The Gravedigger by Kacie Clement (short books for teens .TXT) 📕

Yes, that young man doted on Ms. Faye, but Ms. Faye didn’t return the affections. It was just too much for that young man. He wouldn’t let anyone help him with the digging of the grave, the next morning, everyone was looking for him, but it appeared he had left. Never even attended Ms. Faye’s funeral. I think that young man just felt he had done what he could for the woman that saved him. He just moved on.”

Kamira nodded. Looking at her notebook, she glanced at Terrance.

“Ms. Garrison,” Terrance began in a husky voice, “Can you remember if Pastor Chestfield was counseling any individual during that period?”

Greta pursed her lips in thought. “Come to think about it, yes. The pastor was counseling a young mother who was going through a divorce. She wasn’t at Faye’s funeral either. You don’t think she and Danny ran off together, do you?”

Terrance slightly nodded his head as if he was considering the idea. Smiling, he began, “Ms. Garrison…”

“Call me Greta, Mr. James.”

Terrance smiled while Kamira watched Greta melt in her office chair. Kamira smiled, thinking, even older women can’t resist Terrance’s smile. She sat back and let Terrance ask the questions.

“Greta,” Terrance began again, do you remember the woman’s name?"

“Let me think a minute. Yes, I remember now, Marilee Hudson. She was just 27 years old. She had a toddler, a son, only two years old, and she got divorced. The pastor took a special interest in helping her. I thought it was not polite that she just left, saying nothing to anybody. After a while, after the pastor’s death, we all forgot about her and wondered where she went. Then five years after she left, a church contacted me for transfer of her church records.”

Terrance beamed at Greta Garrison while turning on the charm. “I don’t suppose you remember where you sent those records to?”

Greta beamed back at Terrance, ignoring Kamira. “I don’t remember off-hand. Sit here a minute, Terrance. Let me go find the record.”

As Greta Garrison walked out of the office to go to the file room, Kamira slyly looked at Terrance.

“You know, husband, you should not be flirting with the church secretaries.”

Terrance smiled and waved at Greta Garrison, coming down the hallway, file in hand.

“Here you go, Terrance. The request came from the Falls Baptist Church in International Falls, Minnesota.”

Taking the file, Terrance stood ready to wish Greta a good day and head back to the office.

Kamira laughed silently. When she heard Greta say, “Mr. James, I brought some shrimp gumbo with me today for lunch, and I know there is enough for the two of us. If you would like to join me for lunch, we can discuss Ms. Hudson further.”

It took everything Kamira had not to burst out in laughter seeing the look of terror on her husband’s face.

It was when she saw Greta smile shyly at her and say, “I don’t mind giving your partner a ride back to the department, Detective. I am sure you have work to do.” That she knew if she didn’t leave that office, she was going to break out in hysterics.

Kamira stood, smiling, “Yes, Ma’am, I have a desk full of files to sort through. Enjoy your lunch.”

She smiled evilly at Terrance as she walked out the door and drove back to the department, trying to keep her eyes on the road while she wiped the tears of laughter from them.

Chapter 6

Kamira, smiling, walked into the department, seeing Sally sitting behind her desk.

“Sally, is Jack in?” Kamira asked.

“No, he and Suzie are out on a call. They found the two bodies of the men suspected of the gazebo fire.”

Kamira, feeling a knot forming in her stomach, replied, “I will give Jack a call.”

Turning with a heaviness in her legs, she walked back to her office and called Jack.

“Jack, this is Kamira. Sally said you found the suspects of the gazebo fire. Any idea who they were?”

Jack walked away from the crime scene task force over to his squad car.

“Yes, two known members of the State Line Mob. Executed. Clean shots to the head.”

“Wonderful, so the State Line Mob still has me as a target. Any word on finding Alyce Ann Buchanan?”

Jack frowned, “No, nothing. Suzie tracked her financial history, and she has not used her credit cards or bank account since the rehearsal dinner. It’s been close to a week, and there is nothing on her whereabouts. Have the women found anything? I was going to talk to Willie Mae this morning, and then we got the call.”

Kamira, a tightness building in her chest, replied, “No. Terrance and I were conducting the Garrison interview. Jack, we’re going to have to put security on Willie Mae.”

Jack jumped when he heard Terrance’s loud, angry voice over the phone.

“Woman, you left me alone in the hands of that Garrison woman. Why would you do that?”

Jack grinned. “What did you do to that husband of yours, Detective?”

“Nothing, I left him at the church to have lunch with Greta Garrison. Thought he might get more information out of her since he worked so hard to charm it out of her.” Kamira winked at Terrance.

“Jack, keep me updated. I will go find Willie Mae and ask her about Alyce Ann.”

Hanging up the phone, Kamira walked over to Terrance, standing face to face with him.

“So, Mr. James, did you sweet-talk Greta out of any more information?”

Terrance displaying a wide grin, said, “No, I spent more time attempting to keep her hands off this amazing body than I did anything else. What’s going on with Jack?”

Kamira frowned. “They found two bodies and identified them as State Line Mob members. They identified one of them as a worker at the Bellows’ setting up for the wedding. Which means I am still a target for the mob.

We need to talk to Willie Mae. There is no trace of Alyce Ann Buchanan. We are going to need security on Willie Mae.”

Sitting down at his desk, Terrance replied, “Why don’t