Dead Man Running by Barry Davis

Wiley 's room ," Jan replied.
    " He sleeps in a separate room from his wife? " asked Jones.
    " Mr. and Mrs. Wiley sleep apart a lot now ," Jan replied.  The detectives look e d at Jan.
    " And you know that how? " Jones asked.
    "Mrs. Wiley told me so.  She and I are very close. "
    The detectives enter ed the room.  Jan and Chi remain ed in the hallway.
    The detectives flip ped the mattress and look ed through the drawers.  Both entered the closet. 
    After a half hour their search of the room wa s complete.   Luckily Jan had replaced the damaged carpet the day before.
    " Okay, we're done here ," announced Leone.  The detective walk ed out into the hallway.   " Tell your boss, we'll be back to take him downtown.  He's gonna talk to us one way …."
    A rattling sound interrupt ed the detective.
    " What's that sound? " he asked.
    The detectives turned around, and head ed toward s the noise .  The sound seem ed to be coming from a closet whose door was slightly ajar .
    " Fred, you must have left that open. "
    "I thought you checked that one , Lou . "
    Jones reache d the door first.  As he opened the door fully a head drop ped to the floor .  It wa s Mrs. Wiley's head with the shocked expression of sudden death frozen on her painted lips .
    " What the hell? " shouted Jones.  The detective s immediately dr e w their weapons , pointed them at Chi and Jan .
    " Don't move!  Where's Wiley? "   Jan and Chi raised their hands.
    " I think he's downstairs ," Chi stammered, nearly as shocked as the detectives .
    Said Leone: " Given this piece of evidence, I think you are all coming downtown.  Now let's go! "
    He wave d Chi and Jan down the stairs.  The detectives follow ed behind, guns still point ed at the pair.
    In the living room Wi ley had remained s eated on the loveseat .  The group enter ed the room.
    " Reverend, we found the severed head of your wife upstairs.  Do you know anything about this? " asked Jones.
    " Amen. "
    " Have it your way.  Get up, we're going downtown , " said Leone.
    Wiley doesn't move but he shifted his eyes upward, onto the angry face of the detective.
    " Keep them covered Fred while I cuff the good r everend. "  Leone holstered his weapon, and proceeded to lift Wiley off the loveseat.
    " I'm sorry to have to do this, but you give me no choice. "  The detective place d a handcuff on Wiley's wrist.  Before he c ould secure the other handcuff, Wiley place d his uncuffed hand on the detective's bald head.
    Jones pointed his weapon at Wiley.  " Let him go, right now! "
    Wiley stare d at Jones .  While keeping his eyes on Jones, with a quick jerk, he separate d Leone 's head from his body.
    Jones began to convulse.  " God damn!  God damn! "  The detective fire d into Wiley.  Jan grab bed the detective's arm and b ullets flew into the ceiling as the two grappled .  Wiley drop ped the head and walk ed over to the struggling pair.  He t ook the gun away from both and proceeded to bend the gun's barrel.
    Jones look ed on in disbelief.  " What is he? "
    Jan smiled.  " That's my man. "
    " What are you gonna do to me? " Jones asked.
    Jan grabbed the stunned man's arm as Wiley approached.  " I'm not going to do anything to you.  Now Ben, he's going to eat you. "
    She smiled as the detective screamed.  Wiley grabbed the detective's head and twisted it from his body, ending the noise.
    Jan allowed the detective's body to fall to the ground.  Wiley, his mouth opened impossibly wide, ate the man's head.  Jan smiled, patted Wiley lovingly on the cheek as he chewed .  Her eyes surveyed the room, finally falling on Chi, crouching in a corner, terrified.
    " Hey, Chi, I'm glad you're here. "
    Chi does not move.  " Am I next? " He ha d to speak loudly to overcome the noise of snapping bones.
    Jan smiled.  " No, of course not.  You're a friend.  Right? "
    Chi stood, his legs jelly.  " Of course. "
    " Good, now get a bucket and a mop and help me clean up all this blood.  Cleaning up blood is