Chapter14 Sheriff Faulkner Offers Assistance

When Beth pulls in the driveway, she sees Martin sitting on the front porch talking with Sheriff Faulkner. Anna gets out and runs over to them. "Hi, Sheriff." Tipping his hat to her. "Howdy, Ms. Annabeth; and, how are we today?" Giggling, trying to imitate the sheriff's accent, "We're fine." "Well now, I'm mighty glad to hear that." "Hmmmm!" Martin pretends to clear his throat as he looks at Anna. Anna goes over and hugs Martin. "Hi, Daddy." "Hi, Pumpkin." He kisses her on the cheek. "So; did you and Mommy have fun today?" "I guess." "What do you mean you guess? What did you do?" "We ate at the diner; then, went to the city." The sheriff tells Anna, "Why now, that sounds like fun to me…a day in the city." "Yeah, I guess. I just wish we'd go to other places besides the library." "And what's wrong with the library?" Beth asks she walks up to the group. "Nothing, Mommy. I like the library." Looking for a quick way out, "Can I go inside and watch some TV before dinner?" Beth lets her off the hook. "Go ahead." "Thank you….Bye, Sheriff." Tipping his hat again, "Good day, Ms. Annabeth." After Anna leaves, he turns to Beth, tipping his hat, "Hi, Beth. How you doing today?" Beth unconvincingly answers, "Oh; fine." Martin and the sheriff look at each other; both realizing Beth isn't being totally honest. "Beth, Hon;" Martin goes over and takes her hands, "what's the matter?" "Nothing's the matter, Martin." She turns to the sheriff. "So; what brings you out here, Lloyd?" "I just wanted to see if you were alright. You seemed real upset last night when we talked. And, since I didn't meet Martin; I figured I'd mosey on over and meet him too. So; are you okay?" "I'm fine. Thanks, Lloyd." Again, the sheriff isn't convinced; but, decides to let it go. "Well, that's good then." "So;" Martin asks, "Were you able to find out anything about Chelsea?" Beth, stunned that Martin brought the subject of Chelsea up in front of the sheriff, gives him a scolding look. Martin quickly tells Beth… "It's okay. Lloyd and I've been talking about what's been happening here and…" "Wait a minute," Beth's aghast, "you told Lloyd?" "Yeah." "Everything?" Martin nervously answers, "Yeah." "Oh my God, Martin!" "What?" Sheriff Faulkner interjects, "Beth, I think Martin was right for telling me what's been happening here. In fact…not to scare you…but, it sounds like it may be a bit risky staying here." Not happy about what he just said; but, relieved that he doesn't think they're crazy, "So, then you believe us; that we've had contact with ghosts? That there's something going on in this house?" "Now, why wouldn't I believe you? You don't strike me as the kind of folks who'd go around making stuff like this up. Besides, this isn't the first case I've heard about regarding the supernatural." "Really?" "Really." Sheriff Faulkner goes on, "I could recollect about seven or eight instances back in Galveston where some pretty strange stuff happened…and, the only possible explanation was it involved some type of paranormal activity." Martin cuts in, "Beth, Lloyd was telling me something; and, we wanted to run it by you." "What?" "Lloyd, why don't you tell her?" "Alrighty." The sheriff removes his hat and starts moving his hands around the brim. "Before, when I mentioned those seven or eight instances….About nine years ago, I was a detective with Homicide down in Galveston. We had this case involving the murder of an eight-year-old girl who was supposedly killed in the care of her nanny. Obviously, the nanny denied any wrong doing; but, it didn't look good for her. Yet she insisted she was innocent. Unfortunately, being in the glorious state of Texas; she now found herself facing the death penalty. Luckily for her, the girl's grandparents liked her; and, believed she didn't do it. And, what complicated matters even more; they believed the girl's father had something to do with it. So, now we were in a bit of a quandary. One of the lieutenants suggested we contact this psychic…a Madame Chybovsky… whom the department used before with positive results. Most of us were skeptical at first; but, we figured what the hell, it couldn't hurt. So, we call this Madame Chybovsky; and, she agrees to help us. When we brought her to the crime scene, she attempted to channel the spirit of the victim. To be perfectly honest with yawl, at first I thought she was just there ‘blowing smoke'; but, I'll be damned if she didn't do it. She actually contacted this girl and asked her who killed her. She was even able to have us directed to where vital evidence was to prosecute the case." "So: was it the father killed her?" Beth asks. "Actually; it turned out to be her mother. But, the point is that this Madame Chybovsky actually is a legitimate and successful psychic. From what I understand, we're not the only department that used her to help solve crimes by contacting the dead." "And, you think she can help us?" "If it's alright with you, I'd like to get in contact with her; and, ask if she wouldn't mind coming out here." Beth eagerly approves. "Oh yes! Thank you, Lloyd; that would be great! Do you think she'll come?" "Well, we won't know ‘til I ask. I don't see why she wouldn't." "So;" Martin changes the topic, "did you find out anything about Chelsea's suicide?" Beth puts her hands in her pockets, walks off the porch, and looks up into the sky; then, turns back around. She tells them… "I don't get it. I still don't know who to believe at this point. Mary lied about Delilah being killed…but, there was an article on Chelsea's suicide." "What did it say, Beth?" Sheriff Faulkner inquires. "Like Mary said; they called it a suicide…although the article speculated onto the possibility of there being foul play involved." "What…murder?" Martin asks. "They didn't come out and say it;" Beth responds, "but, they did kind of hint at it." "Great; another murder in Woodland Falls." Martin rubs the back of his head with his hand as he walks to the end of the porch and leans on the corner post. "What else did it say, Beth?" the sheriff asks. "Well, like Mary said; they didn't mention anything about her killing Tommy. In fact, come to think of it, I couldn't find anything on Tommy whatsoever; not even in the obituaries. That's odd; don't you think, Lloyd?" The sheriff nods, then Beth continues… "And, here's the kicker…her name was Chelsea Delores Steinman…daughter of Phillip Montgomery Steinman; who just happened to be the mayor of Woodland Falls at that time."