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SUSAN ENTERED THE CONDO a little pass four o’clock. In one hand she carried a plastic bag full of aromatic Chinese food which she set on a small table in the foyer. She took off her heals, threw her keys onto the table, and leafed through some pieces of mail from the afternoon delivery. There was nothing of immediate interest, so she left the stack of mail where she’d found it.
With the Chinese food again in hand, she walked into the dining room where she left the food on the table. “Davy, where are you?” she called out.
“In the living room,” he said.
As she entered the living room, she saw him sitting on the couch. The television was off, and he had obviously just been sitting there, thinking.
“I’m sorry I was late,” she said, and leaned over and kissed him. “I started out for a little shopping and lost track of time. And I stopped for Chinese food.”
David merely stared at her, an odd expression on his face.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“There was a phone call,” he said cryptically.
“From?”
“The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
“What? Why did they call here?”
“Well,” he said, “While you were out this morning, I spent my morning on Google. I found a mention in the Jasper Times about a girl who was murdered last night. Details were awfully sketchy, like when they don’t know exactly what happened yet, but they referenced a prior murder that sounded similar. I took a chance and I wrote down the events of your vision and what you told me about last night’s dream and faxed it to their office—”
“No, you didn’t,” she said and put a hand to her mouth. “What did they say?”
“They want to talk to you.”
“Well, no shit, but what did they say?”
“The sheriff called and wanted to talk to you. I told him you were out. He said he needed to speak to you immediately regarding your letter, that it was very important that you call him. He also said that if he didn’t hear from you by five, he was going to make a follow up call.”
“He didn’t mention anything about the visions?”
“No. I don’t think he was comfortable talking about that.”
“Did he sound like he believed it?”
David smiled and took her hand. “He sounded like he didn’t know what to make of it.”
“Oh, David, I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Of course, you can. You’ve done this before.”
“It’s going to be so horrible for me.”
“Yeah, but I think it’s already more horrible for the girl you saw being stabbed.”
“I know.”
“And worse for her family.”
“Yes.”
“And just as bad for the sheriff who’s trying to make some sense out of all this and put whoever did this behind bars.”
“Yes, yes, I know. I’m going to do this; I’m just saying I have my doubts.”
“You’ve never let doubt stop you before.”
“And I’m not going to start now,” she said.
He kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand. “So, what’s your next move?”
“I guess I should make that phone call and see how the sheriff wants to play it.”
“Good idea. I think if you don’t call him back soon, the Chicago Police department is going to be knocking at our door with warrant for your arrest.”
“Don’t even joke about it.”
“And I’m not posting your bail,” he said. “I can’t be party to your criminal activities.”
“Oh, shut up and get the phone,” she said. “And while you’re at it, dial the number since you started all this, you trouble-maker.”
“Just doing my job,” he said. He reached beside himself and the cordless phone appeared in his left hand. “Here you go.”
“That was too quick. I’m not ready yet, let me catch my breath.”
“You do that while I get the phone number.”
“You mean you don’t have that close hand?”
“Well, I do, but I’m going to keep you in suspense until I grab a Diet Coke. Want one?”
“No, I’m too nervous for that. I think I lost my appetite, too.”
“Well, forget the Diet Coke, here’s the number, make the call. I’ll be right here ready to jump in any time you need me.”
“You’re so sweet.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Trouble-maker.”
“Here,” he said, taking the phone from her. “I’ll dial.”
He started pushing the numbers and handed the phone to her. “Quick, it’s ringing.”
“Here we go,” she said, and put the phone to her ear. She heard one ring and then the phone was answered. The voice on the other end was a pleasant young lady. She said, “Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, how may I help you?”
“Hi,” Susan stammered. “I’m calling to speak to sheriff...”
“Ames,” David whispered and winked at her. “I got your back.”
“Sheriff Ames,” Susan said.
“May I ask who is calling please?”
“This is Susan Moore, calling from Chicago.”
“Oh goodness,” the young lady said. “You’re her, the one that wrote the fax.”
“Yes.”
“Hello, I’m glad you called. Sheriff Ames has been fidgety all afternoon since he got your fax.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Susan said feeling more uncomfortable by the second. “I guess I should speak to him and set his mind at ease.”
