Scott Wittenburg - The May Day Murders

“I’m sorry, honey. I know how you must feel right now. Has this Larry boy been bothering you at school?”

Amy sat up and determinedly struggled to get herself under control. “I hardly know the jerk,” she replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her expression suddenly changed when she glanced over at the clock and saw the time.

“Jason will be here in half an hour, Mom! You have to get Larry out of here!”

“But we have to call police, honey. He was trespassing and-”

“The police! No, Mom, please! Just let him go-I don’t want him arrested. It’ll be all over school!”

“ But-”

Amy grabbed Ann’s arm and stared at her pleadingly. “Please, Mom, listen. Jason is picking me up in a few minutes, I’m not even dressed yet, and if you call the police it’s going to ruin everything! Please just let Larry go-I’m sure he has already learned his lesson by the looks of his face. Did Mr. Rankin do that to him?”

“Yes, he did,” Ann replied hesitantly.

“That’s just great! Now everybody is going to be talking about how my mother’s boyfriend beat up a minor. Jesus, I can’t believe this! My life is ruined!”

Ann was speechless. She couldn’t believe Amy was obviously more worried about her social standing at school than the fact that a prowler had just watched her while she was taking a shower.

“But the boy needs to be punished, Amy! I can’t just let him get away with this like it never happened. He’s dangerous! And for all we know, he’s the same person who’s been making all of those obscene phone calls!”

Amy appeared to be unfazed by this.

“I really doubt that, Mom. Larry may be a little strange but I don’t think he’d go that far-he’s too much of a nerd! Please just let him go. If Jason sees him here, he’ll probably want to kick the shit out of him. Is that what you want to happen?”

Ann seriously doubted Amy’s last statement and realized that she most likely was making it up just to drive her point home.

She thought for a moment and then said, “All right, Amy, you win. But I’m going to call his parents. Then they can decide how to punish their son.”

Amy shrugged. “Whatever. But hurry, Mom, before Jason gets here. I have to get dressed!”

Ann heaved a sigh then stood up and left the room. As she descended the stairs, she suddenly wished that Sam were there to take care of this matter instead of her having to handle it herself. She never had been very good at this sort of thing.

When she entered the living room, Jerry was still standing in the same spot as when she’d left.

“Is Amy all right?” Jerry asked.

“She’ll be O. K,” Ann replied.

“We should make him apologize to her,” Jerry declared, glaring at Larry.

“I don’t think she wants an apology as much as she wants to just go to the dance and have a good time.”

She faced Larry. “You’re very lucky that my daughter doesn’t want me to press charges against you, Larry. If this dance didn’t mean so much to her, I’d be calling the police right this minute. I am going to call your parents, though-what is your telephone number?“

Larry cringed. “Please, Mrs. Middleton, don’t call my folks! They’ll kill me!”

Jerry peered angrily at the boy. “Well buddy, you should have thought about that before you decided to be a peeping Tom. Now tell Mrs. Middleton your phone number before I beat it out of you!”

“Jerry!” Ann cried.

Jerry stared at her and his expression softened. “I’m sorry, Ann. It’s just that this whole thing has made me really angry. This young man is a sicko and I don’t have much patience for his kind. If Amy were my child, I’d force him to apologize to her, then call the police and have them book the little bastard.”

“Well she’s not your child. And furthermore, I don’t like the use of violence in any size, shape or form. There’s been enough of that already.” Her agitation with Jerry’s poor handling of this matter was just now beginning to sink in.

Jerry went over and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Ann. It just hasn’t been a very good day.“

Ann shrugged. “It’s all right Jerry, I know that you mean well. But I’m in between a rock and a hard spot now and I just want to get this matter resolved as soon as possible. This dance means so much to Amy-I really don’t want this to ruin it for her.”

Jerry nodded and turned to Larry. “Give us your phone number, Larry.“

Knowing he had no choice, Larry recited his telephone number. Ann went into the kitchen and dialed the number. When Larry’s mother answered, Ann identified herself and explained to her what had happened. His mother had been defensive at first, apparently refusing to believe that her son was capable of doing such a thing. But Ann could also sense that Mrs. Underwood knew her son wasn’t quite above it either.

She asked to speak to her son and Ann put him on. Ann stood by and could tell by the expression on his face and the gist of his dialogue that Larry Underwood was getting a royal tongue-lashing.

Moments later, Larry handed the phone back to Ann and his mother informed Ann that she didn’t drive but she had told Larry to come straight home. And if he hadn’t arrived home in 10 minutes, she would call his father at his job and have him go out and track him down. This, Larry’s mother assured Ann, was the last thing Larry wanted to happen. Ann thanked her-perhaps a little too curtly-and hung up the phone.

“All right, Larry. You can go on now,” Ann said as she led him back to living room.

Jerry was standing by the door and opened it for him. “We don’t want to see you around this house ever again, Larry. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir.”

Before leaving, Larry turned to Ann and said, “I’m sorry Mrs. Middleton.”

Ann replied, “You should be.”

Larry turned and went out the door. Ann and Jerry both stood and watched Larry Underwood as he sauntered down the driveway to the street. His gait was slow and Ann had a feeling that he wasn’t looking forward to arriving home and facing the wrath of his mother and father.

“I hope his parents ream him out good,” Jerry declared. “That’s one sick kid.”

Ann waited until Larry was out of sight then closed the door. “Jesus, what an ordeal,” she sighed, leaning back against the wall. She looked at Jerry. “Do you think he was the same one who has been making the obscene phone calls?”

“Who knows? I wouldn’t put it past the little hoodlum.”

Ann smiled. “Thanks, Jerry. I’m sure glad you came around when you did.”

Jerry returned the smile. “As I told you before, that’s what I’m here for.”

“I’d better go see how Amy’s doing.”

“Do you think she’d mind if I take some pictures?” Jerry asked. “My camera is out in the car.”

Ann shook her head. “I don’t think so-she sure hammed it up for you last weekend.”

“Great-I’ll go get it.” Jerry said and headed for the front door.

Ann glanced at the clock on the mantle and hoped that Amy was almost ready-Jason would be arriving any minute now. She ran up the stairs and found her daughter sitting at the vanity putting the finishing touches on her makeup.

“You look beautiful, sweetie!” Ann exclaimed as she walked over to her. She could tell by Amy’s reflection in the mirror that she was really starting to get nervous about the big dance.

“I’m glad you’re here, Mom. Can you put this necklace on for me?”

“Certainly, honey.”

Amy reached for the diamond necklace that Ann had recently bought for her and handed it over. Ann stood behind her daughter, placed the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp.