Mistaken Identity

Her feet pounded the sand as she entered her second mile, she felt herself relax. The breeze off the lake washed over her face, drying the sweat into a grimy layer. The sun had already bathed the horizon in pinks, reds and golds and was now a bright yellow ball in the clear blue sky. Summer had arrived.

Lacy let her mind empty as she heard the birds squawking behind her. She left the lake and headed onto the path through the tall pine trees on her way around the lake and back to the parking lot. “Why oh why don’t I get out here more often,” she asked herself silently as the smells of water turned into the damp earthy smells of pine trees and undergrowth.

Over the next mile and a half, Lacy saw ground squirrels scrounging for food. Rabbits gnawing on leaves that had fallen. And, deer regally walking through the forest their antlers, crowns on their heads.

Half a mile from the parking lot, Lacy slowed for a cool down walk, her hands on her hips as she slowed her panting breath. She grinned. She’d been cooped up in her office working overtime for the last two weeks. It felt great getting outside into the fresh air.

She climbed into her hybrid SUV and headed home to take a shower, thinking she’d call her mom later and see if she wanted to meet up for dinner. “Time to start getting out more,” she thought to herself as she pulled into her garage.

Lacy was wrapping her wet hair in a towel when the doorbell rang. Glancing down at the ratty robe she’d pulled on straight from her shower, she wondered who could be at her door. She moved the corner of the curtain and saw a police car at the curb. Even more confused, she yelled at the door. “Just a minute,” as she headed toward the bedroom and pulled on a sweatshirt and sweatpants, forgoing underwear for speed.

Lacy pulled her auburn hair into a ponytail as she rushed for the door. When she opened it, she found a police woman a little taller than herself, in uniform, her dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun under her blue cap. Her green eyes looked sadly into Lacy’s. “Miss Brown? Miss Lacy Brown?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Lacy still had no idea why there were police at her front door.

“I’m Officer Shelly Martin and this is Officer Tom Stevens.” She waved a hand at the man in uniform standing slightly behind her. Lacy hadn’t even noticed he was there. “May we come in?” Officer Martin asked.

“I don’t understand,” Lacy commented, as she stepped back to let them in. “Why are you here?”

Officer Stevens closed the door gently behind them. “Could we sit down somewhere?” Shelly asked gently. “I’m sorry but we have some bad news to tell you.”

Lacy felt her heart start to race. Her mind was already not functioning as she was confused as to why they were there.

She hadn’t noticed the officers had been gently leading her to the kitchen table. As they sat, Officer Stevens found a glass and got some water for Lacy.

“We’re sorry to tell you that your mother was killed in a car accident this morning?”

“What? No way. I don’t believe that.” Lacy shook her head and started rocking in the chair at the table. She started to shiver. Shock made her cold. “No, no, no.”

“Does your mom drive a bright blue Prius?” Officer Martin’s tone was gentle as she touched Lacy’s hand.

“Yes,” Lacy answered, tears streaming down her face. But, Lacy thought, so do a lot of people.

“Is your mom’s name Mary Brown?” same gentle tone.

“Yes.” But, there were other Mary Browns out there.

“Do you know if she uses the supermarket at Main and Elm?”

This time Lacy just nodded.

Officer Stevens butted in. “Is there anyone we can call to come help you?” His deep voice reminded Lacy of the fog rolling off the lake that morning when she had started her run.

Lacy shook her head, no. There was no one. It had only been her mom and herself for the last five years since her dad had passed away.

“We really need you to come with us.” Shelly glanced at her partner, who shrugged. “We need you to come to the hospital and identify the body.”

Lacy glanced up at the other woman. “So, there is some question?” Hope bloomed. “If you were so sure, I wouldn't have to come down and look.”

“I’m sorry. I know this is hard but it’s procedure for the next of kin to identify the body.” The officer’s hand still touched Lacy's - gentle comfort woman to woman.

Lacy straightened her shoulders. No matter what they said, she thought, there obviously was some doubt. “I need to get dressed.” She glanced down at the sweats she had pulled on. “And, brush my teeth.”

“Would you like me to come with you?” Officer Shelly Martin offered.

“No.” Lacy took a deep breath and wiped her hands over her eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone for a minute.” And, call my mom, she added silently. To prove you’re wrong.

“Ok. We’ll be right here.” She watched as Lacy headed out of the kitchen and down the hall. “Poor girl.”

“This is the part of the job I hate,” her partner agreed.

Lacy made her way to her bedroom, grabbed her phone off of her dresser before closing the door. When her mom didn’t answer, her heart sped up, her throat tightened. She dialed Tammy’s number, her mom’s next door neighbor. “Tammy?” Lacy asked when the other woman answered.

“Lacy? What’s wrong?”

Not wanting to scare the other woman before she was certain, Lacy said, “Nothing. Nothing. Mom didn’t answer her phone. I wondered if you knew where she went?”

“I’m sure she left her phone somewhere, dear. If it’s even turned on.” Tammy chuckled. “You know how she is. She was headed out to do some errands. She asked me if I needed anything from the market before she left.” Fortunately, her mom’s friend didn’t hear Lacy’s sharp intake of breath, before she went on. “I’ll let her know to call you when she drops off my berries. Okay?”

“Thanks, Tammy. I’ll talk to you later.”

Lacy hung up the phone, pulled on some clothes and went into her bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. She stared into the mirror. “What am I going to do now?” She whispered before she slid to the floor to cry some more.

That’s where Officer Shelly Martin found her a few minutes later. “Oh, honey.” Shelly slid to the floor to pull Lacy into her arms. She wasn’t exactly fond of this part of the job either, she thought. Shelly held Lacy through the racking sobs and hiccuping tears. She rubbed the other woman’s back and let her cry it out.

Shuddering with exhaustion from her crying jag, Lacy sat up and ran her hands over her face and hair. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered to the officer still sitting on the bathroom tile with her.

“Don’t worry about it.” Shelly waved her off. “”I’ve just given you the worst news you could possibly get. You’re allowed to cry.” She smiled slightly and got to her feet, reaching down to help Lacy to hers. “You’re going to want to get out of that wet shirt,” she continued as Lacy stood looking lost. “Maybe wash your face with some cold water. It’ll get rid of some of the blotchiness.”

Lacy looked at the police officer, the front of her uniform shirt so dark from Lacy’s tears it looked almost black. “Your shirt is wetter than mine. Wanna borrow one?”

“Nah, I’ve got a change of clothes down at the station. I’ll change there. Come on. Do you want me to come with you?”

Lacy said no and went to her room to change.

A few minutes later, Lacy and Officer Martin were in Lacy’s car and Officer Stevens followed them to the hospital.

Lacy parked in the visitor’s lot and turned off her car. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Shelly. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

The other woman touched Lacy’s shoulder gently. “I’ll be right there with you. We look through a glass window.”

Grabbing her phone and purse, Lacy took another deep breath and muttered, “Gotta get to it to get through it.” A mantra her mother had taught her at a young age.

They climbed out of the car and started walking toward the door. When Officer Martin reached for the handle Lacy’s phone rang. Absently glancing at the caller ID her heart stopped. So, did her feet. It was her mom’s number.

She gripped Shelly’s arm as she answered the phone. “Hello?”

She collapsed to the cement sidewalk as her mom’s excited voice sounded in her ear. “Lacy? What’s going on?”