Crimes of Passion

by Toni Anderson

  Panic gripped me. “Violet, they think I did it!”

  “I know, sweetheart, we’ll get you out of this.” She took my hands, looking over my shoulder, deep in thought. Then she turned to me, a strange expression on her face. “You didn’t do this, did you?”

  I jerked my hands back. “No! Of course not! How could you think that?”

  She grabbed my hands again, stroking the back of one with her thumb. “I’m sorry, I knew you couldn’t, but I had to ask.”

  I pursed my lips together in a pout. I knew this looked bad, but it hurt that she thought I could hit Momma hard enough to give her a hole in her head the size of a grapefruit.

  “Rose,” an insistent voice whispered in my ear.

  I jumped. Joe kneeled next to my chair. I hadn’t realized he’d come back.

  “Listen to me, don’t say anything to them without a lawyer. The police in this town aren’t the most professional and they’re bound to pin this on you just to save themselves a lot of work.”

  “What?” I wondered if somehow, without my knowing it, I had been cast in a Lifetime channel movie.

  The detective and another officer were walking to the porch.

  “Listen to me.” Joe’s voice was harsh. “Do not talk to them. Get a lawyer.”

  “But I don’t know any lawyers…” I protested, fear squeezing my chest.

  Joe turned to Violet.

  She nodded, her eyes wide with fright. “I’ll call Mike. I’m sure he knows someone.”

  “Good.” Joe stood up. “Don’t tell them I told you any of this. I’m just the neighbor who called the police.”

  The detective stopped to talk to a neighbor while the officer walked over. I stood up, confused. I thought Joe was just the neighbor who called the police. The policeman pulled a pair of handcuffs off his belt.

  Hysteria bubbled up in my throat and I backed up, nearly tripping over the chair leg. “Violet, he’s going to handcuff me!”

  Joe threw me a look of irritation before he turned to the man, leaning against a column. “Officer,” Joe said in a nonchalant tone. “I’m sure those aren’t really necessary.” His voice took on a lilting tone of old Southern money. “You’re not arrestin’ her. You’re only taking her in for questioning. Besides, think how it looks, cuffing her makes it look like y’all can’t handle a tiny little thing like that.”

  Detective Taylor stopped his conversation and walked over, rolling his eyes. “Ernie, how many times do I have to tell you? You can’t just go cuffing people anytime you feel like it.”

  Ernie studied his feet, but returned his cuffs to his belt. A scowl crossed his face. “Ms. Gardner, we’ll be goin’ now.” He gripped my arm and walked over to the steps. I glanced at Joe, unsure what I just witnessed, but Joe had already walked in his front door. It closed without him giving me a second glance.

  We approached the crowd, Violet trailing behind. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’m calling Mike right now. I’ll get you out of this.” She had her cell phone in her hand.

  The crowd murmured as we reached the edge. They parted to let us pass. The looks on their faces told me they thought I was guilty. They knew nothing about what happened, but they knew I was Momma’s weird daughter, and that alone carried enough weight to convict me.

  The officer opened the back door of the patrol car and I slid across the seat, the vinyl sticking to the dampness on the back of my legs. He shut the door and a wave of claustrophobia choked me. What if they arrested me? What if I went into the police station and I never saw the light of day again?

  I searched the crowd for Violet, desperate to see her face. I found her several rows back, her cell phone against her cheek and her worried eyes on me. My heart broke for her. Not only did she lose Momma, but now she was stuck worrying about me.

  Ernie got in the car. We remained silent the short drive to the police station. He helped me out and escorted me to a small room with a table, telling me someone would be in soon. A short time later, Detective Taylor entered the room and sat down across from me.

  “It’s been a busy night, Ms. Gardner, hasn’t it?”

  My mouth dried up and I swallowed, my heart pounding fast and furious. I looked down at my hands, which I twisted in my lap. “I refuse to answer any questions without an attorney present.”

