Chicken Culprit

by Vikki Walton

  She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. “Then our door opened.”

  “Two guards entered. Another man was with them. A white man. He looked at my sister and then me. Guards forced me to stand. He instructed me to turn around. I was so afraid. I didn’t move. The white man turned and slapped Adanech. Hard. I rushed toward her. A guard grabbed me. My sister pulled herself up from the ground. He hit her again—hard across the face. Her mouth …so bloody. This time she didn’t get up as he punched her again. I pleaded. Begged him to stop. I said I would do what he asked. I know now that this is what he wanted. Otherwise, he would have continued the beating.

  “He told me to turn around. Remove my clothing. I hesitated. He kicked my sister. I took off my clothes and stood there in my humiliation. He asked if I was a virgin. I nodded, yes. Then he asked my sister.” Eliza stopped and wiped her eyes, the pain etched on her face.

  “Why she said no, I’ll never understand. I can only guess that she thought it would protect me. He told the guards not to touch me. They raped my sister in front of my eyes. When they found out she had been a virgin, they beat her some more.”

  “Oh, Eliza. I don’t know what to say.” She moved over next to the woman and took her hands in her own.

  “They left us alone for about a week. We didn’t know if it was night or day. Then the white man returned. He told me that I was going to meet a very important man. If I tried to run, my sister would be killed.”

  “Were you worried they would kill her anyway?” “No. She was still of use to them.” She stared at Anne.“She was fourteen.”

  “Oh my god.” Anne clutched at her throat. “How old were you?”

  Eliza spoke softly. “Thirteen. However, one man had specifically asked for an Ethiopian virgin. I was taken to his yacht.” She sighed and took a sip of her tea. “The man asked to speak to the white man, but my guards said that he didn’t attend transactions. The man—they called him Mr. Smith—nodded. One of his men came forward with a briefcase filled with American dollars. After the men left, Mr. Smith told the guards to take me below.”

  Anne’s stomach tightened; the fear of that past moment palpable between them.

  Eliza cupped her hands in her lap. “I was terrified. I shook so terribly that they ended up supporting me. I waited for over an hour. Finally, he came. I dropped to my knees and begged him to not hurt me.”

  Eliza took a sip of the lukewarm tea. She glanced out at the lake. Anne prepared for the worst.

  Eliza continued, “Mr. Smith lifted me up from the ground and put his fingers to his lips. Then, very loudly, he said, “Take a bath—I don’t want to touch filth.” I was confused but followed him into the bathroom. He started the tub and the shower. Then turned on horrific hard-rock music.

  “It was deafening. Smith opened a cabinet. Inside was a safe. There was another hidden safe inside the safe. He was with an international secret service organization. They were trying to take down human trafficking cartels. They had hoped to capture the white man, but he continued to evade them. They needed someone on the inside. By the end of the evening I’d been fitted with a tracking chip. I told him about my sister, and he said they would do everything in their power to save her too.” Anne could barely believe the horror Eliza had endured. Anne had heard of human trafficking but had never personally met a survivor. She waited as Eliza took another sip of tea.

  Eliza composed herself before resuming the story. “I returned to the compound with the story that the man had to go away on business and wasn’t able to finish the transaction. He would return for me. This ensured I would not be raped. They allowed me to rejoin Adanech. She wasn’t eating and had developed a fever. I implored them for a doctor, but they just laughed. Then one day a few weeks after I’d returned, I heard men shouting. Gunfire. My sister and I tried to escape out an unlocked door, but one of the guards saw us. He fired his gun. My sister pushed me out the door. She was shot. She died in my arms.”

  Anne gasped. “Eliza, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you.” Eliza wiped more tears from her eyes. “That was many years ago. The agency helped me to come to America because I had become a target since I’d exposed the operation. I was placed in protection for many more years. I finally decided if I had to live that way for the rest of my life, they had killed me as much as they had taken the life of my sister and taken me from my family forever. I started working as a model’s assistant. Later, I stepped in for models’ hands and feet, and as a body double. My career took off.”

