A bent-over elderly black man with short gray hair and thick wire-rimmed glasses read some passages from the New Testament. When he sat down, Pastor Black launched into a eulogy of Sister Bessie.
“What can we say about Sister Bessie that we don’t already know in our hearts? She was a pillar of the Jerusalem A.B.E. Church and this community. She came to church every Sunday, sometimes twice. A Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout troop leader, and frequent visitor to the sick and the shut-ins, she walked the talk, lived her faith and gave herself to her church.”
The minister mopped his brow with a handkerchief.
“Everywhere she went, she spread the word of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and she sang like an angel. We were blessed to have her voice in the choir. We will miss it. What can we say about Sister Bessie that we don’t already know in our hearts? I invite family and friends to share their memories of Sister Bessie and to share the joy that she brought to us all. But first, Mrs. Black, another hymn?”
The choir sang another old hymn about the arms of God. As Sarah hummed along, she thanked God for deciding it hadn’t yet been time for her to shelter in His arms. The night before, after dragging herself out of the pond, she had made her way home in the dark. Fearful the couple who attacked her might be nearby and watching for signs of life, she had left the house lights off.
She had called the police and left a message for Officer Mike Corrigan, asking him to call her as soon as possible. He was the only police officer who had seemed to take her concerns and reports seriously. Then, by the light of the moon, she took a hot bath, crawled into bed with her mother’s loaded gun, and her cell phone.
She called Dan. His voicemail came on.
She left message after message, until she had told him everything. For the first time in over a week, she had no dreams. Her life was nightmare enough. When she awoke, she found the phone in her hand, its battery dead.
The hymn ended. Once again, the young boy continued to stand, clap his hands, and bob his head. Once again, Jazmin stood up and whispered in his ear. He sat down. Sarah was surprised. She had no idea Jazmin had a child. She wondered how old Jazmin had been when she had him. She was pretty young.
Members of the family and the congregation climbed up the stairs to the podium to speak a few words about the dearly departed. The choir leader said he’d miss Sister Bessie’s sweet soprano. The Sunday school principal cried and told the congregation how she’d be missed in the classroom. Several friends said they’d miss her at church suppers and visitations. At last, it was Arlene’s turn to speak. She climbed the stairs, looking neither left nor right.
“Mama, it wasn’t easy being your daughter. You leave me big shoes to fill.”
She swayed and gripped the sides of the pulpit. “You’ve been freed from this earthly realm. Now you’re home in our Lord’s arms. I know you’re looking down on me, watching me to see I do the right things. I promise you, Mama, I will.”
She choked up, putting a tissue to her mouth.
Pastor Black reached out to pat her shoulder. Arlene twisted out of his grip and ran down the stairs, back to her seat. She sobbed and shook throughout the closing hymn, “Amazing Grace,” her head down, eyes closed.
Sarah’s heart wrenched at the sight. Soon, she could be doing the same thing, placing her mother in God’s hands. Not yet, please Lord. Not yet.
* * * *
“Sarah!”
“Dan?” She slowly twirled in place on the sidewalk, trying to pick him out of the sea of black suits and dresses. She spotted him. Tanned, tall, and handsome, Dan was a welcome sight on any occasion, but especially now.
“I can’t believe it.” Sarah pushed through the surging crowd of mourners until at last she stood in front of him. The desperate woman who had spoken for hours into his voicemail was speechless with emotion. Now what should she do? Should she shake his hand? Give him a peck on the cheek? Hug him? Time and distance had made things awkward.
As if in response to her indecisive thoughts, he leaned down and wrapped his long arms around her. “I came as soon as I could.”
Relief, gratitude, and love, mixed with the scent of him and memories of their intense sexual chemistry washed over her, leaving her tingling and weak-kneed. She clutched his neck and sobbed on his shoulder.
