Page 24 of The Penitentiary
“Thanks, Harry, for the information.” I spoke and frowned. “The atmosphere in here has changed. It feels negative, dark.”
“As if we’re being inspected as victims?” Phil said and nodded.
“To me, it’s like I’ve suddenly become prey,” Madi murmured.
Worried, I turned to her. “Do you need to leave?”
“No, but it’s now oppressive here. And my skin is crawling like multiple people are watching us,” Madi replied.
“No faces though,” I said, gazing around.
“Not that I can see. I can spot some shadows that look like some, though,” Madi said and pointed.
I jumped as a stone hit my foot and clattered to the ground.
“What on earth?” Madi exclaimed.
“Someone’s trying to get our attention. We stopped talking about Everett, and he wants us focused back on him,” I guessed.
“Will he harm us?” Madi gasped.
“I’m unsure. I don’t think so, but be careful. Try speaking to him again.”
“Everett, did you kill your wife?” Madi asked. “What about your sister-in-law and daughter? Did you mean to?”
Madi pressed play as we all stiffened.
“Murder…. Yes… Yes… ate her liver.”
“What the fuck!” Madi exclaimed.
“Damn!” Harry’s voice broke in, making us all jump.
“Did you hold information back again?” I accused, and Harry snickered. “Out of line, man!”
“Jackson cooked his daughter’s liver and ate it with mashed potatoes. He claimed he was keeping a part of her,” Harry said.
“What the hell? That’s vile and disgusting,” Madi stated.
“Very disturbing. Was Jackson classified as insane?”
“No, he was disturbingly sane. Jackson described quite vividly how and why he killed those women. And his mistress, Lillian, stood by him and blamed the wife. Said that if Mrs Jackson had granted the divorce, then he wouldn’t have killed her. And Lillian said the daughter wouldn’t have died if she’d been a dutiful child and respected and supported her father,” Harry continued.
“Did Lillian also get arrested?” Madi asked.
“No. She was innocent of any wrongdoing, although her opinions stank,” Harry declared, sounding disgusted.
“I’d say they did. What happened to them both?”
“Lillian was very clever. Jackson was thirty years older than her, and she was only twenty-one when he was sent down. She stood by him despite ostracization by her peers. In return, Everett left her in charge of his string of highly successful shops. She visited him here weekly and also ensured he had his luxuries he needed.
“By all accounts, they even managed some conjugal visits as well. Jackson was in here for three years before a fellowinmate stabbed him to death. Lillian inherited everything. Three months later, she’d married the brother of the inmate who’d killed Jackson.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yup. Ben Shaw was inside for life. There was no parole, so killing Jackson was no skin off his nose. Lillian went on to have four children with James Shaw, and they lived very well off the inheritance Jackson had left her,” Harry said.
“Holy crap, she set Everett up inside,” Madi exclaimed.
