Deep Fried Trouble (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries) (13 page)

I wasn’t satisfied until Amos called and I talked on the phone with Detective Wilkes. This morning I called her again and she assured me she would contact Chris’ captain to get an official statement. Two months. I’m sure being a cop with access to all kinds of venues; he could have cornered Leesa anytime he wanted to.  At least one mystery was solved. Until my daughter appeared, I had to still clear her name of a being a possible murder suspect.

If what Amos said was true, I could be entertaining the real suspect in my own living room this eve
ning.

To provide me a bit of a reprieve, Cora was kind enough to take the kids over to her home for the night. I almost wish they were still here. Why is it folks drive you crazy when they are around and you miss them when they are gone?

Porgy started barking as if he protested the thought.

“What’s wrong with you, dog? Shush.”

The front doorbell rang. Wow, I’m impressed. Porgy might make a decent guard dog.  He needed to pull his weight around here.

I looked at the clock. I had at least thirty minutes before folks star
ted showing up for the meeting. “Who is it?” The peephole showed nobody at the door. I stood for a second. I looked at Porgy. His body was erect and poised. Somebody was out there.

The doorbell pierced my ears again. My good ear too. This time through the peephole I recognized the face. I opened the door.

Tamara bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders. “I know I’m early, but I thought maybe you could use some help.”

“That’s sweet of you. Come on in. I’m certainly not about to turn down the help, honey.” Tamara followed me to the kitchen. Or tried. Porgy sniffed her heals and growled. “Porgy, what’s your pro
blem. I’m going to have to put you up. You can’t aggravate my guests.”

“Oh you don’t need to do that.”

I looked at Tamara to see if she meant it, but she seemed to be a little paralyzed by the dog. “I tell you what, I started some sandwiches on the table in there, why don’t you start slicing them and I will put him upstairs.” Back downstairs, I entered the kitchen. “Wow, you are good with that slicing for somebody not in the kitchen much.”

Tamara laughed lightly. “Uhm Miss Eugeena, what are we discus
sing tonight at the meeting? Did the cops find out anything new?”

“That’s a good question. I did invite Detective Wilkes, so maybe she will have some things to share with us.”

“You were friends with Mrs. Fleming, right?”

I’m not sure how much I wanted to go into the past with Tamara. “We were closer in the past.”

Tamara frowned. “Did you grow apart?”

“Something like that. Can you pass me the oven mittens off the t
able?”

I turned my back and pulled out the oven fried chicken. The recipe was getting better and better all the time. I still missed deep frying the chicken, but I couldn’t risk cooking in my old style. Lord knows, my grandmama and mama passed on some good eats, just not good met
hods. Of course back then black folks had to cook their food the best way they could. No excuses today.

The door bell rang.

“Tamara, can you answer the door. Just sit the guests in the living room. If you need more chairs, there are some fold-up ones in the hall closet.”

“Not a problem.”

I took the vegetable tray and dip and placed it on the side table.

“Hey Eugeena, I bought some green bean cass
erole. How are you?”

“Here are some sodas. Heard about your daughter.  We are pra
ying.”

“Got potato salad.”

I smiled. Smiled and thanked neighbor after neighbor as they sat various goodies on the table. I didn’t realize how many people knew Leesa.

Tamara saddled up beside me. “Wow, look at this table. I feel bad I didn’t bring anything.” She lowered her voice. “Are you okay? I heard about your daug
hter. Should you even do this meeting tonight?”

I reached over and hugged the young woman. “I’m fine. Ever
ything is going to be fine.”

I’m not sure if I was trying to convince me or Tamara. I hugged her again.”Why don’t you find a seat?” I clasped my hands together and watched her sit in the corner of the couch. At the other end of the couch was Wayne.

We locked eyes. He broke out in a familiar smile; a hint of the young boy I used to know appeared.

Maybe I had been too judgmental of Wayne. God took people as they were, I needed to do the same. Still I couldn’t deny my delight about Wayne cleaning up. Last time, he was looking awfully scruffy on my furniture.

I scanned the other neighbors’ faces. Many folks were here for the first time. Other faces had showed up for a second round of the meeting. The doorbell rang again. Tamara started to rise, but I held my hand. I’m glad I answered the door myself.