  He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Now, Ms. Gardner,” he said, emphasizing Ms. in a condescending, a no-nonsense tone that let me know he wouldn’t put up with any foolishness. “There’s no need for that. I just want to ask a few questions. We can all go home and go to bed if you’ll just cooperate and answer a few more questions.”

  I squirmed in my seat. I had nothing to hide, but Joe seemed so insistent I remain silent, not to mention I could see the truth about the potential laziness of the Henryetta law enforcement. I lifted my chin and looked him in the eye, surprised at my backbone. “I’ll wait for my attorney.”

  He grumbled under his breath and left the room. Exhausted, I laid my head on the table and wondered how long I would have to wait for my lawyer, whoever that might be. I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes, go to sleep, and wake up to find this was all a God-awful nightmare.

  An hour later, the door opened and a woman entered and shut the door behind her. She wore jeans and a t-shirt, her auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail. “I’m Deanna Crawfield, your attorney. The police have agreed to let you go for now, but you have been warned not to leave Fenton County.”

  She was not what I expected for my lawyer. I presumed she would actually be a he, a middle-aged man in a three-piece suit to be specific. It took me a moment for her words to sink in. “But I didn’t do anything.”

  “It doesn’t matter whether you did or not at this point. What matters is the police department of Henryetta, Arkansas think you did. We’ll meet first thing Tuesday morning after the holiday so I can get your side of the story, but if they come to talk to you between now and then, you call me.” Deanna handed me her business card. “I highly suggest you don’t forget and go cross the county line. Trust me, they’ll be looking for a reason to arrest you.”

  I took the card and shook my head. “I rarely leave the county anyway.”

  Deanna held the door open. “Let’s get you out of here so you can get some sleep. Your sister’s worried sick about you.”

  I followed her down the hall to the front of the police station. Violet and Mike sat in plastic chairs, and Violet was wringing her hands like she was trying to squeeze the water out of a dish rag. They both looked up and Violet ran to me, wrapping her arms around my back in a tight embrace. She began to cry into my hair. I glanced helplessly over her shoulder at Mike. He gave me a half smile, then patted Violet on the back.

  “Come on, honey. Let the girl breathe.”

  Violet pulled away and smoothed the hair out of my face. “Let’s get you home, sweetie.”

  I nodded, holding back my own tears. The sooner I got out of there, the better.

  We walked out the front doors, with Deanna reminding Violet that I needed to call her office first thing Tuesday morning.

  At Violet’s house, Mike put Ashley in their room so I could sleep in hers. Violet gave me a nightgown to sleep in. I changed and collapsed under the covers, too exhausted to turn off the pink princess lamp on the table. A few minutes later, Violet rapped on the door, pushing it open before I said anything. She came in, wearing a nightgown, and sat at the edge of the mattress.

  “Are you okay, Rose?”

  Momma was dead. I discovered her disfigured body. The police thought I murdered her. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Do you need anything?”

  “No.”

  Violet lay next to me and I scooted over, making room for the two of us on the twin-sized bed. She took my hand in hers, slowly and deliberately threading our fingers together, like she used to do when we were little girls. And just like that, I felt six years old again, with my eight-year-old sister next to me, shaking in fear as we listene
d to one of Momma’s tirades outside our bedroom. My eyes flooded with tears while I gripped her hand, hanging on for dear life. Violet softly hummed the old lullaby she made up years ago, the one she used to sing to me when I was scared or sad. I drifted off to sleep, lulled into a false sense of security.

  Yet again.

  FOUR

  When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t believe it was after nine. I wondered what the Henryetta Southern Baptist Church would do since Momma didn’t meet her pie commitment. Then, I reminded myself it didn’t matter. Momma was dead.

  I sat up in Ashley’s frighteningly pink princess room feeling like a little girl, but finding myself a suspect in Momma’s murder seemed like a very grown-up thing. I couldn’t let myself act like a child anymore. After twenty-four years, it was high time I grew up.

