Witness #2
“I’m telling you, she was a witch.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Miller.” Detective Barnes glanced over at his partner who was concluding his interview, then looked down to review his notes, before returning his attention back to Witness #2. “Please wait here a little longer.”
The two detectives spoke for several minutes before walking down the hall from the McDonald’s dining area to the locked kitchen door. A policeman let them in and remarked, “The manager has the security footage ready when you are.”
Inside, Detective Barnes and Detective Morgan observed the staff cleaning the kitchen and register areas, awaiting further instructions. The manager was at the desk in front of the video display.
Barnes got down to business, “Anything interesting?”
“You tell me.” The manager hit the play button and added, “There’s no sound.”
A black and white video showed three single diners at different tables as the screen clock counted past 3:30pm: A businessman against the window; an elderly man in the middle; and Mrs. Miller nearer to the registers and kitchen.
The man in the middle suddenly fell forward in his chair, knocking his drink and burger to the floor, while his face came to rest in his french fries.
Witness #1 by the window picked up his phone, and as confirmed by reports, called 911.
Witness #2, Mrs. Miller, stood up and took a step towards the slumped diner. It appeared she was saying something, then retreated, bumping into her table, which tumbled her coffee cup to the floor.
Next, the manager rushed into the picture. He kneeled and spoke to the man, but the diner did not move. Then the manager was seen yelling something towards the kitchen as he rushed out of the video scene.
The manager fast-forwarded the video to 3:40 where paramedics entered the picture. He added, “They told me they were right in the neighborhood.”
As they watched the paramedics attend the diner, Detective Morgan commented, “It sure looks like a heart attack.”
Detective Barnes questioned the manager again, “And you didn’t see anyone else talking to him?”
“Look, as I said, I didn’t see anyone else beyond what you see in this video. And apparently, none of the staff did either. However, we can rewind to when the guy arrived, if you want.”
“Witness #2 said she observed someone talking to him when he fell over.” Detective Barnes then added, “Morgan, why don’t you watch the whole thing? I’m going to revisit your witness.”
Barnes maneuvered around the forensic photographer and asked Witness #1 to follow him outside. They walked past Witness #2, who eyed them suspiciously. Police were directing cars away from entering the parking lot, which was causing traffic confusion and congestion.
“Mr. Bellcan, I know you just spoke with my partner, but could you repeat what you heard when you made the 911 call?”
“Well, my attention was mostly on the guy who went unconscious. But the lady stood up and said, ‘You murdered him,’ which was weird enough, but she wasn’t talking to the guy. It was like she was talking to someone over the table. I just figured she’s a nutcase or the event triggered some bizarre traumatic reaction, or both. Is she homeless?”
Detectives Barnes and Morgan reconvened privately on the other side of the restaurant. Morgan confirmed that there was nothing else in the video.
Barnes summarized. “We’re here because the 911 recording includes a statement about murder. But the lady who voiced that claims she was referring to a ghost, or as she says, ‘a witch that was haunting the man.’”
Morgan added, “Whatever. My money is on the autopsy finding a heart attack.”
Barnes concluded, “I’ll release the witnesses. You let the manager know he can re-open once the forensics crew is done.”
Barnes thanked Witness #1 and said they’d contact him if they needed any more info, who departed immediately. Then he approached Witness #2 to repeat the same.
“I know you don’t believe me.” She stood up to leave. “Sometimes spirits communicate with me. Maybe because they perceive I’m receptive.” Mrs. Miller, newly possessed with a quiet confidence, looked right at Barnes. “For some reason, Mildred wants me to say something to you.”
Barnes’s eyes widened.
“She says the cancer that killed her was partly caused by how you became cold and distant.”
Barnes glanced around to confirm no one was within earshot.
“She says you wasted her life.” Mrs. Miller paused. “But she says she forgives you.” Her eyes moistened. “She says she’s leaving and won’t be back.”
Barnes stood still, in mild shock as Mrs. Miller departed. He felt a vacuum where there had been a persistent mourning. He remained unmoving until Morgan approached a while later.
“Are you OK?”
Barnes blinked, as if coming out of a daze, “Do you remember when I used to jokingly call Mildred a witch?”
Morgan responded quizzically at the name of his partner’s passed wife of several years, “You said she was sometimes psychic and you didn’t know what to make of it all.”
Barnes closed his eyes, conjuring Mildred, now bittersweet with a sense of peace effusing through his inner self. “Maybe I’m finally starting to get it.”
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