“Molly? Assaulted....she assaulted a child?” Lionel asked, now very confused. He leaned back in his seat, stunned. The only time she had ever struck a child was when Scotty wouldn't mind her. Then he remembered the day his daughter had left, he knew Molly had slapped her a couple of times, but that was at home and not some stranger. “What happened?”

“Well, we have some questions and we need some answers to fill in the blanks.” Deputy Cooley said.

“Okay. I answer what I can.”

The deputy opened up a small note pad. “First of all, has your wife had any contact with a woman named Maggie Patterson, or her child, Troy?”

Edited by Djkauf

This time I focus on Molly Hallmark,and her children. Tracy shall be back next post.

February 7th 1983

Lionel Hallmark sat at the desk in his office, working over the accounts and making sure everything was up to date. His work was interrupted when someone knocked at his office door. He looked up to see a secretary for his department standing there and two Sheriff’s deputies behind her. A mix of confusion and fear began to dance in his mind. He could only expect that there had been a problem and Molly had been hurt while doing her errands, or problems at school and the boys were hurt. He knew if it concerned his eldest, the daughter his wife refused to talk to or about, his brother would have called him. He waved at the secretary and she opened up the door..

“Mr. Hallmark? These officers want to talk to you.”

“Send them in.” He said, standing up.

“Mr. Hallmark? I'm Deputy Cooley of the Butte County Sheriff’s department. This is Deputy Combs. We're here concerning your wife, Molly Hallmark.”

“Oh God.” He whispered. His mind went into overdrive and he fell back into his seat. He had never received a visit from any law officer that wasn't a bad one, so his mind went for the worst. “Was there a wreck? Did she get hurt somewhere? Is she at the hospital?”

“Mr. Hallmark, please, slow down. I assure you there was no accident or anything like that. I can tell you that there was an altercation between your wife and a trio of children. When we got on the scene, your wife had just assaulted three children and we had to arrest her.”

“Molly? Assaulted....she assaulted a child?” Lionel asked, now very confused. He leaned back in his seat, stunned. The only time she had ever struck a child was when Scotty wouldn't mind her. Then he remembered the day his daughter had left, he knew Molly had slapped her a couple of times, but that was at home and not some stranger. “What happened?”

“Well, we have some questions and we need some answers to fill in the blanks.” Deputy Cooley said.

“Okay. I answer what I can.”

The deputy opened up a small note pad. “First of all, has your wife had any contact with a woman named Maggie Patterson, or her child, Troy?”

Lionel slumped his shoulders. He mentally kicked himself for not stopping her. He knew she could get bothered by gays and the way she had been ranting on the phone to her friends about Troy should have worried him, but he figured it would blow over. He didn't want to lie, for fear of going to jail, so he went with the truth. “Yes. My son brought home a picture of Troy about two weeks ago and Molly wasn't happy with it. I know she went to the Patterson home with ladies from the church to make sure that Troy wasn't a threat to other children in the town, but she told me that Maggie threw her out and was quite combative.”

“Picture?” The younger of the officers asked.

“Yeah, someone took pictures of the Pattersons and it's gotten bad.” The older of the two looked at Mr. Hallmark. “The picture you had was just the tip of the iceberg. Someone was sending them to the Patterson's work place and to the home, plus they left them at the school and sent them to different homes, all with threats on them. Are you aware that at least four people have gone on record saying that on that day your wife went to their home, she threatened to run the Patterson family out of town, no matter what?”

Lionel raised his eyebrows in surprise as he sank into his seat. “No. She never told me that.” He began to think of how worked up she had been four years earlier and he could only see troubles ahead for Maggie and her family.

“Mr. Hallmark, do you know a Billy O'Brien?”

Lionel thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “No, the name doesn't sound familiar.”

“You may not be aware of this, but your wife has been questioned once before, by a different deputy. We will have to make sure there is no connection between your family and the O'Brien's and Millett's, because there have been previous threats towards the Patterson family over these pictures.”

Lionel shook his head in dismay. He wasn't sure what to do, if he could do anything. “Tell me, how badly did she hurt the children?”

