Dieterling loved his son Douglas–despite his rages and fits of strange behavior. He despised his son Paul–who was petty, tyrannical, stupid. Douglas and Paul greatly resembled each other.
Ray Dieterling grew famous; Douglas Borchard grew wild. He lived with Faye, watched his father’s cartoon nightmares– birds plucking children out of schoolyards–Patchett fantasies painted on film. He grew into his teens stealing, torturing animals, hiding out in skid row strip shows. He met Loren Atherton on the row–that evil man found an accomplice.
Atherton’s obsession was dismemberment; Douglas’ obsession was flight. They shared an interest in photography, were sexually aroused by children. They spawned the idea of creating children to their own specifications.
They began killing and building hybrid children, photographing their works in progress. Douglas killed birds to provide wings for their creations. They needed a beautiful face; Douglas suggested Wee Willie Wennerholm’s–it would be a kindly nod to kindly “Uncle Rat–whose early work he found so exciting. They snatched Wee Willie, butchered him.
The newspapers called the child killer “Dr. Frankenstein”–it was assumed there was only one assailant. Inspector Preston Exley commanded the police investigation. He learned of Loren Atherton, a paroled child molester. He arrested Atherton, discovered his storage garage abattoir, his collection of photographs. Atherton confessed to the crimes, said that they were his work solely, did not implicate Douglas and stated his desire to die as the King of Death. The press lauded Inspector Exley, echoed his appeal: citizens with information on Atherton were asked to come forth as witnesses.
Ray Dieterling visited Douglas. Alone in his room, he discovered a trunk full of slaughtered birds, a child’s fingers packed in dry ice. He _knew_ immediately.
And felt responsible–his quick-buck obscenities had created a monster. He confronted Douglas, learned that he might have been seen at the school near the time Wee Willie was kidnapped.
Protective measures:
A psychiatrist bribed to silence diagnosed Douglas: a psychotic personality, his disorder compounded by chemical brain imbalances. Remedy: the proper drugs applied for life to keep him docile. Ray Dieterling was friends with Pierce Patchett–a chemist who dabbled in such drugs. Pierce for inner protection–Pierce’s friend Terry Lux for the outer.
Lux cut Douglas a whole new face. Atherton’s lawyer stalled the trial. Preston Exley kept looking for witnesses–a wellpublicized search. Ray Dieterling treaded panic–then formed a bold plan.
He fed drugs to Douglas and young Miller Stanton. He coached them to say they saw Loren Atherton, alone, kidnap Wee Willie Wennerholm–they were afraid to come forth until now– afraid Dr. Frankenstein would get them. The boys told Preston Exley their story; he believed them; they identified the monster. Atherton did not recognize his surgically altered friend.
Two years passed. Loren Atherton was tried, convicted, executed. Terry Lux cut Douglas again–destroying his resemblance to the witness boy. Douglas lived in Pierce Patchett sedation, a room at a private hospital–guarded by male nurses. Ray Dieterling became even more successful. Then Preston Exley knocked on his door.
His news: a young girl, older now, had come forth. She had seen Dieterling’s son Paul with Loren Atherton–at the school the day Wee Willie was kidnapped.
Dieterling knew it was really Douglas–his resemblance to Paul was that strong. He offered Exley a large amount of money to desist. Exley took the money–then attempted to return it. He said, “Justice. I want to arrest the boy.”
Dieterling saw his empire ruined. He saw the petty and mindless Paul exonerated. He saw Douglas somehow captured– destroyed for the grief his art had spawned. He insisted that Exley keep the money–Exley did not protest. He asked him if there was no other way.
Exley asked him if Paul was guilty.
Raymond Dieterling said, “Yes.”
Preston Exley said, “Execution.”
Raymond Dieterling agreed.
He took Paul camping in the Sierra Nevada. Preston Exley was waiting. They dosed the boy’s food; Exley shot him in his sleep and buried him. The world thought Paul was lost in an avalanche–the world believed the lie. Dieterling thought he would hate the man. The price of justice on his face told him he was just another victim. They shared a bond now. Preston Exley gave up police work to build buildings with Dieterling seed money. When Thomas Exley was killed, Ray Dieterling was the first one he called. Together they built from the weight of their dead.