The Bindlestiff Mystery

Chapter 7: More Questions than Answers

I heard others in the distance calling for Julie, so I ran to find them. “She’s over here! She’s hurt!”
A man ran over to Julie and bent down to check her pulse. “She’s alive, but she needs an ambulance! Someone, get help!”
A crowd gathered gasping and crying. Julie’s mother wailed and dropped to her knees to hold her daughter. “My baby, Julie. It’s Mom, help is coming hold on, hold on. Someone, get her a blanket. She’s so cold!”
A man ran up with his jacket and her mother covered her cold body. Julie still hadn’t moved or shown any signs of life, but the man that said she had a pulse, so I closed my eyes and said a little prayer.
The ambulance arrived quickly and the cops moved everyone back as they put out the crime scene tape. Goosebumps rose on skin as I wondered who could’ve done this?
Mark seemed to find her so fast, and he was scared when the police questioned him, but then there’s Ben, who’s story is also questionable.
I walked home alone to have time to think.
My mother was crying when I walked through the door. My heart sank, “Did Julie die?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “No, but she’s in a coma, and it’s not looking good.” She grabbed me and hugged me. “I feel so bad for her mother.” She squeezed me tighter. “I just can’t imagine not knowing if your child will live or die.”
She let go so she could look at me. “Oh Caleb, I forget to ask how you feel finding her like that. I’m sure it was devastating.”
“I think I just want to be alone, Mom.”
She rubbed my head. “Sure, Caleb. Go ahead and relax and get some rest.”
While lying on my bed, I tried to play detective. Her head was bloody, so maybe she fell. But then why did Ben say she was naked, she wasn’t?
Mark didn’t have any blood on him, but he was acting strange, and Ben, I don’t even know what he’s capable of when he’s drinking bourbon.
My head hurt and I couldn’t think anymore. I fell asleep.
***
I woke to my mom knocking on my door. “Caleb, the police are here to ask you some questions.”
Why me? I didn’t know what happened.
I walked into the living room and took a seat.
“Caleb, we took Mark in for questioning based on what a few of your classmates have told us. It seems Mark was spreading some inappropriate rumors about Julie, so we want to ask you what you know about his relationship with her.”
“Mark always talks big, but I don’t think he’d hurt someone, especially Julie. He really likes her.”
“Ok, what about the derelict camped out by the riverside, I’ve heard you’ve been friendly with him.”
My mom turned and looked shocked. “Caleb!”
“Mom, he’s nice. He has amnesia, and I was just trying to help him find his family.”
“What’s his name, Caleb?” The officer asked.
“He calls himself Ben, but I don’t think that’s his real name.”
The officer wrote down Ben with a question mark beside it. “Mark says the derelict told you he chased the girl, is that right?”
“Yeah, but he said he was trying to help her, and he blacked out or something.”
“Okay,” he continued to jot down notes.
“How’s Julie?” I asked.
“She’s still unconscious, but we’re all hoping she’ll come around. She got a pretty nasty gash on her head.” The officer stood up. “Thanks, Caleb. We may have more questions later, but for now, I’d say stay away from the derelict, he could be dangerous.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, knowing as soon as I go the chance, I’d be asking Ben some more questions.