Amos and I left Cedric and Carmen’s home. I wasn’t sure what Cedric was thinking, but I could only hope he would have a reasonable conversation with Carmen and not do anything rash. I probably should be a lot more upset with Carmen, but I’d grown fond of her. I wanted to see their relationship survive. Besides, after the wedding ceremony is when the real marriage trials started. If those two could make it through this ordeal, they were pretty solid for the death do us part vows to come.
I climbed into the car, and Amos said, “I know that didn’t satisfy your curiosity. What are your plans now?”
“There has to be somebody else who wanted the man dead. I have a friend who is a manager at the Charleston Place Hotel. Maybe we can ask her some questions.”
Amos frowned. “We? What kind of questions? People come in and out of the hotel all the time. The staff doesn’t always pay attention.”
Recalling stories Rosemary Gladstone had shared with me, I wasn’t ready to agree with Amos. I still thought that should be the first place to start.
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything crazy. I’m just going to talk to my friend, Rosemary. She knows everything that goes on in that place.”
Amos gave me a look like he wasn’t sure whether he believed me. He started the car and backed out of the driveway.
For some reason, the mention of Rosemary’s name triggered another thought in my mind. I pulled out my phone and noticed I was supposed to have the church open by now for the children arriving off the bus.
Where had the time gone?
My mind spun into a panic. I usually volunteered every weekday for the program, and I’d already taken Tuesday off to help Carmen with wedding errands.
At the rate I was going, I would need to call for backup. I dreaded doing so because that meant I had to call the Brown sisters. Annie Mae and Willie Mae Brown. I attended Missionary Baptist Church and served on the usher board with the twins. They also lived in my neighborhood, so we’ve known each other a long time.
Some days, they were too much for one person to handle, both individually and definitely together.
Last year, I received approval from Pastor Reverend George Jones to write the grant for the afterschool program. When we received the funding and parents started signing up their children, I soon realized I would need volunteers. Of course, fellow retirees, Willie Mae and Annie Mae signed up. I couldn’t exactly tell them no because I needed the help. They were a bit more stern with the children than me, but in this day and age, discipline was needed.
We ran a tight ship, but today I slipped way off my responsibilities. As soon as Amos drove up to my house, I hopped out of the car and leaned over before closing the door. “I’ve been so distracted, I forgot about the afterschool program. I need to call some backup so I can get to the hotel.”
He leaned towards me. “Eugeena, you should see what the police turn up before we start sticking our noses into the investigation. Detective Wilkes will figure out the truth.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with you. I saw the look in that detective’s eyes.” I sighed deeply before a smile took over my face. I peered at Amos. “You do know I appreciate you, right?”
He winked. “I know. Just promise me you will stay out of trouble. If you need me, you know how to find me.”
I winked back. “I’ll do my best.” I closed the car door and watched Amos back out of my driveway. As I opened the door to my home, I knew my best may not be good enough. I had too many nagging questions on my mind.
First, I needed to take care of a few necessities.
Porgy hopped off the doggy bed next to the couch and raced from the corner of the living room. He followed me around towards the kitchen where I let him out the back door. I’d neglected the poor dog, and he raced around the backyard as if experiencing freedom for the first time.
While I kept an eye on the dog, I reached into my pocketbook and pulled out my phone to call the twins.
On the second ring, Annie Mae, the eldest of the twins answered. I recognized her raspy voice, a reflection of her past love of tobacco. “Hello?”
“Hello, Annie Mae. This is Eugeena. I hate to ask, but can you or Willie Mae open the church? Something has come up and I will not be able to make the afterschool program today.”
“What? This is your baby, Eugeena. What’s going on that you can’t be there for the children today?”
I took a brief glance at my phone. It was almost three o’clock, and the bus would be arriving any minute. “Family emergency. Please, just this once. I will be there for the rest of the week.”
“Everything alright with Leesa? Are her children sick?”
“They’re fine. I’ll explain everything soon, right now I need someone to open the church. Today was you or Willie Mae’s turn to volunteer, right?”
I could hear Annie Mae talking in the background before she addressed me. She returned to the phone. “Willie Mae is on her way. She was already dressed and ready to go. I can go with her so she has some help.”
Shock almost made me forget to speak. I was expecting the twins to give me a lot more fuss. “Thank you both so much. I appreciate it.”
I got off the phone and immediately felt bad. One, because I’d have to come up with something to tell the Brown sisters. They weren’t going to let me off scot free. Then again, I had noticed a change in the twins this past year. A lot of tragedy hit Sugar Creek in recent years, including the loss of Willie Mae’s daughter, Pat Brown. I still felt as though I’d lost a member of my own family. I knew deep down the sisters volunteered for the program because they knew it was something Pat would’ve done if she were still alive.
