A Shred of Evidence (41 page)
“Are you saying Billy Lewis was trying to protect Sarah Beth?”
“Why don’t we just wait for the
facts
for a change? If you’ll excuse me, I need to be with Billy.”
“Thank you for talking with us, Mr. Jameson. Well, folks, one thing is certain: whatever the fate of Billy and Lisa Lewis, WRGL News will be on top of the story, bringing you breaking news as it happens.”
Ellen watched as Billy and Lisa were led away in handcuffs, looking scared and confused. She was deeply troubled and prayed for them, almost certain that Ned Norton already had.
39L
ate the next morning, Police Chief Will Seevers, Special Agent Bryce Moore, and Investigator Al Backus sat at the round table in Will’s office, listening to Special Agent Newt Clifford’s analysis of Billy and Lisa Lewis.
“By all indications,” Newt said, “these are two very honest kids who are surprisingly well-adjusted, considering their mental limitations. I’m convinced they’re telling the truth and that they acted alone.”
“Did they know that taking Sarah Beth out of her home was wrong?” Bryce said.
“Not in the traditional sense. It never even occurred to Billy not to leave fingerprints when he opened the window. With their limited capacity to understand the law, they did what they thought was right and moral—to protect Sarah Beth from an abusive father. This was a costly decision, all legalities aside.”
“What do you mean?” Will said.
“For one thing, they were ill-equipped to take care of a two-year-old. Lisa went to the thrift store at the Methodist Church and bought clothes for Sarah Beth—but not enough, and she was constantly washing them out by hand and could barely get them dry before she needed them again. Plus, they don’t own a TV or a DVD or video player. They had no kids’ music, no toys, no books. They literally entertained this child all day long.”
“Most
parents
couldn’t handle that,” Al said.
Newt raised his eyebrows. “No kidding. Billy started being late for work because he was trying to help Lisa with Sarah Beth.
They couldn’t afford diapers, and after a couple days of them cleaning up messes, she pretty much potty trained herself.”
Will shook his head. “It’s a wonder they didn’t turn
themselves
in. Can you imagine this kind of pressure on someone whose reasoning ability is that of an eight-year-old?”
“I think that’s the point I’m trying to make,” Newt said. “Billy and Lisa’s desire to save a child from being abused was more important in their minds than the hardships. That goes to intent. No judge in his right mind would allow these two to be convicted of a crime. They’re simply not criminals.”
“Are we supposed to just let them go?” Bryce said. “What’s to stop them from breaking the law again when they don’t understand it?”
“In my professional opinion, we treat them as we would any elementary-age child that makes a mistake. We explain why what they did was wrong and teach them to act more responsibly next time. And we make sure they have adequate supervision. I think both sets of parents learned a valuable lesson.”
“Speaking of parents,” Will said, “did we hear any more about how Chet Lewis is doing?”
Al nodded. “The heart attack was mild. Not much damage. He’ll be fine.”
Julie Hamilton sat in the living room and stared at the sight of Sarah Beth asleep in Ross’s arms. It seemed almost incomprehensible that their daughter was home again. Julie heard the phone ring and hurried out to the kitchen.
“Hello.”
“Hi, it’s Ellen. I was out when you called. I’ve been out of my mind wanting to talk to you! I watched everything live on TV I’m ecstatic for you—simply overjoyed! I’ve been thanking and praising the Lord all day.”
“Me, too. I still can’t believe it. I can hardly take my eyes off her.”
“Understandably So she’s all right?”
“Better than all right,” Julie said. “The Lewises took good care of her. She’s even learned some new songs. And would you believe she’s potty trained?”
“You’re kidding?”
“I’d sure like to know how they did it. Truthfully, other than crying and being overwhelmed when she first saw us, and being a little clingy, you’d never know she’d been through anything. She doesn’t even want her blanky. We put her in bed with us last night, and she slept like a baby. I was almost afraid to close my eyes, as if I needed to stand guard or something. I don’t want to let her out of my sight.”
“Hopefully, that will pass quickly,” Ellen said.
“First thing this morning, we took her to a doctor that DCF recommended. He said she didn’t lose any weight and shows no sign of having been abused, physically or emotionally.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. So what’s going to happen to Billy and Lisa?”
“I don’t know,” Julie said. “Sarah Beth keeps asking us where they went. I think she misses them. Certainly what they did was wrong. But they told the authorities the reason they snuck Sarah Beth out of the house was because Eddie told Billy that Ross was hurting Sarah Beth and the police couldn’t protect her. Maybe the person they ought to throw in jail is Eddie Drummond. I sure hope people learn something from this.”
