A Simmering Dilemma

by Tyora Moody

  “Nothing surprises me anymore. I’ve seen it all. I have to say this on my property is a new one.” Amos waved his arms. “Let’s move inside the house. We’ve trampled around enough back here. Briana, you’re going to have to answer some questions starting with who you invited into this house.”

  Briana stared back at her father, shaking her head. Her voice pitched higher than usual as she protested, “I don’t know who would have done this. I don’t even remember anyone being outside in the backyard or near the shed.”

  Amos grabbed her shoulders as though to keep her from flying off the handle. “I can hear the cops approaching. They just need to know who was here to start the investigation.” He glanced over at me.

  I arched an eyebrow. I felt pretty sure Amos was going to be doing some investigating on his own and he knew me. I was not about to let him leave me out.

  As Amos predicted, blue lights and sirens arrived in front of the house. I had a feeling I knew who else from Charleston P.D. would show up soon. I had so many run-ins with the homicide detective, she knew me by name. I even had the detective’s information in my phone contacts. A strange thing, but last fall I was pulled into a murder investigation as a civilian.

  People like to confess things to me. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I’d been a teacher. I’d always had students who liked to confide in me.

  Now, I have a homicide detective on speed dial.

  The doorbell rang soon after we re-entered the house through the backdoor. I couldn’t help but look around and notice Amos’s former home in disarray. It was clear that Briana had a group of people in the house, especially in the kitchen. Dishes were in the sink, pizza and chicken wing boxes were stacked on the kitchen table, and I noticed quite a few beer cans and brown bottles spilling over the top of the trashcan. I wanted to immediately clean-up, but that wouldn’t be a good idea. I headed into the living room behind Amos and Briana; this room appeared to be a disaster area too.

  Pillows from the couch were piled in the corner and most of the dining room chairs were placed around the room indicating where people had sat while they visited.

  Amos let the deputy in. Instead of sitting down, we all stood in the living room facing the young man who came to take our statement.

  He glanced around briefly and then cleared his throat. “Someone reported a body.”

  Briana looked over at her father, seeming unsure how to answer.

  Amos nodded. “Yes, my daughter called me. My wife and I live next door. We came right over and once I saw the body, I called 9-1-1. I’m a retired homicide detective.”

  The deputy frowned. “Okay, sir. Well, I assumed no one touched the body.”

  Briana shook her head vehemently. “No, as soon as I saw… I ran back into the house to call my dad.”

  The deputy had removed a notebook from his uniform’s breast pocket. He flipped it open and clicked the pen in his hand. “Ma’am, did you recognize the person?”

  Briana seemed to freeze for a moment before answering. “I don’t think I knew her.” She glanced over at her dad. “I mean she wasn’t here with the others.”

  The deputy asked sharply, “Others?”

  “I had a small get together last night and tonight. Most of the same people. Tonight, everyone had just left, most of them had jobs to get to in the morning. I was getting ready to take the trash out, but then I noticed the shed was open. I don’t know why this caught my attention. I guess I wasn’t sure if anyone was in there so I went to check. Then, I noticed a smell.”

  A frowned crossed the deputy’s face. “Ma’am, how many people were here at the house this weekend? We’re going to need all their names.”

  Briana stuttered, “I will try, but…”

  My mouth spilled the question before I could help myself. “You don’t know who all was in here, do you?”

  She glared at me. “I knew most of them. Some people brought guests. That’s normal. It wasn’t more than fifteen or sixteen people.”

  I glanced over at Amos, whose forehead was wrinkled as if he was trying to ward off a pending headache.

  “Just sit tight.” The deputy held up his hands. “I’m going to secure the crime scene. The detective should be here any minute. If I was you, I would start jotting down names of those who were on the premises this evening.”

  Amos stood, “I can show you the way, deputy.”

  Amos and the deputy left the living room leaving me standing next to Briana.

