The Zodiac Killer

As the story goes in the summer of the mid sixties a serial killer was terrorizing the Bay Area. We were watching TV in the front of the house. We equalled, at that time, Donny, Claudia, my Grandmother and myself. Everyone else was either at work or just not there. My Aunt Carmen had a small, white toy poodle she called "Hercules". In the days before AC people actually left their doors and windows open to create a breeze. Suddenly, Hercules went down the hall and started barking into the darkness. He would move forward a little and then retreat. This was odd behavior - even for Hercules. So my Grandmother who was born on the Flat Head Indian Reservation in Montana and as tough as nails decided to go investigate. Then she remembered the accounts of the Zodiac Killer. So she grabbed my peg board and a butcher knife and went down the hall to investigate. (This sounds like a cheap thriller but people apparently act this way in real life). She told us that IF we heard anything we should run to the neighbor's house. Why didn't she go to the neighbors with us? Why didn't she call the police? I think that it is because we are all basically stupid, but I digress. She turned on the hall light with Hercules at her feet barking and snarling. She went first to the room were my Granny stayed and checked it out. Then the bathroom beside it. Then to Donny's room on the right with a window open to the street. Nothing. The tension was obviously building because the dog was still freaking out and she had not found anything. There were only two rooms left, my room and her room. My room checked out "safe" and then the creepy sensation dawned on her that the dog was still barking at the threshold to her room. Police? Oh no, that would be too intelligent.

She flipped the light switch and it did not come on . Of course, she had turned it off beside her bed. This meant she had to walk across the dark room to turn it on. Undaunted, she crept forward with butcher knife and peg board as her protection. In the dark she could see the wind blowing the plastic curtains of her open bedroom window. Turnaround? Go for help? Nope. She continued across the room ready to take down anything that moved. When she reached her bedside she expected to see a lurching image and she was ready - but nothing. She check the closet, under the bed and the small bathroom. Nothing.

After her search Hercules stopped barking and simply trotted back to the living room. So my grandmother, followed closing the window and nonchalantly returning the butcher knife to the kitchen and my pegboard to my toy box. She did not search the backyard or even call anyone. At best she mumbled "damn dog".

Fortunately for us all the dog was either on acid or scared away who ever was there and the Zodiac Killer disappeared from the Bay Area for good. Even though my Grandmother was 5'2'' I would have laid money on her taking out anything in her way. She was one tough broad.