“Amos, right on time.”

He wore black slacks and a red polo shirt. Why did this man look like he was heading to the golf course all the time? I needed to ask him what his handicap was.

Like I knew a thing about golf.

“Our guest of honor is here too.” Amos stepped to the side.

Detective Wilkes was in rare form tonight. Her usually frayed hair was hanging down around her shoulders. Child even brushed her red locks. Was that a little bit of lip gloss on her lips? “Good to see you, Detective. You look nice tonight.”

“Thanks for the invite. This is a good idea you and Mr. Jones hatched up here.” Once inside, Detective Wilkes’ green eyes scoped the room. “This is a good crowd. How are you holding up?”

“As well as I can. Thanks for asking. Anything out of Chris?”

“He’s sticking to his story about not seeing your daughter. I have a couple of colleagues checking out his activities over the last week or so. Don’t worry; we will nail him if he’s done anything unusual.”

“I hope so. Well, I guess I should get the mee
ting started soon.”

Wait a minute. Where was Louise? She should have been here first thing.

I tugged on Amos’ shirt sleeve. “Have you seen Louise?”

“No, I thought she’d be here already. That woman would have made a fine spy.”

“Mmmm. I wonder if her hip is bothering her again. She didn’t call. I’m going to head next door to check on her.”

“Sure, thing I’ll think that spread of food you got over there will keep folks busy. Is that fried chicken I smell?”

I knew it. He was a fried chicken man. “I hope you like it. It’s a little different.”

As I walked across my yard, I really did hope he liked it. A way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Without Amos’ help, I wouldn’t have been able to get through this week.

“Ughhh.” Something plowed into me so hard; I stumbled backwards to the ground.

“Miss Eugeena, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The sun was low, showing pink overtones in the sky. I gazed up into Carmen’s face. I didn’t know if it was the sky behind her, but the girl looked a hot mess. “Carmen?”

“I’m sorry, let me help you up.”

I grabbed the woman’s hand. She yanked me up, which surprised me more than my bruised rear end. “You sure don’t know your strength, girl.”

“I didn’t want to be late for the meeting.” She bent down and picked up a long rectangular object. “I hope the brownies are okay. I almost fo
rgot about them and ...”

I patted her on the arm. “I’m sure they’re fine and thanks for going through the trouble. Just slow down, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I peered into the girl’s eyes. The outside light was playing tricks on me, but the rims of her eyes a
ppeared to be red. Never mind her and my son was hanging out on my couch yesterday after the funeral. “You had a late night at the hospital?”

She looked away. “Something like that. I better get inside. Are you coming?”

“I’m heading to fetch Louise. I’ll be in there soon. Just sit your brownies on the table with the rest of the food.”

I watched the woman who with all her height seemed to be almost like a little girl lost tonight. Between her and Tamara, it seemed like I was doing more mothering to them than my own daughter. I sure hope Cedric didn’t have anything to do with what appeared to be recent tears.

Louise’s front windows were awfully dark. Knowing the night owl the woman tended to be, that definitely was odd. It was also very quiet. Louise loved watching game shows and this time of day she would being switching from
Jeopardy
and back to
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
. I told her once she needed to be a contestant on one of the shows before the good Lord took her home.

I rang the door bell. Surely, she didn’t take out her hearing aid. Knowing Louise had to hear everything, her silence wasn’t sitting well with my sto
mach. I went over to the swing set on her porch and reached around the back of the chair. Sure enough the spare key was still there. Years ago we worked out a system for each other to get into each other’s homes if we had to help each other out.

This seemed like one of those times. Now I was a fairly intelligent woman. I should have returned to my house for Amos or Detective Wilkes, but with several neighbors in my home, it might not be good to alert them to anything. Not yet. Louise could be knocked out sleeping for all I know.

The door clicked and swung open. Once inside, I closed the door. “Louise.” My voice bounced off the walls. I turned my head towards the living room which was pitch black. Not a single lamp on.

Maybe I need to get Amos.

Instead I kept walking down a hallway. Since Louise’s hip had grown increasingly frail, she’d converted what used to be a guest bedroom to her bedroom. I walked up to the closed door and I knocked. Then, I reached for the knob, the metal felt cool to my skin. With one movement, I turned the knob and flung the door open.

