Chapter48 An Ill-fated Spirit

The next morning, when Cindy tells the others about her experience the previous night, her uncle's less than pleased. "Can someone get me a toolbox;" the deputy looks at his niece, "because, I swear this girl's got a screw loose in her head somewhere. Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Kiddo? What are you thinking going out late at night like that…in the woods of all places…by yourself?" "I'm sorry, Uncle Mike; I just thought…" "No," the deputy interrupts his niece, "you didn't think; because, if you did give it some thought, you'd realize how stupid it would be to go into the woods by yourself at night with that thing running around here!" Cindy, who's had it with her uncle's scolding, jumps up from her chair; and, with her index finger, pokes her uncle in the chest while telling him, "First of all, Uncle Mike; that ‘thing' you're referring to is a spirit. And, secondly; you brought me out here to help you with this haunting in the first place. How do you expect me to help if I don't go around checking things out? I'm not a little kid, Uncle Mike; I'm a grown woman, thank you very much. I know what I have to do when dealing with spirits; so, let me just do it!" She pauses briefly; then continues, "And, just for the record, Uncle Mike; I'm not the one going to be giving you a heart attack…it'll be all those chilly cheese dogs you eat that will do that." Sheriff Faulkner rubs it in to the recently admonished uncle. "I do believe that was checkmate, Deputy." The deputy crosses his arms in front of his chest and sucks on his teeth while staring at his niece. He momentarily looks down to the floor; then, back and apologizes, "I'm sorry, Kiddo…I mean, Cindy…but, I can't help it. I worry about you; especially after you were attacked last night. You're right, though; I did bring you out here to help us, so I shouldn't be yelling at you…I'm sorry. Just do your old Uncle Mike a favor and be careful; okay?" Cindy gives her uncle a hug. "I will, Uncle Mike. And, I know you worry about me; and, I love you dearly for that….But, like I said, I'm a grown woman now; and, I can take care of myself…most of the time." She smiles at him; and, he returns a smile of his own. "Now, that's more like it." The sheriff walks over and puts his arms around each of their shoulders. "Can you just feel the love in the room?" Deputy Hopkins takes the sheriff's arm off his shoulder. "Alright, Lloyd; laugh it up for now." Sheriff Faulkner grins; sarcastically asking, "What?" Beth speaks up, "Anyway…my God; what about that poor child? I can't even begin to imagine what she must've been going through; to be abused like that." "So, let me ask you, Ms. Cindy;" the sheriff sits down at the kitchen table, "you said you think Chelsea was a patient at the mental institution that used to be here?" "Yes." "And, what makes you think that…not that I doubt you're right." "Chelsea was wearing a hospital gown and they were dressed in white uniforms…I'm guessing they were interns at the institution." "You mean she was raped by the staff?" Martin asks, while putting his arm around Beth; who's obviously becoming upset from the discussion. "It looks that way, Martin." Cindy grabs a napkin and wipes away the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Martin shakes his head in disgust. "How's that even possible?" Professor Rhyies explains, "It's very possible…especially at that time…for something like that to happen, Martin. Back before there was a system set up to keep tabs on these kinds of hospitals; it wasn't uncommon to hear about that type of rampant abuse. Patients were abused…violently and sexually…by the very individuals entrusted to care for them. Some of the staff at these institutions believed that they'd be able to get away with these acts because of the patients' conditions. Quite frankly, the whole idea of such behavior is totally irreprehensible and inexcusable if you ask me. They all should have been punished to the fullest extent of the law." "Amen to that, Professor." Sheriff Faulkner concurs. "Actually," the deputy interjects his own thoughts on the subject, "what you really should to do is tie up, gag, and throw them over a railing; then, pull down their pants and let good old Chas have a go at ‘em." "Now; I reckon that'd work, too." The sheriff laughs. "Ms. Lidestrom," the professor asks, "how old would you say Chelsea was when that happened to her?" "I don't know…best guess…I'd have to say early twenties…twenty-one or twenty-two, tops." "Interesting." "What, Professor?" "Evidently she didn't succeed with her suicide. So, if she was…say twenty years old…that would make it 1940; seven years before the killing spree started…which would mean that she was, more than likely, in the institution at the time of the murders." "What do you mean more than likely, Professor?" "During those days, once a person was committed to that type of institution; they were usually kept there until they died." "Well, I reckon that confirms it." The sheriff determines, "Charles Steinman definitely was the Woodland Falls killer." "And, that's why the cover up." The deputy adds, "If word got out that the serial killer was a Steinman; their family's reputation would be destroyed. So, I guess Chelsea wasn't their biggest secret embarrassment." "I think we can make another assumption here at this time;" the professor rationalizes, "I believe it's a safe bet to say that Charles is our main presence." "How so, Professor?" Sheriff Faulkner asks. The professor explains, "Charles was the only one who had contact with every persona involved. Chelsea was Charles's sister; so, they obviously knew each other. He crossed paths with Mary that night when he attempted to kill her. Chelsea, on the other hand, had been institutionalized; so, she couldn't have met Mary." "Excuse me; Professor?" "Yes, Ms. Lidestrom?" "How do you know Chelsea and Mary never met?" "Because, she was institutionalized at the time, Ms. Lidestrom; remember?" "Here's the thing though; Trish said the institution was here from 1908 until 1955. In 1961, when Mary and her family were attacked, the hospital no longer existed…at least, not in this area." "True, Ms. Lidestrom; but, I'm sure she would've been transferred to another facility along with the other patients." "Maybe. But, how do we know she was still institutionalized at that time?" "Now, hold on there, Ms. Cindy?" The sheriff cuts in, "Are you saying you don't think Chelsea was in a hospital when the Howell's were killed?" "No, Sheriff; I'm saying I don't know if she was, or not." The deputy wonders, "But, even if Chelsea wasn't in an institute in 1961, she was a patient during the start of the killings; which means Charles was still the killer, right?" His niece responds, "Probably…could be…I'm not sure." "Well now, who else could it be, Ms. Cindy?" The sheriff asks. "What about Tommy?" "What do you mean Tommy, Cindy?" Beth inquires. "We still don't know anything about Tommy for sure yet; just what he and Mary told you….And, we already know that Mary isn't who she claimed to be. We don't even know if he existed at all. And, here's another thing; if Chelsea didn't kill herself when she was seven…and, she lived to be an adult…why are we seeing her image as a child?" "And…what about her looks?" Beth adds. "What about her looks, Beth?" The sheriff asks. "How come she's the only one decomposing?" "She's dying." Cindy concludes. "But; why would her spirit be dying?"