The Murder Of 1886

CHAPTER 6

The following day, Gwen visited the small library in the village. She dropped Jane at Ruth's house, not wanting her to be all alone in the house. She was still not feeling well and leaving her with Ruth was the best course of action.

She walked Jane to Ruth's door and explained the situation to the older woman. Of course she was delighted to have another woman in the house even for a few hours.

"Of course darling. I'll catch her up on her nutrition. She's a bit thin don't you think?"

Jane had never seen someone so blunt in her life and so she had been perplexed. Gwen bit back her laughter when Jane made a funny face. Meanwhile, Ruth had already begun making something for Jane to eat. Gwen muttered a quick "have fun" before she ran to her car, quickly ducking Jane's slap.

Of course, back in the car, it was like all fun had been drained from her. The air became thick with tension and casting one last glance through the rear view mirror, Gwen drove away.

At the library, Gwen smiled at the librarian and then started moving down the aisles containing rows and rows of books. Time passed as she stood in front of the fantasy genre row and began picking up the books. But she kept it back just as fast as she took it.

Focus, she scolded herself multiple times.

Finally, she managed to pry herself from the fantasy genre aisle. Gwen walked over to the aisle containing records and newspapers of the town. Someone walked over to her. She turned around to see the librarian.

"Is there anything I can help you with dear?" she said. She was a woman in her forties. She had her auburn hair up in a bun and her bright blue eyes reflected kindness. Gwen gave her a grateful smile and spoke.

"Yes Mrs. Stewart." Gwen said, glancing at her name tag. "Can you give me the records and newspapers dating back to the year 1886? If you have it here, then I would like to look through it please." Gwen looked a bit hopeful as she finished her request. If there were no records on the 1886 murder, she was at a dead end.

Mrs. Stewart's blue eyes hardened. When she inquired on why Gwen wanted the records of that particular year, Gwen was at a loss on what to say. She didn't want to explain what happened over the course of the past few days in the residence she was staying at, at least not until she knew what it was herself. She decided on the vaguest answer she could say.

"Well, I wanted to know more about the murder that took place in the D'Souza residence. I was told of the tragedy the family faced by one Ruth Jackson when I visited her house. I was curious. The murder was one of the main highlights of that year in the newspaper, wasn't it?" Gwen spoke quickly and with a hint of formality in her voice, hoping the woman wouldn't question her further.

The woman raised her eyebrows a little. "Where do you live? Maybe I could mail it to you. It would take an awful lot of time to get the records and articles of that year since it has almost been 60 years since that incident. I would have to pull it all from the back of the shelves."

Gwen didn't want to disclose her address to a stranger. Not after seeing the reaction the woman seemed to have when the D'Souza murder was mentioned. Instead she volunteered to arrange the papers with her.

"Oh, I'm free all day. Maybe I could help take it out? "

Gwen didn't give Mrs. Stewart a chance to protest, saying "I've been bored without anything to do. Maybe it would help me pass the time. And it would give me some time to relax in the peace the library grants."

The woman had nothing to say.

And so, Gwen spent the rest of the day finding and pulling the articles and records from the back of the shelves labeled 1886. When she finally came into contact with it, she sneezed. It was completely covered in dust and Gwen had to hide a look of disgust. She spent the rest of the time arranging to take the articles home.

The librarian had relaxed a lot since the first mention of the murder and was happily chatting with her as she pulled a bag from under the reception desk and carefully placed the articles in the bag. Gwen promised to return it as soon as possible.

Gwen stepped outside the library and for a moment just stood there, breathing in the fresh air. It was a sunny day and Gwen found she preferred it to the gloomy day yesterday's rain had caused. Back in the car, she placed the bag in the back seat and started the car. Driving back home, she picked up Jane from the Jackson residence while Ruth waved energetically from the porch. Jane slipped into the passenger seat.

"That woman is mental! She made me eat three helpings of pudding, three. If I vomit on your floor, it isn't my problem."

Gwen chuckled. She knew Jane enjoyed her time with Ruth even if she acted like she never wanted to go back. Jane just didn't like being too obvious about her feelings.

When they reached Gwen's house, neither of them moved from their seats. An awkward silence descended over them. Gwen sensed that Jane had something to say. She was right.

"Did you get what you needed?"

Gwen was surprised. She hadn't told anyone where she was going. But she shouldn't think too much about it. They had been friends long enough to know what the other might want to do or say. Gwen nodded her head to indicate yes.

"I went to the library." Gwen elaborated. The corner of Jane's lips lifted. Gwen breathed and lived books. Books were what defined Gwen. They lapsed into comfortable.

A thought stood prominently in the forefront of her mind. Shifting, she turned towards Jane.

"Why did you disappear? What actually happened? How did you end up here?"

Jane looked at her and held her gaze for a long time before averting her eyes. She let out a sigh.

"I was depressed and I wasn't feeling well. I remember walking down the street, thinking that maybe you would keep me company. I was about to cross the street when I felt someone hit me in the back of the head. The next thing I know, I was feeling mind-numbing pain. It went on for hours. I passed out again from the pain and when I woke up I was in the middle of those woods." Jane pointed at the forest expanse behind the house.

"It was nighttime when I gained consciousness. I couldn't move at all. Obviously, I found out someone cut up my arms pretty badly."

Jane pulled up her cuffs up to her elbow. A huge wound ran down from Jane's elbow to her wrists. Gwen nodded, understanding. After all she was the one who had cleaned up Jane's wounds. Those ones were by far the worst she found. Jane continued speaking.

"Then I somehow managed to get up and then it didn't take long until I found your house. I hoped someone would let me in for at least one night. Imagine my surprise when I saw you behind the door."

Gwen understood. She shared her surprise and bewilderment too. They stayed in the car for a while, talking about things and Gwen welcomed the simplicity of it all. Gwen told Jane about how her parents recommended this trip and how she was depressed after her brother's death and her best friend's disappearance.

When they sat down for dinner that night, both were happy to be back on track with each other. The previous awkwardness and uncertainty that plagued their conversations since Jane came back had been squashed after their much needed conversation in the car.

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