by George William Sweeney

"I won't let you get away with this!" Bill yelled as he stormed out of Cannon's office. It caught the attention of everyone in the office, their heads peaking out of their cubicles as gophers popping out of their holes.

Bill rushed across the room to his own office, slamming the door behind him.

He did not come out of his office again until lunchtime. On his way out he almost bumped into a young lady coming into the building. She asked where she could find Tom Cannon's office, he was her uncle. He pointed his office out to her and left.

He returned from lunch and worked late that day. He was writing a full report to the Board of Directors on Cannon's actions. He thought that he was alone in the building, but he heard a scream.

He rushed out of his office. The screams were coming from Cannon's office.

As he burst into the office he saw Cannon trying to pin the young lady to his desk while trying to undo his pants. The girl had picked up a letter opener and plunged it into his chest. He stumbled back and fell over the coffee table.

The girl ran past Bill weeping.

Bill walked over to Cannon. He was still alive. He pleaded for help.

Bill was just sitting in the office when the Police arrived with the EMT personnel. Cannon was dead.

Bill refused to make any comments about what had happened. After the detective arrived and looked at the scene of the crime he ordered the officers to take Bill into custody.

The next day he was charged with murder after the police confirmed that he had fought with Cannon earlier in the day.

The trial was very short. Motive and opportunity was clearly shown. The lab also confirmed that Bill's fingerprints were the only prints on the letter opener. The jury only deliberated for half an hour before returning a guilty verdict. Because Cannon was a very prominent member of society Bill was sentenced to death in the gas chamber.

A year latter Bill was sitting on death row when Rev. Johnson showed up at the prison to see him. At first Bill refused to see him. The Reverend returned to the prison every day for several days until Bill agreed to see him.

Rev. Johnson attempted to start conversation with some pleasantries but Bill was not very talkative.

"I have spoken with the young lady that was in the office the day of Tom Cannon's death." Rev. Johnson said softly to start the subject for which he was there.

Bill slowly drew his eyes to look Johnson in the eyes for the first time.

"So."

"The story she told me makes me believe you did not killed him."

"What makes you think that?"

"She said that he was attempting to rape her when she grabbed a something off of the desk and stabbed him. She said that she ran by someone as she was running out of the office."

Bill silently glared at him. He did not blink or show any emotion. It was as if he was a wax figure.

"Don't you get it." The reverend exclaimed. "She can testify that she stabbed him in self-defense."

Bill stood up and walked away.

The Reverend came back a couple of more days before Bill would see him again.

"I know you did not kill Tom Cannon." He blurted out.

"What do you know about it?"

"I spoke with the detective. He said that there was only one stab wound. I know who did that. The detective said that Tom fell over the table in the office. I believe his fall drove the opener into his heart. Am I right?"

"What difference does that make? I have been convicted of the murder."

"But it wasn't murder. And you did not stab him!" Reverend Johnson was frustrated.

"The young lady is willing to testify that she stabbed Cannon if you will testify that you witnessed Cannon attacking her. She would not be convicted, it was self-defense. Why aren't you happy about this? She can save you from the gas chamber."

Bill rose to his feet, knocking his chair down.

"I do not need to be saved from the chair." He said slowly and deliberately.

The guard came in, but Reverend Johnson assured him that there was no problem.

Bill walked over to the window. The Reverend joined him.

"Do you want to die?"

"What difference if I do die? Some people are better off dead. Some people should be punished by death for what they have done."

The Reverend was taken back for a moment.

He placed his hand on Bill's shoulder and softly spoke. "What did you do that deserves death?"

Bill was only silently looking out of the window, up into the sky. Slowly his eyes started to redden. Then the tears started to flow from his eyes.

"I killed a man."

"Who?"

"What difference does it make? I killed someone, I should die."

"If you feel this way why do you not just confess to the police about it?"

"They will not do anything."

"Why not, do they already know about it?"

"Yes."

The Reverend paused a moment, pondering why the police would not do anything about a murder that someone confessed to. Then it dawned on him.

"Did they say it was self defense?"

Bill put his head into his arms and began to sob.

"I killed him, I have to die."

That was the end of it. Bill would talk no more. The Reverend came back every day up until the day of the execution. But Bill would not see him.

No matter how much he wanted to save Bill he could not stop the execution. He could not convince the girl to confess and Bill wanted to die.

Reverend Johnson managed to be allowed to witness the execution. Tears ran down his face as he saw the life ebb out of Bill's body. But he could swear that there was a smile on his face in those last moments.

Maybe Bill finally found peace.