The Gravedigger

by Kacie Clement

  While Willie Mae was shopping, George was making a call from the prison.

  “Buddy, Willie Mae is not getting the message. Send a stronger message. Did you take care of our other problem?” George was silent for a moment. “Good, now make that message a strong one.”

  The following day Willie Mae got settled on the bus and looked at her phone. She had missed three calls from Kamira.

  Kamira arrived at the airport and had a bit of time before boarding her plane. She pulled out her phone and called Jack.

  “Morning, Jack. Has Willie Mae come to the office yet? I’ve called her three times and can’t reach her.”

  “Morning to you too, Detective. Willie Mae let me know yesterday morning she would take a few days off after Clifton’s memorial service. Can’t say that I blame her.”

  “What? That’s not like Willie Mae. I am going to call the Bellow sisters. I will call you back, Jack.”

  Kamira hung up and dialed the Bellows’ estate, reaching Hattie Bellow.

  “Good morning, Kamira!” Hattie called out over the phone. “How did your game night go with Willie Mae? Did she take all your money?”

  Kamira’s heart pounded. “Yes, she took a good portion of it. Did Willie Mae stop by before work this morning? She was going to grab me a bag of tea, but I can’t seem to reach her on her phone, and I’m not in the office at the moment.”

  “No, I haven’t seen her this morning yet. Maybe she forgot. I am sure she will remember, Kamira. Having trouble sleeping again?”

  “No, I am fine. I will check with Willie Mae when I get to the office. Thank you, Hattie.”

  Kamira disconnected the call and called Jack back.

  “Jack, I called Hattie, and she thinks Willie Mae and I had a game night last night and that Willie Mae spent the night at my house. Where is she, Jack? What is she up to?”

  “Unbelievable, that woman is as sly as a snake. Look, I will pick you up from the airport, your flight arrives at 3 pm, right? We will go on out to the Bellows’ and talk with her.”

  “Okay, let Terrance know. But Jack, we are going to have to be honest with her. She needs protection, and she is going to have to accept that fact. Any luck on finding Alyce Ann?”

  “Nothing, it is like she dropped off the face of the earth. I will be there to pick you up.”

  Hearing the intercom say they were now boarding her flight, Kamira said, “We’re boarding now. See you at three, Jack.”

  Kamira hung up her phone, grabbed her carry-on bag, and boarded the plane.

  Kamira walked out of the airport’s front door to find Jack and Terrance parked along the curb waiting for her.

  Terrance got out of the vehicle to put Kamira’s carry-on bag in the trunk. Kissing her, he asked, “How did the interview go?”

  Getting seated in the car, Kamira replied, “I think this case is just getting interesting. I am betting Pastor Charles Chestfield is very much alive. I would bet he killed his wife and Daniel Billings. Our next step is to interview Father Chestfield.”

  Terrance nodded, “You think Chestfield is alive? I say we drop in and see Father Chestfield tomorrow.”

  Jack pulled into the Bellow sisters’ drive and said, “Well, look here. Willie Mae is just getting out of a car with a suitcase and some packages.”

  Jack pulled over, and the trio got out of the vehicle. Willie Mae turned, her jaw-dropping in surprise.

  “Well, since you men are here, why don’t you carry in my packages and suitcases? I’m exhausted.”

  Kamira, lifting her left eyebrow, asked, “Exhausted from what exactly? Where have you been, Auntie?”

  “Why, girl, are you questioning me? I am 88 years old, which makes me old enough to do what I want without being questioned. I went up to Jackson to shop for my new grand baby. Do you have a problem with that, Kamira?”

  Willie Mae stomped into the house to find Jack and Terrance standing in the foyer.

  “Yes, I have a problem with that, Auntie. I can’t seem to get it through to you that right now, we all need to be taking precautions. You can’t just up and go to Jackson and not tell anyone.”

  Kamira saw the anger rising in her auntie’s eyes and watched as she reopened the front door.

  “I can do whatever the hell I want. Now I am tired and going to bed to rest. You all should leave. I will call you tomorrow.”

  Kamira looked at Jack, thinking she is holding the door open for us to leave. Nodding at Jack, Kamira looked at her auntie sternly.

