In a perfect world, the truth would be out in the open, readily available to be easily found by anyone who was seeking it out. And also, in that perfect world, the truth would always be objective.
But it isn't a perfect world, and the truth isn't always out in the open; sometimes it's hidden ... at times unintentionally, while at other times intentionally ... buried deeply away, making access to it sometimes nearly virtually impossible to discover.
And when you do happen to come across it, unfortunately in most cases, that truth is more likely to be subjective ... tainted and distorted by those who use that version of 'the truth' to benefit their own needs.
Such is the case with that deep, dark secret that the town of Beaver Ridge has been trying to conceal for decades.
Beth Lazinski has set out determined to find out the truth about their new home; but she will soon realize that it isn't going to be an easy task ... in fact, it's going to be quite daunting and frustrating. Because, in order for Beth to 'get to the bottom of things', she's going to have to 'dig through layers of false truths'; and once she finally 'hits bottom', she'll have to 'dig below its surface' if she wants to find out the actual truth.
Now provided with her first clue ... Woodland Falls ... secretly given to her by Delilah; Beth is ready to move forward in her search for finding out the truth behind what's been happening at that house. ...
Again, this is going to be far from easy to achieve.
************
Sometime back in the late 1970's, or possibly the early 1980's ... the actual details have become vaguely blurred over the years ... this is what happens over time when a series of lies are set into motion to cover up the real truth...
A mysterious inferno of a fire raged throughout the original town hall, gutting out the entire building; and destroying every existing, already sealed, file and record related to those incidents that became the town's deepest, darkest secret.
Naturally, the possibility of it being arson was totally ruled out ... the 'powers that be' saw to that.
The 'determined cause' of this fire was deemed to be 'accidental', ignited by a tipped over can of liquid Sterno that rolled into stacked bundles of newspapers stored beside a cabinet of flammable combustibles such as cans of kerosene and gas; aerosol spray paint cans; buckets of paint and lacquers; and other various fume producing items.
And the person blamed for this ... in this case, the perfect scapegoat ... was the onsite janitor, Henry McKeen, who lived in the basement of the building; and was known to frequently imbibe in a drink or two ... dozen. Or, to put it more bluntly, he was a drunkard.
Sadly, old Henry couldn't even attempt to refute this allegation; being how he was killed in the fire.
And with that, it was case closed, and things carried on as if nothing ever happened...
A new town hall was built ... one more conveniently located in the center of town ... while the fire-ravaged, gutted, original town hall building was refurbished into what is currently the Beaver Ridge Public Library.
************
Beth pulls into the library's parking lot and is kind of surprised; and, in all honesty, also a bit impressed. True, it wasn't as big or modern-looking as the libraries she was accustomed to in the cities, but it was a fairly decent-sized building; at least, much bigger than what she had expected for such a remote, small town.
Beth hasn't passed her final judgment of the place yet, because she still hasn't seen the inside. As they say, 'you can't judge a book by its cover'; no library pun intended.
Upon entering, Beth conducts an initial panning-scan of the visible layout of the place. She quickly notices that even though the building's interior is quite spacious, it is sparsely occupied by bookshelves; with even fewer books on them.
Now this was more like what she was expecting. Although at least she can say that the town does have a library; sort of.
Before getting started on her own endeavor, Beth locates and gets Anna situated in the kids' section, which like the rest of the library, doesn't have a huge selection of books; but it should be enough to keep Anna preoccupied while she researches that enigmatically cryptic message of 'Woodland Falls'.
Beth then heads over to the librarians' counter, where a young woman who looks like she's in her late teens ... maybe possibly early twenties ... is sorting through the book return bin.
"Excuse me..." Beth gets her attention as she walks up, "but the library wouldn't happen to have a periodical section, would it? Maybe a microfiche station, or anything like that?"
The young woman stops sorting through the bin and looks at Beth with a clearly baffled expression on her visage...
"'Periodical section'? A 'micro...' what station? What's that? Sorry, I never heard of anything like those."
Beth immediately thinks to herself, 'Yeah, of course; I should have known she probably wouldn't have known what a microfiche viewer was ... it's rare that anyone of the past couple of generations would know ... but come on; she really doesn't know what a periodical section is? I get that newspapers are becoming a 'dying media'; but still.' ...
She suddenly recalls her conversation at the diner with Sheriff Faulkner, and muses to herself. 'Then again, this is a 'podunk' town; what else should I expect."
Beth subtly lets out chuckle under her breath, then says, "Forget about it. I suppose I'll just stick with relying on the card catalog over there. ... Oh, but before I go; you wouldn't happen to know if the library has any information on a Woodland Falls?"
The young woman looks as if she were earnestly thinking for a moment before answering Beth...
"I don't think so; at least not that I know of. Honestly, I never even heard of a Woodland Falls before." Then she offers, "I can go ask Ms. Jenkins if she knows if there's any information on it. She's been the head librarian for ... Oh, hold on, here she comes now."
Ms. Jenkins ... possessing an old-fashioned like, refined and dignified aura about her; appearing more like a stern school Marm' than a librarian ... heads over and stands beside the young woman behind the counter.
