95876

95876

A young voice, “You have reached 95876. I’m Beth.”

“I’m Karen, Ms. Exbeth’s medical coordinator. May I speak to her?”

“What a wonderful name. It’s like a pirate that can’t read, he signs his name with an X, but he can read. Can you imagine a lower case cursive e that keeps going all the way up to the top of the line, then a slash like a sword stroke to make it into an X. It could be his nick name, Mr. Ex.”

“That is nice may I speak to your mother.”

In a raised voice, “Mom, a Karen wants to speak to you. I think she has a wrong number.” Beth hands the phone receiver to her mother.

“This is Bessie Hadick. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Karen, Ms. Exbeth’s medical coordinator. Can I speak to her?”

“I’m afraid there is no one by the name of Mrs. Exbeth here. You know this section of the state is going to add a prefix number. We are going to be orchard or 579-5876. Perhaps she is in another prefix.”

Karen taps her cell phone off. “Emma!”

“What has one of our old ladies done now? You look shaken.”

“That was the weirdest conversation. It made no since.”

“Who were you calling.”

“Exbeth May Hadick.”

“Did she prank you?”

“I guess.”

“She has been writing ever since her teens. The last book was just a bunch of short stories. I think her years are catching up with her. Some of these old ladies are sharper then the two of us put together. Would you like me to call her back.”

“Would you?”

“Sure.” Emma finally taps her cell phone off. “I’m getting no answer.” She looks at her computer screen. “She is long overdue a visit. I won’t be able to see her till late next week. Will your schedule allow you to see her sooner.”

“Let me check. I can see her tomorrow at 2 P.M. Is her address still 94 East Sunset Street.”

“That is what I have.”

“Oh Dear, I’ve been flagged this is going to be a yearly update. I have to go with a Mike Mitchum. Do you know him?”

“He is the only person Exbeth seems to like.”

“Is she that scary?”

“Don’t worry if he is there she will ignore you.”

The next day in the parking lot. “Hello, are you Karen? I’m Mike Mitchum.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were in a wheel chair. And an over the top fancy one at that.”

“Everyone is surprised when they first meet me. We will take my van. It is easier for me to get in and out.”

As they drive Karen comments, “Isn’t Sunset in a bad part of town.”

“It is but you will be surprised.”

“Why would a rich woman want to live in gang land?”

“It was her childhood home.”

“Oh. … I thought she would be well off.”

At that moment they turn on to Sunset Street. Karen let out, “Wow, this part of Sunset is beautiful!”

“She has her gardener tend the whole street. The back of the properties are total rubbish. She has only what can be seen kept up. What one can do when they are rich.”

“I bet that is her house. The only one with a lot of flowers among the trees and shrubs. She allows you to pull in the driveway?”

“She insists.”

“What would she have done if I parked in the driveway?”

“She would have had you move your car to the street and then give you a hard time.”

“Would you like my assistance to get out.”

“No, I am good. What is that smell? Exbeth has probably called about it. This is going to be fun. You’ll get to see her in action. Go on ahead I’ll be there in a minute.”

Karen calls from the door, “No one is answering.”

Mike calls to her in his advancing wheel chair, “Did you ring the bell and knock. I think she might be getting hard of hearing.”

“Maybe she is asleep.”

Mike has arrived and starts to poke and bang the door with his cane. “That ought to wake her, and scratch the door.” Karen comments snidely.

No answer “The key is taped to the back of the bird nesting box.”

Karen looks, “I’ve got it.” The door swings open. Karen screams, “BLOOD, A HAND! Don’t look! She’s dead!” The smell and gory sight makes Mike lurch his chair backwards and it tips over the step. On his fall he pisses himself and gags.

Immediately Karen is on her cell phone, “This is Karen from the County P. C. department I need police assistance and an ambulance. Mike don’t move! Ms. Exbeth Hadick has been murdered and my supervisor has fallen. He may be hurt.”

“I’m not. I have a change of clothes in the car.”

“I’m going to sit here tell the para medics release you. DON’T MOVE. Then I will get you your clean clothes. Here is my jacket to put your head on. Just relax. I’m sorry you pissed yourself as well as throwing up.”

“What has made you into such a Simon Legree?”

“I have a pre-teen and a teenager. I lost my husband and a child to a car accident three years ago. Don’t move.” She stands and waves “You’re in luck the ambulance has arrived first.”

“Nice view up your skirt.”

“Behave or I will kick you.” “Over here!” … “Now that you are in good hands I will get your clean clothes.”

At the van, an officer flags her down. “I’m officer Benjamen. Are you the lady that called?”

“Yes officer. It is a mess in there. Carnage!”

“What is your name?”

“Karen from C. P. C. D.”

“I need your real name.”

“Katreena Whitaker Merlin. They tell us to use a generic name for our protection.”

“I Know. Now would you take me through what happened.”

Karen gets home to her son grousing out. “Mom what happened. Your late. I’m starving!”

Her daughter sits up on the couch. “Bobby leave her alone. She has been through enough. Can’t you see Mom’s upset. She saw the writer Exbeth being murdered. You should look at the news. She was on it!”

“Clare, I just found the old lady dead.” Karen’s cell phone vibrates. “Quiet the both of you. This call is from work.” When she taps the phone off. “Guess what, for the ordeal I was put through, I get 10 days off to recover.” She pauses, “How would you guys like to go to the cabin next week. No one has booked it yet.”

Her two children’s eyes light up. “What does my starving boy want to eat?”

“Sushi!”

“Mom why do you always ask him what he wants to eat.”

“Because all you ever want is hamburgers. Tokyo Su has hamburgers.” Her son beams,

“Thanks Mom.” Clare comments, “Will we have to get our school work for the week.”

“Of course.”

“It is good to see you back Karen. What a lucky person, after two weeks on the job a vacation.”

“I never thought of it that way, Emma.”

“Mike Mitchum wants to interview you with a detective in an hour. A formality I guess. The news said they caught the killer. A psycho neighbor at the back of her property. Did you enjoy your time off.”

“Yes, we went to our mountain cabin last week.”

Sarcastically, “That is nice, a mountain cabin.”

“It is mostly rented we got lucky last week.”

“A boy friend?”

“No two teenage children.”

“I have put several cases for you on your desk.”

“I hope they are not as stressful as Exbeth’s.”

On seeing Mike and another man enter, Emma dismisses herself.

“Mike how bad did you hurt your hand.”

“It’s just sprained. Karen this is Detective Knudson.”

The detective shakes Karens hand and motions to the chairs, “If you two would be seated we can start this enquiry. We have some irregularities I would like to check into. Karen the records indicate that you called Exbeth three days after she was already dead?”

“From what I understand, yes.”

“Could you play back the recording of your call.”

“Yes, Give me a minute.” She goes through her cell phone, “Here it is.” They listen.

“On my investigation I came across this old footage from a talk show with her as a guest.” Again, they listen. “What do the two of you think?”

“It is the same voice.” Mike agrees, “It is.”

“Detective Knudson”

“Yes Karen.”

“I read her last book while I was out. A series of stories about her life. I have highlighted this.”

“Let’s see.” He reads and looks at her, “It is the same conversation as the girl on the recording. You know a prefix was added to home phone numbers the year Exbeth was thirteen. I looked it up. Exbeth’s voice text ID was 95876.” Karen looks it up. “That’s What I have.”

“Odd?”

“It is.”