Name
(Username or
Twitter ID) |
Accepted Entry |
Date of Entry |
Source
(Twitter or
TWWAB Website) |
| |
Chapter One |
Back to Top |
| TWWAB |
The full moon, seemingly closer than usual, shed brilliant light rays which
sparkled off the lake surface like luminous nuggets. The moonbeams illuminated
the sky just enough for everyone to disbelieve what their eyes told them
was true. |
8/5/09 |
|
| Cooper |
Not a word was spoken. The dark tranquility was breached only by the crackling
and smoldering campfire; its orange embers aloft. |
8/7/09 |
Website |
| Linda58 |
No one could believe their eyes. He had been gone so long, and in the light
of the fire and the moon it appeared that he looked the same. |
8/8/09 |
Website |
| Raquel |
I sat on a rock, away from everyone else, writing designs in the dirt with
a stick. |
8/8/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
How could I let on that my heart was beating so quickly and my head was
spinning? He really did look the same. |
8/9/09 |
Website |
| Bmason394 |
Others rushed to greet him with faces of bewilderment . . . confusion. Benson
turned to see my reaction; his look drenched with obvious pity. |
8/10/09 |
Website |
| gwp.tap |
For me, this became another in a long series of scenarios, like alternate
movie endings, that I had repeated over and over on sleepless nights. This
one I had not imagined. I wanted to hit rewind, but no remote. |
8/11/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
My limbs felt numb and paralyzed. Only Benson could understand what I was
feeling at that moment. Benson had been by my side through it all. |
8/12/09 |
Website |
| Shaybela |
As I watched the reunion unfolding before me, I remained where I was, motionless.
My thoughts started to drift back to another time. |
8/13/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
Back to my younger days, when I was carefree and careless. Back to painful
moments with my family. |
8/14/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
I remember Benson and me standing next to our father, as he lay in bed,
with the rest of the family nearby. His last few moments of life before
him . . . |
8/14/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
My humiliation reverberating in the fixed silence of my family's faces.
All I could hear was the thumping of my heart. |
8/14/09 |
Twitter |
| Lucky_Smiler |
The only thing was, my throat was parched with emotions. I wanted to curse
the fact that I had no control over my shock. |
8/15/09 |
Twitter |
| Moth2Flame |
My father, even in his deteriorated condition, sensed my angst. Without
hesitation, he turned to me and Benson, quietly whispering to us through
pursed lips . . . |
8/15/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
I waited with bated breath, Heaven only knew what he was about to say. |
8/16/09 |
Twitter |
| Shaybela |
Those whispered words were painful. Benson and I had kept them tucked deep
inside for all these years, but I know they haunted both of us. |
8/16/09 |
Website |
| Blake |
And now, here was Roy. Back from the dead, it seemed, after so many years
. . . Perhaps my father had been right about him, about everything. |
8/17/09 |
Website |
| Skokdog23 |
My head spun and stomach lurched. It was time. My legs wobbled as I rose
to face Roy, his pitch black eyes reflecting the roaring fire. |
8/18/09 |
Website |
| axalis |
I felt unsteady. What could I say to him, without him growing suspicious
or me not bursting into tears. It was too soon. |
8/19/09 |
Twitter |
| Megan12 |
Could I even face him? This was Roy . . . dammit! Was my memory that short?
My head reeled with visions of the drama which was my life. |
8/19/09 |
Website |
| zootsutti |
What if he read the letter? Could he have known it was about him? It was
all so long ago, but I am still that fragile girl. |
8/20/09 |
Website |
| PianoPianoPiano |
Was it possible I could forgive? Perhaps. But I could never forget. |
8/20/09 |
Website |
| Hagar |
Benson came to my side. He sensed my hesitation. "Maybe this isn't
a good idea right now", he said quietly. |
8/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson, my stepbrother and now my husband, gently added, "Remember
what your father said." |
8/21/09 |
Website |
| shrimpete |
I felt his strength as he held my hand. "We need to consider what he
told us so long ago." |
8/21/09 |
Website |
| zootsutti |
He was right, although from the look in Roy's eyes, I felt with every fiber
of my being that he knew what I was about to say. |
8/21/09 |
Website |
| axalis |
But still this was not the place nor the time to confront Roy. I had to
do this alone, no one could hear the truth just yet. |
8/21/09 |
Twitter |
| shrimpete |
I needed some time alone to let this all sink in and make some decisions. |
8/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I thought I'd put the pain behind me when I married Benson, but with Roy's
sudden appearance it has all returned. |
8/23/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
I turned away, breaking my firm grip on Benson's hand, and started running.
I didn't know where I was going, but I had to separate myself. |
8/22/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
I kept running . . . away from Benson . . . away from Roy. . . away from
the memories. They started flooding my thoughts. |
8/23/09 |
Website |
| MsTake |
My legs did not tire. I summoned every bit of remaining energy to escape
from what I'd have to eventually confront. |
8/23/09 |
Website |
| Shaybela |
I suddenly stopped running. Where was I? What was happening to me? |
8/23/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, weeping, I dropped to my knees, holding
my head in my hands. |
8/23/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Two |
Back to Top |
| OneMoToGo |
I must have blacked out. For how long? I didn't know. I blinked my eyes
to focus on my surroundings. I was in an unfamiliar place. |
8/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I awoke to the sun streaming through the lace curtains. My eyes were puffy
and red, my face blotchy. Why can't I look beautiful when I cry? |
8/24/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Looking around the room, the cleanliness of it spoke volumes. It was clean.
Too clean. The scent of antiseptics permeated the air. |
8/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
A young woman entered the room wearing a blue skirt and a plain white blouse.
A crucifix dangled from her neck. "Oh, you're awake." |
8/25/09 |
Website |
| wilson |
I tried to rise, but something was wrong. My hands and feet were firmly
bound to the bed with leather straps. |
8/25/09 |
Website |
| Judy |
What's happening to me? I'd been strong for so long; Benson always said
so. Have I completely lost it? No, it can't be. Or can it? |
8/26/09 |
Website |
| mouthchic |
I strained against the straps, and demanded an explanation from my serene
captor. |
8/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Pure panic enveloped me. "Who are you? Where am I? Where's Benson?"
I cried. |
8/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"My name is Sister Kathryn and you are at the St. Dymphna Mental Health
Institution. Your husband brought you here last night." |
8/26/09 |
Website |
| Phyllis |
I was so very confused. Although I was sure that these surroundings were
foreign to me, they had a vague familiarity. Had I been here before? |
8/27/09 |
Website |
| Jessy |
Then I had to take a moment, I wondered why . . . Why would he bring me
here? |
8/27/09 |
Website |
| xSPOTLiT3ADiCTx |
Questions were flaring through my head. Does he even love me? |
8/27/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
"There's obviously a misunderstanding. You see, I shouldn't be here."
Damn, I wish I had sounded more convincing. |
8/27/09 |
Twitter |
| Lucky_Smiler |
She stroked my arm wearily, "I know, I know, everyone who comes here
says the same thing." Her voice hardened. "Now get some rest". |
8/27/09 |
Twitter |
| empress2000 |
Again, I struggled against the restraints but they held fast, Sister Kathryn
remained serene and impassive. |
8/27/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
I immediately began to doubt myself. Was this really Benson's doing, did
they both plot to put me here, was I the one who was to blame? |
8/27/09 |
Twitter |
| mktarrant |
I knew it wasn't a dream after my skin was pinched for a drug injection.
The medication seared through my veins. |
8/27/09 |
Website |
| shrimpete |
I tried to fight it but I felt the drug taking over my body. I was losing
control...... |
8/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I started falling into that dreamless, timeless chasm of obscurity where
being alive is no different from being dead. |
8/28/09 |
Website |
| 2selma2 |
As I felt myself slipping, I could see the nurse speaking quietly to a man,
his face I'd seen before, but where? |
8/28/09 |
Website |
| mouthychic |
One more valiant effort against the restraint and Sister Kathryn faded into
a halcyon haze. |
8/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
A few hours later...or was it a few days later, I slowly opened my eyes,
still fighting the effects of the drug. The sky beyond the lace curtains
was now a deep indigo. |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| eighty four |
When I awoke from darkness, I was still in restraints. I decided not to
fight the problem, but to find out why I was there. |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
That vague feeling of familiarity returned. When had I been here before? |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| mouthychic |
The figures in my line of vision became less fuzzy as I came out of my drug
induced sleep. |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| mouthychic |
The hushed voices became louder as the fog lifted again. Were they plotting
my demise or my escape? I kept my eyes shut until I knew which . . . |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
The voices sounded as though I was submerged in water, echoing in the distance.
They only caught my attention because I heard my name. |
8/29/09 |
Twitter |
| yen2rite |
Perhaps it's all a dream. When I awake it will be like before. |
8/29/09 |
Website |
| PianoPianoPiano |
But it wasn't. If only I could get them to believe that I was now in a catatonic
state, they wouldn't give me the drugs. Or would they? |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I strained to hear what the murmuring figures were saying. I'd heard
my name but in what context? |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Do you think she is still asleep?" The voice sounded like Sister
Kathryn. |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I lay as still as I could straining to hear the man's voice. Would it be
familiar? |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
His low, guttural tone, with a slight accent, was unmistakable. |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
It was the voice of Detective John Lawry. Fifteen years ago, he was assigned
to investigate the drowning of my stepmother, Benson's mother. |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| mouthychic |
My confusion only worsened when I heard Benson's voice added to the mix. |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| gorillaz |
The voices stopped. I sensed they were looking at me. The sharp tapping
of large shoes coming in my direction . . . someone sat down next to my
bed. |
8/30/09 |
Website |
| Hagar |
Silence, except for my visitor's steady breathing. I could feel eyes focused
on me. Were they waiting to see if I was really awake? |
8/31/09 |
Website |
| Lucky_Smiler |
"Do you think she'll understand what's happened, what she's done?"
Benson sounded weary. "She looks so at peace". |
8/31/09 |
Twitter |
| Lucky_Smiler |
I hated the way that he made it sound as if I were dead, or dying. His words
made my heart quicken. |
8/31/09 |
Twitter |
| Lucky_Smiler |
There was something about Sister Kathryn that I didn't trust. I didn't trust
Benson or Roy, I didn't trust anyone - God, was I truly mad? |
8/31/09 |
Twitter |
| empress2000 |
. . . and why was Detective Lawry here now? What did he have to do with
all of this? Wasn't Sarah Tate's drowning ruled as an accident? |
8/31/09 |
Website |
| Ange1ina |
I heard the detective speak in a low tone, I could only catch the words:
". . .We're going to re-open the case... new evidence has come to light." |
8/31/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
New evidence? How can that be? All these years. What does this have to do
with me? |
9/1/09 |
Website |
| sapperfox |
The room remained spinning as I felt the presence hovering over me. I started
to feel the memories of that day rushing back to me. |
8/31/09 |
Twitter |
| playmynrd |
Memories that were buried in the deep recesses of my mind suddenly began
to arise. |
9/1/09 |
Website |
| Scribbler |
My mind flashes on a colorful crazy-quilt made of old ties and I see Benson's
mom bent over the endless stitches as she sat in her armchair. |
9/1/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Three |
Back to Top |
| playmynrd |
My mother died when I was 6. The cause of death was ruled a heart attack,
despite the fact that she was thin, and in fairly good shape. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
My father had fallen apart after my mother's death. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
I was a very troubled little girl. I missed my mother terribly. I missed
the father I had known before. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
I tried to make sense of these traumatic events, but I had felt so alone,
so abandoned. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
My mother died in the summer. When I went back to school that fall, I was
still numb from her death. Then Sarah came into our lives. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
I walked into class the first day, and saw an angel. Sarah Kendell was my
teacher. She had a kind face, a soft voice, and she was beautiful. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| FrickFrack |
"Good morning, class. Welcome to the second grade. I hope you all had
a wonderful summer." She seemed to be looking at me. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| FrickFrack |
How could she know that it had been the worst summer of my life . . . the
worst I could have ever imagined. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| FrickFrack |
I looked down at my shoes, unable to meet her glance. The tears started,
and before I knew it, she was at my side giving me a hug. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| FrickFrack |
"Rebecca . . . what's wrong?" Mrs. Kendell said kindly. "Why
are you crying?" All of the other students were watching. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| FrickFrack |
I wanted to tell her about my summer, about my mother . . . and my father,
and how alone I felt. She had the kindest smile. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
My father always had a penchant for younger women. Sarah was 17 years younger
than he. My own mother was 10 years younger. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Sarah's first husband had been killed in an automobile accident when Benson
was 8. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
My father, Edward Tate, eventually married Sarah Kendell. I was ten years
old and Benson was 12. |
9/1/09 |
Website |
| LAWMOM |
Sarah was a wonderful woman. I loved her very much. I had been so devastated
by my mother's untimely death. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sarah brought joy back into our lives. |
9/2/09 |
Website |
| terracegarden |
. . . and Benson? What can I say of him? He completed me in a way I never
knew I was missing. With Benson, I needed no friends . . . no siblings. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Although I loved Benson, he was always a rebellious boy, becoming increasingly
defiant as time went on. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He argued endlessly with Sarah and especially with my dad. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As I lay in bed at night, I could hear my father and Sarah argue about what
to do about Benson. I thought we would never be happy again. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
And then Roy came into our lives. Darkly handsome, fearless and clever,
he became fast friends with Benson and me. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy was the most attractive person I had ever seen. His fetching black eyes
and his sheepish smile were captivating. |
9/4/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
We became the three musketeers, off on fantastical adventures together. |
9/3/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
Often, all three of us would take that short hike to the lake. We would
sit under a tree, and laugh about life. |
9/4/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
We swam, relaxed in the sun and dreamed of our futures and what was to come. |
9/5/09 |
|
| Denham93 |
Roy and Benson, with their usual mischievous nature, would dare me to shed
my clothes for a skinny dip. |
9/4/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
On one occasion, I sheepishly obliged, and the three of us felt so free
in the water. We were young, and our bond seemed joined with everlasting
glue. |
9/4/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Those days were idyllic. I had finally found peace and joy in my life. |
9/5/09 |
Website |
| axalis |
That is how everything began for us, as a wonderful never-ending adventure.
