From Pharaoh's Hand

by Cynthia Green

  “We’ve had our share of robberies and home invasions down here lately too. Is it possible she stole the stuff before she ran away? Can you describe the jewelry so I’ll have a description.”

  “Well, it’s not like anything around here. They are big and heavy. Feel solid. They have these almost hieroglyphic-looking markings on them. And they’re in a walnut case with a purple silk lining.”

  “Purple silk...what the ...Son, I think you might have just found the Tut Treasure.”

  “The what?”

  “You remember, the King Tut exhibit was robbed back in January. Jewels never turned up. TBI’s been working on the case for seven months with no leads. This is big!”

  “But how would a seventeen year old pregnant runaway manage to steal them? Doesn’t add up.”

  “I’m gonna put in a call to the TBI. Don’t let those out of your sight.” A nurse stuck her head in the door about that time and whispered,

  “Mr. Jones has regained consciousness. The doctor says you have ten minutes.”

  “I think you better get up here so we can sort through all this and find the girl.”

  “I think you’re right. Sit tight. Try not to leak it to the press. You know how they are.”

  “How well do I know. I ‘ve got a press conference coming up this afternoon about the storm. Looks like we may have an even bigger story by then. See ya when you get here.” After he hung up the phone, he nodded to the nurse.

  “Thanks nurse. I won’t be but a minute. I need to get a few details.” Then his eyes widened as he remembered Inetha.

  “We haven’t even told Inetha yet. She must be worried sick. Poke said he didn’t show up for the poker game. ‘Come to think of it, I don’t even know if Inetha’s okay. That little trailer may be demolished. I better get up there and talk to him, and then head on out to his place and check things out. I’ll bring Inetha back in to town with me.”

  “Very good. I’m sure she will be relieved that he’s okay. Doctor thinks he’ll recover. Broke his ribs and his right leg, concussion, lacerations...lucky to be alive. Follow me. I’ll take you to him.”

  “Um. Do you have somewhere I can lock this evidence up? Just ‘til after I question Mr. Jones?”

  “We have a medicine cabinet where we lock up controlled medications. No one has a key but me. I’m the charge nurse. Come with me.”

  Chapter 28

  More Questions

  After the sheriff had secured the evidence, he followed the nurse to Catfish’s room and closed the door behind him. Bruised and battered, Catfish lay resting with his head elevated. He had a long cut above his right eye, and his leg was in a cast. The sheriff could not see under the hospital gown, but he suspected he was taped up pretty good around his ribs as well. Catfish grimaced every time he took a breath.

  “Well, Cat, you look pretty rough. But I guess it could be worse.”

  Catfish rolled his eyes and turned his head to the wall.

  “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “You remember what happened to you?”

  “Remember? If I live to be a hunnert, I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

  “It was an F-4 tornado. We’ve got a lot of damage across town. What were you doing out in the storm?”

  Catfish couldn’t tell him that he was out chasing down Liza. He couldn’t tell the sheriff that Liza had hit him over the head with an empty beer bottle trying to escape.

  “I was on my way to play poker over at Poke’s with the boys.”

  “I see. A little late weren’t you?”

  “I reckon that’s none of your concern.”

  “Well, now. I suppose it is. See, Poke and the boys rode out the storm in the jail. They got themselves arrested right before the storm hit.”

  “Arrested. Aw, Sheriff you been knowing about them poker games for years.”

  “Knew about the poker. Didn’t know about the drugs. Or the kiddie porn, for that matter.”

  “Kiddie porn?”

  “Mr. Jones, I’m gonna have to ask you about your involvement with Poke. Poke’s in serious trouble -- facing Federal charges.”

  “Don’t know nothin’ bout no drugs or porn.”

  “Word has it you have a few crops out in the woods, Mr. Jones.”

  “Cut the Mr. Jones crap. You been knowin’ me all yore life. Now you wanna turn on me in my hour o’ need.”

  “I’d like to help you out, Cat. But I have to know about the pot. Poke says he was holding the cash and drugs for you.”

  The curtain was pulled back as a nurse in bright pink scrubs stuck her head in.

