Beyond the Shadows Read online

  Frankie looked at Johanna. They both knew that Selma would remain anything but calm once George told her what was going on. She also dreaded her mother's reply as to why she was on Fellows' victims list. The pain in her stomach worsened as she waited to learn the truth as to whether that animal had sexually molested her or not. She grabbed Johanna's hand and held it securely. With baited breath she listened, dreading her mother's response.

  Selma hesitated for a second. “I'll try, but just the mention of his name sickens me. I'd hoped and prayed every day that he'd die in prison.” She paused again. “May God forgive me, but I'd hoped another inmate would have murdered him.”

  Frankie's eyes widened. Her mother had always been adamantly against the death penalty no matter the circumstances, and now she admitted she had hoped Fellows would have been murdered in prison? He must have been a real bastard for Selma to go against her strict convictions.

  “I won't beat around the bush.” George paused for a few seconds. “He's searching for his victims. Frankie's name is on that list, Selma.” He paused again. “Can you tell me why Frankie's name is on his list?”

  Frankie tensed.

  “Oh, God, no!” she cried. “Please promise me you'll protect her, George. Please don't let anything happen to her. He's evil and heartless. He's not human. Anyone who would commit such vile acts against children and then murder the mother of his child shouldn't have ever been allowed to breathe freedom again. They should have executed him.”

  Frankie's throat dried out and she swallowed hard. “Mom.” Her eyes searched George's. She needed to ask the question herself. George seemed to pick up on her feelings and nodded his consent. “Mom, did…did he molest me? Is that why my name's on his list?” Her chest was tight and she felt like she was suffocating. She steeled herself for her mother's reply. Her lips quivered as she stared at the phone.

  Selma drew a deep shaky breath. “Frankie, I'll never forget that day,” she choked. “For as long as I live. Never!”

  Frankie's blood grew cold. “So he did molest me. Is that what you're saying, Mom?” she asked hoarsely. Tears filled her eyes and then began to run down her cheeks.

  Johanna immediately put her arms around Frankie.

  Frankie stared at the mug shot taken when Fellows was arrested. “Are you telling me that this animal raped me?” she shrieked.

  “No…no, baby, your father and I got there just in time.” She drew another shaky breath. “I thought your father was going to kill him. I'd never seen him so angry and out of control. He grabbed Carson by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall.” She broke down in sobs. “We thought he had done something to you when we found him with you. Your father was so enraged he kept pummeling him until he'd beaten him to a bloody pulp. He'd even knocked out most of Carson's front teeth. It took two police officers to pull your father off of him. I swear if the police hadn't shown up when they did, Fellows would have been dead.” She sniffed. “And I'm not ashamed to say that I would have applauded your father.” She blew her nose. “We immediately took you to the hospital to be checked out. You hadn't been molested. I got down on my knees and thanked God.”

  Frankie let her breath out slowly as relief flooded through her. She was still shaking but at least her worst fear hadn't come to pass. “What happened to Dad? Were any charges filed against him?” she asked in a wobbly voice. She swiped at the tears still on her cheeks.

  “No. He was protecting his child. In fact, one of the officers took us aside and said he was glad that someone had finally kicked the shit out of that creep. No one liked him. He could have been laying in the road bleeding to death and I don't think a single soul would have offered him any assistance.”

  George's face relaxed. “Selma, if you have the time can you give me some background information on Fellows and his family? If you're busy, I can call you back when it's more convenient for you.”

  “No, I have the time now. I'm free until this evening when I have to go to church to help out with bingo.”

  “Okay, then.” He tapped his pen against a notepad. “How well did you know Fellows' family?”

  Selma grunted. “They were a crazy bunch. No one really knew them or cared to. The kids were always in trouble. Carson was the oldest child. There were six younger children. Four girls and the three boys. The parents were alcoholics so the kids, for the most part, raised themselves. They were hellions. They had no discipline and prowled the streets day and night getting into trouble.”