If Louise was asleep, the sound of the door banging against the dres
ser should have given her a heart attack. My own heart seemed to have changed positions in my chest, practically beating near my throat. The lamp on the nightstand showed a made bed.  Just as I thought. The woman never slept.

I peered down the hallway. The kitchen door was closed. Louise usua
lly kept the door propped open like I did.

My head felt woozy all of a sudden. Too much blood flow.
Have I eaten today?
I spent most of the day walking the floor and the other half cooking food, still walking the floor in a way.

Maybe I needed to get Amos.

I chanted.
I need to get Amos
.
I need to get Amos
.

I hadn’t convinced myself very well to stop what I was about to do.  I pushed the kitchen door open slowly, peering through the sliver. The light above the double porcelain sink illuminated the kitchen. I opened the door wider. A jar of honey sat unopened on the table, Louise loved honey in her tea. I looked at the counter. Two coffee cups. On the stove, the silver tea pot glistened.

My eyes traveled from the stove to the floor. That’s when I saw them.

Those ugly green clogs Louise loved. I knew they were probably co
mfortable, but I didn’t agree that comfort had to look like something an ogre would wear.

The clogs weren’t flat on the floor though, but sticking straight up to the sky.

I shuffled to the counter and then around. Images swarmed before my eyes.

Oh my friend. No, no, no.

Was this a dream? I opened my eyes, and then shut them tight. The light stung my eyes producing tears. I pried them open again and blinked. My surroundings were familiar, but this was not my house. I tried to sit up, but strong arms held me back.

“Whoa, Eugeena keep it steady?”

I opened my eyes wider and turned to the left. “Amos?”

“I was worried. Boy, am I glad I went looking for you.”

That’s when I remembered. I wasn’t in my house, but Louise’s. And the last thing I saw was Louise’s body laid out on the floor. “Is she...”

“She’s still breathing. It appeared she smacked her head pretty hard. Kind of strange with her being in the kitchen like...” Amos stopped and peered at me, the whole time he had been rubbing his bald head.

He didn’t have to say it out loud. I was already thinking it. I was also thinking was I next? Mary, Louise and I all lived on the same side of the street. “I thought she was dead. I knew something wasn’t right as soon as I stepped in the door.”

“Why didn’t you come get me, Eugeena? The person could have still been in the house?”

Or just left
. Things fell back into place as my head cleared.

“You know before I arrived, I ran into Carmen.”

Amos raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean you ran into her?”

“The girl just about bowled me over. I don’t know if she was just ru
nning to get to my house on time or if she was running from something.”

“She did appear a little out of sorts when she arrived at your house. You’re not thinking she assaulted Louise. What for?”

“I have no idea, but she and Wayne have been pretty tight. Louise noticed them together all the time. The woman isn’t the most discreet sometimes, she might have seen something and they saw her.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s nothing. I can tell you Wayne is getting his life together. I helped him get a J-O-B. All the boy needed was something to do. When Louise wakes up, she will tell us for sure. In the meantime, we need to get you checked out.”

“For what? I’m fine.” I lifted my body from the floor, but I felt like Peter must have felt when he realized he was walking on water. Except my foot didn’t like the idea of walking at all. “I think I better lay back down.”

Amos steadied me with his hands around my waist. For a minute there, I was surprised his arms fit around me.

Am I feverish?

A voice came from around Amos. “She needs to eat something.”

I looked around Amos to see Carmen standing with crackers in her hand

“Here you might want to have something to eat to help jumpstart your blood glucose.”

Spoken like a true doctor except I wasn’t too sure whether or not Carmen had tried to take a life instead of save one. Was she really running to my house with the tray of brownies or running from a crime scene?

Amos nodded. “Good idea, Carmen. Eugeena, you should eat som
ething.”

Carmen handed the package of crackers to Amos, who then passed them to me. Carmen cleared her throat and said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I called Dr. Patterson. He wants us to get you down to the hospital.”

I pushed a cracker into my mouth. They tasted like paper, but I ate until Amos was satisfied. Earlier in the evening, someone paid a visit to Louise. I simply wasn’t buying she just fell and bumped her head.  There were two tea cups on the counter. Knowing Louise, she spoke her mind without thinking. Had she uncovered the real murderer? If she did, she practically got herself killed.

