by Fry,Patricia
“Well, be careful out there, will you?” he said. “It’s still wild down in that gulch.”
Savannah smiled and nodded.
****
“Ready?” Savannah asked as she, Margaret, and Iris arrived at Colbi’s house the next morning.
“I guess so,” Colbi said. She handed Iris a backpack.
When Margaret saw Iris roll her eyes, she asked, “What’s in there?”
“I’m not sure,” Iris said. “Colbi just told me to put it on.”
“It’s fresh veggies, some paper goods, and a few canned fruits,” Colbi said.
“No wonder it’s so heavy,” Iris complained.
“Here’s your pack, Auntie,” Savannah said.
“Huh?” Margaret picked it up. “What’s the old gal going to do with bricks, for heaven’s sake?”
“Bricks?” Colbi asked.
“Feels like bricks to me. This thing’s heavy.”
“Just put it on,” Savannah said. Before Colbi could slip into her pack, Savannah grabbed it and held it up. “Here, let me take a couple of things out of there. You don’t need to be carrying that much extra weight.”
“Aww,” Margaret whined. “She’s only pregnant. Iris and I are old.”
“Speak for yourself, Maggie,” Iris carped.
“Come on, it’s not far, and just think of the positive side,” Savannah said.
Margaret frowned. “What, that we’re feeding some old gal?”
“No, that your packs will be empty on the way out.”
“Unless,” Colbi said.
“Unless what?” Iris challenged.
“Unless we need to bring some garbage out. They don’t have trash service down there, you know.”
“This good deed is becoming less and less appealing to me,” Margaret grumbled.
****
The four women had traipsed through the brush, following behind Savannah for about fifteen minutes, when Iris said, “Hey, trailblazer, are you sure you know where you’re going?”
“I think so,” came the meek reply. Savannah stopped and looked around. “Oh wait, there’s the fork in the trail. Now I know where we are. We go right here.” She called back to the others, “We’re almost there.”
Margaret let out a long sigh. “I hope so. My legs are tired. And my jeans are getting full of stickers.”
“You should have seen it before the ATV driver used his machete out here. It was just wide enough for Rags and Dolly.”
“How’re you doing, Colbi?” Iris asked. “Need to rest? You’d better hydrate.”
“I’m fine, mother hen. Exercise is good for me. And I just had a couple swigs of water. Doing well. How about you?”
“Uh, as well as can be expected, I guess.” She sneezed, then swung her arms around in front of her. “Sure is dusty down here, and brushy.” Suddenly she yelped. “Yikes. What was that?”
“What?” Margaret screeched, stopping with her hands against her chest.
“Are you talking about that lizard?” Colbi asked, laughing. “I saw a lizard slither through the weeds.”
“I think it was a snake,” Iris said, taking a few steps back.
“Come on, you guys,” Savannah called. “You probably scared the poor thing away. Now let’s go.” After several more minutes on the trail, Savannah suddenly stopped. She raised her hand toward the others, indicating that they should be quiet.
When they caught up with her, Iris’s jaw dropped. “Good God,” she said, under her breath.
“Holy cow,” Margaret muttered.
Colbi was last to catch up. She peered around the others. “Oh no,” she said, dropping her head. “Poor Alice…”
Chapter 8
In the meantime, Craig stood on the front porch of the Marston home. His knock was answered by a woman. “Is Troy Marston at home?” He showed her his credentials. “I’m Detective Craig Sledge. I spoke briefly with him yesterday.”
“I’m afraid you missed him. He just went out on a bike.”
“Oh, he feels well enough to ride today, does he?”
The woman crinkled her brow. “Huh?”
“He was sick in bed when I came by yesterday.”
“Well…I…uh…I don’t know…um,” she stuttered.
“Ma’am, I have a search warrant here and I’d like to be invited in to do my job.”
“Search warrant?” she asked, barely above a whisper. She then spat, “Whatever for? No! I won’t let you in…not until Troy gets home.” With that, she started to slam the door shut.