  “Oh yes, we are going to talk tomorrow, Auntie, and you are going to listen.”

  Willie Mae slammed the door.

  Once in the car, Kamira said, “She is lying. She is up to something, and we need to figure it out fast.”

  Jack pulled up to the curb in front of Kamira and Terrance’s house, said, “Get some rest. We will figure this out tomorrow. I think I will call in Willie Mae and both the Bellow sisters to talk to about Alyce Ann. If they think it’s an official interview, they may spill the beans on what Willie Mae is up to.”

  Kamira tiredly looked at Jack. “Thanks, Jack. I will see you in the morning.”

  Jack drove back to the department to check in and make a phone call. Calling the Greyhound bus terminal, he found out Willie Mae was not on the bus to Jackson. Instead, she rode the bus up to Parchman Farms.

  Realization hit him. Willie Mae went to visit George Buchanan.

  Looking at his watch, he figured it was too late to call Kamira. This kind of news she wouldn’t take lightly over the phone. It would be best if he told her in person.

  Walking out his office door, Jack said goodnight to the officer on duty and went home to bed.

  At 3 am, Jack, sleeping soundly, hears his cell phone ringing. Reaching for his phone, he said, “Jack Thomas.”

  “Jack, it’s Tom. We just got a call, Jack. Billie Gordon’s house is on fire.”

  Chapter 8

  Kamira hung up the phone, screaming, “Terrance, get dressed. Billie’s house is on fire!”

  Terrance woke up shaking his head, not quite believing what Kamira had just said. “Kamira, you‘re having a nightmare.”

  Terrance looked around the bedroom, seeing Kamira quickly throwing on jeans and a tee-shirt. He jumped out of bed, and the duo was out the door in less than five minutes.

  Racing to Billie’s house, they saw the orange flames licking at the air. Kamira jumped from the car, running towards the burning house.

  Jack, seeing Kamira, ran to stop her from going into the house. “Kamira, Billie and Keisha are safe.”

  Kamira looked at Jack, her eyes streaming tears with a fierce look of terror.

  “Billie, where is Billie?” Kamira screamed.

  “Over by the ambulances. I will take you to Billie.”

  Jack quickly led Kamira to the ambulance site. Kamira, seeing Billie, breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Billie, are you alright? Keisha, is she alright?”

  Billie smiled through the pain while the paramedic carefully wrapped his right hand and arm with a dry, sterile dressing.

  “It’s alright, Kamira. Keisha and I are alive. That is all that matters.” Billie grimaced at the paramedic as she wrapped his left hand and arm.

  Kamira stared at Billie’s hand and arm. They were burnt and blistered.

  Taking a deep breath, she brought her emotions under control and transformed into Detective Kamira Jackson.

  Looking at the paramedic, she asked in a calm but stern voice, “Can you tell me the degree of the burns?”

  The paramedic replied, “Second-degree burns of the hands and lower arm area. We will transport Mr. and Mrs. Gordon to the hospital in Gulfport, Detective.”

  Kamira nodded. “Where can I find Mrs. Gordon?”

  Before the paramedic could reply, Billie’s eyes filled with tears. “They have already taken her to Gulfport, Kamira. Keisha’s in labor. Can you call mama? Get her to the hospital?”

  The paramedic looked at Kamira, stating, “We need to
get Mr. Gordon to Gulfport, Detective.”

  Kamira, nodding, replied, “I will get auntie and…”

  Jack had walked up to stand next to Kamira. “I already have Tom transporting her to the Gulfport hospital, Billie. She should be there in five.”

  Billie sobbed. The paramedics lifted him into the waiting ambulance. Looking up, he gazed at Kamira, anger rising in his eyes.

  “Find out who did this, Kamira.”

  Kamira’s heartbeat sped up with fear, tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched the ambulance race off towards Gulfport.

  Turning, Kamira saw that the fire had already reduced the house to a pile of rubble, ashes, and smoking wood in just those few minutes since she arrived.

  There was a rotting smell, like a lousy barbecue gone wrong.

  Kamira walked over to Terrance, who was talking with the fire chief.

  “What do you have, Chief?”

