Missk22's Blog

Goddess morning Royals. First, give praise and worship to the all High.

Chapter Two

One early morning, on the 13^th of June 2000, the hottest day of the year thus far.  It hasn’t been this hot in years.  Everyone was feeling it and was not sure what this weather meant but they just wanted it to pass already. 

“Lord this is a scorcher, feels like Death Valley out there today.”  Mrs. Cornable said with her asthma acting up. 

The temperature was a mere 107* and the humidity was a whopping 98*.  What was there to do but sweat?  It was so hot the air conditioners weren’t helping, swimming was making it worst, but nevertheless trying to stay cool was a task all on its own. 

Ashlaye was 17 now, and still doing the same routine as every week, walking along the bridge heading to her grandma’s home.  Her grandmother wasn’t feeling so good due to the heat wave, so Ashlaye was rushing to be there for her.   Ashlaye so focused on getting to her grandma she didn’t notice the screaming at first but as soon as she stop talking to herself, she noticed it.  It was like someone was yelling and squealing at the same time.  She turned quickly; nothing was there.  She continued to walk, now she was singing to pass the time.  She hears it again, but louder.  Not sure if she was walking towards the danger, she picked up the pace.  She started looking around and still nothing. 

“My mind is playing tricks on me.  I must hurry up and get there.  Damn it’s hot!  Hell can’t be this hot. The devil must be happy in hell right now, damn! Shit!  I need something to drink.”  Ashlaye spoke aloud but to herself.

Then suddenly, a chill rolled down her back like someone was watching her.  Then a shadow cast over her head.  She was scared to turn around, so she started walking faster.  Just then a hand grabbed her shoulder.  She shivered with fear as she turned around.  It was Mr. Jones.  She was relieved to know that it was someone she knew. 

“Oh, Mr. Jones you scared me half to death.”  She said as she tried to catch her breath. 

He smiled in a crazy way, “Ashlaye, what are you doing out so early in the morning?”  

“I am going to my grandmother’s. She isn’t feeling so well, so my mother told me to go over and keep her company.”  Ashlaye replied finally catching her breath.  “Did you hear that screaming a while ago?”

With a deep voice, Mr. Jones instructed her to hurry along and don’t stop to talk to anyone.  Not answering her questions but directing for her to rush along.

She said, “okay” and went on her way.  

Mr. Jones disappeared suddenly like air.  She started to run.  She thought that was spooky, the way he was gone just like that as well as showed up out of nowhere.  Mr. Jones walked behind the trees, watching her runaway.  When Ashlaye got to her grandmother’s she was all out of breath.  She had to relax and try her best not to panic to make her grandma panic.  She knocked and knocked on her grandmother’s door but there was no answer.

She kicked on the door hard with her foot, still no answer.  She called out to her grandmother but still no answer.  Her grandmother was too weak to come to the door, so Ashlaye went to Mrs. Martha’s house to use her phone.  Afraid that something terrible had happened to her she called in a panicking state.  She wants to let her grandmother know she was at the door.  Mrs. Marth’s husband, Bob died early this year so she was always trying to get someone to stay over.  Mrs. Martha had fell into a state of depression from being so lonely. All she really wanted was some company and people to converse with over tea and dessert.

Mrs. Martha offered Ashlaye some cookies and a piece of pie so Ashlaye would stay for a while, but Ashlaye said no thank you and left out the door.  Her grandmother had made it to the door to let Ashlaye in but she wasn’t standing there.  She left the door open for her to get in.  She started back upstairs to her room when the door made a creaking sound like it was being opened.  She turned to look but no one was there.  She paid it no attention and continued up the steps.  Ashlaye opened the door yelling,

“Gramps! Grandma, where are you?” 

Her grandmother replied, “Stop yelling and close that door, you’re letting the heat in.” 

“Okay, so, where are you?” 

“I am on the stairs, girl.  What are you doing here and why haven’t your mother returned any of my calls?” 

“She had to go to work early this morning.” 

“Well baby I am so tired.  I am going back upstairs to rest.”

“Grandma call me if you need me, I’ll be sitting down here watching television.” 

Her grandmother said no more but continued up the stairs as slowly and best she could.  As she was almost there when the doorbell rang. 

“Who is it?”  Ashlaye yelled. 

“It’s Mrs. Martha.”  She replied. 

Ashlaye spoke loudly behind the door. “Oh Mrs. Martha, grandma is on her way back to bed.” 

