I let her down on her bed. I already explained to her mother that she wasn't dead. I left her to her room and walked back to the living room. The mother stood there. "Boy, you have ten seconds to explain what in God's name happened, or I will call the police!" I took a deep breath. "You might want to sit down Ms., uh." "Sherman" "Ms. Sherman."
We sat at the table in her half dining room. I explained everything I knew about the situation. Halfway through it she got a cup of coffee for both of us. When I was done she seemed depressed. She sighed, "I'm sorry I thought you did anything. I never really trusted anybody since........" I realized this was rather difficult for her to say. "You don't have to explain yourself Ms. Sherman. I understand." She shook her head. She looked a lot like Noel, just a few stray, white hairs. "No. This is a fact of life, and I need to get over it." She took a deep breath. "My husband, he was a good man, or so I thought. He was declared criminally insane, after he tried to 'cleanse' a neighborhood. He was put into an Asylum, and after a month or two, was declared incurable. We moved here to get away from everything. I just, wanted to forget. Noel is the only family I have now. I wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to her." I nodded. She continued, "I just, thought I could trust him above all others. I guess all we need is a building filled to the brim with heroes, huh?" I smiled and nodded again. "It has its perks." I said. She laughed.
She stared at me for a while. "You really like her, don't you?" I was flustered. "I, uh...." I wasn't sure how to respond to this. I been feeling weird ever since she moved here. I thought it was guilt, but perhaps I made the wrong observation. She smiled. "Don't worry, hun. I won't say anything."
Then she turned worried. "Won't your parents get worried? Should you call them?" I lowered my head for a second. "I live alone, with my sister. I never let her out of my sight, and we keep each other company." And I have to watch her or she might escape and threaten to kill everyone within her reach.
I stood up. "I'd love to stay here longer, but my sister will start to wonder where I am if I'm not home soon. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to call on me." I looked at the closed door that lead to Noel's room. I said, "Noel was drugged only long enough for me to agree on the deal. She should be waking up any minute." She nodded. I left to go to my room. Mrs. Grossman will wonder where I am and might call her husband, the sheriff, again.
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