One for all and all for one! |
9/4/09 |
Twitter |
| Lynart |
Who would have ever thought the three of us would end up in the relationship
that we did? |
9/5/09 |
Website |
| Judy |
It's funny how time has a way of changing things, a way of changing people.
Roy and Benson had become important fixtures in my life. |
9/4/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
But youth can blur reality. Although those memories sit fondly in my mind,
the innocence and playful exchanges we shared would not last. |
9/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I often wondered why Roy chose us to be his friends, since he was a few
years older than Benson and I. |
9/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy's purpose eventually became more transparent. It was less about our
friendship, and more about a dark secret which he did not share. |
9/5/09 |
Website |
| N2Felicia |
Clearly, Roy was troubled by events which had preceded our friendly alliance.
He did attempt to conceal his anguish, but it would, at times, subtly reveal
itself. |
9/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
In retrospect, it was a secret that Benson and I could not have imagined. |
9/6/09 |
Website |
| MissVnTX |
Even though Benson and I sensed this dark, secretive abyss in our friend
we continued to accept him as family, as one of us. |
9/6/09 |
Website |
| MissVnTX |
Neither Benson nor I wanted to rock the secure and sacred friendship upon
which we had come to love and depend. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
But secrets don't always stay private. Sitting by a campfire at the lake
one night we played Truth or Dare. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson took the dare and went skinny dipping in the icy water. I confessed
a truth. I still slept with my stuffed lamb. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Then it was Roy's turn....we sat in silence as we waited. He decided to
tell us a truth, but how were we to know the magnitude of his truth . .
. or the depth of his despair? |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
We were silent as Roy revealed a secret so startling and unthinkable . .
. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Comforted and warm from the nostalgia of those innocent days, I opened my
eyes, only to again face my hellish reality. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I had become so absorbed with the past, that the present failed to exist. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Only Benson remained. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask,
but would he tell me the truth? |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson rubbed my arm. I noticed that my legs were freed, but my arms were
still restrained. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Can I get you anything, Becca?" Benson gently asked. I shook
my head as I probed his eyes for any sign of insincerity. Something wasn't
right. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I couldn't let Benson know I was aware that Detective Lawry had been there. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Tears welled up in my eyes, "Oh, Benson, how could you do this to me?
Why did you bring me here?" |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson tried to explain, "After you ran away, I finally found you clasping
the wrought iron bars of the cemetery gate. You were on your knees, crying
hysterically." |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Why didn't you just take me home?" I whimpered. |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You were completely out of control. It took all the strength that
Roy and I could muster just to get you into the car." |
9/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I peered into Benson's face. His expression, the look in his eyes, I'd never
seen before. I knew he was lying to me. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I closed my eyes, praying that he couldn't read my thoughts, hoping that
my face would remain impassive. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Rebecca, open your eyes. Look at me." I could feel his breath
on my face as he leaned close. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| Hagar |
"Where is Roy?" I asked. Benson hesitated as if he had to devise
an answer I would believe. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"He said he needed to take care of some business, and he left after
we put you in the car. No one knows you're here, other than me and Sister
Kathryn." |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Why didn't Benson mention that Detective Lawry knew I was here? I decided
to push the issue. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| Mischa |
"Did I see Detective Lawry earlier?," I asked in a seemingly innocent
tone. Benson stood up stiffly and smiled, with an air that made me uncomfortable. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| Mischa |
He stared as though his thoughts were racing by, and he was having trouble
catching one to share with me. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| Mischa |
Thankfully, he didn't deny Detective Lawry was there. "Oh, he needed
to ask you a few questions, but it isn't anything to worry about,"
Benson finally responded. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| Mischa |
"I'm sure it is all very routine," Benson added, in an obvious
effort to quell my concerns, but he wasn't convincing. |
9/8/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Routine questions from Detective Lawry? About what? I haven't seen him nor
heard about him since Sarah's death. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"You're trying to 'Gaslight' me." I thought to myself, recalling
my all-time favorite movie with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I used to playfully accuse Benson of "gaslighting" me when I would
lose something. He always knew where it was . . . where I'd left it. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
But now...I don't trust Benson. I have so many doubts . . . so many questions. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
And Roy had business to take care of? What kind of business? He has not
been here in years! |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| hanson1942 |
I was never very good at hiding my suspicions. Benson's discomfort was obvious.
He quickly retrieved his coat, gestured a kiss, and walked out of my room. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| hanson1942 |
I watched as he passed by the nurse's station adjacent to my door. He had
a brief conversation with Sister Kathryn, and they both threw a quick glance
in my direction. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| hanson1942 |
Benson disappeared from my view, and Sister Kathryn quietly closed my door.
I could hear the lock tumblers click on my door. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| hanson1942 |
Suddenly I felt very alone. My surroundings became almost unbearably quiet.
I was left with nothing but my own thoughts and fears. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| maryannwrites |
Outside, I could see the dark clouds rumble across the sky, then opened
and rain came down in sheets. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
As I shifted in my bed, I noticed that my restraints seemed a little loose.
I pulled hard. At first, it seemed futile. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
I was afraid that my thrashing would attract attention, but I didn't give
up. Finally, I twisted my arms at just the right angle. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
Both my hands became free. Was this my chance to find out what was happening
to me? No. . . I couldn't let on about my discovery just yet. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
I now knew that a simple twist would free my arms, so I was suddenly not
as afraid. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
I gingerly placed both hands back into the leather manacles. I had to wait
for my best opportunity to leave this horrible place, and learn the truth. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
While falling asleep, I could feel a smile slowly forming; a ripple of contentment
spreading throughout my body. |
9/9/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Four |
Back to Top |
| TheGeekster |
Detective John Lawry sat at his desk, a half-eaten meatball sandwich and
a lukewarm cup of coffee within reach. He was focused on a manila folder. |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"Hey John, you'd better get home before Walnut Street turns into a
river again." Lawry didn't respond. Sergeant Daniel McCullough followed
up. "John, you OK?" |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"Huh?" he responded, looking up from the file, his glasses perched
near the end of his nose. ""Yea, I'm fine, Dan. It's just this
damn Sarah Tate case." |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"Sarah Tate? The drowning case from . . . what was it . . .12, 13 years
ago? I thought that file was closed. Didn't you determine it was an accident?" |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Lawry sighed. "It was 15 years ago, and yes. . . I couldn't find any
evidence of homicide. But something has always gnawed at me." |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
McCullough smiled. "Gnawed at you, eh? Maybe it's just that meatball
sandwich." Lawry wasn't amused . . he completely ignored the remark. |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
While shuffling through some papers, Lawry asked, "Dan, do you remember
Roy Hunt? You know . . . that guy who used to live over near Foggy Break?" |
9/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Dan scratched his head. "Uh, yeah, I remember him. Dark haired kid.
He hung out with the Tate girl and the Kendell boy." |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"That's the one." Lawry thumbed through the file again, its pages
dog-eared and smudged. |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"What does the Hunt boy have to do with all this? He left town before
Sarah Tate drowned, didn't he?" Dan asked. |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| OneMoToGo |
"I'm not sure anymore. Since he has suddenly appeared back in town,
I've had an opportunity to speak with him. There are still unanswered questions." |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| OneMoToGo |
"I need to question Rebecca Tate, but she is supposedly in no condition
to speak with me. That nurse protects her like a linebacker." |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Dan's eyebrow suddenly raised. "You know, I remember my wife mentioning
that Hunt was often the subject of conversations at her salon." |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Sergeant McCullough continued, "The buzz was that he was quite the
ladies' man, young and old." |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Young and old, eh?" That statement struck a chord with Lawry,
and his interest was piqued. |
9/11/09 |
Website |
| Bmason394 |
Lawry knew that Hunt had always been a magnet for the ladies, but his penchant
for women of all ages was suspicious. |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| Bmason394 |
Rebecca Tate would have some answers, but would she be willing to speak
with him? Would she even be lucid? |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I'm having trouble finding people who can remember specifics from
that long ago," Lawry remarked. |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"What about Emily Pearson. She lives in the Foggy Break area. She's
kept a journal since she was a teenager," Dan offered. |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"We've contacted her a number of times when we needed information.
She has been always willing to help." |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Time was of the essence now that Hunt was back in town. No one knew how
long he would stay. Dan's wife and Emily Pearson were now Lawry's newest
leads. |
9/12/09 |
Website |
| Thinkinghard |
Unfortunately, Lawry didn’t know how much help he would get from them,
but he was desperate for information. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry stared at the coffee and sandwich. He sighed in frustration. A visit
to Foggy Break was in order. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
Foggy Break was in-between two foliage covered mountains. The wind carried
moist air from the lake, and fog covered the area most of the year. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
Most Foggy Break residents enjoyed, and insisted upon, their privacy. The
area was secluded, and uninvited guests were not usually welcomed. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
Although Emily Pearson may have been an exception, Roy Hunt was popular
with the Foggy Break denizens. Lawry would have to tread lightly. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
As Lawry drove his unmarked cruiser on the winding road through Morgan Pass,
he recalled the day when Sarah Kendell's body was found. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| Alexa1 |
This was the same road he traveled after receiving that urgent radio call
as a uniformed police deputy 15 years ago. Seemed like yesterday. |
9/13/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
He was young and inexperienced. Although he wanted to get his hands dirty,
so to speak, in a murder investigation, he was not prepared for this one. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
All John Lawry knew was that a body had been found up at the lake near Foggy
Break. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
That day had been cool and misty. The fog hung low to the ground. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He arrived at the lake to find the crumpled body of Sarah Tate still lying
on the rocks. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| gorillaz |
Although he knew Sarah only in passing, he had trouble separating his emotions
from the impassive reaction he was supposed to have as a police officer. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
Uniformed officers hurriedly assisted the coroner in conducting the investigation.
Squad car lights flashed red and blue, while photographs of the scene were
taken. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
"Are you Lawry?" asked an unfamiliar voice. John cleared his throat,
and said, "Yes sir". The man in civilian clothes stood next to
a Wilson County police vehicle. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
"I'm Detective Stanton." John wondered out loud why a neighboring
county would be involved. "We're conducting a joint investigation on
this one, Lawry." |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry was curious why Wilson County was interested in this death, but he
didn't push the issue. Their concern in this case seemed odd. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
Stanton was obviously worn down by many years of crime investigation. John
found his gruff, no-nonsense manner abrasive, but intriguing at the same
time. |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
"I understand you are familiar with many of the townfolk here in Foggy
Break. We're going to need your help finding someone who will talk." |
9/14/09 |
Website |
| Hagar |
"Sure thing, Detective." Lawry was somewhat intimidated by him,
but he immediately found respect in the manner which Stanton took control. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The photographer, a tiny red haired woman, took pictures from all angles
of Sarah's lifeless body. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Stanton directed the crime lab technicians to make casts of the tire treads
and the foot print left in the mud. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The coroner, Matthew Springer, conducting an on-site external examination
of the body, voiced a cursory opinion that this was a drowning. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Take the body to the morgue. I'll call the medical examiner and let
him know about it." Springer told the EMT team. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The medical examiner, Dr. Ambrose Rozansky. had held that position for over
20 years at the time of Sarah Tate's death. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
During his entire career, Dr. Rozansky had performed only nine autopsies
where the cause of death was questionable. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
In all 9 cases, he found that the victim died of natural causes or by accident.
It seemed that Sarah Tate's case was no exception. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Dr. Rozansky performed the autopsy, and determined that Sarah Tate had indeed
drowned, confirming the coroner's initial impression. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He found water in her lungs and stomach. Her skin was white and wrinkled. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He also decided that the bruises were ante-mortem and were most likely caused
by rocks or debris in the lake. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Even with the tire tracks, the foot prints and the bruises on Sarah's throat,
the coroner officially announced the drowning to be accidental. No evidence
of a homicide. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Detective Lawry had remained troubled with the decision, and it enraged
Stanton. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He recalled Stanton with his face inches from the doctor's nose, threatening
that he would never give up searching for the truth. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Over the years, Stanton and Lawry kept in touch. Usually it was Lawry seeking
advice about a puzzling case. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
Stanton seemed to relish taking Lawry under his wing, and took a great interest
in assisting Lawry with difficult cases. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer, Stanton contacted Lawry and
gave him all of the information he had gathered on the Tate case. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Regrettably, Detective Stanton died a number of years ago, never having
found the break in the case that would reopen it. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry felt that it was his responsibility to finally put this case to bed.
He owed that to Stanton. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| MsTake |
Now with Roy Hunt back in town, Lawry now had the opportunity to continue
where Stanton left off. |
9/15/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As he neared Foggy Break, Lawry thought about the letter...the evidence
that finally sparked new interest in the case. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
It had been discovered last week taped to the underside of Sarah's bedside
table, apparently unnoticed for the last 15 years. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
However, rather than providing answers, the cryptic letter only created
more questions; critical questions involving Roy, Benson, and Rebecca. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| 2selma2 |
His thoughts were interrupted when he entered the tall elaborate gates at
the entrance to Emily Pearson's community. He drove slowly searching for
her address. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
The focus returned to the immediate task at hand . . . to learn about the
contents of Emily Pearson's journal. |
9/16/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Five |
Back to Top |
| RockTheBoat |
"Rebecca, are you awake?" A voice whispered in my ear. The room
was dark. I could sense Sister Kathryn as she bent down over me. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Under the covers, I gently pulled on my restraints to see if I could free
myself. They had not been tightened. I kept my eyes closed. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
I had lost track of time, but I knew it had to be the middle of the night.
I could hear the sounds of other patients in adjoining rooms, some apparently
in agony. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
The rain outside had not subsided, and moonlight shining through the window
made dancing reflections on the wall. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
"Rebecca . . . wake up. It's time for your medication." Sister
Kathryn's voice became more stern and urgent. She tapped my shoulder firmly. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
I moaned, as though awakening from a deep slumber. "What is it for?"
