Chapter50 The Living Mary Howell

Beth's anxious the entire trip; with her stomach knotting up the closer they get to their destination. She's about to meet the woman who was supposed to have been killed back in 1961 along with her parents. Forty-four years later, Mary Howell's still alive and residing in New Hampshire. As they pull into the driveway, Beth notices a curtain in the front window of the two-story Cape Cod house open slightly; and then, close. Not long after that, the front door opens, and a slightly older than middle-aged woman dressed in a nurse's uniform steps out. Beth feels her heart begin to pound in her chest. It's Mary's face…once you add forty some odd years to it…right down to the dimple in her chin. Anna sees a very strong resemblance between this woman's and her friend's face; and, whispers in Beth's ear, "Mommy; is that Mary's grandma?" Beth…who's still in awe; gawking with her hand over her mouth, as tears run down her cheeks…lowers her hand and tells Anna, "No, Sweetie; that's Mary." She wipes the tears from her cheeks and puts her hand back over her mouth. Anna stares at the woman; totally dumbfounded. Professor Rhyies called earlier and informed Mary why they were coming out to see her; so, when they get out of the vehicle, she waves for them to come in. Once inside, she takes them to the den. Mary's aware that Anna's been staring at her the entire time. "Why hello there, precious; and what's your name?" "Annabeth." She continues staring at the older Mary. "That's a beautiful name; it definitely suites you, Annabeth." Anna doesn't say a word; she just stares. Beth calls to her, "Anna! Mrs. Johnson just gave you a compliment. Where are your manners; what do you say?" "Thank you, Mrs. Johnson." She continues staring at her. "Anna!" Her mother's becoming embarrassed. Mary raises hand. "It's fine…um…Beth; right?" "Yes." Mary looks at Anna. "Are you okay, Annabeth; would you like to ask me something?" Anna looks down and bites down on her bottom lip; then, looks back up and asks, "Are you Mary?" She nods. "That's my name." Anna asks, "But; are you the Mary who used to live in our house?" She nods again. "Yes, Annabeth; I am." Anna looks down again and bites down on her lip; this time biting down so hard, she cuts her lip and bleeds. "Sweetie!" Beth opens her pocket book and frantically searches for a tissue. Professor Rhyies pulls out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket. "Here, Beth; its clean." "Thank you." She takes the handkerchief and wipes the blood from Anna's face; then, holds it over the cut on her lip, applying pressure. "Anna, Sweetie; are you okay?" Anna remains silent, oblivious even to the fact that she's bitten her lip, looking down at her feet. "Sweetie?" Professor Rhyies tells her, "Give her a moment, Beth; she needs to let it sink in." Anna finally takes the handkerchief from Beth's hand off her lip, stares down at the blood stained cloth, and asks, "Then; who's that at our house, Mommy?" Beth hugs Anna; then, while stroking the side of her head, whispers in Anna's ear, "We don't know, Sweetie; that's why we came here today….To talk with the real Mary; and, see if we can figure out who that is." "Excuse me; Mrs. Johnson?" "Mary; please, Professor Rhyies." "Alright…Mary…but, call me Wilhelm then; agreed?" "Agreed…Wilhelm." "Mary, perhaps there's a TV somewhere that Anna can watch while we talk?" "Of course; there's a television upstairs in our bedroom. Come on Annabeth, let's see if we can't find something for you to watch." Anna doesn't move. "Anna, Sweetie; what's the matter? You can go with Mrs. Johnson to see what's on…or, do you want me to go with you?" "Mommy; can't I stay here?" Beth shakes her head. "Oh no, Sweetie; this is grown up talk and…" Professor Rhyies cuts in, "Perhaps, Beth; that wouldn't be such a bad idea…for her to know what's going on, that is." "What?" Beth's stunned by the professor's suggestion. "You can't be serious, Professor? For God's sake; she's only six-years-old!" Mary cuts in now, "And, I was six when it happened, Beth. Look what I went through that night…what I was up against…what I had to do. Kids are pretty resilient. Sometimes, as adults, we tend to forget how strong we were as little kids…but, we managed to survive and become adults." Beth's silent for a moment, caressing Anna's cheek in her hand, before asking the professor, "But, do you really think she needs to hear this?" "Beth, after what she's been through; I believe she's earned the right to know what's going on…don't you?" Beth nods; as tears run down her cheeks again. "Yeah…she has." Beth sniffles, wiping away the tears with the blood stained handkerchief, "Okay; Anna can stay." Beth puts her arm around Anna's shoulder as the two of them lean back into the couch. Professor Rhyies begins. "I know this isn't going to be easy for you, Mary…" he looks to Beth and Anna, "for any of you…but, why don't you tell us about that night." Mary folds her hands in her lap and starts rubbing them together. Her eyes start to develop a watery film over them. She takes in a few swallows before starting to talk. "Okay…uh…hmm…I don't really know where to start. I really haven't tried to think about it, and…" "That's perfectly alright;" the professor tells her, "relax. Take your time, Mary; we understand." "Well…everybody knew about the killings in town back then; but, no one ever thought it would happen to