9:00 came too fast for the fear to fully set in. Perhaps, it was the advice of Lovemarine that had him settled. Jones was still hyper alert to his surroundings. Every car that passed by caught his attention. Jones did not know if things were quiet enough for him to hear Vincent walk up the stairs.
His plan was already set. There was nothing to worry about. Now was the time to disengage with the subconscious and to commit himself to reaction. He took note of the thin white string on his finger that was to release the trap and turned off his brain. All he had to do was wait and survive the night.
Seven minutes later, Vincent de More made his presence known to both Lovemarine and Jones through ringing the door bell. Jones replied, "let yourself in." There he stood with his suit looking ready to attend to the affairs of The Lake House. de More appeared to yet be a paragon of high class. The pressure of committing a murder had not seemed to affect him in the slightest. There was no visible sign of distress or worry.
While Jones observed first that his gait was thoroughly refined, it was more important for the private eye to notice that the did not appear to have a weapon in hand.
"You have the money?" asked Jones. The line was delivered with the callousness one would expect from a professional extorter.
"No. I did not think it necessary to bring it. I already told you it would take time to find such a large sum in cash. I refuse to give you another piece of blackmail of a check with a ridiculous amount of money attached." responded Vincent.
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"Rather, I came here to end you and put a stop to all of this. You and your sister threatened my family, and if you are anything like your sister, this is the only thing I can think of to make things right."
"What do you mean like my sister?" responded Jones confused.
"I was reasonable with her at first. I asked her why she needed so much money. She told me that her father was sick. You know, I offered to pay her for his treatment? She said that it was not good enough. Still, I was going to give her the money. Then when I said we would have to exchange that picture frame she refused. I had to kill her."
"All to protect your mother in a divorce?"
"You make it sound like such a foreign concept. She is a beautiful soul, capable of making beautiful things. Her design has brought joy to a great many people. I can not bare to see her life''s work be ruined by some tramp. My father is nothing but a dirty philanderer who does not deserve to share a name with my mother. He has spent their entire marriage bragging of his affairs, sending postcards from him and his floosies home. He was stuck in a marriage his own father forced him into. Finally when Grandpa died, my dad went to take The Lake House from his wife and child through this divorce. We have a chance of breaking the prenuptial agreement through his serial affairs, but not if my own mother''s affair comes to light. I am done explaining myself to you."
Jones had no opportunity, nor need, to get a word in. His plan had worked a little too perfectly. He sprung his trap in response to Vincent''s lunge forward from the door. He was now carrying a knife in his hand. The last thing Jones noticed before releasing the wound up plank was the quality of the knife''s handle.
The wood hit the man''s shin with great effect. Vincent lay on the floor face down writhing in pain. Jones rushed to his hand to stomp down and hopefully release the knife from his grip. Once his hand was incapable of holding on any longer, Jones kicked the knife away towards.
The fight was over. Lovemarine, having heard the tussle, stepped through the door calmly. He had his handcuffs ready to arrest Vincent de More for the murder of Claudia Wells.