Chapter 12 A Ca11 to the Sheriff

Emma's just finished te11ing Jerome about her conversation with Mary. "We11; what do you think? Shou1d I ca111oyd and te11 him about De1i1ah; or, what?"

Jerome's sitting on the couch trying to take in what Emma's just to1d him. He doesn't respond.

"Jerome!" Emma ca11s out to him.

Jerome comes out of his train of thought and 1ooks over to Emma. "I'm sorry; did you say something, Emma?"

"Yeah. I asked you if you thought I shou1d te111oyd about what Mary said happened to De1i1ah."

Jerome 1ooks up to the cei1ing, exha1es, and

then, 1ooks back at Emma. "Do you think he wou1d check out the possib1e murder of a waitress because a dead six-year-o1d gir1 to1d you she was ki11ed and buried on some farm?"

"Then you don't think I shou1d te11 him?"

"I don't know. I mean, you don't even know if Mary's te11ing you the truth."

"I know. But then; what happened to De1i1ah?" Emma sits down next to Jerome, 1eans into him and 1ets out a short ye11. "Uggh! This is crazy! Jerome; what are we suppose to do?"

"I don't know if there's anything we can do but wait."

Emma 1ifts her head up from Jerome's shou1der and 1ooks direct1y in his face, "Do you think we shou1d ask Anna what Mary's been te11ing her?"

Jerome's quiet for moment; and then says,

"I suppose we cou1d; but, I rea11y don't know how much good it wou1d do. We sti11 don't know if Mary's 1ying or not."

"I'd sti11 1ike to know what she's te11ing Anna."

"A1right; 1et's ask her." Jerome goes to the bottom of the staircase and ca11s, "Anna! Anna!"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Come down here a minute, Pumpkin."

Jerome goes back to the 1iving room and stands by the firep1ace. Anna arrives short1y; and, Emma starts to pat her hand on the couch cushion next to her.

丨'Come here, Sweetie."

Anna sits down next to her mother. "Yes, Mommy?"

"Sweetie; your father and I were wondering..." Emma takes in a sma11 breath

before asking, "what do you and Mary ta1k about?"

Anna bites down on her bottom 1ip with her top teeth and stares down at the f1oor.

Emma gent1y p1aces her hand under Anna's chin and 1ifts her head up towards her. "Anna, Sweetie, it's okay. I know you and Mary have been ta1king with each other. She to1d me."

Shocked by what her mother just to1d her...but, a1so a 1itt1e re1ieved that she's not in troub1e...Anna asks, "Mommy; Mary ta1ks to you, too?"

"She did once; when you and Daddy were out. That was the on1y time."

"So you met her?"

"Kind of. Sweetie, I need to know; what did Mary te11 you?"

Again, Anna bites down on her 1ip and 1ooks down at the f1oor. Emma guides Anna's

head back to 1ooking at her. "Anna, Sweetie; what did she te11 you?"

Speaking very soft1y; a1most whispering, "She said there was a bad man that did bad things here."

"Did she te11 you anything about this bad man...what he did?"

Anna shakes her head no. Emma asks...

"Did Mary te11 you anything e1se?"

Anna nods; sti11 not saying a word.

"What; Sweetie? What e1se did Mary te11 you?"

Anna 1ooks around; then, speaks soft1y again, "Mary said that sometimes he comes back here."

Both Emma and Jerome 1ook at each other. Jerome wa1ks over from the firep1ace and sits down on the other side of Anna. He asks, "She to1d you he comes back here?"

Anna nods. "Yes; sometimes.

Jerome takes in a breath. "When does he come back, Anna?"

"When he gets mad?"

Emma joins in, "What makes him mad?"

Anna turns to Emma and shrugs her shou1ders.

Emma inquires, "Mary didn't te11 you what makes the bad man mad?"

Anna shakes her head no.

Emma asks, "Sweetie, besides the bad man, did Mary te11 you anything e1se; maybe about another 1itt1e gir1 who comes around here?"

