“I will be taking you back to the hotel and dropping you off, Kayla. Then, I will head to the hospital to ask Mel a few questions.” He turned the key in the ignition, and the car roared to life.
“What about Melinda Blackwell? We never found her.” Kayla looked back at the house, and when she noticed the door closing on its own, a chilly tremor snaked up her spine. “That place is creepy,” Kayla added.
“I could not agree with you more. It has that New Orleans flavor to it. That is how you know this town is haunted by its oldest homes.” Detective Tyler looked at himself in the rearview mirror and started to drive beneath sheets of heavy rain.
~~~
Kayla sat in the waiting room of the hospital with clean hands. One of the nurses kept an eye on her when Detective Tyler exited through double doors carrying two hot beverages. He handed one to Kayla, and when she took it, the smell of hot chocolate whirled up and infiltrated her senses. “It smells better than that house.” She bowed her head and regretted saying anything in public. Luckily nobody was around them.
“I’ve been in worse. My boss, Simpson wants to speak with me.” Tyler looked up after handing Kayla his drink. “I bet it’s about you being at the scene.” He rolled his eyes and put on a fake smile when he walked across the floor to a man wearing a plastic covered hat, pressed blue uniform, and twirling keys in one hand.
Kayla set his drink down and started to sip from her own cup when Detective Bernard came over and sat two seats from her. He cleared his throat and said, “You were right, Kayla.”
After setting eyes on this man who interrogated her thoroughly not all that long ago, she cocked her head to the side and sipped from her cup. After bringing it down, she asked, “About what, detective?”
“This case. I’m sorry for bringing our boss into this. He wants you to back off though.” He leaned in and moved a seat closer. “I think your dreams are dead on accurate.”
“What about the one about you?” Kayla held her cup tightly in one hand with eyes plastered to his.
“I’m still on the fence about that one. If you’re proven right about Melinda Blackwell or whoever else might have killed Harris Blackwell, I will be sitting out the rest of my career at a desk and no more working outside this department ever again.” He rubbed the wooden handle of the chair and acknowledged her with a nod.
Kayla watched him rise and rush over the ground to his boss. After passing a few words to one another, he made his way out the hospital door and disappeared into the pouring rain. Water pounding penetrated Kayla’s head, and she thought about the house and Mel and Melinda. Whatever was there, they found it. “What if?” Kayla questioned then jumped to her feet.
“I think you should sit down, Kayla Decker.” A heavyset man strolled over and sat across from her with dark blue eyes drilling into hers. “We need to talk about your dreams, young lady.”
“What do you want to know?” Kayla sat back down in the chair with her gaze staring off behind this man.
“Detective Tyler tells me you have dreams and this is why you’re here in New Orleans. Is that true?” His hands clasped together on both knees when he moved to the edge of the chair he sat in.
Kayla nodded. “My father always believed in me.”
“I’m not your father, Kayla. How did you know about Harris and the money he inherited?”
“In a dream. I have dreams about people, and I just know what’s about to take place. Call it a gift or a curse. I’m uncertain about how it works, it just does.” Kayla was now glaring at this man’s sun-tanned face.
“Detective Tyler told me a few things that have occurred while you’re here. The man writing on the window and the note slipped beneath your hotel room door. Obviously, you are making waves in this city. Someone wants you to stop.”
“I have noticed that too, sir.” She set her hot chocolate down when Tyler lifted his with one hand. “Whenever this happens to me, there’s always someone who doesn’t want me to continue.”
“I see.” He stretched out a leg before him. “Why do you believe that, Kayla?”
“When I arrive close to the truth, people become spooked and begin to panic. That’s what my father would say when he was out in the field, people are conscious creatures. We all know this. If they sense another knows something they shouldn’t, they react in strange, predictable ways. Wouldn’t you agree, sir?” Kayla was mindful of her words, and when he acknowledged how right she was, she crossed one leg over the other.
“You are correct about that. What do you believe about what you have been dreaming about, Kayla?” He leaned back and crossed both arms over his chest.