“Well, one of our deputies is with them now, but it looked like bruises mostly and a big scare, but when she tried to separate the children, one was thrown into a candy rack and her sister was shoved to the floor. The younger of the two girls is almost six years old. From what your wife insisted, Troy was molesting those girls, but they were in a busy gas station and no one there saw Troy or those girls acting improperly. In fact several of the people only knew there were kids in the store, when your wife attacked them.”

“Is she in jail now? Can I post her bail or anything?”

“We have deputies taking her to County Mental health to make sure that she is sound because she was ranting and screaming at the child.”

“Would I be able to see her?” He asked.

Deputy Combs looked to his partner, who had dealt with the mental health facility more then he had. Deputy Cooley shook his head. “Maybe not. Usually the group in Chico wants a day or two to interview the patients and make sure that intimate family will not cause an outburst.” He pulled out a card and handed it to Mr. Hallmark. “But call that number. I have no doubt they will want to talk to you as well. You may know something that could help with her time there. You could try calling today, but I'm not sure when they'll be able to interview her.”

“Are there any charges being filed?”

Deputy Cooley nodded. “Yes. Because of the ages and the fact that your wife made two attempts to get to Troy Patterson, plus shoving the girl into the candy rack, both of the parents are pressing assault charges.”

“Does that mean jail time?”

“It could. You would have to talk to the District Attorney to figure out what could happen.”

“Okay. I'll see about contacting our lawyer for her.”

~o~O~o~

Lionel had made a quick call and made sure that the usual babysitter could go to the house and make sure the boys didn't get into trouble. He had no way of leaving work two hours early. Then he looked up the number for the Butte County Mental health in Chico. It only took a ring or two for someone to pick up the phone.

“Excuse me, My name is Lionel Hallmark and I was calling about my wife, Molly Hallmark. I hear she was taken there earlier this afternoon?”

“Ah, one moment please.” The voice said. After a moment or two, he heard someone pick up the phone.

“Hello, I am Doctor Knowles, is this Lionel Hallmark?”

“It is.” He replied. “I heard my wife was taken there?”

“Yes Sir. She is here right now, but we haven't had a chance to interview her yet.” The doctor replied.

“So when is the soonest I can see her?” Lionel asked.

“Give us a day. We have a seventy-two hour observation period and I would like to calm her down. If you can bring over some clothes, maybe we can have you visit her tomorrow.”

Lionel nodded then wrote out a quick note to take clothes. “You'll allow street clothes?”

“Yes, as long as it's not vulgar or suggestive.”

“No, none of her clothes are like that. Jewelry?”

“No, no jewelry is allowed except earrings, but even then, we try to keep our patients from wearing those. We do have what she was wearing in our safe, so there isn't a theft problem.”

Lionel nodded again and noted the jewelry rule. “Can I bring our children with us?”

“I'd like to observe just you with her first. With her attacking children, I need to make sure that all children, even your own, are safe.”

Again he made another note and a part of him wondered how he could get to Chico and not take the boys, or how to keep this from them. “Okay. Could I go there after work tomorrow? I do work until five.”

“Well, our normal visiting hours end at six, but we may extend it for you, just this once.” The Doctor said. “I also would like to speak to you. Sometimes the loved ones can bring in an interesting perspective that we don't get from the patient.”

“Okay. Well, I'll see about leaving work early then. That way I can get to the house....” Lionel paused and then asked. “Should I tell the boys?”

“I can't answer that, but I can say they could resent you if you hide this for too long. You could tell then she is under some stress and in currently not feeling well, which may be an accurate statement. But for now, you could tell them she is in a hospital. That is also true.”

“Okay. Thank you Doctor.”

~o~O~o~

Lionel got to the house and found his kids sitting at the table, while the girl from down the road cooked dinner. “Dad!” Robbie exclaimed as he shot out of his chair and ran over to hug his father. “Where is Mom? Is she sick or something?

“Your mom isn't feeling well right now...” He paused for a moment, and decided to go with what the doctor suggested. “She's at a hospital, getting some rest.”