We arrived at the hospital in what seemed like no time. Cedric met us in the emergency room. “Mama, how are you feeling?”

“I’m better. The shock got to me, but right now I really want to see Louise.”

“In a little while. From what I hear she’s still u
nconscious, plus she has cops waiting to speak to her, so you might be standing in line.

Detective Wilkes was at the neighborhood watch. She had to have noticed another person had been in the kitchen too. “Amos, did Detective Wilkes have anything to say about the meeting?”

Amos looked over at Cedric, then back to me. “She didn’t mention anything new, but she was a little concerned that you found two people who were obviously assaulted.”

“What do you mean she was concerned? I can’t help it if I have a special concern for people. I knew something wasn’t right with Mary and then again with Louise?”

“Calm down, Mama. She is probably just concerned about your safety. You might want to plan to spend the night at my place.”

“I can’t do that, Cedric. Cora will be bringing the kids back in the morning. Take me to see Louise please.”

We made it up to the sixth floor where Louise was in intensive care. It took some talking, but the nurse let me see Louise because she didn’t have any family.  I was her next door neighbor and I would have to do as kin. We all related to one another in our bloodlines.

Louise’s appearance brought tears to my eyes. An ugly purple bruise peeked out from under the white bandages around the right side of her face. The top of her head was completely wrapped in bandages. The one good thing, she appeared to be breathing on her own. No tubes were attached. I touched her hand, weathered with dark spots. Maybe she would recognize my voice and awaken.

“Louise.”

I believe my friend had some of the answers I sought, but Louise’s eyes remained tightly closed. I wasn’t going to find out until she awakened.

I wrapped my hand around Louise’s. “Sleep my friend. Get your rest. We still have to save our neighborhood.”

I walked back into the hall. As I turned the corner, I could hear a loud voice coming from the right. It was distinctly deep and kind of familiar.

“Where is she? Where is my mother?”

“Calm down, sir. This is intensive care. We need you to be calm. Tell me her name.”

“Louise Hopkins.”

I examined the man’s side profile. Well, I’ll be. When did he get back into town?

“William, is that you?”

The man turned. I gawked at Louise’s son. This was the boy she doted on. Her pride and joy. Now older, his hair was balding on the top and what hair he had left hung down his back in a ratty ponytail. “Eugeena. Where is she?”

Detective Wilkes walked up beside me. “Sir, are you kin to Mrs. Hopkins?”

William’s face turned into an ugly snarl. “Yeah, who are you?”

The detective held out her hand. “I’m Detective Wilkes. I’m looking into your mother’s case, to see if it relates to Mary Fleming.”

“Mary? What does she have to do with my mot
her?”

I decided to break in. “Somebody killed her. Your mother was very lucky this evening. Being
alone
.”  Didn’t Louise say her son was out shooting a documentary in the Amazon or something? She certainly didn’t mention he was coming to visit. Anytime William was in town Louise made a big hoopla for him. She hadn’t mentioned him in days; maybe weeks come to think about it.

William rubbed his hand across his shiny reddish forehead. “Mary’s dead?” He groaned and shook his head, “I’ve been trying to get mother to move out of that neighborhood for years.”

I cocked my eyebrow. “Louise is a staple in Sugar Creek. She knows everything and everyone. This is
her
home.”

William shook his finger in my face. “Well, a
fter we get through this ordeal, there’s a new assisted living home I’ve been checking out.”

I protested. “Your mother is independent and healthy as a horse.”

He shot back at me. “Well, someone practically tried to kill her and you said someone already died. You might not think much of me, but I will protect my mother.”             

Could I blame him? I shifted my eyes to my own son. The concern in Cedric’s eyes reflected what I saw in William’s. My vulnerability level had escala
ted sky high.

One friend was buried yesterday. Another friend lay in a hospital bed. My daughter? I had no idea where she could be. Two young chi
ldren. A little dog.  I don’t think I ever felt more helpless in my life. So much for organizing a neighborhood association, I couldn’t keep a handle on my life. God said he wouldn’t give you more than you could bear.

Hello Lord! Can you see a sistah’s white flag waving in the air?