  “Why didn't Child Protective Services step in?” Frankie asked. “Especially if they were breaking the law.”

  “Things were different back then, sweetie. The Fellows' didn't physically abuse their children, but their home was filthy, and there was hardly ever any food in the house. It was a case of neglect, which today would be grounds for removing the children, but not back then. Like I said, they didn't beat their kids so everyone looked the other way. There was no supervision and no one to hold those boys responsible for their actions so they believed they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted to. Without consequence. Rules applied to everyone, but them.” She cleared her throat. “A couple of people pressed charges for vandalism, but nothing ever came of it. Later when their property was damaged, it couldn't be proven it was any of the Fellows’ who did it, so I think people were afraid to report them because of the repercussions. Who would want their homes or property vandalized? There were several suspicious house fires and damage to cars and property, but nothing to connect them to the crimes. People were as much afraid of the parents as they were the children and just avoided them as much as possible.”

  “Were the girls just as bad?” Frankie asked.

  “They didn't commit any crimes, but they were little tramps. I think all of them were pregnant before they were out of high school. Two of them died while they were in their teens. The oldest of a drug overdose and the second to youngest in a car accident. Her boyfriend was high on drugs, didn't make the turn, and drove them right through the guardrail and into the river.”

  Frankie squinted. “How tragic. What happened to the other two?”

  “They left town. One got involved with a married man and she took off with him. The youngest stayed around, lived on welfare, and shacked up with a different man it seemed like every night. She left town about a month after Carson was arrested.”

  “What about the parents?” George asked.

  “They left years ago. Rumor was they moved to the west coast. No one heard from them since. As far as I know there are none of them left in Bradford.”

  “No one from the family ever came back for a visit or to visit old friends?”

  “No. I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when that lot left.”

  As George leaned back in his chair and thumbed through some reports, he asked Selma, “Did you know Carson Fellows' girlfriend's family?”

  “If you mean the Akrons, I knew them very well,” Selma replied.

  “What kind of parents were the Akrons? Were they of the same caliber as the Fellows'?” George continued leafing through the dog-eared folder he held in his large hands.

  Frankie wondered how many times he'd gone through every report in that folder looking for some clue others may have missed. She glanced around the office. It was sparsely decorated. George was a simple man. He didn't even have a computer. When Frankie had questioned him once about that fact in this day of technology, he had informed her with a broad smile that the phone was good enough for him. When he wanted answers, he called the person who had the answers directly. She knew the truth was that he depended on his staff to do all the things George would consider humdrum. He didn't like technology, instead he enjoyed doing things the old fashioned way. Whenever he could be forced to take a day off, his only other joy in life was fishing…no matter the season. He lived a simple life, but for the most part seemed content. The one thing she could say about George Ryker was that he was a damned good Sheriff. Frankie tuned back into what her mothe
r was relating about the Akrons.

  Selma sighed. “Oh, no…they were wonderful people. The complete opposite. You'd never meet such kind caring people. They'd give you the shirt off their backs.”

  “Were you close to them?”

  “Oh yes. Frankie's father and I became friends with Doug and Effie Akron shortly after we'd moved into the trailer park. They were a very loving couple and doted on their daughters Ellie and Barbara. Even though Effie and Doug were much older than us, we enjoyed their company and began socializing regularly with them. When Frankie came along they treated her like she was their own grandchild.” She drew a deep breath. “Barbara, the eldest daughter, was a sweet, studious girl, went to college and eventually married a lawyer and moved to the Midwest. She never gave her parents one bit of trouble. Ellie was a few years younger than Barbara. She had a bit of a wild streak in her, but basically she was a good girl.”

  “How did Carson get involved with Ellie Akron?” George asked.

  “He was a dish washer for a short time at the diner where the kids hung out at after school. He started flirting with her and I suppose she was flattered that he'd taken an interest in her. To this day, I don't know what she ever saw in Carson. He was several years older than her and as homely as the day is long and shiftless to boot.”

