The Crossroads

The phone rang. Judy snatched it up.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Jennings? Ben Hargrove. I just wanted to let you know we got him.”

“Mr. O’Claire?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You have him in custody?”

“No. He’s dead. You were right. He came after Miss Spratling. He sounded crazy. Talking to himself. And he had a knife.”

“I’m sorry you had to—”

“Yes, ma’am. Me too. Anyhow, I thought you and Zack would like to know.”

“Thank you.”

Judy knew there was still one piece of the puzzle missing. She also knew she held the key to cracking it.

Literally.

She squeezed the tiny bank key in her hand.

A bright beacon of light swung across the kitchen windows. Judy went to the back door.

“Davy? Is that you?”

“Howdy, Mrs. J.! You remember my pops?”

“Well, I certainly remember his flashlight.” Judy shaded her eyes. “Are you okay, Davy? After last night?”

“Oh, I’m fine. How’s Zack?”

“Fine.” She wondered whether Zack and Davy had had any visitors during their overnight stay in the graveyard. Had Bud shown up?

“We was gonna have us that sleepover at my place tonight,” Davy said. “Remember?”

“I’m all set!” Zack stood behind Judy, carrying a small gym bag.

Judy turned to Davy’s father. She knew that Billy O’Claire was no longer a threat. If the boys spent the night at Davy’s house, she and Mrs. Emerson could check out that safe-deposit box at the bank.

“Sir, are you sure you’re okay with the boys sleeping over at your house tonight?”

“Yep,” said Davy’s father.

Judy knelt down to look Zack in the eye.

“Honey, the sheriff caught the plumber,” she said.

“You figured it out, didn’t you?” Zack whispered. “You told the police how to catch him.”

“Well, I had a hunch. Turns out I was right.”

“Thank you!” He hugged her.

Judy thought about how much Zack had been hurt in his short life. There was so much she wanted to say. How she was sorry his mother had been so mean. How things were going to be different now.

But “Have fun, honey” was all she said.

From the look on Zack’s face, it might have been enough.

“We will,” he said. “Hey, you could use a little fun, too. Maybe you should go see a movie or something. I mean, Dad’s not home. I’ll be over at Davy’s. You and your librarian friend could go out to dinner or the movies or…”

Judy smiled. “Don’t worry. I know how to have fun.”

“You’re not going to stay home and watch TV, are you?”

“No. I’ll probably go hang out with Mrs. Emerson.”

“Zack?” Davy called. “Come on, pardner! We need to find us some good green switches for marshmallow roastin’!”

“I gotta go, Judy. See you tomorrow.”

Judy went inside and placed a call.

“Mrs. Emerson? Judy Magruder Jennings. I’m free this evening and I was wondering—do you think you and your husband could meet me at the bank in, say, ten minutes?”