The Pale Man Rises

CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE

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William Fipps burst through the front door of the municipal building intent to make his way through the lobby to the police offices and tell the federal agent and the others what he had heard over the telephone. But when he rounded the corner of the corridor leading to the door that led into the hallway of said offices the large form of Sayer County deputy Ronald Langley confronted him. Seeing that Fipps was in a hurry Langley put out a hand and grabbed his shoulder causing him to stop abruptly. Before the reporter could protest the detective guided him into the hallway and on into one of the rooms on the northern wall.

The room was almost barren save for a table, a few straight-back chairs that sat around it and a clock that ticked away on the facing wall. It was obvious the room was used for interrogations and that was what Langley intended to do to this reporter who had caused Mabry to doubt his reliability. "Just what are you trying to do, screw up this case?" he asked the reporter. "What do you mean?" Fipps countered. "I mean how did you get wind of this case and who authorized your coming down here?" Fipps made a face. "I was fortunate enough to be in the bar where the waitress in Sayerville was murdered. I even got some pictures of her before the cops got there, anybody with an ounce of brains could see this was no ordinary case." he said in a sarcastic voice. "Yeah and who sent you down here–the sheriff didn't do it–was it his stupid brother-in-law?" Langley now asked.

Fipps was not going to admit to anything. "Nobody sent me–I came down here on my own detective, to observe you guys at work as a citizen and a journalist I'm sure I have every legal right to do so." Fipps said then as he stood up. "You don't have a legal right to screw up this case." Langley said putting a hand out as if to stop the reporter from moving around him and exiting as he wished to do.

"I'm not trying to screw it up!" Fipps said defensively. "You aren't?" "No I'm not." Fipps insisted. "Then who were you calling out there on the street? If Mabry knew that he'd sure think you were and would probably want to press obstruction of justice charges against you–I wouldn't doubt that he'd have Chief Townsend lock you up until it was all over!" Langley blared. Fipps looked embarrassed. "I....ah....ah....was calling home." he said in a mumble. He was a poor liar and Langley being someone who was a consummate deceiver could easily detect those with a lesser degree of talent. He glared at Fipps accusingly. Fipps knew he couldn't avoid telling him.

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He had intended to tell them anyway, but had hoped by doing it face to face that he could avoid being totally frozen out of the case for his indiscretion. And so now he decided it wouldn't hurt to tell this fat ass first. "Okay, okay, look I was calling the Rankins." He said with increased embarrassment. "You were what?" Langley asked dumbfounded. "It was totally innocent–I didn't say anything that would let them think the cops were on to them. Besides it sounded as if something awful had already occurred there." Fipps told him. 

 "What do you mean?" Langley asked. "Well some man answered and he sounded like he was injured. He just started talking about cutting his head off–ah the Mantaque–he said his head had to be cut off or he wouldn't die. And there are others like him in the lake!" "Others like who–like this Mantaque?" Langley asked. "Yes–yes I'm sure that's what he meant–and then he dropped the phone. 

 It sounded like he was terribly hurt, like he was dying or something, like the others had gone. I've got to tell Mabry, I've got to let him know so he can warn the Sheriff and the deputy before they get there." he said growing anxious with the news he had. "And what do you think his reaction will be? You're going to tell him you warned them that those two were on their way out there?" Langley asked. "No, no, I didn't say anything about that!" Fipps declared with some aggravation. "Well unless they recorded your conversation then nobody knows for sure what you told them, and you're a reporter. You were warned not to interfere, what do you think the reaction will be if one of those men gets injured or worse yet killed? Believe me Fipps they will ream out your ass and hang you out to dry?" Langley told him with wavering humor. And his words greatly stung Fipps. And the more he thought about what the deputy was telling him the more he had to admit that it did not look good for him.