It was the strangest thing. The minute the Sheriff and his Deputies arrived, the man we knew as René Lenier started babbling on about all the women he had killed and assaulted. He said his real name was Drew Marshall and it had all started when his sister took up with vampires. He told about it in great detail and without a trace of the thick Cajun accent we all knew him for.
I came back after my dinner out with friends and ended up following the police cars down the driveway to my home. It was a nerve-wracking few minutes before I was able to lay eyes on my granddaughter and make sure she was okay. But when I think what might have happened to her if she had not discovered René, I mean, Mr. Marshall's dark secret... I am filled with terror.
And poor Jason. René's name came up often in Jason's stories about Friday nights with friends and funny stories about his job.
"He should hear it from the source rather than from the town gossip." We were all sitting around the table in the dining room while we waited for the officers to finish with their questions. "Would you call him, Sookie? Probably not necessary to go into details over the phone. Just ask him to come over quick as he can and we'll talk to him when he gets here. Thank you, dearie. And we don't want him to make a lot of fuss when he arrives, so if you would intercept him, Eric, I would be most grateful."
"Of course, Adele." He smiled at me then turned toward the door a moment before Deputy Jones escorted Arlene back to us. He addressed the Deputy, "I assume you would like to speak to me next?"
"Uh. Yes, sir." She cleared her throat. "We didn't catch your name, actually."
"Eric Northman. Family friend of the Stackhouse's. Businessman and resident of Shreveport. I was visiting with Sookie when Arlene arrived with her family." Arlene choked on a sob. "If you will excuse us, Adele." He stood and kissed the back of Sookie's hand as she came back in before he guided Kenya out of the room.
Poor Arlene looked about to collapse. Sookie guided her into a chair and she burst into tears. From the streaks down her face, I was pretty certain she had been crying almost constantly since the truth about her beau came out.
We let her to cry some more, just holding her hands. We refilled her supply of water and tissues as needed. Eventually, she looked to me. I could see her looking for hope, for someone to tell her it wasn't true or that at least it would all be alright somehow.
"Sometimes people aren't what we thought they were and sometimes life seems harder than we think we can bear, but I know this: You will be okay. You will make it through this. Those two kids of yours upstairs need you. It wasn't him they looked to, but you. I know it's hard to parent alone. I got Sook and Jason not too long after my beloved Earl went missing. Everybody said terrible things about him and about me, but it didn't matter. I put those kids first and you will do the same for yours. I don't deny it is going to be tough for a little while. People will speak with the Devil's own spite and won't take your own struggle into consideration. Sookie knows better than either of us the selfishness and cruelty people are capable of. But don't forget about all the good we've got too. Those two bright souls up there are your hope on the darkest days. And any time you are in need of a good cry, you come see me. I got two strong shoulders to spare."
Arlene smiled and laughed and cried all at once and I gave her a hug. Over her shoulder, I caught Sookie's eye and she gave me a grateful smile.
Just then, Eric stepped into the doorway. "Excuse me, ladies. Jason is here. May I borrow Sookie for a moment?"
"Sure," Sookie said.
Arlene was staring at Eric as he and Sookie left. She turned back to look at me with a fearful glint in her eyes. "Aren't you afraid of Sookie being with him?" She said in an urgent whisper. "He's a vampire! He could hurt her! Kill her!" Her tears began to fall again.
"I am quite certain that Mr. Northman is the most dangerous being any of us have ever met and probably ever will, God willing. I've also never been more grateful for anything, save my children and grandbabies, than the day that Sookie met Eric."