Chapter12 A Call to the Sheriff

Beth's just finished telling Martin about her conversation with Mary. "Well; what do you think? Should I call Lloyd and tell him about Delilah; or, what?" Martin's sitting on the couch trying to take in what Beth's just told him. He doesn't respond. "Martin!" Beth calls out to him. Martin comes out of his train of thought and looks over to Beth. "I'm sorry; did you say something, Beth?" "Yeah. I asked you if you thought I should tell Lloyd about what Mary said happened to Delilah." Martin looks up to the ceiling, exhales, and then, looks back at Beth. "Do you think he would check out the possible murder of a waitress because a dead six-year-old girl told you she was killed and buried on some farm?" "Then you don't think I should tell him?" "I don't know. I mean, you don't even know if Mary's telling you the truth." "I know. But then; what happened to Delilah?" Beth sits down next to Martin, leans into him and lets out a short yell. "Uggh! This is crazy! Martin; what are we suppose to do?" "I don't know if there's anything we can do but wait." Beth lifts her head up from Martin's shoulder and looks directly in his face, "Do you think we should ask Anna what Mary's been telling her?" Martin's quiet for moment; and then says, "I suppose we could; but, I really don't know how much good it would do. We still don't know if Mary's lying or not." "I'd still like to know what she's telling Anna." "Alright; let's ask her." Martin goes to the bottom of the staircase and calls, "Anna! Anna!" "Yes, Daddy?" "Come down here a minute, Pumpkin." Martin goes back to the living room and stands by the fireplace. Anna arrives shortly; and, Beth starts to pat her hand on the couch cushion next to her. "Come here, Sweetie." Anna sits down next to her mother. "Yes, Mommy?" "Sweetie; your father and I were wondering…" Beth takes in a small breath before asking, "what do you and Mary talk about?" Anna bites down on her bottom lip with her top teeth and stares down at the floor. Beth gently places her hand under Anna's chin and lifts her head up towards her. "Anna, Sweetie, it's okay. I know you and Mary have been talking with each other. She told me." Shocked by what her mother just told her…but, also a little relieved that she's not in trouble…Anna asks, "Mommy; Mary talks to you, too?" "She did once; when you and Daddy were out. That was the only time." "So you met her?" "Kind of. Sweetie, I need to know; what did Mary tell you?" Again, Anna bites down on her lip and looks down at the floor. Beth guides Anna's head back to looking at her. "Anna, Sweetie; what did she tell you?" Speaking very softly; almost whispering, "She said there was a bad man that did bad things here." "Did she tell you anything about this bad man…what he did?" Anna shakes her head no. Beth asks… "Did Mary tell you anything else?" Anna nods; still not saying a word. "What; Sweetie? What else did Mary tell you?" Anna looks around; then, speaks softly again, "Mary said that sometimes he comes back here." Both Beth and Martin look at each other. Martin walks over from the fireplace and sits down on the other side of Anna. He asks, "She told you he comes back here?" Anna nods. "Yes; sometimes." Martin takes in a breath. "When does he come back, Anna?" "When he gets mad?" Beth joins in, "What makes him mad?" Anna turns to Beth and shrugs her shoulders. Beth inquires, "Mary didn't tell you what makes the bad man mad?" Anna shakes her head no. Beth asks, "Sweetie, besides the bad man, did Mary tell you anything else; maybe about another little girl who comes around here?" "You mean Chelsea; Mommy?" "Yes…Chelsea. What did Mary tell you about Chelsea?" "Mary said Chelsea's bad too. She said that Chelsea hurt her brother really bad." Beth takes a moment to think before reluctantly asking… "Sweetie; did Mary tell you anything about Delilah?" "No." Beth lets out a sigh of relief; then, kisses Anna on her head. "Okay, Sweetie; that's all we wanted to know. Why don't you go in the kitchen and get yourself some ice cream." "Okay." Anna gets up and starts towards the kitchen; then, turns around and asks, "Do you want me to get you some ice cream too?" "No thank you; Sweetie." Anna skips off. Beth rushes to pick up the phone and starts dialing. Martin asks… "Who are you calling?" "I'm calling Lloyd. Martin, I have to know what happened to Delilah. I have to find out if Mary's telling the truth… Hello…Yes, I need to speak with Sheriff Faulkner; is he in?...Well, is there a number I could reach him at?...Yes, if you could, I'd appreciate it. Tell him it's Beth Lazinski, and it's really important….Thank you; yes, I'll hold." Hearing that Beth's on hold, Martin asks, "So; what's going on?" "They're going to get him on his phone, then connect the call to…Hello, Lloyd? This is Beth." "Yes, Beth; what's the matter?" "Lloyd, listen…I need a favor." "Go ahead." "Okay, this is going to seem odd; but, I need you to check into something…but. please don't ask me how I found out what I did?" Intrigued now; the sheriff responds, "Alright; what is it exactly you need me to look into?" "There's a waitress…at least there was a waitress that worked in the diner…Delilah. I think something might have happened to her." "What do you think happened?" "God this is going to seem crazy, I know; but, I think she's been murdered?" There's a brief moment of silence on the phone; then, the sheriff continues… "Murdered? Beth, are you sure?" Upset now, "Lloyd, listen to me; I think she's been killed!" "Calm down now, Beth; I'm listening." "Lloyd, I think she's buried on a farm…um…Johnson…no wait, Johnston…that's right; Johnston farm." "Alright; now when do you think this happened?" "I'm not sure; three, four days or so ago." There's another moment of silence, before the sheriff tells her, "Beth, I need for you to calm down and relax for a minute…" Beth interrupts the sheriff. "Calm down; Lloyd, a woman may have been killed…" "Hold on there now; Beth. I realize you're upset…I can hear it in your voice…But see, here's the thing; you keep using the terms ‘think' and ‘may have'. That gives me the impression you're not sure? Am I right?" "Yes, but…" "Beth, now I need you to calm down and listen to me. Delilah's fine…" "How do you know that, Lloyd? You didn't even…" Beth stops talking and listens. She turns pale and shakes as tears run down her cheeks. Then she breaks her silence. "I'm sorry, Lloyd. I didn't mean to - No, okay - Thanks. You too, goodnight." Beth, still pale and trembling, hangs up the phone; as she wipes away the tears. Martin goes over to Beth and asks… "Beth; what did the sheriff say?" Her voice cracks a little as she tells her husband, "He said Delilah's fine and not to worry." "How does he know that?" Beth holds the back of her neck with both her hands, fingers interlaced, and stares up to the ceiling. Then, she turns to look at Martin; speaking while laughing and crying at the same time… "He said he knows she's okay because he was at the diner this morning with his deputy having breakfast…and, Delilah was their waitress!"