Robbie interrupted his father before he could continue. “Can we go see her?”

Lionel shook his head. “Not yet. The doctors want her to relax a little bit, before she has visitors.”

“Oh.” Robbie said and he seemed to deflate a bit. Lionel felt bad about not telling him the whole truth, but even he didn't know the whole truth.

He went to his room and changed, headed back to the kitchen. He was quiet through dinner, then he had the boys do the dishes as he walked Marcy to the door. As they stepped out. The teen turned to him and asked. “Why did she do it?”

“What?” Came the intelligent response from Mr. Hallmark.

“My Dad was at the store. He said Mrs. Hallmark was yelling and screaming that some little kid was raping two girls in public. Said she was crazy and trying to attack anyone who got in the way.”

“I don't know, Marcy.” Lionel honestly replied. “I really don't know, but can you keep this a secret? Till we figure out what happened? The boys don't need to know this. And could you ask your father to not say anything? I don't need the boys being picked on at school for this.”

“I'll tell him. He's not one for gossip anyway, he only told me when you called to watch the boys.”

“Okay. Well you get home and I do need your help tomorrow too, okay?”

“Sure. I don't mind watching the boys.”

~o~O~o~

February 8th 1983

Scotty and Robbie broke off from the other kids that got off at their bus stop as they reached their gated driveway. The two boys waved to their neighbor, who was sitting on her porch, watching the kids return from school, like she always did. Robbie picked up the newspaper that sat in the paper box, then he pulled out the mail from the mail box and the two boys headed to the house.

“I wonder if we can see Mom today.”

“Who knows.” Scotty replied. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“I'm gonna change.” Robbie said as he put the paper and mail on the counter and he headed off for the bedroom. Scotty picked up the paper and began rummaging though it for the comic section. The boys knew that they had to get to it before their father, or the paper would disappear and they'd never get to see the funny pages.

Scotty looked at the front page article about an attack at a local gas station. He was about to flip the paper to the comics section when he caught a name that made him stop. He straightened out the paper and read it again. “Molly Hallmark.” He started at the top of the article and read down, seeing how she was arrested for assaulting a minor in public.

“Can I have the comics, please?” He heard his brother ask as the younger boy walked down the hall and Scotty quickly folded the paper to hide the article and handed his brother the comics section. He wasn't sure why he hid it, but now his mind was really starting to question what was going on.

~o~O~o~

Scotty had been trying to catch his father alone, as Lionel rounded up some clothes for his wife, but Robbie stayed in the room. Even when the babysitter called them for dinner, the younger boy stayed, till Lionel sent them to the kitchen. Scotty held back and waited for his Dad to step out of the house, and he followed.

“Dad?” Scotty asked as he followed his Dad to the car, holding the newspaper under his arm. “Where is mom, really?”

“I told you, she's in the hospital because she isn't feeling well.” Lionel said. He was about to get in the car and he paused. Scotty had never been on the best of terms with his mother, he was a daddy's boy. So he wondered where the concern came from. “Why?”

Scotty opened up the newspaper and unfolded it to show his father the article. “I saw this in the paper today. “ His dad scanned the story then he shook his head.

“Oh no.” Lionel uttered. He was sure the calls would start coming in from all the people in church, wondering what happened. “Has Robbie seen this? You know how much he adores your mother.”

“No. I...I hid it from him and just let him take the comic section.” Scotty replied.

“Okay. I'll let you know.” Lionel sighed. “I am taking clothes to your mother, but for right now, she's not in county jail. She's being checked out at county mental health.”

“The funny farm?”

Lionel nodded, but didn't correct his son. “Yeah. I was given permission to see her today, and the doctor wanted to talk to me.”

“What about us?”

Lionel shrugged. “We'll see. For now, they want to limit the amount of time she has with children. But do me a favor and make sure that Robbie doesn't find out. When I get home, I'll talk to both of you tonight, I promise.”

“Dad, why did she do it?” Scotty asked. “I mean it says she attacked a kid in public, possibly two. Why?”

