decided Ethan could be a threat to you, or could leave town or both.”
“Ethan wouldn’t have done either of those things because he’s innocent,” Alyx asserted in frustration.
Just then, a young man about Ethan’s age, wearing khakis, a black shirt and a striped blue, yellow and navy tie walked in.
“Ms. Hille, my name is Tony…Tony Mallory. I’m an investigator from the State Attorney’s office. I’d like to ask you some questions.”
Maggie got up to leave. Alyx put her hand out signaling her to stay. “Is it okay if my friend stays?”
“No problem, if that’s what you want.”
Maggie sat back down while Alyx told the young investigator the same story she had told Smarts and Maggie.
Then, the young man showed Alyx pictures of the pieces of pottery found on the kitchen floor. I stretched my head out from behind the screen, trying to catch a glimpse of the photos. “Just one more question, Ms. Hille. Here is a photograph of the presumed weapon used, the earthenware pot; do you recognize it? Do you remember where it was?”
“I’m sorry,” replied Alyx, “I still feel a little disoriented. I can’t quite picture it or where it might have been displayed.” She lay back on the hospital bed.
“Is this necessary? Can’t you come back tomorrow?” questioned Maggie.
“It’s all right, Maggie,” said Alyx, sitting up, “just let me focus for a moment. Ethan made several pots and I have them all over the house. Right now, I have no idea. All I see is pieces of a broken pot.” She shook her head in discouragement.
“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.”
–– Unknown
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Sentimental Expressions
She couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for it, but Alyx agreed to Maggie’s offer to read her get-well cards and the gift tags on the flowers, no doubt to cheer her up, although, she didn’t say so.
I saw Alyx wipe away an errant tear. “Since I rarely hear from anyone, I’m surprised and touched by all the cards and flowers from my family. I was always the one to initiate contact, and when I stopped calling, no one else picked up the phone. At first, I excused it by telling myself they were just busy, caught up in their own lives and families, but I was busy too and somehow I managed to find the time. After a while, I just didn’t think about it at all. As you know, the only one that keeps in touch with me is my older sister, Kathy, and that’s only a few times a year, usually around the holidays.”
“I think they mean the sentiments expressed in these cards, don’t you?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, I do and when this mess is straightened out, I’m going home for a visit, and I’d like you to come. Ethan too, if he can take off work,” Alyx said with resolve.
“It’s a deal,” Maggie said as she picked up a colorful watering can filled with daisies. “I think these are my favorite. They’re so cheerful.”
“You know how much I love flowers; they’re all beautiful to me. Who sent those?”
“Charvette said they’re from Justin Marks, the dealer you met at the antique show in Georgia––the guy you never mentioned to me.”
“I never mentioned him because there was nothing to mention. We had coffee a couple of times and then we lost track of him. Why is he sending me flowers?” Alyx said.
Maggie opened the gift tag and looked up puzzled. “That’s weird; there’s no name on the card. How did Charvette know who sent them?” she questioned. “It just says ‘I wish you a peaceful rest.’ That’s a strange thing to say, don’t you think?”
Alyx wasn’t paying attention, didn’t answer her question, and asked one of her own instead, “Do they allow prisoners to make calls whenever they want?”
“Not whenever. They have certain times when they can make calls. I’m sure Ethan will call as soon as he can, once he knows you’re awake.”
“Can I call him?”
“No; they’re not allowed to receive calls and they can only make collect calls
“Ethan wouldn’t have done either of those things because he’s innocent,” Alyx asserted in frustration.
Just then, a young man about Ethan’s age, wearing khakis, a black shirt and a striped blue, yellow and navy tie walked in.
“Ms. Hille, my name is Tony…Tony Mallory. I’m an investigator from the State Attorney’s office. I’d like to ask you some questions.”
Maggie got up to leave. Alyx put her hand out signaling her to stay. “Is it okay if my friend stays?”
“No problem, if that’s what you want.”
Maggie sat back down while Alyx told the young investigator the same story she had told Smarts and Maggie.
Then, the young man showed Alyx pictures of the pieces of pottery found on the kitchen floor. I stretched my head out from behind the screen, trying to catch a glimpse of the photos. “Just one more question, Ms. Hille. Here is a photograph of the presumed weapon used, the earthenware pot; do you recognize it? Do you remember where it was?”
“I’m sorry,” replied Alyx, “I still feel a little disoriented. I can’t quite picture it or where it might have been displayed.” She lay back on the hospital bed.
“Is this necessary? Can’t you come back tomorrow?” questioned Maggie.
“It’s all right, Maggie,” said Alyx, sitting up, “just let me focus for a moment. Ethan made several pots and I have them all over the house. Right now, I have no idea. All I see is pieces of a broken pot.” She shook her head in discouragement.
“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.”
–– Unknown
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Sentimental Expressions
She couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for it, but Alyx agreed to Maggie’s offer to read her get-well cards and the gift tags on the flowers, no doubt to cheer her up, although, she didn’t say so.
I saw Alyx wipe away an errant tear. “Since I rarely hear from anyone, I’m surprised and touched by all the cards and flowers from my family. I was always the one to initiate contact, and when I stopped calling, no one else picked up the phone. At first, I excused it by telling myself they were just busy, caught up in their own lives and families, but I was busy too and somehow I managed to find the time. After a while, I just didn’t think about it at all. As you know, the only one that keeps in touch with me is my older sister, Kathy, and that’s only a few times a year, usually around the holidays.”
“I think they mean the sentiments expressed in these cards, don’t you?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, I do and when this mess is straightened out, I’m going home for a visit, and I’d like you to come. Ethan too, if he can take off work,” Alyx said with resolve.
“It’s a deal,” Maggie said as she picked up a colorful watering can filled with daisies. “I think these are my favorite. They’re so cheerful.”
“You know how much I love flowers; they’re all beautiful to me. Who sent those?”
“Charvette said they’re from Justin Marks, the dealer you met at the antique show in Georgia––the guy you never mentioned to me.”
“I never mentioned him because there was nothing to mention. We had coffee a couple of times and then we lost track of him. Why is he sending me flowers?” Alyx said.
Maggie opened the gift tag and looked up puzzled. “That’s weird; there’s no name on the card. How did Charvette know who sent them?” she questioned. “It just says ‘I wish you a peaceful rest.’ That’s a strange thing to say, don’t you think?”
Alyx wasn’t paying attention, didn’t answer her question, and asked one of her own instead, “Do they allow prisoners to make calls whenever they want?”
“Not whenever. They have certain times when they can make calls. I’m sure Ethan will call as soon as he can, once he knows you’re awake.”
“Can I call him?”
“No; they’re not allowed to receive calls and they can only make collect calls
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