I glanced up to see Martha headed toward my door. I put my hand over the receiver and looked up.
"I have to run by the house for more diapers," she said as I waved her away before resuming my call. "What was the guy driving?" I asked.
"Hell, mister, I don't remember. Just a car."
"Did you keep any copies of what came in?"
"Are you kidding? Bunches of the letters hadn't even been opened yet."
"Did you read any that looked promising?"
"Not many. Most were just hints, you know, like 'I know something and I'll tell you for a price.' Stuff like that. That lady who's in the news, the one from Idaho who claims she's the tipster, she wrote an entry. And the guy from California who got himself killed; him too. I put aside a dozen or so that looked promising but that was all. It was a hoot at first, reading that stuff, but it got boring in a hurry. I'm glad my boss dumped it."
"What day did the man pick up the entries?" I asked.
"Look, Mister. I don't remember and really don't give a shit. Sorry I couldn't take your money. I got to go." I was listening to a dial tone.
When I looked over at my wife I could see a tear seep down her cheek. She brushed it away but said nothing.
"There are hundreds, maybe thousands of entries," I offered in a weak effort to give her hope.
"We have to question Julie about exactly how much detail she put in her entry. I'm really frightened now."
"Why are you frightened?" Molly asked from where she was standing in the doorway, holding a raft of papers.
Betsy pivoted around, wipeing her face, and hugged her. "Oh, honey! I'm sorry! There's nothing that's going to scare you."
"Is it what my mom did?" the child asked. We both looked at her intently, unable to respond. "I know about the letter she wrote about Howie. Then she wished she didn't send it."
"How do you know, Honey?" Betsy asked. Molly shrugged her shoulders, as if she were being scolded. "It's all right. You didn't do anything wrong." She took Molly's hand and led her to a corner chair. She sat and coaxed Molly to her lap.
"Will Howie not love us anymore?" Molly said as tears flowed.
"No, Molly. That was just a mistake. We all make errors sometimes but those who care keep right on loving us. Do you know what the letter said?"
"It said her boyfriend was the person they were looking for and she knew for certain. She wrote about some stuff she heard him say in his sleep; stuff about bad guys who stole kids. Howie's not a bad guy. I know."