The Falwell House
Friday. July 2, 1982
A little after 11:00 AM
Shelley was glad to have her keys back, but of course she couldn’t use them yet. Her car was still at Gary’s house, so she had to continue being Felicia’s passenger for now. They were on their way to the house of the Falwell family, the same house where she and Felicia had witnessed the standoff between Mouse and the police the night before, culminating in Mouse’s arrest. They hadn’t been able to interview the family at the time, but they hoped to do so this morning. As Felicia had pointed out, Shelley and Lana Falwell had something in common: they’d both been kidnapped by Mouse. Shelley hoped that that common ground would work to their advantage in seeking an interview with the Falwells.
Shelley’s thoughts wandered back to the keys, and the red tape she’d had to go through to get them back. Not being a lawyer, Shelley wasn’t very familiar with the legal concept of the evidentiary chain of custody, but she supposed the fact that the police had found her keys on Mouse was pretty convincing evidence that he had stolen them, and also (if a little more indirectly) that he had been involved in her kidnapping. That led her to start thinking about Mouse’s court case, and what it would mean for her. She realized that at some point she was going to have to appear in court as a witness and give her testimony against Mouse and any of the others that were apprehended. She had kind of known all along in the back of her head that that would be the case, but she hadn’t really consciously thought about it until now. She was sure it was going to be an unpleasant experience and she wasn’t looking forward to it, but it was her duty, and she would do what was needed to help the prosecutors convict those who had victimized her and her friends. Did she need to worry about the other car thieves who were still on the loose trying to stop her from testifying? That was a worrisome idea.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Falwell house, and Felicia was able to park much closer now that the area around the house wasn’t barricaded off. When she and Felicia arrived at the front door, Shelley pressed the doorbell. After a few seconds they heard a male voice say “Who is it?” although the door didn’t open.
“Hi! My name is Shelley Higgins, and I’m here with Felicia Jackson. We’re with the Teal Cove Chronicle. You may have heard my name on the news lately; I’m the reporter who was held hostage a couple of nights ago by that car theft ring your attacker was part of, along with some of my friends. I was wondering if we could talk?”
*tags*
Friday. July 2, 1982
A little after 11:00 AM
Shelley was glad to have her keys back, but of course she couldn’t use them yet. Her car was still at Gary’s house, so she had to continue being Felicia’s passenger for now. They were on their way to the house of the Falwell family, the same house where she and Felicia had witnessed the standoff between Mouse and the police the night before, culminating in Mouse’s arrest. They hadn’t been able to interview the family at the time, but they hoped to do so this morning. As Felicia had pointed out, Shelley and Lana Falwell had something in common: they’d both been kidnapped by Mouse. Shelley hoped that that common ground would work to their advantage in seeking an interview with the Falwells.
Shelley’s thoughts wandered back to the keys, and the red tape she’d had to go through to get them back. Not being a lawyer, Shelley wasn’t very familiar with the legal concept of the evidentiary chain of custody, but she supposed the fact that the police had found her keys on Mouse was pretty convincing evidence that he had stolen them, and also (if a little more indirectly) that he had been involved in her kidnapping. That led her to start thinking about Mouse’s court case, and what it would mean for her. She realized that at some point she was going to have to appear in court as a witness and give her testimony against Mouse and any of the others that were apprehended. She had kind of known all along in the back of her head that that would be the case, but she hadn’t really consciously thought about it until now. She was sure it was going to be an unpleasant experience and she wasn’t looking forward to it, but it was her duty, and she would do what was needed to help the prosecutors convict those who had victimized her and her friends. Did she need to worry about the other car thieves who were still on the loose trying to stop her from testifying? That was a worrisome idea.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Falwell house, and Felicia was able to park much closer now that the area around the house wasn’t barricaded off. When she and Felicia arrived at the front door, Shelley pressed the doorbell. After a few seconds they heard a male voice say “Who is it?” although the door didn’t open.
“Hi! My name is Shelley Higgins, and I’m here with Felicia Jackson. We’re with the Teal Cove Chronicle. You may have heard my name on the news lately; I’m the reporter who was held hostage a couple of nights ago by that car theft ring your attacker was part of, along with some of my friends. I was wondering if we could talk?”
*tags*
After talking to the cop at the front desk, Felicia and Shelley headed straight to the Falwell residence. There was no police presence and all of the crime scene tape and barricades had been removed. To Felicia's surprise, there were not any signs of any reporters swarming the house. It was if nothing had happened at all.
Felicia parked in front of the house and followed a few steps behind Miss Higgins as she approached the front door and rang the bell. Felicia tensed up for a moment. She expected the family to be upset at this invasion of their privacy. A voiced called through the door to them and Miss Higgins quickly explained who they were. Felicia braced as they door unlocked and opened, certain the doctor was going to yell at them to leave the family alone.
Instead, he invited the pair inside. "Yes, please come in," he said without hesitation.
"Who is it," A woman called from deeper in the house.