  I puzzled over her answers to the deputy’s questions. Briana claimed she wasn’t sure if she knew the woman, but I thought I sensed recognition in her eyes. Even I thought the woman looked familiar. I started to question Briana about her reaction, but the doorbell rang. I had a pretty good idea who it was before I headed towards the door.

  “Let me get the door for you. I have had some run-ins with this Charleston homicide detective. Be on guard, because she doesn’t play with her questions.”

  When I opened the door I was greeted by a petite redhead woman who by now I could have called a friend. But we didn’t have that kind of relationship. Detective Sarah Wilkes didn’t appear very pleased to see me and I kind of expected that. I did have a history which involved me butting into her investigations.

  Still I knew she respected me and I knew she certainly respected Amos. Wilkes’ father and Amos served together on the force, so they had a long history together.

  She smiled, “Mrs. Patterson. Or should I call you Mrs. Jones now?”

  I returned a smile, “I’m Mrs. Patterson-Jones now, but you know you’re welcome to call me Eugeena.”

  Detective Wilkes nodded. “Miss Eugeena. Congratulations on your nuptials. I’m sorry I couldn’t make the wedding, but you know in the back of my mind I figured you and I would meet again.” She stepped into the house, a grimace on her face as she glanced around. “Here we are meeting again at another crime scene.”

  I frowned, “I hope you know I don’t look for these crime scenes.”

  “No, they seem to find you.” Detective Wilkes whipped out her notebook from inside her jacket pocket. “Who found the body?”

  “I did.” Briana crossed her arms, looking warily at Detective Wilkes.

  The detective eyed the young woman. “You are?”

  “Briana Jones. Amos is my father.”

  Detective Wilkes responded, “Uh-huh. Did you recognize the body?”

  Briana seemed to freeze again before answering. Her response was low. “I don’t think so.”

  I eyed Briana and then glanced over at the detective. Wilkes was watching Briana closely.

  She picked up on it too. Briana had a definite reaction when she was asked that question. Did she know the dead woman outside? If so, how?

  This was not going to go well if Briana was hiding something.

  Chapter 3

  The CSI unit arrived early Monday morning and stayed for hours marking various areas of Amos’s property. At some point we ventured back over to our house. Despite the body being outside, Briana insisted she didn’t want to be alone, so I set her up in one of the guest bedrooms downstairs. Eventually Amos and I climbed the stairs to our bedroom, but I tossed and turned as much as he did. After what felt like a really short night, I climbed out of bed, washed my face and brushed my teeth.

  Porgy watched me from his doggy bed in the corner of our bedroom. Usually Amos was up before me and he let Porgy outside in the morning while I slept. I didn’t want to disturb Amos, so I ushered the dog out of the bedroom with me. As much as his short legs allowed, the dog galloped down the stairs and then proceeded to bounce around my ankles to be let out the backdoor. As Porgy did his business outside in the yard, I started the coffee and took out some turkey bacon to begin breakfast. All the while I moved in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but feel a weird sense of doom.

  There was a body right next door. Again.

  Last time this happened, Amos and I were together when we heard gunshots. We ran out to find my next door ne
ighbor’s son shot dead in the doorway of the house. We clearly heard the gunshot and saw the driver take off down the road. Sometime last night or even yesterday, someone placed that woman’s body inside the shed.

  My question. Was this to get Briana or Amos’s attention?

  Amos arrived in the kitchen looking like he could have used more sleep. He headed to the backdoor and let Porgy back in.

  After pouring Amos a cup of coffee, I asked, “Did anyone identify the woman last night? I feel like I knew her from somewhere.”

  He shook his head and took a slurp of coffee. “No, but I expect she will be identified soon. I just don’t know how or why someone would put her in the shed.” He took a deep breath, “Were they trying to pin this on Briana? Doesn’t make sense. She just came back to South Carolina three months ago.”

