Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2)

by Tyora Moody

  After showering and getting dressed, I wasted more time until I found the right earrings. It took me a whole fifteen minutes to decide between the pearl studs and the gold hoops. Hoops won. I thought the earrings sparkled rather nicely next to my cropped gray hair. Plus, like the dress, I hadn’t worn them in a few years.

  I had one last thing to decide on. I really wasn’t a makeup girl, although I tried to add a little lipstick on Sundays. I rarely went anywhere that called for makeup so I didn’t see the need.

  Of course tonight was different. I whipped out a little mascara and then added the lipstick.

  I put my hands on my hip. “Eugeena, girl, you not looking too bad at all for almost sixty. People are going to be saying sixty what?”

  The doorbell rang taking me out of my rare diva moment. I peered at the clock. It was five minutes to six o’clock. Well, someone was a bit early.

  I opened the door to find a bouquet of flowers above legs and feet. I inquired, “Amos?”

  Amos peeked around the flowers. Now I was used to either seeing Amos in overalls during the week or a suit on Sunday, but he was wearing a pair of nice khaki slacks and an olive green sweater. Very Heathcliff Huxtable, but I liked.

  He stared at me in a way that made me want to rethink my outfit. I wasn’t sure if he liked it, but he appeared surprised.

  I asked, “Is this outfit okay for where we’re going?”

  He showed off all his pearly whites. “Perfect.” He extended his arms towards me. “These are your birthday flowers.”

  “Oh my. Well I need to put these in water before we head out.” I was glad I hadn’t put my heels on yet or I would have toppled over trying to balance the huge bouquet. I can’t say I have ever seen an arrangement quite so colorful.

  I walked into the kitchen and placed the flowers on the table and then reached under the cabinet to find a vase. When I stood up, I was very aware that Amos must have walked in behind me. Feeling self-conscious I filled water in the vase and then walked over to the table. I smiled as I arranged the flowers in the vase. “These are really nice.”

  “Well, I hope you like where I made reservations for us tonight too.”

  “Reservations?” Amos went all out. I couldn’t wipe the silly grin off my face if I tried. “Let’s go. I just need to put my shoes on.”

  I stopped and grabbed my heels, thankful that they were a reasonable height.

  After I locked the front door, I noticed Amos had opened the car’s passenger door. This was certainly not the first time I’d rode in his car, but it felt like the first time of something.

  We were quiet as Amos drove. I was really curious what restaurant Amos chose. I could see we were heading towards Charleston’s waterfront. I asked, “Seafood?”

  Amos looked over at me. “The best.”

  Five minutes later we pulled up in front of Fleet Landing. It was hard to believe the chic restaurant used to be a place for sailors back in World War II. Reservations were definitely highly recommended and I, until tonight, had never eaten there. “This is definitely a first.”

  Amos winked. “It’s only going to get better.”

  While Amos parked the car, I was starting to feel warm. Not like I was running a fever, but excited that I was going to enjoy myself in a way I had not in a long time.

  When we arrived, the hostess checked our reservations and showed us to our table. The scene outside the window was breathtakingly beautiful. I’d grown up in Charleston all my life, but I sometimes forgot how close I was to the Atlantic Ocean and how majestic it looked up close.

  We took some time to order, but I finally decided I could not resist the blackened shrimp alongside the pimento cheese grits. Why haven’t I thought to try this before now?

  While we waited, I filled Amos in on my visit with August’s sisters. “They seemed pretty convinced that Chuck Nelson was the culprit. His dad was pretty powerful and as you can see the Nelsons continue to have their businesses here in Charleston. It’s just a shame that no one had enough evidence to charge him.”

  Amos nodded. “Well, people don’t always get what we think they deserve, but God has a way of fixing that.”

  I leaned forward. “So, what have you been up to? You’ve been out of pocket since we left the dealership on Saturday.”

  Amos placed his elbows on the table. “That’s because I decided to check out a few things.”

  “Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

  “I went to see Chuck Nelson.”

  I sucked in a breath. “You did?” Then I sat up straighter. “Without me?”

  Amos chuckled. “I was going on a hunch. There was no need for both of us to be there. Besides that the man’s been under your nose in a way. He’s in the same place as Louise.”

  “Chuck Nelson is at Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home. You just walked in to see him? I haven’t been able to see Louise in days.”

  “Nope, didn’t have a problem at all. I wasn’t sure when I went what I would find. I can tell you that ole Chuck is in the Alzheimer’s unit. Probably last stages.”

  “How did you know he was there?”

  “I did a little digging. I started at his house and his daughter answered the door. She told me that they had to put him in a nursing home. We kept talking and I found out it was Hillcrest. Like I said when I found him, he wasn’t very communicative.”

  “So no confessions at this point?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  The waiter showed up at our table with the steaming plates of food. The pimento cheese and shrimp on the grits was just heavenly. I swallowed a few more bites before asking, “Did you try to see Louise while you were there?”

  “I did, but you know the strangest thing was I was told that she wasn’t able to see any visitors.”

  “Really? For a while there I was thinking it was just me. So let me get this straight, you were able to see Chuck Nelson, but not Louise?”

  “That’s right.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  “That’s what we need to figure out, which brings me to something else I ran across. There seems to be some other residents at Hillcrest Manor who can’t have visitors who are not family or who are suddenly not included on the visitor’s log. I talked to at least four people who said the person they were trying to visit has relatives who live far away or they were on their own.”

  I sucked in my breath. “That’s doesn’t seem right at all. It’s almost like these people are being isolated on purpose. Isn’t that elder abuse?”

  Amos nodded. “Something isn’t quite right. Oh, but you haven’t heard the really big find.”

  “Tell me.”

  “It seems as though Hillcrest Manor is owned by Chuck Nelson’s family. In fact, one of the staff members told me the room where Chuck stays was designed exactly like his room at home. Staff is asked to keep an eye on him, but he’s not to know or have any hints that he’s not home.”

  “Seems to me like he should have even more privacy, and protection being an Alzheimer’s patient. You know I always thought that place was nice, but it seems to be not what it appears to be.”

  Amos commented, “That’s not uncommon in nursing homes, which is why I’m thinking it might be a good idea to bring in the Department of Social Services. Of course, someone to actually report evidence of anything out of the ordinary would be a better place to start. Any word from Pat?”

  I shook my head. “No. It’s been over three days now.” What was that buzzing? “Hold on just a minute, Amos. You know every time Pat has called me on this thing I always miss her. I wonder who this could be calling me now.”

  I recognized the phone number, but my mind was a bit muddled so I didn’t recognize who’s number. I was getting better with technology, but I didn’t always fill out my contacts like I should. I answered, “Hello.”

  “Eugeena, its Annie Mae. “

  I looked at Amos. “Annie Mae, what’s going on?”

  “They found Pat.”

&
nbsp; “Is she okay?”

  I almost dropped the phone as I heard the wail that came through. I lifted the phone back to my ear and looked over at Amos who was watching me with concern. “Hello, Annie Mae.”

  All I could hear was the sound of wailing in the background. A strained voice came back on the phone, “Eugeena, she’s gone. I don’t understand how she could be gone.”

  Chapter 25

  Amos was a real trooper. He paid the bill and drove us to the Browns. While I have had some difficulties getting along with Willie Mae and Annie Mae, I wouldn’t have wished this kind of news on my worst enemy. I knew they were both devastated. We all had prayed together for many years and tried to intervene for Pat when she was going through heroin addiction. She fought so hard to get her life back on track.

  I can’t believe she is gone. I hope I misunderstood Annie Mae.

  I was beside myself the whole way and was so thankful Amos was driving. I knew Pat had been trying to tell me something. Pat showed concern from the beginning about Louise’s welfare and fussed at William hours before he was killed. For the past week and a half, what happened to poor William haunted me. Now Pat too.

  That was two people who I’d watched grow up. We needed answers.

  Annie Mae answered the door when we arrived. I don’t think in all the years I had known her I’d ever hugged her. I felt slightly guilty that such a tragedy brought us to this moment, but a hug was more than appropriate. Annie Mae seemed too distraught to protest. I caught her looking at Amos behind me, but there were no judgmental remarks.

  Grief overwhelmed me as I walked into the room and saw Willie Mae sitting with her arms crossed as if she was freezing cold. Pat was her only child. She glanced at me, but turned her attention to the person sitting across from her. I have to say I was a bit surprised to see Detective Wilkes there.

  “Willie Mae, I’m so sorry to hear about Pat.” I looked at the detective who eyed me and then Amos.

  “You two again?” Detective Wilkes remarked.

  I sighed, “Charleston is a good size city, Detective, but some of us have been here all our lives and know each other. We all go to the same church.”

  Detective Wilkes nodded. “I see.”

  Amos stepped up and asked the detective, “If you’re here it sounds like something happened to Pat that could be considered foul play.”

  The petite detective peered at Willie Mae. “Unfortunately, we can’t say that at this time, but Ms. Brown’s death needs further investigation. We have requested an autopsy.”

  Willie Mae shook her head. “They’re trying to say she overdosed.”

  “No,” I said. “That can’t be.”

  Detective Wilkes responded, “It’s my understanding that in the past Ms. Brown had been addicted to heroin.”

  Willie Mae threw her hands up in the air. “She beat her addiction. That was years ago. She wouldn’t go back to that stuff again.”

  Detective Wilkes looked down at her notebook as if this pained her to ask. “Was Ms. Brown under any stress or were there any changes that may have motivated her to consider using drugs again?”

  Willie Mae’s voice cracked with frustration. “She wouldn’t go touch that stuff again.” She began to sob softly into her hands.

  Annie Mae came up beside her sister on the couch and put her arm around her twin. “Please leave. We need time to grieve.”

  Detective Wilkes stood. “I will be in touch when we have any other information. Ladies, I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

  I grabbed Amos’ arm and pulled him after the detective. Once we were outside, I asked the detective. “Can we talk?”

  Detective Wilkes turned around. “If you have something that can help.”

  I took a deep breath. “Something has been different about the nursing home where Pat worked.”

  Detective Wilkes looked at me. “So, you agree that Ms. Brown was stressed… that she could have regressed.”