“I heard she wasn’t feeling well so I made her some homemade chicken soup.” 

“Ashlaye go and open the door, don’t be rude.  I know I’ve taught you better than that.”  Her grandma intervened. 

Ashlaye opened the door; Mrs. Martha came in pass Ashlaye and went to the stairs.  She looked up and noticed Cynthia standing on the stairs. 

“Honey, I brought you over some chicken soup.  I made it myself.” 

Grandma took the soup; slowly walked down the stairs and to the kitchen, placing it on the stove. 

“Thank you, Martha, I’ll eat it when I get up, okay.” 

Martha gave Cynthia a hug and went out the door.      

“Take care of her Ashlaye and make sure she gets plenty of rest then eat my chicken soup.” 

“Yes, ma’am I will!”  Ashlaye shut the door as her grandmother headed upstairs to the bedroom. 

Ashlaye sat down on the couch to watch television.  The morning had gone on like normal and Ashlaye never heard her grandmother cough nor wheeze.  She ate some of Mrs. Martha’s soup only to find it was quite delicious.  Ashlaye went to the upstairs bathroom just so she could check on her grandmother. When she peeps in the room, her grandmother was still sleeping, back downstairs to the television she went.  Hours had passed and Ashlaye was getting tired of channel surfing and eating. 

Peter entered the house with such force it brought a breeze upon Ashlaye’s neck but instead of thinking it was something strange it was a relief from the heat wave.  She enjoyed it and wished for more.  Peter then made his way up the steps and to the bedside of Mrs. Cornable.  She woke abruptly feeling the presence of his spirit.  As he hovered over her, he wondered why she didn’t do or say anything when she had a chance to set things right.

“Why are you in my bedroom?”

“I am here to take you with me.  I know a place where it is cool and breezy.  There are no worries for your asthma and you can breathe freely.”

“I don’t want to go and besides my granddaughter is downstairs she will hear me yell.”

“Yell now because I guarantee she cannot hear you at all. See I just want to know one thing and one thing only.  When you found out that your husband, Sheriff Walt Cornable killed me why didn’t you try to do anything about it?  Why didn’t you convince him what he had done was wrong?”

“I did.  I told Walt that he should give up being a Sheriff; turn himself and all those involved into the State Police but he said that they will not find him guilty because of what you did.”

“Did he not tell you that I was innocent and that the Ashley girl lied?”

“He did not.  He told me you put up a fight and I told him that it was still wrong to kill and leave someone on the side of the river like that.  In fact, I defended you!”

“I’m sorry but I can’t say you did or say you didn’t.  All I know is that your prayer that night I appeared on your door step was the first time I heard of someone who had known of my death.  You asked the Lord for forgiveness of what your husband did, but I don’t forgive him at all.  Now I must take away what he held dearly to him.  I must end this life for you and move on but first I need to know something and I might allow you to continue on in this miserable life you suffer through.”

“What is it?  Anything if you will spare me where my husband didn’t spare you?”

“Do you know where this man in the photo with Walt live?”

“You mean Joe.”

“Yes, Joe!  What is Joe real name?”

“Joseph Tumble and he lives in Jamestown!”

“Well Jamestown is where I am going.”

“Am I spared from your wrath?”

“Yes, you are and now you can go back to sleep.”

He leaned in, kissed her lips sucking the air out of her body and into his; giving himself a breath of fresh air and taking away her life.  He then got up and exited the house once again passing Ashlaye with an even larger breeze.

As she was about to give up on the whole television idea, the 12:00 news came on.  They were reporting the death of her grandmother and how she died in this heat from a horrible asthma attack.  She turned and look towards the stairs.  She rushed to the steps when she heard sirens wailing outside.  She turned towards the door to open it for the Ambulance, but no one was there.  No police, no ambulance, no Pathologists, but she sees all of this on the television.  She thought that she was dreaming so she turned the channel.  Just then, Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones knocked at the door while the phone was ringing.  She grabbed the phone and rushed to the door. 

“Who is it?” 

“Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones, oh you poor dear we just heard on the news.” 

“What did you hear on the news?”  She replied as she opened the door. 

“About your grandmother.  I was just here, oh dear!”  Mrs. Martha said in a panicking voice. 

Ashlaye still confused, she heard a voice and wasn’t sure where it was coming from.  Someone was calling her name.  It was coming from the phone in her hand, that was barely touching her ear. 

“Ashlaye, Ashlaye are you okay?  I’ll be there shortly.  I am on my way!”  Her mother said fluttered with concern.