“I don't know. But I'll find out.” Lionel said. “But for now, go get some dinner and I'll tell Robbie when I get home.”

~o~O~o~

Lionel stopped at the door, with the suitcase in hand. After ringing the bell, a man came over and used a two way system to find out who he was. He was let in, but they went to a desk first and the people opened up the suitcase, and checked through it, informing him they had to make sure that it was just clothes and not something that could be made into a weapon.

A moment or two later, a Doctor came over and held out a hand. “Mister Hallmark?”

“Yes...Doctor Knowles?” He asked as he shook the Doctor's hand.

“Yes. No doubt you wish to see your wife, but could I speak to you first. She's currently having dinner in the main cafeteria.”

“Has this been a problem before?” The Doctor asked. “An open conflict with people in public? I was informed she was yelling that the child would rape other kids?”

“No, that I recall. I mean she has spanked the boys, but only when they did something really bad. She's never....” He said, then trailed off as he recalled the ladies at the church. “Wait. There was a pair of ladies that went to church with us and Molly was a little on edge and did her best to get them to leave. But to be honest, I just thought they lived together. I didn't know if there was any relationship going on.”

“Could you explain that for me? What happened?”

“There were two women who went to our church about four or five years ago. They had both separated from their husbands and moved in together. I thought they were just living together to save money on bills. But Molly insisted that they were closer than that and living in sin. She was quite vocal against them and she did her best to get them to leave the church. She kept saying the children were in danger. Last I knew the ladies left town, but I don't know where they went to. But she never openly beat someone.”

“She was put in here for assaulting a child, but to be honest, she hasn't given me much information to work on. I can see her trying her best to not get mad, but it is still there.”

Lionel leaned back and shook his head. “From what I heard, I know the child she attacked. See, there was a picture that went around our son's school and Molly saw it. To say the least, Molly has never liked Gay and lesbians.”

"What was the picture of?”

“It was of a boy who used to go to our church and that family left when Molly helped run the two ladies out. But the boy was in a dress. I don't understand why she did anything. It was just a boy in a dress. We haven't even talked to that family in years...well, I haven't.”

“What do you mean by that?” The Doctor asked.

“Well, my son brought the picture home and showed it to Molly and me. Molly took control of the situation and told Robbie and Scotty to never talk to the boy or his brother again. But then I heard that she went to the Patterson house that Saturday and from what Molly Said, Maggie was hostile and threw her out of the house. But to be honest, I'm starting to second guess a lot of what Molly has said. I mean if someone came to our house and wanted to complain about Robbie, I know Molly would get upset.”

“Sure. Most mothers are very protective of their young.”

“But what I was told by the cops is that she threatened to run them out of town or make them wish they had left.”

“Okay, that does help. Anything else?”

“Not that I know of.” Lionel said with a shrug.

“Okay. Well, if you remember something, please, call me. But for now, let me get your wife.”

“Okay.” Lionel said. He waited in the room for a couple of minutes, till the door opened up and Molly stepped in. She gasped when she saw him.

Molly jogged to her husband, who was unsure of his feelings for her as of right now. He had been told what had happened at the gas station and he wasn't sure what had forced her to attack the child. He knew she was a bit high strung when it came to gays on TV, but he had never seen his wife attack a child. She had spanked Scotty and Robbie when they got out of line, but never someone else's child. He still embraced her as she fell against his chest.

“Oh Lionel, this is all a big misunderstanding. Tell the Doctor and see if I can go home. Please?”

“I can't.” He replied. “I asked and they said you have to be here seventy two hours, by law.”

“This isn't fair!” Molly exclaimed. “I didn't do anything wrong! I know what I saw!”

“Molly, relax. You have to calm down.” Lionel instructed. “They are not here to keep you a captive. But you have to be honest and talk to them.”

“Lionel, I just want to go home. This isn't my fault.”

He decided to change the topic, or she would keep begging him. “I did manage to bring you some clean clothes.”

“Oh thank you. These are in a good need of cleaning.” She said as he handed her the suitcase. “Do the boys know?”