I asked, not expecting a polite response. "Here, just take it." |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
She held up a small pill and a glass of water. "Swallow it. I don't
have time to waste with you." |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Partly out of intimidation, but also to appease her, I opened my mouth,
allowing her to place the pill under my tongue. I then took a gulp of water.
Sister Kathryn was satisfied and left the room. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
I immediately spit the pill out next to my head, and somehow maneuvered
it under the pillow. Fortunately, the nurse hadn't delayed her exit for
very long. |
9/17/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
As I lay in the dark room, listening to the soft beat of the rain, I realized
that I had no idea how long I've been here. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
I also wasn't sure how many of those pills I had taken since I've been here,
or what they have done to me. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
My imagination was running rampant. I needed to come out of the fog caused
by the drugs and think rationally. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Curiously, I haven't seen a doctor since I've been here. In fact, I haven't
seen anyone other than Sister Kathryn and Benson. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
There must be other staff members. Sister Kathryn can't run this institution
by herself. She has to sleep sometime. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
Since I was supposed to be in a drugged stupor, it was a good time to release
my bonds, and explore my surroundings. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
They wouldn't expect me to be awake, let alone out of bed. I might not have
another chance like this very soon. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| empress 2000 |
I slid my hands gently from the leather restraints and ever so slowly sat
up, mindful of the springs creaking. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I massaged my wrists as I stood and stretched my arms, back and neck relaxing
the stiffness that had developed. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
An old ladder backed chair with a chinz seat was positioned in the corner
of the room opposite the bed. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| Phyllis |
There was also a small cabinet with drawers. I searched through one of the
unlocked drawers to find a clue . . . anything that would answer my questions. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| Phyllis |
There were only various medical journals, and other papers I couldn't read
in the darkness. I had to get into that locked drawer. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Suddenly, I heard someone unlocking my door. "What does she want now?"
As quietly as possible, I slipped back into bed. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
To my surprise, it wasn't Sister Kathryn. The door was propped open and
in the light from the hallway, I could see a woman entering my room. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
She was carrying a mop and cleaning supplies. It was one of the custodians.
I feigned sleep to see how long she would be in my room. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I needed to make a mental note of her routine. I was starting to put together
a plan in my head. |
9/18/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I watched through tiny slits in my eyes as the heavy-set woman slid the
mop across the floor, her hips swaying as she moved. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Believing that I was in a drug induced sleep, she hummed softly as she worked;
a tune that my mother had hummed to me as a child. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing as she neared the bed. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
My heart was drumming a rapid fire cadence. Surely she can hear that, I
thought nervously to myself. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As she turned toward the bed, I cracked open one eye and saw dangling from
her waist, a set of keys. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I needed to find an opportunity to squirrel them away without anyone knowing,
and then wait for the best time to use them. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
The custodian completed her cleaning routine, and opened the door to my
room. As she struggled to carry all her supplies into the hallway, I heard
Sister Kathryn talking on the phone. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"No, Detective Lawry. I've told you already that she is in no condition
to answer questions. She has experienced a terrible psychological trauma." |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"It has become difficult for her to face reality, and her mind has
shut down to anything going on around her. She is completely lethargic and
out of touch." |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
This wasn't true! Sister Kathryn knew that I was able to answer questions.
She had kept me in a drug-induced condition with those little pills and
shots. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Now she was lying to Detective Lawry about me? Who was she trying to protect? |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"We have been trying to rouse her out of the fog she is in, but we
have not had much success. Don't worry, we will advise you as soon as there
are any changes." |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
My skin began to crawl. The custodian finally closed and locked the door.
Sister Kathryn's voice faded away, but I'd heard enough. |
9/19/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sister Kathryn lied to the detective. I wondered if she also lied to Benson
or if he was in on the conspiracy with her. |
9/20/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
It was now, more than ever, crucial that I find a way out; that I get some
help. Those keys were my ticket. |
9/20/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
I crawled up into a fetal position, as best I could with my hands bound,
closing my eyes tightly . . . hoping that I would wake up somewhere better. |
9/20/09 |
Website |
| ItCantBeTrue |
I awakened slowly in the morning; my thoughts in a distorted cavalcade.
It took several moments for me to orient myself. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
The sun shining through the window in the morning was almost blinding. The
bars on the window shed strange shadows on the wall. |
9/20/09 |
Website |
| Denham93 |
I listened carefully for any signs of activity outside my door, but I could
hear nothing. The events of the night before were swirling in my head. |
9/20/09 |
Website |
| deatweets |
I was hoping that the morning would bring clarity and alongside it, a plan
to get those keys. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson should be coming soon to check on me. I decided that I would try
to get some information from him, but I have to be careful. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He's going to expect me to be groggy and confused and somewhat incoherent
from the drugs. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Since I was able to avoid taking the drug last night, my mind was the clearest
it has been since before I got here. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Knowing Benson as well as I did, I would be able to decipher truth from
lies. Benson always bit his bottom liip when he was lying. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| MsTake |
Suddenly, I remembered the pill under my pillow. What if it fell on the
floor? I released one of my hands, and retrieved the pill from where I'd
left it. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Quickly I slid out of bed, clutching the pill firmly. I had to hide it somewhere
that it wouldn't be found. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Footsteps approaching....a key sliding into the lock....I thrust the pill
under the mattress and jumped back into bed, sliding my hands into the restraints. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I closed my eyes just as Sister Kathryn entered. "Open your eyes Rebecca,"
she said, her voice sweet and soft belying her duplicity. |
9/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"How are you today, Dear?" she asked. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Dear? She must have the wrong patient", I thought. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Slowly stirring, I spoke, trying to make my tongue sound thick and my thoughts
appear disconnected. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I'm OK, I guess," I answered, closing my eyes to make it seem
that I was still out of it. "We have some breakfast for you." |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'm not hungry," I mumbled. I hoped she wouldn't hear my stomach
rumble. The aroma of eggs and bacon came through the door. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You'll have to try to eat. You need to keep up your strength. We are
starting you on a soft food diet today. Someone will be in shortly to help
you with it." |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| wilson |
"In the meantime, you need to take your medication." So as not
to arouse suspicion, I willingly opened my mouth, waiting for her to place
the pill in my mouth. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Pretending to swallow it, I held it between my teeth, waiting until Sister
Kathryn left the room. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Sister Kathryn looked around the room, and then walked out, locking the
door behind her. I again spit out the pill, and moved it under the pillow. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Shortly after, a middle-aged woman entered carrying my breakfast. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
She didn't talk much, but she did tell me that her name was Geri. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
The breakfast tray was placed on my lap. "I will have to feed you since
I don't have the authority to take off the restraints," she said. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
She seemed non-threatening, and I appreciated the look of concern on her
face. "That's alright . . . I'm kinda getting used to them," I
half-heartedly joked. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Geri started to raise the fork to my mouth, but she hesitated. Her nervous
expression, and apparent fear that we would be interrupted, was puzzling. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
She sensed my reaction, and put a raised finger to her lips to indicate
that I shouldn't speak. I wasn't sure of her intentions or motives. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Before I could react, she bent down close to my face. Whispering in my ear,
she said, "You need to know." |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
I realized that she had placed a small, folded piece of paper in my hand
under the blanket . "Don't let Sister Kathryn see this." |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
I closed my fist tightly, believing that this might be the first step to
my freedom. I mouthed "thank you" to her, and she quietly left
the room. |
9/22/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
I exhaled a deep breath, and felt the small piece of paper balled into my
fist. I looked around, hoping no one would enter the room. |
9/23/09 |
Website |
| wilson |
Pushing my stiff fingers into the folds of the note, I opened it. Holding
it close to the bed, I strained to see the words it contained. |
9/23/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The note read, "You cannot trust Sister Kathryn . . . or your husband.
I will help you." |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
Also, faintly scribbled in the top right corner was "K.Mitchell"
and a phone number. K.Mitchell? The name haunted me like a cheap perfume. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Geri's note said I couldn't trust Benson, but what about Roy or Detective
Lawry. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Could I even trust Geri? I had so many questions and no answers. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I closed my eyes and began to think about all that had happened, starting
with the sudden reappearance of Roy Hunt that night at the campfire. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I wondered if his return triggered all these events. But how, why? None
of this made any sense. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Six |
Back to Top |
| empress2000 |
The door opened slowly in response to his knock. A pair of topaz eyes gazed
out suspiciously. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Hello, I am Detective Lawry from the Salt Flats Police Department.
I am looking for Emily Pearson." |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Opening the door wider revealed a mousy woman of indeterminate age, her
dark hair in curls framed her pale face. |
9/24/09 |
Website |
| MsTake |
She nervously stared at Lawry without speaking; her thin, frail fingers
firmly grasping the edge of the door as if she was struggling to keep it
open. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
The woman gave the detective a quick once over from the inside frame of
the door. "Yes,may I help you?" she asked. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| MsTake |
"Are you Emily Pearson?" Lawry inquired. The little odd woman
peered around him to see if there were others. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| C.Kru_8789 |
Uncomfortable silence permeated the still and somber hallway. Finally, she
spoke "Would you mind coming in for a minute?" |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As he stepped inside, the woman said, "I am Carole Pearson. Emily was
my sister." She showed John into a small, sparsely furnished living
room. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"My parents have been gone a long time and Emily died two years ago.
I am the only one left now." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Carole showed Detective Lawry to a plaid sofa. She sat in a bentwood rocking
chair. "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
"I'm investigating a possible homicide in the area from 15 years back.
I understand your sister resided in Foggy Break at that time." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
"Yes, she did. This is the house where we grew up, but I'm sure she
wouldn't have known anything about a murder. May I ask who died?" |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
Detective Lawry responded,"We have re-opened the Sarah Tate case, and
I'm trying to get some questions answered." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Oh, yes, Sarah Tate. She was a lovely woman. Quite reserved, and had
impeccable taste," Carole offered. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I often wondered how she became involved with that awful Ed Tate.
But what does this have to do with Emily?" |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry made a note of that statement, but he did not address it. No clues
in his prior investigation had ever impugned Ed Tate. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry continued carefully. "I understand that Emily may have kept a
journal regarding events in Foggy Break over a number of years." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"That's true," said Carole enthusiastically, "She loved to
keep extensive journals about everyone up here. She was almost obsessed
with it." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I can understand that. Sometimes looking back can prepare you for
the future." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yes, sir. We all like to go back and recall the good times and bad
times, and reflect on how things have changed." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
John looked around the room. His eyes fell on a photograph sitting on a
side table showing two dark haired middle-aged women with sparkling eyes
and shy smiles. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Picking up the picture, John asked, "Is this you and your sister?" |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Oh, yes, " she replied. "That was taken down at the lake
shortly before that poor woman drowned." |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Sensing that it might be useful, Lawry asked, "May I take this with
me to have a copy made?" |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"Of course," said Carole without hesitation, "but please
bring it back. It is one of my favorite photos of Emily." Lawry nodded
his acknowledgement. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
Lawry's attention shifted to the bookshelf. He noted a dusty edition of
"Arsenic and Old Lace". |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
"I see you're a fan of the classics," Lawry comments, as he gestured
toward the book. "Oh, that?," she blushes. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| Nima Beckie |
"Not mine. It belonged to Emily's late husband. He always referred
to arsenic as a seasoning of sorts. Private joke of his." At that,
she chuckles. Lawry smiles. |
9/25/09 |
Website |
| C.Kru_8789 |
"I myself have only seen the movie version of this novel." says
Lawry. "The one Capra directed." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| C.Kru_8789 |
"You never read the book?" asked Carole inquisitively. Lawry shakes
his head. "No, I haven't." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Lawry recognizes that this idle chatter is easing Carole's nervousness.
It doesn't seem that her cooperation will be an issue. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Getting back to the matter at hand, Lawry assumed that Carole had kept the
journals. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Ms. Pearson, would you happen to know where Emily's journals might
be?" John continued looking through the book titles. The arsenic remark
needling at the back of his mind. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I was hoping that your sister may have written down something that
can help me in the investigation." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Perhaps something that happened in the community or something someone
told her." Lawry was careful not to mention Roy Hunt specifically. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"People's memories fade after a period of time, but her journals were
written at the time. They're like a written photograph." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Carole nodded her head; she fully understood Lawry's intentions. "I'll
be happy to let you look at them. Come with me." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Carole led Detective Lawry upstairs to the attic. It was full of shelves
on which years and years of typed and handwritten journals were stacked. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
One small circular window allowed a focused beam of sunlight to shine on
the floor, revealing dust particles wafting and settling. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Lawry was intrigued by the amount of time Emily must have invested in her
apparent avocation. Hopefully there would be some clue about Sarah's death. |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
Carole pointed to a small shelf at the opposite corner of the room. "I
believe those were written about people in Foggy Break during the 15 to
20 years before Emily died." |
9/26/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Lawry carefully navigates through a maze of dusty boxes, nostalgia and mementos.
He squats to view the journals desnignated by Carole. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Some were leather bound, and others were paper tablets with spiral bindings.
The years had not been kind to Emily's personal almanacs. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Torn, tattered, and frayed, the journals lay haphazardly on the shelf. Lawry
could only hope that their contents were both intact and informative. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Fortunately, the cover of each volume prominently displayed the month and
year of Emily's entries. Carole was right. Emily was meticulous. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
He selected one of the books, its month and year corresponding to a time
before Sarah's death. As he opened it, the binding quietly crinkled from
years of non-use. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The paper was yellowed and cracked, the ink faded, but Emily's words jumped
off the pages. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Back in time he flew as he read Emily's notes. He remembered so many of
the people and events about which she'd written. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Today Kathy and I went to the lake. Benson and Rebecca met us for
a picnic and swim. Benson is so cute." she'd penned. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Looking over his shoulder, Carole explained, "Emily had such a crush
on Benson Kendell back then. She was heartbroken when he married Rebecca
Tate." |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Scanning the pages further, he noticed that the Kendell, Tate and Hunt names
were mentioned frequently. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Carole, would you mind if I took a few of these journals with me?"
he asked. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"No, that would be quite alright. But please keep them in order and
take good care of them. It's all I have left from Emily." |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Of course," Lawry reassured her. He easily found the entries
from the year that Sarah Tate died. He also collected a number of the precious
memoir volumes dating back to Emily's teenage years. |
9/27/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
While he was collecting the journals, he hesitantly asked, "May I ask
you a personal question?" Carole nodded. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Well, you mentioned Emily's deceased husband, but she still used the
name 'Pearson'". |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"When Emily returned here after her husband's death, everyone here
knew her as 'Emily Pearson' so she went back to using her maiden name,"
Carole explained. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Was her husband from around here?" Lawry inquired. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Actually, he grew up about 60 miles from here, but Emily met him in
college. They dated periodically, and then lost touch with each other." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"They reconnected years later at a seminar. Shortly afterwards, they
married and lived in Texas where he owned a number of oil fields." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"They were only married for about 10 years, then he died suddenly from
a brain aneurysm." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"His name was Hugh Mitchell. You may have heard of him. He was well-known
and very well connected." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yes, I've heard of him." Lawry could hardly hide his astonishment.