She hung up and rushed upstairs to find her grandmother laid out on the bed dead, aged as if she’s been dead for a while.  She called the police to report the death.  When she went downstairs to open the door, they were there already. 

“That was fast.”  She uttered, crying and falling over the place. 

“We saw it on the news.” Agent Mickett replied as she showed her badge to get in.  “I am Agent Mickett and this is Detectives Hishee’ and Monkeay.” 

“What happened to the police and news crew that was here?” Detective Monkeay asked. 

Ashlaye replied, “You all are the first.”  Still shedding tears 

“But we just saw it on the news live.” Detective Monkeay speculating. 

“You and the rest of the world, but I am telling you, you all are the first crew on the scene.” Ashlaye answered weak in the knees and needing a seat. 

A few minutes later the Pathologist arrived on the scene and was told nothing so he just waited.

The Detectives went over to Mrs. Martha, “Can you tell me what happened to the news crew and officers that was here before we arrived on the scene?” 

“You are the first officers here.”  Mrs. Martha answered. 

He spoke again, “I even saw you on the news.” 

“I know I saw myself on the news and I know that I wasn’t here until ten minutes before you all arrived.”  Mrs. Martha replied perplexed. 

The Detective feeling a little puzzled walked over to the Pathologist to ask him for the time of death. 

“I don’t know I haven’t been upstairs yet.  I was just told that’s where the body was located.  I’ll let you know as soon as I examine her.” 

The news crew was arriving and it was the same lady that they see on the television reporting the same incident.  Everyone in the house was even more muddled.  Just then the Medical Examiner called downstairs for one of the Detectives.  They all rushed upstairs to the master bedroom. 

“What do you have for us?” 

“I would say she died 12 days ago, around 12 noon.  I can’t be absolute about the exact time but the days I’m certain about.” 

“Why would these people be sitting here with a dead body upstairs and wait this long to call us?  It doesn’t make sense to me; something strange is going on.”  Detective Monkeay said as he scratched his head. 

The Detectives then came downstairs to question everyone who had contact with the victim within the last month.  They gathered everyone in the living room to ask questions. 

“It seems as though the victim has been dead for a while, according to the Pathologist.” 

“What’s a while because we just spoke to her like 3 hours ago?” 

“According to the Pathologist, she has been deceased for 12 days.” 

Everyone started whispering and murmuring.

“People, people I am going to need you all to cooperate in this matter.” 

Mrs. Martha stated, “That can’t be right.”  Ashlaye agreed sitting with tears flowing but gasping for air.  “She was just standing here complaining about not getting enough rest.” 

“Ma’am the Pathologist placed the time of death 12 days ago.” 

“Well, your Pathologist is wrong!” 

“Well, I am her granddaughter and I am telling you that she was just down here talking to me! Forget all that, first off who are you?!”  Ashlaye said with an attitude but still hurting from the pain of her loss. 

“I am Detective Hishee’ from homicide.” 

“Wait a minute from homicide!  Why would homicide be here if she died from an asthma attack?” 

“Are you sure that was the cause of death?” Detective Monkeay inquired.  “We are suspicious of this death.  There is more to this story than meets the eye.” 

“You mean to tell me that you all have reason to believe that she was murdered?”  Mr. Jones questioned. 

“No just foul play.” 

“I don’t care how you sugar coat it; it says the same thing to me!  She was murdered!”  He continued to voice his opinion. 

“We need to know who everyone is and how you are related to the victim?”  Detective Hishee’ stated. 

One by one they got the information from everyone in the room except Mr. Jones, by the time they got to him he wasn’t nowhere to be found.  He had slipped out and went on about his day as usual.  He had the police investigating wherein no one even looked for him or so he thought.  Mrs. Martha, Ashlaye and Maye vouched for him as Mrs. Cornable’s handyman.

“I have to get out of here.  The smell is making me sick.”  Agent Mickett implied as she walked out the front door.  This was her first murder case in Baton Rouge.  She was just transferred from Jamestown, Ohio. 

Detective Monkeay stated, “You’ll get used to it after a while.”  As he watched Agent Mickett walk out the front door and onto the porch.     

Detective Hishee’ asked Ashlaye. “When did she discover her grandmother’s body?” 

She responded, “Everything was okay earlier when she opened the door for me, but a few minutes before I let you in to answer your question.” 

The Detectives looked at her surprisingly.  Detective Monkeay said, “That’s impossible!” 