  As I pulled eggs out of the refrigerator, it struck me that Amos had no doubts of any involvement by Briana with this woman’s death. Of course, I didn’t think Briana did anything either. She had a sharp tongue and fierce attitude, but she was a sensitive soul. Maybe it was her sensitivity or just the shock that made Briana appear like she had something to hide last night.

  Besides, another theory had been troubling me, and I didn’t really want to voice it out loud. However, given Amos’s former profession and my obsession with watching crime shows, I had no choice. “Amos, do you think someone from your past could be messing with you? You haven’t been out of that house that long. Maybe someone found your address and didn’t know you had moved out.”

  He raised a bushy eyebrow, “That crossed my mind too, but I didn’t recognize the woman either. This morning when Briana gets up, I want to know who was in that house this past weekend.”

  I cracked the eggs in a bowl, added pepper and then whisked the eggs. As I scrambled the eggs, I thought about the fact that I never saw the people that showed up over at the house with Briana. Usually they arrived after Amos and I had retired for the night. It struck me that with Briana just being back a few months in Sugar Creek, there couldn’t be that many people she still knew. I knew Amos’s girls graduated from the same high school my children attended, but I didn’t know the family that well back then. We were both married to different spouses and Amos didn’t move into this neighborhood until after his girls had graduated.

  In a lot of ways, I didn’t know either of his daughters. Briana was especially difficult to get to know because she still grieved her mother and her relationship with Amos was still on rocky ground.

  I scooped the scrambled eggs on the plates. I wasn’t sure when Briana would get up, but I was fairly sure it wouldn’t be any time soon. She wasn’t a morning person. Despite being retired, most days I still kept the same schedule I had as a school teacher. I arose early and started my day even if I didn’t have much on my to do list.

  As Amos and I consumed breakfast, I pondered how to ask Amos questions about his daughter. I decided to start with her life before her mom’s death and before she left South Carolina. “So, since Briana’s been back has she been mainly connecting with friends from high school?”

  Amos grunted as he shoveled eggs and bacon into his mouth. “She’s been seeing a guy she used to date. I didn’t like him back then. I noticed he was there Saturday night when I went to talk to Briana. He was a big guy back then. Seemed even bigger now. If Briana wasn’t throwing such a fit, I would have asked him to leave.”

  I frowned, “What’s his name? I’m telling you, if he grew up around here, I probably had him in eighth grade.”

  Amos grinned, “You remember all your students.”

  I shrugged, “Not all of them, but the more memorable characters I definitely haven’t forgotten.”

  Amos nodded. “That makes sense. My line of work was like that. Some folks you don’t forget.” He pushed his empty plate away from him. “This guy’s name is Theo Nichols.”

  My eyes widened at the name. “Theo Nichols. Yes, I knew him and his brother, Damion. Theo was the eldest; he had a temper, but he was able to pour his energy into sports. He ended up doing pretty well with football, played for South Carolina State. Damion was a year younger, always managing to get into trouble. I remember he had the body for football, but not the discipline. Don’t they own the auto detailing shop downtown?”

  Amos nodded, “Yep, that’s their shop. Briana was crazy about Theo. I mean I could see why, he was the typical popular jock. There was something about him though, no matter how much he excelled on the field, he felt like bad news to me. Girls like their bad boys! I don’t know if he was there last night or not, but he is one of those people I wouldn’t put past trying to hurt someone.”

  I sighed, “Someone dragged the woman into the shed trying to hide her. What was the point? And you know what, I had another thought that seems ludicrous. Suppose she wasn’t killed in your yard at all. I’ve seen enough shows on television where someone calls themselves getting rid of a body. But like that. That’s obviously trying to set someone up for the crime.”

  “You’re right about that. It will take the lab some time but hopefully they can find some forensics. Once they identify her, they can start creating a timeline of the woman’s actions the past week. Preferably they can do it soon.”

  There was something else bothering me, but I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up. Amos got along great with my two sons and daughter. They accepted him beautifully and I think that was largely because Amos and I didn’t move that fast. We started as friends and gradually he just became a part of my life. Amos has always reached out to my sons letting them know he respected them as men and he’s been there for Leesa and her kids.