Mitchell was one of the most prominent citizens from the state. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The light had faded in the dusty attic, the sun beginning its descent toward
the horizon. John placed the last of the diaries he thought he'd need into
a box. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As he started to leave he noticed a framed photograph hung on the wall,
carelessly tilted to one side. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry took a closer look. In the foreground were six smiling kids. He identified
Roy Hunt, Benson Kendell, Rebecca Tate, Carole and Emily Pearson. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The sixth person, another girl with lank, dirty blond hair, looked familiar,
but he couldn't quite place her. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He pointed to the unidentified girl, and asked, "Who is she? She has
a familiar face." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Oh, that is Kathy. I can't remember her last name though. She hung
out with us that summer. We never saw her again after that." |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Taking one last look around the cluttered room, he thought of all the memories
it contained. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He hoped that Emily would still be able to help him with his investigation. |
9/28/09 |
Website |
| |
| |
Chapter Seven |
Back to Top |
| The Geekster |
The small diner was situated about 20 miles from town. It sat back unseen
from the narrow road, with only an aged and weathered sign to direct customers. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
Surrounded by high-top pine trees, a long driveway led to the front entrance.
Atop the door read, " The Woodland Diner". The door creaked everytime
someone entered. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
Inside, a few tables were scattered, with two or three booths lining the
window area. The early morning rush was in full force with four customers. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
He was sitting in the corner booth, a baseball cap lowered down below his
eyes. He was busy scanning some papers on the table, and seemed oblivious. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
"Roy? Did you say you wanted extra syrup with those pancakes?"
Without taking his eyes from the documents before him, he motioned his assent. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
When the waitress walked away, Roy Hunt quickly glanced around the diner
to make sure no one heard his name mentioned. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| The Geekster |
Neither the older gentleman in a nearby booth, nor the younger couple at
a table on the far wall, seemed interested in his conversation with the
waitress. |
9/29/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
Roy again became absorbed with the scattered documents. It was not his desire
to bring attention to himself, especially now. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
He could feel the proverbial heat after the recent questions directed to
him by Detective Lawry. He wasn't sure of Lawry's intentions. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
While it was good to be back in his hometown, Roy questioned whether his
past had followed him. Lawry's suspicions didn't help. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
Spending some time away from town in the small area of Woodland might help
to smooth out the situation. The people here were simple, but friendly. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| C.Kru_8789 |
The waitress, Clara, poured him half a small creamer's worth of syrup. "So,
whatcha' workin' on?" she asked curiously. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| C.Kru_8789 |
"Oh, it's just legal stuff, nothing you'd be interested in." mumbled
Roy to Clara. He didn't want to reveal too much of his life to her. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
When Clara returned to the kitchen, Bobby, the cook, asked, "Is that
Roy Hunt? What's he doing back here?" |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I don't know, but it seems strange that he would show up out of the
blue. I thought he was out west somewhere making his fortune." |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Bobby, who never was too fond of Roy, remarked snidely, "Doing what?
Hustling rich old women out of their money?" |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy had left town when his reputation as a "lady-killer" had reached
its peak. He may have disappeared, but his notoriety didn't. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Bob, that was a long time ago. Let bygones be bygones." Clara
defended Roy. "He's probably married with a bunch of kids now." |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Clara returned to Roy's table and asked, "Can I get you anything else,
Roy?" |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"No, this is fine," Roy politely responded, his eyes darting around
the diner. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He placed his papers aside, and began eating his breakfast. He started thinking,
"This is a mistake, I shouldn't have come here." |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
At that moment, the door creaked, and Benson Kendell entered. After taking
a quick look around the diner, he joined Roy. |
9/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You're late." Roy chided through clenched teeth. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. I got tied up this morning." Benson
replied without offering more of an explanation. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson sighed deeply, inhaling the scents of bacon frying, fresh coffee
and homemade apple pie. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Clara brought another cup of coffee to the table. "Hi," she greeted
Benson, without noticing his familiar face. "What can I get for you?" |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'll just have what he is having." He indicated Roy's pancakes.
He didn't make any effort to identify himself to Clara. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Suddenly, she realized. "Why, Benson Kendell!" Clara exclaimed.
"Benson Kendell and Roy Hunt. This is like old times." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy cringed at her outburst. "Just announce it to the world, Clara"
he thought. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| Megan 12 |
"Hello Clara," Benson said sheepishly. "It's nice to see
you again." Clara smiled, but something about the reunion made her
uncomfortable. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Benson, just how is Becca doing? I haven't seen her for quite a while." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"She's fine." He ran his teeth over his bottom lip. " I'll
tell her you asked about her." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
Clara retreated back to the kitchen to retrieve Benson's breakfast. She
was concerned that this was more than just a friendly get-together. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Bob, did you see Benson Kendell out there, too?" Clara's suspicions
were evident. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Bob immediately sensed Clara's thoughts. "You always see a conspiracy
around every corner, old woman. They were best friends once. They are probably
just trying to catch up." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
She didn't think Bobby was right. They didn't look like long lost friends
catching up over coffee. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Peering through the gold framed bifocals perched on her nose, Clara continued
observing them from behind the ancient cash register. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"It isn't a good idea to meet here, Roy," Benson whispered. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"There are too many people around who still remember you and all that
happened." Roy pulled his hat lower, sharing Benson's concern. |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Changing the subject, Benson said, "Have you looked over all the papers
I sent you?" |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yeah, I did, but I don't understand what any of this has to do with
me. I left before your mother died." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Don't call her that" Benson snipped, "You know damn well
she wasn't my mother." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yeah, well..." Roy acquienced, "I still didn't have anything
to do with Sarah's death." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I had a chat with Detective Lawry, you know" Roy continued, his
patience wearing through, "I ran into him at the drugstore." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| playmrnrd |
"He was asking me all kinds of questions about Sarah, you, and Rebecca.
He also asked about some letter." |
10/2/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Lawry was asking about me?" Benson's eyes flew open wide. "What
about me?" |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"Did he tell you he thought I had something to do with Sarah's death?"
Benson's voice raised enough to possibly draw some reaction from the patrons. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Take it easy, Ben. We don't want anyone else paying attention to us
here," he cautioned. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Do you know anything about this letter?" Roy asked. "Supposedly
it was found taped under a drawer in Sarah's bedside table." |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"A letter? What letter?" Benson's mind began to race back in time
to 15 years ago. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I don't know. All he said was that someone brought a letter to the
police department." |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Who ever took it to the cops said they found it taped to the bottom
of a night table that they bought at a garage sale at your house." |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I haven't seen the letter," he added. "But the detective
told me it has new information. That is why they've reopened the case." |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Do you know what letter he was talking about?" Roy demanded.
"I know you do. Tell me." |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson's heart sunk. He realized the past was coming back to haunt him .
"Oh, my God." he said as he massaged his forehead. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson was visibly shaken by this bit of news. Still rubbing his forehead,
he stood up from the table and suddenly left. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy, taken aback by Benson's behavior, attempted to run after him. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Hey, Roy" Bobby called, as Roy started to run out the door. "We
don't give these meals away for free, you know. You wanna pay your tab?!" |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Oh, Jeez!" Roy fumbled through his pockets, and pulled out a
wad of bills. He peeled off a twenty and threw it on the counter. |
10/3/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
As Roy rushed through the diner door, he saw Benson quickly entering his
classic '57 Chevy. The engine turned over, and purred. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Putting the car in gear, Benson sped away, with dirt particles ejected from
underneath the whitewall tires. "Benson", Roy shouted, "We
need to talk!" |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Although Benson was within earshot, he ignored Roy, and continued down the
pothole-mottled driveway to the country road. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Roy quietly swore under his breath. He was not expecting that reaction from
Benson. Roy slowly walked to his car, took a last glance around, and left
the parking lot. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
As he reached the end of the driveway, he decided that a visit to the lake
might calm his nerves. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
While traveling along the familiar road, Roy recalled when he first learned
that Sarah was not Benson's real mother. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson and Roy were sitting on the Tate front porch. Benson just had another
huge argument with Sarah. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Why are you always arguing with your mother," Roy asked. Benson
paused as if the answer would be painful. "She is really my stepmother,
Roy," Benson said almost inaudibly. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson explained that when his father died, Sarah was awarded custody of
Benson since his real mother had disappeared. He had no other family. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson's real parents had divorced when he was very young. His mother abandoned
Benson, taking his little sister with her. He hadn't heard from either of
them since. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson swore Roy to secrecy, and as far as Roy knew, he was the only person
that Benson ever told. Even Rebecca didn't know about it. |
10/5/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson feared that if anyone found out that he was not Sarah's biological
son, the authorities would remove him from the Tate home. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Although Sarah tried to reassure him that she had custody of him and they
couldn't remove him, he was still afraid. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
And even though with hearing those words Sarah's heart would break, she
knew in her soul that it was Benson's cry for his own identity. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
But on those days that Benson was infuriated with Sarah for trying to discipline
him, his anger would overrule his fright. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You're not my mother, so don't tell me what to do," Benson would
scream. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Whether Benson was Sarah's son or not, Roy found it baffling that Benson
could be so cruel to someone who had done so much for him. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
Lost in thought, Roy continued his drive to the lake, the morning sun creeping
over the tree tops. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
While passing through the thick forest area, he noticed Benson's blue and
white car hidden behind some of the intertwining branches. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
He was puzzled why Benson would park his car in the wilderness, but this
might be a good time to continue the conversation which ended so abruptly. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
Roy parked his car near a small ditch on the side of the road, and peered
through the trees. He saw some movement. Yes, it was Benson. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
As Roy started walking toward his friend, he stopped suddenly. Benson was
crouched low to the ground, and appeared to be digging, quietly mumbling
to himself. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
Roy hesitated. He decided to watch from a distance, hoping that he would
get some idea to explain Benson's strange behavior. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| |
Chapter Eight |
Back to Top |
| empress2000 |
Nursing his third cup of coffee of the morning, Detective Lawry sat at his
desk, poring over the journals he'd retrieved from Carole Pearson's attic
the day before. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry inhaled deeply, his frustration evident as he tugged on his upper
lip, a nervous habit he'd developed since growing his mustache. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'm looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack," he sighed
to himself. "If I only had one clue that could link the others." |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sergeant Daniel McCullough lumbered into the office, tossing his jacket
onto a chair. He eyed the jumble of notebooks cluttering John's desk. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"How was your trip out to the Pearson place yesterday?" he asked,
taking a mouthful of powdered doughnut. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I brought back several of Emily's journals for the year of the Tate
drowning, and some earlier volumes" he said, indicating the dusty yellowed
papers in this hand. |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'm trying to read through them now. The writing of a teenage girl's
hopes, dreams and fantasies . . . it's hard to find anything useful." |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| katpiks |
"Emily refers often to Rebecca Tate in these pages. I'm not enjoying
being blown off by that nurse when I try to speak with her." |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"By the way," Lawry asked, "did you know that Emily Pearson
is dead? She died a couple of years ago." |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Dan furrowed his brow and squinted at the detective. "Now that you
mention it, I had heard that. Car accident as I recall. She drove into a
tree while avoiding a deer." |
10/6/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"And, did you know that she was married to Hugh Mitchell?" Lawry
continued. |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Hugh Mitchell? The oil tycoon?" McCullough was incredulous. |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Yup, that's what her sister told me. I was as amazed as you are. He
was worth millions." |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I found it peculiar that Emily was married to one of the richest men
in the country, but her house had very little furniture." |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry stood, turned his back to the sergeant and looked out the grimy window. |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"It's odd, isn't it?" Dan added. "The two people who might
know something are dead, Edward and Emily. And now Rebecca is suddenly inaccessible." |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry paused. "Carole said something else that is bothering me. She
referred to Ed as 'that awful Ed Tate'." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I barely knew him, but I don't recall anyone saying anything bad about
him." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"This whole thing is a conundrum," John said quietly, almost as
if talking to himself. |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'm sure that the key to all of this is in the letter found under
that drawer," John said. "But it is so cryptic. I don't know what
it means." |
10/7/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sergeant McCullough popped the last of his doughnut into his mouth, took
a final gulp of his coffee and announced that he needed to get back out
into the field. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Finding himself alone in the office again, Lawry returned to his desk and
picked up the journal that he'd been reading. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The words blurred and he had to force himself to focus. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
After a few pages there was an entry that suddenly grabbed his attention. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Carole, Rebecca and I met at the lake," the journal read. "Carole
and Becca were late getting there." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"While I waited for them, I saw Roy and Benson up ahead. They were
arguing. Ben said something about his mom not being his mom." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I wonder what that means" Emily had written. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"What that means indeed!" the detective whispered to himself. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
At that very moment, Lawry's old-style telephone broke the silence, shattering
his intense concentration. It rang again with urgency. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"Detective Lawry here," he barked into the phone, annoyed that
he was interrupted from his immediate project. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"Hello, Detective, this is Sister Kathryn from St. Dymphna Hospital."
Lawry's attention was suddenly back on track. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"How is our little patient doing?" he asked, without expecting
an encouraging response. Her answer was surprising. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"She's gone." Lawry shut his eyes tightly in exasperation. "I
was called away from the nurse's desk this morning, but only for 15 minutes." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"When I returned, she was not in her room. She somehow managed to release
herself from the restraints. It's possible someone assisted her." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
"Have you thoroughly checked the hospital building and grounds?"
