Chapter 2: A Visit with the Medicine Woman
1039 Words
Cynthia Mason was one-fourth Cherokee. Although she didn’t live on the reservation, she held true to many of the Native American traditions and culture. She was taught herbalism by her mother and mixed it with modern medicine. She was skilled in chemistry and biology. She was nothing short of a healer although she never obtained a medical degree.
Officer Kyle Hartman and his partner Officer James Jackson went to Cynthia’s residence within an hour of speaking with Alison that morning. Hartman and Jackson were a good team. Hartman was a silent type and at times he was socially awkward. Jackson did most of the talking and had a way to set a comfortable atmosphere. People felt they could talk openly with Jackson. It was Jackson that knocked on the door.
The door cracked open and a petite, dark-haired woman peeked out. “Yes?”
“I’m Officer Jackson. This is Officer Hartman.” They both showed their badges. “We have a few questions. Is this a good time?”
“Oh… yes… of course.” Cynthia allowed them into her home. It was cluttered and smelled heavily of incense. Many dream catchers hung from the rafters and the rustic interior was decorated with various fur pelts. There were several paintings of horses hung on the walls and an unfinished work on an easel. Cynthia was an armature painter. “Can I get you gentlemen anything? Some tea perhaps?”
“That won’t be necessary, Ms Mason. I don’t think we will take too much of your time.”
“So, what can I help you with?”
Officer Jackson produced the bottle of pills that were obtained at the Corbin residence. “I understand that these came from you. A medicine prescribed to Alison Corbin. Is that correct?”
“In a manner of speaking. I’m not a medical professional. I am not authorized to prescribe medication. This is a natural remedy, an anti-psychotic remedy, and yes it was suggested to help young Alison.” She wanted to answer as truthfully as she could, but also did not want to talk herself into a corner.
“This was at the request of her parents?”
“Alison’s parents brought her in several years ago. She had some terrible nightmares and was sleep deprived. They were all at their wit's end. My remedy helped others and it seemed to help her as well. Why? Have the nightmares returned?”
“Our lab technicians have noticed that it contains aconitine. I’m no scientist, but isn’t this a poison?” Officer Jackson’s words were not as accusatory as they were inquisitive.
“In high doses, yes. But the amount of aconitine in these pills will not be enough to cause any damage. I’m not the first to use this in remedies. The Chinese have used it for years to relieve aches and pains.” Cynthia stops for a moment and concern washes over her face. “Oh, dear. She didn’t overdose, did she?”
“Alison is safe, but should we be concerned about overdosing?”
“With any medication, overdosing can be dangerous.”
“But, it’s not a medication,” Officer Hartman added. This caused an uncomfortable silence. Hartman wrote a few more notes.
“Am I in some sort of trouble?” Cynthia asked, now confused.
“This REMEDY…” Officer Jackson stressed the word, “Has helped Alison for years. I honestly believe that you have helped. What were to happen if Alison did not take her medicine?”
“She should have enough in her system that there shouldn’t be any immediate effects. If she stopped taking her pills for an extended period of time, I fear the nightmares will return.”
“Is this remedy something you have a large demand for?”
“The Cherokee people have come to me with many problems. It is not often that I have offered this particular remedy, but Alison’s parents also take these pills.”
Officer Hartman and Jackson exchanged glances.
“Are you close to the family?” Jackson asked. He took care and compassion to explain that Alison’s parents had died and they were investigating the case. Hartman was impressed with his tact.
“I see. Well, I will help in any way I can.”
After the questioning, Hartman and Jackson return to their vehicle. “What do you make of all this?” Hartman asks his partner.
“Aconite is not typically used as an anti-psychotic. It’s used for circulation and heart disease. Sometimes for nerve damage or facial paralysis. But even then, it’s dangerous. It’s not considered safe by most medical professionals.”
“But what does that have to do with the Corbin murders? They were shot.” Hartman’s confusion was genuine. He could not understand why they were following this lead.
“Aconite is not something that would be easy to obtain. I’m just looking for a possible motive. The only thing unusual that we’ve been able to find are these unusual pills. It doesn’t seem like the Corbins had any real enemies.”
“No stone unturned, eh?” Hartman said with a slight smirk. “But the pills were not taken. In fact, nothing was stolen from what we can tell.”
“Hopefully some new clues will come from the autopsy.” Jackson answered with a sigh. Jackson knew that Ciderhall was a small town and that full autopsy reports could take weeks or even months. The cause of death seemed obvious, a single gunshot wound to the head, but any further clues would take time to discover. Given the unusual and potentially deadly remedy, a toxicology report would certainly be done. Maybe something would shine some light on this double murder case.
“Do you think she’s lying?” Hartman asked after a moment of driving.
“Who?” asked Jackson.
“Our Medicine Woman. You said that aconite is not used as an antipsychotic medicine. You think she’s hiding something?”
“I don’t know. I’m only following what little research I’ve done and what the guys in the lab tell me. I didn’t get the feeling that she was lying to us, but things are not always as they seem. But both of their stories claim that Alison has been taking this for years and both said they were for nightmares. If Cynthia is lying to us, she probably lied to Alison as well.”
“I feel bad for her. Alison, I mean. I can’t imagine losing both of my parents like that. And being the one to find them lying dead on the kitchen floor. I just wish we could do something to help.”
“We are, Kyle. We are.”
- Writer