Martha interrupted and said, “Oh no it isn’t!  Check the phone records, Ashlaye had used my phone a few hours ago to call over here and get her to come downstairs to let her in.  I offered her pie but she didn’t want any.”    

Detective Monkeay inquired as to who she was and how she got in here?  Detective Hishee’ introduced Mrs. Martha Ashford. 

“She lives next door.”

“If there was any sign of foul play, I would have known about it?” 

“She’s right, she knows who did what; how they did it; and why they did it?!  She is the nosiest woman on the planet.  Ever since her husband passed, she learned to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.  It’s like her hobby!”

“I can hear you B’Linda!  I’m standing right here!” 

“So, you are Mrs. Martha!  So, you are!” 

“Mrs. Ashford, I am Detective Monkeay and if you could step over here with me, I would gladly take your statement.” 

They stepped into the kitchen.

“Like I told B’Linda, she was very much alive earlier.  I came over to give her some homemade chicken soup.  She took it and placed it on the stove.  See it is right there.  I told her to eat some after her nap.  She went upstairs and Ashlaye turned on the television down here, not to disturb her while she napped.  Did she have an asthma attack?” 

“Yes, ma’am she did.  Then what happened?” 

“I don’t know I left.” 

“Thank you, much Mrs. Ashford, for your help.  If we need any more information, we will call you.” 

“Mrs. Martha sweetie, that’s my name.  Mr. Ashford is gone home, so I am Mrs. Martha now.”  He looked bewildered as Mrs. Martha walked away. 

Monkeay signaled for Mickett, “Mrs. Ashford said that the soup is hers on the stove.  She made it for the victim because she wasn’t feeling well.” 

Monkeay implemented Mrs. Ashford as a suspect. Have forensic bag her soup and have it tested for poisons of all kinds.

“By the way what is the deceased name?” 

“Cynthia Cornable, age 78 at time of death.  Check this out she just turned 78, twelve days ago.  The family had a party for her 10 days ago in which she attended.  Ashlaye mother, Maye Cornable confirms this and have live video to prove it on her phone.” 

“This is one for the books.  Let the boys’ downtown figure this one out.”  Mickett said. 

Hishee’ walks over with a mysterious look on her face.  “I am not understanding, how the Pathologist could say she’s been dead for 12 days, but family and friends are disagreeing with it.  This would mean that she died on her birthday. But the family and friends are saying no, not true.  I am so not pleased right now.”  She continued as she scratched her head.

They wrapped it up so they could take it back to the lieutenant. 

“He’s not going to believe this shit!”  Monkeay said. 

“Let’s go over what we have so far.” Mickett said getting in the car.  

“A grandmother died of an asthma attack or so it appears.  Pathology said she died 12 days ago, but the family is saying she had a party 10 days ago.  It showed up on the noon news, 12 minutes before we arrive, but no news crew or police officers was on the scene until after we arrived.  Our suspects in so far are a Ashlaye, Maye, Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones.  By the way we didn’t get to interview because he somehow disappeared before the interviews happened.” 

She ran it down to them both.

“All I know is I don’t know.”  Hishee’ said as she slammed the car door. 

“Pathology also said it was suspicious. I guess we will just have to go to the State Examination Office to do some further investigating.”  Monkeay hunched his shoulders. 

Agent Mickett was told that she would be the one to tell the lieutenant, she agreed.  On their way back to the station, Mickett noticed Mr. Jones walking about twenty blocks from the crime scene.  She was curious how he got as far as he did without a car when they just left him at the scene of the crime when she was standing outside.  She noticed him at another neighbor’s house working on something in the front yard.  She didn’t say anything just kept it to herself, but Hishee’ also noticed him but thought nothing of it as well. 

They arrived at the station; neighbors of the deceased were calling into the station for information.  They wanted to know what really happened and if their lives were in danger. Detectives Hishee’, Monkeay along with Agent Mickett was ordered to come into the captain’s office immediately by the officer at the front desk.  The lieutenant and captain were waiting for them with questions that needed to be answered right away.  On the elevator, Mickett couldn’t help but think about Mr. Jones until she got in the captains’ office then her focused changed back to the victim.  All her thoughts went out the window as she looked upon the captain and lieutenant’s faces. 

“You all better have some good news for me because my phones haven’t stopped ringing as of noon!”  Captain Luckett yelled.  Captain Luckett was a medium built man with a mustache that looked too big for his face, green eyes and a buzz cut, who wouldn’t never be caught in a tie.   

