A Place to Call Home

by Sharon Sala

  “I have to be honest here, Judd. I don’t quite know how to handle this. Yes, we could haul Davie in for further questioning, but in the eyes of the law, he’s incompetent, so nothing he says will be of much use.”

  “But Judith might not know that,” Judd said. “If you bring Davie in, I can guarantee she’ll come to his rescue. If there’s anything to what he just said, she’ll tell the truth herself before she lets him suffer.”

  Wade nodded. “You’re right about that.”

  “So, let’s get this over with,” Judd said.

  Their hearts were heavy as they started across the street.

  Chapter 13

  Judith Dandridge knew before they opened their mouths that something was wrong. She’d never seen Wade so pale, and the new man, Judd Hanna, kept staring at Davie as if he were eating his last meal.

  Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know how, but somehow, they knew. A strange calm came over her. Instead of panic, she felt an odd sense of relief.

  “Gentlemen, how can I be of service?”

  Wade was the one who spoke. “Judith, I’m going to have to ask you to bring Davie down to the police department.”

  The mention of Davie was a shock. Her voice started to shake.

  “Why? What has he done?”

  “We have reason to believe that he was involved in the kidnapping of Raymond Shuler.”

  “No,” she moaned. “That’s not so.”

  Davie heard the change in her voice and looked up, his sandwich forgotten.

  “Aunt Judy…are you getting sick?”

  She turned, the expression on her face pale and strained.

  “No, dear. Finish your lunch.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, and took another bite.

  “Please,” she said. “You must be mistaken.”

  Judd shook his head. “No, ma’am, I’m not. A few minutes ago he told me that you let him start the fire that burned the naked man’s clothes. So, unless you can produce proof that there’s been another ‘naked’ man situation in this town in the past few days, I’m afraid the both of you are going to have to come with us.”

  Before she could answer, something crashed on the next aisle over. They turned in time to see a customer scurrying up the aisle toward the front door.

  Judith swallowed a groan. That was Sophie Bruner, the biggest gossip in town. Within the hour, everyone would know. She glanced at Davie, in a panic as to what would happen to him when they took her away. But she didn’t show her fear when she turned to them.

  “If you’ll give me a moment to gather up Davie’s food, we’ll be happy to come along.”

  Judd made no attempt to hide his surprise. She showed no remorse or fear. Then he thought of the altercations he’d witnessed between Judith and Shuler. While he didn’t agree with what she’d done, he could almost understand it. The only thing that still puzzled him was the brand. What the hell did an R have to do with… He stopped in mid-thought. Revenge? Was it the symbol she’d left for revenge?

  He watched her gentleness with Davie as she began packing up his food, making it seem as if they were going on a picnic so as not to frighten him. Poor Davie—the world that he’d known was about to take a terrible turn.

  “Gentlemen,” Judith said. “We’re ready.”

  Wade opened the door for her. Judd followed them up from the rear. Judith held Davie’s hand as they walked down the street, her expression revealing nothing of her emotions, just as she’d been doing for the last twenty years.

  A few minutes later, she was seated at Wade’s desk. Judd watched from the doorway, waiting for some sign of remorse. But Judith Dandridge’s main concern of the moment seemed to be that Davie not spill his juice on Wade’s floor.

  “Judith, I’m going to be taping this,” Wade said, setting a tape recorder on his desk.

  She shrugged. “Do what you have to do.” Then she grabbed for a chip that tumbled out of Davie’s hand. “Careful, sweetheart,” she said softly. “We don’t want to get Wade’s floor all dirty, do we?”

  “Okay, Aunt Judy. I’ll be careful.”

  “That’s a good boy,’’ she said softly, then looked back at Wade, waiting for him to begin.

  Wade glanced at Judd, his heart in his eyes. Judd could only imagine how difficult it was for him to arrest someone he’d known and respected for all these years. Then Wade’s eyes narrowed as he turned on the recorder.

  “This is Chief Wade Franklin, recording the interrogation of Judith Dandridge and her foster brother, Davie Dandridge.’’

