Chapter97 Final Preparations

Cindy senses that Mary's watching. Deputy Hopkins looks out back and sees his niece standing at the end of the porch; and, goes out to join her. He walks up behind her; placing his hand on her shoulder. Startled; Cindy jumps and spins around. "Sorry, Kiddo; didn't mean to scare you." "That's okay, Uncle Mike. Sorry for jumping around like that; I didn't hear you come up behind me." "Hey, no need to apologize. Considering what we're about to do; I guess we're all a little on edge today." "I guess." Cindy turns back to looking at the barn. Deputy Hopkins leans over, resting his arms on the porch railing, and looks at the barn with his niece. "So; what's going on over there, Kiddo?" "Mary's watching." "Where's she at?" Cindy points. "Up there…in the loft." He stares directly at the loft door; which is slightly opened. "I don't see anything. Can you see her now?" "No; but trust me, she's up there watching." "I believe you." Deputy Hopkins stares down at the ground and asks, "Do you think she knows what we're up to?" There's a brief pause before she answers, "Yeah…I think she does." The Deputy looks up towards the barn loft door; then, back at his niece…who's never taken her eyes off of there the entire time. "Do you suppose Tommy knows, then?" "Maybe." "Okay." The Deputy sucks on his teeth before asking, "Is he up there with her?" "I don't think so." Almost afraid to ask, "Where do you think he is then, Kiddo?" She hesitates before answering, "He's around." There are a few minutes of silence between the two as they watch the barn; then, he asks, "Kiddo; do you think they'll follow us to the cabin? I mean, doesn't this all depend on getting Tommy out there?" "Yeah." Cindy pauses; then, assures him, "Don't worry; they'll be there." "And; Chelsea…will she be there?" Cindy confidently replies, "Definitely, Uncle Mike." "Well, that's good." He goes back to looking at the barn with his niece. There's another short period of silence between the two before Cindy speaks. "Uncle Mike, I need you to do me a favor." He turns to look at his niece; who's still watching the barn. "Sure; what is it?" She briefly hesitates before replying, "When we're at the cabin today; keep an eye on Sheriff Faulkner." "Keep an eye on Lloyd…why; what's going on, Kiddo?" "I found out something last night." "What?" "I was talking with Beth about what we'd be doing today; and, of course, Jean-Louise came up in the discussion. Uncle Mike, Beth was telling me…do you know anything about a case Sheriff Faulkner was on down in Galveston; where a little girl was murdered?" "Yeah; it was the Ramirez case." "Then; you know the name of the little girl who was killed?" "I can't remember; I heard about it a while ago. What was it?" "Her name was Jean-Louise Wadell, Uncle Mike." "Shit!" The deputy pounds his fist on the porch railing. "So; what does this mean now?" "I'm not exactly sure yet." "But; you have something in mind…spill it, Kiddo." "Sometimes when spirits possess a person, they're able to read their hosts minds; even be able to look at their memories. Beth said Anna admitted Mary chose the name for her doll…the same name as the girl murdered in one Sheriff Faulkner's cases. Coincidence…I don't think so. " "So, you think Lloyd's being possessed by Tommy?" The deputy looks in the window and watches the sheriff help pack food for their imminent excursion. "Not all the time; but, I think he has. How else would Mary have known about the name Jean-Louise Wadell? Maybe that's how Tommy's been finding out about what we've been discovering and planning to do." "Damn it! Okay; so, what do you thinks gonna happen, that you want me to watch him?" Cindy looks back at the barn loft door, takes in a breath, and exhales. "I don't know what's going to happen today, Uncle Mike; but, I have this feeling that either Tommy or Mary will be hitching a ride with the sheriff."