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

“Book club? When did you join a book club, Auntie?”

Willie Mae stood and started for the screen door, saying sharply, “What is with all the questions Kamira? I have a life, you know.”

Kamira watched as Willie Mae walked out the screen door. With a sinking feeling in her stomach. Her Spidey senses were going full blast. She raced to the master bedroom and quietly opened the window. Feeling guilty about snooping on her auntie, she knew she had no other choice if Willie Mae would not tell her what was wrong.

Kamira listened quietly through the window as she heard Willie Mae begin her phone call.

“Mavis? It’s Willie Mae, sorry I am calling so early, but I wanted to contact you before work. I have been trying to reach Alyce Ann with no luck. I know the ladies had book club yesterday, and I wondered if you had seen her?”

Willie Mae listened to Mavis, then said, “That is odd. Alyce Ann would not forget book club when she was supposed to bring the dessert. When did you last talk to her?”

Kamira jumped when Terrance whispered in her ear, “Kamira, what are you doing? Spying on your auntie?”

Kamira raised her finger to her mouth to signal Terrance to be quiet. She watched Willie Mae through the curtains, and she was nodding her head. Listening carefully, she heard Willie Mae end the conversation with Mavis McDonald.

“Friday, you say. Okay, well, if you talk to her, will you have her call me right away? Thank you, Mavis.”

Kamira stood looking worriedly at Terrance. She whispered, “Something is going on with Willie Mae, and she won’t talk about it. I’m sort of worried about her. It could be nothing, but why would she be looking for Alyce Ann Buchanan?”

Puzzled, Terrance asked, “Alyce Ann Buchanan? George Buchanan’s wife? Haven’t they caused enough trouble for one year?”

Terrance looked at his watch, continuing, “We need to go, or we will be late.”

Kamira stood, grabbing her tote bag. “Okay, I will mention this to Jack. Let’s go get Willie Mae.”

The trio arrived at the office, walking through the doors to find Sally and Jack at the front desk visiting with the Bellow sisters dressed in violet matching dresses. The only difference was the hats they wore. Hattie had a wide-brimmed straw hat with a violet scarf tied around it, and Hannah had a small round hat covered in violet lace.

Kamira smiled at the ladies, thinking all were dressed to the nines to meet with the Mayor. She giggled.

Kamira, seeing Jack, said, “Morning, Jack, could I talk to you about a problem with the case in the church?”

Jack looked at Kamira, watching Willie Mae walking to her office. “Sure, come on in.”

Kamira, watching Willie Mae walking briskly to her office, said, “Let me drop my bag and grab the file, and I will be right there.”

Kamira and Terrance walked into their shared office space. Kamira looked at Terrance and said, “Can you start the board? I want to talk with Jack about Willie Mae. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Sure, go ahead. I will set the whiteboard up and start the file. Take your time.” Terrance replied.

Kamira grabbed an empty file and walked out of her office. Passing Willie Mae’s office, the door was ajar. She heard Willie Mae and the two sisters talking.

“Hannah, Hattie, I want you to start the call tree. See when anybody last talked to Alyce Ann.”

Kamira heard Hattie ask, “Alyce Ann? Willie Mae, why would you want to converse with that woman, after all the things the Buchanan’s have done to you?”

Hearing Willie Mae’s response worried Kamira further than she already was.

“She missed book club yesterday, and I am worried about her alone now that George is up in prison. I got a text message from her the night of the gazebo burning. All it said was, ‘I need to talk to you tonight. Be careful.’ I texted her back to come to the estate, but she never came. The next day was the wedding, and I forgot to check back with her. I am going to get the meeting room ready. You two start the phone tree.”

Kamira heard Willie Mae’s chair slide, and she rushed into Jack’s office, closing the door behind her.

Opening the empty file in front of her, Kamira looked at Jack. “I think we have a bigger problem than we thought with Willie Mae.”

Jack looked at Kamira and said, “Great, give me the details. I hope it is not too bad. Suzie and I have to get to work on the gazebo burning.”

Kamira sat silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts, mentally replaying everything that had happened over the last two days and what she had heard.

Pressing her lips together, she let out a deep breath. “I think the gazebo fire and Willie Mae have a definite connection.”

“WHAT?” Jack responded loudly.

Kamira, grimacing, said, “Think about it, the gazebo fire resulted from a pipe bomb gone wrong. Then this morning, I heard her talking to Mavis McDonald, looking for Alyce Ann Buchanan.

 Alyce Ann had missed book club, and just now, I heard her tell the Bellow sisters to start the phone tree looking for Alyce Ann.”

“Willie Mae is looking for George Buchanan’s wife? Why?” Jack asked, confounded.

“I have a sick feeling. Willie Mae thinks George Buchanan is involved with the gazebo fire.” Kamira said worriedly.

Jack’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Let’s hope not. I will put Marty on locating Alyce Ann Buchanan.”

Kamira stood, saying, “Okay, just tell him to keep it between us. I don’t want Willie Mae to know that we are also searching for Alyce Ann. But Jack, we’re going to have to keep Willie Mae protected if it turns out George Buchanan is behind this.”

“Got it,” Jack said. “I will let you know as soon as we find Alyce Ann Buchanan.”

Kamira nodded and walked back to her office. Coming to stand beside Terrance, she looked at the picture on the whiteboard and said, “So, who is Daniel Billings, and why