“You just missed him, though.”
“I see. Is there a better time I can call him back?”
“Well, actually, I guess you should talk to Deputy Soames—he’s the deputy sheriff—and see if maybe he can’t help you.”
“All right, I’ll speak to Deputy Soames, thank you.”
There was a pause on the line and then the young lady said, “Can I ask you one question while I have you on the line?”
“Sure.”
“Do you know who shot JFK?”
“I’m sure I don’t,” Susan said. “He died before I was born. Sorry.”
“Well, that’s okay. I guess we’ll never know. Hold on Mrs. Moore, I’ll get Deputy Soames right away.
She looked at David and said, “The sheriff’s not available, so I’m going to talk to a deputy sheriff. What do you think?”
“Just talk to him, see what he has to say.”
Before she could respond, the phone on the other end was picked up and Deputy Soames said, “Mrs. Moore, I’m glad you called. I’m sorry Sheriff Ames is out, but he left me some specific instructions for you.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Before we talk about the instructions, I have some questions for you first. Please don’t take offense, but I’m sure you understand why we have to ask?”
“I understand,” Susan said. “Ask away.”
“I’m looking at a fax that you sent—did you send us this fax?”
“My husband did, but I told him what to say.”
“How did you come by this information, Mrs. Moore?
“Am I correct about what you found, deputy?” she asked.
Soames was silent, and she knew that he was trying to decide what to say, choosing his words carefully. He did not want to say the wrong things and risk his investigation.
“Well, we’re looking into some things now. I can’t verify any of what you said. I’m just supposed to be asking questions, right now, not giving answers. I hope you understand.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Mrs. Moore, how is it that you have information about a homicide case in Jasper, Texas when you’re in Chicago, Illinois? You have relatives here? Someone call you about something? Are you a reporter?”
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. Did you read the fax, deputy?
“Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“Then you already know how I came about that information.”
“Well, ma’am, it’s just that . . . oh, hell, it sounds so hokey. Like a prank or something.”
“I assure you it’s not a prank. I realize it may be difficult to believe, but it’s all true. If you investigate my background, you’ll see that I’ve done this before. I helped the Virginia State Police put a child murderer in jail a little more than a year ago.”
“I don’t mean to doubt you ma’am, and I guess it’s not my place to judge. Obviously, Sheriff Ames is requesting your presence at our station because he wants to talk to you face to face.”
“I expected as much. I can book a flight for tomorrow morning, if that’s okay.”
“Yes, that’s fine. I don’t know how to handle the reimbursement situation—”
“Don’t worry about that, deputy. I just want to help. I’m not worried about being compensated in any way for my assistance.”
“That’s very nice of you, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Susan.”
“Okay, Susan. I guess what I’ll need from you is a fax of your itinerary once you’ve made your calls, then I’ll arrange to have someone pick you up from the airport and bring you in to see Sheriff Ames.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Susan said. She motioned for the pen and paper that was on the table in front of her. When David handed both to her, she said to Deputy Soames, “If you could give me the name of a good hotel in the area, I’ll make arrangements.”
“Well, that won’t be necessary. There’s always space at the Jasper Hotel. You can just walk in when you get here, and they’ll have a room for you no problem.”
“Okay. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Well . . .” Soames hesitated.
“You can say anything to me, Deputy Soames. I’m not easily offended.”
“Sheriff Ames is a good man, so don’t take what I’m saying the wrong way, but I think you better have all your eggs in your basket when you come in to talk to him. He’s one tough nut to crack when he has his mind made up about something.”
“Are you trying to tell me in a polite way that he won’t believe me?”
“Well, maybe he will, maybe he won’t. I’m just saying if you’re being straight about what you know or what you saw, just stick to your guns and don’t let Sheriff Ames dismiss you so easily.”
“Well, thank you for the advice, Deputy Soames.”
“For what it’s worth, I believe you, Susan.”
“I appreciate your confidence.”
Deputy Soames cleared his throat and tried to sound more official. He said, “I’ll look for your faxed itinerary and I’ll make sure someone meets you at the airport. Y’all have a safe trip.”
“Thank you, Deputy Soames. I guess we’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Goodbye now, Mrs. Moore.”
“Goodbye,” Susan said and hung up the phone.