Twenty-five-year-old Margie Webster’s body was found along a
hedgerow between two farm fields—a place where she would have no reason to be. The
forensics crew has collected only a small amount of evidence from the scene.
Margie’s body was taken back to the morgue. Sheriff Clayton
Nazzaro finished the difficult part of having her parents identify her
body. The sheet was only lowered just below her chin so her neck wound would
not be visible to her parents. The next scene takes place in the sheriff’s
office with Margie’s parents, Jack and Alice
Webster.
***
Sure, he had
to notify parents before, but not like this. There was no easy way to tell them
their daughter had been beheaded—so
he didn’t. He told himself the reason was that he didn’t want that piece of information
to end up in the Lamont Weekly Times.
Alice’s hands
wrung the sides of her dress into a tight ball. She didn’t look up. Her husband
had his arm around her shoulder holding her close but Clayton doubted she was cognizant
of it. He would have to handle this next part as delicate as possible. How to
start?
“Jack,”
Clayton began, still unsure what to say next, “I’m going to have to ask you
some questions, and I’m sorry about that, but you understand we have to try and
figure out what happened, right?”
“Yes. Yes, I
understand,” Jack said. He looked at his wife, frozen in her own
thoughts.
“Alright
then. So was Margie still working up at McCormick’s Boat Rental?”
“Yes, just
the weekends this time of year, until tourist season starts beginning of May.”
Jack faced Alice as he answered. “Isn’t that right honey?” His wife gave
no indication that she heard the question.
“So she
worked yesterday then I take it, on Friday?”
“I believe she
did. Every Friday til 4 o’clock,” Jack said.
“So after she
got out of …”
“No, she didn’t,”
Alice said, her voice barely audible.
Clayton was
relieved there was a reaction from Alice. “She didn’t what Mrs. Webster?”
“She didn’t go
to work Friday,” Alice said. She took a deep breath, her voice now clear. “She
was supposed to. Normally did. But not last Friday.”
Jack’s face
expressed his confusion. He released his hold on his wife as if she did
something wrong, withheld a secret of dire importance from him. “She didn’t go in? I thought she
had, she wasn’t home. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She took the
day off. Some event or day trip with that book club.” Alice was on the edge of
collapse. “That stupid club of hers. You know the one, Jack. You forbade her to
go.”
“So you didn’t
tell me? Christ Alice!”
That was the
final act. Alice broke down into a mass of tears.
Now Clayton
was the one who was confused. What could possibly be wrong with a book club?
***
Today's word - B for beheaded - is brought to you by Zach Amrhein.
If you would like to catch up, here is my 2013 A to Z Mystery Recap.
This post is part of April's Blogging From A-Z Challenge and Camp NaNoWriMo. The rest of the A-Z bloggers can be found pinned in the links section of my sidebar. Hope to see you tomorrow!
This post is part of April's Blogging From A-Z Challenge and Camp NaNoWriMo. The rest of the A-Z bloggers can be found pinned in the links section of my sidebar. Hope to see you tomorrow!
Are you writing a story for the Challenge? What a great idea. Will put you in my Follow After Challenge folder to find out what happens. Come visit when you can.
ReplyDeleteRead this and then went back to A. You've definitely got me intrigued. I'll be back to see what happens next and who dunnit of course.
ReplyDeleteCarol's Notebook
Wow that was awesome!
ReplyDeleteHe murderous book club ! Were they reading on French revolution?
Okay, I am hooked! Great idea for the challenge. I will definitely be back for more.
ReplyDeleteNice snippet. Sounds like my kind of story.
ReplyDeleteYep, those book clubs--scary places. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, HS! Great imagery. Well done :-)