A Dash Of Red

Nine

It had been a week since Henry read the message. He had shredded it as best he could and then snuck it into that evening's fire. He didn't tell Beth about it. He knew she would tell everyone in Nottengrove about the letter and it seemed too private.

No one had found the suspect. Even though the search for her had gone on for days now, people seemed to find quite an interest in searching for the suspect. It seemed to become a pastime. Henry would be walking down the streets and he'd see a young child or two searching. It seemed unsafe but he believed that people who wanted to be heroes could if they wanted to, but finding the suspect wasn't much heroism if the suspect wasn't the killer. In some cases it could be quite the opposite. 

Beth didn't partake of looking for the murderer, she said she'd done enough by being visited by the murderer. That was a scare tremendous enough for a lifetime. Beth told her book club friends. 

"I was so frightened, I went scurrying, you know I didn't even have any clothes on when it happened, but pray don't tell anyone!" Henry heard Beth say. There was a knock on the door. All the women put down their tea with a clatter and their heads swiveled to the door. 

"Perhaps it's the murderer at the door!" Mrs. Barnell exclaimed. Mrs. Park grabbed Mrs. Barnell's shoulders and whimpered. 

"The murderer doesn't knock for the last time!" Beth called behind her shoulder as she hurried to answer the door. 

"Henry! It's the sheriff!" 

"It isn't any of my business, Beth!" Henry called back. He was in the bedroom sitting on the rocking chair by the big window, drinking his coffee. His book had become rather confusing, so he'd chosen to set it down for awhile to try to figure out what was going on. The police had visited several times, invited over detectives from different towns and search for clues at the front door. It seemed the general public cared much more about this case than Mr. Nolan. Perhaps it had become a thing for pure entertainment value. 

It was about half an hour later when the police came out, covered soil from the planter and carrying empty bags and spotless q-tips.

"We've found nothing. No evidence of this intruder. But don't worry. We'll find the suspect soon, and you won't have to be afraid of whoever it may be anymore. It may be your lucky day." This was always the same old story. The police searching and finding absolutely nothing to work with. 

Beth's meeting was adjourned soon afterwards.