Ch. 16f Tomorrow is Another Day

[Philulhu]

“I spoke to him often after she left,” said Billy. “He was the one who kept my head above water. I can’t believe that he could sit there and talk to me like that if he’d been having an affair with my wife, I just can’t.”

[Mr. Handy]

"It does seem rather unlikely," says William. "Has he ever talked about snakes?"

[Silver Priest]

"I also don't think he was having an affair," Alex tells the man. Its true; he fears far worse.

[jp1885]

Ivy keeps her opinion of the whole sorry affair to herself.

In truth, she has little to add to the conversation, being unable to prove any wrongdoing by the priest or the wife.

[Philulhu]

“Garden of Eden stuff, but nothing more than that,” said Billy. “Just regular sermons, like they all do.”

He looked relieved at Alex’s words, seemingly unaffected by whether they might be true or not. “Thanks. That sets my mind at rest a little.”

Anything else you want to ask or happy to move on?

[Mr. Handy]

I can't think of anything else.

[jp1885]

Nor me.

[Silver Priest]

Ready to go. Should we wait to meet our oilman contact tonight? I can't think of anyone else to ask about the priest.

[Mr. Handy]

What time of day is it now? We'll want to eat supper before we meet him.

[Philulhu]

I’d say it’s mid-afternoon so you have a couple of hours to go back, rest up and have something to eat, before heading out again.

I just need an update from Bullfrog in the other thread and then I’ll update this one again.

[Philulhu]

Saturday March 14th, 1931 6.00pm
Hebert House, Middle Ridge Road, Johnson Bayou, Cameron Parish, Louisiana

Mrs Hebert and her daughters prepared the evening meal, steamed fish with vegetables. As she laid the table, she noticed that only three of her guests were present.

”Will your friend by joining us?” she asked.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm not sure," says William. "I haven't seen him for a while."

[Philulhu]

”Well, I can put it in the oven but it won’t be at its best. If you’re going to be late, it would only be polite to let me know so as food isn’t wasted.” she said. She put Lawrence’s dinner on a covered plate in the oven and then they say down to eat their meal.

Half an hour later, they were drinking coffee and enjoying a stollen cake that Mrs Hebert’s mother had sent her, while the two girls set to washing the dishes. The clock struck 6.30pm.

There was still no sign of Lawrence.

[Silver Priest]

Alex makes polite small talk about Mrs Hebert's family and the cake, appreciating the small moment of the mundane amidst the horror.

But as the night grows longer, he finds himself frowning. Lawrence should be here by now. I hope he's alright. The fellow's not the most stable of us: I would hate to imagine he came into some trouble.

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe we should go out and look for him," says William.

[jp1885]

Ivy nods her assent.

“He seems a headstrong fellow who can more than look after himself, but it’s concerning that he hasn’t returned.”

[Silver Priest]

"We do have a prior engagement for later this evening," Alex points out. "Perhaps we should see if we run into him there?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, he could show up there early, especially if he was already nearby," says William. "He might have eaten elsewhere."

[Philulhu]

OK, so what’s your plan?

[Silver Priest]

I think we want to go to our meeting as intended, keeping an eye out for any signs of Lawrence.