Looking up, Kamira heard the sirens. Watching Terrance getting out of the car, she heard him say, “I told you we were on our way, love. You didn’t use the dropkick on the poor man, did you?”
Kamira, smiling, pulled Charles Chestfield to his feet.
“Why yes, dear, I did. You must be Chief Stanley.”
Chief Stanley looked at the six-foot-tall Creole woman standing in front of him, amazed.
Laughing, Chief Stanley said, “That’s quite a wife you have there, Investigator James.”
Terrance smiled, “Yes, she is, Chief.”
The two officers who had pulled up in patrol cars took custody of Charles Chestfield while other officers calmed Cora and her sons, bringing them into the residence for questioning.
Kamira looked at Chief Stanley and said, “Thank you, Chief Stanley. Our chief, Jack Thomas, should have the extradition orders to you within a day. Thank you for the assist.”
Chief Stanley roared in laughter. “Assist? Officer Jackson, an assist is something I don’t think you would likely need. If you ever tire of Mississippi, look me up. I could use an officer of your caliber.”
Kamira grinned. Looking at Terrance, she said, “Well, what do you say we go home and get ready for that honeymoon?”
“Honeymoon?” Chief Stanley asked.
Terrance wrapped his arm around Kamira’s waist and beamed.
“Yup, honeymoon. My bride found Daniel Billings buried in the wall fifteen minutes before our wedding. I couldn’t get her to go anywhere till we solved the case.”
Chief Stanley laughed, “Where are you two off to for the honeymoon?”
“Aruba.” Kamira and Terrance said in unison.
Returning the rental cars, Kamira and Terrance boarded an early afternoon flight back to Shadowbank.
Chapter 12
While Kamira and Terrance were on their flight home to Mississippi, Jack and Willie Mae were going to the Shadowbank Police Department’s lower level.
Entering just one of the newly built offices, Jack said, “Willie Mae, this is your new office. I am promoting you to Director of Community Relations. Of course, that comes with a pay raise.”
“You’re moving me to the basement, Jack?”
Jack laughed and replied, “Follow me.”
Taking her arm, Jack led Willie Mae into another room.
Willie Mae gasped. “My conference room, Jack?”
“That’s not all Willie Mae, there’s another office here, for when the Bellow sisters visit, complete with desks. There is also a makeshift break room, complete with a stove and refrigerator. Perfect for making a batch of beignets.”
Jack and Willie Mae left the new break room when they heard the Bellow sisters in the hallway.
“Look at this, Hattie. Willie Mae has her own office. Do you think Jack had Henry build us one too?” Hannah gasped.
“Good morning, ladies.” Jack said while grinning, “If you follow me, I will show you to your new office.”
Jack walked into the new office, painted a light violet color with two black desks, chairs, a sofa, and a tea table with three dainty chairs.
“Oh, my!” Hattie exclaimed.
Sally road down in the newly installed elevator. Seeing Jack standing in the doorway, she said, “Jack, the governor has arrived.”
Willie Mae moved back in the hallway, saying, “Please escort the governor down, Sally. I will put on a pot of coffee. We can meet in the Community Relations conference room.”
As everyone got seated around the new conference room table, Willie Mae thanked the governor for coming.
Willie Mae started the discussion, saying, “Governor, it will please you to learn that Chief Thomas has promoted me to the Director of Community Relations. As the new director, I am hiring Hattie and Hannah Bellow as Community Consultants, so I will need you to increase the Police Department’s budget. We intend to bring Shadowbank into a new realm, not one run by the State Line Mob. Now let us share some of our ideas with you.”
The group spent the subsequent half-hour listening and responding to the ladies’ ideas and plans. By the time the meeting was ending, they had agreed on the new Community Relations program initiatives.
As the governor stood with Jack at his side, Willie Mae came over to shake the governor’s hand.
“Thank you for coming today. We have a celebratory dinner planned tonight at the Bellow estate to celebrate my niece and her husband’s success in solving the Daniel Billings and Faye Chestfield murders. We would like for you to join us if you can.”
The governor smiled at Willie Mae. “I am having an anniversary dinner with my wife, Willie Mae, perhaps another time. Is there anything else before I go?”
Willie Mae was quiet for a moment. “Yes, there is. With this new position, sir, I will need a gun.”
The governor, stunned, looked at Jack who’s jaw was on the floor, and said, “Well, Willie Mae. That is a discussion between you and Chief Thomas here.”
The governor walked out of the conference room, and Jack could hear him chuckling on his way to the elevator.
Jack turned to Willie Mae and said, “I am not giving you a gun, Willie Mae.”
