Claire’s death was a necessary twist. If I had allowed James and Roger to find Mark’s dwelling, the story quickly would have provided the solution of the investigation.
Mark admitted the responsibility for Claire’s death, but modality and motivation remained unknown. Why did Mark decide to get rid of her? What happened in that house that day? The following short story tells us why Claire decided to go to Heisemberg’s house, what happened in there, and how Mark killed her. Claire was worried; she hadn’t shared her feelings and thoughts with Tiffany, but she couldn’t help of thinking about doctor Heisemberg. He hadn’t replied the myriad of emails she had sent to him; he hadn’t pick the phone up when she had called. The only voice she had heard from the other end was the mechanical recording of the voicemail asking to leave a message after the beep. Claire still had the image of the doctor lying on the hospital bed and wrapped in white bandages in her eyes. Heisemberg’s facial expression hadn’t been happy and relaxed as it used to be, but full of sadness. She hadn’t met him since that day. Tiffany was totally sure that they had nothing to be worried about; even though Heisemberg hadn’t replied her emails and messages, she was confident he was fine. Surely, he was recovering, and, to heal properly, he needed quietness and rest. Exactly what his professions - university professor and psychologist - couldn’t provide him. Unfortunately, Claire wasn’t as optimistic as Tiffany had been. She wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to have the sheen of his irises lightening hers. She wanted to get lost in his infinite psychological knowledge. Claire has known since the first moment she met him that what she wanted was him. Although Heisemberg had kept the relationship between them professional, a deep feeling which went beyond the mere work collaboration had grown inside her day after day. Without him, Clare felt incomplete and useless; she missed him; she definitely loved him. Why had he disappeared? Why hadn’t he replied? Had she done something wrong without even realising it? Had she offended him somehow? Perhaps, Heisemberg felt precisely the same for her and, in order not to compromise their career, he had decided to cut any contact between them off. With these thoughts and interrogatives buzzing unstoppably in her mind, Claire inhaled and knocked on Hesemberg’s door. The thump of her knuckles on the wooden surface echoed inside the house. She waited full of hope to see his mentor appearing on the threshold, but nobody opened the door. The curtains on the ground floor were drawn close. “It seems nobody is at home.” Claire sighed. “I’ll knock again. If nobody opens, I’ll go home.” A knot formed in Claire’s throat; she hardly inhaled and knocked again. The door screeched and slowly swung open; Claire expected to see the doctor’s smile materialising behind the door. Instead, a black-haired man with intense grey eyes and a charming smile appeared. “Hello?” Mark said. “Hello, I’m Claire O’Connor. I attended doctor Heisemberg’s course at the university.” Claire introduced herself. The man had something familiar, she thought. “I’d like to talk with him about professional matters. Is he at home?” “The doctor momentarily is resting. He had a long day, and he needed to lie down.” Mark smiled. “The recovery is tiring him more than what he thought. If it’s not a trouble for you, you can come by another day. I suggest contacting him and arranging an appointment, so he can manage to receive you.” “I seriously need to talk to him.” Claire insisted; her voice trembled. “It’s very important. Do you mind if I wait for him to wake up?” “I don’t mind, but, as you can guess, I have no clue when doctor Heisemberg will be available. By the way, I’m Mark Newtsdon, doctor Heisemberg’s assistant.” Mark stretched his hand. “I’m taking care of Heisemberg’s business. If it’s urgent, as you claimed, you can speak to me.” “I personally would speak to him face to face. It’s a complicated matter.” Claire said. “I’d rather wait for him.” The tone of Claire’s voice was anxious with a hint of desperation. “If I send her away, she’ll get suspicious; but if I let her in, I’ll have to find a way to dispose of.” Mark noticed. “In that case, if it doesn’t bother you, you can come in and wait, but I don’t know when the professor will be available.” “That’s perfect for me. I can wait.” They reached the stylish and well-furnished sitting room. “This guy is very familiar. Where did I see him?” Claire thought. “His eyes, especially. I can’t remember.” “I’m sorry, what’s your name again?” “Mark Newtsdon, but you can call me Mark.” “You said that you were Heisemberg’s assistant, didn’t you?” Claire stared at him. “Precisely!” Mark smiled. “Please, take a seat. Would you fancy anything to drink? Perhaps, a cup of tea?” “I’d actually love a cuppa.” Mark went to the kitchen and started fumbling with kettle and cups. Claire looked around; the house looked disordered. She stroked the arm of the sofa which she had sat on, and a thin layer of dust dyed her finger grey. “There’s something wrong. I can’t believe Heisemberg lives in such a mess. He’s never been such a…” Mark got back to the room, bringing a tray with two cups and a teapot. “How long have you been Heisemberg’s assistant?” Claire asked. “More than one year, just before the accident.” Claire’s heart raced. “That’s not possible!” She thought. “Oh! I see. I presume it’s quite difficult to assist a man as busy as the professor. Numerous conferences and students’ requests make your job pretty hard.” Mark laid the tray on the table, smiling. “Well, I’m a quite well-organised person. I’m not saying that it’s easier than what you presumed, but my methodical organisation helps me a lot.” “This bitch is jeopardising my plan!” Mark thought. “Why did she come over here? What does she really want?” Mark poured some tea and handed the cup to Claire who added a dash of milk. They silently sipped their drinks. Mark brooded on a way for dismissing Claire; Claire tried to figure out where she had ever seen the man in front of