Chapter Thirty-Five
Like a raging prairiefire, news of the assault spread through the festival crowd.Ben’s team kept everyone away until Chief King was able to quickly close off the corner.He assured the people that Sarah was fine and the police were in full control of the matter.All was well.The authorities kept it quiet that Sarah’s attacker was dead, and they left his body inside for the coroner.There’d be plenty of time for word about that unsavory detail to get out tomorrow,afterthe festival was over.
Around the side of the building, the youth who’d originally worn the rhubarb costume with the red tennis shoes was discovered, bound and gagged.He was relieved to be released, and confirmed that he’d been overwhelmed, his costume stolen, by a man matching Colin Korhonen’s description.
Ben pulled his men back, letting law enforcement do their jobs.He held a shaking Sarah close to his side.He signaled his team to surround them, clearing a way to the diner.People murmured among themselves, watching Sarah, concern evident on their faces.
She spotted Emily and her father.She saw Daisy, Betsy, and Virgil and tried to smile at them in reassurance.“Everything’s all right,” she said, although her voice was tinny.
In a rear booth, Ben urged Sarah to sit.The presence of his men kept others at a distance.Jim took a seat across from her.“Honey, are you okay?”
Milly, too, slid into the booth beside her, took her hand.
Sarah ran shaky fingers over her brow.“I think so.”
“She did great,” Ben said.“She managed to stick the little shit twice.”
Jim nodded approvingly.
“You saved me,” she said to Ben.Her entire body trembled.Like sparks firing along her nerve endings, the aftermath of the life-threatening experience jolted through her.For a moment, she was afraid she was going to vomit.
“Not so,” he said.“I looked at the body.He was losing blood fast.In another few seconds, he would have weakened and you’d have finished him off.I just sent him to hell a little sooner, that’s all.”
Sarah folded her hands tightly in her lap.Guilt consumed her.“I’m partly responsible for Mira’s death.Now I’ve helped kill her brother.”
“Sarah,” Ben said, giving her arm a little shake, “that guy was bent on murder.He stalked you for weeks, threatened you.He hurt Annie Smith, Butler, and you.He killed someone’s pet.Don’t take responsibility for this.The man was sick.”
Falling silent, Sarah’s thoughts were jumbled, chaotic.She didn’t know how to make sense of her assault.It was going to take a long time for her to process the event.A very long time.
“Let me see your neck,” Milly said.
“You may need a tetanus shot.”Ben looked at the small wound.“Maybe some antibiotics.”
Milly inspected her.“I’ll send for the doc.He’s here at the festival with his family.He’s always got his bag.He’ll fix her up right away.”
That was done, and the doctor arrived and administered the proper shots, all while Sarah remained in the booth.In reality, she wasn’t certain her legs could support her.They’d turned to gelatin.
Outside, the festival was wrapping up.People began to leave, and the animal pens were broken down.A few dozen adults would keep the party going at a local tavern long into the night, but for the young families, the celebration was over.
Within half an hour, Chief King arrived to sit with Sarah and Ben, taking their statements.“I just checked the body.He’s got a dog bite on his left calf.”
Sarah gasped.“So, Colin was the one who assaulted Annie Smith?”