Later that afternoon, Jack waited in front of the airport to pick up Kamira and Terrance and head for the Bellow estate for that night’s dinner.
When Kamira and Terrance got settled into the car, Jack said, “Do I have a story for you two.”
Kamira smiled at him from the passenger seat. “I am up for a great story. Is it a fishing story?”
“Not quite. I have promoted Willie Mae to the Director of Community Relations.”
Kamira, surprised, said, “Really, Jack? Are you just looking for trouble?”
Jack grinned slyly, “That is not the funny part. The governor met with us this morning. Willie Mae let him know of her new position and demanded increase funding for the department to hire Hattie and Hannah as consultants.”
Terrance started laughing loudly from the back seat. Kamira shook her head.
Jack grinned widely, “But that is not the funny part. In one breath, the woman was inviting the governor to dinner tonight, and the next, she was informing him that with her new position, she was going to need a gun.”
Kamira jumped, grabbing the dashboard of the car in front of her. Turning, she looked Jack in the eye, screaming, “There will be no gun, Jack.”
Looking towards the heavens, she said, “God help us.”
Kamira started laughing. Looking at Jack, she asked, “Did my auntie convince the Governor to increase the budget for the Bellow sisters as consultants?”
Seeing Jack’s face, she said, “No way. Seriously? You are way over your head with this one, Jack.”
Terrance was laughing so hard, and he was having a hard time catching his breath.
Entering the Bellow estate, Kamira saw everyone seated around the table. The group included Vittoria DeLuca, Frank Gallucci, Henry the handyman, the Bellow sisters, Willie Mae, Billie, Keisha, and new little Clifton snug in Willie Mae’s arms.
The aromas of the Cajun cuisine reminded Kamira how hungry she was.
Willie Mae looked around the table at her family and friends, gently kissing baby Clifton’s head. Her life has a new meaning now. She beamed at everyone around the table and said grace.
During dinner, Terrance looked around that table, saying, “Kamira and are going on our honeymoon. Jack, we’re taking two weeks off. But there is one problem.”
Jack, frowning, said, “Two weeks? Hmm. What seems to be the problem?”
Terrance looked at Billie and Keisha, grinning. “Thing is, when I had to cancel the first-class reservations, I had to change the tickets to four economy seats, so Kamira and I thought it would be great if Billie, Keisha, and little Clifton could join us in Aruba.”
Billie and Keisha looked stunned.
Willie Mae, looking at her new grandson, said, “Baby Clifton is on the bottle. Billie, Keisha, you go on with Kamira and Terrance, the sisters, and
I will care for little Clifton. It will give Henry time to finish up the kitchen at the department.”
Jack eyed Willie Mae, “Kitchen? Willie Mae, it is a break room.”
Willie Mae chuckled, “Well, if you intend on me keeping you supplied with beignets every morning, Jack, I will need a full-scale commercial kitchen so that the girls and I can keep the department fed.”
Before Jack could respond, his phone rang. Looking at the number, he frowned.
“Jack Thomas.” Listening, Kamira noticed his face turning whiter than a bedsheet.
“Thank you for calling, Warden.”
Everyone around the table was silent.
Kamira said, “Jack, what’s wrong?”
“That was the warden up at Parchman Prison. They found George Buchanan dead this afternoon in his cell. His throat slashed. The entire prison is in lockdown.”
The news stunned everyone at the table into silence—almost everyone.
Vittoria DeLuca shrugged her shoulders and said, “That’s too bad.”
Kamira glanced at Terrance and turned to glare at Vittoria DeLuca.
Vittoria DeLuca raised her glass of wine at Kamira and smiled.
About the Author
Kacie Clement, a writer of short fiction mysteries, has always been passionate about writing and storytelling. As part of her writing process, she loves to immerse herself in her current project, diving headfirst into the researching, writing and fine-tuning of the stories she finds are the worthiest of storytelling.
Kacie lives in the woods with her husband, her dog, Peeka, and an attack cat named Trip.
Kacie is addicted to fresh-baked cookies, coffee and fabric.
Also by Kacie Clement
The Cold Case Chronicles
Mississippi Moonshine: Book One
A Shooting, A Drug Deal, and a Trail of Ants: Book Two
The Last Goodbye: Book Three
The Gravedigger: Book Four
Coming September, 2021
Journey to Justice: Book Five
Arctic Eagle
Unleashed Betrayal
The Ignited Secrets Series
Shadow of Secrets: Book One
High Secrets: Book Two
Final Secrets: Book Three
The Whispering Cove Mysteries
Coming summer 2021
The Gravedigger Page 9