“So do I, my friend. It’s been humbling for me. I so misjudged Ross. It’s going to take me a long time to get past it.”
“Well, at least you weren’t out spreading the gossip.”
“You’re too easy on me, Julie. All of us had a part in this because we let ourselves get caught up in the he-said she-saids. Had we not jumped to conclusions, none of this would’ve happened. I’m just so grateful that Sarah Beth is home safe and sound.”
40L
ate Friday night, Ellen Jones sat in the widow’s watch, reliving the events of the past eight days and trying to assimilate what she had learned.
She was struck by the contrast between the comments made on camera by Valerie Mink Hodges and those of Gordy Jameson. She contemplated calling Valerie again and expressing her disapproval of the woman’s professional ethics, then decided against it. Valerie was on a mission to make a name for herself, and nothing was going to dissuade her.
Ellen couldn’t erase the image of a bewildered Billy and Lisa being led away in handcuffs, or the total trust in Sarah Beth’s demeanor when they led her across the clearing to be reunited with her parents.
She turned on her laptop and let her fingers record the thoughts that were racing through her mind.
As a former newspaper editor, I am awed by the inestimable power of words, and how a mere twenty-six letters of the English alphabet give us infinite potential for communicating anything the human mind can conceive.
However, one immutable fact about words is that once they have been shared, we cannot effectively take them back.
Countless careless words have been circulated in this community during the Hamilton ordeal. And they’re
heavy on my heart, not only because I’ve come to know and respect Julie and Ross Hamilton, but because I, too, have spoken irresponsibly in judging Ross guilty without having a shred of evidence. How reckless it was for me to read that article by reporter Valerie Mink Hodges and then make assumptions about Ross Hamilton’s guilt based on her “implications,” and not the collective evidence compiled by the Biloxi police department.
And choosing to believe those implications made it easy for me to believe the abuse allegations about Ross that I had overheard someone telling someone else—gossip that nearly destroyed an innocent man.
Ironically, I have recently fallen victim to gossip myself, and experienced firsthand the helpless condition of a person falsely accused. Though I despise the embarrassment, humiliation, and unfairness, I’m choosing to embrace the experience and pray that I will never again choose to sample the choice morsels of juicy gossip or prejudge a person’s guilt or innocence.
I was impressed with Gordy Jameson, who had the courage to stand in front of the TV cameras following Sarah Beth Hamilton’s rescue and speak words that few of us would have had the courage to say.
Gordy said that we should all be angry, that the accusations made against Ross Hamilton were untrue and hurtful. And shame on us for falling for it. He went on to say he didn’t blame just the media. That if we had all kept our opinions to ourselves until we had the facts, maybe a sweet young man like Billy Lewis wouldn’t have felt compelled to protect a child that didn’t need protecting.
I’m grateful that Sarah Beth Hamilton has been reunited with her parents—and so very sad that two people as innocent and caring as Billy and Lisa Lewis ultimately will pay for the sins of everyone else.
In spite of my disillusionment, for the first time in the fourteen months I’ve lived in Seaport, I feel emotional ties to this community Perhaps it’s because I’ve been part of the problem and would now very much like to be part of the solution.
I can only hope there are others who feel the way I do, and that together we will work to ensure that every citizen is treated with respect and dignity, and afforded the fairness of due process.
Ellen reread what she had typed and then printed it. She turned off the laptop, only her eyelids heavier than her heart, and wondered how long it would be before the sadness left her.
She heard footsteps ascending the winding staircase and then the door open.
“Honey, what are you doing up?” Guy said.
“My mind was on overload. I figured the only way I was going to get any sleep was to write down my thoughts.”
Guy picked up the paper she had printed. “Is this what you wrote?”
She nodded, stifling a yawn.
“This is great, Ellen. You ought to submit it to Speaking Out.”
“It’s just my private thoughts.” She yawned again and could hardly keep her eyes focused.
“Let’s get you back to bed.” Guy pulled her to her feet. “Seriously, unless you object, I’d like to send this in to the newspaper. I think people would benefit from what you had to say.”
“Whatever you think …” Ellen nodded off for a second and then jumped, her hands gripping tightly to Guy’s pajama top.
He chuckled. “If we wait much longer, I’ll have to carry you downstairs.”