Maggy awoke to the aroma of brewing coffee. A glance at the alarm clock on her dresser indicated the time to be only 5:30. She quickly dressed in a sleeveless flower print cotton dress and low heeled leather sandals before heading down the hall to the bathroom where she splashed cool water on her face to help her become alert. She checked on Mike in Kelly’s room and after finding him asleep, went to check on her sister. At the door she remembered the chair that had been wedged in place the night before to lock her out. Maggy turned and retreated towards the staircase. She glided down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen and the rich aroma that woke her from a troubled sleep.

The house was empty, filled only with gray morning light and deep shadows. She poured herself a mug of hot black coffee and gazed out the kitchen window. Chief was on the back porch swing reading the newspaper. The pages gently swished as he turned them.

“Good morning,” Maggy said through the window.

Chief turned behind him and smiled. “Good morning, honey.”

“You ready for your clipping?”

“I am if you are.”

“I’ll go get the scissors and a bed sheet to collect the clippings,” Maggy said and left the window.

Maggy fetched the scissors from her dresser. In the hall closet she snatched a sheet and then returned downstairs. She grabbed her coffee from the counter and shoved her way through the back door with her hip, the screen door slapping against the side of the house and the spring yawning at its effort to slam the door shut again.

“You’ll have to sit on the stool, Chief, so I can move around you.”

Chief pulled the stool closer to the wrought iron end table and perched himself on it. He continued to read the paper as Maggy draped the sheet over him and wetted down his hair. He sipped his coffee at intervals, undaunted as she re-positioning his head and clipped. They chatted idly back and forth, avoiding the previous night’s discussion. 

Maggy was just finishing the last bit of trimming when Miss Celban appeared on her back porch. She sidled a sideways glance at the Broden residence and noticed Chief the same time Chief and Maggy noticed her.

“Shh-” Chief said under his breath. “Maybe she’ll go away.”

Maggy laughed. She pulled the sheet free and shook it off in the yard. Over the sheet she folded, Maggy watched Miss Celban leave her porch and cross the yard.

“Miss Broden,” the older woman commented as she passed by on the way to her father.

“Priscilla, lovely morning, wouldn’t you say?” Chief said pleasantly and hopped down from the stool. He crossed the porch to the swing and reclaimed his earlier position. He gave the woman a bright smile and folded his paper. “So what can I do for you ma’am?” he asked and offered the woman a seat.

Priscilla Celban stopped just short of the porch steps. She regarded Chief with an icy stare. “I take it Maggy has filled you in on the events of yesterday?”

Chief dropped his smile and glanced at Maggy. “What she knew of them, yes,” he answered. “Would you like some coffee? We just put it on about a half-hour ago.”

“No thank you. I’m afraid coffee is not the reason I came over here.”

“Then, what is the reason?”

“Restitution.”

“Ah. Restitution. Quite honestly, Pricilla, I haven’t had the opportunity to question Kelly about her behavior yesterday. Once I do, we’ll be over with whatever restitution in necessary. You have my word on that.”

“Your word,” snapped the woman. Her tone was sharp and clipped. “I am not leaving here until justice is done. If you can’t settle it as a parent, then I’m afraid, Chief Broden, I’ll have to prefer charges of malicious destruction of private property against that little– and you’ll be serving the child as a police officer. Is that clear?”

“I see,” whispered Chief. He struggled to remain civil. He regarded the woman and continued to check his temper. “Maggy,” he said to his daughter, who had regained the steps and stood to his left. “Go get Kelly.”

“She’s still asleep, Chief.”

Chief turned his attention to her “Go wake her,” he said deliberately, then returned to the woman. “Just what is it, exactly, you want from me, Priscilla?”

“I told you, restitution.”

“Of what sort?”

“I demand full payment for my murdered rose bushes and a full apology from the perpetrator.”

“I see.” Chief noticed Maggy hadn’t left the porch. “Mag–”

“Chief, she’s put a chair in front of the door. I tried last night–”

“It’s okay, I moved it last night. Go get her.”

Maggy nodded and left the porch, taking the sheet and the scissors with her. She dropped off the barber utensils in her room, then went next door to the guest room and gently pushed the door open. Kelly was still asleep on the oversized bed. Maggy noticed the child was damp with perspiration; blankets were thrown aside by her thrashing; and both pillows were tossed to the floor, one pillow lay close to the window, the other had been thrown all the way across the room– evidence of a nightmare. 