“I have the sense that Harris Green Blackwell was murdered by one of three people for the inheritance money. Whoever the killer is, doesn’t want to be discovered. They are attempting to throw me off the scent, but it won’t work. I know eventually, I will have another dream about who the killer is when asleep.”
“This case has been quite telling, hasn’t it? Harris was a pillar of the community, and he tossed his money about and into some great projects within this city. Whoever wanted him dead, definitely was after that load of funds.” He reached around him, pulled out a note pad and began to write something down. “Who do you believe had the most incentive to kill, Kayla?”
She struggled to answer that question at first with thoughts of who each person was and what each had to gain by murdering Harris Green Blackwell. “Well, I first believed it was Liz who had much to gain by doing the deed.”
He looked up at Detective Tyler, and back at Kayla. “Who is Liz?”
“Liz Blackwell was Harris’ half-sister. She lives in California where some of her furniture came into our antique shop so we could sell it for her. I now know she doesn’t have much to her name, but she has unloaded a lot of stuff from her family.”
“So, this Liz Blackwell might have had something to do with the murder, you believe anyway.” His words floated out.
“Yes, her father was Harris’ father, Henry Blackwell. That’s what I’ve been told, and the words Mel told me, reveals that’s true. I believe Henry is both Liz and Harris’ father.”
“Who is Mel?”
“Mel Blackwell. She’s in the hospital bed with stab wounds, boss.” Detective Tyler informed him of that fact.
“Oh, that’s right. Mel was found in that house you two searched.” His face revealed frustration and remorse of some kind. “She lives with Melinda Blackwell, right?”
“Yes, Melinda is her aunt, sir,” Kayla said so matter of fact.
“And she lives with Mel. So, these two lived together and did you know any of this, Detective Tyler?” He glanced up at his detective.
“I just discovered it today, boss. After knowing Mel for a few days, Kayla has been able to extract a whole lot of information about the Blackwell family. She’s very good at research, and I wouldn’t have known anything about Melinda Blackwell without her assistance.”
“I see. The two lived together and did anyone know about the money Harris inherited?”
“We’re not sure, boss.” Detective Tyler shrugged and sipped his drink.
“I know that Mel was well aware of the inheritance, but she informed me Liz Blackwell got everything, and knowing now what we didn’t know then, Mel didn’t receive anything either. Mel isn’t related to Henry Blackwell as a child, sir. She would not have received anything from her uncle.” Kayla had a thought she kept to herself.
“What is it, Kayla?” Detective Tyler asked over his boss’ voice.
“What if Liz did receive the inheritance from Harris’ death, but it has not been fully funded into her account?” Kayla then added, “What if Melinda Blackwell was promised a portion of it to take out Harris, and his fiancé got in the way, and she was murdered too.”
“What ifs! I cannot stand what ifs, Kayla. Let’s suppose that is true, what if this Melinda lady is hiding somewhere and about to receive her money, and when Mel got wind of it, she was just another victim.”
>
Kayla spoke up, “I get the feeling we are on the same wavelength, sir. We need to find Melinda Blackwell before she receives her end of the bargain. I might know where to find her too.” Kayla was on her feet when a doctor came out of Mel’s room and asked the officers to approach.
Detective Tyler pulled Kayla into the mix when the doctor showed them an x-ray. “Mel will be just fine. She suffered a fractured hand, and otherwise, she can go home tomorrow. I would feel better keeping her overnight.”
“Can we see her, doctor?” Kayla was given the green light to go on in and speak with Mel. Together with Tyler by her side, they entered the hospital room and moved slowly to the bed Mel was laying on. “Hey, Mel. How are you feeling?” She whispered.
Mel licked her lips and whispered back, “My aunt Melinda is still alive, Kayla.”
“We know, Mel. The police are searching for her now.”
“Find her before it’s too late. She did this to me. She wanted to kill me because I found out about the money.” Her hoarse voice then went silent.