their family. I know I sure didn't think about it." Mary looks down at her hands as she takes another swallow. "I don't remember why; but, for some reason, I wasn't able to fall asleep that night. I was lying in my bed, holding my doll, looking up at the ceiling. I don't even know how long I stood there like that….The night seemed to drag on and on. Then, I heard…I heard…" Mary becomes silent. "What did you hear, Mary?" Mary shuts her eyes tight, as tears start to flow out. She opens them and answers. "I heard my mom screaming…I never heard her scream like that before…I never heard anyone scream like that ever again to this day. She was yelling out to me, ‘Mary! Get out! Get out of the house, Mary!' And, then I didn't hear her anymore. ‘Get out of the house, Mary'…those were the last words I heard my mother say to me." Mary closes her eyes again; as more tears run down her face. Beth's also crying; holding onto to Anna. Anna feels bad for her, but, doesn't cry; she just has a sympathetic expression on her face. She gets up and walks over to Mary; then, reaches out and holds Mary's trembling hands. Mary opens her eyes and looks down at the concerned Anna. Mary wipes the tears from her face, picks up Anna, and holds her in her lap as she continues. "I was so terrified; but, for some reason, I felt compelled to go to my parents' bedroom. I remember running down the hallway; stopping outside their door. The door on the right was slightly opened, and I remember hearing a lot of noise coming from in there. Things were crashing around; being thrown about and breaking. When I peeked in; I saw…I saw…I…" Mary closes her eyes and tries to compose herself. The professor tells her, "Mary, it isn't necessary for you tell us what you saw in your parents' bedroom that night; we'll understand. If you could just tell us what happened after that….When you were at the barn; perhaps?" Mary takes in a breath and continues. "Okay then…I ran to the barn, and hid up in the loft. I remember waiting; looking out a crack in the boards at our house. Then, I saw him walk out the back door…covered in blood…dragging an ax on the ground behind him. He looked around before heading to the barn. That's when I hid behind a couple of hay bales that were up in the loft. I remember hearing the barn doors crash open. Then, I heard him throwing stuff around and kicking open the stalls. After that, I heard him climbing up the ladder; and, I knew I had to do something or I was a goner. I suppose that's when the adrenaline kicked in; because I suddenly felt this surge of incredible strength. I grabbed a bale of hay and threw it down on top of him; knocking him off the ladder. After that, I leapt from the loft; landing on top of him. Then…I snapped. I went for a shovel lying on the ground in the stall, and proceeded to smack him in the head over and over…I couldn't stop. My hands were hurting from the pressure of the impact; but, I kept hitting him. Eventually, my arms become so exhausted that I couldn't lift the shovel anymore; that's when I stopped. I dropped it next to his motionless body and went out to the yard. Next thing I remember, Deputy Jameson, who was driving by our house on patrol, pulled into the driveway…I guess he thought it was strange that I would be out in the yard at that time of the night. Deputy Jameson told me later that when he saw the blood on my pajamas, he realized something terrible had just happened; and, he immediately called for back up. And, that was that…it was over." There's silence in the room while Mary holds onto a sympathetic Anna, Beth wipes away her tears, and the professor sits in some deep thought. After several minutes, the professor breaks the silence and picks up their discussion. "Mary; do you know who your attacker was that night?" "No; they never told me." "Do you remember what he looked like?" "No; he was wearing a ski mask" "Pardon me for asking, Mary; but, if the killer was wearing a ski mask, how do you know it was a man?" "I'm assuming it was a man because he was so big…and, had a man's stature." "Could it be possible that the killer appeared really big because you were a small child at the time, Mary?" Mary shakes her head vigorously. "No. Trust me Wilhelm, this person was huge. A monster!" "I'm sure he was." The professor smiles and lets out a chuckle. "And, yet another case of David slaying Goliath." "I suppose." Mary cracks a little smile. "So, why didn't they ever report that the killer was dead; and, have the papers write that you were killed, Mary?" Beth inquires. "I don't know why they didn't tell people he was killed. They told me that it was best that people thought I was killed because I had already gone through a lot, and didn't need reporters harassing me for my story; which was true…I didn't need that. So, they arranged for me to move in my aunt in Connecticut. They had her agree to go along with their story; and, provided a fake name and background for me to use from then on." "And, this was the police department's idea?" Professor Rhyies asks. "Actually;" Mary replies, "I believe it was the mayor's plan." "The mayor's plan?" "Yes; he was there that night. I believe Sheriff Coles called for him to come out to the house." "Why?" Beth jumps in. Mary answers, "I don't know." "Who was the mayor then, Mary?" Professor Rhyies asks while starting to clean his glasses' lenses. "At the time…let's see…I believe it was Phillip Steinman."