  “Sheriff, Mr. Mathis is on the phone. Says he needs to tell you something real important.”

  “Mr. Mathis?”

  “The couple that just left a little while ago.”

  “Oh...right. Don’t go anywhere Catfish. I’ll be back to finish this conversation.”

  The sheriff made his way to the nurse’s station. Maybe Mr. Mathis had remembered an important detail about the baby.

  “Sheriff Wright here.”

  “Sheriff. This is Sam Mathis, the one who found the baby.”

  “Yes sir. You remember something else?”

  “No, but when I got home and loaded the canoe on the truck, I found a clue. Might help you out.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well, it’s got ‘Catfish’ spray painted in red down one side. I first thought it was one of Flatwoods Canoe Rentals’. Looks just like theirs.”

  “Hm. That’s interesting. Thanks for calling back. That helps a lot. If you remember anything else or find out anything else, give me a call.”

  “Sure thing. How’s the baby doing? The Missus is worried about him.”

  “I haven’t heard, Sam. But I’ll check on him for you. I’m sure these nurses are taking real good care of him.”

  “I surely hope so. Thank ya, Sheriff.”

  Sheriff Wright placed the phone back on the cradle and hurried back to Catfish’s room. Catfish was struggling to get his shirt back on. He was sitting up on the side of the bed, his face red and grimacing.

  “Now you just hold on there! You’re in no condition to be leaving just yet. The doctor hasn’t released ya.”

  “I gotta get home and see if there’s anything left of it.”

  “Don’t you worry about that, Cat. I’m going out there myself to check on Inetha and tell her where you’re at. Surprised she hasn’t come lookin’ for ya already.”

  Catfish’s eyes widened, and his face went pale.

  “Inetha...well, uh...the thing is...see...I haven’t told anyone, but Inetha’s gone. Left me for the Combine Insurance man.”

  “Left you?” The sheriff was becoming increasingly alarmed. How does Catfish’s canoe fit into all this? Was the girl hiding out near the river? And where was Inetha?

  “Catfish. Your canoe ended up three miles downriver this morning.”

  “Well I’ll be -- that was some storm wasn’t it.”

  “There was a baby inside it.” The sheriff stated flatly. “Know anything about a baby and a missing girl?”

  Catfish’s eyes narrowed. So she had had the baby. He hadn’t thought of the canoe. He had naturally assumed that Liza had left by way of the main road. He wondered how she had found the canoe.

  “A baby! In my canoe? Did you get hit in the head last night, Sheriff?”

  “I’m dead serious, Cat. We think the young girl is one that has been missing since January. She’s a runaway. If you know anything about her, you better speak up now. You’re in enough trouble with that farming you been a doing.”

  “I don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.”

  “ Catfish, that baby needs its mama. Now are you gonna tell me what you know, or am I gonna have to arrest you?”

  “Arrest me for what? You don’t have anything to hold me on.”

  “Maybe I don’t. But I got enough for a search warrant. I’ve got Poke who’s going to testify against you. I got what he says is your fifteen thousan
d dollars in cash. If I find marijuana planted on your property, I don’t reckon you’ll be a needin’ that.”

  The mention of his money brought Catfish around. Poke had no right to turn him in after all he’d done for him. Things sure had gotten messed up in a hurry.

  “Now hold on, Sheriff. Hold on.”

  “I think you better get to talkin’ Catfish. And fast.”

  “I want a lawyer.”

  “You’ll get your lawyer. And your day in court. Tell me about the girl, Cat. Where’s the girl? We need to find her.”

  “Stupid kid. Shoulda stayed put, instead a runnin’ off during a storm with my --”

  “With your baby? You don’t expect me to believe that do you, Cat. Inetha wouldn’t stand for that. Is that why she left you? You took the girl in? Where is she?” he shouted.

  “I...uh.. I don’t know. I don’t know where she is. She took off last night. I was out lookin’ for her when the storm hit. She must’ve had the baby last night. I expect if you found the baby in the canoe, she’s probably drowned -- or she’s layin’ out in the woods somewheres. Lord knows she’s been enough trouble to me.”

