What Detective Wilkes didn’t know is we had some backup too. As we passed the bakery, unknown to his daughter, Lenny Wilkes looked out the window with a cup of coffee and I’m sure a danish. He grinned at us as we passed. When we stepped inside Chamber Financial Group, Joe was sitting in the waiting room. He looked over his copy of Time magazine as we entered.
I’m not really sure why Amos thought this was necessary. Did they think the woman was packing a weapon?
I walked up to the same receptionist as last week. “Hello, I’m back with an appointment with Anna Hudson.”
The woman smiled. Her smile seemed to widen at the sight of Amos beside me. He was looking rather dapper dressed in brown chino pants and a long sleeve white polo. His beard was groomed perfectly today. The man looked like money. Not that he didn’t always look handsome.
We waited for about five minutes before Anna stepped out of her office. She also beamed at us. “Mrs. Patterson, it good to see you again and this is…”
“My significant other, Mr. Jones.” I surprised myself with how easy that was to say. My glance back at Amos solidified that he was pleased too.
Once we sat down across from Anna inside her office, she explained some of the same services I’d already heard. Her smile grew. “So, you two have plans for a future wedding?”
“Yes, we’re still talking about that. Right now, we just need to get my son married in three weeks.”
Anna’s smile wobbled. “That’s right. So the wedding is still going to happen?”
“Oh yes, I know what you’re thinking after the incident with Monique. But you know nothing can really stop true love.” I reached over and touched Amos. That was my cue to let him know it was time.
I looked at Anna. “You know there was something about Darius that still disturbs me.”
Anna’s green eyes seemed to sparkle under the light as she tilted her head. “Oh.”
“A few weeks ago, we were at the bakery down the street, and he showed up out of the blue. I’ve been pondering how he even knew Carmen was at the bakery. Was he here? I mean maybe if he was here talking about conference stuff, that would explain how he saw Carmen go into the bakery.”
Anna twisted her hands and looked down at her desk. She looked up. “You know what? He did come by. Was it on a Tuesday?”
“Yes.”
Anna smiled. “I can solve that mystery. He stopped by to see Mrs. Matthews.”
Amos inquired. “Mrs. Matthews?”
“Yes, our receptionist. Mrs. Matthews is a bit of a fan. She wanted her books signed and couldn’t make it to the conference.”
I was impressed. “So, Darius made a special point of signing a fan’s book? I guess he must have changed. Carmen described him as being awful to her. Her parents were and still are devastated by how he influenced such a young girl. She wasn’t even out of high school yet when he approached her.”
Anna seemed to be leaning in now as if she was a little girl enthralled with a bedtime story. “How old was she?”
“Seventeen. And get this, he got her pregnant. Of course, by that time she was eighteen, but still, it was creepy.” I was cringing inside telling all of Carmen’s personal business to this woman. But this was the same woman whose mother was still married to the man while he pursued a young girl. The one connection we needed to make for Detective Wilkes was Anna’s relationship with Darius.
Anna stared off into space for a moment like she forgot Amos and I were in her office. Amos eyed me before prompting Anna. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
“I’m sorry I know this must be a shock to you,” I added. “The man was your keynote speaker. He was very good at what he did, but his personal life, not so good.”
Anna’s eyes focused on mine for a brief second before turning away. “People are not what they seem. He was good at what he did. He knew how to handle finances very well.”
I nodded. “I guess so. He was a wealthy guy. Carmen mentioned he had money early, even in his late twenties. I didn’t think accountants made money like that. Do they?”
Whatever smile Anna had plastered on her face, seemed to melt before our eyes. A crinkle appeared in her right eyebrow.
Sweet Jesus, I think I hit a nerve.
The room seemed eerily quiet all of a sudden. I glanced over at Amos to see if he noticed the shift. His hands were in his lap. He carefully lifted his finger, his way of telling me to tone it down.
I’d managed to nail something we hadn’t thought about. Even though Amos told me to cool it with the questions, I had to keep going. The picture was starting to become plain as day.
“I’m sorry. I’m talking too much. I was a teacher. Every other profession makes more money.” I cleared my throat, deciding to change the subject. “Have you heard from Monique? I know her dad would make sure she’s taken care of.”
Anna answered woodenly. “Yes, her dad has taken care of her. You know Monique and I became friends because we both didn’t have our moms around?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t know that. I’m sorry for your loss, but I can imagine it created a strong bond between you two.”
“It did. Except…” Anna stopped whatever she was going to spill.
I don’t know why, but my teacher instinct kicked in. Anna reminded me of one of my students who needed a caring adult to talk to about their problems. I responded, “I remember going to Monique’s mother’s funeral. Her father was friends with my husband. It’s hard for a girl to grow up without her mother.”
Anna’s green eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry. I’m supposed to be helping you.” She started moving papers around on her desk. “We should make another appointment.”
Amos was slowly shaking his head as though he knew I wanted to keep going.
This woman’s emotions were on edge. If I thought about it, even the first time I met her at the conference she had that look. The one where you’ve done something horrible but needed to go on with life as normal. She’d convinced herself that she could play her role as the conference chairperson, focusing on the conference issues and attendees.
Maybe in the back of her mind, Anna thought Carmen showing up at Darius’s hotel room was fate on her side. But when her friend Monique showed up that afternoon looking for Darius, Anna probably realized this was not going to be easy.
