Free Orphans of Wonderland by Greg F. Gifune

haven’t found them, and never identified what they were.”
    â€œOkay,” Joel said, making a note. “Should you get further information on that, let me know soon as you can, all right?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œWhat about other drugs?”
    â€œLike?”
    â€œLike illegal drugs, was Lonnie doing anything along those lines?”
    â€œNot that I’m aware of. As I mentioned, my father was a bit of a drinker. I’m sure back when you knew him, in his younger days, he experimented or partied like most everyone else, but I never knew him to do drugs.”
    Adam held a hand up like a child in a classroom.
    Joel turned to him. “Yes?”
    â€œI think, maybe, he smoked marijuana.”
    Joel did his best not to laugh. This guy was the squarest and stiffest twentysomething he’d ever encountered. He and Katelyn were about as hip as bingo night at the local nursing home. “And why do you say that?”
    Adam glanced quickly at his wife, who was frowning her disapproval at his interruption. “Well, we found a package of rolling papers in his dresser drawer. Remember, honey? Remember when we found a package of rolling papers in his dresser drawer?”
    Katelyn’s hazel eyes shifted from her husband to Joel. “He may have smoked pot now and then, but I don’t believe it was something he did regularly.”
    â€œOkay,” Joel said. “So there wouldn’t have been any issues with that then. Was he ever treated for mental illness or emotional disorders—problems with depression, suicidal tendencies or attempts—that kind of thing?”
    â€œNo,” Katelyn answered evenly, “there was never any of that.”
    â€œWell, he was depressed a lot,” Adam interjected. “And then not long before he died, he—”
    â€œHe could be brooding at times,” Katelyn said, glaring in her husband’s general direction. “But I wouldn’t say he suffered from depression to the point that it was a problem or something that needed to be medicated or monitored by a professional.” Katelyn became very still and quiet for a moment, but it was obvious she had more to say. Eventually, she continued. “My father didn’t have the easiest life. Of course he was depressed or down at times. He worked hard his entire life and never really had anything to show for it.”
    â€œHe had you,” Joel reminded her.
    Katelyn smiled, and it was the most genuine expression she’d shown since he’d arrived. “Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes glistening with tears.
    Adam dropped from his stool, hurried over to a nearby coffee table and came back with a small box of tissues. He handed them to his wife, then returned to his seat at the bar.
    â€œKatelyn, I don’t want to belabor this point, but it’s important. You told me that in the months prior to his murder, Lonnie changed quite a bit, that he was claiming something bad was going to happen and that there were people after him.”
    â€œYes,” she said with some reluctance. “That’s true.”
    â€œWell, then is it safe to say he may have developed some mental or emotional issues but never sought formal treatment for them?”
    â€œYou asked me if my father had ever been treated for mental illness or attempted suicide. The answer is no. I also do not believe my father was mentally ill, even in the months before his death. Troubled, yes. Insane, no.”
    â€œFair enough,” Joel said. “But you also told me he was terrified, said that strange things were happening. People—or what he hoped were people—were following him. Later, he spoke of demons. Surely you can see where…”
    Katelyn nodded.
    â€œCould he have developed some sort of paranoid, delusional—”
    â€œI’m not a psychiatrist, but I knew my father very well, and I’m telling you the fear he had was genuine. It