  Frankie suppressed a giggle as she looked at Johanna. From the pictures she'd just seen, her mother's description was accurate. “Didn't her parents forbid her from seeing him? After all, he had to have been too old to be going after a teenager.”

  “They did everything in their power to keep them apart. Effie tried to get her to date a couple of the boys from school. She was determined to find some way to keep Carson away from Ellie. Doug and Effie even went so far as to threaten to have him arrested for corrupting the morals of a minor. Ellie knew his reputation and his upbringing,” Selma continued, “but for some reason, Ellie was smitten with Carson and refused to acknowledge his shortcomings. Maybe she thought she could change him. Or maybe it was that bad boy side that attracted her. No one will ever know.”

  “Sounds like a rebellious teenager getting in over her head,” Johanna interjected.

  “I thought the same thing, Johanna. In fact, Effie and I discussed it several times. But nothing we said seemed to get through to Ellie. The more we pointed out Carson's shortcomings, the more Ellie defended him.”

  “How did Ellie's parents handle her pregnancy?” Frankie asked scowling. “It seems like charges could have been pressed for statutory rape.”

  “When Ellie became pregnant in her senior year of high school, Doug and Effie were devastated. They told her they were going to talk to the police, but they knew there was really nothing they could do since Ellie was seventeen and it wouldn't be statutory rape. They thought it might scare her, though, but she threatened to run away and promised them that they'd never see her again if they talked to the police.”

  Frankie absentmindedly picked at a piece of lint on her sweater. “I can't believe that Ellie could be so cold towards her parents.” She shook her head. “I can't imagine ever doing something like that, Mom.”

  “Neither can I, sweetie. To this day I think Ellie was on drugs. I never mentioned my suspicions to Effie, but her personality had changed so much that something wasn't right. I wish you could remember Doug and Effie, Frankie. They loved you like their own grandchild. In fact, that's why your father and I named them as your godparents.”

  Frankie's eyes widened and she sat up straight. “I didn't know that.”

  “Next time I visit I'll bring the old photo albums.”

  Frankie swallowed the lump in her throat. “I'd like that, Mom.” She smiled at Johanna who had given her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “You and I know that back in those days it wasn't easy on a family to have an unwed pregnant daughter, Selma,” George said quietly. “How did the Akrons handle it?” He rubbed his jaw as he waited for her to answer.

  “No, it wasn't, George. Back then it was socially unacceptable, a disgrace and a family was looked down on. Barbara had married and moved away by this time. They tried to get Ellie to move in with Barbara and her husband at least until after the baby was born. Barbara and her husband would tell his family and their friends that Ellie's husband had been killed while serving in the military. At least it would give Ellie a fresh start far away from Carson and hopefully she would get her life back on track.”

  “Obviously we know how that worked out,” Frankie interjected. She watched as Johanna stood up and signaled to the coffee cups. George and Frankie both nodded their consent to another cup. Johanna walked to the coffee maker.

  “Yes, Ellie refused to leave Carson.” She sighed again. “Effie had confided to me that she'd hoped Ellie would decide to stay in the Midwest, go to college and finally put Carson Fellows behind her for good. She hoped that maybe someday Ellie would meet a man who would be a good husband and father. If not, they prayed she'd consider giving the baby up for adoption.”

  “They wanted her to give up her baby for adoption?” Frankie asked. “Their own grandchild?”

  Johanna refilled George and Frankie's coffee cups. She lifted her eyebrows in surprise as she looked at Frankie.

  “They were torn,” Selma explained. “It's hard to describe how things were back then, Frankie. You know, George.”

  “Yes, I do,” he said as he toyed with his coffee cup. “There were morals that seem to be sorely lacking today.”

  “That's right. Nowadays no one bats an eye at some of the things young people do. Anyway, Doug and Effie's decision was not made lightly, but yes, they thought it would be better for Ellie and the baby if she put the child up for adoption. Ellie could finish her education and the baby would have a chance for a decent life. There was no way Carson would provide a decent life for that child.”