  The chief turned to Kamira and replied, “They used an accelerant on your cousin’s house. Gas, highly flammable. One of the most dangerous accelerants. They doused all four sides of the house. You’re lucky Mr. Gordon was still awake and smelled the gas. The outcome could have been much worse. Someone is sending your family a message, Detective.

  “Thank you, Chief.” Kamira turned to look at Terrance and Jack.

  “Let’s get to the hospital. Terrance, can you drive?”

  Terrance took Kamira’s arm, leading her to their car. Jack followed, jumping into the back seat.

  As they drove to the Gulfport hospital, Kamira stared out the front window. Her eyebrows pulled together. The crease was deep and clear.

  Slamming her hand against the window, she turned in her seat to face Jack.

  “What has Willie Mae done, Jack?”

  Jack looked Kamira in the eyes and said, “She wasn‘t shopping, Kamira. She took the bus to Parchman. Willie Mae had a visit with George Buchanan at the prison. By the time I verified she was on the bus register and the visitors log at Parchman, it was almost midnight. I figured I would tell you in the morning.”

  Turning around in her seat, Kamira crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed, a flat look coming on her face. She was quiet the rest of the trip, thinking, George Buchanan will regret the day I came to Shadowbank.

  At the hospital in Gulfport, Willie Mae looked through the window at her new grandson. She knew she couldn’t turn back now. Her family’s safety depended on it.

  Picking up her phone, she dialed Vittoria DeLuca.

  “Willie Mae, it’s 5 am. What’s wrong?”

  “The State Line Mob burned Billie’s house down tonight. Keisha has had the baby, and Billie’s hands and arms have complete second-degree burns, Vittoria. I need help to protect my family till I can finish this.”

  Vittoria, by this time, was sitting up in her bed. “Willie Mae, tell me what and who brought this on.”

  Willie Mae shuddered. “I went to pay George Buchanan a visit and told him to leave my family alone, or I would destroy the State Line Mob single-handedly.”

  Vittoria smiled, “You didn‘t?”

  Willie Mae held her head up high. “I did. But now his message is obvious.”

  Vittoria walked to her office. “Willie Mae, you stay at that hospital till I get there. Do not leave that hospital. I am leaving immediately. I will bring Frank, Giovanni, and Nicko with me. We should be there in 3 hours.”

  Willie Mae, trying to hold the tears back, replied quietly, “Thank you, Vittoria. I will be here.”

  Vittoria DeLuca called her pilot to have the plane ready. Next, she called Frank, giving him instructions, and walked back to her bedroom to pack a few things for her upcoming stay in Shadowbank.

  Shaking her husband, Howard Graystone, awake, Vittoria said, “Willie Mae is in trouble. It would be best if you drove me to the airfield, Howard. I am going to Shadowbank, and Frank and his team are coming with me.”

  Kamira, Terrance, and Jack arrived at the hospital to find Willie Mae waiting for them inside the door.

  Kamira raced to her auntie, taking her in her arms. “Are you okay, Auntie?”

  Willie Mae stepped back and sadly looked at Kamira.

  “This is all my fault. I went to the prison and talked with George Buchanan, Kamira. I told him to leave our family alone, or I would destroy the State Line Mob.”

  Jack, shocked, said, “You said what?”

  Kamira glared at him. “It’s okay, Auntie. Now tell me about Billie and Keisha.”

  Willie Mae wiped her eyes. “Keisha is resting, and they are working on Billie’s burns. But follow me, I have something to show you.”

  Willie Mae turned, hurrying to the elevators. The trio followed her. Arriving on the 10th floor, Willie Mae led the group to the nursery window. She pointed to a crib that held a beautiful baby boy.

  “I would like you all to meet Clifton William Buchanan. My grandson.”

  Kamira drew a deep breath, looking at the baby, trying to put his whole tiny fist in his mouth.

  “Keisha had the baby? Oh my god, he is precious. I am an auntie!”

  Willie Mae took Kamira’s hands into hers, saying, “This is our miracle, Kamira. Everything comes in time. George’s time will come, I promise you that. Now I want you to see Billie, and then I want you to go home. I am going to stay another few hours, and then I will go home. Henry is going to pick me up.”

  Kamira went to check on Keisha and saw she was still sleeping. Going to the burn unit, she found Billie.

