I woke up around nine o’clock on Thursday morning, which I thought was pretty late. Being a school teacher with five o’ clock in the morning wake-up calls had been my life so long it seemed almost criminal to stay in the bed long past the sun rising. It was a cold morning so for once I had the good sense to snuggle down under the covers and stay put in the bed for a while longer.
Porgy eyed me from his doggy bed. I can’t believe I finally broke down and bought the round furry bed, but it was a compromise that allowed him to sleep in the bedroom. The deal was he had his own bed and he was not allowed on mine. “I will get up soon. Can you hang for a few more minutes?”
Porgy lifted his head and barked.
I would not accept anyone telling me that dog didn’t know what I was saying.
I took a deep breath as I tried to process yesterday’s information overload. I could not stop thinking about young August and young Louise. I know they grew up together, but in that time period, why did they become so careless? I guess I couldn’t judge. Young love and naïveté struck mostly everyone as a teenager and when hormones raged at their worst. In this case, the heartache that had been left had everlasting effects for generations.
While I didn’t care for William, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him losing his life. He was a spoiled only child and very ungrateful, but his life seemed to be turning around for him before it was cut short. In yesterday’s revelations, his murder almost got swept to the side. If William was going to stay in Charleston, I wondered if he was going to take the proceeds from selling his mother’s home to buy a more lavish residence.
In his pursuit of living well, where had he slipped up? To me, it felt like William encountered and unknowingly enticed his killer. How and why, I had no clue.
I really needed to see how Louise was doing. I didn’t want to be told once again by Ms. Saunders that Louise couldn’t accept visitors.
I knew if anyone could tell me Louise’s state of mind, Pat could tell me what was really going on. Plus I knew Pat wanted to tell me something? I should have returned her messages from both Monday and Wednesday, but so much had happened.
When I called Pat her phone rang and rang, but never went to voicemail. Mmm, that’s weird. I would try again later. Maybe we could finally stop playing phone tag with each other.
With that thought, I climbed out of the bed with Porgy yapping at my feet. After finally getting dressed, I decided to do something I had put off for at least two weeks now. When the cold weather came in I stopped my morning walk. I decided to snap a leash on Porgy and for a change we would walk. The morning’s fall air was brisk, requiring the need for a jacket, but the sun was bright in the sky. Porgy was a little thing, but he had a bit of strength on him as he pulled me along towards the sidewalk.
I’m not sure if Porgy was reading my mind, but we didn’t get too far before we stopped, right in front of Louise’s house. The yellow crime scene tape was still around the front door. If I could have snuck a peek in the house, I would have. Instead I walked over to where William’s car sat, now without its owner. As I moved closer, I noticed that there were temporary plates on the car. William had purchased this car less than three weeks ago. The new purchase didn’t startle me as much as the car dealership name.
Chuck Nelson Buick of Charleston.
Chuck Nelson. That was one of the names Aunt Esther mentioned yesterday. Now that I thought of it, one of the most annoying local commercials was who I believed was Chuck Nelson’s son looking as shady as a salesman could look spouting all the deals he had for those looking for a car. Credit or no credit.
Porgy didn’t seem bothered that I was preoccupied with the car and nosed his way in the grass next to it. I leaned over and peeked into the car.
Since William’s father and Chuck Nelson were really good friends, I wondered if William received some type of deal on this car. It was very nice and luxurious, not at all like the pickup trucks I’ve seen William driving over the years.
I had discovered some interesting aspects to Louise’s life, but her deceased son was a character all his own. I looked at the back of the car and realized there were tire tracks in the driveway.
I bet that sports car left those tire tracks when its owner wheeled out of the driveway on Sunday. I bent down like I was some forensic scientist to study the tracks closer. Surely the detective had this as a clue. From what I’ve seen on TV they can match these down to the types of tires that can be found on vehicles.
“Eugeena, what are you up to? Are you okay?”