Lawry asked. "We are doing that now, but so far, no luck." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
Sister Kathryn's voice sounded excessively concerned. "She is in no
condition to be wandering around. I'm afraid that she might be terribly
delusional." |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| MarlboroMan |
Lawry's instincts were triggered. Something about Sister Kathryn's demeanor
was not credible. For the time being, though, he had to take it at face
value. |
10/8/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Grabbing his suit jacket from the tarnished brass hook on the back of the
door, the detective rushed from the office leaving the manuscripts forgotten
on his desk. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As he drove to the mental hospital, his thoughts were consumed by the enigma
that was Sister Kathryn. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
Lawry recalled the first time he encountered Sister Kathryn. His investigative
radar went off then as well. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
She seemed overly protective of Rebecca, and there was a strange air about
her that didn't mesh well with Lawry's intuition. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"How on earth does she fit into this puzzle?" he asked himself
as he turned the car onto the drive leading to St. Dymphna's. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| BeBopLula |
He made a mental note to check Sister Kathryn's background, and include
her in the questioning of possible witnesses. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Through the thick, green hedges and past the fragrant rose gardens, the
beautiful Victorian style building came into view. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sister Kathryn met him as he parked the police car in the graveled parking
area next to the hospital. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
She began speaking even before he'd opened his door. "I don't know
what happened!" she exclaimed. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Please, Sister," Lawry replied. "I need you to calm down."
He guided her to a bench under a vine covered pergola nearby. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"On the phone you said that Rebecca was delusional. I need you to tell
me more about that." Lawry sat next to the nun and watched her eyes
for any sign of deception. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
Sister Kathryn paused, and tried to collect her thoughts. "She suffers
from schizoaffective disorder," advised the nurse. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
Lawry gestured for her to elaborate. "It is difficult for Rebecca,
at times, to distinguish between reality, and her own beliefs. She also
hallucinates." |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| Baker2 |
"We must find her quickly. Without her medication, she may hurt herself
or someone else." Again, Lawry perceived an underlying motive. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Schizoaffective disorder...It just didn't jibe with the Rebecca that Lawry
had known ever since he'd first come to Salt Flats sixteen years ago. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The detective watched Sister Kathryn as she spoke, looking for signs of
equivocation. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Did she have any visitors this morning or last night?" Lawry
was trying to make sense of this latest development. |
10/10/09 |
Website |
| Warpmaster |
Detective Lawry noticed that Sister Kathryn hesitated slightly before responding.
“No,” she said adamantly. “She had been asleep in her room." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Oh yes," she suddenly recalled "Geri, the aid, brought Rebecca
her breakfast this morning, first thing." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Where is the aid now?" he asked, making a mental note that he
would need to interview her as well. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| Megan12 |
"She is inside the hospital working her normal shift. I'd assumed you
wanted to speak with her." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Do you have a list of the people who have visited her during her stay
here?" Lawry was grasping at straws. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I do." Sister Kathryn was starting to panic. "The only visitor
she had was Benson. Detective, we have to find her." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Does Benson know about this?" Lawry asked, thinking that Benson
might be somehow involved. Sister Kathryn nodded. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"How did he find out?" Lawry's instinct told him that she really
did not want to give up that information. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Sister Kathryn looked quickly at him, "Oh, uh, I called him before
I called you. He is her husband, you know." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry looked around at the immaculately kept gardens surrounded by tall
hedges on all sides. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
There were only two entrances, one for vehicles through which he'd come
and one with a gate for visitors walking in. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"This place is rather isolated," he thought. If Rebecca was any
distance from the hospital, someone would have had to help her. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Do you know of anyone that might want to harm Rebecca?" he asked. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
For a brief moment he thought he saw a look flash across Sister Kathyrn's
face. Was is fear? Guilt? Misgiving? |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| woodstock |
Sister Kathryn reached into a bookmarked portion of the bible she had been
clutching. |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| Megan 12 |
She begrudgingly removed a small piece of paper, and handed it to Detective
Lawry. "Here . . . you should probably read this." |
10/11/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"What's this? Where did it come from?" Lawry
asked, taking the paper from Sister Kathryn. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I found it this morning when I returned to my desk. It was on my clipboard."
Sister Kathryn nervously caressed the crucifix dangling on her necklace. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The note said simply, "I'm on to you. You're going to pay." |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I think Rebecca left it. I'm afraid her alternate personality has
taken over and identifies me as an enemy." |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Sister Kathryn was painting a picture of Rebecca as a murderous mad woman
hell-bent on retaliation based on an illusion. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry was not convinced that this was a note from Rebecca. A threatening
note to Sister Kathryn seemed too convenient. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"How long has she been off her medication?" Lawry closed his eyes
and rubbed his forehead. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I'm not really sure." Sister Kathryn pulled her hand out of her
pocket and showed Lawry the pills that she had found in Rebecca's room. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I don't know if these are all of the pills that she didn't swallow,
but these are all I found." |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Tucking the note into his pocket the detective said, "Perhaps I should
see her room and I would like to talk to Geri." |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The nun hesitated for a moment or two, then turning said, "Follow me,"
as she walked along the stone path to the hospital entrance. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The detective remained alert and watchful as he followed, looking for potential
hiding places or escape routes. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"This was Rebecca's room," Sister Kathryn announced, walking into
a pleasant, clean and brightly lit room. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
John looked around. Nothing seemed out of order. The bed was made, the sheets
clean and fresh, the carpet recently vaccuumed. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"This is almost as if someone is trying to hide something," Lawry
thought. |
10/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry looked around the pristine room and shook his head in frustration.
"Damn." |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Who cleaned this room?" Lawry's head was beginning to pound and
his anger was starting to get the better of him. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I suppose the cleaning staff assumed that she had been discharged
and they must have cleaned the room." Sister Kathryn lamely explained. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry turned, taking a last look around the room and seeing nothing helpful,
said, "I'd like to talk to the aid now." |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Come this way," directed Sister Kathryn. "I'll take you
to the sun room." |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
As he turned, he noticed something protruding from beneath the mattress.
It appeared to be a small piece of paper. Sister Kathryn had already walked
out the door. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
Taking the opportunity, he reached down and snatched the paper, and quickly
deposited it into his pocket. He immediately left the room to avoid any
suspicion. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sister Kathryn led the detective to a small parlor at the front of the hospital.
He sat on a blue striped settee to wait. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
She walked down the hall to retrieve Geri. As she did so, Lawry removed
the note from his pocket, and uncrumpled it. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
The note stated, ""You cannot trust Sister Kathryn . . . or your
husband. I will help you." It was Geri's note to Rebecca, but Lawry
was unaware of the author. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
He quickly replaced the note into his pocket as Sister Kathryn and Geri
entered the parlor. |
10/14/09 |
Website |
| RockThe Boat |
Geri, a petite woman wearing the standard hospital garb, carefully looked
at Detective Lawry. Lawry noted her hesitant manner. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Geri entered apprehensively. Sister Kathryn introduced her. "Detective
Lawry, this is Geri Walden." |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Geri is a new volunteer who spends her mornings with us helping with
serving breakfasts, and getting patients ready for the day." |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| RockTheBoat |
Lawry stood. "Hello Ms. Walden, it's nice to meet you. My name is Detective
John Lawry with the Salt Flats police department. Would you mind if I asked
you a few questions?" |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| OneMoToGo |
Geri nervously shook her head, and glanced at Sister Kathryn. "That
would be fine, sir, but I should get back to my duties as soon as possible." |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| OneMoToGo |
The detective motioned for her to have a seat, and Geri complied. Sister
Kathryn hovered over Geri like a vulture, and Lawry knew that her presence
would be problematic. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Warpmaster |
Geri sat down in a chair facing Lawry and Sister Kathryn stood behind her.
Lawry noticed that Geri seemed uncomfortable and was fidgeting. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| OneMoToGo |
Sister Kathryn's presence might affect Geri's candor, but Lawry didn't want
to reveal his concerns. He would have to tread lightly. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Warpmaster |
“Sister Kathryn,” Lawry began. “Could you get me something
to drink please?” Surprised, the nurse obliged and left the room. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry got right to the point, "Geri, what time did you go in with Rebecca's
breakfast this morning?" |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"She was the first on my list, so I was there promptly at 8:30."
Geri glanced at the door, clearly concerned when Sister Kathryn would return. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Did you notice anything different about her today? Did she seem anxious
to you, or preoccupied?" |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"No, sir." Geri answered, "I really didn't notice anything.
She never really talks too much, but she was not acting differently." |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
Lawry recalled the strange note he had found. He removed it from his pocket,
unfolded it, and handed it to Geri. "Do you recognize this handwriting?" |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
At that moment, the door swung open, and Sister Kathryn entered with Lawry's
glass of water. Geri became immediately flustered. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
She quickly handed the note back to the detective. "I'm sorry, sir,
I don't know have any information for you." She stood up stiffly. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
"I really need to get back to my rounds," Geri uttered. "I'm
sorry I couldn't help." She walked past Sister Kathryn, and disappeared
down the hallway. |
10/15/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Detective Lawry watched intently as Geri left, rubbing his chin, deep in
thought. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He looked at the floor, then, as if in retrospect, looked at Sister Kathryn.
Her eyes were glued on him. "So what do you think?" she asked. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"It's too early for me to make a conclusion, I need to go over the
facts." "Facts" being the operative word. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry knew that some of the information given to him was false. It was now
up to him to separate fact from fiction. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Sister Kathryn paused, as if reflecting on a troubled thought. "There
is something I haven't told you yet, detective." |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Lawry immediately gave the nun his complete attention, sensing her hesitation.
"What is that, Sister?" |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
"While Rebecca was here, she was in and out of consciousness. During
one of her rare lucid moments, she made a brief reference to Sarah Tate." |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Lawry listened intently. "Tell me exactly what she said." He removed
his notepad from his pocket, and flipped to a blank page. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
The nun looked directly into Lawry's eyes. "She told me Sarah Tate's
death was not an accident, and that her murderer was going to be sorry." |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| TheGeekster |
Lawry was silently taking notes, when Sister Kathryn added, "Please
find her, detective. We all loved her here, but she needs help." |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| Chapter Nine |
Back to Top |
| empress2000 |
I sat in the dappled sunlight under the canopy of oak trees in the forest. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As I leaned against the roughened trunk of a tree, I thought back to the
serendipitous events of the morning that led me to be here. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I'd awoken to the sound of a key sliding into the lock of my door. It creaked
as the door slowly opened. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Geri entered bearing a tray of breakfast. I started to sit up but the look
on her face warned me to lie still. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Sister Karthryn entered immediately behind Geri, standing silently watching
the two of us closely as Geri tried to help me eat. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Suddenly there was a commotion down the hall to the right. Sister Kathryn
bolted from the room admonishing Geri to stay with me. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Quickly," Geri whispered. "Get dressed. She's gone, but
only for a few minutes." |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I jumped from the bed and donned my clothes as Geri told me the best way
to get out of the hospital building and off the grounds without being seen. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Don't worry about me," Geri said. "I'll tell her that you
wanted sugar for your coffee and I didn't know your restraints were loose.
Now leave quickly" |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I gave Geri a quick hug, turned left out the door and began running. |
10/16/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I ran until I felt as though my heart would explode and my legs felt like
rubber. When I couldn't go further, I crumpled in a heap of leaves. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I lay amongst the fallen leaves listening to the birds singing when I realized
I was near the campfire pit where this nightmare had begun. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I sat up, catching my breath, euphoric in the knowledge that I was free,
but it dawned on me, "Now, what?" |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
There had been no plan for my escape. There was no one waiting for me. I
didn't know where I could find a safe haven. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I was in the middle of the forest. If I headed in the same direction away
from the institution, I would end up by the lake. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I was leery of contacting Detective Lawry or any of the police, recalling
that he was at the hospital the very night that I was admitted. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As my breathing returned to normal, I pulled the piece of paper I'd torn
from the note Geri had given me yesterday. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I smoothed the creases and again read the name...K. Mitchell...Why did that
name make me feel so anxious, almost fearful? |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
It occurred to me that if I could find a phone I could call the number,
but the idea inspired such a strong feeling of dread that I became anchored
to the forest floor |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
At first I wished Benson were here. He would know what to do. He always
knew what to do. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Then I remembered that it was Benson who had me taken me to that horrid
asylum. He'd had me locked in restraints. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I asked myself bitterly how could my husband have done this to me? Tears
filled my eyes. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I forced myself to inhale deeply, and wiping the tears from my cheeks, I
became determined to get to the bottom of this myself. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Suddenly, I noticed that the wind had picked up, and the temperature had
dropped. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The grey clouds were quickly filling the sky, and it began to drizzle. The
rain was cold on my bare arms. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
In my haste to get out of the hospital, I didn't have time to retrieve my
jacket from the closet. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Without warning, the rain started falling in torrential sheets. The leaves
protected me somewhat from the rain. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I started running again. I was hoping that the old lake house was still
unlocked. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I had to find shelter. These rogue storms were infamous for the intense
lightning and the bone-chilling wind. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
In the fierce wind, the rain stung my face. With every clap of thunder,
and bolt of lightning, my fear became more intense. |
10/20/09 |
Website |
| 2selma2 |
The howling wind seemed like a large beast following close to me. I tried
to summon every bit of energy to make my legs move faster. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| 2selma2 |
The trees and thick undergrowth became a tricky obstacle course; seemingly
trying to block my progress. Again, thunder exploded like dynamite. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I hoped that I could still remember how to get to the lake house. It had
been years since I had even thought about the old place. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Actually, I hoped that it would still be standing. It had been old when
we used it as teenagers. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I tripped over the uneven terrain as I ran, slipping on the rocks, kicking
up mud and wet leaves. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The wind picked up, blowing my wet hair into my face where it lay plastered
to to my skin. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I came to a sudden halt as a memory came to me unbidden. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I remembered the bed at the lake house, the old iron bed with the tired
mattress. The quilt on it was the one that Sarah had made with all the old
ties. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I was taken by surprise by the recollection. Again, tears flowed down my
cheeks, mingling with the rain on my face. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I continued to run almost as if being chased by the ghosts of my past. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As I came to the top of the rise, I could see the lake house. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The dark wood of the siding, the simple porch in the front and the windows
bracketing the front door were both welcoming and forboding as I ran the
last hundred yards to get there. |
10/22/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I scambled up the porch and turned the vintage door knob. The latch grated
against the strike plate as it slid back. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Bmason394 |
I pushed the door open carefully. It resisted at first, the wood had expanded
because of the moist weather in the area. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
With the exception of a fine layer of dust the place looked almost like
I'd remembered. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
On the left lay the main room with a sofa, dining table and chairs, a small
kitchen, and a fireplace. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
On the right were the doors to the one bedroom and the bathroom. It was
eerie as the house evoked visions from my earlier years. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Shutting the door against the tempest outside, I noticed there was some
old firewood by the fireplace. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I found matches on the mantle and began setting the fire. The wood was so
old and dry it caught easily. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The flames danced merrily in the brick hearth chasing the chill from the
room. |
10/24/09 |
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| empress2000 |
My first priority was to get warm and dry, then I would check out the cupboards
for something to eat. |
10/24/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Above the commode was a shelf with several mismatched, threadbare towels. |
10/24/09 |
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| empress2000 |
I picked out the fullest towel, shook the dust from it and began drying
my face. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I looked in the mirror, looking back at me was a pale-faced woman whose
shoulder length brown hair was hanging limp. Her normally brown eyes looked
dull and blank. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. A chill raced through my body.
