A Murder in Mayberry

Part 10/5 Rose Marie Explores

Rose Marie was spending a lot of her spare time at the Catholic Church praying for guidance. She had contemplated confessing to the priest and asking his guidance, but she was unsure of her words and how the world would view her lack of action. Would God forgive her? Would she be expelled from the country? Would she be arrested? Her son and his wife were expecting her first grandchild. She couldn't leave now. She had a difficult choice, but she told herself she must know the truth, and not Mr. Charles's truth, but the real truth.

Mr. Charles left for a week long business trip. As always, he charged Rose Marie with the basement and the care of the occupants. The young man called Damien would be there to assist her, but she knew he mostly came late at night. Mr. Charles had told Rose Marie to let him know if Mr. Booker came. He was recently forbidden to visit when Mr. Charles was absent. The coast would be clear.

On the day after he left, Rose Marie went to the study to get the secret set of keys that Mr. Charles kept there. She was sure this set opened the doors in the wing that she was not allowed to visit. The wing that Mr. Charles called "storage". She had only ever seen Mr. Charles or Mr. Booker in this section of the tunnels. None of the other helpers over the years were ever allowed there, including her. The Mayor was usually carrying in a load of items, and once he was carrying out a set of luggage. Ugly, yellow luggage, one a large suitcase with a sticker on it. She could tell by the look on his face that he was caught doing something he shouldn't have, but she never told. She always kept the secrets.

Rose got the keys and headed to the basement and then to the tunnels.

Beatrice, who was reading the latest Sharyn McCrumb novel in the drawing room asked her where she was going.

"To dust the wine," said Rose who had a feather duster in her hand. "Mr. Charles said to dust the wine while he was gone."

"Oh, all right," said Beatrice. "Be careful, going up and down those stairs. We're not getting any younger."

"I know, and I will," said Rose Marie who then went down the stairs holding onto the rail. She was already paranoid enough without worrying about falling down the stairs.

Before going to the storage wing, Rose made her rounds. She could hear singing. An American hymn about going to a garden alone. The Spitfires were up.

"Where's Charles?" asked Willa.

"He's gone out of town," said Rose.

"How about letting us out?" said Jane. "I see you got some keys."

"I cannot girls. I tell you this before. I am not in charge. You must be redeemed. You must repent."

"That's bullshit," said Willa. "We're not sinners. Help us."

"I am not supposed to talk to the sinners," said Rose.

"I guess that baby's a sinner too?" asked Willa pointing towards William's cell.

She has a point thought Rose Marie. This was the reason she had finally gotten the nerve, she needed to look around and see what was behind closed doors. She left the girls and went to see William.

William was sitting in a rocking chair rocking a baby girl. A baby girl he and the Spitfires were calling Shania. She was delivered to William during a Shania Twain concert by the Spitfires three days earlier.

William couldn't believe it. He smiled when Charles handed him the baby. Thank you, he said. It was only later when he thought about where the baby's parents were that he became enraged. William, no longer afraid anymore, found anger came to him more readily these days too. Charles needs to be stopped. He is tearing families apart. William knew there were enough things out there tearing families apart. They didn't need any help.