I straightened up and almost screamed. I placed my hands on my chest to hopefully calm my heart. “Good morning, Amos. I didn’t hear you walking up behind me?”
Amos was dressed with a jacket, which I figured was over a pair of overalls. He did, at least, seem to have a variety of overalls. These were dark gray. He raised an eyebrow. “I would imagine not. If you’re going to be snooping, you should also remain alert.”
“Snooping? Oh you don’t know the half of what I found out yet and I can tell you I haven’t been snooping. People have been dropping information on me without me even having to ask for it.”
“You don’t say? I thought you were going to let the police handle it.”
“Well, who’s to say—,” Porgy for some reason decided to run around my legs at that moment. I grabbed the leash before he totally tied me up. “Come here, little dog. You and I don’t need to be tangled.” After I managed to get the leash from around my legs, I looked at Amos. “You may not believe me, but I tried my best to stay out of this little situation, but it has grown over the past two days. I’m thinking the good Lord must want me to know something because people are seeking me out with information.”
Amos laughed. “Is that so?”
I walked around to the back of the car and looked back at the temporary plate. “You see this name on this plate.”
Amos eyed me. “Chuck Nelson.”
“Keep that name in your mind, because after I tell you what all I’ve found out, your mind is going to be as blown as mine. Right now, I need two of us on this. You had breakfast yet? If not, I will clue you in.”
A few moments later, I had cheese grits bubbling on the stove. I have always been a lover of cheese though I’ve changed my eating habits. This morning felt like as good a time as any to eat comfort food. By the time I finished talking; Amos sat looking wide-eyed over his empty bowl.
“Wow! You’re not kidding. You basically dug up a cold case.”
“You’re right. But does one murder really have to do anything with the other murder?”
“I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure the only connection there is this Jocelyn Miller and her mother.”
“I kind of agree with you, but it’s almost like Jocelyn showing up has pulled back secrets that have been hidden for many years. I can see why Detective Wilkes wants to start by looking at Jocelyn, but my concern is William. I’ve never seen him driving a brand new car like that. Him walking around dressed like something out of Esquire is highly suspicious to me.”
“I agree with you on that. Detective work is pretty tricky. You definitely need to focus on the victim and track their timeframe, but then we always want to understand what would motivate someone to kill. Finding the motive is high on Detective Wilkes’ priority list.”
“I’m still not seeing how she is finding any motive. Even if Louise was to accept her long lost daughter and her family, she would have been able to provide William and her daughter with money. Louise may look homely when she wants to, but she was and has always been well off financially.”
“Not everyone sees it that way. When you have been in the business of solving crimes you’re trained to see people at their worst. Sometimes it’s smarter to think of what’s the worst a person could do rather than thinking what’s not possible. Anyone can commit a crime when pushed by their circumstances. Do you know how well off Jocelyn’s mother is right now? Why is Jocelyn looking now?”
I waved at Amos. “Okay, okay, I see your point. I’ve talked to Jocelyn and I believe she’s sincere or a really good actress. Plus, Jocelyn drives a bright red car. It looked nothing like that car, what you say could have been a Mustang. Can’t Detective Wilkes have those tire threads tracked?”
Amos shook his head. “My, my woman, maybe you ought to have been a detective because you certainly have been bitten by the bug.”
“I’m just naturally curious. I really felt bad for Jocelyn last night. I’m sensitive that time is being wasted in the wrong direction.”
“Speaking of time, have you had time to talk to Louise?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t and I want to, but it appears she’s hasn’t been handling William’s death very well. At least that’s what the Hillcrest Manor director told me.”
I smiled as another thought started to creep in. “You wouldn’t be too busy this afternoon, Amos? I kind of like that car that William purchased.”
Amos eyed me and then a slow grin stretched across his face. “Nope. I don’t have anything planned at all.”
Now that put a smile on my face. I may have been bitten by this detective stuff, but I had sense enough to call on an experienced detective to help me.
I certainly couldn’t have asked for a better partner in crime.