“We are going to find your aunt, Mel. You can count on that.” Detective Tyler stepped from the room as Kayla sat down next to Mel and held her hand.
“Please, Kayla, find her before she hurts you too.”
“Why would she want to harm me, Mel?” Kayla’s eyes widened.
“She knows why you came to the city. I sort of told her why you’re here and that you’re working with the police.” She coughed.
“Get some rest, Mel. I will be alright. With her racing to get what money she can, I should be careful wandering through the streets.” Kayla stood and walked out of the room to meet with Tyler and Simpson, his boss.
“What did she say?” Detective Tyler questioned.
“Melinda knows about me, and she’s out to get me, Tyler. I need to use caution with that woman. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Without safety, I will be a goner for sure.” Kayla started to bite her lip when she stopped herself and gained what confidence she could muster.
“Stay in your hotel, and we will take care of this, Kayla. It’s in your best interest.” Simpson told her. “Take her back there now, Detective Tyler.” He demanded.
“I will, boss.” Tyler leaned into the room Mel was lying in and saw she was still asleep.
“She needs her rest, detective.” Kayla backed up and leaned against the wall adjacent to the room. “What now, Tyler? This woman will stop at nothing to get what she wants. I’m afraid she will make an attempt on my life. What am I going to do?” Kayla pressed both hands behind her and down the wall.
He stood before her and mumbled, “I will not allow her to do that, Kayla. We will keep watch over you. I will post a cop at your hotel room door, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Kayla.”
“Nope, we cannot afford that, Tyler. Kayla will be safe in her room at the hotel alone. She will be safe surrounded by hotel staff.” His boss informed after making a few calls to whoever.
“I should get you back to the hotel, I suppose. You keep your eyes wide open for anyone that might wish to hurt you, Kayla. I know you were raised by a cop, and this is a little more complicated.” Detective Tyler’s face revealed anxiety over her safety.
“Once inside my room, I will lock the door and stay as safe as can be. You cannot watch me every second of the day, Detective Tyler.” Kayla went to peek into Mel’s room, and when she saw her eyes were closed, she started to walk to the reception. “Can you keep an eye on her, please?”
“We will. She will be fine with us checking in on her.” The woman at the desk grinned. Her broad-rimmed glasses foretold of a time long past.
“Thanks.” Kayla began to walk away, and when she looked back, the woman waved. “Was she there before we arrived, Tyler?” Kayla asked thinking something odd was happening.
“I think so. Let’s get you back to the hotel where you’ll be safe.” He walked close to her, and when they left the hospital, Kayla turned around and saw the same nurse going through another door where she vanished.
“I don’t remember seeing her there before, Tyler. Didn’t you say Melinda Blackwell became a nurse?” She pointed.
“What?” He was texting on his phone.
“Never mind, Tyler. I should get back to the hotel room where I can rest and toss off today. It’s been too long for me.” She slid into the passenger seat and sat thinking about that nurse. Something about her wasn’t quite right. She also looked familiar.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Detective Tyler muttered after shutting his car door.
“Not really. I need some sleep. We can get started again in the morning.” Her eyes stared out the car window the entire drive back to the hotel. When he dropped her off, and she waved good-bye, and she never saw the ambulance parked around the corner of the hotel.
Kayla got into the elevator and yawned when someone grumbled behind her with their handheld against the center of her back, “Don’t look back at me. Keep looking straight ahead, Kayla.” A female voice mumbled.
Chapter Fifteen
Kayla stood as still as possible with this woman’s weapon held against her back, it was poking her spine. She kept her lips closed when an older couple entered the elevator whispering to one another with Kayla and this woman standing in the corner. When they got out on the second floor, Kayla started to get out too.
“Is this where your room is located?” The woman asked, and when Kayla nodded, she pushed her out the door and down the empty hallway.
“You’re not going to get away with killing me and making off with the money, Melinda Blackwell.” Kayla’s voice was slightly elevated.
“That is not the plan, Kayla. Once we arrive in your room, we can go inside and discover who killed my nephew.
