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Walking back over to the photo of a happy time for the woman, Amelia
considered how to approach asking about it without having a knife thrown at her. As
if on cue, Sharon appeared apparently without any weapon of any kind.
Hey, Sharon I don t like to pry, but you and your friends look like you were
having a great time. Were you on vacation? Amelia watched the glazed look that
clouded the woman s eyes flash brightly for a moment, but only a moment before
they glazed over again. Sharon didn t get angry but was calm, perhaps too calm for
Amelia s sensibilities.
I was in college. They were my roommates. We had fun. It was a time when
friends meant something.
Quickly using her expertise, Amelia smiled warmly and nodded her head. I
know what you mean.
Accusing eyes flashed angrily at Amelia as Sharon moved menacingly toward
her, You can t know what I mean. You weren t there. How can you possibly know
anything& unless you re a spy?
With a gentle smile, Amelia shook her head, I m not a spy, Sharon, and I m
here to help. We have to keep you safe from the people who want to hurt
you& remember? I work with Detective Santos.
The explanation appeased the woman as she paced the room and finally
stopped in front of a crucifix where she began to pray. It was the Lord s Prayer and
Amelia began to chant silently with Sharon. Some people sang along with popular
tunes, but Amelia could never resist the Lord s Prayer. That was certainly not going to
be a tidbit she shared with the detective imagining the teasing she would receive if
that became public knowledge. However, it did allow her another avenue of
conversation. And, while Sharon was praying, she wasn t doing anything nefarious.
When the woman had finished, Amelia quietly said, Detective Santos
informed me that you re a member of the church committee. It s a very noble and
selfless act to help others.
There had been a bristling of the hairs on the back of Sharon Agnew s neck.
Amelia had anticipated that type of reaction as Agnew turned to stare in her direction.
Facing her was the Sharon Agnew Olivia introduced her to at the motel.
I consider myself very fortunate that I m able to help others. Are you a
member of a church where you came from?
Was she a member of the church? Big time. Yes. God s work is never done is
it? There will always be lost souls waiting for us to help them or so the Mother
Superior of our local convent relates to me frequently.
Us, yes I like that. We have means to help and everyone should do their part,
but so many do not. They should be punished for not doing so. Sharon was lapsing
back into her delusional state. It had always fascinated her that those in the grips of
paranoia and schizophrenia had a propensity to manifest God or religion in some form
or other as the voice calling to them.
Very carefully, Amelia answered, I m afraid not everyone shares our faith in
God, Sharon. However, that does not mean that those others are not charitable. I know
many nonbelievers who are very generous. For some people they do not require to
hold an institution, such as God, as their inspiration to do good works.
Evil people! They are all evil people who do not believe in God. We should
cleanse the world of them all! Don t you agree?
Flashing eyes, which turned cold and hard pierced Amelia, and she was
finding it difficult to hold the gaze.
Hands settled on her shoulders as Sharon shook her to answer the question,
Don t you agree, Amelia?
Attempting to create a springboard where she could stop the situation, Amelia
tried to change the subject, I d love some tea and then we can talk about this some
more.
At first, Sharon didn t release Amelia but then she moodily agreed and
stomped off toward the kitchen.
Raising her eyes heavenwards, Amelia sent up a silent prayer of thanks to
God. She had a reprieved for a short time. Where is Olivia?
.
..
CHAPTER SEVEN
Olivia had parked her vehicle around the corner from the Agnew house. She
suspected they might become difficult and she didn t want to alert Sharon of her being
there Amelia s life might depend on that. The sheriff opted to bring along the local
doctor and they had lost precious minutes waiting for him to secure a drug he wanted
to inject into Sharon. She might have to be sedated her could be moved to a secure
facility. Questioning would come later. Sheriff Mason had parked her vehicle
effectively blocking the drive should Sharon bolt at the sight of them arriving at the
house.
Sheriff Mason nodded to Olivia as she headed toward the front porch and
tapped on the door. Mason and Doctor Smith would be right behind her when she
gave the signal. It wasn t wise, at this stage, to put the private detective s partner in
any more danger than she already was.
The door opened slightly and a wild eyed Sharon Agnew stared first at her,
and then at the police vehicle blocking the drive. Her eyes scanned the outer perimeter
of her yard trying to perceive where the police were located. Failing to see any
officers, Sharon asked, Did you arrive in that? Sharon pointed to the offending car
in her driveway.
Olivia smiled at the woman. Nope, Sheriff Mason is at the Russell place
hoping to find some clues. Looks to me like she misjudged the parking area& no harm
done though, right? Her nonchalant reply seemed plausible to the woman as she
opened the door wider and allowed Olivia inside.
Actually, I needed to have a private word with Amelia& it is about business.
Olivia wanted Amelia out of harm s way and this was the only thing she could think
of. Once she d secured Amelia s safety, she could let the local people take over for it
would no longer be any of her concern. The case had been strange enough.
Sharon Agnew s gaze narrowed as she furtively flashed her glance once more
around her front yard. She s about to have tea. Don t take too long. The demand in
Sharon s voice angered Olivia but she kept her temper in check. It wouldn t help if
she agitated the woman unduly.
No fear of that. In fact, if that s possible I d love a tea myself. Your coffee
last night was delicious. One lie on top of another was all grist for the mill for when
she met her maker. At this moment, she didn t care.
Amelia appeared at the door. Her face wreathed in a smile as she saw Olivia.
Hey there, you re just in time for tea.
Making eye contact and trying to convey the danger Amelia was in, made
Olivia cringe. Being subtle wasn t one of her strong points; she much preferred
action. Yeah I heard. I need to speak with you privately. Will you please step outside
for a minute?
Amelia was as grateful for that request as she would have been if Mother
Superior had given her praise for a job well done. Of course. Sharon, I ll be right
back for that tea.
A hand flashed in front of them and Sharon caught Amelia s wrist in a tight
hold that would have done justice to a vice. A hissing tone accompanied the next
words. See that you are or the tea will get cold.
Bracing herself to face the deranged woman, Amelia gave her a warm smile.
I ll be back in time. She felt the grip loosen and fall away as Sharon walked briskly
away toward her kitchen.
Olivia didn t waste any more time. Grasping Amelia s hand, she dragged her
out of the door and virtually pulled her across the yard to the relative safety of the end
of the drive. There, she rapidly signaled to Sheriff Mason, Doctor Smith, and a couple
of deputies who had been at the Russell house to move in.
The next ten minutes were a blur for Amelia as she watched the disturbed
woman dragged out of her house and pushed face down on the ground where the
doctor administered the drug to sedate her. The violent sounds that followed the
action weren t lost on Amelia. Sharon s eyes began to waver in their sedated state,
and she saw the lost expression appear as an appeal for help. It cut into Amelia s heart
as she felt she was the ideal candidate to help Sharon. The woman had appeared in the
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