He kissed the top of her head, hugging and rocking her as he shushed her. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”
All the emotional tension that had been keeping her standing on her own two feet—in the face of her mother’s accident, the loss of Aunt Ida, and the multiple attacks—was released with his simple assurance. She sagged against him, knowing he’d catch her, her trust in him restored with his return.
Half lifting her, he led Sarah to a bench under a large oak tree. She rested her head on his shoulder. She tried to speak, but words wrapped around sobs, until she was spent and exhausted.
“Feel better?” he asked.
She hiccupped, laughed, and said, “Yes. Now I’m starving.”
“You always had a good appetite after sex,” he whispered, tickling her ear.
He had always had an incredible effect on her, but how could she be simultaneously sad, fearful for her life, and sexually aroused? In public, after a funeral, no less? Damn the man. Her body screamed: Let’s have sex. Now. But her brain said, Yikes. Not yet. It’s way too soon.
“Let’s go to the luncheon,” she said with great effort.
Everyone was invited to the banquet hall next to the church. Sarah clung to Dan’s arm, refusing to let go of him.
Jazmin waved to Sarah and motioned for her to join her at a table.
“Well, who do we have here?” Jazmin gave Dan a long once-over and nodded her approval at Sarah. “He have any brothers? We’ll take two.”
Sarah laughed. “He’s an only child.” She introduced Dan to Jazmin and her co-workers.
Peter waved a napkin at Dan. He had a mouthful of food and couldn’t speak. Mountains of fried chicken, biscuits, greens, and mashed potatoes disappeared as he vacuumed his plate, followed by sweet potato pie.
“The ladies of the church outdid themselves,” Sarah said. “Everything looks delicious.”
“We pride ourselves on our cooking,” Jazmin said. “This crowd ain’t shy about eating. Get up to the buffet before it’s all gone.”
Plates piled high, Dan and Sarah returned to the table. Peter wiped hands on a napkin, introduced his wife, and told Dan what a great teacher Sarah was.
“Not only was she able to teach me statistics,” Peter said, “but also how to look beyond the surface of the data for more important findings.”
“Like what?” Jazmin asked.
“You know the notes that the police are investigating?” Sarah whispered. “Peter and I think it’s related to his research project. When I re-analyzed the data, I found an unusual number of cases of congenital syphilis among girls in this congregation.” Sarah tapped the table for emphasis. “I think some creep is preying on little kids in this church.”
“That’s disgusting!” Jazmin said in a loud voice. “We have to do something right now!”
“About what?” Arlene asked suddenly appearing next to Sarah’s chair.
Sarah hugged Arlene. “I’m so sorry for your loss. If I can do anything, please tell me.”
“You would understand,” Arlene said. “I know you’re having a tough time with your mother.”
“We’re in a holding pattern,” Sarah said. She introduced Dan as her “friend from out of town.”
“Sarah, you should tell Arlene what you told me,” Jazmin said.
Sarah shook her head. “This isn’t the time to bother her with work.”
Jazmin pressed on, undeterred. “Do you remember anyone in the church getting too touchy-feely with the kids? Sarah says some pervert’s been messing with the girls in our church.”
Arlene stiffened and stepped back. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you’ll excuse me, I have other people I need to greet.” She turned on her heel a
nd left.
Sarah bit her lower lip, patted Dan on the hand, and said, “Time for us to go.”
* * * *
A police car sat at the edge of the driveway when Sarah arrived home. She was so relieved to see Officer Corrigan, that she wasn’t even annoyed by Pollack’s presence.
“Officer Mike! Am I ever glad to see you! Dan, this is Officer Mike Corrigan and Officer Pollack. I’ve told you about them.”
Dan nodded and said hello.
“You called?” Officer Mike asked.
“Last night, I almost ‘slept with the fish’.” She told them the story, and both officers scribbled in their notebooks. At Aunt Ida’s, Sarah re-enacted the event, complete with the man and the sultry-voiced woman. Then she took them to her house to show them her “life preservers.” She put her key in the deadbolt as the men stood on the top step behind her. Before she could turn the key, the door swung inward. She froze.