  “Well, you’re not going anywhere in your condition. I suggest you use the time to get your facts in order.” And as he turned to go, he paused. “ And I promise you, Cat, if you’ve held that girl against her will, or harmed her in any way, there will be a price to pay.”

  Catfish didn’t answer. He was thinking about his choices and what they had cost them so far. If he hadn’t ever agreed grow the pot, he wouldn’t have been in Memphis. He would never have run into Liza. Inetha would still be alive. He wouldn’t be lying in this bed and facing jail time. He was in enough trouble without them finding out about Frankie and the rings. The rings! Liza would have the rings. When they found her, she would tell them where she got the rings. If she were still alive. At this point, he could only hope that she had drowned in the storm and taken those cursed rings with her. What did it matter now anyway? His hopes and dreams of having a family and home were all crushed. He was a broken man. There was nothing to do now but lie here and while away the hours playing this sad solitary game of what if.

  Chapter 29

  Glad Reunion Day

  “Sheriff, there’s a couple here that wants to see the baby. They claim it may be their grandchild.”

  The nurse had met the Sheriff in the hallway. Her voice was animated as she recounted how the Merriweathers had come rushing up to the ER desk demanding to see Baby Moses.

  “They’re in the consult room. I told them they would need to speak to you first, but they are adamant about seeing the baby. They’re the parents of Elizabeth Morgan, the teenage girl that disappeared last winter.”

  “How did they know about the baby?”

  “Saw it on the early morning news. Remember the reporters.”

  “I asked them to hold off on broadcasting til we got more facts.”

  “Evidently they aired the story, and the Merriweathers came on down.”

  “I suspect that this may be their grandbaby, but without finding the mother or doing DNA testing, we just won’t know that. Okay, hang tight. And don’t let anyone near the baby without my say-so. Not reporters. Not anyone.”

  “Yes sir. I understand.”

  The nurse headed off to instruct the staff about the baby as Sheriff Wright stepped inside the conference room. Carolyn jumped out of her chair to meet him.

  “Where is she? Where’s our daughter? Can I see the baby? What have you found out?”

  “whoa...Hold on ma’am. Let’s just have a seat. I’ll tell you what I know.”

  “I’m sorry. We saw it on the news and hurried over. We’re certain that’s our grandchild.”

  “What makes you so certain, ma’am?”

  “The baby was found wrapped in a blue North Side t-shirt just like my daughter’s. It has to be her. Where could she be?”

  “Mrs. Merriweather. I’ve contacted the sheriff over in your county, and he is on his way over here. Should be here any time now, as a matter of fact. He’s inclined to agree with you. He’s bringing the case file. There’s uh.. there’s something else...in the bag that was found with the baby...”

  “What is it?” John asked.

  “There was food and more clothing and a box with stolen jewelry inside.”

  “Stolen jewelry?” gasped Carolyn.

  “We think she was on the run and was breaking into homes and stealing to survive...” A sudden thought stopped the sheriff in his tracks. Sheriff Dameron thought these might be the Tut treasures. How would Elizabeth have come across them... unless...they were already stolen and stashed somewhere she was staying. But Catfish wasn’t sophisticated enough to pull off a robbery of that magnitude. Was he?

  “Sheriff? What is it?” John interrupted his thoughts.

  “Um...Mr. Merriweather. I have a lead on your daughter’s whereabouts, but I have to check it out. We don’t know if this baby is your grandchild without finding the girl or doing DNA testing, which would take a few weeks. I’m going to check out this lead as soon as Sheriff Dameron gets here.”

  “Please, sheriff. Please let me see the baby. Just let me look at him, see if he resembles my Beth.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I mean, what if he’s not.”

  “Then what would it hurt? The baby is okay, isn’t he?”

  “The baby is going to be fine. I’ll okay it with the nurse.”

  “Look Sheriff, if our daughter is in the nearby area, she could be hurt. She could be trapped from the storm. Take me to where the baby was found. Please.”

  “The baby was found three miles from the home of the canoe’s owner.”