“Now that won’t be necessary, ma’am,” Craig said, blocking the door. “You see, the thing is, I am going to come in and search Mr. Marston’s closet and maybe your laundry hamper, with or without your permission.”
“Who says?” she insisted, boldly.
He gestured toward two officers standing on the curb outside their patrol car. “They do.”
With that, the woman relaxed a little. “Well, what are you looking for, anyway? Maybe I can help you find it. I can’t imagine…”
“At this point, all I want to see is Mr. Marston’s closet.” He stood his ground until the woman stepped back and allowed him to enter.
“It’s the second door down the hall,” she huffed. “His closet’s on the left.”
“Thank you,” Craig said, walking in the direction she’d indicated. Before disappearing into the bedroom, he addressed the two officers who had arrived at the front door. “Would you fellows entertain Mrs. Marston for a few minutes?”
“What are you taking?” the woman asked loudly when she saw Craig return to the living room carrying a large plastic bag.
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring it back when we’re finished with it. Thank you, Mrs. Marston.” When Craig and the officers reached the front door, he turned back. “What time do you expect your husband home?”
“Any time. He’s just test-driving a bike he’s been working on. He does mechanic work in our garage, you know.”
“Now what, Detective?” Officer Grady asked, once they’d left the Marston home.
“Let’s go next door. There’s an eyewitness I want to talk to.” Craig’s knock was answered by a boy of ten or eleven. “Is your mom or dad here?”
“Um, my mother is.” The boy turned and called into the room, “Mom! Someone’s at the door!”
When Tiffany saw Craig and noticed two uniformed officers standing near the patrol car behind him, she gestured to the children who had gathered, saying, “You boys go play in your rooms.”
“Aww,” Jacob said. “I was just going outside.”
“Okay, outside then—in the backyard. Either outside or in your rooms, please. All of you. Kira and Klara,” she called more loudly, “come get the babies, will you?”
“Why?” Klara whined.
“Just entertain them for a few minutes. That’s all.” She turned to Craig. “Please come in.”
“Mrs. Crane, I have some questions for you and also for one of your daughters…the one named Kira,” he said, peering into the hallway in the direction the children had gone.
“Oh…uh, sure. I’ll get her.” She stopped and frowned in his direction. “Why do you want to talk to Kira; may I ask?”
“I understand she might have some information for me.”
After staring at him for a moment, a look of confusion on her face, she walked into the hallway and reappeared with the child.
“Hello, Kira,” Craig said, a genuine smile on his lips.
“Shall we sit here in the living room?” Tiffany suggested.
Craig watched as mother and daughter eased onto the sofa. He chose a chair across from them. Tightening his lips for a moment, he looked at Kira, then Tiffany. “Mrs. Crane, I don’t know if Kira told you, but she saw something the night that your brother was killed.”
Obviously shocked, the woman put her arm around her daughter, saying, “She didn’t tell me. But then, she is a rather secretive child. What
is it you saw, honey?”
Craig cleared his throat. “Well, she saw someone out in front of your house dressed in a baseball cap and a dark jacket with a logo on the back.”
“A picture and some words,” Kira corrected quietly.
“Yes, a picture and some words,” Craig repeated. “Mrs. Crane, she thought this person looked like your husband and I just want to follow up on that. Can you tell me if Mr. Crane—or, I guess that’s Pastor Crane—has a dark baseball cap and a dark jacket like the one she describes?”
She shook her head. “That doesn’t sound familiar.” Her eyes wide, she said, “Uh…he does have a couple of baseball caps, but he doesn’t usually wear them.”
“I’d like to take a look in his closet, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I…I…don’t know…”
“Mrs. Crane, I have a search warrant here, but I would rather have your permission. I just need to take a quick look, that’s all. May I?”
“Yes. Yes, I guess it’s okay.” She hesitated, a look of uncertainty on her face. “My husband won’t be home for another hour or so.” She stood. “Please come this way.”