  “It’s a possibility, but I don’t think so. Pat had developed a solid faith in the past few years. She cared about her patients, loved her Sunday School class and belted out the most beautiful solos on Sunday morning; I can’t believe she would want to go back to that place of misery. She was trapped there for so many years.”

  I felt Amos’ hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t realized tears were streaming down my face. I wiped them away with the end of my sleeve.

  This was my theory. “I think Pat was harmed. She has been trying to get in touch with me all last week, but we kept missing each other. Whatever she wanted to tell me, she certainly didn’t feel comfortable just telling me over the phone. She kept insisting on meeting in person.”

  Detective Wilkes looked thoughtful for a minute.

  Amos nudged the detective. “Detective Wilkes, was there more to Pat’s condition other than she appeared to have overdosed?”

  “I can’t really say, Mr. Jones. I will say that there’s always the possibility that someone could have helped her along. The medical examiner noticed something, but I’m not at liberty to say.” The detective looked at us. “Looks like you two were out having a good time. Sorry this messed up your evening.”

  I looked down at the dress I was wearing. A sudden gust of wind reminded me how cold the world could be. I’d forgotten that Amos and I had been enjoying a dinner out. I guess one would have called it a date. All that excitement I had earlier had dissipated.

  It was almost ten o’clock when we arrived back home. When Amos pulled into my driveway, I said, “Thank you for the evening you had planned for us.”

  “Sorry about Pat. This is mind boggling. I’ve looked over many cases in my life, but this has me wondering what’s going on.”

  I turned to Amos. “Do you agree we should find out?”

  “Eugeena, I would have to agree with you, but I don’t know what we can do.”

  “How about trying to see Louise?”

  “It’s a start. We can’t be rash. They do have some type of security.”

  I understood what Amos was saying, but I knew I could no longer stay in the dark about what was going on with my friend. I was feeling too insecure about her being in that place.

  Chapter 26

  I didn’t sleep, but I talked to God. I asked why several times in between getting caught up in my own tears. By the time I awakened, I was determined to get my answers. It occurred to me I was more distraught over Pat’s death than William’s death. Both deaths were sudden and tragic. There were too many questions left hanging. I wasn’t sure if one was connected to the other, but I couldn’t get bogged down in details. The goal was to see how Louise was doing.

  After I parked in the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home parking lot, I marched inside and to my surprise no one was at the desk. I just knew Lexi would be there with her condescending little face telling me I was not allowed to visit Louise.

  I thought why not just sneak down the hallway. A big and hulky male was pushing a man in a wheelchair past me. Maybe I will just go back to my original plan, which was to confront the director. She was the one making the rules and she argued with Pat about something last week that upset Pat. So I switched direction down another hallway towards the administration offices.

  I moved through a sitting area that I hadn’t been in before towards a few doors. All the doors were closed, but the lights were on from what I could tell from the window panes next to the doors. As I approached the door in the far corner of the administration area, I read the gold nameplate. Jacqueline Saunders, Director. That’s who I needed to see first.

  I started to knock on the door, but I could hear voices. It sounded like a man and a woman were arguing. I looked at the table in the middle of the sitting area; I went over and grabbed a brochure off of the table. I scoped the nearby doors to see if there was anyone who could see me and eased as close as I could to Ms. Saunders’s door. If the door opened, I could always say I was waiting to see her.

  I leaned towards the door close enough hoping that I didn’t lo
ok like I was eavesdropping. It was so hard to hear.

  I heard the man’s voice yell, “What were you doing with my car?”

  Ms. Saunders raised her voice, “I told you I just needed to borrow your car because mine was in the shop.”

  “So you just came in my house and took the keys. That’s technically stealing. I don’t care if you are family, especially with some detective showing up asking me questions. Do you know how embarrassing that is to have customers see policemen walking through the showroom?”

  Showroom ? Like a car showroom. Wait a minute, I know that voice.

  That was James Nelson. Amos said the nursing home was owned by the Nelsons. It made sense for James to come visit his father, Chuck Nelson. How would Jacqueline Saunders be able to borrow his car? What kind of car was it?

  Jacqueline asked, “What were they asking you?”

  I strained to hear.

  “The detective was asking me about William. Seems like my car could have been at his house the night he was shot.”

  Jaqueline responded matter-of-factly. “I’m sure there are a lot of other cars like your Mustang here in Charleston. Now what did you tell them about the car?”

  “Can I help you?”

  I shrank back and noticed a red-haired woman was looking at me strangely. I smiled and held out the brochure. “I was waiting to talk to Ms. Saunders.”

  The woman pointed to the sitting area. “Looks like she is with someone now, why don’t you have a seat?”

  After what I just heard, I had a change of plan. “You know what? I will be back.”

  I hurried out of the area and fast as I could. I looked over at the front desk again. Lexi was still not there. I stopped and pulled out my phone. I told Amos I was coming to the nursing home and would call him if I found anything strange.

  Amos answered on the first ring. “Everything okay, Eugeena? Have you seen Louise yet?”

  I looked around to make sure no one was listening to my conversation. “That’s next, but I need you to know that I overheard a conversation. You know that car that was at the house the night William was killed?”