Chapter78 Payback…Perhaps

"I was sure that was Mary's skeleton." Cindy's confounded by the autopsy results. "Are you sure the test results are accurate?" "99.9 percent, Ms. Cindy." The sheriff assures her. "But; how could that be, Professor?" "As I was telling your uncle and the sheriff earlier today, Ms. Lidestrom; spirits... especially malevolent ones…tend to play with the psychic's mind. It's a power-play move they relish partaking in. That's why you have to trust me when I tell you; killing yourself to contact Chelsea is not only unnecessary…it's down right utter foolishness." Beth walks over and slaps Cindy across her face. "Are you fucking crazy; why would you even think of doing such a stupid thing?!" Cindy rubs her freshly marked cheek and cries, "I'm sorry! I don't know, Beth; I just thought…I thought…I promised you I'd do whatever it took. I thought…" Beth hugs Cindy; her eyes tear as she whispers in Cindy's ear, "It's okay; I understand. Thank you, Cindy. But, please; don't ever think you have to do that. There's always got to be a better alternative than that; okay?" "Okay, Beth." The two release each other and wipe their eyes dry. Cindy turns to the professor. "So, now that we know they're screwing with my mind; what now, Professor?" "Ms. Lidestrom; the only reason why this entity is…‘screwing with your mind' as you put it…is because it knows you have the ability to stop it. It needs you out of this dynamic. So, proceed with caution…and, please…discuss with me any thoughts you may have from now on before acting upon them…especially those drastically deviant from what actions you would normally take. Agreed?" Cindy nods. "Agreed." "So, now that we've taken care of that…back to the autopsy results….whose skeleton is it?" the sheriff wonders. "Of course," the professor removes his glasses…the third pair he's on since getting involved in this case…to clean, as he speculates, "we'd know for sure if you could manage to exhume the body that's buried in his grave and conduct an autopsy; but, I still believe the skeleton found in the lake was that of Davey Howell." "But; Davey Howell was found up in the attic, Professor." "But, who's to say that was Davey Howell found up there. You're going by what some clerk told you. Let me ask you something, Ms. Lidestrom; did you ask this woman about Davey Howell specifically, or did she volunteer this information after she found out you were researching him?" "I guess she came to me after the fact." "Exactly. And, who's to say the information she provided you was accurate?" "I don't know." "Aha. And; let's not forget Beth's keen perception the other night." Beth, caught off guard, asks the professor, "Me? What did I say?" "The other night you asked why Mary wouldn't have told them about Davey being up there; remember?" "Yes." "Who's to say Mary didn't tell them." "Hold on there a minute, Professor." Sheriff Faulkner joins in the discussion. "What is it you're saying?" The professor places his glasses back on his face, cups his hands behind the small of his back, and starts pacing as he speculates. "What if Mary Howell did kill the serial killer that night? And, what if Phillip Steinman…along with the other officials there…felt it necessary to keep the truth about whatever happened here that night a secret? Certainly they would have to keep Mary quiet somehow; right? And, let's go one step further. Let's say that Mary in fact did tell them about her brother being chained up in the attic? That's another one they'd have to keep quiet. Are you following me so far, Sheriff?" "Sort of, I reckon." "Now, what if…and, that's a big ‘if'; I know…but, just what if someone there that night had ties to the killer; and, was angered by Mary killing him? What if they felt the killer's killing needed to be vindicated for whatever sick, perverse reason? They already knew they'd have to keep Mary and Davey quiet, permanently… but, what if a quick death for Mary wasn't good enough? What if…again; open up your minds here everyone…what if they killed Davey, and threw him in the lake that night; then chained Mary up in the attic to slowly emaciate and die up there? Payback perhaps?" "That's insane, Professor; I mean, really sick!" "Perhaps, Deputy; but, after everything you've seen thus far, can you look at me and honestly dismiss the possibility?" "No; and, that's what really sickens me." "So, what do you reckon we do, Professor?" "Like I said before, Sheriff; you need to find out where the body that was found up in the attic was buried, and have an autopsy conducted on it. Then, we'll know for sure." "Excuse me, Professor?" "Yes, Ms. Lidestrom?" "If it turns out that it was Mary Howell's body found up in the attic, couldn't that mean that Mary…really is Mary?"