"Ms. Jenkins;" the young woman asks, "does the library have any information on a Woodland Falls?"
A sudden disconcerted expression instantly overtakes Ms. Jenkins' countenance for a moment; then, appearing as if she's somewhat regained her composure, she answers, with a subtly faltering inflection in her voice...
"N-no; we have no information about it. There's no such place like that around here."
Those 'red flags' in Beth's head pop up again; and, with her suspicion aroused, asks the head librarian...
"Pardon me, Ms. Jenkins? ... But I never said that Woodland Falls was supposed to be around here; so, just out of curiosity, why would you specifically say that 'there's no such place like that around here'? ... Since you're so sure that there isn't a Woodland Falls around here; does that mean that you at least know of a Woodland Falls somewhere else?"
Ms. Jenkins forces herself to maintain a stoic expression ... trying not to reveal any nervousness or fear, which could possibly give Beth an advantage over her ... while looking over Beth with scrutinizing eyes...
"And just who may you be?"
Beth instantly realizes that this is a diversionary tactic ... to attempt to change the direction of the conversation by asking questions ... it's a strategy that she's used herself on many occasions. But still, she decides to play along...
"I'm Beth Lazinski ... nice to meet you."
Suddenly, that stoic expression transforms into one of revelation; with a subtle conveyance of an underlying disconcertedness...
"Ah yes ... Mrs. Lazinski ... the woman whose family has just moved into the old Howell's residence..."
Ms. Jenkins comes to an abrupt silence as that subtle underlying disconcertedness instantly becomes more prominent, realizing that she has just made an irrecoverable, major slip-of-the-tongue. Beth, with her curiosity instantly piqued, demonstratively raises an eyebrow...
"The old Howell's residence?"
The young woman's curiosity has also been aroused; and she cuts in to ask, "So ... what's the old's Howell's residence?"
Ms. Jenkins curtly snaps out to her, "Never you mind that, Sherry; just get back to returning those books to the shelves."
Beth immediately tells Sherry, "It's that big, four-story Victorian-style farmhouse off of County Route 152 on Milsbridge Road."
Sherry's eyes instantly shoot open wide-eyed, as she shockingly gasps, "Don't tell me you moved into that place?"
Beth's eyebrow raises even further as her curiosity becomes even more piqued. "Yeah; why? What's wrong with that place?"
Ms. Jenkin interjects; again, in a curt manner, "Nothing ... nothing's wrong with that place..." She sharply glares at the young woman with rebuking eyes; while angrily ordering her through gritted teeth, "I told you to get back to your work. Put those books back on the shelves where they belong ... now!"
Sherry ... suddenly looking like a badly scolded dog with its tail tucked between its legs ... instantly scoops up a pile of the sorted books and scurries off from behind the counter; not uttering a single word to Beth as she hurriedly passes by.
Beth looks to Ms. Jenkins and, after quickly noticing that the head librarian is now anxiously wringing her gaunt, wrinkled hands together, displays a subtly smug conveying, 'Cheshire Cat-like" grin...
"So ... Ms. Jenkins ... care to tell me what's wrong with the old Howell's residence?"
"There's nothing wrong with the place ... nothing other than the fact that it's an old, isolated place that has had a quick turnover of different homeowners over the years."
"A 'quick turnover of different homeowners over the years' ... and why is that?"
"How should I know? Like I said, it's an isolated place ... maybe the idea of living out so far away from people in peace and quiet seems like an appealingly tranquil lifestyle at first; but once out there, secluded and alone all the time, the appeal of that isolation fades away."
Beth isn't buying it; not even for a second. And by that uncomfortably nervous expression etched upon Ms. Jenkins' face at the moment, Beth's pretty sure that she doesn't believe that explanation herself either. Beth feels that she'll evidently need to bring up the old Howell's residence with Delilah the next time she sees her. But, in the meantime, as for now...
"Fine then, if you say so ... but how about Woodland Falls? What can you tell me about that?"
Ms. Jenkins instantly becomes a bit indignant, as she curtly snaps, "And just who in the heck do you think you are to keep interrogating me like this?! I already told you that there is no such place as Woodland Falls around here. Why are you so interested in it? ... And who told you about it in the first place, anyway?"
Beth responds with another 'Cheshire Cat-like' grin. "Why I'm so interested in it is my business. And who told me about it is none of your business."
Again, Ms. Jenkins curtly snaps in an indignant manner, "Well, then if that's how it is, our business here is done. ... Now, if you'll excuse me; I have work to get back to. Good day, Mrs. Lazinski."
And with that, Ms. Jenkins hurries off to the back office. Once she slams the door shut behind her, Beth goadingly calls out...
"And a good day to you, too; Ms. Jenkins."
Despite being told that there wasn't anything to be found there, Beth heads off to search the library for any information it may have on Woodland Falls ... and now, the old Howell residence, as well.
Meanwhile, in the librarians' office, an anxiously nervous Ms. Jenkins panics as she frantically makes a phone call...
"Hello, Ruth ... is the mayor in; I really need to talk to him ... now." And after a brief pause to take in a breath. "That woman ... Mrs. Lazinski ... she's here poking around and asking questions."