I looked over to where Tamara was on the floor. One cop was placing her in handcuffs, while another one watched.
The cops were here. I turned to Amos and grinned, “How did you know?”
“When people start acting strange and out of character, that’s a sure sign to pay attention. When you came back from visiting Louise, you seemed uptight about the experience and on a mission. Plus the Eugeena I know ain’t walking in hot weather anywhere. As soon as you left, I excused myself from the game, called in a favor and then I followed you.”
“You followed me,” I said incredulously. I laughed and reached over to hug my bald-headed neighbor. To my surprise, he squeezed back.
I really liked my next door neighbor Amos Jones. I believe the feelings were mutual.
Epilogue
My family crowded me for hours. After we all knew Tamara was tucked away behind bars, most of my family started to travel back home. Only Amos, Leesa, her children and I remained at the house. We sat on the porch, occasionally looking down the street at what had almost become my crime scene.
Tamara was a con woman. She played the whole neighborhood. When her house was searched, she’d been quite the thief. Her game was to get to know people and find out their habits so she could rob their house. Life of an idle housewife!
What wasn’t clear is whether Tamara’s husband caught on to her “illegal” shopping? Was that why the man left?
Leesa’s eyes were red. I patted my baby girl’s leg. “Honey, you didn’t know. I let that child across the street into my home. Mary and Louise probably did the same thing, not knowing she might have been setting us up to rob us blind later.”
Leesa shook her head. “Mama, I still don’t know why she killed Mary and then tried to pin her crime on me.”
Amos spoke up. “Leesa, you were a convenience for her. Mary rarely left the house except to do shopping but when she did it was like clockwork. Same time every Friday.”
Leesa nodded, “That’s why Mary kept looking at the clock because she wanted to stick to her schedule.”
I added, “Right. Poor thing probably put her groceries away, let Porgy outside and fixed herself a glass of water, not knowing that Tamara was hiding in her house. Tamara must have thought she could sneek in and get out before Mary returned.”
Leesa frowned. “So Mary caught this crazy woman in her house and was killed.”
That’s as best we could figure. Louise was awake, but she didn’t seem to remember anything about the night she was attacked. There were two coffee mugs on the counter so I felt like Louise figured something out before we all did. Poor old woman just about lost her life.
I shuddered. I’d almost walked through death’s door myself.
Leesa stood, “I’m going to put the kids in the bed. See you later, Mr. Amos.”
After Leesa went inside, I turned to Amos. “I can’t say thank you enough. You saved my life today.”
He grinned, “Next time remember to include a professional in your plan.”
It could have been the light sparkling in Amos’ eyes, but his face beamed. “Yeah, you did. Not bad for an amateur.”
I grinned and then guzzled down my iced tea. Yep. Whatever came next, Detective Eugeena Patterson would be on the scene.
About the Author
Tyora Moody is an author and entrepreneur. Tyora has coined her books as Soul-Searching Suspense. Deep Fried Trouble is the first book in the Eugeena Patterson Mystery series.
Tyora is also the author of the Victory Gospel Series (When Rain Falls and When Memories Fade). The third and final book in the series, When Perfection Fails, will be released March 2014.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. She served as a judge for the Christy Awards for three years.
You can visit her online at TyoraMoody.com. For more about the character Eugeena, visit her blog at EugeenaPatterson.com.
Shattered Dreams: A Short Story
In this prequel short story, Eugeena Patterson has
always been the glue keeping her fragmented family together.
Will her troubled teenage daughter rip the family apart?
The Victory Gospel Series
When Rain Falls, Victory Gospel Series, Book One
When Memories Fade, Gospel Series, Book Two
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
About the Author
Shattered Dreams: A Short Story
The Victory Gospel Series