Page 9 of Reckoning

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Mariah Lowe was in hysterics. She didn’t know what kind of damage she’d done to Lilith Bandy, but she knew her husband was furious. She knew she’d done a shameful thing to her daughter, and she knew she was in big trouble with the law. She kept waiting for Roger to appear, but when he didn’t, it dawned on her that visiting hours did not exist in jail, so she wailed loud and long until her eyes were swollen and the hem of her blouse was wet from wiping snot and tears.

Three hours later, Rocky Morris, the town lawyer, arrived. She was taken to an interview room, and being paraded up the hall in handcuffs to see him was the culmination of her humiliation. As soon as she was seated at the table, Rocky Morris walked in and took the chair facing her.

Of course, Mariah knew him. Star Ridge was a small town, but she hadn’t considered the embarrassment of facing him like this until he was here, and now she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

Rocky sighed. He and Roger were fishing buddies, and this was seriously awkward, but here they were.

“Well, Mariah, I can honestly say I never expected this. Would you like to tell me how you got here? And don’t skip details. Whatever you tell me goes no further, but I’m told there are three witnesses, one of whom is your daughter, so it will be best not to try and put a spin on it.”

Mariah took a deep breath. “I have no excuse. It was a knee-jerk reaction to something Lilith said.”

Roger Lowe had already filled Rocky in on the public shunning of Lilith Bandy that his wife had been orchestrating. He knew there was gossip about witchcraft and sleeping with the devil, which was such an egregious accusation that it appalled him. He also knew it had to do with the Bandys’ only son, a child, who was said to possess some kind of psychic ability.

“I’ve been told you provoked her. That you have been spreading gossip about her and her family ever since the tornado that hit the school. Is this true?” he asked.

Mariah squirmed where she sat. “Well, I just—”

Rocky sighed. “That is a yes-or-no question, Mariah. Not an essay prompt.”

She sniffed. “Yes…but I don’t consider it gossip. It’s a fact.”

“What’s a fact?” Rocky asked.

“Their son has unnatural powers. She…”

“Stop right there,” Rocky said. “First of all. I am not obliged to represent you just because Roger asked. I will not be a part of anyone maligning a child. All I heard was the boy had a premonition of the tornado and warned everyone soon enough to save their lives. So how, in God’s name, do you disapprove of that? And how does shunning his mother even make sense?”

Mariah lost track of why he was there and launched into the tirade she’d told so often it had become her truth. “Our pastor preaches against the devil’s works. He says we always have to be aware and that the devil takes many shapes. So that woman must be a witch. She made a pact with the devil for that boy.”

The skin crawled on the back of Rocky’s neck. He wasn’t going to argue the comment. “For the record, when your husband and daughter went to the hospital to check on Mrs. Bandy, Abel Bandy set Roger straight on that wild story you’ve been spreading. The abilities that Tate Bandy was born with come from his father’s people…not his mother. Abel said this gift of knowing has been passed down through the male side of his family for over six generations. Abel said he does not have the skill, but his brother does. And Tate is the sixth generation, and the one to have been born with it. Abel also told your husband that if his son’s or his wife’s name is ever mentioned in such a derogatory way again, he will make that person sorry they were ever born.”

Mariah’s stomach rolled. She didn’t want to trade words with Abel Bandy. Her voice was trembling when she finally asked the awful question.

“Did Lilith wake up?”

“Yes. She has stitches in her head, a concussion, and a very shocking hematoma on the side of her face. And you are responsible for all of that, which is why you are facing charges of assault and battery. Your husband has already offered to pay all medical expenses. The act of willingly assuming the costs of the damage you have caused will be viewed by the court as proof that he is aware of your guilt. Fortunately, he won’t have to serve your sentence, whatever it may be.”

She started wailing all over again. “I didn’t know. Are you going to represent me?”

“I will stand as your lawyer in court, but I will not pretend to argue your innocence in any of this. What I will do is negotiate the most lenient sentence as a first-time offense. But you committed an act of violence against an innocent woman, and did it in front of witnesses. You don’t have a leg to stand on getting out of any of it.”

Mariah was still bawling. “She was so rude, I acted on impulse.”

“And how do you think she’s felt all these months while you were spreading malicious lies about her and her son? All she did was finally call you out on it. It won’t fly, Mariah.”

“How long do I have to wait for the court appearance?” she asked.

“That’s up to the judge’s calendar, and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to be arraigned before bail can be set, so make yourself comfortable here, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. You’re just mad. Your victim is the one who’s suffering your actions. I’ll be in touch.”

She sighed and began issuing orders. “Then, I’ll need some clean clothes and—”

“Prisoners don’t get changes of clothes. You wear what you got arrested in until you are out on bail, or if bail is refused, you’ll get prison-issue clothing until your hearing.”

Mariah shuddered. The reality of her situation was even worse than she’d imagined.

“Oh my God… What do I do?” she wailed.