her. “Being a university professor is a tough job, I guess.” Claire broke the embarrassing silence. “I attended Heisemberg’s course, and I remember he has always been in rush. The UCL didn’t leave him at peace for a moment.” “It’s exactly the same. The University of London pretends a huge effort from doctor Heisemberg. It’s not that easy to find such a competent and professional professor.” Claire’s eyes fixed on Mark’s. “You, tricky bugger! You have not idea of what you’re saying. Heisemberg didn’t work for the UCL!” “Filthy bitch!” Mark thought. “You’re framing me!” “How did the university react to the terrible accident involving Heisemberg?” Claire asked. “I guess it was a serious loss for the institution.” “Unfortunately, it was, but doctor Heisemberg is now ready to get back to work. The recovery was…” “Astounding.” Claire interrupted with a smile. “Exactly! It was stunning how he got over it.” “I remember when I went to the hospital to visit him there was another person involved in the accident. Do you know anything about him?” Mark put down the cup and stared at the floor. “I now remember where I met this annoying girl! She came to visit the doctor!” He lifted his head, beaming as serene as he could manage to be. “We, unfortunately, don’t know what happened to him, but doctor Heisemberg is confident that…” Mark stopped; he realised he had made a huge mistake. “I’m fucked!” Mark thought. “Why am I being such a bloody idiot?” Claire kept staring at him; she narrowed her eyes and cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind. I’ll take the cups and tea pot back to the kitchen.” Mark quickly switched the conversation. “Heisemberg might wake up shortly.” “What’s going on?” Claire thought while Mark was heading to the kitchen. Her heart pounded so strongly that she could feel it as though it was in her throat. “He’s lying! He doesn’t know the university where the professor used to work. He doesn’t know the guy taken to the hospital with Heisemberg died. Besides, he claimed he started working for the doctor about one year ago, but I don’t remember any assistant! I would have met him!” She heard Mark climbing the stair to the upper floor. “Who is this man?” Claire strolled to the front door; it was locked. A pang of fear made her body shiver. “What do I have to do?” “Miss Claire, the doctor is awake. Would you like to come up?” Mark’s voice sounded in the house. It was difficult to ponder what to do; Claire was taken aback. What if she had said that she preferred to go home and visit him another day Heisemberg? “That would be suspicious. He could wonder why I waited for so long before leaving.” Claire’s storm of thoughts was impossible to control; she couldn’t think rationally, then she shook her head. “What if I’ve been too suspicious? Even though I haven’t ever met him, it doesn’t mean that the professor couldn’t have an assistant. It’s true that assistants frequently change or are changed. After all, if they want to pursue the academic career, they have to catch any good opportunity.” Mark called her again and appeared on the top of the stair. “Claire, the doctor is waiting for you.” His tone had a seductive sound. “He’s utterly delighted you came by.” “Maybe, I’m just exaggerating.” Claire thought. “Probably, I’ve just never met him, or I might have met him, but I don’t recall his face.” She got on the first step. “I don’t know. His grey eyes have something known. Where did I see them?” Claire had quickly reached the landing; everything was strange, but, in her heart, Claire craved to see his mentor. She couldn’t wait. Heisemberg was just beyond that door. Mark stood next to the entrance. “I’ve probably over-reacted.” Claire felt an unstoppable urge of running inside the room. “How long have I desired to meet him again for?” The chamber was in total dimness; a thin ray of light penetrated the closed curtain. While she was getting through the door, she met Mark’s grey irises. “Was that a sneer? Why did he sneer?” Claire thought, but the view of what seemed a body beneath the duvet sent her doubts and fears away. “Heisemberg! You have no idea how long I dreamt to see you again for!” “Desire is the biggest flaw of human beings.” Mark thought and followed the girl; his left hand held a syringe, containing a white solution. “Human beings are so easy to manipulate. I simply have been pretending, but she didn’t realise at all.” “Good afternoon, professor!” Claire whispered to the bundle lying on the bed. The body didn’t move; Claire waited for an answer, then she stepped closer. Even though the darkness blurred the view, she could barely see what seemed the doctor’s head. When she was at Heisemberg’s side, her mouth gaped, and a hysterical trembling invaded her hands. “That isn’t his head!” She now could see properly where the head was supposed to be. “That’s…that’s just a bloody pillow!” Claire wasn’t fast enough to turn; she felt a painful sting at the base of her neck. Immediately, a cold liquid penetrated her flesh. “What’s that?” She screamed terrified. “What did you do? Where is the doctor?” The solution started itching; Claire turned towards the door, but her sight blurred, and her head had started pounding. She could see Mark’s outline on the threshold. “What did you do?” She screamed again. A sense of dizziness possessed her; she swayed in the door direction, then, suddenly she felt fainting and fell on the floor. Mark watched Claire’s body contorting and wriggling uncontrollably, then instantly it stopped. She was cold dead. “I can’t leave anybody behind who can blow up my triumphal plan. Nobody must identify me.” Mark thought and stepped towards the body. “Claire, I don’t know if somebody will ever find your body, but if somebody will, I safely will be far away from this house.” “Claire” is the third instalment of short stories dedicated to “The fear eater”. If you liked it, and you want to read the novella, you can find it on Wattpad for free. CLICK HERE. Take care and see you the next week with the short story revealing how Gimmy tracked Don back. Cheers!
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