I froze, not knowing whether to remain still, or to answer the summoning
rap. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
I quietly moved to the front room, crouched down under the window sill,
and peered out a small slit in the yellowed lace curtains. I couldn't see
the figure at the door. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
Again, a loud knock, this time with more emphasis. A face appeared in the
window, trying to search for anyone inside. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
I crouched further down underneath the sill, hoping that I wouldn't accidentally
betray my presence. |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| Moth2Flame |
Did someone see me enter the house? Could it be an orderly or police officer
trying to bring me back to St. Dymphna? |
10/24/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I held my breath, my heart pounded, I prayed that whoever it was outside
wouldn't try to open the unlocked door. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
My clothes were still wet. I shivered with cold and fear as I waited to
see if the door would open. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Then I remembered the fire. It was still burning brightly in the fireplace.
They would know someone was here. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Don't panic," I told myself. "Be calm...think!" |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Footsteps sounded across the porch then crunched onto the gravel walkway. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The footsteps returned. Again the stillness was broken by a loud knock. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Open the door, I know someone's in there." |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Oh, my God. It's Roy. What should I do, what should I do?" My
rationale was no longer logical. I needed someone I could trust. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I decided to let him in. "Rebecca?" Roy was apparently stunned.
"What are you doing here?" |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
I immediately started to cry, both in relief and in confusion. "Roy,
I don't know what's going on." |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"The night you showed up at the bonfire out here, I ended up at St.
Dymphna's. I've been there ever since, until today." |
10/28/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"St. Dymphna's? Isn't that the..." Roy was searching for soft,
compassionate words. |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Crazy house!" I blurted, finishing his sentence for him. "Yea.
Benson took me there. He said I was completely nuts." |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"He said that you and he put me in the car and that you left because
you had business to take care of." |
10/28/09 |
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| playmynrd |
It was clear that Roy was perplexed. "He told me to leave. He said
that he could take care of everything." |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| Lynart |
"Roy, I have so many questions, and I'm so confused about everything
that has happened to me. How did you know someone was here?" |
10/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy hurried to the hearth and put the fire out. "The smoke is pouring
out of the chimney." he said. "That's what caught my attention." |
10/28/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
With the flames thoroughly doused, Roy went into the bedroom returning with
a heavy blanket. |
10/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"We need to get you out ot those wet clothes. Then we can talk,"
he said. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
While Roy kept watch out the front window, I peeled off my rain-soaked clothes
and, clad only in my underthings, wrapped myself in the blanket. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Roy enveloped me in his arms. It felt like we'd gone back in time, that
we were eighteen again. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
We stood together for several minutes, the heat of his body warming me. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Without warning I felt weak as the events of the past few days overwhelmed
me. I sank to the floor. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Gently, tenderly, Roy helped me to the sofa. We sat together not speaking,
not know what to say. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Roy, what happened?" I finally whispered. "I need to know." |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"I got a strange note from Benson a couple of weeks ago," he replied.
"It said that I needed to come back to Foggy Break, something about
Sarah. There was also something about a letter. It doesn't make any sense
to me." |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
A tear slid down my cheek. "No, Roy. What happened? Why did you leave
Foggy Break that summer?" |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
His silence was almost unbearable. I felt his muscles become taut. I held
my breath as I waited for him to speak. |
10/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Roy just looked at me, saying nothing. I became overwhelmed with anger.
"You know what, Roy? I wish one person would tell me the truth." |
10/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"But I can see I'm not going to get it from you, either." I stormed
into the bedroom and wrapped the blanket around me tighter as if it was
a protective cocoon. |
10/29/09 |
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| empress2000 |
I threw myself face first onto the ancient bed. A sob escaped my throat. |
10/31/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
As I laid on the bed, Roy was pleading, "Becca, come back out. I'm
as confused as you are." |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"No, I don't think you are, Roy." I screamed back. |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Becca, please come out here and let's talk. Maybe we can figure this
out together." |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
I opened the door of the bedroom, and stood in the doorway. "Let me
ask you something, Roy. You said you got a note from Benson." |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"How did he know where to send it? I didn't think anyone knew where
you were?" |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"I contacted him first and gave him my address." Roy explained. |
10/31/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Really?" I was about to explode. "How? I get the mail every
day. And you didn't call on our phone. Quit lying, Roy." |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"I need to know the truth now! For all I know, Roy, you are the one
who murdered Sarah," I croaked. |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
No longer able to face me, Roy turned away as he began to tell me what had
happened all those years ago. |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
His back muscles slackened as he lowered his forehead into his hand. "No,
Becc, I didn't do that. Until I got Benson's note, I thought your stepmother
had drowned by accident." |
10/31/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
I turned back into the bedroom, and sat on the bed. "I am so sorry
Becca." Roy said, as he followed me into the room. Still unable to
face me, he also sat on the ancient bed, the springs creaked in protest. |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Roy took a deep breath, and started explaining his past. "Before I
came to Foggy Break, I stole some jewelry from the old lady who lived next
door to my foster family" |
10/31/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I pawned them and used the money to buy a car, then I ran away. I
was terrified, Becca. I ran away." |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
I lay still, hardly breathing. I didn't want to move, to do anything that
might prevent Roy from finishing his narrative. |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
When I met you and Benson here, I felt like I finally belonged somewhere.
I loved you, Becc." |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"One day I told Benson what I'd done. I was going to tell you next,"
he continued. |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"But Ben told your father first." Roy turned back, facing me.
"Edward took me aside one afternoon and told me that if I didn't leave
Foggy Break, if I didn't leave you, he would go to the sheriff and I would
go to jail." |
10/31/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Roy heaved a sigh, rubbed his face, and said, "I came back six months
later, but it was too late. Sarah was dead and I learned you had just married
Benson. I decided that there was nothing left for me in Foggy Break." |
10/31/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
My anger had not yet subsided. I had always loved Benson, but I was always
"in love" with Roy. |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
I had even purchased a bottle of the cologne that Roy wore and kept it hidden
in my closet. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
When Benson would go into one of his tirades, I would open the cologne,
close my eyes, and imagine Roy there with me, embracing me. |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"This is a heck of a time to declare your love for me, Roy. And that
still doesn't explain how Benson knew how to get ahold of you." |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Just wait a minute, and I'll get to that. Remember that night when
we played truth or dare out here by the lake?" |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Yeah, and you said that you were taking money from women for doing
them "favors". |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Right. Many of those ladies were from Foggy Break. I had an apartment
over a vacant garage on the outskirts of town. |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"And what I was doing for those women were favors. I cleaned basements,
garages, carried things into attics, stuff like that." |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Then rumors started flying that I was doing more than that, and I,
being the egomaniac that I was, didn't try to change anyone's mind." |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"I did a lot of work for Emily and Carole. And I kept in touch with
Carole all these years. She told me where Benson worked." |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"I called him at his office. I just assumed that he told you. That
was about a year and a half ago." |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
I sat back up and faced Roy. "No, he never said a word. I wonder why." |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
After a moment of silence, Roy suggested, "Why don't you get dressed
and come with me to my motel. It's about 15 miles from here." |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I don't want anyone to notice my car parked here, and I don't think
anyone will notice us at the motel." |
11/04/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Then I'll go get us something to eat and get you something warm to
put on." |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Getting warm and eating something sounded wonderful. I put on my wet clothes,
wrapped the blanket around me, and we left. |
11/04/09 |
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| |
| Chapter
Ten |
Back to Top |
| empress2000 |
Sister Kathryn walked slowly back into her small office after Detective
Lawry finished talking with Geri. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The wind began blowing , throwing leaves and small twigs against the windows
with soft tapping sounds. |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Something happened between the two of them," she mused as she
recalled the interview. |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
The nun was so deep in thought that she was unaware of the approaching storm. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Unlocking the drawer of her desk, Sister Kathryn removed a leather bound
address book. She ran her finger down the listings for "M" and
located the entry she needed. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
She dialed the number and absently drummed her fingers nervously on the
desktop as she waited for the call to be answered. |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Mitchell Industries," the cheery, almost saccharine voice said.
"How may I help you?" |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Uh, yes.... I'd like to speak to Mr. Mitchell please." |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Would you like to speak with Mr. Hugh Mitchell or his father, Mr.
Keagan Mitchell?" the disembodied voice asked. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'd like to speak with Hugh please," she said cautiously. |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Sister Kathryn had been unaware that Hugh worked with his father. |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"This is Hugh Mitchell." His voice sounded cold and impersonal. |
11/04/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"It's Kathy," the nurse uttered. "She's gone. She escaped
this morning." |
11/04/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Hugh had been leaning back in the supple black leather and chrome desk chair.
He bolted upright when he heard Sister Kathryn's news. |
11/14/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"How did she escape?" he asked quietly, almost tonelessly. |
11/14/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"Tell me exactly what happened, Kathy." Hugh demanded. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Kathryn stared at the wall opposite, looking at the crucifix but not really
seeing it. She took a deep breath before answering Hugh's question. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell listened carefully as Sister Kathryn recounted the events of that
morning that ended with Rebecca's escape from the mental hospital. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"The woman who brings her breakfast to her was in the room when I left.
I told her to stay there with Rebecca." |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh was fuming inside, but kept relatively calm to outward appearances.
"You left the room? Was she restrained? What were you thinking?" |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I went in as that aid, Geri, took in her breakfast. She was still
tied to the bed. Just then I got called down the hall to take care of an
agitated patient." |
11/14/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"While I was gone, the aid left her to get something. Somehow Rebecca
got out of her bindings and she escaped." |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I thought you had her restrained. I was told that she was sedated!"
His voice sounded ominous, almost threatening. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The nun took another deep breath and tried in vain to calm herself. She
didn't want Hugh to sense her fear. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I told you to keep her locked up at ALL times. I should have known
I couldn't count on you." |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell sighed deeply, not wanting to say anything else too quickly. He
didn't want the nun to know why it was important to keep Rebecca sequestered. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He needed Rebecca isolated from her friends, family and neighbors. But if
Kathryn knew of his intentions, she would begin asking questions. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Too many inquiries would be dangerous. He couldn't let that happen. That
would ruin everything. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He stood up, rubbed his curly dark hair on the top of his head. His cheeks
were flushed and his dark eyes were glaring as he sought to control his
fury. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The nun heard only silence. "Are....are you still there?" Sister
Kathryn asked timidly, sensing Mitchell's anger and frustation. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Keep me informed," Hugh replied as he abruptly severed the phone
connection. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He walked to the window and stood, staring out of the glass and steel building.
It was incongruous with the surrounding cement and brick buildings but it
had a commanding view of the entire valley and the hills beyond. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Staring out the window of his office, Mitchell could see down the valley
toward Salt Flats and on to Foggy Break. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"If she gets out into public, starts talking to people and begins to
remember things, it will destroy everything that I have put into place,"
he thought to himself. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The winds were blowing outside. The brooding clouds had begun to release
their raindrops, off in the distance lightning flashed. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He began counting the seconds until the thunder began to rumble. He became
lost in thought. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh Mitchell was named after his uncle, Emily Pearson's late husband. Hugh's
father, Keagan Mitchell, was his uncle Hugh's twin brother. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The elder Hugh was so busy establishing his oil companies, which required
a great deal of travelling, that he never married. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Keagan knew how much his brother wanted a son, but it didn't seem likely
that he would ever have his own. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
When Keagan's wife became pregnant, he promised his twin that if the baby
were a boy, he would name him Hugh, after him. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh was ecstatic when his nephew was born, and always held a special place
in his heart for him. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Hugh-B, as he was called to avoid confusion, was a child of privilege. His
uncle made sure that he was never in want of anything. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Unfortunately, because of all of the coddling and pampering, Hugh-B grew
up believing that he deserved special treatment. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He attended the finest schools. He received a business degree from Harvard.