Lieutenant Wilcox, with the saltiest look on his face, just stood by waiting on an answer but nothing was coming out of either of their mouths. 

“Sir Mickett have something she wants to tell you, sir.”  Monkeay spoke up. 

“Well, Mickett, you have something that you would like to tell me in reference to this case and it better be that you all know who the suspect is and that you are on your way to arrest him now!”  The captain demanded. 

“No sir it is not that at all.  It is that we have no suspects but this case is strange according to the Pathologist, Mrs. Cornable has been dead for 12 days, but according to the family and friends that is impossible.  See the family threw Mrs. Cornable a birthday party 10 days ago.  Her neighbor Mrs. Ashford had just finish speaking to her and brought over some chicken soup because she wasn’t feeling too well.  Same thing for her granddaughter who was there to look after her because she too knew that Mrs. Cornable wasn’t feeling too well.   So, you see sir this case isn’t just one for the solving, but this is one for the books.  This is going to take some time to figure out.”  Mickett explained. 

“Well okay as long as you solve this thing and do it fast and quiet!  Do you all know who Cynthia Cornable is or was?  She was our former Sheriff’s wife.”  The Captain and Lieutenant nodded. 

“We’ll do our best in making this thing go away fast.”  Mickett said. 

They all were dismissed and told to work quickly and quietly.  Mickett paused as they exited the captain’s office. 

“Did you all know that she was the former Sheriff’s wife?” 

“Yes!”  They both replied.

“Is that why you all had me tell the Captain and Lieutenant the verbal of the case?” 

“Yup!”  They said again.  

“Reason being you are the new guy and they rarely come down hard on the new guy.”  Hishee’ stated. 

They all laughed and went to their desks to figure things out.  As they were sitting there Hishee’ asked Mickett what kind of last name is that for a black girl? 

She said, “Well my daddy isn’t black and he married my mother as a trophy to shake his finger in the face of those nay Sayers but when we came along, he told my mother of his first wife.  They divorced of course but she kept the name for financial blackmail motives, but his wife is so naive and blind to the fact that my father wants to be with my mother.” 

Monkeay and Hishee’ looked at each other and shrub their shoulders to say okay it’s whatever.  Monkeay was creole through and through with his soft curly, wavy hair, who stood about 5’11” tall skinny built but with a deep voice so he spoke softly to keep people from thinking he was upset or angry.   B’Linda being Blasian (Black and Asian) was different and she knew it but she came off to people like she was always angry or upset.  She only stands 5’2” tall but had a heart of a lion and didn’t mind roaring at people when she felt threatened.

Monkeay asked, “Where were you born and raised?” 

“Believe it or not, I was born right here in the great parish of Baton Rouge.  My sister, mother and I moved away like 12 years ago.  My dad sent us to Jamestown to live; said it would be the best thing for us since he was married and already had two children then but now, he had four children by his first wife.  My mother said the two she had was enough.  He promised my mother he’ll take good care of us and well he did.”  She replied. 

“Well damn girl you have a story all on your own, now, don’t you?”  Hishee’ stated. 

“I guess I do.”  She smiled in replied. 

Monkeay just wanted to solve this case already so he could be on vacation soon.  Then he started going through his notes and noticed that Mr. Jones never gave us his background nor a statement.  That’s when Mickett remember something familiar about him. 

“Hey that Mr. Jones never gave us his background nor alibi for his whereabouts during the time of Mrs. Cornable death.  Also, I noticed he had slipped out on us during the interview period with the family and friends, even though they gave him a connection to the victim, we still don’t know where he was. 

Mickett stated that, “He looks like a man that her mother dated roughly 12 years ago just before we moved to Jamestown, Ohio but it couldn’t be him because he still look the same.  I don’t know much about how people are supposed to age but my mother isn’t 12 years younger looking even those she doesn’t look 54 either.  It must be his son or he better give me his aging remedy.” 

“Damn your mother even dated young.” 

“No, I’m saying he looks roughly around the same age as he would have 12 years ago.  Not that the man that my mom was dating 12 years ago was 24 or anything.”  She tried to explain. 

“Oh, okay!” They both replied. 