Craig motioned for Kira to follow her mother. “I’d like you to go with us.”
Once the threesome had entered the large bedroom, Tiffany stepped over a pile of bedding on the floor. “Excuse the mess. It’s laundry day.” She pushed against a louvered accordion door. “This is his closet.”
Stepping aside, Craig said, “Kira, do you see a jacket like the one you described to me?” He addressed Tiffany. “Would you go in there and kind of move the clothing along the rack so we can get a better look?” Suddenly, he pointed into the closet, “Wait, I see a dark-colored jacket. Is there anything on the back of it?” he asked. When Tiffany pulled it out of the closet, he said, “No, that one’s just plain.” After a few moments, he asked, “Kira, do you see the jacket you saw him wearing that night?”
The child shook her head. “No. I don’t see it. I never have seen it before. I didn’t know he even had a jacket like that.”
“I don’t think he does,” Craig said, quietly.
“Then why did you ask us to go through his closet like this?” Tiffany asked, rather impatiently, leading the detective back toward the living room.
“Just needed to be sure.” Once they’d returned to the living room, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and showed a picture to Kira. “Is this the jacket you saw?”
Her hands went up to her mouth and she stepped back. “Yes! That’s it! That’s the jacket.” She looked Craig in the eyes, searching for an explanation.
Tiffany also appeared confused. “Whose jacket is that?” she asked.
“I’m guessing it belongs to the man who killed your brother.” Tiffany gasped and Craig continued. “We believe your daughter saw the murderer that night…a man who was somewhat familiar to her and who had an uncanny resemblance to your husband...” he looked at Kira, “…to her father.”
“Mr. Marston!” Kira said, her voice trailing off. “It was Mr. Marston? Petra’s dad?” she asked, her eyes as big as saucers.
“Yes,” Craig said. “I believe you’re right.”
“Why?” Tiffany asked, weakly. “Why would he want to harm Rodney?”
“Evidently, he thought Rodney was the man who’d been terrorizing the neighborhood recently.” He let out a deep sigh. “Maybe he was drinking that night. He might have seen your brother lurking around outside his place and he went off the deep end and attacked him. Unfortunately, your little girl here witnessed the whole thing and thought the perpetrator was her daddy.”
Tiffany looked at her daughter, who had begun to weep. She put an arm around her and pulled her close.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I…”
“Never mind that, honey. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, I’m proud of you for speaking up.”
Craig nodded. “Yes, we need more brave citizens who are willing to get involved.”
When Kira saw Craig smiling at her, she returned the smile, though weakly.
Suddenly, they heard a booming voice. “Where’s my family?”
“Oh, Ray, we’re in here,” Tiffany said, just as her husband appeared at the doorway. “This is Detective Sledge. He has arrested Rodney’s killer.”
“Well, not so fast there,” Craig said. “The formal arrest hasn’t taken place yet.” He gazed out a window into the front yard, saying, “But it will soon.”
“Oh?” Pastor Crane questioned, looking at Craig.
“Yes.” He winked at Kira. “Thanks to your brave little girl.”
Ray Crane looked at his daughter, then smiled warmly and wrapped her in a bear hug. “Leave it to my Kira to make things right.” He looked at his wife. “Well, as right as they can be when a member of our family is gone.” He turned to Craig. “Thank you for bringing us the news.” He looked sideways at Craig. “Are you sure you have the right guy this time? I heard they arrested a drifter.”
“Yeah, that fellow evidently was in the wrong place at the wrong time and his fingerprints ended up on the murder weapon. I think the evidence we collected today will exonerate him.”
“It was Mr. Marston,” Tiffany said quietly.
“What?” the pastor asked, looking from one to the other of them. “Why?”
“I guess he had it in for your brother-in-law for some reason—it may have been a huge misunderstanding,” Craig explained.
Ray dropped his head. “A shame. A darn shame all the way around.” He looked at his wife and daughter. “But life goes on and we’ll be just fine,” he said smiling and squeezing Tiffany and Kira to him. “Right?” he asked, Kira.
