Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Opening: Day 9

Word Count: 54,019

Summary of Events:
Chapter 17:
Keiller was stunned by Sophia's outburst and apologized to her for what he'd said, and then was challenged as to why he was afraid — according to Sophia — however Keiller thought about it and found he was afraid, and also why.
Chapter 18:
Sophia thought about things, and felt quite thoroughly confused by all of it, especially what she ought to do and when she ought to do it. Keiller went to get the truth out of Egbert Witting and got a surprising answer to his query about Sheriff Evans' killer's identity.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Sitting down at the writing desk, Keiller wrote on the piece of paper on the desk: Send Patience to live with Ezekiel, and then I will take you into protective custody, in a cell that cannot be seen from any windows, and will make sure that no one enters the office without my knowing.
Egbert took the pen from Keiller and wrote a reply: But you don't know who the killer is, you don't know who you're looking for.
Keiller took the pen back: If you tell me I'll know.
What happens to this note? Egbert wrote.
I'll burn it as soon as we've reached a resolution. Keiller wrote in reply.
Keiller held out the pen to Egbert, but Egbert didn't take it. Keiller looked up at Egbert. Egbert looked like he was rather tortured, like he didn't know what to do — write the name, or withhold it.
Egbert turned and beckoned to Mrs. Witting and took the pen. When Mrs. Witting arrived at the table Egbert wrote: Go pack some things and go to Ezekiel's, I'm going into protective custody with the Sheriff.
Mrs. Witting took the pen: How long?
Keiller took the pen: Until the killer is apprehended and imprisoned, and I don't know how long that will take; I'd advise you take a month's worth, just to be safe.
Do you think the killer will do anything to our house? Mrs. Witting wrote.
I wouldn't think so. Keiller wrote. Not unless there's anything convicting in the house that he might want to destroy.
No. Egbert wrote.
Mrs. Witting nodded and left the room.
So now who am I looking for? Keiller wrote.
He looked up at Egbert; Egbert didn't look at anyone more willing to divulge the name now than he had before he'd told Mrs. Witting to pack. Keiller waited, waiting for confirmation of his theory, hopefully.
Finally Egbert took up the pen, dipped it in the ink, and blotted it. Aligning his hand over the paper, Egbert passed and let the pen hover over the page, then brought up his left hand to shield his writing and wrote.
Keiller waited for Egbert to raise his hand, even though he wanted desperately to rip Egbert's hand off of the paper and see it for himself already. Egbert seemed unwilling to reveal it still.
Egbert screwed up his face and removed his hand from the paper at last, revealing to Keiller the name of the person who Egbert was positively stating he believed had killed Sheriff Evans: Geoffrey Wharton."

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