PART 4: Covering Up Old Bones (Joe/Elizabeth)

Joe hesitated before almost knocking on the doors of Collinwood. He wondered what he was getting drawn into. He had often been a glorified delivery messenger between the cannery and Mrs. Stoddard. They paid and treated him well. But today was his day off and Elizabeth had called, sounding tense, asking him to help with a sensitive and awkward matter involving the Collins family. She refused to tell him what it was on the phone, insisting that they meet in person. She also mentioned that she would understand if he refused but that he must be very discreet about what was going on.

Now that I think of it, almost every strange and scary situation I've been in as an adult has come about because of my association with the Collins family. Things have been going so well lately, he thought. Do I really want trouble in my life right now?

He decided to go back home and call Mrs. Stoddard and just say no. He turned to go back to his car, when Mrs. Johnson suddenly opened the doors. She matter-of-factly informed him that Mrs. Stoddard was waiting for him in the drawing room. Joe sighed and went inside.

"Hello Joe. I really appreciate your coming up here on your day off. I confess this is going to be an awkward conversation about a difficult subject. You'd better sit down and have a brandy."

Liz poured him a glass after checking the supply in the cabinet. I can't believe we're almost out again. Roger must be drinking this like water, she thought.

She handed Joe the glass and sat down on the couch. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to; I'll understand. I am asking you because I don't know where else to turn. Something tragic happened a long, long time ago in this house. I have no idea who it involves, besides someone in the Collins family or why it happened. Nothing can be done about it now except to clean up the results in as respectful a way as possible and to never mention it again. The only ones who know anything about it are Carolyn and I. You must understand we need to be very discreet about this."

Liz got up and stood by the fireplace. "The Collins family has had more than it's share of troubles and I want to protect them from more unpleasantness. I will take full reponsibility for what I'm going to ask you to do."

She looked at Joe's face as he patiently waited. Oh, this is so difficult to say outloud, she thought. I'd better leave the part about Quentin out of what I explain to Joe.

"Well, you know I can keep a secret Mrs. Stoddard, and I'm willing to help you in any way I can. I see that it's something disturbing so you might as well just ask. The sooner we can get it over with and forgotten, the better things will be," Joe said.

Surely she wouldn't ask me to do anything dangerous or illegal, he thought.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked at Joe. "Very recently, Carolyn and I had good reason to check something in the closed off west wing of the house," she began. "We found ourselves in a room that had been undiscovered for years. Believe it or not, there was a skeleton of a man in that room. He didn't look like a Collins."

She looked at Joe to see if he was still with her. "Joe, I honestly don't see what good it would do to bring the authorites into this. Anyone else involved or who would have cared is surely long gone. I just want to take the bones and bury them in the woods in as respectful a way as possible. They aren't heavy, but I really could use your help. I'd go with you to make sure I know where they're buried in case any of this ever gets discovered. I will take full responsibility for this."

Then Elizabeth assured him again. "If you refuse to do this, I'll understand and it won't affect our relationship with you."

Joe took a deep breath and stood up. "Mrs. Stoddard, I'd love to help you and believe me I understand. But if I take time to think about it, I know I'll lose my nerve. Let's just go do it right now and get it over with. I'll need a shovel and something to carry the err...skeleton in. I presume you have picked out an area where we can bury it."

He saw the look of relief and determination on Mrs. Stoddard's face. She was already moving into action as she indicated that he was to follow her.

~ end scene~