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"I thought about asking someone for a nickel but lost my nerve and finally went back to the neighbor's house." She telephoned from there.
Chloe, police learned, enjoyed a high rating for intelligence in her school, where she was a year ahead of her class. She was an avid reader of fiction, newspapers, crime stories. She told this nightmare tale with stupendous composure. Throughout her questioning, she stuck to her story, said finally: "I'd like to have some soup and a piece of lemon cream pie." Steadfast in his belief that Chloe was telling the truth was her stricken father.
Barton Davis told police his wife had been mentally ill for some time, had talked of committing suicide, had told him that she was pursued by demons. Final confirmation of Chloe's story was provided by her belated recollection: "While mother was begging me to hit her with the hammer she asked me for a razor blade. I got one and gave it to her, and watched her slash her wrists." An autopsy confirmed the unsuspected fact.
But until the law could decide what to do about her, Chloe was made a ward of the Juvenile Court.