The truth was, he had got away with murder.
He thought the trial would never end. Day after day, it went on. The victim, as they kept calling him, had it coming to him. He was a nasty, cunning man, always trying to short change him. He had never felt comfortable in his presence. What had been against him was the fact that he’d been seen so often arguing with the owner of the convenience store, and by so many people. What he had going for him was the extraordinary ability to carry on as though he was as mad as a hatter! At the end of the trial, the latter won out. The insanity plea was accepted and he was committed to the district sanatorium. It was a ruling that suited him well. Being completely sane, he was able to fully appreciate how well he’d played his part. As for the mental facility, he liked it there and settled in very quickly. He really liked the comfort of his room. It was so much nicer than the one he had back home.
All was going well up to the day he saw the latest patient being checked in. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was the shop owner! He hadn’t really died. They’d saved him somehow and he’d been put through that long trial for nothing! It had been a clever trick they’d played on him. Now, they had arranged to have him come here and taunt him. They had seen through his ploy and were now getting their own back. Little did they realise that he could put the situation right. They had no idea how smart he really was. He would soon have the last laugh. He knew where the knives were kept in the kitchen. He saw them being put away. He would wait until lights-out and he would make sure he didn’t fail this time.
He knew about the double jeopardy rule. He couldn’t be prosecuted twice for the same murder.
He would be safe in his room.
It was so comfortable.