  “What! You know who the canoe belongs to? What are we waiting for? Let’s go now!”

  Mr. Merriweather was shouting at the sheriff. It had been such a long night for the sheriff. The events of the last few hours were taking their toll on him. His patience was wearing thin. He just didn’t have the energy to fight with the distraught father.

  And Mr. Merriweather was right. Elizabeth could be in grave danger, if she was still alive.

  “Mr. Merriweather, you realize that we might not find her ... alive...”

  “For heaven’s sake, man. I’ve been wondering for months what happened to my daughter. I have to know one way or another. Now let’s go! Carolyn, stay here, and take care of the baby. I’m bringing her back to you, I promise honey.”

  The sheriff picked up a phone on the wall by the door and rang the nurse’s desk.

  “Nurse, please come escort Mrs. Merriweather to the nursery, and let her see the baby that was brought in. She is not to take the baby from the nursery, and this is to be done with the utmost discretion. You understand? When Sheriff Dameron from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department arrives have him escort Mrs. Merriweather to the conference room and wait for us. I’ll check back in as soon as possible.”

  Sheriff Wright hung up the phone and turned to the couple.

  “Thank you, Sheriff. Thank you!”

  “Don’t thank me quite yet. Let’s go look for your daughter.”

  Chapter 30

  I am Weak, but He is Strong

  The next time Beth awoke, the river had gone back into its banks, and she found herself lying on the fallen tree and the pile of brush upon the muddy bank. She stirred slowly. I’m alive! I’m alive! Her head was pounding; her limbs felt like she had gone sixteen rounds with George Forman. Beth’s hand went to her face, which was swollen and burning in the July sun. How long have I been here? Wonder what time it is? Got to get help. But where am I?

  Beth looked up and down the river. As far as her eye could see, there was no sign of human life along the riverbed. She wondered how far downriver she had floated. She coughed and tried to move. Finally, she managed to roll herself off the tree and onto the sand and mud. Gradually she crawled on her hands and knees over to the embankment, which was higher up. She managed to stand, but felt the world spin as she d
id. The river had swept her shoes away, and she was barefoot in the mud. Instinct brought her hand to her belly, and instantly the memory of the night’s horror flooded over her. The canoe. The baby. He was probably dead, drowned in the flooded river. My baby, my poor baby. But no...that Voice that had spoken to her. What was it the Voice had said? He is not here. You must go to him. If only I knew where to go. God, where is he? God help me...help me please. God I’m so tired. I can’t go on. God, if you really, really love me, please help me get out of here. Help me find him. He needs me.

  The only thing Beth knew to do was to try to walk for help. She carefully made her way up the edge of the bank to dry land and surveyed her options. Which way should she go? She wasn’t up to tackling the steep hill directly ahead of her. Maybe she should just follow the river. Surely it would lead to a road eventually. She wanted to go the opposite direction from Catfish, in case he was still looking for her. She was disoriented. Which way was the trailer? She thought she was going away from it, but she couldn’t be sure. Just put one foot in front of the other. Just keep walking. Keep going. You have to find help for your baby. Every step she made felt like it would be her last. She trudged through waist high grass for what seemed like eternity.

  Memories of before and after kept coming to mind. Her life was now defined by two things: before she got pregnant, and life after she got pregnant. It all came down to that first choice. Why had she decided to give in to Chris? One wrong choice had led to this unending misery. No, two wrong choices. She had chosen to abort the baby, or she never would have been in Memphis. She never would have run into Catfish. She wouldn’t be fighting for her life now. She couldn’t help but wonder bitterly what life would be like had she made a different choice that night -- the right choice. It could not have been any worse than what she was now facing.

  Finally she made it to a clearing. She was sweating profusely, and her vision began to blur. I can’t God. I can’t go on. I can’t take it anymore. And then her toe struck an outcropping of rock she hadn’t seen. She stumbled and was unable to regain her balance. The green grass swirled with the blue sky. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the heavens. A large buzzard was circling overhead. She let out a weak sarcastic laugh. So this is it. This is how it will end. I thought I had plenty of time. Then all went black.