episodes of cruelty exhibited towards family pets and toys merely a phase that would pass.
Immediately he entered the house, Constable Flowers became suspicious of the boys’ detached behaviour. Given their tender years it seemed incredible that Dominic and Simon could have been responsible for the death of their new nanny, yet their manner unsettled him. The policeman recommended that the matter should immediately be reported to the coroner. He instructed a medical practitioner to examine Alice’s body for traces of noxious substances as there was no other apparent explanation for her death.
The matter was never resolved, and the coroner allowed the young woman to be laid to rest with the other members of her family. A headstone and compensation was donated to the parents by her employer who was reluctant to engage another nanny, although many young women would have been glad of the position. From then on his strict housekeeper kept watch over the twins as she was the only person who could intimidate them into good behaviour.
Relative calm returned to the house for two years.
And then the housekeeper died. There were deep puncture marks in her body. The scullery maid, cook and gardener all lived in fear of this woman and wouldn’t have dared confront her with an out of place word, let alone a stiletto blade.
This time Constable Flowers had no doubts and was convinced that Dominic and Simon were responsible. Every moment the policeman spent there, he could feel the needle gaze of four calculating eyes, as the twins’ high pitched giggles filled the house. Astride their rocking horse, they swayed to and fro like assassins on the road to their next victim.
Their father had to accept that he had sired two young murderers, and that they should be removed to an institution before they could kill another person.
But Simon and Dominic knew what lay in store for them. The night before the carriage to take them away was due to arrive, the house caught fire. The local residents and fire brigade quickly quelled the flames before the property was engulfed. The scullery maid, cook and gardener, who lived on the ground floor, were able to escape. But the body of Simon and Dominic’s father was found in his bed, hardly touched by the flames.
His throat had been cut while he slept.
The twins had disappeared. Search parties combed the area and daguerreotypes of the six-year-olds were sent to the neighbouring constabularies.
No trace of the children was ever found. The coroner recorded a verdict of death caused by felons unknown, and Constable Flowers must have gone to his grave wondering what became of those little assassins.
Sally finished reading and poured another glass of wine. She didn’t sleep very well that night.
The house and land was soon sold for redevelopment. The owners in Ontario did not haggle over the price, well aware of its history and relieved to get rid of it. Despite the protests of local historians, especially when they became aware of the report by Constable Flowers, the developer who had purchased the land demolished the house before the wheels of virtuous preservation could begin to turn.
One overcast morning old rugs, curtains and rotten wood panels were piled up in the forecourt. Twinkie, the malevolent toy of the murderous twins, sat on top of this bonfire, setting its demonic gaze on the demolition team.
Sally watched from the gate as the blaze filled the leaden sky. Constable Flowers would have probably been comforted to know that the rocking horse had been committed to the flames.
Then came an awful, evil, giggling from Twinkie as it was consumed by the inferno. The giggling turned to shrieks that horrified the onlookers.
The rocking horse suddenly exploded in a fireball, releasing two scrolls of black smoke that corkscrewed up into the grey clouds.
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