corners. Understood?

- Yes.

“I'm on my way to the station,” Howie said, and passed out. Marcy put the gear into gear, then pulled the handle back into the parking lot. She took a deep breath. Then the second one. Third. Yes, it's a nightmare, but it will soon be over. Terry was in Cap City. They'll make sure it's true and let him go home.

“And then,” she said into the void (the car was really empty and uncomfortable without the girls giggling in the back seat), “we'll sue them all.

The mutilated corpse of an eleven-year-old boy is found in the city park. Witness testimony and fingerprints point to Terry Maitland, coach of the local children's baseball team. The man has an alibi, but he gets arrested anyway.

It seems that the culprit has been found and will face a life sentence, but suddenly unknown details of the case emerge. Flint City Police Detective Ralph Anderson and Find and Preserve Private Investigator Holly Gibney intend to find out the truth, no matter what the cost.