“Kelly,” Maggy whispered, gently shaking the child. “Time to get up.”

Kelly’s eyes fluttered in the muted wash of light that filtered through the window. The feeble light did little to animate the blue of her eyes which appeared dark, dull and empty.

Kelly pushed herself up and sat staring at her older sister. She yawned and watched as Maggy leaned over to retrieved her overalls by the bed, then went after the sweater that hung half across the bureau.

“It’s still early,” Kelly said as Maggy handed her the sweater.

Maggy looked at her not hiding her own concern. “Chief sent me up for you. Miss Celban’s down there and she’s making a big stink.”

Kelly nodded and dressed. Maggy led the way out, holding the door for the child. They descended the stairs together, but at the landing Kelly stopped abruptly. The voices of the adults could be heard from the back porch: Miss Celban’s high-pitched and angry, Chief’s low and muffled.

“It’s all right, honey,” Maggy told her. “Chief just wants to know the truth.”

Kelly stared at her. Maggy noticed the child tremble and smiled to reassure her. When Kelly reached out her hand, Maggy took it.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered. Kelly nodded and let her sister lead her through the house to the back porch.

Kelly was first through the door. She was confronted by Miss Celban’s cold and calculated stare straight away. The woman was leaning against one of the porch’s columns. She wore a print dress and a shawl crocheted from fuzzy pale blue yarn. Her dull brown hair was streaked with grey and she had it pulled back into a severe bun that stretched the skin of her forehead and pulled her over-plucked eyebrows towards her temples.

“Kelly,” Chief said from the swing, “over here, pumpkin.”

She went to her father and sat next to him. He put his arm around her. She glanced back at her sister and noticed Maggy was also watching her. Maggy smiled again for her and nodded reassuringly. Kelly blinked, then turned her attention to the floor, away from everyone.

“Miss Celban says you willfully and maliciously destroyed her rose garden yesterday. Is that true?” Chief asked.

Kelly nodded, unable to remove her attention from the grey painted floorboards.

“You want to tell me why?” Chief asked.

Without looking up, Kelly shook her head.

“I see,” Chief sighed. “Kelly, I’m trying to give you the opportunity to tell your side in all of this. Without it I’ll have to comply with Miss Celban.”

There was a deep grunt from the woman across the porch and Kelly eyed her sharply without moving her head. 

“I do not need for you to comply with me, Chief Broden. I only want justice. I want that child held accountable. I want her punished to prevent this from ever happening again. Is that clear?”

“Miss Celban,” Chief said, again biting back his anger. “Disciplining my children is my responsibility–”

“In which you are sorely lacking!”

“What good is discipline without fairness, Miss Celban?”

“Fairness?”

“Fairness!” roared Chief. “I want to know what caused her to destroy your bushes. Something did. Kelly,” he returned to his daughter. “Tell me what happened yesterday.”

Again she shook her head.

“Then you leave me no alternative. The cost to replace Miss Celban’s rose bushes will come out of your allowance. Is that understood?”

Kelly nodded, her attention still fixed on the floor.

“She also demands that Hoover be tied in the back yard where he will not be able to reach her flowerbeds.”

At that Kelly looked up. She looked at Miss Celban and flashed her an angry mien. There were tears in her eyes and her face was becoming deep red. She turned to her father and shook her head violently back and forth.

“Kelly, we have no choice. The dog was trespassing. She has a right not to want him digging in her garden.”

“But Chief–” Kelly spurted out. “The tiger will get him. He’ll kill him!”

“I think he’ll be safe, honey. We’ll keep an eye on him when he’s out here.”

“But Chief–”

“I’m sorry, Kelly, but that’s final,” Chief said, the finality of the words embedded in his tone.

Kelly bit her lip and turned away. Again she looked at the floor. Water dripped from her eyes like raindrops on the scuffed grey boards. Chief noticed her ears were growing a brilliant shade of red.

“I would also like for you to apologize to Miss Celban for both her rose bushes and your name calling.”

Without looking up, Kelly shook her head.

“Kelly,” Chief said, his voice stern. “I told you to apologize. Now.”

Again she shook her head.

“That child is obviously lacking in discipline. As a father, Chief Broden, you are a disgrace. Why I haven’t seen you grace the sight of a church since poor Old Crebs passed on. Discipline goes beyond the flesh. It should be administered soul deep.”