  Judd watched a strange expression cross Judith’s face, but it came and went so quickly he thought he’d imagined it. He glanced over his shoulder to the outer room, checking to make sure they wouldn’t be disturbed, then nodded to Wade.

  Wade took a deep breath.

  “Judith Dandridge, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to—”

  She held up her hand. “I understand my rights,” she said. “And I waive my right to have an attorney present.”

  He frowned and then shook his head. “As an officer, as well as your friend, I’m advising you to reconsider that last statement you made.”

  “I don’t need a lawyer,” she said. “All they do is make deals with other lawyers. No one pays any attention to the law as it is written anymore. If they had, none of this would be happening.”

  Judd felt sick to his stomach. There was a part of him that completely agreed with her. He couldn’t think how many times he and his partner had arrested a perp, only to have him back out on the street before the day was over. He shoved the thought aside and refocused on the interview in progress.

  “Judith, where were you on the night of August 5 of this year?” Wade asked.

  “There’s no need to pussyfoot through all of these questions,” she said quietly. “I am the one responsible for teaching Raymond Shuler a lesson.” Then she leaned over and wiped a bit of mustard from the edge of Davie’s mouth.

  Wade blinked. The admission wasn’t exactly what he’d expected.

  “You did more than teach him a lesson, Judith. You abducted him, held him against his will and inflicted bodily harm. Basically, that’s called kidnapping, and it’s a federal offense. Once we have your confession on tape, I’ll have to notify the FBI. The case will be tried in federal court.”

  “I tend to disagree with your description,” she said. “I didn’t kidnap him. Nothing was asked for, or traded for his release. When I thought he’d learned his lesson, I let him go. However, there’s no need for a trial. I did it. I’ll take whatever punishment the judge hands out.”

  Wade cursed and got out of his chair, then turned off the recorder in frustration.

  “Damn it to hell, Judith, have you completely lost your mind?”

  She lifted her chin in a gesture of defiance. “Once, years ago,” she said. “But I got over it.”

  Davie began plucking at Judith’s arm and trying to get her attention. All the yelling and tension was making him nervous.

  “Aunt Judy…Aunt Judy…I need to go to the bathroom.”

  “I’ll take him,” Judd said. “Come on, buddy. I’ll show you where it is.”

  “Thank you,” she said, and then made Davie look at her. “Don’t forget to wash your hands when you’re through, and you come right back here to me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Davie said, and let Judd lead him away.

  Judd stood in the hall outside the bathroom door, waiting for Davie to come out. And even from where he was standing, he could hear Wade, still yelling, and Judith, still answering in a calm, monotone voice. A few moments later, Davie emerged. He took Judd by the hand.

  “Is my Aunt Judy mad at me?” he asked.

  Judd shook his head. “No, Davie. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s mad at herself.”

  “Okay,” Davie said. “I’m ready now.”

  Halfway back to Wade’s office, Raymond Shuler burst into the front door of the police department. His face
was flushed in anger and he was already yelling before his wife, Betty, could shut the door behind them.

  “Is it true?” he yelled. “Is Judith Dandridge the one responsible for my abduction?”

  Judd bolted, trying to grab him before he barged into Wade’s office, but he was too late to stop him.

  “Get out, Shuler!” Wade said. “You have no business here.”

  “On the contrary,” Judith said. “Let him stay. I don’t mind.”

  Raymond stared. “You’re crazy! Certifiably crazy!” he yelled, then waved his cane toward Davie, who’d come scurrying into the shelter of his aunt Judy’s arms. “It’s no wonder he turned out like he did.”

  Judith flinched but stood her ground.

  Betty Shuler began to cry. “Judith, I just don’t understand. I thought we were friends. Why on earth would you do something so horrible to my Raymond?”

  Judith didn’t bother to respond. Her attention was focused on Davie, who had started to sob.

  “Look, Shuler,” Judd said. “You’ve got a choice. Sit down and be quiet, or you’re going to be arrested for disturbing the peace.”

