Part Thirty Four

*A new perspective, a violent foe, a song from the heart...*

### Content Warnings

Murder, sounds of gore (blood dripping), gun violence, police violence, racism (against Irish), torture, discussions of suicide, kidnapping/captivity, discussions of fingernail trauma

## Summary

Collins' approaches Daniel's home and shoots through the door, wounding Daniel. He pursues Arthur through an apartment building, killing multiple people in his path. Ultimately, he captures Arthur after Arthur gives himself up to spare another innocent death. Collins ties Arthur up in basement and calls Larson, to inquire whether Larson wants any information tortured out of him. Larson tells Collins to clear up his loose ends (Daniel, in the hospital) and plans to visit Arthur himself. Collins departs, leaving Arthur tied to a chair.

## Synopsis

Collins approaches Daniel’s home and shoot through the door after knocking. He sings ‘Peggy Gordon’ as he patiently pursues Arthur, until the latter escapes through a window. Collins gives chase into an apartment. Upon finding the apartment’s owner, he ascertains Arthur’s location and then shoots the man.

Going through a door, Collins notices water running and monologues about his respect for Arthur’s train stunt. He compares this pursuit to a musical composition. When Arthur, hiding nearby, breaks for the hallway, Collins shoots him in the shoulder.

Before Collins can pursue him, he hears police sirens and hides his gun. He’s stopped by the police officers, who are suspicious about the gunfire and the blood on his shoes.

He asks about Officer Jones’ family and warns against detaining him, revealing himself as “The Butcher”. Jones recognizes it and seems inclined to release him, but Officer Kahn insists on detaining him. Collins shoots and lethally wounds Officer Jones; as the officer slowly dies, he monologues about his work. He admits he has a tendency to “fall in love” (in a manner of speaking) with each of his targets, and he has a particular admiration for Arthur. Officer Jones dies and Collins wears his uniform as he re-enters the building.

Collins follows Arthur’s blood trail. He interviews one of the apartment tenants as an officer, claiming that he is attempting to find a suspect. He recruits the tenant to help him investigate the window, noting while there is blood on the sill, there is none on the roof. Collins concludes that his “suspect” gained help from someone who took pity on him. Successfully convincing the tenant that the suspect is dangerous, the man leads him back to his own apartment.

Before Collins can shoot the man, Mr. Privett, Arthur reveals himself and agrees to come quietly. They both leave the apartment without harming Mr. Privett. Collins leads Arthur towards the basement, remarking on Arthur’s decision to save a stranger. Arthur snaps that Collins is a dog, and Collins agrees.

Arthur goes on to say that he’s heard of him before and that Elijah Strong sends his regards. Collins is unbothered by this and asks how that’s possible, since Elijah Strong is dead.

Arthur changes tactic, stumbling through a few details of the Mary Christian case that Elijah Strong and his partner, Teddy Caine, were involved in. Collins leads Arthur to a boiler room and ties him to a chair. As he does, he explains his viewpoint of the case Arthur alluded to: the Mary Christian case.

A long time ago, he used to have specific means of contact and calling cards, but he has since stopped enjoying the performance of it. A senator named Andrew Christian hired him to steal a suitcase from Michael Higgins for one thousand dollars, which Collins completed. Later, William Carter hired Collins to kidnap Andrew Christian’s daughter for one thousand dollars, which Collins also completed. Strangely, Christian then hired Collins to kill his kidnapped daughter. In his pursuit of her, Collins tortured Elijah Strong and Teddy Caine. After reminiscing, Collins decides to contact his employer and ask if he wants any information tortured out of him.

Arthur denies having any useful information and remarks that Strong had survived the torture session, even if he killed himself later. Ultimately, Arthur realizes that Collins is implying the Strong didn’t kill himself – that Collins killed Strong in prison and faked his suicide. Horrified, Arthur asks what Collins is. Collins’ answer is simple: The Butcher.

Collins leaves the room. He calls the operator and requests Larson at 5518. Collins informs Larson that he’s captured Arthur and that he’s in a secure room, and asks if Larson wants any information tortured out of him. Larson responds that he’s unable to speak at the moment, and requests that Collins remains at this phone until he can call him back in a few minutes.

Collins returns to Arthur, who asks after Collin’s “master”, referring to him as Larson’s dog, clearly trying to get a rise out of him.

Collins prepares to torture Arthur of his own accord, although conversationally asks how his sparing of Mr. Privett fits into Arthur’s view of him as a blood-thirsty monster, and asserts that Arthur does not understand him at all.

Arthur then asks why Collins killed Daniel, if he allowed Privett to live. Collins remarks that he heard Arthur call out to Daniel, and asks who he was to Arthur. Arthur doesn’t answer, but Collins tells him that Daniel left quite the message at the hotel for him, which led Collins straight to Arthur.

Collins proceeds to tell Arthur about all the various ways he can improvise tools of torture from the items he finds laying around in the basement and boiler room.

As Collins does this, Arthur tries to figure him out, and slips by saying “we” at one point. This causes Collins to pause and ask about Arthur’s eyes and how he never seems to look quite at him. Arthur distracts him, but Arthur’s odd way of pausing makes Collins ask about that too.

Arthur claims that he’s listening to his conscience, a voice in his head that tells him what is right and wrong.

Collins claims that he doesn’t have that, all he can hear is music. He describes the orchestral arrangement he hears in his head, as he goes to begin torturing Arthur.

As he describes the different instruments, he mentions the piano, and Arthur interrupts, mentioning that he’s a pianist and a composer and offers to play for him.

Collins notices Arthur’s wooden finger, and asks what happened to it. Arthur dodges the question by saying that’s a long story.

Just as Collins prepares to break Arthur’s fingers with a hammer, the phone rings, and he leaves the room with Arthur apparently muttering reassurances to himself.

Larson tells Collins that he’ll be there within the hour and asks for the address. Collins informs him that they are at 930 Park in the basement.

Larson instructs him to leave the basement unlocked, and not to wait around for his arrival, as Collins has left loose ends that Larson wants cleaned up. He informs Collins that a witness survived, and was taken to Lenox Hill and is likely currently in surgery. Larson also instructs Collins to find out who brought the witness there and what they know.

Ending the call, Collins returns to Arthur, and informs him that Daniel survived and that he’s at Lenox. He suggests that Arthur rest while he has the chance, since Larson is likely to make his death slow and painful, and bids him farewell, acknowledging him as worthy prey.

Realizing what Collins is going to do, Arthur shouts for him to leave Daniel alone and threatens to kill him as Collins departs, leaving him alone in the basement.

## Trivia

* When Collins first enters the apartment complex, the song that plays is "Come Easy, Go Easy Love" by Hoagy Carmichael (1931)
* '55 18' is a reference to another Harlan Guthrie Audio Drama, *DEVISER.*