Kelly shot her a fierce look. “That’s Mr. Crebs to you!” she shouted.

“If you would like,” the woman continued. “I will discipline that monster myself.”

“When I need your help, ma’am. I’ll ask for it.” Chief's patience was stretched as thin as an rubber band, close to breaking. “Kelly, I’m going to ask you one more time. Apologize to Miss Celban.”

Kelly looked at him. Her cheeks streaked in water; her nose was running. When she spoke the tears choked her throat. “No, sir.”

“Go ahead, Squirt,” Mike said from behind the screen of the back door. “Tell your father why you can’t say the words.”

“Mike,” Chief said looking up. Mike was still dressed in the pajamas Chief had loaned him. A robe was tied securely around his waist and his injured arm rested in a sling fashioned from a shredded pillow case. “How are you feeling, son? Should you be up like that?”

“I feel fine, sir,” Mike answered and pushed the back door open. Maggy rushed to his side. He let her help, even though he didn’t feel the need. He like the excuse of having her arms around him.

“I’m glad to see you are up and around again, Deputy,” Miss Celban replied.

Mike regarded her and impolitely ignored her. The transgression did not go unnoticed by either the woman or Chief Broden.

“Take a seat, Mike,” Chief said. “You make me nervous standing there like that.”

With Maggy’s help, Mike made his way over to the swing and sat down on the other side of Kelly.

He viewed Miss Celban from the swing. “Maybe you should tell Chief what you said. Save the kid the pain of repeating it.”

“I said nothing to her. If she claims I did, then she is speaking with a forked tongue.”

“I think I’d prefer to hear it from Kelly, Mike,” Chief interceded.

Mike nodded and all eyes turned to the child. Chief’s hand rubbed the child’s back. Adding support. He looked at Mike and Mike’s expression alone gave up the seriousness of what was done to his child.

“Pumpkin, if there is something you wish to say–”

“No,” Kelly choked out, still turned away from all their eyes.

Mike pulled her face up to face his. “Kelly, your father needs to know what happened. Don’t take a punishment you don’t deserve.

Miss Celban hurrumphed. “What that child deserves is a whipping. Not coddling.”

Mike ignored her. “Kelly... Tell your father what happened.”

“It’ll hurt him, Mike,” Kelly said low. She wiped her eyes and sniffed.

Chief looked at Mike. “Hurt me?”

He turned to Kelly. “Kelly, look at me.” When she looked up, he added, “Tell me what happened. It’s okay.”

Kelly stared at him. “I can’t–”

“Please, honey. By hiding it, it’s making things harder on me.”

Kelly nodded. She swallowed sharply and wiped the water from her face. “Hoove was digging in her garden... He’s on a short lead and he can’t do nothin’ else. He was bored. And he just had to dig. To make it all go away.”

“What go away?” Chief asked.

“The feeling.”

“I see,” Chief said, remembering the coloring book. “Then what happened?”

Kelly looked at Miss Celban. “She came out– she started hitting him with a stick. I heard him cry from the kitchen.”

“I just pushed him a little with the broom,” retorted Miss Celban. 

“You hit him hard!” Kelly informed her. “Or else he wouldn’t have cried so loud.”

“So you went out to help him?” Chief interjected.

Kelly turned to him. “Yes, sir. She wouldn’t stop swinging the stick, though. She just kept at it. I tried to pull Hoove away… she caught me right here,” Kelly lifted up her bangs. Chief saw the bruise for the first time: bright red-purple with darker purple surrounding. The middle had risen in a lump.

He flashed an angry look at the woman. “Was that necessary?”

“It was an accident,” she said. “I was trying to free my garden of her beast, she just got in the way.”

“Just got in the way? You couldn’t wait and let her retrieve her dog?”

Miss Celban glared. “I was rightfully upset.”

Chief shook his head and returned to his little girl. “Then what happened?”

Kelly turned to Mike.

“Go on, Squirt. Tell him.”

“She said... she said I was Devil born- a bad seed- Devil seed. I destroy everything and everyone... I killed my mother in birth... I was never meant to be born or to walk on God’s green earth...” Kelly took a deep breath. The words were hard to put past her throat. She could feel her father grow tense with her account, but he didn’t pull his hand from her back or withdraw his support. “She said...all this– what’s been going on, is because I’m evil and attract trouble. I killed my mother and before I’m through, I’ll be the death of my father too...Just like I almost got Mike killed. I get people killed, like Sam, and Preacher... I do it cuz I’m Devil seed.”

