Marge and Jamie were having dinner in the kitchen when Marge turned on the television to get the six o’clock news. The lead story was the arraignment of Alan Crowley. She watched as Alan, pale and tense, left the courthouse with photographers and reporters chasing after him.
“That’s Alan Crowley,” Jamie said.
“I didn’t know you knew Alan,” Marge said.
“He’s Kerry’s friend, before she went to Heaven.”
“Yes, he is.”
“He kisses her.”
“Yes, he does,” Marge said.
“He kissed her before she went swimming and went to Heaven.”
“Jamie, are you talking about the night of Kerry’s party, when you went swimming with her?”
“I promised not to talk about that.”
“This time it’s okay, Jamie. What did Alan do after he kissed Kerry?”
“He gave her a hug and went home.”
“Then what happened, Jamie?”
“The Big Guy hit Kerry and he pushed her in the pool.”
“Jamie, are you sure?”
“Cross my heart. Daddy used to call me Big Guy, right, Mom?”
“Yes, Jamie, that’s right. But remember, we don’t talk to anybody about what happened the night Kerry went to Heaven. That’s our secret.”
“Cross my heart, Mom. I didn’t tell anyone.”
Following his usual routine, after dinner Jamie went upstairs to watch television. Heavy hearted, Marge stayed at the kitchen table and made herself another pot of tea. She was starkly aware of what Jamie had told her. If Jamie was describing what he saw the night Kerry was killed, then Kerry was still alive when Alan left. Might Alan have come back and killed Kerry? I guess that’s possible, she thought, but why would he do that? The Big Guy Jamie is referring to clearly is not Alan. But who is it?
If Jamie talks about the Big Guy to the detective, and Jamie tells him Jack used to call him the Big Guy, they might assume he was talking about himself. I can only imagine how the Crowleys are feeling right now. How would I feel if Jamie got arrested? He’d be so frightened. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know what to do.