"Someone from The Chronicle is here to speak to us," Dr. Falwell replied. "Can you see if Lana is up to speaking with them?"
He directed the two reporters to the living room and invited them to take a seat. "Can I get you anything to drink," he inquired. Felicia shook her head no and glanced to Shelley.
A moment later, the mother and daughter appeared.
"You're one of the ones that was kidnapped by the car theft gang," Lana said immediately when she saw Shelley. "I saw you on the news the other night. Who knew the same thing would happen to me 24 hours by the same guy..."
Felicia parked in front of the house and followed a few steps behind Miss Higgins as she approached the front door and rang the bell. Felicia tensed up for a moment. She expected the family to be upset at this invasion of their privacy. A voiced called through the door to them and Miss Higgins quickly explained who they were. Felicia braced as they door unlocked and opened, certain the doctor was going to yell at them to leave the family alone.
Instead, he invited the pair inside. "Yes, please come in," he said without hesitation.
"Who is it," A woman called from deeper in the house.
"Someone from The Chronicle is here to speak to us," Dr. Falwell replied. "Can you see if Lana is up to speaking with them?"
He directed the two reporters to the living room and invited them to take a seat. "Can I get you anything to drink," he inquired. Felicia shook her head no and glanced to Shelley.
A moment later, the mother and daughter appeared.
"You're one of the ones that was kidnapped by the car theft gang," Lana said immediately when she saw Shelley. "I saw you on the news the other night. Who knew the same thing would happen to me 24 hours by the same guy..."
Shelley shared Felicia’s worry that Dr. Falwell would send them away. Instead, he invited the pair inside. "Yes, please come in," he said without hesitation.
"Who is it," A woman called from deeper in the house.
"Someone from The Chronicle is here to speak to us," Dr. Falwell replied. "Can you see if Lana is up to speaking with them?"
He directed the two reporters to the living room and invited them to take a seat. "Can I get you anything to drink," he inquired. Felicia shook her head no and glanced to Shelley.
“Oh, no, thank you,” Shelley said with a warm smile as she took a seat on the sofa. “I really appreciate you all giving us some of your time,” she said, taking care to avoid using the word “yinz”.
A moment later, the mother and daughter appeared.
"You're one of the ones that was kidnapped by the car theft gang," Lana said immediately when she saw Shelley. "I saw you on the news the other night. Who knew the same thing would happen to me 24 hours later by the same guy..."
“Yes, I am,” Shelley confirmed. She rose to her feet and extended a hand in greeting. As she did so, she realized the abrasions the rope had left on her wrist were still slightly visible, and she hoped the sight of them wouldn’t upset Lana. But the Falwells all seemed to be in fairly good spirits considering what had happened to them.
“My name is Shelley Higgins, but I guess you already know that,” she said, and then added, “You can just call me Shelley.” She wanted to keep things rather informal, feeling that their interaction with the Falwells would be most productive as a friendly conversation rather than a formal interview. “I wish this hadn’t happened to you. To any of us,” she added, making eye contact with Lana’s parents as well to let them know they were all included in that sentiment. Shelley motioned to Felicia and said, “This is my friend Felicia, who works with me at the Chronicle. She wasn’t one of the ones who got kidnapped, but she and I have been working together to cover the car theft ring and its aftermath.”
*Tags*
"Who is it," A woman called from deeper in the house.
"Someone from The Chronicle is here to speak to us," Dr. Falwell replied. "Can you see if Lana is up to speaking with them?"
He directed the two reporters to the living room and invited them to take a seat. "Can I get you anything to drink," he inquired. Felicia shook her head no and glanced to Shelley.
“Oh, no, thank you,” Shelley said with a warm smile as she took a seat on the sofa. “I really appreciate you all giving us some of your time,” she said, taking care to avoid using the word “yinz”.
A moment later, the mother and daughter appeared.
"You're one of the ones that was kidnapped by the car theft gang," Lana said immediately when she saw Shelley. "I saw you on the news the other night. Who knew the same thing would happen to me 24 hours later by the same guy..."
“Yes, I am,” Shelley confirmed. She rose to her feet and extended a hand in greeting. As she did so, she realized the abrasions the rope had left on her wrist were still slightly visible, and she hoped the sight of them wouldn’t upset Lana. But the Falwells all seemed to be in fairly good spirits considering what had happened to them.
“My name is Shelley Higgins, but I guess you already know that,” she said, and then added, “You can just call me Shelley.” She wanted to keep things rather informal, feeling that their interaction with the Falwells would be most productive as a friendly conversation rather than a formal interview. “I wish this hadn’t happened to you. To any of us,” she added, making eye contact with Lana’s parents as well to let them know they were all included in that sentiment. Shelley motioned to Felicia and said, “This is my friend Felicia, who works with me at the Chronicle. She wasn’t one of the ones who got kidnapped, but she and I have been working together to cover the car theft ring and its aftermath.”