She smiled a genuine smile. “Yes, Daddy.”
****
Meanwhile, the four women stood stunned in the wash, staring at the man sitting before them.
“She’s asleep,” he said, sobbing into his hands. “Mama can’t wake up!”
Savannah’s eyes rested on the body that was lying still on the cot next to him.
“She laid down to take a nap and she never got up,” he wailed.
Savannah removed her backpack and approached Alice. After checking for a pulse, she turned toward the others. “She’s gone. I’m so sorry, Jesse. I know how much she meant to you. She’s at peace now.”
“Oh my gosh,” Colbi said, dropping her pack.
Iris also relieved herself of her pack and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’d better call Craig.”
“I think you’ll have to walk up to that rise, Iris,” Savannah said. “Phone service is sketchy down here.”
“What did you bring?” Jesse asked, eyeballing the packs.
“Things we thought you could use,” Savannah muttered. She looked at Alice and asked, “How long has she been like this, Jesse?”
“Yesterday,” he said, burying his face in his hands again.
When he began to wail and rock back and forth on the tree stump where he sat, Colbi and Margaret looked at one another with raised eyebrows and watched as Savannah tried to comfort him. “It’ll be all right. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
“No!” he shouted. “I want her to come back. I’ll stay here with her until she comes back.”
Savannah glanced at Margaret and Colbi who stood quietly on the fringes of the encampment.
“He’ll be right here,” Iris said, joining the others. She cocked her head. “He told me he’s bringing something that might—what did he say? That might open up a new world for someone.”
“What?” Colbi asked, frowning.
Margaret chuckled nervously. “Is he going to open heaven’s gates for the poor woman?”
Iris laughed nervously. “Well, that’s absurd, Maggie.”
“I wonder what he meant by that,” Savannah said thoughtfully. She looked at the young man. “Oh, maybe a home for Jesse.”
“No!” Jesse shouted. “I won’t leave here. There are bad people out there;
Mama said so. She said I should never leave the camp. I won’t go.” His eyes filled with fear, he lurched off the stump and started to run into the thicket.
“Jesse!” Savannah shouted. “Jesse come back.”
When she didn’t hear anything, she took a chance and said in a soothing voice. “Alice wouldn’t want you to leave her. Jesse, think of Alice…your mama. You don’t want to abandon her now. She would want you close by, don’t you think so?”
The four women waited silently, then heard rustling in the brush and Jesse appeared, his head hanging. He walked to Alice’s deathbed and stood staring down at her. “I won’t leave you, Mama.”
After several minutes of silence, Savannah asked, “Jesse, can we fix you something to eat? Have you eaten anything today?”
He shook his head, his eyes fixed on Alice’s body. “Not hungry.”
Several more awkward minutes had passed before Savannah thought she heard something in the brush.
“What is that?” Iris asked in a squeaky voice. “Some sort of wild animal?” She backed up, staring in the direction of the rustling sound.
Colbi grabbed Iris’s arm. “Sounds big,” she said.
“Yeah, about as big as a snake or maybe a badger,” Margaret said, stepping up onto one of the tree stumps.
Savannah chuckled rather nervously, also watching in the direction the sound came from. Suddenly, Jesse’s face lit up and he said, “Sugar! Sugar, you’ve come back!”
“What?” Margaret said. “A cat?”
“Colbi,” Savannah yelped. “It’s…isn’t that…?”
“Dolly!” Colbi said disbelieving. “How…? I mean, I can’t believe this.”
“Why not?” Jesse asked. “Sugar’s my friend. She came with the big cat, Smokey.” He smiled through his tears. “And now she has come back to tell Mama good bye.” He scooped up the tabby and hugged her to him.
“Well, actually, young man, that’s my cat and she’s not allowed outside. I can’t imagine how…”
“Mama and Leo said she wants to be here. That’s why she comes.”