GRYDER'S COVE TALES: HOWLERS

Barnett's, Madame Giselle's and Gryder's Cove...

"Hello?"

"Um, hi. Barnett James?"

"That'd be me, ma'am. Ain't you that Stevens lady that came up here not too long ago? Gail, right?"

Gail was flattered that he remembered her voice and her name, no longer than they had interacted.

"Yeah, it is, actually. I really hate to bother you, but I was told by Rev. Swafford down here in Derby Cross that I should consult with you on the matter of Elsie Gryder. More to the point, getting rid of Elsie Gryder. Do you think I could maybe come back up and talk to you sometime?"

Today, please say today.....

"Get rid of her? That's a fairly bold statement, if y' don't mind my sayin' so. Can't say as I recall anyone ever tryin' that. Most folks are content to just let her be and hope she stays wherever it is lost souls go."

There was a sound like a heavy sigh, then he spoke again.

"Tell ya what, come on up this afternoon, say, around three or so. We'll talk about it then, how's 'at sound?"

"That would be great, and thank you. We'll be there. I really appreciate you taking time out for me again."

"We'll see ya, ma'am. Take care now."

"You too, Barnett."

Gail put her phone away and sat down on her motel room bed. Now that the call had been made, she had to inform Sheriff Whaley so he could accompany her and Olivia to Barnett's house at 3:00. The sheriff had gone back to the station to make sure Officer Judy had things under control in his absence. He was getting deeper and deeper into this, and it wasn't sitting well with him, but he was sworn to protect the people of Derby Cross and of Corden County, so he was determined to see it through. After a big, smiley speech from Officer Judy about how things had been just fine, that Deputy Hicks hadn't done so much as write a parking ticket all day, and how quiet it always is in Derby Cross, she managed to reassure the sheriff that things were well in hand and that he could go take care of whatever it was he needed to do. It was just about then that Gail called to confirm the trip to Barnett's house.

"I talked to Barnett. He said about 3:00, if you still wanna come with us."

"I'll come by the motel 'round 2:30, then. That'll give us plenty of time to get up there. Well, I say that, but I barely remember how to get up there. Most of the times I've seen Barnett, he's been down here pickin' up groceries or somethin' like that, an' I never have t' go up there on any official business, so to be honest, I'm kinda hopin' you remember how to get back there."

"I still have the directions Barnett gave me. Oh, and you may wanna come a little earlier than that, Sheriff. I left here around noon the first time I went up there, and it was, like, 1:20 or so when I pulled up in his driveway. At least, I think that was a driveway. The road just kinda seemed to end in front of his house. Anyway, yeah, so around 1:30, ok?"

Sheriff Whaley looked at his watch. Plenty of time until then to psych himself up to follow through with this fucking insanity.

"Alrighty then, Ms. Stevens. See y'all at the motel."

Sheriff Whaley sighed heavily as he folded up his phone and tucked it into its case on his belt, right next to the taser he hadn't taken out since he got them for everyone on the force six years ago. Come to think of it, the damned thing was probably dead, so a recharge was in order, if he could remember where he put the charger. He went back to his office and began searching through his desk for it. This provided an excellent distraction from the reality of what was going on, and what the days ahead might hold in store. All the stories he had heard as a child, the things he himself had experienced growing up (but kept in check with denial that it could ever happen again) were all coming into sharp focus.