Dorrie as we would’ve liked, since all this happened and she
finished school,” Mr. Johnson reported. “Her work kept her very busy, but she
always managed to visit us during holidays and we talked frequently. I would say we had a good
relationship. We saw as much of her
as many of our friends saw of their own adult children and we were certainly
proud of her pulling herself together.”
Lin understood
what he was saying. She often
wished that she saw more of Ben and Lucy but they too led busy lives. That did not really mean that they were
not close, however.
“Did you know
that Dorrie was coming to the Outer Banks?” Lin felt the need to ask.
“As a matter of
fact, she called us last week to tell us about this trip and to say that she
would stop by Richmond on her way back. In fact, we were expecting her to arrive today—we were going to
have an early Thanksgiving—and now this.” Mr. Johnson seemed near tears himself,
but he continued.
“Dorrie told us
that she was coming to try to find Liz Frazier, she said that when she left she
owed Liz two months rent money. Since she had become successful, she’d begun to think about repaying her
debts and helping folks who had helped her. She made regular contributions to the
shelter where she’d first lived and now she was thinking about her debts to
others.”
Lin was
surprised by what he was saying. If
Dorrie had killed Liz then why would she come back to find her and repay a
debt? Could she have committed the
crime while drunk and on drugs and not even remember it? Had she actually robbed Liz rather than
simply owing a debt? She wanted to
ask all these questions but realized it was pointless. Mr. Johnson obviously only knew what his
daughter had told him. Liz realized
that Mr. Johnson was still speaking to her so she redirected her attention to
what he was saying.
“ That is why
we cannot accept what the Sheriff is saying about Dorrie. We simply don’t believe she would be
capable of such a crime. She might
have been a “wild child” but she was not a murderer,” he was adamant. “Whatever
else happens, we’ve got to find a way to clear her name and restore our
memories.”
Lin had no
answer for the man. She understood
his distress but she didn’t know enough about the situation to offer any
answers. What could she offer this
kind man that would be of comfort to him and to his wife?
Lin surprised
herself by what she said next. “Mr. Johnson, I’m going to meet with Sheriff
Midgett later this week. I asked to
talk to him so that I could find some answers for myself. As you can imagine, all of this has been
quite shocking for me too. Finding
your daughter, reading about the earlier crime in the paper… I may not learn
anything you don’t already know, but I’d be happy to share the results of my
conversation with you, if you’d like.”
Mr. Johnson
turned to her with a look of relief. “Thank you, Ms. Hanna. That would be very kind of you. I’m afraid neither Sara nor I are able
to face talking with the Sheriff, after what we read and what was initially
reported to us by the department regarding the death of Liz Frazier.”
“We’ll be
leaving Manteo tomorrow to return to Richmond. All of the arrangements for Dorrie
should be completed today,” he reported sadly, “but let me give you a
card. Perhaps you’ll call us after
your conversation with the Sheriff?”
Lin accepted
the card and agreed that she would call and share whatever she learned. Thanking her for this and for coming
that morning, Mr. Johnson took his leave and returned to his room.
Lin remained on
the porch for a short while, accepting another cup of coffee when the waiter
came by. She still had plenty of
time. As it were, she would be
quite early if she left right then. Silently she chastised herself for getting further involved in all of
this. What happened to “putting
this
finished school,” Mr. Johnson reported. “Her work kept her very busy, but she
always managed to visit us during holidays and we talked frequently. I would say we had a good
relationship. We saw as much of her
as many of our friends saw of their own adult children and we were certainly
proud of her pulling herself together.”
Lin understood
what he was saying. She often
wished that she saw more of Ben and Lucy but they too led busy lives. That did not really mean that they were
not close, however.
“Did you know
that Dorrie was coming to the Outer Banks?” Lin felt the need to ask.
“As a matter of
fact, she called us last week to tell us about this trip and to say that she
would stop by Richmond on her way back. In fact, we were expecting her to arrive today—we were going to
have an early Thanksgiving—and now this.” Mr. Johnson seemed near tears himself,
but he continued.
“Dorrie told us
that she was coming to try to find Liz Frazier, she said that when she left she
owed Liz two months rent money. Since she had become successful, she’d begun to think about repaying her
debts and helping folks who had helped her. She made regular contributions to the
shelter where she’d first lived and now she was thinking about her debts to
others.”
Lin was
surprised by what he was saying. If
Dorrie had killed Liz then why would she come back to find her and repay a
debt? Could she have committed the
crime while drunk and on drugs and not even remember it? Had she actually robbed Liz rather than
simply owing a debt? She wanted to
ask all these questions but realized it was pointless. Mr. Johnson obviously only knew what his
daughter had told him. Liz realized
that Mr. Johnson was still speaking to her so she redirected her attention to
what he was saying.
“ That is why
we cannot accept what the Sheriff is saying about Dorrie. We simply don’t believe she would be
capable of such a crime. She might
have been a “wild child” but she was not a murderer,” he was adamant. “Whatever
else happens, we’ve got to find a way to clear her name and restore our
memories.”
Lin had no
answer for the man. She understood
his distress but she didn’t know enough about the situation to offer any
answers. What could she offer this
kind man that would be of comfort to him and to his wife?
Lin surprised
herself by what she said next. “Mr. Johnson, I’m going to meet with Sheriff
Midgett later this week. I asked to
talk to him so that I could find some answers for myself. As you can imagine, all of this has been
quite shocking for me too. Finding
your daughter, reading about the earlier crime in the paper… I may not learn
anything you don’t already know, but I’d be happy to share the results of my
conversation with you, if you’d like.”
Mr. Johnson
turned to her with a look of relief. “Thank you, Ms. Hanna. That would be very kind of you. I’m afraid neither Sara nor I are able
to face talking with the Sheriff, after what we read and what was initially
reported to us by the department regarding the death of Liz Frazier.”
“We’ll be
leaving Manteo tomorrow to return to Richmond. All of the arrangements for Dorrie
should be completed today,” he reported sadly, “but let me give you a
card. Perhaps you’ll call us after
your conversation with the Sheriff?”
Lin accepted
the card and agreed that she would call and share whatever she learned. Thanking her for this and for coming
that morning, Mr. Johnson took his leave and returned to his room.
Lin remained on
the porch for a short while, accepting another cup of coffee when the waiter
came by. She still had plenty of
time. As it were, she would be
quite early if she left right then. Silently she chastised herself for getting further involved in all of
this. What happened to “putting
this
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