“I’m positive I locked the door when I left this morning.”
Winston’s head appeared in the gap between the door and the doorframe, happy to see everyone. He charged out the door and jumped on Dan.
“Well, hello my new best friend,” Dan said. “What’s your name?”
“His first name is ‘Down’!’” Officer Mike said. “His second name is Winston.”
Sarah was happy the silly dog was alive and well. The police officers entered the kitchen ahead of Sarah, then motioned for her to come in. Dan followed her inside.
“Did you leave the kitchen like this?” Officer Pollack asked.
Every single cabinet drawer had been pulled out and the contents spilled onto the floor. Tea towels, dishes, flatware, and glasses mingled with napkins, paper towels, soap, cereal, coffee, and tea.
“Oh, yes, my kitchen always looks like this,” Sarah said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “What kind of question is that? I don’t think my dog could do this much damage, if he tried. What do you think?”
“I think you’ve had a B and E,” Officer Pollack said.
“As in, I’ve been burgled?”
Dan raised an eyebrow. “Is that a real word?”
“You stay here while we check out the rest of the rooms to be sure no one’s still at work,” Officer Mike said. “Is there a basement?”
“Yes, and it’s full of stuff, so it would be easy for someone to hide.”
“Better call this one in,” Officer Pollack said and pulled out his cell phone as he left the kitchen.
The room began to spin. Sarah sat down with a thud.
“Are you okay?” Dan pulled up another kitchen chair next to her, sat down, and took her hand.
“I think so. I just got a little light-headed. I’m not sure I can handle too many more surprises,” she said. “I’m close to my rope’s end.”
“Did you ever get that head injury looked at?” Dan asked, reaching up to touch the back of her head.
She looked into his dark brown eyes. If eyes were the window to the soul, his was full of compassion. If she looked deeply enough, would she see love in there again? He stroked her hair with a gentle hand, evoking a memory of that same hand sliding down her neck, over her breasts, teasing her nipples—
“All clear,” Officer Mike said as he walked into the kitchen.
Dan took his hand away from Sarah’s head, and put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a little squeeze. She leaned against him, wishing she could have an hour alone with him.
“The rest of the house looks equally trashed,” Officer Mike said. “You’re going to have to figure out what’s missing after the Crime Lab comes in to dust for prints. Did you have any valuables like jewelry or art?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Any guns?”
She felt sick to her stomach and it must have shown on her face.
“You had a gun?” Pollack asked.
“My mother had a .22 Ruger. I found it yesterday when I was looking for a bathing suit. After I got knocked on the head, I came home, loaded it, and slept with it. This morning I left it in my nightstand. Do you want me to see if it’s still there?”
“Why don’t we wait until the Crime Lab gets here?” Officer Pollack tapped his pen against his notebook and yawned.
“Did you ever call Pollack’s Towing about Aunt Ida’s car?” Sarah asked. “I know it was hers. I saw the license plate.”
“We’re getting there,” Officer Pollack replied.
“Any relation?” Sarah asked.
“My father’s cousin.”
“We must be in Baltimore.” Sarah yawned. “When will the Crime Lab techs get here?” She could hardly keep her eyes open.
“You can lean on me and take a nap, Sarah,” Dan said. “You need to get some rest.”
“Why don’t you go to your Aunt’s house and lie down?” Office Mike said. “This is going to take a while.”
* * * *
Knowing Dan was sitting in the armchair across from her had made her feel safe enough to relax and fall into a deep sleep as soon as her head touched the pillow on the couch in Aunt Ida’s den. She was dreaming that someone was shouting at her, saying terrible things about her. She woke up. It wasn’t a dream. The yelling was real.
“What have you done?”
A red-faced man shouted at her. Who was he? Pollack. That’s right, Officer Pollack.
“What have you done?”
