Serial Killers: Confessions of a Cannibal Read Free Page B

Then she stepped across the room and stood beside Howard.
     
    The old man’s attention was now entirely on the child. He peppered her with questions. What grade was she in at school? What were her favorite subjects? Who was her best friend? Grace answered shyly but politely. She flinched when the old man reached out a gnarled hand to stroke her hair, but allowed him to do it. He told her how pretty she was, and how charming. Finally, Howard slid his hand into his pocket. “Let’s see how good a counter you are,” he said and produced a thick bundle of bills, which he placed on the table. Mr. and Mrs. Budd exchanged a look. They had seldom seen so much money. “Go on” Howard urged Grace, “Count it.” 
     
    Obediently, Grace counted out the notes, summing a total of $92. Then Howard reached into his pocket again and produced a handful of coins. Grace tallied those at 50¢. “What a clever girl you are!” Howard exclaimed, then scooped up the coins and placed them in Grace’s hand. “There you are. Go and buy some candy for you and your sister.” Again the girl looked nervously towards her mother who gave her a nod of consent.
     
    “Thank you, Mr. Howard,” Grace beamed. Then she rushed towards the door clutching her bounty.
     
    “If you see Eddie out there,” her mother called after her. “Tell him Mr. Howard’s here.”
     
    Edward and Willie Korman showed up minutes later, Willie clutching his duffel bag and both of them looking eager to be on their way. But as it turned out, their new employer was about to disappoint them again. After apologizing for not picking them up the previous day, Howard said that he was not able to take them out to the farm right away. He explained that his sister was throwing a birthday party for his young niece that afternoon, and that he was obliged to attend. Seeing the disappointment on the young men’s faces he dug into his pocket and produced his bankroll again.
     
    “Tell you what,” he said, peeling off a couple of bills. “Here’s two dollars. Why don’t you boys go to the pictures this afternoon? I’ll go to the party and I’ll pick you up later, on my way home.”
     
    Eddie and Willie were happy to accept. After woofing down a quick lunch they were out of the door and on their way to a matinee. By then Grace had returned, carrying a bagful of candy for her and Beatrice. Howard meanwhile had finished off his lunch and was sipping noisily from a cup of coffee. He seemed misty-eyed, lost in thought. Finally, he put down his cup, consulted his pocket watch and announced that it was time to leave.
     
    It was while thanking the Budds for their hospitality and assuring them that he’d be by later to collect Edward that an idea seemed to occur to him. He wondered whether the Budds would allow Gracie to accompany him to the birthday party. There’d be lots of girls her own age, he said, and he was sure that she’d have a great time. And he promised that he’d have her back by nine, the hour that he’d agreed to meet Edward and Willie. “What do you say, Mrs. Budd? Can she go?”
     
    Delia Budd looked across at her husband. Her inclination was to thank Howard for his kind offer but to say no. After all, they hardly knew the old man. Then again, what harm was there. Frank Howard was, after all, a kindly and generous old gentleman. The last thing she wanted was to offend the old farmer who had so kindly offered her son employment.
     
    It was Albert Budd who broke the impasse, brief though it was. “Let the poor kid go,” he said. “She don’t see much good times.”
     
    And with that it was settled. Delia Budd had only one more question for Howard. Where, she asked, did his sister stay? “In a fine building at 137 th and Columbus,” Howard offered, which seemed to satisfy Mrs. Budd. The old man then consulted his pocket watch again. “We’ll have to leave right away, however. We wouldn’t want to be late.”
     
    Five minutes later, Albert and