I remembered how she ran off leaving poor Monique standing there. Did the two women even go out later? How could Anna have looked at her friend?
Anna probably pushed Monique to the brink at the restaurant as they both watched Cedric and Carmen together. A friend for that long, Anna would have known Monique’s breaking points.
But what were Anna’s breaking points?
My mind went back to Anna’s parents. They were wealthy. Her mom divorced her dad and women like that didn’t walk away without something. Or did Anna’s mother already come from wealth?
Something told me that an ambitious Darius Randall went for an older woman for a reason, and that reason was what troubled Anna Hudson the most.
I didn’t realize Amos was standing, indicating we should leave. I couldn’t leave now. I had a feeling Detective Wilkes was going to get what she needed.
I leaned forward and asked, “When did you first meet Darius Randall? You seem to know a lot about him. I bet you knew he was married to Carmen. Did you tell Monique about Carmen?”
Amos started coughing. He really shouldn’t have since he was the one wearing the wire. His coughing was going to mess up the recording. He placed his hand on my shoulder. “We should come back another day.”
Anna’s eyes had locked on mine. “You’re right. I knew him. He was married to my mother.”
“Oh,” I responded.
This was too easy.
Amos’s hand remained on my shoulder. I turned my head to look up at him. I believe he understood what was happening because he stood still.
I turned my attention back to Anna. “He was awful to Carmen. What did he do to your mother?”
Anna’s hand shook as she unconsciously moved paper and items around on her desk. “She was never really a good mother. Dad always took care of me. He claimed she wasn’t mother material. She had some good points about her as long as she wasn’t drinking. I was supposed to stay with her that summer. She called and told me there was a change of plans. A few weeks later, I discovered her change of plans was a new husband. As soon as I met him, I could tell he didn’t care for her. He liked her money.”
“Darius?” I prompted. From the corner of my eye, Amos quietly sat back down. I hoped Detective Wilkins was hearing all of this.
Anna continued talking as though we weren’t in the room. It was like a therapy session. “Darius Randall was a user. My mom’s drinking got worse, and I know he was taking her money. He finally left her, but she was never the same. My father said she’d married Darius on a rebound from him,” Anna scoffed.
I knew I was on thin ice here. I wasn’t supposed to be interrogating Anna. I had already made the connection that Anna knew Darius. Her emotions about the man were strong and bitter.
She didn’t know me. Why was she saying all of this to a stranger?
I looked over at Amos who observed Anna as though she would fly off the handle at any moment.
This woman was going to let the police believe Carmen killed Darius. But Carmen had moved on with her life and was preparing to marry the man she loved.
Anna Hudson had not moved on.
To confirm my assumptions, Anna said, “You know what he told me? He said I looked just like my mother.”
Anna had a glazed look on her face. Then, her eyes focused as if she remembered where she was and that she had two people in her office wondering if she was about to confess to murder.
Amos stood again. This time I stood with him. We inched towards the door.
My voice felt hoarse. “I’m really sorry, but we need to go.”
Anna opened her mouth, then closed it again. Something took over her body. I stopped moving towards the door as I watched her face crumble.
She stood and swiped her arms across her desk sending the freshly organized papers, a paperweight, and her laptop crashing to the floor.
Amos pulled open the door and shoved me out of the office, but not before I saw the blind rage on the woman’s face. Had I managed to open a festering wound with my questions? Was this woman really falling apart at the seams?
I barely noticed Detective Wilkes fly by me along with two other officers.
Where did they come from? The woman hadn’t confessed anything. Or did she?
All I heard were anguished screams.
Amos drove me home. It was hours later before we heard anything. Detective Wilkes showed up at my door around seven o’clock.
I answered the door. “Is everything okay?”
She stepped in and looked at me. “Ms. Hudson is okay. She’s under observation.”
“Oh no. Did I mess up?” Amos came up behind me and touched my shoulders.
Detective Wilkes shook her head. “No, you did fine. Some people can kill another person in cold blood and it doesn’t affect them. Those are the true sociopaths of the world. I think Anna Hudson is not one of those people. She wanted to rid her soul of what she’d done.”
“She did?” I responded.
Wilkes nodded. “She was ready to confess. You were the voice that chose to listen to her. You made a way for her to voice her pain.”
“But she seemed to be okay with Carmen or her friend, Monique taking the blame.”
The detective hung her head. “I’m the first to admit I focused on Carmen. I didn’t look closer at others with motive. Ms. Hudson used that to her advantage.” Wilkes looked at Amos. “Looks like you, my dad and Joe were all over this one.”
Amos tilted his head towards me. “Eugeena isn’t too bad herself.”
Wilkes cracked a smile. “No, she isn’t. Although, I would still like you all to let me do my job. You retired folk have too much time on your hands.” She shoved her hands down her pants pocket. “I owe you guys. I wish your son and your daughter-in-law much happiness with their wedding.”
After Wilkes left, I looked at Amos. “I guess I need to call Cedric and Carmen.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Amos asked. “You look shook up.”
“I am. I keep hearing that girl scream. She broke, and I kind of feel responsible.”
“You gently gave her a chance to see she had to come clean with the truth.” He held out his arms.
I welcomed the hug. I needed that hug.