“Well...” Lionel decided to lie and not get her worked up. “Not that I know. I only told them that you're in a hospital and in need of peace and quiet to get better.”

“I miss them.” She said. “I could barely get to sleep last night. I missed tucking them into bed.”

“Well, maybe we can get you out of here soon.” Lionel said. He didn't want to bring up the possible trial that would happen.

~o~O~o~

Lionel came into the house and he found his eldest at the kitchen table, doing some homework, while his youngest was reading from his bible. He stopped near Marcy and slipped her the pay for her babysitting and walked her to the door, then he went into the kitchen, where both of his children were at.

“Robbie, I need to talk to you about some things that are happening, Scotty found out already, but I want him in here.”

Lionel wasn't sure how to break this to his son. To Robbie, there was no greater person on the planet then his mother, aside from God. “Yesterday, while your mother was doing her errands, there was an incident at a gas station. Your mother has been under some stress the past couple of weeks and she got mad at someone and there was a fight. Your mother was arrested but she's not in jail.”

“But....but you said she was in the hospital....”

“She is in a hospital, son. They had to take your mother to the Mental health hospital in Chico. They think she's been under a lot of stress.” Lionel said. “Now don't go thinking that she doesn't love you, because she asked when she could see you, both of you. But I can't take you there until the doctors say it's okay. If I can, would you want to see her?”

Robbie thought about it for a moment, then nodded his head, so did his brother. “Yeah. So....she still loves us?”

“Yes, in fact she asked how you two were.”

“She did?” Robbie asked.

“Yes, she did.” His father replied. “I'll let you know the day I can take you there, but we can't go until the Doctor says it's okay.”

“Okay.” Robbie said. He was hurt. He missed his mother already and to know she wasn't even in town, that hurt him too, but he was sure his father was telling the truth. “Dad, did she do it? You said she fought someone?”

“We're not sure what happened. So until I find out from the police, I don't want to guess. I know it's in the paper, and kids at school may say something, but until they do, just go about your business.

“Can I see the paper?” Robbie asked. “Please?”

Lionel wanted to say no, but his sons had a right to know what other children would know. He handed the paper to his son, who read it, out loud an with help from his brother. When he stopped, he looked to his dad. “It says children, there were more than one?”

“Yes. There were three kids involved.” Lionel stated.

“Did they attack mom, or something like that?” Robbie asked.

“I don't know, son. I'm just not sure.”

Scotty cut off his brother from asking more questions. "Dad, who was it?"

Lionel sighed and decided to just tell them all of it. "It was Troy Patterson. I don't know the name of the other two kids, but your mother attacked Troy."

"Troy? From the picture?" Robbie asked, and his father nodded.

"Yes, that Troy."

"Did she attack him because he was wearing a dress?"

Lionel shrugged. "I just don't know."

"Can we see her?"

"I'll see about tomorrow, okay?" Lionel said.

~o~O~o~

The phone rang and Lionel leaned over in his seat and picked up. The usual joy was out of his voice, as he had received several calls asking if what they read in the papers was true. “Hallmark's.”

“Lionel, this is June, is it true? That story in the paper?”

“I'm afraid so, June. She was arrested yesterday.”

“Is she getting bail? Should I go to the jail and see how she's doing?”

He knew June was his wife's best friend even though there was an age difference of almost thirty years. He also knew that June had contacts though the county, including a son who was a judge, and Godparent to his Robbie and Scotty. So he decided to come clean, hoping that June had an answer to the questions he had. “June, she is in Chico, at the Mental Health. They took her because, from what the cops told me, she was ranting and trying to get at the child.”

“So it was a child....do you know who?” June asked. A part of her had guessed it already and she wasn't sure she wanted confirmation.

“It was Troy Patterson. But she also hurt two other kids, friends of Troy's.”

“Troy? Maggie Patterson's child?” June asked.

“The same. From what I heard, she saw Troy with two girls, one of them was six, the other twelve and she got mad when the girls hugged him and she threw one girl into a candy rack and shoved the other girl backwards, but neither was hurt too badly.”