  So that explained why Eliza never showed her face in pictures. “I’m sure this is going to come across as very rude, but I don’t know how else to say it. Why did you come to Carolan Springs? If you’re still trying to stay away from these people, wouldn’t a town with a more diverse ethnicity work better?”

  Eliza threw back her head and laughed loudly. “Yes. I would have thought so too. But I have the best protection I can receive by staying.”

  “What? Sorry, but that makes no sense.”

  “You have not lived in the town long enough. However, you will find that people here are very protective of its residents. The first few times I visited, I would ask how to get to Kandi’s house, and the people would react with Who ?

  At first, yes, I thought that the town was racist. But that is not the case at all. They are, in fact, very caring to anyone and everyone. I guess they feel sharing about someone without their permission is disrespectful to that person. Though talking about them in the town is another thing.” She laughed again, breaking the somber moment.

  Anne considered what Eliza said. I bet they hate the outside media I brought here recently.

  Eliza retrieved more tea. “So if anyone were to ask about a tall black woman, the people here would instantly know that I don’t want to see anyone asking for me. And, even better, they would contact me immediately.”

  “How do you know? Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I once had someone from a photo shoot in Denver say they wanted to come out to dinner. I recommended they come here. Finally, they called me and asked why the people were so unfriendly and unhelpful in giving directions.”

  “Eliza, I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. You’ve had horrific things happen to you. I, for one, can certainly understand about moving here to escape something. But what I can’t understand is what this has to do with Ralph’s murder.”

  Eliza moaned. “I still can’t believe I killed him.”

  “Are you saying that you don’t know if you killed him? I’m sorry, but I’m confused. And you just don’t seem like the killer type. Now, Stanley’s wife, I wouldn’t put it past her. You know, sweet little old lady… ”

  Eliza burst out laughing. Anne joined in.

  “Thank you, sweet Anne. I needed that.” She stopped and smoothed down her robe. She glanced at a nearby clock. “We still have some time before the lawyer arrives from Denver. We need to get dressed, and then I could use some coffee and something to eat. You?”

  “Sounds good.”

  After Eliza dressed, Anne retreated to the bathroom and dressed, her mind awhirl with so many thoughts, her emotions overwhelmed at all she’d seen and heard. She didn’t know how to feel. One thing she knew for certain was that she felt safe with Eliza. Yet, her confession to Ralph’s murder seemed off. Something was still missing. Back in the kitchen, Anne watched the woman go through the motions of setting the coffee to brew. Almost mechanically, Eliza placed granola, yogurt, and fruit on the table. When they sat down to eat, Eliza spoke.

  “I’ve been trying to figure out what happened. It’s because of my sleep. When we were in captivity, they would constantly change the lighting. You would be sleeping, and the lights would come on. You would be awake, and they would turn the lights off and you would have to sit in darkness. I later heard it’s a standard form of torture to create mental exhaustion. You never knew what to expect. Ever since then, a sound sleep has been diffi
cult. This is why I moved out here. I feel safe, and I can sleep easier as I can see in every direction. But last year, I began having nightmares again. I finally went to a doctor who prescribed me these.” She moved to the kitchen trashcan and dug out a bottle of prescription medication.

  “The first night I slept fine. But then, I would have these vivid dreams. Or I would wake up and find myself in my jogging clothes.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “Then Ralph was murdered. I liked Ralph. Why would I want to kill him? Yet, I remember pieces of my dream from that night. I was running along the path behind the houses. I heard something. Our cell door was open. I needed to flee before they returned. I had to save my sister. I sprinted out of the door. Of course, there was no door.

  “Then I saw the white man. My sister headed toward him. I had to stop him. I ran. We struggled. I wouldn’t let him hurt my sister. He shoved me to the ground. I blacked out—or fell asleep—or …” She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know!

  “When I woke up, Ralph was lying on his back on the ground. I ran to my house. In the morning, I was in my pajamas in my bed. I thought at the time that it had all been a nightmare.”