All were financed by his uncle. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
His greed knew no boundaries. His insatiable desire for money consumed his
life. There was never enough. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Hugh-B resented Emily when she and his uncle married. In his mind, she was
stealing and spending money that was rightfully his. |
11/14/09 |
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| playmynrd |
He detested her modest roots, but kept his feelings to himself. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
A few years after Hugh and Emily were married, they took a trip back east
to see Emily's family, and they took nephew Hugh with them. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
One day, Carole invited Rebecca, Benson, and Roy over for lunch to meet
Hugh. They were all around the same age. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh and Benson hit it off right away, but Roy and Rebecca had their reservations
about him. |
11/14/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh-B's real life consisted of all of Benson's fantasies. Benson thought
it was an honor to know someone of this calibur. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson wanted to spend every minute possible with Hugh-B. Hugh-B's stories
of his pampered life intrigued Benson. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The new convertible sports car that he received as a birthday present from
his uncle. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The annual skiing trips in the Rockies, cruising the Norwegian fjords, the
summer that he spent island hopping in the Caribbean. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson hung on every word Hugh-B uttered. He couldn\'t get enough of Hugh-B\'s
blessed life stories. Benson put himself in Hugh-B's place. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He imagined that it was he was wearing the expensive clothes, he was being
invited to the most elite galas, he was the star. |
11/21/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Benson believed that a friendship with Hugh-B would open the door to the
elitist society to which he so desperately wanted to belong. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh-B told Benson that it was all about money. It didn't matter where he
got it, just so long as he had it. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He often said that he couldn't have too much money. The more money, the
greater the status and respect Benson would enjoy. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh also recalled the day they left Foggy Break and his promise to Benson
to mentor him into the good life. |
11/21/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Rebecca and Roy, however, found Hugh-B to be an intolerable braggert, and
they were anxious for him to go back to Texas. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
They would usually decline any invitation to spend time with Benson and
Hugh-B. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Rebecca and Roy were not the only people to notice Hugh-B's lust for money
and power. Emily also found it irritating. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh stared off into space, remembering the first time he'd met his uncle's
new wife. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
She had flawless creamy skin with rosy cheeks that flushed crimson when
she was embarassed. |
11/21/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Emily also had sparkling green eyes that lit up each time she looked at
her husband. Her shoulder length copper hair curled under ever so slightly
at the ends. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh-B had thought she was beautiful. He'd treated her deferentially but
down deep he hated her. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh recalled that during his visit to Foggy Break, he had a conversation
with Emily about his high-style living. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Emily was agitated by Hugh-B's boasting to Roy, Rebecca, and Benson, about
his carte blache life. |
11/21/09 |
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| playmynrd |
He flashed back to Emily saying, "I am so ashamed of you, gloating
about everything you've had handed to you on a silver platter." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You're a spoiled brat and you flaunt it like it's something to be
proud of. You've never done any type of work in your life." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"And if I have anything to say about it, your free-loading days are
over. I'm going to talk to your uncle about this." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh thought back to the conversation that he had with his uncle shortly
after they returned to Texas. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
His uncle to him that in order to keep peace with his wife, that he had
to put some stipulations on his gift giving. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh-B would have to maintain a B average at school. He also had to work
at his father's accounting firm during the summers. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Upon graduating from college, he would work at his father's firm for at
least 5 years. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
But what bothered him the most was that his uncle had given the reins of
his inheritance to Emily. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
If anything happened to the elder Hugh, Emily, alone, would make all of
the decisions as to the amount of money he would be given. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
She would also decide when he would get it. At that time, Hugh-B thought
that this was inconsequential. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
But after his uncle's untimely death, things changed. And they changed rapidly. |
11/21/09 |
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| empress2000 |
Hugh's reverie was broken by a knock on the door. He turned as the door
opened. His secretary peered through the opening. |
11/21/09 |
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| empress2000 |
"You have a visitor," she said. Her face showed distaste. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The door was thrown open wide and in walked a portly man whose uniform strained
to contain his bulk. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The uniform identified James Tanner as a security guard from St. Dymphna's
Hospital. As the secretary closed the door, Hugh stood silently behind his
desk. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The man sat in the chair across from Hugh. "I heard Rebecca Tate escaped
from the nut house," he said. "Tough luck for you." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell glared at the guard, his eyes flashing with disgust. "What
do you want?" he asked. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Tanner ran his fingers across the glass surface of the desk. "I want
to help you," he said unctuously. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I know you had Rebecca hidden away, you and Benson. I'm here to help
you get her back...for a price, that is." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"What kind of price are we talking about," Hugh challenged, not
taking precautions to feign any shock or surprise at the guard's accusation. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Well, let's put it this way, if you don't pay me what I want, I'll
go to Detective Lawry and tell him all I know about your cozy little arrangement
with Benson Kendell." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Get out of my office." Hugh stood, ready to physically eject
the smarmy man from his office. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'll leave," said Tanner. "I'm going to give you twenty-four
hours to consider my offer, then I'll take my information to the detective." |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The corpulent man stood, adjusted his uniform, and left the office slamming
the door shut behind him. |
11/21/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
As the door slammed, Hugh seemed to have awakened. In that split second,
he realized that he may have just sealed his fate. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh's face flushed with fury, his hands balled into fists so tight that
his knuckles turned white. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
This was supposed to be so simple, he thought. How did it get this far? |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He was so engulfed in his thoughts about the whole situation, that he was
caught off guard by Tanner's visit. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
It didn't dawn on him that Tanner had no way of knowing that he was involved
with Rebecca's disappearance. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
For that matter, there was nothing to suggest that he even knew her or Benson.
He should have denied everything from the beginning. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
But instead, he fell victim to his own greed. Tanner played him perfectly.
He went right for the jugular by bringing up money. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
What could that dolt think he knows? Of course, he has been at the hospital
every day that Rebecca was there. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Tanner was probably kept abreast as to whether a patient could be a risk,
but not why. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
It was also his job to make sure that the windows and doors were locked
properly to avoid a situation such as this. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
His job was to help out in case of an emergency, or if a patient became
unruly. But there were a lot of people there. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
What he couldn't explain away was Tanner referring to his "cozy little
arrangement" with Benson. Benson and he never met in public. Tanner's
help must have been enlisted by someone. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Sister Kathryn" knew a few of the details, and she could provide
information connecting Hugh to Benson. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The only other person who knew most of the details about the plan was Benson. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh ruled both of them out because they were in too deep and had a lot
to lose if the plan failed. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Rebecca, herself, may have talked to Tanner about her thoughts that she
may be in danger from her husband and Sister Kathryn. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
But Tanner being a security guard at a mental institution probably heard
stories like that every day. "He's bluffing." Mitchell tried to
convince himself. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell needed to do something. He couldn't let Tanner talk to the detective.
Even if he had no information, the guard's meeting with Lawry could be problematic. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell rubbed his face with his hands, his hubris deflated by the nasty
little fat man. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
His plan had been perfect and had started so smoothly. Then Rebecca escaped
and now this snake was trying to blackmail him. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh rubbed his clammy palms on the thighs of his wool slacks. It wasn't
his style to sit back and just let things happen. He'd always fancied himself
as a man of action. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Dropping the folder he's been holding onto the desk, he reached for the
phone, dialed the number from memory and waited impatiently for it to be
answered. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Yeah?" the voice said. "We have a problem," Mitchell
hissed, telling the person on the other end of the phone about James Tanner's
visit and his demands. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"No, Mitch," came the reply, using the abreviated form of Hugh's
last name. "YOU have the problem. I didn't think your plan was a good
one from the beginning." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh sat silently. His face contorted with rage. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I don't think that Rebecca would have remembered anything if you'd
have left her alone," the voice said. "But now...now she'll be
racking her brain to figure out why this is happening to her." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Take care of this, Mitch. Buy his silence, or resolve it some other
way. But you'd better get it taken care of soon...today." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Then all Hugh heard was the sibilant buzzing of the dial tone as the connection
was severed. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Pausing and attempting to collect his senses, Mitchell dialed a different
number and waited for it to be picked up. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I need some information," he told the voice that answered. "Find
out all you can about a security guard at St Dymphna's named James Tanner." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"There will be a substantial bonus in it for you if you get the information
to me by this afternoon," Hugh said, severing the connection. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Knowing he had to act quickly, Mitchell called his secretary and instructed
her to cancel all his afternoon appointments. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He grabbed his raincoat and umbrella and walked out of his office, carefully
securing the lock before he left. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| |
| Chapter
Eleven |
Back to Top |
| playnymrd |
At that very moment, Lawry was in his office going over the characters involved
and their relationships. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| playnymrd |
He kept returning to Emily's journals convinced that he was missing something.
He read and reread the earlier journals. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He felt as though he'd reached another dead end. Nothing was connecting.
The puzzle was missing too many pieces. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lightning flashed again. Detective Lawry stopped reading Emily's journal
and looked through the window at the rain outside. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Taking another sip of the cold, black, bitter coffee, he wondered where
to look next. If something didn't break soon, he might have to give up. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
His musings were interrupted by a light rap on the office door. A young
woman walked in. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The woman was dressed in a navy suit with a white silk blouse. "Allow
me to properly introduce myself," she said as she pulled up a chair. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"My name is Geraldine Bishop....Officer Geraldine Bishop of the Mason
Creek County Sheriff's Office," she said, while displaying official
credentials. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Her face and hair were familiar, but her demeanor had altered. Earlier she
had been shy and self-effacing. Now she was poised and confident. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Geri Walden is the name I use at St Dymphna's." Lawry was amazed
at the sharp contrast between the woman now sitting in his office, and the
"scared" aide at the hospital. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Please allow me to explain," she said as Lawry gaped at her.
"I was sent to the institution undercover to head an investigation." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Six months ago we began hearing unusual stories about Sister Kathryn
and St Dymphna's." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"What kind of stories?" Lawry asked. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I'm not at liberty to discuss it with you yet," she said. "It
is an on-going investigation. But I wanted to tell you what I could about
Rebecca Kendell." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"With Sister Kathryn hovering over me, I couldn't tell you much."
Geri continued. Lawry silently sat back in his chair, waiting like a small
child about to hear a bedtime story. Geri stood and began pacing. |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The undercover officer paused, looking at the photographs and certificates
mounted on the office wall. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
She spun abruptly and looking Lawry squarely in the eye, blurted, "I
let her go." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Who did you let go?" the detective asked, stunned at the sudden
admission. "Rebecca?" |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Yes...Rebecca. I helped her," Geri said succinctly. She resumed
her pacing. Then paused, "I knew that she was being hidden away, being
kept isolated for an unknown reason." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"She's not crazy, you know," she said. "Something shady is
going on there and I intend to find out what it is." "OK,"
said Lawry calmly, "tell me what you've learned so far." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Officer Bishop sat down in a chair opposite of Detective Lawry. Pausing
to take a breath, she started, "You understand that this is all classified."
Lawry nodded. Officer Bishop continued. "Our office set out to get
information on Rebecca Tate-Kendell." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"From the records that we were able to obtain, we found that Ms. Kendell
had an incident approximately 15 years ago where she suffered from uncontrollable
hysteria." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"At that time, she was committed to the Mason Creek State Mental Institution,
which was later sold." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"The purchaser remodeled the building and put on additions, re-naming
it St. Dymphna Mental Health Institution." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry interrupted Officer Bishop, "Who purchased the property, and
when did it reopen?" |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Officer Bishop, leafing through her notes, found the information. "The
purchaser was a Mr. Hugh Baker Mitchell". |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry leaned forward towards her, "Hugh Mitchell? The oil tycoon?" |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"No, Detective" she replied. Hugh Baker Mitchell is the nephew
of Hugh Mitchell, the oil executive." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"His father is Keenan Mitchell, the owner and CEO of the Mitchell Accounting
Firm." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Although the firm had previously dabbled slightly in real estate,
this was a personal investment by Hugh Baker Mitchell." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"He reopened the facility about 8 months ago amid much fanfare." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Our surveillance of Sister Kathryn revealed that she had a small apartment
located in the back of the institution." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"She had 24 hour accessibility to the hospital. She was also observed
making numerous trips to a large office building in downtown Hawley." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The city of Hawley and St. Dymphna's were both located in Mason Creek County.
"Interesting," commented Lawry under his breath, as he scribbled
additional notes. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The rain had ceased falling, at least for the time being. Geraldine paused,
peering out the window at the waning afternoon light. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
She continued, "As far as the information we could get on Rebecca,
it seems that she has lived uneventfully for the past 15 years." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Apparently, this most recent incident of hysteria has completely caught
everyone who knows her off guard." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Rebecca was brought to the hospital by her husband. She was hysterical
at the time and had to be sedated." |
11/29/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Geri again paused midstep. Turning toward Lawry, she said, "I wasn't
there when she arrived at the sanitarium. I read on her chart that she was
hysterical." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I was on duty at 8:00 am, and while making my rounds, I observed that
the door on room 138 was closed." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Prior to that morning, the door was always open, with no one occupying
that room. When I knew I wouldn't be seen, I checked the door." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"It was locked, but there was no patient information posted. I was
told that room 138 is usually reserved for the most unruly patients." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Room 138 was specially equipped with a variety of restraints to prevent
the patient from doing harm to himself or others." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"By the time I first saw her, she had been sedated and restrained.
She could hardly speak and had no idea where she was or what had happened." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"But something just didn't seem right but I couldn't put my finger
on it." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Over the next week, I observed Sister Kathryn and an unknown male,
later identified as Benson Kendell, visiting the room." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry sat quietly, occasionally taking notes, as Officer Bishop continued. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"A night custodian had initially reported the suspicious activities
of Sister Kathryn, and kept me abreast of any questionable activities." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"The custodian was the same person who informed me that you had been
at the hospital, and were seen with Sister Kathryn and Benson Kendell." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Officer Bishop then detailed the events of that morning, and how she had
assisted in Rebecca's escape, including the note about Sister Kathryn and
Benson. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry straightened in his chair. He stared at the undercover officer. Reaching
into a folder on his desk, he retrieved a scrap of paper. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Is this the note you gave her?" he asked. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Geri took the note. "This is part of it. The other part had the name
and phone number on it. Where did you find it?" she asked. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I found it under the mattress when I checked her room after she escaped.