  “Your son is beautiful, Billie. How are your hands and arms?”

  Billie weakly smiled, saying, “I only saw Clifton for a minute, and thank the lord, Keisha didn’t suffer any burns. She had a bit of smoke inhalation, and the stress set her into labor. I thank god she was only a week early.”

  Holding his hands up, he said, “It’s painful, but the doctor said I should be good as new in a few months. I will not be playing guitar for a while. He said I would be sensitive to cold and heat, but I should regain full use of my fingers. But I will hold that new baby son of mine, and that is all that matters.”

  Kamira turned when she heard the nurse say, “Mr. Gordon, we got you a room here in the burn unit. We are going to move you there now.”

  Billie, looking around, said, “Where’s Mama?”

  Kamira kissed Billie on the cheek.

  “She is fussing over that new son of yours. She told me she was staying another couple of hours, and Henry would pick her up. Don‘t you worry, she is okay. She will be up here soon. I will come back later this evening to check on you.”

  Kamira gave Billie one last kiss and went to find Terrance and Jack. She needed to sleep for a few hours.

  As Kamira slept soundly in her bed, Vittoria DeLuca arrived at the hospital, finding Willie Mae waiting for her in the lobby.

  “Let’s get you home, Willie Mae.”

  Looking at Frank, Vittoria said, “I want you on Kamira. Nicko, I want you here at the hospital to take care of the Gordon family and Giovanni. You will come with Willie Mae and me.”

  Turning, Vittoria DeLuca swept Willie Mae out to the waiting limo.

  Kamira woke at one that afternoon. She grabbed her phone and read the text from Willie Mae, saying she was home and going to get some rest. She would call her later.

  Kamira looked at her watch and dressed. She had to meet with Father Chestfield at three, and she wanted to go by the office first.

  After finding Terrance at the office, ready to go, they moved outside on the sidewalk in front of the department, where they found Jack.

  “You two going to do the priest interview now?”

  Kamira nodded, “Thought we would do the interview, get some dinner and go back and check on Billie, Keisha, and that new baby. I am guessing they will go out to the Bellow sisters to stay.”

  Jack opened the passenger door of the car for Kamira and said, “That probably would be best for right now. I will put an extra patrol car out there.”

  “Thanks, Jac
k. Meet us for dinner?”

  Jack saluted and watched as Terrance pulled the car out on the road and slowly drove away.

  Turning to go back inside the station, Jack caught sight of a black sedan pulling out and following Terrance and Kamira. As it passed him, his jaw dropped.

  “Is that Frank Gallucci?”

  Jack pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Frank’s private number.

  “Frank? Turn that damn car around and get in my office.”

  “Hey Jack, how’s the fishing these days?”

  “Frank, you have two minutes, or I will find you and arrest you, I promise.”

  “On my way.”

  Jack watched as Frank pulled up in front of the station and got out of the car.

  Jack stood tall on the sidewalk while saying, “I assume Willie Mae called Vittoria?”

  Frank grinned. “You assumed right. What do you say we get a beer?”

  As Jack and Frank walked down the street to the Oyster Bar and Grill, Jack asked, “Who all is here?”

  Frank replied, “Vittoria and Giovanni are on Willie Mae, Nicko is protecting Billie and his family, and I am in charge of Kamira.”

  Jack looked at Frank and winked, holding the door to the restaurant open, said, “You know she is going to be pissed when she finds you following her, right?”

  Frank smiled and replied, “Maybe we need a few shots with those beers.”

  Taking a seat in Father Chestfield’s office, Kamira and Terrance heard the priest ask, “Kamira, Terrance, I assume you have identified the body in the wall?”

  Terrance nodded. “His name is Daniel Billings, known as Danny the Gravedigger.”

  Father Chestfield’s jaw dropped. “It was Danny? Who would have killed that young man and placed him in the wall?”

  “Father Chestfield, we believe your brother Charles Chestfield is still alive, and he was the one who killed not only Daniel Billings but his wife as well.”

  “Detective, you can’t be serious? I identified my brother’s body. Charles’s body may have burned beyond recognition, but the necklace Faye had given him on their wedding day was still around his neck.