  “Wait. So you were really running, but you thought you were running in a dream?”

  “I think that’s true, but I can’t be sure.”

  “The door you saw. Is that the area from the path onto Ralph’s property?” Anne didn’t wait for Eliza’s response before thinking aloud. “Now that I think of it, with the trees overhanging, that area does look somewhat like a door.” She paused. “Eliza, why are you telling me all this? Shouldn’t you wait for the lawyer?”

  Eliza reached across the table and took Anne’s hand. “Because I trust you, Anne. I know if anyone can help me make sense of this mess, it’s you. That’s why I felt I could release my burden. I consider you a good friend.”

  Anne squeezed Eliza’s hand. “I consider you a good friend too.” Anne felt certain that Eliza hadn’t meant to kill Ralph. “Okay, Eliza, I’ve got some more questions. In your dream, you grabbed the axe and fought with Ralph. But if you were sleeping, it had to be nighttime. No one would be outside then. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “I used to run every morning at five o’clock. Ralph was always up early too. I’d often see him in the café if I decided to go there for breakfast after my run.”

  “So he was in his yard—doing what?”

  “I don’t know. All I know is that I saw this white man heading toward my sister. I had to stop him.”

  “Your sister?” Anne motioned with her fork. “Did you see someone else?”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know. Some of it is as clear as you sitting across from me. And some is fuzzy, or I can’t remember at all.” Eliza poured more coffee for them both.

  “So you grabbed the axe, and you struggled.” “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Then you either fell or were pushed?” Anne leaned toward Eliza.

  “As far as I can remember, that’s correct. I think we both fell.”

  “And you lost consciousness or whatever it was for a time. How long before you came to your senses again?”

  Eliza concentrated. “I’m not sure. Probably not long. At that point, I don’t know if I was awake or still in that dreamlike state. I saw him lying on the ground with his eyes closed. I got up and ran back to the path.”

  “So you didn’t check to see if he was dead?”

  Eliza shook her head. “I know that I should have but at the time I thought I was still dreaming.”

  “And the reason that your prints weren’t on the axe was because you were wearing black gloves.”

  Eliza stiffened. “I suppose so. Yes.”

  “So you left. Ralph was sprawled on his back and you ran.”

  “I’m sorry, but I just can’t remember.” Anne patted her hand.

  “What about the car accident?”

  “That’s when I knew that I could be the one who killed Ralph. I was asleep when I got behind the wheel. I didn’t remember getting in the car or driving. All I remember was waking up in the hospital. That’s when I said I’d never take those pills again. Unfortunately, it sometimes has lingering side-effects, hence my run last night.”

  “But why didn’t you say something?”

  “I was afraid the cartel would find me. I needed time to think. But then they accused Kandi. I thought she’d be released, but then all the evidence pointed to her committing the murder.”

  The doorbell rang. They glanced over to see a man standing outside the entry. The lawyer had arrived.

  Eliza stood to answer the door, but Anne pulled on her arm, “One last thing. Why did you move the axe?”

  “I didn’t move it.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Anne hugged Eliza. “Be strong. We’re going to keep working on this.”

  Eliza didn’t respond but nodded. The attorney had informed the police that he would escort Eliza to the station where she would turn herself in. Eliza got in the lawyer’s Mercedes.

  Anne followed the pair in her truck. After the Mercedes turned onto the main road, a cruiser pulled in behind the attorney’s vehicle. Looked like the sheriff’s office was ensuring Eliza’s arrival.

  Sheriff Carson. She saw his frown at seeing her as he drove past.

  “Shoot. Bet I’ll be getting a visit later today.” Anne made no move to join the parade. Her hands tightly gripped the steering wheel. Poor Eliza. Her outward facade hid a broken reality of a life brutally torn apart. Anne felt certain Eliza had never intended to kill Ralph or hurt Kandi in the process. Now she needed their help. But something she’d said while recounting her story kept nibbling at Anne’s mind.

