Chapter8 Delilah's Sudden Departure

It's been three days, and Beth's noticed something's troubling Anna. She seems to be nervous…almost frightened…about something. Anna's even been coming in to sleep with her and Martin in their bed; which she hasn't done since she was three-years-old. Beth's come to the conclusion that a day away from that house just may be what Anna… not to mention herself also…needs. At the diner, they're met and seated by another waitress this time; named Rose. Beth can sense she's not as friendly as Delilah; and, figures she probably wouldn't be getting much information from her. "What will you have today?" Rose hastily asks…as if Beth and Anna are somehow bothering her…while staring down at her order pad. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe if we could just start off with a cup of coffee and glass of orange juice for now…" Beth, looking at the menu, is cut off by Rose. "One coffee and orange juice." Rose begins to walk away. "Excuse me," Beth calls out. Rose turns around, letting out a small huff under her breath. She walks back, conveying an annoyed tone in her voice, "Yes?" "I was just wondering;" Beth looks around the diner, "is Delilah working today?" "No." Rose turns and starts to walk away again. "Excuse me," Beth calls out again, becoming a little perturbed by Rose's attitude. "Now what?" Rose snaps. Finding it now a difficult task to be civil with Rose's rudeness, Beth ‘bites her tongue' as she asks, "When will Delilah be working again?" "She won't." Confused with Rose's answer, "I'm sorry; what do you mean, she won't?" Rose rolls her eyes. "I mean, she doesn't work here anymore. She's done. Gone." "Gone where?" "Oh for the love of…" Rose huffs; then tells Beth, "She moved back to Portland, Oregon to be with her family." "Oregon? She told me she lived here her whole life. Are you sure?" "Look, I'm just telling you what I heard. Now…is there anything else you want…or can I go get your drinks now? Maybe take care of some of my other customers?" Shocked by the news…and totally disgusted with Rose's attitude, "You know what…just forget it." Beth gets up. "Come on Anna, Sweetie; let's go find a McDonalds somewhere." Rose plods away. "Fine." As they're leaving, Beth runs into Sheriff Faulkner and one of his deputies. "Hi, there Beth. Ms. Anna." The sheriff tips his Stetson. "Hello, Sheriff…Uh; Lloyd." "Beth…Anna…I'd like to introduce you to Deputy Charles Grotto." The deputy nods. "Ladies." "Deputy." Beth reaches out to shake his hand, "So; is it Deputy Grotto, or Charles." Shaking her hand, "Deputy Grotto will be just fine." He sees the sheriff give him a look. "What?" The sheriff just shakes his head. "So, Beth; just finished having some breakfast?" "Actually," Beth turns away momentarily to look into the diner window, and then, turns back to the sheriff, "we decided not to get anything here. You wouldn't happen to know where there's a McDonalds around here; would you?" "Sure; if you go down six blocks and make a right onto Charleston Avenue, it's down about half a block on the left." "Thanks. Have a good day, Lloyd. Deputy Grotto." As Beth walks away, Sheriff Faulkner can see she's upset. "Wait a minute, Beth." He turns to the deputy, "Charles, why don't you go inside and grab us a table. I'll be there in a few minutes." The deputy goes inside. The sheriff goes over to Beth. "Now; what's wrong?" "Anna, Sweetie; take the keys and wait in the car for Mommy, please." Anna goes to the car as instructed. Beth stares down at the ground; then, back to the sheriff. "Is it that obvious?" Sheriff Faulkner nods. Beth asks… "Tell me something, Lloyd…Since you've been sheriff here; did anyone ever tell you about the murders?" Taken aback by Beth's question, "Murders? What murders?" "Lloyd," Beth informs him, "from 1947 until 1961, there were thirty-two families killed in this area." "Thirty-two families killed here?" The sheriff removes his hat, runs his fingers through his hair, then puts his hat back on and places his hands on both hips. "Are you sure? Nobody's ever mentioned anything about any murders to me. How do you know about them?" "It's all there, at the library in Pawtucket. From 1947 to 1961, thirty-two families were killed in Woodland Falls before just suddenly stopping. They never…" "Hold on there, Beth," Sheriff Faulkner interrupts, "Woodland Falls? I thought you said the killings happened here?" Beth explains, "They did. This town was called Woodland Falls before they changed the name to Beaver Ridge. The name was changed right after the killings stopped; probably so not to draw attention to the town if word spread about the murders." The sheriff stands there quiet for a moment, looking up into the sky; then, looks back to Beth. "Okay; let me see if I got this straight. You're telling me that from 1947 to 1961, there was a murder spree in this area; where thirty-two families were killed? At the time, the town was called Woodland Falls; but, they changed it to Beaver Ridge to keep this whole thing a secret? Is that it in a nutshell?" "Yes. And by the way, the house that we moved into; that was where the last of the murders took place." "I can see why you might be upset then?" Beth senses some disbelief on his part. "I'm not making this up, Lloyd. Like I said; it's all there at the library." "I'm not saying you're making anything up, Beth." "But, you don't believe me?" "Now, I didn't say that." The sheriff takes off his hat and runs his fingers through his hair again before placing it back. "It's just kinda hard to picture all those killings being done without me hearing about it within the last year and a half." "Lloyd," Beth reminds him, "you're an outsider too." "I don't think that's something a town would keep from its sheriff…outsider or not…do you?" "Believe what you want; I saw the articles…and, I live in that house. There's definitely something going on there…something the town isn't letting us in on." "Something going on in your house? I thought we were talking about what happened in town. What's going on in your house?" "Never mind, Lloyd; it's not important. Just…just…I don't know… just have a good one. Anna's waiting; I have to go. See you around." As Beth walks off, the sheriff stands there with a puzzled look on his face. When Beth drives by, Anna waves to him; and he waves back. Then he goes into the diner and joins the deputy. "I ordered you some coffee, Lloyd." "Thanks, Charles." The sheriff takes a sip, and asks, "Charles; how long have you been with the department?" "I don't know; about eleven years or so. Why?" "Just wondering." He takes another sip of coffee while looking at the menu. "Have there even been any murders around here?" "Murders?" The deputy let's out a nervous chuckle. "No. No murders since I've been with the department." The sheriff takes another sip; still looking at the menu, "That's good to hear." He takes another sip. "What about before you were with the department?" The sheriff puts the menu down and watches the deputy. The deputy hesitates before answering; taking a sip of his coffee. "No…I don't recall any murders." He goes back to drinking his coffee; avoiding eye contact with the sheriff. "That's what I figured." Sheriff Faulkner finishes his coffee and resumes looking at the menu.