  I walked out of the bedroom and leaned against the wall in the hallway, watching Violet and her family in the kitchen. Mikey sat in his high chair and Ashley played with a small pony at the table. Violet stood in front of her stove, a spatula in hand. Mike walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist before kissing her on the cheek. My heart ached for this, this sense of belonging. Violet would let me live here the rest of my life, and Mike, God love him, would too. But this was their family, not mine.

  “Good morning,” I said as I sat down at the table next to Ashley.

  Violet twisted around, a bright smile etched into her face, but worry lines wrinkled the corners of her eyes. “Good morning! Did you sleep well?”

  I yawned. “Yes, actually I did. I can’t believe I slept so long.”

  A frown crossed her face. “It was a long night.” She turned to the skillet and flipped pancakes. “We need to go to the funeral home today.”

  I hadn’t considered that, but it didn’t surprise me. I picked up one of Ashley’s ponies and fingered the pink mane. “Okay.”

  “I thought I could send Mike over to get some of your stuff,” she said with a forced brightness. “You just make a list and he’ll get whatever you need.”

  It would have been an easy habit to slip into, letting Violet take care of me, but I felt a rebellion brewing deep inside. “Thanks Vi, but I think I’d like to go home.”

  Violet and Mike, who had been reading the Sunday paper, both gawked at me as if I had announced I was becoming a Tibetan monk.

  “Rose, don’t be silly. It’s not like you’re putting us out. We want you here. Isn’t that right, Mike?” Violet turned back to the stove and dismissed the silly thought.

  Mike smiled. “Rose, you’re welcome here as long as you need to stay.”

  “I know, Mike, and I appreciate that so much, but I don’t want to stay here. I really need to go home.”

  Violet spun and faced me again, frowning like I was a misbehaving child. I worried she was gonna get whiplash with all the twisting around. “Rose, you cannot go back there! Momma was,” she lowered her voice, “murdered there.”

  “I am well aware of that fact, Violet, considering I was the one to discover her.”

  “I’m not puttin’ up with this foolishness. You’re staying here, and that’s that.”

  I looked at Mike. Our eyes locked and I could see he read the seriousness of my decision. He patted my hand and winked. “Violet, Rose is a grown woman and is capable of making up her own mind. If she wants to go home, then I’ll take her home. When do you want to go?”

  I smiled a thank-you. “Right after breakfast, if it’s not too much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all.”

  “Rose! You can’t go right after breakfast! We have to go to the funeral home at three o’clock.”

  “Then I’ll meet you there.”

  Violet fumed all through breakfast. When we finished, I put on my clothes from the previous day, not bothering to take a shower. No sense getting clean, just to put my stinky clothes back on.

  Mike waited in the living room. I stopped to kiss Ashley and Mikey good bye, but Violet was noticeably absent. But as we walked out to Mike’s truck, Violet ran out and pulled me into a hug so tight I suspected she was trying to graft me onto her own body, ensuring I could never get away again. I leaned back and smiled into her tear-filled eyes.

  “I’m fine, Violet. I’ll be fine.”

  “I just worry about you.”

  “I know you do, and I love you so much for it.” My voice cracked and the floodgate of tears opened up. “But I have to do this. I know you don’t understand, but trust me, okay?”

  Violet bit her quivering lip and tears rolled down her cheeks. She slowly nodded her head.

  I kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  I got in the truck and Mike pulled away from the house. Violet stood in the driveway, watching me go.

  “You sure you’re really gonna be okay?” he asked. “You know you’re not putting us out staying with us.”

  “I know, thanks.”

  He parked his truck in front of my house. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

  I hesitated. I really did want him to come in but couldn’t think of what he would accomplish, other than allowing me to escape responsibility for myself. “No, I’m fine.” I got out of the truck. “Thanks, Mike.”

  “Call if you need anything, Rose. I’ll come straight over.”

  “I know. See you this afternoon.” I walked toward the house as he drove away. Stopping next to my car, I scanned the yard, still in denial about the events of the previous evening. The scraps of crime scene tape lying in the bushes proved otherwise.