Still, there was no way I was telling the Brown sisters that my future daughter-in-law found her ex-husband dead. It pained me that I would miss the children today from the afterschool program. I’d taught social studies in the Charleston School District for most of my teaching career. It wasn’t an easy job, especially the last decade or so. Most children were flat out not interested in history, and I knew in my heart, the history we had to teach to meet the standards didn’t always tell the whole story. I smiled because I would especially miss talking to Amani Gladstone who had become one of my favorites. She was a sharp nine-year-old with a love for history.
I called to Porgy who’d become consumed with chasing a squirrel. “Alright, boy, that’s enough outside time. Come on in.” It took me a few more tries which resulted in me going out and chasing the dog into the house. What a scene that must have been for someone to see, dog chasing squirrel, and a slightly overweight, old woman chasing a dog. It took me a moment to catch my breath. I wasn’t going to complain too much at my four-legged adopted child because I needed the exercise.
After washing my hands, I hunted around my kitchen for something to eat and decided on a quick soup and salad. I needed to do something with the lettuce since it always went bad first. I opted for some chicken soup I had in the freezer. I popped the bowl into the microwave and checked my phone for Rosemary Gladstone’s number. I had it listed since she was one of Amani’s emergency contacts in case her mother, a nurse, was not available. I needed to visit with Amani’s maternal grandmother at the Charleston Place Hotel. It seemed important to visit while the topic of murder had to be fresh on her mind.
A young woman answered my call. “Hello, Charleston Place Hotel.”
I guessed she must be Rosemary’s administrative assistant. “Yes, I’m calling for Mrs. Gladstone. Is she available?”
“She’s in a meeting right now. Can I take a message for her?”
I glanced at the apple shaped clock on my kitchen wall. “Do you know how much longer she will be in the meeting?” I knew Rosemary usually stuck around the hotel until after five o’clock. She’d come to pick up Amani a few times from the church.
“I’m not really sure, she’s been in there with the police for some time.”
“The police?”
“Oh, I mean…well, she’s in a meeting. Nothing bad. How about I take a message?”
“No, thanks. I will check in later.” I ended the call thinking Rosemary had a bit of a blabber mouth for an assistant. I was sure the woman didn’t mean to let it slip about the police meeting with her boss. The woman was probably shaken up about the events that occurred at the hotel today. Everyone on staff would know and be horrified. From my recollection, nothing like this had ever happened at the hotel, at least not to my knowledge. I wondered if it would be on the local news. As long as Carmen wasn’t mentioned… One could only hope!
I grabbed the soup out of the microwave and finished assembling my salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and my absolute favorite topping, shredded cheese. I topped the salad off with a low-fat ranch dressing, a taste I was still learning to adapt to.
As I consumed my lunch, I prepared questions in my mind. The more questions I thought about, the more I tried to talk myself out of going. Then, I remembered my daughter Leesa had the Charleston Place Hotel on her list of places for the reception. I hadn’t talked to my other children yet and didn’t know if Cedric had confided in them. Knowing Cedric, his attention was probably on his patients. That would be his way of handling the situation. It’s why last night after driving around he ended up at the hospital instead of returning home.
I wondered if Carmen would have not considered going to the hotel this morning if he’d returned home. None of us could change the past, but I planned to do something about the future.
I speed dialed my daughter’s cell knowing she would still be at work. Leesa had recently started a job as an administrative assistant for an insurance company, and I was really proud of her. I knew she’d grown tired and worn out from the minimum wage retail jobs. Now she had a real nine-to-five that helped support her two children, Keisha and Tyric. At one time, I was watching them for her, but then Leesa finally started collecting child support from Tyric’s dad which made it possible to send both children to daycare. Keisha was now in first grade.
Leesa answered. “Mom, is everything okay?”
I wasn’t sure if she’d talked to her brother yet and didn’t want to break anything to her. Of her two brothers, Leesa was closest to Cedric. Which is why it was no surprise when she volunteered to help her brother with his wedding.
“I’m on my way to see Rosemary at the Charleston Place Hotel. Did you settle on a location for the reception yet?”
“Actually, I was leaning towards a room at the Charleston Place, but I kind of got off track this week. I’ve been really busy with work.”
“Busy is good. Do you want me to ask her about the rates? I know this was your thing to do.”
“Yes, please ask her. I think the rooms are beautiful and Carmen’s parents have a pretty good budget. Sounds like they’ve been looking forward to her getting married.”
But she was married before. Though I would wager that first marriage was definitely not what Carmen’s parents envisioned. Their daughter marrying a respectable doctor was everything to them.
“Great. I will call you later to let you know what Rosemary said.”
“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it.”
After ending the call, I was grateful Cedric hadn’t shared anything with his sister. Knowing my drama queen daughter, she wouldn’t react well when she did find out. She would no doubt think all her efforts towards helping Carmen plan the wedding were in vain. That meant I needed to keep progress moving in the right direction as much as possible.
It also meant I had a legitimate purpose for seeing Rosemary. I was bringing her business, and I was officially on the case. Tracking down Darius’ killer.