“What kind of important business date?”
Way to go Nana. Open mouth and insert foot. But she wasn’t finished yet.
“My niece is a murder suspect and she needs to question Tippi.”
“That’s right Officer. We’re helping Detective Sams solve a case.” I couldn’t believe it. Dee Dee was getting as bad as Nana. They were determined to get me in trouble.
“You don’t say? Stay right here a minute.” He walked over to another officer. He turned our way and pointed toward the car. He walked back over.
“Ma’am, pull your car in behind the patrol car and y’all come with me.”
I moved the car as told, then turned to Nana and Dee Dee. “Way to go girls. Now you’ve done it.”
“Aw come on, Trixie, we just told the truth,” Dee Dee said.
Officer Smith directed us to the back seat of his cruiser. “You ladies take a seat in here while I make a phone call.”
The car had been running with the heat on and it was warm with all three of us squeezed in behind the iron cage. I felt like I was already in prison. I imagined he was calling Detective Sams to let her know about the murder suspect and her two accomplices running around questioning people. A bead of sweat rolled down my back.
Within minutes I saw the detective walking towards us. She didn’t look happy. She beckoned to me to get out of the car. The fresh air felt good.
“I knew I’d see you again, but I didn’t think it’d be this soon. Get your car and follow me to the station.”
“You’re in trouble now, Trixie,” Nana said. Lord please keep me from strangling her. I loved Nana with all my heart, but that didn’t keep me from getting frustrated with her at times. Before I knew it I’d rolled my eyes. Big mistake.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Missy. I changed your diapers ya’ know.” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but Nana never missed a chance to call me on eye-rolling.
Back down the mountain we went. Thank goodness there wasn’t any ice on the roads. I couldn’t imagine living on a mountain and being snowed in for days. I loved being able to get out too much. Loved my freedom.
The glittering Christmas decorations caught my eye. It was kind of hard getting in the Christmas spirit when you’re suspected of murder. I had to find the killer and get this investigation wrapped up.
The same young lady was at the reception desk when we arrived at the office. She looked young enough to be in high school, and her spiked hair and a wad of chewing gum didn’t help her image.
“I see you’re back again.” She smacked. “And you have a new person in tow.” She looked at Nana. “Who do we have here?”
I could see Nana didn’t take kindly to her condescending tone, so I stepped in. “This is my great-aunt, Nana. We’re here to see the detective.”
“She said to send you on in.” Popping followed us as we traipsed into Detective Sams’ office.
She stood up as we came into the room. Dee Dee diffused the awkward situation with a compliment on the detective’s outfit, black pants with a red shirt covered by a Christmas themed vest. “Love your outfit.”
The detective answered in kind. “I like yours, too.” Dee Dee’s outfit mirrored the detective’s except for a white shirt. I felt like I was looking at the Bobbsey Twins.
Her friendly demeanor changed quicker than a duck on a Junebug. “What were you doing at Tippi Colston’s? Were you there to question her on Annie’s murder?”
“You told me you couldn’t stop us from interviewing my classmates, so I decided to go ahead with it.” My brazen answer startled even me, but I didn’t have anything to lose and I was getting tired of all this. And why were all the police at Tippi’s? Perhaps they were onto her as well. “George Buchanan said he’d seen Tippi Colston coming out of Annie’s room earlier in the evening. This definitely gives us another person of interest.”
“So then you went to Tippi’s to question her?” Detective Sams said.
“That’s right.”
Dee Dee spoke my thoughts. “Did you arrest her for the murder, Detective?”
She looked from me, to Dee, to Nana. I wondered what she thought of our motely little crew. “No, we didn’t arrest her. She’s been shot. She’s in Erlanger Hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“What, how, why…?” I sputtered.
“Of course I can’t divulge any pertinent information,” Detective Sams said. “She’s going to be all right though. That’s the good news.”
“I swanny they’re dropping like flies around here. Sounds like being a writer can be a dangerous occupation.” Nana walked over to the detective’s desk. “By the way what are you writing in that little notebook of yours?” She leaned over and gandered at the tablet. “I hope it isn’t anything about my niece, Trixie. You know she’s going to solve this murder.”
I could feel my face turning red. Being easily embarrassed had been something I’d dealt with since childhood. Hanging around Nana didn’t help my condition.
“I don’t want Trixie involved in solving this case. As you can see it can be very dangerous.”
Dee Dee gently guided Nana back to her chair. “Detective, do you think the two cases are connected somehow?”
“We don’t know at this time, but it wouldn’t surprise me. That’s why it’s important you stay out of the way. I think the stakes have just been raised.” She stood and walked around to the front of her desk and leaned against it. “Y’all can go now, but I want you to stay away from Tippi’s house. It is now a crime scene.” She turned toward me. “And I’ll be checking with George about the information you gave me.”
Okay, she left the path wide open for me to contact Tippi. The detective said stay away from her house. I had no intention of going there, but she didn’t say anything about not going to the hospital. I didn’t bring up the fact that I thought Tippi was really Tabitha. I’d find out for sure before I approached her with the information.
Detective Sams walked us out to the front room and reminded me not to leave the city. She made it clear I was still the main suspect in Annie’s murder. What did this new incident mean? Was there a connection between the two women? I needed to get over to Erlanger and question Tippi. I knew Mama was resting, so I decided to take Nana with us. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it.
Dee Dee grabbed my arm. “Why didn’t you tell Detective Sams about the picture?”
“I wanted to give Tippi a chance to explain before I did.”
“I hope she has a good explanation,” Dee Dee said.
The GPS took us to Lee Highway then we hit Highway 27. It took us about ten minutes to arrive at Third Street. A sweet little gray haired lady sat behind the information desk. “Could you tell me what room Tippi Colston is in?”
She looked on the computer and wrote the number on a small piece of paper and handed it to me. “She’s in room 424.”
“Thank you.” I took the paper and shoved it in my pocket.
“Isn’t it about time for supper?”
Dee Dee’s laughter echoed in the elevator. “Come to think of it, I could use a little sustenance.”
“All right ladies, when we finish talking with Tippi, we’ll pick up Mama and get something to eat.” Nana responded with a smile.
We stopped on the second floor where a tall, dark, and handsome doctor boarded the elevator. Nana and Dee Dee giggled like schoolgirls as they ogled Dr. Hunky. Okay, I admit, I stole a quick peek, too. Dee Dee pulled out her hot flash fan and then they broke out in full laughter. The doctor turned around and smiled at them. I thought of Beau and wished he was here with me. He said he’d come as soon as he could – I hoped it was sooner than later.