My family crowded me for hours. After we all knew Tamara was tucked away behind bars, most of my family started to travel back home. Only Amos, Leesa, her children and I remained at the house. We sat on the porch, occasionally looking down the street at what had almost become my crime scene.
Tamara was a con woman. She played the whole neighborhood. When her house was searched, she’d been quite the thief. Her game was to get to know people and find out their habits so she could rob their house. Life of an idle housewife!
What wasn’t clear is whether Tamara’s husband caught on to her “illegal” shopping? Was that why the man left?
Leesa’s eyes were red. I patted my baby girl’s leg. “Honey, you didn’t know. I let that child across the street into my home. Mary and Louise probably did the same thing, not knowing she might have been setting us up to rob us blind later.”
Leesa shook her head. “Mama, I still don’t know why she killed Mary and then tried to pin her crime on me.”
Amos spoke up. “Leesa, you were a convenience for her. Mary rarely left the house except to do shopping but when she did it was like clockwork. Same time every Friday.”
Leesa nodded, “That’s why Mary kept looking at the clock because she wanted to stick to her schedule.”
I added, “Right. Poor thing probably put her groceries away, let Porgy outside and fixed herself a glass of water, not knowing that Tamara was hiding in her house. Tamara must have thought she could sneek in and get out before Mary returned.”
Leesa frowned. “So Mary caught this crazy woman in her house and was killed.”
That’s as best we could figure. Louise was awake, but she didn’t seem to remember anything about the night she was attacked. There were two coffee mugs on the counter so I felt like Louise figured something out before we all did. Poor old woman just about lost her life.
I shuddered. I’d almost walked through death’s door myself.
Leesa stood, “I’m going to put the kids in the bed. See you later, Mr. Amos.”
After Leesa went inside, I turned to Amos. “I can’t say thank you enough. You saved my life today.”
He grinned, “Next time remember to include a professional in your plan.”
“I tried to drop as many hints to you as I could.”
It could have been the light sparkling in Amos’ eyes, but his face beamed. “Yeah, you did. Not bad for an amateur.”
I grinned and then guzzled down my iced tea. Yep. Whatever came next, Detective Eugeena Patterson would be on the scene.