  Betty dropped into a nearby chair, taking Raymond with her. He followed Judd’s orders, but reluctantly.

  Wade rolled his eyes. “This is the most unorthodox investigation I’ve ever seen.”

  “It was an unusual case,” Judd said. “So far, it’s sort of been resolving itself. Why don’t we let it continue and see what happens?”

  Wade picked up the recorder and waved it in everyone’s face. “This will be on. Remember to mind your damned manners.” He flipped the switch, then sat on the edge of his desk. “Judith, I’m going to ask this one more time, and by God, I want an answer. What prompted you to abduct Raymond Shuler?”

  Judith turned, and the look she gave the banker made Judd’s heart skip a beat.

  “He was abusing his own son.”

  Raymond threw up his hands in disgust. “See, I told you, Wade. She’s crazy. Everyone knows Betty and I have no children.”

  “I wasn’t talking about you and Betty,” she said. “I was talking about the baby I conceived after you raped me.”

  Raymond grunted audibly. Betty gasped. Wade and Judd looked at each other, then at Davie. And what was even more interesting to Judd was the fact that Raymond Shuler hadn’t bothered to deny a rape had happened. In fact, the guilt on his face was obvious. Not only had he not denied it, but he couldn’t bring himself to even look at the boy sitting beside Judith. Suddenly it was beginning to make sense. The R on Raymond’s hip stood for rapist.

  Wade touched Judith on the shoulder, waiting until she looked at him.

  “Start at the beginning…please.”

  Judith sighed. “It was so long ago.”

  Her eyes lost focus, and Judd could tell she was no longer here with them, but in a time when she’d still known how to smile.

  “Everyone in school knew that Billy Ray Shuler always had to have his way.” Then she looked up. “That’s what we called him then…Billy Ray. He didn’t become Raymond until he went to work at the bank. Anyway, he’d asked me out several times, but I wasn’t interested.”

  Raymond finally regained his equilibrium enough to speak.

  “I don’t remember any rape,” he muttered.

  “I don’t doubt that,” Judith said. “I wish I could have said the same. It was homecoming night, two months before our senior graduation. You were blind drunk and mad because I’d gone out with Ted Miles instead of you.”

  She paused and looked up, explaining to Wade. “Ted was from Cheyenne. He came up from time to time to take me out. We were going to go to the university together.”

  Again, her gaze turned inward. Judd watched as her hands began to shake.

  “Ted had been to the dentist that day. He wasn’t feeling well and had gone home early from the game. I’d driven Daddy’s old truck into town, so after the game was over, I started home.” She took a deep breath, struggling with the panic that came from remembering. “I had a flat,” she muttered. “Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t had that flat, what my life would have been like.”

  Then she shuddered. “Anyway…I had the flat, but no spare. We lived in the country then, out on the old Hamish place. I wasn’t more than a mile from home, so I started to walk. It was a nice night. A three-quarter moon—nice breeze. I was actually enjoying the walk. And then the car came.”

  Her hands suddenly fisted in her lap. “It was Billy Ray, drunk out of his mind, and driving in the middle of the road. I got into the ditch, afraid that he was going to run over me.” Her lips twisted bitterly. “Looking back, that would have been preferable.”

  Then she took a deep breath. “He stopped. Offered me a ride. I told him no, that I didn’t want to ride with him because he was drunk. The refusal angered him horribly. He got out of his car and started toward me, yelling about how I thought I was too good for the boys in Call City. I kept expecting him to pass out, but he didn’t. I started to run. He caught me.”

  Then she looked up, and the complete lack of expression in her voice was more horrible than any hysteria could have been.

  “He broke my jaw and two ribs. He raped me in a foot of water and left me for dead. My daddy came looking for me around 3:00 a.m. He found the car first. They said I came stumbling out of the woods, bloody and in shock. That, I don’t remember.” She leaned forward, her gaze piercing Shuler with fierce intensity. “My last memory was of his face and the pain between my legs as he tore into my body.”