  “I know their intentions were good, Mom. I just can't imagine them really wanting her to give away their grandchild under any circumstances.”

  “Like I said, Frankie, Effie didn't make the decision without considering every option. It tore her apart. She spent many hours weighing the pros and cons. It boiled down to the fact that keeping the baby would keep Carson in the picture, but if Ellie gave the child up, then hopefully Ellie would see what a loser he was and realize that her baby would stand a better chance for a decent life with adoptive parents.”

  Frankie stirred some cream and sugar into her coffee as she spoke. “How did Carson react to the news of Ellie's pregnancy? Did she tell him right away?”

  “She told him all right. I think she thought he'd have an instant transformation and that the three of them would have a fairytale ending.”

  “I take it his reaction wasn't what she'd hoped for.” Frankie looked at George and frowned.

  “It went from bad to worse. That's when Carson really began to show his true colors. Up until then, he hadn't been extremely verbal or physically abusive to Ellie, but that quickly changed. He became violent towards her. He accused her of deliberately getting pregnant to tie him down. He was arrested a couple of times, but always got out a day or two later because Ellie refused to press charges.”

  “It must have been frustrating for her parents,” Johanna added.

  “It was,” Selma replied. “Eventually Doug and Effie finally got through to her. Or maybe it was the baby she was carrying that made her change. Doug and Effie convinced her that if she stayed with Carson, this was the life she and the baby would have to endure and in time his violence would escalate. But if she got rid of him once and for all, she could forge a decent life for herself. She finally made the decision to break up with him. She was adamant, though, about keeping her baby and raising her child on her own in Bradford. Giving up the baby was the one thing Ellie refused to do under any circumstance.” Selma cleared her throat. “To me that proved the Ellie I once knew hadn't completely let Carson take over her life.”

  “Did Effie and Doug support Ellie's decision to keep the baby if she agreed to get rid of
Carson?” Frankie asked.

  “Yes. They offered support, but that meant that the baby would be Ellie's responsibility. Ellie didn't have it easy by any means. As Effie feared, no one talked to Ellie and her former friends avoided her. Still, she held her head high determined to make a life for her and the baby. It took a lot of courage for Ellie to keep her child. I was proud of her because I knew how much pain she was in because of the friends she'd thought were true blue deserted her when she needed them the most.”

  “Did she live with her parents during her pregnancy?” George asked.

  “Yes. Everything seemed to be settling down into a nice pattern.” She grunted. “But then Carson started coming around again shortly after the baby, Alice, was born. Doug and Effie were livid. He wasn't allowed near their home and they made it clear to Ellie that if she went back to him, they'd do everything in their power to keep Alice away from him…even if it meant seeking custody of Alice and severing their relationship with Ellie.”

  “Wow! That must have been a tough decision to make.” Frankie's eyebrows knitted close together. “But their frustration is understandable. It sounds like Ellie put her parents through hell. I don't know how they could keep trusting her.”

  “If you'd known them, Frankie, you'd know how tough it really was. They were deeply hurt that Ellie sneaked around behind their backs and was seeing him again. They'd given up so much for her.” Selma was quiet for a moment. “Many of their friends had deserted them and the few social clubs they'd belonged to for years had made it so uncomfortable for them that they eventually resigned their memberships. It was bad enough that Ellie had gotten pregnant and dropped out of high school, but learning that Carson Fellows was the father of the child was just unacceptable. It was heartbreaking. But still, they tried to hold their heads high. And that's not easy to do in a community where everyone knows everyone else's business. Your father and I stood by them. They were good, honest people who would do anything for anyone. They certainly didn't deserve to be ignored and talked about behind their backs. They'd done nothing wrong. It took a terrible toll on them. The only solace they got was in the church. And even then there was gossip behind their backs, of course,” she said disgustedly. She blew out her breath loudly. “But things were so different back then. Not that I approve of what's going on today with all the teenage pregnancies. It reminds me of the sermon a visiting priest gave a few weeks ago.”