Pam Lafave arrives at Doc Arra’s museum for the Wednesday evening session of cataloging the doctor’s collections. She finds Mary, Sam, and Peter already there. They are in the dining room discussing the Crawford case. Sam says he heard at the Coffee Mug someone saw the sheriff marching a man in handcuffs into the Courthouse. The old retirees at the Coffee Mug were cheering the news. Sam says he’s surprised how quickly they changed from criticizing the sheriff, based on the stories in the Weekly Journal, to cheering him based on seeing someone in handcuffs.
Mary Anderson says, “The sheriff bringing a suspect into the Courthouse caused work to stop and speculation to begin. No one recognized the suspect, so there were lots of guesses about who he is. Several people tried to get information out of Judge Hopper’s clerk. He wouldn’t say a word.”
Peter Brown says, “I heard wild talk at a couple of homes today. By late afternoon word had gotten around about seeing the sheriff go into the Courthouse with that guy in handcuffs. One man said if the prosecutor can’t get a conviction the guy should be lynched. I couldn’t believe him saying that.”
“I have been afraid Mary Jane Bloom’s inflammatory columns might lead to that kind of talk. We all want to see Martha’s killer brought to justice, especially us. But we want real justice, not some hoked up vengeance. I see Joe isn’t here tonight. Can I share the message from his sermon last Sunday?” says Pam.
“Tell us what he said, Pam,” asks Mary.
“He preached about all the wild talk in town and related it to people wanting vengeance more than justice. He said when we don’t have facts to guide our thinking we should leave the judgment to God. He asked us to pray for the sheriff, his deputies, the prosecutor, and the judge. He told us to put ourselves in their shoes. They have a heavy burden to bear in such a difficult case. He finished by reminding us Jesus would tell us to forgive the guilty man.”
Sam says, “I’m willing to pray for guidance for the people in Pineville’s justice system, but I’m not ready to forgive Martha’s killer. Fr. Joe will have to pray for me I guess.”
“I think we all feel like you, Sam,” Peter says.
Mary then says, “We had better hope the sheriff and the prosecutor have the evidence to convict this guy. Word around the Courthouse is he’s the last suspect the sheriff has. I fear the sheriff will give up and stop looking for the killer if he has no more suspects. Remember what he did when George Citron was murdered.”
“If that happens we should start our own investigation, as we did with George’s murder. I don’t want to let one of our dear friends, and one of this museum’s dedicated volunteers be murdered, and no one convicted,” says Peter.
“I agree, Peter. Pam, if the sheriff hits a dead end again will you help us continue the search for Martha’s killer?” Mary asks.
Pam notices there’s not a hint of sarcasm in the voice of the blonde-haired Mary. She thinks Mary is as afraid as most other women, although she won’t admit it. Pam says, “You all know I have had enough detective work. I willingly investigated George’s murder because he was one of us. I will have to think about it. I doubt I could stand to see Martha’s rapist and killer remain free in our community. We all know most women in the county are fearful now with a rapist on the loose. It’s the hope the sheriff will catch him soon keeping them from deeper despair.”
“How would we go about investigating this crime? In George’s case, we had suspects, and much of the investigation centered on things in this museum. If the sheriff has no suspects left where would we start?” asks Peter.
“I may have an idea,” says Sam, “but I have to talk to my nephew before I can decide if it’s worth pursuing.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The sheriff may well have his man. We should know by the next time we meet. I say we stop speculating about a situation we don’t have facts on and leave it to the sheriff, and to God, as Fr. Joe said,” says Pam.
“You’re right, Pam. Let’s go to work and think positively, replies Sam.
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