*Tags*
"You're one of the ones that was kidnapped by the car theft gang," Lana said immediately when she saw Shelley. "I saw you on the news the other night. Who knew the same thing would happen to me 24 hours later by the same guy..."
“Yes, I am,” Shelley confirmed. She rose to her feet and extended a hand in greeting. As she did so, she realized the abrasions the rope had left on her wrist were still slightly visible, and she hoped the sight of them wouldn’t upset Lana. But the Falwells all seemed to be in fairly good spirits considering what had happened to them.
Shelley noticed similar red marks around Lana’s wrists. It was mostly redness as opposed to bruising. Perhaps that was because Mouse had mainly used duct tape on her and her parents where Shelley and her friends had been bound with rope.
“My name is Shelley Higgins, but I guess you already know that,” she said, and then added, “You can just call me Shelley.” She wanted to keep things rather informal, feeling that their interaction with the Falwells would be most productive as a friendly conversation rather than a formal interview. “I wish this hadn’t happened to you. To any of us,” she added, making eye contact with Lana’s parents as well to let them know they were all included in that sentiment. Shelley motioned to Felicia and said, “This is my friend Felicia, who works with me at the Chronicle. She wasn’t one of the ones who got kidnapped, but she and I have been working together to cover the car theft ring and its aftermath.”
Felicia was surprised at the way Miss Higgins introduced her as ‘her friend’ as opposed to her colleague or as a fellow employee of the paper. Was this for show or did she really think they were friends? Perhaps it was trying to make it feel more like a conversation than a formal interview. Felicia hoped her face hadn’t shown any reaction.
Felicia nodded politely. “Mind if I tape this,” she asked. “We just want to make sure we get everything right and don’t misquote anyone.”
“No, not at all,” Lana said cutting her eyes to her parents.
“I’m fine with it,” her mother said.
“Me too,” The doctor added. “Did you want to speak to all of us or just Lana?”
Felicia set her tape recorder on the coffee table, pressing both play and record before looking back up at the Dr. Falwell.
“The whole family if you don’t mind,” Felicia answered quickly. It was more of a reaction than an attempt to underscore Shelley or to come off as taking charge. However, she cut her eyes to Shelley to let her take the lead on the questions. The fact these two had had similar experiences from the same man gave them a connection point. The girl was likely to trust Miss Higgins more. The family made themselves comfortable.
“So, do you go to the other high school,” Lana asked referring to Teal Cove High, the school the members of Threat of Invasion attended.
“I graduated from TC High last year,” Felicia offered. She glanced to Miss Higgins so she could answer the question for herself.
*Tag*
“Yes, I am,” Shelley confirmed. She rose to her feet and extended a hand in greeting. As she did so, she realized the abrasions the rope had left on her wrist were still slightly visible, and she hoped the sight of them wouldn’t upset Lana. But the Falwells all seemed to be in fairly good spirits considering what had happened to them.
Shelley noticed similar red marks around Lana’s wrists. It was mostly redness as opposed to bruising. Perhaps that was because Mouse had mainly used duct tape on her and her parents where Shelley and her friends had been bound with rope.
“My name is Shelley Higgins, but I guess you already know that,” she said, and then added, “You can just call me Shelley.” She wanted to keep things rather informal, feeling that their interaction with the Falwells would be most productive as a friendly conversation rather than a formal interview. “I wish this hadn’t happened to you. To any of us,” she added, making eye contact with Lana’s parents as well to let them know they were all included in that sentiment. Shelley motioned to Felicia and said, “This is my friend Felicia, who works with me at the Chronicle. She wasn’t one of the ones who got kidnapped, but she and I have been working together to cover the car theft ring and its aftermath.”
Felicia was surprised at the way Miss Higgins introduced her as ‘her friend’ as opposed to her colleague or as a fellow employee of the paper. Was this for show or did she really think they were friends? Perhaps it was trying to make it feel more like a conversation than a formal interview. Felicia hoped her face hadn’t shown any reaction.
Felicia nodded politely. “Mind if I tape this,” she asked. “We just want to make sure we get everything right and don’t misquote anyone.”
“No, not at all,” Lana said cutting her eyes to her parents.
“I’m fine with it,” her mother said.
“Me too,” The doctor added. “Did you want to speak to all of us or just Lana?”
Felicia set her tape recorder on the coffee table, pressing both play and record before looking back up at the Dr. Falwell.
“The whole family if you don’t mind,” Felicia answered quickly. It was more of a reaction than an attempt to underscore Shelley or to come off as taking charge. However, she cut her eyes to Shelley to let her take the lead on the questions. The fact these two had had similar experiences from the same man gave them a connection point. The girl was likely to trust Miss Higgins more. The family made themselves comfortable.
“So, do you go to the other high school,” Lana asked referring to Teal Cove High, the school the members of Threat of Invasion attended.
“I graduated from TC High last year,” Felicia offered. She glanced to Miss Higgins so she could answer the question for herself.
*Tag*
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