Its nine oclock and time for the news.

Authorities are still continuing the

search for Julia Calvin. Mrs Calvin who has been missing since ----
The radio was switched off with an abrupt twist of the dial and a muttered curse.
Im sorry about that, Jacob. Have the police brought you any news? Phil
gripped the steering wheel of the car as they drove along the old country road. In
his mind, a thousand thoughts played over, each asking what could have
happened to Julia. Did she have an accident in the woods? Had she left and told
no-one, starting a new life somewhere else? These and other thoughts ran
through his mind when Jake replied.
No, nothing yet.
There was something about Jacob that left Phil unsettled. There was no emotion
from his friend, no worry for his missing wife, just a calm, serene look on his face.
His hair was immaculately combed as always, his tie as done as a full Windsor
knot as it always was, neatly pressed against his pristine white shirt, all as if he
was going to work. Both men had been friends for years, from high school
through college and beyond. During all those years, Phil always knew that his
friend had always been tightly wound than others and he had become use to all
the little things Jacob had done to maintain that control over himself, but seeing
him like this, unnerved Phil.
Do you know what my favourite book as a child was? Jacob stared out past the
windshield, his eyes fixating on every bump and pothole, speaking again before
Phil could answer. It was a book of Edgar Allen Poe story. My favourite story in
was The Cask of Amontillado.
Phil gripped the steering wheel tighter; Im sorry, I never read it. I was always
more of an E. Howard fan.
Jacob quickly turned, pointing out the window, startling Phil. Could you please
stop for a moment, Philip, I thought I saw something in the bushes.
The car swerved to a halt as Phil grabbed a flashlight from the glove box and
stepped out the door. What did you see? Where?!
Keep looking, Philip. I need to get something.
Phil was fuming as he scanned the field, trying to spot whatever it was Jacob had
seen. What on earth could you ne---
A sickly sweet smell overwhelmed Phil as the words were cut off by a torn rag. A
strong hand held the rag to Phils face, forcing him to inhale more of the
chloroform and with each breathe taken his world became darker until the tenth
gasp caused him to blackout.
*****
The scraping of bricks woke him and a heavy weight held him down.
Ah, youre awake. Good.

Phil tried to bring his hand to his aching head only to find it was held back by a
heavy iron chain bound around his wrist. Looking around he found the other wrist
had been encased with another chain and a third was wrapped around his waist.
Jacob placed another brick onto the four foot high wall he had built, a serene
smile on his lips as he scraped away some of the excess mortar from the brick.
As I was saying, well, you might have been asleep when I began, but that
doesnt matter right now. Anyway, the Cask of Amontillado was about a
nobleman who had been slighted by a friend and who he sought revenge
against.
Phil pulled against the chains and looked at Jacob bewildered. Jacob, what the
hell is wrong with you?!
Ignoring the question he continued telling the story as he left another brick in
place and gently tapped it. So he brought his friend down to his cellar with the
promise of a very rare sherry and tricks him into an alcove where he begins to
wall him inside. Tell me Philip, do you know what immurement is? He chuckled
to himself. Probably not. It was a form of execution whereby the condemned
was walled into a chamber so that they would die of starvation or dehydration.
Its quite different to being buried alive. Usually the cause of death there is
asphyxiation.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Phil roared, straining against the chains, his face
contorted in a rage. YOURE MAD!
You slept with my wife.
The remark was so calm, so quiet; it cut through to Philip, who suddenly felt the
fight taken out of him. Howhow did you know?
Another brief smile flashed across Jacobs lips as he motioned to another wall
just out of Phils view. Julia and I had an argument last week and she admitted
as much. Oh she pleaded and begged with me as I laid down the wall, but you
know.
Phil sat in silence, tears rolling down his cheeks, broken that his lover was dead
already, mere feet away from him. There was no fight, no bargaining as Jacob
laid down more of the wall, until all that remained was a single gap in the wall.
Jacob peered through and smiled at Phil one last time. Goodbye Philip. You were
a good friend once. Take care. With that the final brick was slipped into place.
*****
Did you know its been five years today since Phil left? Emma Calvin sipped her
coffee and watched at her husband at the sink, washing the evenings dishes.
Jacob turned back towards Emma and smiled at her, placing another plate into
the rack to dry. Really? Hadnt noticed.
In the five years since Julia and Phil had disappeared, he and Emma had become
closer, drawn together by their respective spouses betrayal. Eventually, they
both filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. With no one to oppose the
divorces, Jacob and Emma married and started a new life for themselves.

Jacob smiled again and dried his hands before he adjusted his tie. What made
you think of him?
Oh, no reason, really. As much as I hated him, I still miss him sometimes.
Emma stood up and walked over to Jacob, planting a kiss on his cheek. Im
going to be in the study if you need me.
Jacob hummed and scrubbed another plate clean as Emma left the kitchen. He
pressed down onto the plate until it shattered under the water, his shoulders
tense as his arms shook with anger. Soon, the tremors slowed and stopped,
allowing a sense of calm to wash over him and with it a familiar sensation. A
serene smile crossed his lips as Jacob shouted towards the study.
Honey! Did I ever tell you what my favourite book as a kid was?