  Anne yanked her phone from her purse. She told Kandi about Eliza’s confession and she agreed to be at Anne’s house by the time Anne arrived.

  Kandi sat at the kitchen table. She jumped up when Anne entered. “I can’t believe it! I can’t see Eliza, like, hurting anyone.”

  “I agree. But she acknowledges she was at the scene when the murder occurred.” The pair sat in the ladder- back chairs.

  “Hmmm, I’m like, I mean, I’m happy that they won’t think it’s me anymore, and like, bummed it’s Eliza.” She twisted her mouth to the side, biting the inside of her cheek.

  “Listen, I think we need to go back over that day. Or even maybe from the time I saw you with Ralph.”

  “Let me think.” Her gaze rose to the left. She tilted her head right. “Let’s see. So Rusty had gotten in Ralph’s tomatoes—again .”

  “Speaking of Rusty, I know you said she disappeared.

  Any news?”

  “Craziest thing. All I can figure is she must have gotten out of the run. I know a bunch of foxes and other critters live in the forest. So I’m sure she’s gone for good. I know it’s silly, but I cried for days. Everyone thought it was about Ralph, and I know we were neighbors and all, but I barely knew him. He kept pretty much to himself.” She shrugged her shoulders sheepishly.

  “All right. Rabbit trail. So you went over to get her, and that’s when you two got into a fight.”

  “Yep. He had Rusty in one hand and the axe in his other. I grabbed the axe handle to block him hurting Rusty.”

  “That’s when I came around the lilacs,” Anne interjected.

  Kandi stuck her chin in the air. “Yep. That’s right.” “So you were worried he was going to kill Rusty. Is that right?”

  “Not really. I think he’d been chopping wood. If I get up early to see Jeff off for business trips, I can sometimes hear him.”

  “How early would you say?”

  “Well, I guess it would be around four…or five in the morning. Those early flights are bad enough without the other nonsense you have to deal with at the airports.”

  Kandi twirled her hair with a finger. “So then I think, like, yes, you stepped too close to the compost pile and, like, fell into it.” She snickered a bit. “It was kinda funny. Your arms doing a cartwheel.” She stood and mimicked Ann
e’s fall into the pile. Her face contorted in exaggerated horror.

  “Yes. Ha. Ha. Real funny. Let’s stay on track. Then what happened?”

  Kandi sat back down. “Umm, let me think. I got Rusty, and Ralph kept the axe. I came over to help you up.”

  “What was Ralph doing then?”

  “I think he put the axe down on the stump he used to split wood.” Kandi crossed to the refrigerator and pulled out a container of juice. She retrieved two glasses and poured them each some before sitting back down.

  “Then what happened?” Anne took a sip of the cold, tangy grapefruit juice.

  “You were there for the rest. Ralph, like, told me to keep my chicken out of his tomatoes, and I stuck out my tongue at him.”

  “When did Rusty disappear?”

  “About that same time. I took Rusty home and put her in the run. I called Jeff and told him about what had happened with Ralph. He couldn’t talk because he was in some kind of meeting with some, like, bigwigs.”

  “Okay, let’s forget the chicken for now. Fast forward to when you found Ralph.”

  Kandi grimaced. “I couldn’t find Rusty. I figured I better go see if she’d gone to Ralph’s. I didn’t want him getting mad again. I cut through over to his yard. He was lying face down on the compost pile. I turned him over and…that’s when I saw the blood. Then I looked down and saw the blood all over my hands.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I started screaming.” She opened her eyes full of unshed tears. “That’s when you came.”

  Anne reached over and hugged Kandi. “You’re the best. Thank you!” She jumped up and performed a little victory dance. “I think I may have just solved the crime!” She squealed. “I can’t believe it. I think I figured it out. Just like a real detective.” She plopped back in her seat. “We have to have a meeting so I can present my hypothesis.”

  “Your what?” Kandi stared at Anne like she’d sprouted horns.

  “My hypothesis.” She saw Kandi’s puzzled expression. “What I think happened to Ralph.”