Chapter 3

I looked up at Camino and frowned. “The police will be here soon. What about the house? If we go inside, will it attack them or something if it feels like I’m being threatened?” I asked, with rising panic.

Camino shook her head. “Not a chance. That just isn’t how it works, Amelia. Relax, and everything will work out fine.”

“But we know the house doesn’t like certain people.”

Camino interrupted me. “Trust me. Nothing will happen. The house is not going to harm the police, and it sure didn’t have anything to do with the man on your porch.”

I looked at her and sighed. “I know you’re right, but I’m just so worried. Why did was that man at my door?”

Before Camino could answer, two police cars pulled over in front of the house, and officers hurried over to us.

“We received an emergency call from this address,” an officer in a sergeant’s uniform said. “We have a report of a deceased person on your property, is that correct? And may I ask which of you is the homeowner?” He pulled a small notepad and pen from his pocket.

“I am,” I replied. “This is my next door neighbor, Camino.”

The sergeant nodded. “Do you know the name of the deceased party?”

Camino and I exchanged glances. “I’ve never seen him before in my life,” I said.

The cop scratched his chin. “Hmm,” he murmured. “I’ll ask both of you to stay here while we do a preliminary examination of the body, and then we’ll need to speak with both of you. We’ll need to search your house, if you have no objection.”

“Sure.” I handed him my keys, and hoped that they wouldn’t do anything to offend the house.

The sergeant joined the others on the porch while Camino and I remained on the grass. “You don’t think they suspect me, do you?” I whispered.

Camino shook her head. “Of course not. They’re just doing their jobs. If you don’t calm down a little, they might think otherwise, though. Just let things happen as they are meant to.”

The same police officer soon walked back over. “Was your door locked when you first discovered the body, or did you go inside before calling us?” the sergeant asked.

“No, it was already locked from earlier. I made sure the door was secure when I left this morning,” I replied. “I haven’t been inside since I found him.”

“You are certain you haven’t seen this man before?”

I nodded. “Yes, I’ve never seen him before.”

The sergeant scribbled in his notepad. “The man’s identification shows that he’s from out of town.”

“That just makes it even stranger,” I said.

The sergeant frowned. “Can you explain what you mean?”

“I mean, why would some random man travel a few towns over or whatever, just to show up on the doorstep of someone he had never met?” I asked.

“That’s exactly what we have to find out,” he replied. “The forensic people are on their way. When they remove the body from the scene, you’ll be able to go back to your routine.”

“Thanks, but what about until then? Can I go inside my house?”

The cop looked over at the porch for several seconds and then turned back to me. “Hold on just one second. I’ll have a word to Constable Walker.”

I strained my ears to overhear what the police were saying, but the only words I could make out were, “There’s nothing inside as far as evidence goes.”

The sergeant’s next words were louder. “Constable Walker, you’re going to be in charge of questioning the older woman. I’ll speak to the homeowner. Tell the others to make sure that nobody steps an inch near that body until forensics arrives.”

The sergeant walked back to us and nodded to the front door. “We can head inside now.”

When I passed the body, I did my best to avert my eyes.

Constable Walker took Camino into another room, and the sergeant scribbled on his pad. “Where were you earlier today? You mentioned that you locked up before leaving. Where did you go?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, caught off guard by the question.

“We don’t yet have a precise time of death, but the lack of rigor mortis points to a short timeline. The victim was probably dead for a couple hours at most before you reported it, so we need to know your whereabouts during that time.”

I froze, my mind going blank. I couldn’t help but feel that the sergeant suspected me. My heart beat faster and faster as my anxiety increased. “I was with my friend, Thyme. We went shopping and then had lunch. Why did he die? Was it a heart attack?”

The sergeant tilted his head and squinted. “Would you say that for the last three to four hours, you were with your friend rather than here?”

I note that he hadn’t answered my question. “Yes,” I said. “You can check with her.”

“I will. And you say that you’ve never seen him before? So you would have no reason or motive for killing him?”

My jaw fell. “Of course not!” I said, a little too loudly.

“These questions are just routine, miss. That will be all for now.”