“And Troy?”

“From what I heard, a few blows to the head, but he blocked them, till Troy's grandma stepped in and stopped Molly from hitting him.”

“Modine? She's so frail...”

“I just know what the officers told me.”

“How long is she going to be in mental health?”

Lionel shrugged, which she couldn't see, be he leaned back in his seat. “Who knows. The doctor knows she is hiding something and telling him what he wants to hear. They can hold her for seventy two hours, then after that is her arraignment.”

“Do you need help with bail?”

“June, I don't know if I want to. I mean she attacked three children in public, in full view of almost ten people. Do I want her around the boys? You know how mad Scotty makes her. What if something he does makes Molly slip?”

“But those are her boys, they are her life.”

“June, she attacked three children in public.” Lionel was about to continue, when he stopped and had to question one thing. “June, I need to know. When she left the Patterson home a couple of weeks ago, did she threaten the Pattersons? The Deputies said they have it on record that she threatened to run them out of town. Is she doing the same thing she did to those two woman a couple of years ago?” June was silent for several seconds and Lionel had to get her talking. “June, this is my wife we're talking about. Robbie's already broken up that it's in the paper that she hurt someone. He's starting to question everything she has ever told him. Please tell me. Did she threaten Maggie's family?”

After another moment of silence, June finally answered, in almost a whisper. “Yes. She did.”

“Why June? You've know her and her family for sometime. Why attack some child over wearing girls clothes?” Lionel asked, trying to find some reasoning as to his wife's hatred of gays. “Why is she doing this again? Four years ago, she got so involved in getting those women to leave the church while claiming she was trying to save the children of the town. Why is she doing this? Now that she attacked a child, how long till CPS comes to check on the boys?”

“I don't know, Lionel. I never thought she would have done that.”

“I visited her tonight.” Lionel admitted. “She wouldn't talk about it much, she just kept saying they got it all wrong. That she was protecting those girls. That's the same thing she said a few years back.” He added. “June, is this just the start?”

“I....I don't know.” She said. “I really don't know.”

~o~O~o~

February 9th 1983

“Now I want you to promise to be on your best behavior. No making fun of anyone, no pointing and try to keep to ourselves. We may have to talk to the doctor before or after we speak with your mother, okay. Can you two be good?”

Both of his boys nodded, so he pointed for the door. Robbie had a few pieces of paper with him, just notes to his mother on how much he missed her. Scotty had a letter as well, written at his father’s request.

Lionel pressed the call button and a man in white clothing came over and pressed the button that opened up the two way communication. “Yes?”

“I'm here to see Molly Hallmark? I'm her husband Lionel, these are our children, Scotty and Robbie. Doctor Knowles said it was okay to bring them.”

“Just one moment.” The man said. He went away from the door, but returned a few moments later and pressed a button that caused a loud clicking sound. “Step on in.” His voice called through the speakers. Lionel; opened the door and gestured for his kids to walk through, as the man turned to keep an eye on the people inside the main room that attached to the entryway.

“I'll take you to the visitation room. The doctor wants to speak to you all, then we'll bring your wife in. She's currently at dinner, so this gives you a few minutes to talk.”

~o~O~o~

Lionel had told the boys to not mention the attack, or ask when she was leaving. He didn't want risk her losing her temper and attacking the boys, or making her depressed. The visit went well and when they reached the end, She took the time to hug each of them and sent them on their way, while wishing she was going with them.

They were on their way out of the facility when Scotty asked his father. "Dad, did she really do it?"

"I don't know."

"Will she come back home?" He asked.

"I want her to come home." Robbie replied.

"Boys, it's all up to the courts. With what she did, she has to answer for hurting those children." Lionel said. "I know you love and miss your mother, but there are reasons we have laws in this county.

Scotty now wanted to talk to Vance to see if he knew what happened, but he was afraid that Vance would get mad at him for what his mother did. As they climbed in the car, he let his brother take the front seat. He leaned back and decided that he would talk to him, the next chance he had.

Tune in next time when we pick up with Tracy where we left off.