  Betty Shuler slid to the floor in a faint. Raymond was so stunned by what had been said that he sat and watched her fall. Oddly enough, it was Judith who offered advice.

  “I have some smelling salts in my pharmacy. Should I get them for you?”

  Wade sighed. “No, ma’am. I think there’re some in the first aid kit.” He looked at Judd. “Hold down the fort. I’ll be right back.”

  Judd nodded.

  Raymond kept shaking his head, as if he couldn’t accept what she’d said.

  “Why didn’t you say something?” he asked. “Why didn’t you tell?”

  “Oh, I did,” she said. “I told Daddy. I expected justice, you see.”

  Raymond looked up at her then. “I don’t get what you mean.”

  “Daddy didn’t go to the police. He went to your father. Two weeks later, the mortgages on our home and Daddy’s business were paid off and we had a new car.”

  A dark flush slid up Raymond’s neck. “Are you saying my father paid your father off to keep his mouth shut?”

  She sneered. “You’re a banker, Raymond. Do the math.”

  Judd felt sick. He could identify with every injustice Judith Dandridge had suffered. As a child, he’d expected protection and justice from a parent, only to be the one to suffer at his hands, and had known that there was no one out there who would believe. He put his hand on Davie’s shoulder.

  “Judith, I’m assuming this is why you were home-schooled until graduation.”

  She nodded. “It was all I could do to make it through the ceremony. Every time I got around people, I became physically sick.”

  “Didn’t your parents get you any counseling?”

  She smiled bitterly. “Back then, counseling was for crazy people, and there was nothing wrong with me. I’d only been raped, remember?”

  “There is no such thing as only rape,” Wade said as he came back into the room. “Judd, help me get Betty onto this sofa.”

  Together, they lifted Shuler’s wife off the floor, then Wade broke the cylinder of smelling salts beneath her nose. Almost instantly, she roused. Once cognizance returned, she started to cry.

  “Betty, I’m sorry,” Raymond said. “You have to understand, I was just a kid. I didn’t know what—”

  “Shut up, Raymond,” she said, sobbing. “You’re always blaming someone else for your troubles, but this time, there’s no one left but you to blame.” Then she stood abruptly. “Wade…Mr. Hanna…if you will excuse m
e, I need to go now.”

  Wade shrugged. There was no reason she had to be there.

  “You need a ride home?” he asked.

  She clutched her purse to her chest, unable to look her husband in the face.

  “No, it’s Raymond who’s going to be afoot when this is over.”

  Raymond looked startled, and it occurred to him then that he might be facing more than a revelation here. He might be facing divorce.

  “Betty, you need to give me a chance to—”

  “I don’t need to do anything,” she said, then turned to Judith. “I know it’s not much, but I’m sorry,” she said, and then walked out of the room.

  Raymond struggled to his feet, torn between the need to follow his wife, and the fear of what else might be said if he left. He glanced at Wade.

  “I don’t intend to press charges,” he said abruptly.

  Wade sighed. Somehow he wasn’t surprised. He looked at Judith. Her composure was frightening. She was far too cool for his peace of mind.

  “That still doesn’t eradicate the fact that she committed a crime,” he said.

  “I won’t testify against her,” Raymond muttered.

  Judith sat quietly listening to the decisions men were making of her life. Then Raymond looked past her, for the first time since the revelation, to stare at the face of his child.

  To his surprise, he actually recognized bits of himself. The dark hair. The nose, a little too short for the size of his face. The slight cleft in his chin. He blinked, surprised that he found himself crying.

  “Boy.”

  Davie wouldn’t look and Raymond couldn’t blame him. He thought back to the treatment the boy had suffered at his hands.

  “Boy, look at me…please,” Raymond said.

  Finally, he did.

  “I promise I will never be mean to you again.”

  The slow smile that came on Davie’s face shamed Raymond more than he could say. Then he looked at Judith.

  “Sorry will never be enough,” he said. “If there is ever anything I can do for you…or for him…”

  “Davie. His name is Davie,” Judith said shortly.