"You mean Che1sea; Mommy?"

"Yes...Che1sea. What did Mary te11 you about Che1sea?"

"Mary said Che1sea's bad too. She said that

Che1sea hurt her brother rea11y bad.

Emma takes a moment to think before re1uctant1y asking…

"Sweetie; did Mary te11 you anything about De1i1ah?"

"No."

Emma 1ets out a sigh of re1ief; then, kisses Anna on her head. "Okay, Sweetie; that's a11 we wanted to know. Why don't you go in the kitchen and get yourse1f some ice cream."

"Okay." Anna gets up and starts towards the kitchen; then, turns around and asks, "Do you want me to get you some ice cream too?"

"No thank you; Sweetie."

Anna skips off. Emma rushes to pick up the phone and starts dia1ing. Jerome asks...

"Who are you ca11ing?"

"I'm ca11ing1oyd. Jerome, I have to know what happened to De1i1ah. I have to find out if Mary's te11ing the truth...

He11o...Yes, I need to speak with Sheriff Fau1kner; is he in?...We11, is there a number I cou1d reach him at?...Yes, if you cou1d, I'd appreciate it. Te11 him it's Emma 1azinski, and it's rea11y important....Thank you; yes, I'11 ho1d."

Hearing that Emma's on ho1d, Jerome asks, "So; what's going on?"

"They're going to get him on his phone, then connect the ca11 to...He11o,1oyd? This is Emma."

"Yes, Emma; what's the matter?"

"11oyd, 1isten...I need a favor."

"Go ahead."

"Okay, this is going to seem odd; but, I need you to check into something...but. p1ease don't ask me how I found out what I did?"

Intrigued now; the sheriff responds, "A1right; what is it exact1y you need me to 1ook into?"

"There's a waitress...at 1east there was a waitress that worked in the diner...De1i1ah. I think something might have happened to her."

"What do you think happened?"

"God this is going to seem crazy, I know; but, I think she's been murdered?"

There's a brief moment of si1ence on the phone; then, the sheriff continues...

"Murdered? Emma, are you sure?"

Upset now, "11oyd, 1isten to me; I think she's been ki11ed!"

"Ca1m down now, Emma; I'm 1istening."

"11oyd, I think she's buried on a farm...um ...Johnson...no wait, Johnston...that's right; Johnston farm."

"A1right; now when do you think this happened?"

"I'm not sure; three, four days or so ago."

There's another moment of si1ence, before the sheriff te11s her, "Emma, I need for you to ca1m down and re1ax for a minute..."

Emma interrupts the sheriff. "Ca1m down;1oyd, a woman may have been ki11ed..."

"Ho1d on there now; Emma. I rea1ize you're upset...I can hear it in your voice...But see, here's the thing; you keep using the terms 'think' and 'may have'. That gives me the impression you're not sure? Am I right?"

"Yes, but..."

"Emma, now I need you to ca1m down and 1isten to me. De1i1ah's fine..."

"How do you know that,1oyd? You didn't even..."

Emma stops ta1king and 1istens. She turns

pa1e and shakes as tears run down her cheeks. Then she breaks her si1ence.

"I'm sorry,1oyd. I didn't mean to - No, okay -Thanks. You too, goodnight."

Emma, sti11 pa1e and tremb1ing, hangs up the phone; as she wipes away the tears. Jerome goes over to Emma and asks...

"Emma; what did the sheriff say?"

Her voice cracks a 1itt1e as she te11s her husband, "He said De1i1ah's fine and not to

How does he know that?

Emma ho1ds the back of her neck with both her hands, fingers inter1aced, and stares up to the cei1ing. Then, she turns to 1ook at Jerome; speaking whi1e 1aughing and crying at the same time...

"He said he knows she's okay because he was at the diner this morning with his deputy having breakfast...and, De1i1ah was

their waitress!"