Imposter Read Free

look after himself, no one else would.
    Frank stretched out on the bunk and went to sleep.
    He was awakened by the slamming of the cell block’s outer door. He sat on the edge of the bunk and listened to the soft scrape of footsteps. He could tell it wasn’t a man.
    â€œMr. Dooley?” a woman’s voice called.
    â€œI’m not Val Dooley,” Frank replied. “But everyone around here sure thinks I am.”
    The woman stepped into view, a tray in her hands. She was just about the homeliest woman Frank had ever seen. She was thin as a rail, her mouse-colored hair was unkempt, there was a big wart on her pointy chin, her long nose and her chin almost met, and if she had taken a bath in the past six months, she had forgotten the soap.
    â€œDon’t be silly, Val,” she said. “Of course you’re Val Dooley. I’d know you anywhere.”
    â€œLady, I never saw you before in my entire life.” And if I had, Frank thought, you would have given me nightmares.
    â€œOh, you’re such a card, you are, Val. Look, I brought you a good supper of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy.” She set the tray down on the floor and pushed it under the bars with her foot. “Now, you eat that up.”
    â€œAlberta?” Frank asked.
    â€œSilly!” she simpered. “Of course I’m Alberta.”
    â€œAh ... sure you are. The food looks good.”
    â€œI want you to enjoy it, Val. I’ll bring you meals every day. I remember how you like your food prepared.”
    Frank picked up the tray and set it on the bunk. How do I play this? he wondered. Good Lord, this situation is terrible.
    â€œVal?” the woman whispered softly.
    Frank turned to look at her.
    â€œDo you remember the times we used to have when we were children?”
    â€œAh ... how could I ever forget them, Alberta?”
    â€œEspecially the times we used to go swimming down at the creek. I’ll never forget those good times.”
    â€œMe either, Alberta. I sure won’t.”
    â€œDo you ever think about the times we went swimming without clothes?”
    Frank stared at the woman. What a nightmare, he thought. Then he forced a smile. “Yes, I think about those times often.” This woman just might be my ticket out of this mess, he thought. But I’ve got to play this close to the vest.
    â€œMe too, Val,” she said with a giggle. “Sometimes I get... well . . . all gooey just remembering them. Do you?”
    â€œDo I . . . get gooey? Ah, well, I guess you could call it that.”
    â€œAlberta?” Sheriff Davis called from outside the cell block. “You all right in there, sis?”
    â€œOf course I’m all right!” she yelled. Frank winced at the sharpness in the woman’s voice. “Why wouldn’t I be all right, you ninny?”
    â€œJust checking, sis.”
    â€œHe doesn’t understand,” Alberta whispered. “He doesn’t realize that you would never hurt me, Val. We have too many good memories to share, don’t we?”
    â€œWe sure do, Alberta.”
    â€œWell, I must be going for now, darling. But I’ll be back later with a pot of coffee just for you and then we’ll talk some more.”
    â€œI can hardly wait.”
    â€œOoh ... me either.” She giggled as she walked out of the cell block.
    Frank sat down on the bunk. Talking with Alberta had cut his appetite down to nothing. Just thinking about the woman prompted him to think that he might never eat again. Frank sighed and pushed those thoughts away. He had to eat. He picked up a chicken leg and took a bite. It was delicious. The woman might look like something the cat dragged in, but she could cook, no doubt about that.
    The sheriff stepped into the corridor, walking up to Frank’s cell. He stood silent for a moment.
    â€œSomething on your mind?” Frank asked.
    â€œMy sister,” the sheriff said.
    â€œWhat about