Miranda James - Murder Past Due

“I am conducting an investigation into what looks like homicide, Mr. Harris.” Kanesha enunciated each word so carefully, I could tell she was furious. “I will conduct the investigation as I see fit, and that means questioning anyone with any connection to the victim.” The intensity of her gaze made me want to take a step back. “Do you understand that?”

“I do.” A smarter man would have tucked tail and run. She was one pissed-off deputy, but another look at Justin’s face was all I needed to make me stand my ground. “My point is, you’ve questioned Justin and his mother. You’ve pushed your luck far enough as it is, since Justin hasn’t had time to talk to a lawyer. They’re both very upset about what happened, and if you have a humane bone in your body, you’ll give them time to recover. They haven’t even had their dinner yet, and neither have I. You can continue this tomorrow.”

Bates stood and moved close to Kanesha. He appeared ready to step between Kanesha and me.

I must have looked more threatening than I realized, because now both deputies were glaring at me. I took a step back, my hands up to show that I meant no harm.

Kanesha jerked her head once, and Bates moved away.

“I have more questions for you, Mr. Harris.” Kanesha folded her arms over her chest. “But they can wait until tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll have more questions for Justin and Mrs. Wardlaw as well. Have a good evening.”

She stalked past me, Bates behind her. He gave me a cocky grin as he went.

Moments later I heard the front door open and close, and Julia appeared in the kitchen right after. She took one look at Justin, then hurried to his side. Diesel jumped down from the boy’s lap and came to rub against my legs.

“Honey, how are you? Did they mistreat you?” Julia examined Justin, her fingers trembling as she touched his face.

“No, I’m okay, Mama.” Justin leaned against her, his head at her waist. Julia stroked his hair. “It was pretty intense. She kept asking me the same questions over and over.”

I went to the refrigerator and retrieved a can of Coke for Justin.

“Thank you, sir,” he said as he accepted it. “You should’ve heard Mr. Charlie, Mama. He came in here and told the deputy that she should stop. And she did. But boy was she mad.” He popped the top on the can and took a long swig of Coke.

“Thank you.” Julia threw me a glance full of gratitude.

“You’re welcome,” I said. “Now, anyone hungry? How about I order us a pizza?”

Both Julia and Justin shook their heads. “Not for me, thanks,” Justin said.

When a teenager turned down pizza, he was obviously worn out.

“Okay,” I said. “Why don’t you go on up to bed? And if you get hungry in the night, there’s plenty of food in the fridge.”

“Yes, sir.” Justin stood, his shoulders tensed. “Mama, will you come upstairs with me for a few minutes? I need to talk to you about something.” He glanced at me, and I nodded. He relaxed.

I knew he wanted to talk to Julia about the pen he found in Godfrey’s room. Julia could explain, and then they could decide what to do about it.

“If you need anything, let me know.” I watched as they left the room, Julia’s arm around her son.

Diesel started after them, but I called him back. “Not now, boy. Justin and his mother need to be alone. You stay with me.”

The cat looked at me for a moment, then sat down and started cleaning his left front paw.

I’ve never had a pet that seemed to understand what I said so well. Sometimes it freaked me out a little. I watched Diesel a little longer, until hunger pangs claimed my attention.

I decided against pizza and settled for scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and a couple of pieces of toast instead. When my meal was ready, I poured a glass of water and carried it with my plate to the table.

Diesel could smell the eggs and cheese, and approached my chair, chirping. He loved scrambled eggs, and I usually gave him a few bites. If I didn’t, I got a heavy paw on my leg as a reminder.

I took my time eating, and when I was done I cleaned up the kitchen. Azalea would be back in the morning, and I didn’t want her to find a mess. She would have enough to do with dusting, vacuuming, and laundry without having to clean up in here.

Julia still hadn’t come back down by the time I finished. I was tired and ready to climb into bed with a book, but I didn’t want to go upstairs without seeing Julia to her car. Aunt Dottie would haunt me if I neglected my duties as a host.

I went up for the book I was reading, planning to take it back downstairs while I waited for Julia. Diesel trotted along with me. I retrieved the book from my bedside table, and Diesel followed as I left my room and walked back to the stairs.

From above me I heard Julia telling Justin good night, and moments later she was coming down the stairs. I moved forward to intercept her as she reached the second-floor landing.

“You must be about ready for bed.” Julia paused, her hand on the banister. “What a day this has been.”

“Yes, it has.” Somehow it seemed three days long, but it was only this morning that Godfrey Priest had appeared in the archive. “I wanted to see you out and ask if there’s anything else I can do.”

Julia placed a hand on my arm as we walked down the stairs together. Diesel had zipped ahead and disappeared before we were halfway down.

“You’re a good friend,” Julia said. “And I’m so sorry if I was rude to you earlier. I’m just terrified of what’s going to come of this.” Her grip tightened on my arm. “I have to keep Justin safe.”

“How is he?”

“Very tired and confused, poor lamb.” Julia sighed. “Like both of us, I expect. We talked, and I explained about the pen.”

“Good.” I wanted to ask whether they decided to tell Kanesha about it, but Julia looked exhausted.

We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I turned to face her as her hand dropped from my arm. “I’ll keep my eye on him, and I’ll keep my ears open, too. Someone else had a powerful motive, and I’m sure the truth will come out. It’s just going to take some digging.”

“You’re a good man, Charlie Harris.” Julia surprised me with a peck on the cheek, and I could feel my face redden a bit. “I’ll get my purse and be right back.”

I waited, hoping my face had lost any vestige of red by the time she returned.

When Julia reappeared, purse clutched in her hand, I moved to open the door for her. I started to follow her down the walk, but she insisted that I not.

“It’s not that far to the car, and I’ll be fine. I’m going by the hospital to check on Ezra, and then I’ll head home and collapse.” She smiled before she turned and moved down the walk to the street.

“Good night, then,” I called after her. I waited until she pulled her car away from the curb before shutting the door.

I turned off the lights downstairs, watching for Diesel, but there was no sign of him. I found him sprawled across my bed when I got back upstairs.

After putting my book back on the nightstand, I undressed and got ready for bed myself. I was tired, but my brain was buzzing with all kinds of thoughts about the events of the day.

I read for a while, trying hard to concentrate on my book, and eventually I put it aside and turned out the light. Diesel snuggled close to my legs.

Praying that I wouldn’t have nightmares about dead bodies all night long, I did my best to fall asleep.

THIRTEEN

If I dreamed about corpses, I didn’t remember it when I woke the next morning. I came out of a sound sleep to feel a paw gently prodding my nose and then a head butting lightly against my chin.

With Diesel around I had no need of an alarm clock. He got me up most mornings by six-thirty, and today was no exception.