  I didn’t want to do anything to step over the line with his girls. I knew how important it was to him to have them back in his life.

  Before I could ask him anything else, Briana showed up at the kitchen door. She looked like she hadn’t slept. She eyed Porgy who had been laying in the corner of the kitchen in his bed. My doggie lifted his head and barked. Porgy was not much of a barker. Really, he only barked at people that he didn’t like and for whatever reason my dog didn’t like Briana.

  Porgy, I’m suspicious too. Briana was hiding something. I just knew it.

  In fact, her sudden appearance and determination to stay in Sugar Creek had me on alert.

  Chapter 4

  I prayed over my attitude towards Briana. I really didn’t know why my suspicions popped up like they did. I was not one to question my gut feelings, but I knew I needed to set aside my suspicions. She seemed to still be in shock and hadn’t rested at all. I couldn’t blame her. There was no rest for one who laid eyes on a human, knowing they died a horrible death.

  I inquired, “How are you doing this morning, Briana? I hope you were able to get some sleep.”

  She grimaced, “No, unfortunately I couldn’t.”

  Amos waved his daughter over to the table. “Come on over and have some breakfast. Don’t worry, we will get to the bottom of what happened to that woman.”

  Looking unsure, Briana sat down next to her father. “What do you mean we? Aren’t the police going to handle this?”

  I frowned, “Your dad isn’t going to let this go even if he is retired.”

  Amos nodded, “This isn’t going away, especially once they identify the woman. We need to know what happened.”

  I took out more eggs and prepared to scramble them. As I cooked, I kept an ear cocked for the conversation that I felt should be addressed.

  I knew Amos was concerned it could have been one of his old cases, but that theory didn’t feel right to me. Why now? Amos had been living at that house for some time. Why would they leave a body once he moved out? I knew Amos’s former profession made him run into all kinds of criminals, but I’d never until this moment thought his past life would affect us.

  I scooped the eggs onto a plate and passed them to Briana.

  She mumbled, “Thanks.”

  As I watched her eat, I thought, At least her appetite is still good. The p
eace of the moment over breakfast would surely not last.

  Briana seemed to come awake after finishing her food. “Dad, do I need a lawyer?”

  Amos raised his eyebrow, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “No, but I can tell that detective was suspicious of me last night. She asked all these questions as though I put … that body in the shed.”

  Amos sighed, “Well, somebody did. We need that list of people you gave the detective.”

  Briana sat up, “Why?”

  “So we can stay ahead of the police. I need to know who you let into the house.”

  Briana crossed her arms. “They were good people.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You were by yourself most of the day yesterday. Did you happen to be outside in the yard?”

  Briana bristled at my voice. “I didn’t kill anyone and stuff them in the shed.”

  Amos barked, “Eugeena is not accusing you of anything. She’s asking a question that makes sense. Did you notice anything different yesterday? Were you in the shed?”

  I added, “I’m not expert on this kind of stuff like your dad, but I watch enough TV shows to know. You have to know your timeline to support an alibi. Detective Wilkes can’t accuse you of anything as long as you can account for your whereabouts.”

  Briana seemed to grow smaller in the chair. She crossed her arms as though she was feigning away cold air. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This has me all messed up in the head. I didn’t sleep at all. All I could see was … that woman’s face.” She swallowed. “She definitely wasn’t there before folks started coming over. I did go to the shed on Friday because I remembered the lawn chairs were in there.” She wrinkled her forehead in concentration. “I wasn’t in the yard at all yesterday.”

  Amos shook his head. “So someone could have placed the body in the shed in the past twenty-four hours. You didn’t have anyone over on Friday?”

  Briana squirmed in her seat. “Just one person.”

  I tried not to raise my eyebrow, but it shot up anyway. I had a feeling I knew the identity of the one person based on my earlier conversation with Amos.