Kayla opened the door to her room and was pushed inside as Melinda shut the door behind them. When she noticed Melinda had a pen held in her hand, Kayla exhaled. “I’m not sure what your plan is, but that is not a gun.”
“No, it isn’t. We need to talk about Harris and Mary, Kayla.” Melinda went to sit down in the chair near the desk. “I know it wasn’t me who killed them, and I also know someone else was involved in this murder of Harris to retrieve his money. I might not have much, but I’m not a killer, Kayla. I only attacked my niece to protect her. She was planning on going after Liz Blackwell in California.” Melinda’s face told Kayla she had nothing to do with the death of her nephew.
“I believe you, Melinda.” Kayla circled back around and saw a package sitting on her bed. “This must be…” she tore off the paper and went to insert it into her laptop, after asking Melinda to sit on the bed. “If this is what I think it is, and I believe it’s from Liz, we could discover who did want Harris dead.”
“Liz, what a tragedy there. She’s Henry’s daughter with all that muddy snake water.”
“What?” Kayla waited for the laptop to whirl to life before inserting the disc. “I take it you don’t like Liz.”
“Never have, Kayla. Liz Blackwell isn’t very likable. She has a rich taste on a beer budget, and nothing ever gets past her. We used to call her a sneak when Mel and Harris were kids.” Melinda rolled her eyes.
“Liz could have had something to do with Harris’ death, according to you.” Kayla went to push the disc into the slot and waited for it to come up. “What makes you say that?”
“Yes, Liz ran into hard times, stealing is not below her. Liz stole everything that wasn’t nailed down, so it doesn’t surprise me that she’d kill for money.” Melinda’s face was filled with unease and sadness.
“I certainly hope that isn’t the case, and I would not want to believe someone like her is capable of harming her own brother. He seemed like a great person.” Kayla scrolled over the family tree Liz Blackwell sent her. It was blatantly obvious that Melinda was Elizabeth’s sister. “You totally look a lot like your sister in this photo.”
“Yes, many told us we were twins, but we were exactly eleven months apart. She died before me
as you know. I think it was because of all the stress she endured married to Walton. He was an angry man.”
“W. L. Blackwell is Walton Blackwell.” Kayla looked up from her computer. She saw that name in the family tree.
“He was a mean man. He would hit his wife and kids all the time. Mel was lucky to get out alive. When Harris left, I went to get Mel and took her with me to the nearest city. She was lucky too, but her mother not so much.”
Kayla kept searching through each name, and most of it matched up with what Mel had, except Liz who was said to be Henry and Eliza’s granddaughter. “Is that correct, Melinda?” Kayla pointed.
“What is correct?” Melinda leaned over after pushing reading glasses on her face, “Nope, Liz was their daughter. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why she didn’t want to be their child. She’s adopted, you know.” Melinda sat back down.
“Really, who were her parents?” Kayla swiveled around and looked at Melinda.
“No one knows. They believe she was a child from another member of the family, but who knows.”
“It shows Harris was W. L. Blackwell’s son, but I heard he was actually Henry’s boy. Is that true?”
“Yes, that’s true. My sister Elizabeth confessed that to Liz on her deathbed. Liz would come out to care for Elizabeth when she was ill. It didn’t take long for Mrs. Blackwell to die after that.” Melinda looked up at Kayla, and when their eyes met, a knock came to the door.
“Yes,” Kayla said, but no answer told them who it was. Kayla was on her feet and when she went to the door, opened it, a man stood there with a gun held in his hand. “Who are you?”
Melinda Blackwell freaked out and screamed when a shot went off after two men jumped this stranger with the gun. One of the men was Detective Tyler. They scrambled, and Detective Bernard grabbed the gun and was able to get it away from the man who looked a lot like the one with Liz and with Mel.
“Are you okay, Kayla?” Detective Tyler questioned. He watched Detective Bernard handcuff the stranger.
Kayla's Chronicles- Will Travel For Murder Page 17
