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

Suzie, Terrance, and Kamira were assembling in the conference room, Sally brought in a pot of coffee and danish from Clara’s Café, putting everything in the center of the table.

“Thanks, Sally,” Kamira says, grateful for the coffee. She didn’t sleep well last night.

Jack looked around the table, “So you think Charles Chestfield is still alive?”

Kamira looked up to see Sally heading for the door. “Sally, could you do me a favor and get me the autopsy for Randall Lewis from Killeen, Texas? Here is a post-it with the details.”

“Sure thing, Kamira. I will email it to you as soon as I get it.”

Kamira and Terrance shared what they learned from Father Chestfield with Jack and Suzie.

Jack asked, “Could it be possible that this Randall Lewis provided Charles Chestfield a room while he waited for this Marilee to come?”

Hearing the notification on her computer, she looked at it in surprise. Sally was fast.

Reading the autopsy report, she looked up and said, “Looks like Randall Lewis also had a large amount of Ambien in his system when he died. They have his death listed as an accidental overdose.”

Terrance said, “Interesting. Same fate as Faye Chestfield. Maybe Charles put a pillow to his face while sleeping?”

Kamira nodded, saying, “I think Charles Chestfield is now living as Randall Lewis.”

Looking at Suzie, Kamira said, “I have the dead Randall Lewis’ social security number. Could you conduct a search?”

Taking the number from Kamira, Suzie’s fingers flew across the keyboard while talking.

“You know, it’s common with the elderly that ghosting often happens. It can take six months for banks, credit reporting bureaus, and the Social Security Administration to receive, share, or register death records.

If the family is not adamant about following through, credit agencies often fall through the cracks. Plus, the dead don’t monitor their credit reports, and the family no longer feels they need to.

Aha, here we go. There is a Randall Lewis in Denver, Colorado, actively using this social security number. He’s an accountant. I can give you his address and the address of his employment.”

Terrance looked at Kamira, saying, “Looks like we’re going to Colorado.”

Terrance pulled his cell phone out to make flight reservations. When he realized his phone was dead, he says, “Guess I forgot to plug my phone in last night. Suzie, can you and Kamira book us a flight. I will be right back. I am going to go plug my phone in.”

Terrance got up and left the conference room to retrieve a phone charging cable from his office.

Kamira looked at her notebook thoughtfully.

“Jack, I don’t think Randall Lewis is going anywhere. I want to make sure Keisha and little Clifton get settled into the Bellow sister's place alright this afternoon. Billie will have to be in the hospital for another week.”

Kamira jumped when Terrance barged through the door.

“What the hell, Terrance? You scared the hell out of me. What’s wrong?”

Plugging his phone into an electrical outlet, Terrance said, “You both need to hear this message.”

Terrance, it’s Buggs. Just checking to make sure Willie Mae made it home alright last night. She was going pretty hot on Buddy Colfax here at the bar. Call me.

Kamira grabbed her phone, dialing Willie Mae. When there was no answer, she quickly called the Bellow sisters.

“Hannah, it’s Kamira. Is Willie Mae there with you?”

“No, Kamira. Last night, she told us that Henry would drive her into the office early this morning because she wanted to be home when Keisha and the new baby come home. But the pleasant man is here, and we are having tea.”

“Pleasant man? What man, Hannah?” Kamira asked.

“Why, Giovanni, the is a friend of Willie Mae’s, and after the fire…”

Kamira glared at Jack and Terrance. “Hannah, let me talk to Giovanni, please.”

“Certainly, dear. Giovanni, Kamira would like to speak with you.”

Kamira put her phone on speaker.

“Hello, Kamira! Nice to speak to you again.”

“What the hell are you doing at the Bellow sisters’, Giovanni? Why are you here in Shadowbank?”

Giovanni looked nervously at Vittoria. Vittoria nodded, giving him the okay to explain.

“Ms. DeLuca has given us our orders. Nicko is covering Billie and his family at the hospital. I cover Willie Mae. Frank? Well, he is covering for you and Terrance. Perhaps you would like to talk to Ms. DeLuca?”

Kamira, her eyes narrowing, replied, “Yes, put Vittoria on the phone.”

“Good morning, Kamira.”

“When is the last time you saw Willie Mae?”

Vittoria frowned. Looking at Giovanni, she said, “Call Nicko and Frank. Where is Willie Mae?”

Speaking into the phone, Vittoria said, “You’re at the department? I saw Henry’s truck pull out of the drive this morning. Hang on.”

Giovanni entered the room, shaking his head. Willie Mae was not in her suite.

Kamira, now ready to slay everyone in the room, heard Vittoria come back on the phone.

“Nicko says Billie and his family are resting fine, but Willie Mae is not at the hospital with them, nor is she here. I am calling in some more men. I will be at the department momentarily.”

Kamira, her jaw-dropping, said, “She hung up on me. She will be here momentarily?”

Kamira angrily looked at Jack. “Where is he Jack, where is Frank Gallucci?”

Jack quickly sent a text on his phone. A moment later, the door opened, and Frank Gallucci entered the room.

Glaring at Frank, Kamira asked, “How many more men are we talking about, Frank?”

Frank, frowning, replied, “No less than 50, I would say. You’re talking about Willie Mae. If Vittoria thinks the State Line Mob is behind her disappearance, you’re looking at a few hundred. God forbid anything happens to Willie Mae. She will be out for war.”

Kamira turned when she heard Terrance talking to Henry. After he hung up, he turned around and said, “He doesn’t have Willie Mae. She wasn’t outside this morning when he arrived to pick her up, and he thought maybe she decided not to go in early after all.”

Jack, white-faced, sat down in his chair. His heart was heavy.

Kamira’s face turned hard. Her eyes turned gold, and she said, “Willie Mae is missing. The