with us he’d shake his head and say, ‘They got it all wrong, Brenda.’ He wouldn’t tell me what he meant.” She hiccuped and took a long breath. “Then, about three months ago, he left after dinner to meet Derick, and he never came home.”
She started really howling into the phone now, enough that I had to hold the earpiece a few inches from my head. I had come to my own conclusion, early into her story, but needed to figure out the best way to relay it to her. There really was no other way than to just come out and say it, so I prepared myself for her reaction. Of course, I let her calm down considerably before getting her worked up again.
“Brenda, I’ve done this job for many years, and based on only what you’re telling me, I have to ask you something that you’re probably not going to like, but I have to say it anyway.”
There was a brief pause. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m only asking if it’s possible. Okay? Is it possible that your husband was involved with Derick romantically?”
I kept talking before she could respond. However, I did hear a slight shriek through the phone when I asked the question.
“What led me to this conclusion is only the fact that Ben formed a friendship with this man and turned his back on his family, and, specifically, the church. As we both know, most churches frown on homosexuality.” I spoke slowly.
“My husband hated faggots!”
“Excuse me?” I was startled by her candor.
“Homosexuality is an abomination and my husband believed that along with the rest of us! How dare you insinuate such a thing!”
“People change, Mrs. Rader.”
“Not Ben! I knew this would be a waste of my time calling you people.” She was growing angrier by the minute. “I could understand if you asked me if another woman was involved, but this…”
“Well, was there?”
“Was there what?”
“Another woman?”
“No, there wasn’t! How could you do this to me? Ben had children, a wife, a family!” She started sobbing again.
I had enough and made the decision to end the phone call; it was going nowhere.
“Mrs. Rader, please, I apologize, but in law enforcement we have to explore everything, including things other people might not want to face. But based on what you’re telling me, I really don’t have any reason to investigate this as suspicious. Conclusively, it’s an overdose. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no Derick, you know.” Her calmness surprised me.
“What do you mean?”
“After Ben disappeared I went to the three companieshe worked for before he left, and no one had any record of an employee named Derick.”
Although she got my attention, it wasn’t for very long.
“Your husband could’ve lied about the name, or Derick could’ve been a nickname or middle name. There are all sorts of possibilities here, but not enough to investigate. Regardless, if you have any more information you can always feel free to call me back.”
“Fuck you.” She slammed down the phone.
Christianity at a high point, I thought. Laughing quietly, I hung up the phone, still believing that Ben had become involved with someone, man or woman, and his wife didn’t want to accept it. Whomever he got involved with got him hooked on drugs, and ultimately caused him to overdose. Nonetheless, he was an adult, and it was his own choice.
July 13
More joined us today; a couple from Missouri that Illeana knew. They sold their home — Roger and Becky Thomas. Today we heard teachings of the great Omega, spoken through Illeana herself. She claims the world was duped by the evil serpent into believing that God was the almighty. Eve talked Adam into eating the apple, showing her true power. The serpent, humiliated by this, impregnated her and began to spread the word of God.
Only a few, whom Eve speaks through, including Illeana, know the truth. Her rules are growing more tiresome by the day. Last night at supper, she said that there was to be no more garlic on
She started really howling into the phone now, enough that I had to hold the earpiece a few inches from my head. I had come to my own conclusion, early into her story, but needed to figure out the best way to relay it to her. There really was no other way than to just come out and say it, so I prepared myself for her reaction. Of course, I let her calm down considerably before getting her worked up again.
“Brenda, I’ve done this job for many years, and based on only what you’re telling me, I have to ask you something that you’re probably not going to like, but I have to say it anyway.”
There was a brief pause. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m only asking if it’s possible. Okay? Is it possible that your husband was involved with Derick romantically?”
I kept talking before she could respond. However, I did hear a slight shriek through the phone when I asked the question.
“What led me to this conclusion is only the fact that Ben formed a friendship with this man and turned his back on his family, and, specifically, the church. As we both know, most churches frown on homosexuality.” I spoke slowly.
“My husband hated faggots!”
“Excuse me?” I was startled by her candor.
“Homosexuality is an abomination and my husband believed that along with the rest of us! How dare you insinuate such a thing!”
“People change, Mrs. Rader.”
“Not Ben! I knew this would be a waste of my time calling you people.” She was growing angrier by the minute. “I could understand if you asked me if another woman was involved, but this…”
“Well, was there?”
“Was there what?”
“Another woman?”
“No, there wasn’t! How could you do this to me? Ben had children, a wife, a family!” She started sobbing again.
I had enough and made the decision to end the phone call; it was going nowhere.
“Mrs. Rader, please, I apologize, but in law enforcement we have to explore everything, including things other people might not want to face. But based on what you’re telling me, I really don’t have any reason to investigate this as suspicious. Conclusively, it’s an overdose. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no Derick, you know.” Her calmness surprised me.
“What do you mean?”
“After Ben disappeared I went to the three companieshe worked for before he left, and no one had any record of an employee named Derick.”
Although she got my attention, it wasn’t for very long.
“Your husband could’ve lied about the name, or Derick could’ve been a nickname or middle name. There are all sorts of possibilities here, but not enough to investigate. Regardless, if you have any more information you can always feel free to call me back.”
“Fuck you.” She slammed down the phone.
Christianity at a high point, I thought. Laughing quietly, I hung up the phone, still believing that Ben had become involved with someone, man or woman, and his wife didn’t want to accept it. Whomever he got involved with got him hooked on drugs, and ultimately caused him to overdose. Nonetheless, he was an adult, and it was his own choice.
July 13
More joined us today; a couple from Missouri that Illeana knew. They sold their home — Roger and Becky Thomas. Today we heard teachings of the great Omega, spoken through Illeana herself. She claims the world was duped by the evil serpent into believing that God was the almighty. Eve talked Adam into eating the apple, showing her true power. The serpent, humiliated by this, impregnated her and began to spread the word of God.
Only a few, whom Eve speaks through, including Illeana, know the truth. Her rules are growing more tiresome by the day. Last night at supper, she said that there was to be no more garlic on
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