by DL Benning
More weeks passed, and I finally got a call from Captain Simon. He wondered if I could come back to the police station.
“Please tell me on the phone,” I said. “Please, I promise I’ll come in, but I need to know.”
“It’s a match,” he said.
“All of them?” I asked.
“Yes, all of them.”
I was so happy. So relieved. So proud. Not of what had happened, but that I could use my gift to serve the world in a bigger way. Still, knowing that the families would get those calls, that they would have to relive the pain of their losses, weighed on me. I hoped they would find some relief in finally having answers. The crimes were horrible, and the women’s deaths tragic, but finally they were solved. I felt cheers coming from heaven, too. I wasn’t sure what I would say to the families. Maybe an apology? Would that be enough? Would they be angry to have to relive it all again? Would they even remember these women?
The captain said the local news would catch this story. “You will be in the spotlight for a while, but like anything else, it always dies down,” he said. “Do you have a lawyer?”
A lawyer? I panicked at the thought and asked why I would need one. He explained I might need someone to advise me. He said that even though these were cold cases, I would need guidance on what I could and could not say publicly. The cases were being closed at long last, but there were still some steps that needed to be taken. He then asked if I would be available if they needed me.
“Yes, of course,” I nodded.
We thanked each other. When I went to shake his hand, he reached out his arms and gave me a warm embrace. He whispered once again, “You did good.” As I walked through the police station, the officers said goodbye and thanked me for my help.
I slept well that night, saying goodnight and goodbye to all the women.
The captain was right. For the next few days after the news broke, my phone was ringing nonstop. I was overwhelmed. Local news crews parked vans outside my house, making it difficult for Sam and me to follow our normal routines. In a few days, though, it was all over, and I was able to resume my regular life. I was changed though, and for the better. I had made a difference. And I had done so with great care and grace. I knew in my heart that I had done the right thing.
I felt bad for Fred’s family. They couldn’t have known about his past. They had been estranged from him for so long. Most of his family lived far away or had long since passed away.
—Chapter 12—
Moving On
My life soon returned to normal. The calls and emails stopped after a few weeks. As Captain Simon had predicted, the media moved on to other stories. None of the victims’ families contacted me. Probably just as well. It had been more than sixty years since the women had been taken from them. They had probably moved on.
Occasionally, I would think about the “Uncle Fred years” and marvel at the journey I had taken. It all seemed like a bad dream, or maybe a movie.
Six months later, I checked my voicemail after lunch and was surprised to hear a message from Captain Simon. “Lynn, call me as soon as you can.” His voice sounded serious. I called him back immediately.
“Are you sitting down?” he asked.
Hesitantly, I asked, “Should I be?”
He sighed, “Maybe. There are more.”
“More what?”
“More cold cases with similar details.”
“What?” I paused a moment, trying to comprehend the impact of his words. Then I whispered, “How many?”
“Eight.”
“Eight?” I closed my eyes. Dear God.
“Lynn, we are going to need your medium gift,” Captain Simon said.
“I’ll be there in the morning.”
THE END
About the Author
Author and self-taught medium DL Benning became spiritually curious after her father's murder in 1984. It would take 25 years for her father to start a conversation with her. Since then, Benning has sought out education and guidance to enhance her gift. She credits many teachers and kind souls from the Other Side for guiding her along the way.
Benning grew up in Central Illinois. Though she earned a teaching degree, she never taught in a classroom. She’s spent the last three decades in Chicago, first selling steel, and later moving into Human Resources within the metal industry.
Benning has spent her adult life transforming her own trauma into initiatives that serve others. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she created a program to help sex workers and victims of human trafficking. Benning later founded The Pink Bridge, a self-care community for women navigating adversity, after she beat breast cancer in 2011. Despite all she’s been through, most people who know Benning say she’s the most positive person they’ve ever met.
Benning currently lives with her husband in the Chicago suburbs. Her favorite job is being an aunt to fifteen nieces and nephews. She continues to use her medium gifts to channel stories for her readers.
Learn more about Benning’s work at
www.ThePinkBridge.com
and
www.YourFriendsCameToSeeMe.com