What can you tell me about it?" Lawry asked. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"One morning on my way into the hospital, I was approached by a middle-aged
man who asked if I knew of Rebecca Kendell." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I said I did, and he handed me a small envelope, requesting that get
it to her, as she was not allowed visitors." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"He apparently felt comfortable with me because my uniform had my volunteer
status embroidered on it." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Naturally, I opened the envelope, made a copy of the note, and gave
the note to Rebecca." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"So, let me get this straight. You let a patient escape from a mental
institution and left her on her own?", asked Lawry. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Glancing up at Lawry she said, "I had to get her out of there. She
was the one in jeopardy." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"We had been working on the particulars for her escape, but when the
opportunity presented itself, I acted. I could have taken a more direct
approach, but I couldn't blow my cover." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Then you must know where she is." Lawry pressed. "Unfortunately,
no," said Officer Bishop regretfully. "We tried to track her after
the escape, but we lost her." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry's annoyance was evident, but he moved on. "Listen," Lawry
said. "There are questionable things happening here in Salt Flats too.
I wonder if they are somehow connected to what you are investigating at
St. Dymphna's." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Pulling out a box of papers, he began telling Geri about the suspicious
death of Sarah Tate and his investigation fifteen years earlier. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He explained about the letter that was recently found beneath the drawer
of the bedside table that allowed him to reopen the investigation, and about
the impasse that he has now reached. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I had hoped to interview Rebecca, but each time I went to the asylum
she was delirious at best." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Sister Kathryn kept giving her pills to keep her unresponsive or at
least so confused that she couldn't answer any questions," explained
Officer Bishop. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Lawry hesitated as though Officer Bishop's comment confirmed his suspicions.
The silence was pierced by the strident ringing of the telephone. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Lawry," he said picking up the receiver. He listened for a few
moments, then replied, "No, Mr. Kendell. I have no new information
about your wife yet." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"We have officers looking into her disappearance. I will let you know
just as soon as something turns up." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Yes sir, I will do that," Lawry said as he hung up the phone. |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"What a thoroughly unpleasant man," he said to Geraldine. "
He has been uncooperative and contemptuous throughout my investigation of
his mother's death." |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"He just threatened to have me fired if I don't find Rebecca soon."
Lawry splayed his hands on his desk and shook his head. "Do you have
any insight into the possible involvement of Benson Kendell or Roy Hunt?" |
12/12/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Officer Bishop turned the pages of her notebook. "Roy Hunt....his name
was mentioned as an acquaintance of Benson." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"As I recall, that may be the name that Rebecca kept murmuring the
morning after she arrived at St. D's" |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Our information shows that he had returned to this area a few days
before the Tate-Kendell episode, but his involvement is doubtful." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"We know that the Kendells and Hunt were at the bonfire the night of
Rebecca's breakdown, but we are not aware of any other meetings." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"On the other hand", she continued looking at her notes, "Benson
Kendell had been acting very suspiciously." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"During his visits to his wife during the day, I observed him having
very lengthy conversations with Sister Kathryn." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"The night custodian reported that he also had late visits, around
1 or 2am, but he would speak to Sister Kathryn and leave." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"He has also been staying at a hotel in downtown Hawley, instead of
at his own home. We staked out the hotel, but so far, nothing." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"When observed entering or leaving the hotel, he was always alone.
We've followed him, but he either goes to his office or to the hospital." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Detective Lawry abruptly stood up. "Thank you for coming in, Officer
Bishop and thank you for the information." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I'll keep you posted regarding our search for Rebecca. And please
let me know if you turn up anything." Lawry handed her his card. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
As she was putting the card into her purse, Lawry put his hand on her back
and gently led her out of his office. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The detective watched Geri as the walked out of his office. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He observed as she left that her demeanor changed from the self confident,
resourceful woman back to the hesitant, timid Geri Walden he'd first met
at St. Dymphna's. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playnymrd |
Thinking about his discusseion with Geri, it occurred to him that he had
been scouring the wrong journals. He had been focusing on the years prior
to Sarah Tate's death. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playnymrd |
He needed to check the journals that Emily kept during her marriage to Hugh
Mitchell and afterwards. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playnymrd |
Lawry grabbed his jacket and hurried to his car. He had to go back to Carole
Pearson's house to retrieve the later journals. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| playnymrd |
His hope for a break in the case renewed, he drove as fast as he could.
The anticipation was almost overbearing. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
By midnight the rain had finally stopped. The last lightning flashed hours
ago. Clouds covered the sky and no moon or stars were visible. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Security Officer James Tanner put his keys into the ignition of his 1995
Ford truck. Looking forward to a cold beer when he got home, he drove out
of the parking lot of St. Dymphna's. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He cranked up the radio, listening to his favorite country western station.
Crystal Gayle was crooning "Don't it Make Your Brown Eyes Blue" |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"That was sure a golden oldie," he thought. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
It was pitch black speeding down the rural road. Tanner turned on his bright
beams as he hummed along with Crystal. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The old truck rattled around a curve and Tanner saw an oncoming car. Flipping
off his brights, he waited for the car to do the same. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"Come on you stupid moron," he cursed. "Turn off your brights,
you're blinding me." |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Suddenly the approaching car swerved into Tanner's lane. Seeing the vehicle
with its glaring lights bearing down on him, the security guard spun the
wheel to the left. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The truck careened through the forest and plummeted down and steep embankment
and came to rest under the fast flowing river. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Tanner had been knocked unconscious and was unaware that the cab of his
truck was rapidly filling with ice cold river water. |
12/20/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The other car pulled to the side of the road about a hundred yards from
where Tanner's truck had left the highway. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Dousing the lights, the driver got out of the car and walked through the
forest to the edge of the embankment. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The figure stood in the shadows watching as the truck slowly sank into the
silt and slime of the river bottom. Bubbles from the cab of the drifted
to the surface. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
After waiting fully fifteen minutes, the figure finally pulled out a cell
phone and dialed. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"9-1-1, what is your emergency?" the operator asked. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
"I want to report an accident," the whispered voice replied. "A
truck just drove off the highway and into the river. I think the driver
is still inside." The connection with the 911 operator was abruptly
terminated. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The driver hurried back to the car and carefully obeying the speed limit,
drove off into the night. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| |
| Chapter Twelve |
Back to Top |
| playmynrd |
Benson nervously checked the hallway as he approached his hotel room. Conveniently,
his room was located next to the stairwell. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Confident that he was alone, his hands fumbled with the key. His tremors
caused by a combination of the cold rain and his trepidations. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He made a quick assessment of the room, as he kicked off his soaked shoes.
Heading toward the bathroom, he peeled off his overcoat. |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
Undoing his tie with his left hand, he turned on the shower water and adjusted
it with his right. He piled his wet clothes into a heap. |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
He adjusted the shower head to the highest pulse. The hot water blended
with the ice cold water in his hair, washing it down his back. |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
The shower was a brief deliverance. He was warm and was beginning to relax.
But reality was creeping back into his thoughts. |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
As he was washing his hair, his hands gripped the top of his scalp and he
scratched his head repeatedly harder and harder. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"How did everything go so wrong?" he asked himself. "We had
everything worked out. We went over every detail." |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Mitch said that it would only take a few weeks to a month to pull
this off. 'Sister Kathryn' would be reassigned to a new hospital." |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Sarah would be declared insane with violent tendencies and would be
committed for life. No one would know about Mitch's involvement." |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"I'd have all the money, my marriage to Rebecca would be dissolved,
and we would be set for the rest of our lives." |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"Instead, Rebecca's missing, Detective Lawry is involved, and some
busy-body guard is trying to extort money from Mitch." |
12/30/09 |
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| playmynrd |
"That stupid letter shows up after 16 years, and is turned over to
the police. And to boot, I don't know where Roy is." Benson stepped
from the shower, and dried off. |
12/30/09 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he hardly recognized the image
looking back at him. That youthful, smiling face had been replaced with
an aging, doleful look. |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson walked to the table and pulled out a bottle of beer from the rain-saturated
paper bag he'd brought in with him. |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He opened the bottle and took a large swallow as he sat on the bed, the
springs creaking and sagging under his weight. As he sat, the television
caught his attention. |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The news coverage switched to a wooded area, with a raging river in the
background. He immediately recognized Detective Lawry on the scene. |
1/19/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"That looks like the road outside the hospital heading to Salt Flats
and Foggy Break". Benson turned up the volume. "What the hell?" |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The news reporter stood stoically at the scene. "The driver was Officer
James Tanner of the Mason Creek County sheriff department who volunteered
as a security guard at St. Dymphna's." |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Preliminary reports indicate that Officer Tanner, upon leaving St.
Dymphna's, lost control of his vehicle and plunged off the embakement." |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson sat in stunned silence at the revelation that Tanner was a Mason
Creek County sheriff. |
1/19/10 |
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| playmynrd |
The reporter's attention turned to Detective Lawry. "It appears that
this was a horrible accident. We'll continue our investigation, though." |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
The news coverage signed off and was replaced by a commercial for a local
car dealership. |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson's muscles were tense, his hands shaking, his mind raced as he tried
to think of ways to mitigate this disaster. |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson checked his watch. "Where is the bastard?" he wondered.
"He should've been here by now. We need to figure out how to fix this" |
1/19/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
The knock at the door caused him to jump, almost dropping his beer. "Who's
there?" he asked, standing up. "Open the door," answered
the familiar voice. |
1/19/10 |
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| empress2000 |
Benson ran his hand through his hair. Setting his beer on the cheap, cigarette
burned table, he opened the motel door, letting Mitchell in. |
1/19/10 |
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| empress2000 |
"What is going on?" Benson demanded. "I thought you had this
under control. I can't believe you talked me into this." |
1/19/10 |
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| empress2000 |
"Whoa, whoa. Slow down, pal." Hugh held his hands up in a gesture
of surrender. |
1/19/10 |
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| empress2000 |
Benson took a deep ragged breath in. Letting it out slowly, he sat back
down on the bed. |
1/19/10 |
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| empress2000 |
Hugh nonchalantly crossed the room and helped himself to a bottle of beer. |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He took a deep pull on the bottle then turned to face Benson. |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell glanced around the dingy motel room. "I need you to calm down
and focus," he said. "You won't be helping at all if you start
getting all twitchy." |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Looking Hugh straight in the eyes, Benson asked sarcastically, "I don't
suppose you know anything about Tanner dying?" |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Dying? What are you talking about?" Hugh acted genuinely taken
aback. |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"Oh, come on, Mitch. They pulled his body and truck out of the river.
It was just on the news." Benson was near hysteria. "He was a
cop!" |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"You killed a cop, Mitch" Benson's hands were shaking so violently
that he could barely extinguish his cigarette. |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"I didn't kill him!" Hugh said in a shrill voice. "I'm supposed
to meet him tonight to take care of this Rebecca thing." |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"Yea, well don't bother, Mitch, he's dead." Benson didn't believe
Hugh's declaration of innocence. |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
Hugh opened a briefcase that he had brought with him. "Look, there's
10 grand in here that I was going to offer him." |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"Do you think I'd be carrying all this money around to give to a dead
guy? And what do you mean he was a cop?" |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"Yea, a cop, Mitch. He was a Mason County cop! Do you know the penalty
for cop killing?" |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"I did not kill him!" Hugh was becoming exasperated. "Benson,
get ahold of yourself. We need to figure this out." |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson certainly did not want to be linked to a murder, and neither did
Hugh, for that matter. |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson was so distraught that Hugh knew he must take control of the conversation.
"What did they say on the news?" |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Benson just continued his train of thought. "Lawry... Oh did I mention
that Lawry was there? Lawry said that it was a horrible accident. But it's
just a matter of time, Mitch." |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
"Maybe it was an accident, Benson, maybe a deer or something jumped
out, or he lost his concentration. Let's see what happens." |
2/28/10 |
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| playmynrd |
"He was a cop! He knew these roads. He didn't 'accidentally' drive
into the river! Lawry'll know that!" |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Hugh was trying to placate Benson. Benson was ready to snap and Hugh worried
that Benson would go to Lawry with everything. |
2/28/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Hugh didn't speak for several moments. He suddenly began to feel that things
might be spiraling out of control. |
2/28/10 |
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| empress2000 |
Benson dropped his forehead into his hands. Memories flooded this thoughts. |
5/31/10 |
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| empress2000 |
Long forgotten memories came unbidden. He remembered when he first saw Rebecca,
when Sarah married Edward. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
He'd loved her from that moment. Now he wondered what had happened between
the two of them. |
5/31/10 |
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| empress2000 |
"She had loved me until Roy came along," he thought. "Then
when Roy left, I got her to love me again." |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Benson stared of into space, trying to make order out of his chaotic thoughts. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Fingers snapped in front of his face, pulling him reluctantly back into
the present. Benson stared at Mitchell. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
Mitchell took a sip of his beer. He looked at Benson, his face stoney, his
eyes as dark and threatening as storm clouds. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| empress2000 |
As he was focused on Benson, and the circumstances before him, he thought
to himself, "I can't tell Benson about that phone call. He'll realize
that there is another player in this." |
2/28/10 |
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| |
| Chapter
Thirteen |
Back to Top |
| playmynrd |
Detective Lawry sat in his office, waiting for the phone records of the
911 call about Tanner's death. "What the hell is going on?" he
asked himself. |
5/31/10 |
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| playmynrd |
He sat down at his desk and pulled out a legal pad. "Ok, I have to
write all of this down." He mused on how he was talking to himself
more. |
5/31/10 |
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| playmynrd |
At the top of the yellow page in the middle, he wrote "Tanner",
then he made a connection to "Rebecca". |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
He then connected her to "Roy" and "Benson". "Now,
why would Roy or Benson want Tanner dead?" Lawry rubbed his eyes. "And
just how does Sister Kathryn play in all this?" |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Still talking to himself, "Everyone here is somehow connected to Sister
Kathryn." He reached for his notebook to refresh his mind. |
5/31/10 |
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| playmynrd |
He turned to the page when Sister Kathryn called about Rebecca's disappearance.
His eyes were drawn to an asterisk on the page. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
Lawry had a habit of marking his notes with large asterisks for anything
important or evidence taken at the scene of the crime. |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
His mind was being flooded with more and more questions. Was Sister Kathryn
aware of Tanner's intentions? Did Tanner work in cahoots with Officer Bishop
to help Rebecca escape? |
5/31/10 |
Website |
| playmynrd |
. . . and just where is Rebecca now? Does she know anything about Tanner's
death? Just then, the phone rang. |
5/31/10 |
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