  The side door stood slightly ajar. Whoever broke in had busted the doorjamb and now the latch no longer worked. I entered the kitchen, surprised to see my purse and library bag still on the table. After a little digging, I found my wallet, amazed it hadn’t gone missing in all the excitement. The sink full of dirty dishes caught my eye. I’d get to those later.

  When I stepped into the living room, I gasped at the sight of the bloodstained sofa, a square cut out from the fabric in the center of the stain. The surrounding curtains and walls were blood-splattered as well. I couldn’t face cleaning the mess at the moment so I walked down the hall to the linen closet to grab a sheet. Covering the sofa seemed like a good idea until I could figure out what else to do with it. The dark hall made it difficult to see in the closet. I flipped on the switch, but the light didn’t come on. The electricity hadn’t been turned back on yet.

  I knew the utilities connected at the back of the house and I decided to go check it out. I had no idea how to turn the electricity on, but I leaned over and parted the shrubs anyway, looking for the broken connection.

  “I already called the utility companies for you.”

  I screamed and jumped up, clutching a hand to my chest. Joe stood a few feet away.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  The now-familiar lightheaded feeling returned, but I shook my head to clear it. “That’s okay. Thanks for calling.”

  “They said they’d be out early this afternoon, the electricity anyway. The phone will have to wait until Wednesday.” He moved closer. “What are you looking for?”

  I laughed. “I don’t really know, I’ve never dealt with something like this before.”

  “How’d you know about the footprint?”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear, suddenly nervous. How much had he heard the night before? “I’m sorry. What footprint?”

  He raised his eyebrows. Joe gave me the impression he was a no-nonsense kind of guy.

  We stared at each other, clearly at an impasse. I wasn’t giving any information away and for him to press the situation further would be admitting he’d eavesdropped.

  He threaded a thumb through a belt loop on his jeans. “So, what are you doing here?”

  I suspected he meant snooping behind the house, but I decided to evade the question. “I live here.”

  “You’re staying here?” His tone matched the shock on his face.

>   “Why does everyone keep saying that? I live here. Why wouldn’t I stay here?” I started walking to the side of the house.

  “Rose, do you think that’s really a good idea? What if the people who did this come back?”

  I stopped and studied him. The sun shone behind his head, the copper tones in his brown hair glinting in the sunlight. I squinted and tried to read his face. He was serious.

  “You’re not like everyone else in this town, are you?” I asked, amazement in my voice.

  His face went blank. “What does that mean?”

  I placed a hand on my hip, staring up at him like he was an angel dropped to earth. “First of all, most of the town thinks I killed my Momma, so other than you and my sister and her husband, no one and I mean no one is concerned I’m in danger. Second, why do you think they’ll come back?”

  He peered down at the ground, shifted his weight from side to side then shrugged. “I didn’t say I did, but it makes sense that a single woman would be frightened to stay in the house her mother was just murdered in.” He looked up into my face. “You have to admit, it looks a little suspicious, you coming back here to stay all alone the morning after she was killed.”

  My rebellion and fear twisted together into a smoldering rage. “What are you saying, Joe McAllister? Either you think I killed my mother, or you don’t. Which is it?”

  His eyes locked with mine. “Well, it’s not for me to decide, is it? It’s for the great state of Arkansas and possibly a jury of your peers to decide that one.”

  I glared at him. I had never been so angry at anyone in all my life, not even Momma. I started to say something then stopped, not trusting the words that might come out of my mouth. Pinching my lips tight, I whirled around and left Joe standing in my yard as I stomped into the kitchen, slamming the door behind me. The door bounced off the frame and popped wide open. Joe was frozen in his spot, watching me with his expressionless face, his thumbs hanging in his belt loops. I shoved the door closed and leaned my back against it.

  You shouldn’t be so surprised. He’s no different than everyone else. I was disappointed with myself for thinking he could be.