As a member of the law enforcement community, Dell was familiar with the distress of delivering bad news. This time was different. This time, he felt at least partially responsible. This time his distress bordered on sickness in his extreme trepidation about bringing this ugly news to her. He should have done more in terms of prevention to protect innocent people. He was not buying into the story that Mara was the assailant in the case of the older Missus Chandler.
He noticed that Mara had a lot of minor injuries. He wondered what really happened last night and he wanted to ask her, but right now, the impact of the situation turned her skin the color of bread dough. He thought perhaps she might vomit right there. He didn’t know what to do next besides standing there stupidly with her just looking at him. He could sense the woman that let him in was around someplace, but she must have retreated to another room when she overheard him give Mara the awful news.
Mara completely shocked him by reaching out with her left hand, firmly grabbing a handful of his shirt near the collar, and holding it for a moment. Then, looking him deeply in the eye, she slapped him with a surprising jolt with her right hand. He watched in sort of slow motion as her face, contorted with emotion, screamed at him.
“What’s the matter with you!” she paused a moment to catch her wits. “How could you let this happen! I came to you for help and you’ve done nothing!” Her voice was distorted by lips twisted with anger and sorrow. Her cheeks flushed with rage. She still had a hold of him by the collar of his shirt. She pounded on his chest with her fist and screamed, “WHY!”
Dell was completely caught off guard by the violence and emotion of her reaction. He knew she would be upset, anyone would. But he wasn’t in the habit of just standing there during a physical attack. He was, after all, an officer of the law. He would normally not permit such behavior. He looked down at her with her face a mask of madness, yet softened with tears running down her cheeks. The only thing he could do was wrap his arms around her and draw her close. He whispered softly, “I’m sorry” and gently stroked her still damp hair. Her body shook as she was racked with emotional sobs over the loss of her mother and no doubt for Chris as well.