At first Chief was silent, contemplating the narration. Then he turned to the woman. “You told her that?” he asked, not a hint of his earlier civility was left.

“I said no such thing.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Celban, but my daughter does not use such phrases as ‘bad seed’ and ‘Devil born.’ That sounds more your speed.”

“I should have known better than to believe you would take anyone’s word over that child’s. I will take my charges directly to District Attorney Porter.”

“You do that, Miss Celban. But just for the record, I will hold to my bargain of tying the dog in the back yard. And I will personally replace your rose bushes. But I will not, under any circumstances, either discipline my daughter for her actions or force her to apologize formally or otherwise to you. Now get the hell off my property!”

“It certainly is clear where she gets it.  Maybe Martha would like to know how her sister’s children are being raised.”

“I said get the hell off my property. I suggest you do so now, before I call you a hag myself.”

With that, the woman huffed away. Chief waited until she was completely out of sight before turning to his youngest.

“Kelly,” he started. “What she said–”

“I know, Chief,” Kelly answered. “Mike already took care of it.”

“Oh he did, did he?” Chief asked glancing over the girl’s head at his deputy.

“Yes, sir,” she answered. “He was real good at it too.”

“Thanks, Mike,” Chief said.

“Don’t mention it, bossman. Just keep it in mind the next time I ask you for a raise.”

Chief laughed. “If it was up to me, I’d have your salary doubled.”

“I guess that’s why they don’t leave it up to you.”

“Well at least let me buy you a cup of coffee.”

“Right now I could use the coffee more than a raise, anyhow.”

“So, how’s the investigation going?” Mike asked.

Joe had already been picked up for school and Kelly was on the back porch watching her dog tied to the old oak. Through the kitchen window Maggy kept watch on both of them as she did the dishes.

Chief looked up from his third cup of coffee. He glanced at Moss briefly as he returned his attention to his deputy.

“We have a new lead. A man by the name of Smiley Bennet used to trap with Fred years ago. We believe he is the one helping him. Hiding Fred and the boy.”

Mike nodded. “Is there anything I can do from here?”

“I’ll tell you what, Mike. In my office there’s a journal and the log the cult used. They’re what we used to put some of this together. Familiarize yourself with them. Maybe you can come up with something we’ve missed. See if you can piece it together with the other files in some way.”

“You haven’t already gone through them?”

“Not entirely. We hit a lead and fled with it.”

“I see. Smiley?”

Chief nodded. “He was mentioned in both books and his name came up in our investigation in ’23.”

“Were do you want me to concentrate?”

Chief shrugged. “I can’t even hazard a guess. We just skimmed the surface. Maybe you should dig a little deeper.”

“All right,” Mike agreed. “I’ll see what I can come up with. But I hope you find that Smiley guy and end this thing before it makes a difference.”

Chief smiled. “I do too.”

Mike watched as the other two officers left the room. He listened as their footsteps faded down the hall and the door opened and quickly shut. Once again, he was alone with Maggy. In the hall the grandfather clock smoothly ticked off the seconds. The silvery morning light filtered through the kitchen window, lighting up Maggy’s features as she divided her time between the dishes and gazing outside for danger. The water splashed softly in the sink, and now and then a plate would clink against its porcelain.

“Maggy, can you do me a favor?”

She turned. “Sure, anything you want.”

“I don’t see the point in changing twice and I really feel the need for a shower and a shave. Could you run to my flat and bring me back a change of clothes? I’ll keep an eye on the Squirt while you’re gone.”

Maggy smiled and nodded. “Street clothes or uniform?”

“Since I’m officially off the roster, better make them street clothes.”

Maggy finished the dishes and after folding the dishtowel and hanging it up to dry, she went to where Mike sat. She kissed him tenderly.

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

“You’ll need my key–”

“I have your key,” she said. “I have your pants, remember?”

Mike chuckled. “Don’t tell Ida that. I’ll never live it down.”

Mike rose and went to the kitchen window. Kelly was running around the tree, her dog at her heals. She’d go around in one direction, then turn and run in the opposite direction, keeping the dog from completely winding his rope around the base of the tree. Mike left the kitchen window and exited onto the back porch. He sat on the swing and watched the child at play.

© Copyright 2025 C J Driftwood. All rights reserved.