“What have I done?” Dizzy and disoriented, she looked around the room. Dan was gone and the police officers were glaring at her. Confused, she looked from one officer to the other.
She sat upright, pushed the afghan away, and looked from one to the other officer. “What are you talking about?”
“What did you do to your aunt?”
She looked into the officer’s eyes, his face red and contorted with anger. “I didn’t do anything to her. What’s the matter with you?”
“Homicide is on the way,” Officer Mike said.
Officer Pollack asked, “Can you explain how a finger got into your freezer?”
Was she still asleep, just having a very vivid nightmare? “A what?”
“A human finger. A pinky, to be exact, cut off just above the knuckle was found wrapped in aluminum foil in your freezer, along with a wedding band. The ring is inscribed ‘To Ida, Love Jack’,” Officer Pollack said his face red and contorted with anger.
The room began to spin and her arms and legs felt like strands of wire shaking under the weight of a thousand angry birds. “No, no, no. That can’t be.”
“Where’s the rest of the body?”
Sarah put her head between her knees and moaned, bile rising in her throat, threatening to explode in vomit. “Stop it, just stop!”
“You missed a piece,” Pollack shouted. “Where’s the rest of the body? Did you have help?”
She snapped her head up and shouted at the officers. “Betty. We have to find Betty.”
“What about her?”
“I came home yesterday afternoon and found her sitting on my back porch.” Sarah’s teeth chattered. “I’d been to Shady Rest Nursing Home to see about placing my mother there. Oh, no. My mother’s being transferred to Shady Rest and I have to sign papers for her today.”
“Finish your story. You found Betty on your back porch. She’s your aunt’s cleaning lady, right? The disabled one?”
“She was a mess. She looked like she’d been crying, and her hair and clothes were askew. I asked her what was wrong. She dragged me over to Aunt Ida’s house.”
Raggedy sobs shook her, strangling her words.
“The power was out. I opened the freezer. It was full of packages wrapped in aluminum foil. Betty was frantic. I finally calmed her down by telling her I’d bring the frozen food to my house. She left to go to another job, and I brought everything over here and put it in my freezer.”
“What’s Betty’s last name?”
“I don’t know.” What the hell was going on? Was it really Aunt Ida’s pinky? She felt like vomiting.
/> Officer Pollack was staring at Sarah.
“We have to find Betty,” Sarah repeated. “She’s the key.”
“You have the right to remain silent,” he said.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
Officer Mike stood by the door with an unhappy expression on his face. He wouldn’t make eye contact with her.
“Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law,” Officer Pollack said.
This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not in her beloved aunt’s home. It had to be a terrible nightmare. “Am I being arrested?”
“You have the right to have an attorney present now and during any future questioning.”
“Why won’t you answer me?” Her breath came in short gasps, as if she was trying to breathe through a wet washcloth. “What’s going on?”
“If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you, free of charge, if you wish.”
“Answer me, damn it! What’s going on?”
“Sarah Wright, you are under arrest for the murder of Ida Mae Katz.”
Chapter Sixteen
Numb from shock, Sarah sat in a large, new, cinderblock lined, barren holding cell at the Precinct 03/Franklin Station. She couldn’t stop thinking about Aunt Ida. They had to be wrong. She had to be alive. But where was she?
As Dan had looked on, holding Winston, and shouting, “You can’t do this!” The police officers had pressed her into a squad car, leaving her home under investigation by Sergeant Detective Engelman and the Crime Lab.
She was fingerprinted, photographed, and stripped of anything she might use to escape or hurt herself with, such as her gold hoop earrings. They also took her purse and phone. She’d been waiting in the cell for over an hour and was getting anxious. Dan would take care of her dog and cats, but what would she do about her mother?
Aunt Ida dead? No. She didn’t believe it.
Homicide Detectives interviewed her for an hour before they tired of her responses—“I didn’t do it! I want my lawyer!”—and locked her up.
Some Other Child Page 16