They got up and went to work.  They headed to the State Examiner Office.  He told them that it wasn’t just an ordinary asthma attack.  It looks like every time she gasped for air her body clang to her bones for it.  That had never happened before and he couldn’t make sense of it for them.  Also, there were no trace of any type of poisons in her system.  With that information in hand and an uncertain knowledge of the exact time of death they decided they needed more to go on.  They went back to the house which was still a crime scene; which mean it was empty, to see if they could find any evidence of foul play.  They came up short.  They questioned the police that was on guard if anyone had been in the house since the incident that happened there.  His answer was no, so they started to walk in the direction that Mickett noticed Mr. Jones walking and timed themselves to see if they could make it to the exact same spot that she noticed Mr. Jones.  They didn’t even get close.  Everyone was wondering why they was taking the walk and she said to see if anyone could have gotten this far from the crime scene before we arrived and how far they would have gotten in 12 minutes.

“In walking it would have taken him at least an hour to get to this spot.  He had left like 20 minutes before we did and he made it here.  He had to have caught a ride and then decided that he could walk the rest of the way.”  Mickett thought to herself, but aloud.  “Plus, it was hot as hell out here today and he wasn’t even breaking a sweat.”  Mickett mentioned. 

“Who are you referring to that would have walked in this hot ass heat?”

“Okay so remember when we were talking about Mr. Jones.”

“Yeah.” They both replied.

“I had saw him earlier walking while we were driving back to the station, but he hadn’t even broken a sweat.  This is the spot where I saw him.”  Mickett pointed out.

“Why is that such a mystery?”

“It isn’t except I saw him leave from a neighbor’s house 20 minutes before we got in the car.  You all know how long it took us to walk here so there is no way he got this far without help am I right?”

“Please he had to have been sweating, we were in the car and still was sweating with the air on.  There’s no way he wasn’t sweating.”  Monkeay argued.

“Plus, you see how long it took us to walk here, if he left 20 minutes before us there is no way he would have made it this far.  We took an hour and 20 minutes to get this far.” Hishee’ spoke out of breath and in need of water.

“I remember thinking that when I saw him that he wasn’t even sweating and how in the hell did he get this far?  I think I would have remembered him sweating. So, I think you all understand why this have me baffled a little.”  Mickett argued back.

“Now that you keep mentioning him, I haven’t even heard a peep from anyone about him since they spoke directly to everyone else. Plus, I did see him as well but paid it no attention.”  Hishee’ added. 

“You are so right when we revisited the witnesses or suspects no one brought up his name at all.”  Monkeay also added.

“Well, we need to find him and ask him some questions that he may need to answer right away.”  Hishee’ said. 

“Good thing we had a patrolman follow us while we walked or we would have died trying to walk back.”  Mickett said.

“You got that right!”  They both agreed.

They all got into the car and proceeded back to Mrs. Martha’s house.  When they got there, she was on the porch drinking lemonade.  It was still hot as hell but not as hot as earlier that day.

“Well good evening if it isn’t my favorite detectives, well at least two of you.” 

“Hello to you too, Mrs. Martha.” Hishee’ spoke. 

“Hello everyone, how are you all doing this nice warm and sunny day? Did you all find out what happened to my friend and stop accusing us of foul play?” 

“We all are good, but in need of some of your assistance.”  Monkeay asked. 

“Yes, some of that good ole country hospitality.” Mickett followed up with the compliment. 

“I asked how I can help you all, didn’t I?” 

“Yes, ma’am you did.”  Mickett said. 

“We need to know if you know the whereabout of a Mr. Jones, or know of anyone who does?”  Monkeay asked politely. 

“Sir, I don’t know him personally, I just know him from Cynthia.  She was his employer not me.  I just like watching him work and my he does a wonderful job.  I know it doesn’t help much but that man is easy on the eyes.” 

“Yeah, we understand that but he never done work for anyone else around here?” 

“I’m not sure.  No one else has ever mentioned to me if he had done work for them, but I could ask around.” 

“I saw him working in the lady yard over there.  Do you know who she is?”  Mickett inquired.

“That’s Ms. Davis yard and if he done work for her, he must have done it out of kindness.  Ms. Davis been dead for months now.”  Mrs. Martha replied.

“Thank you, ma’am you have been, a great help and we look forward to hearing from you if you hear anything.  Why in the world would a man do work for a woman that cannot pay him or is dead?  I think we need to search that house to see if that’s where Mr. Jones have been living.”  Mickett said as they were leaving the porch. 

“You all can stay for some Lemonade if you would like to, no.”  Mrs. Martha offered

“No, thank you we really need to be going and we have so much work to do.” Hishee’ declined. 

As they were walking towards the car, Hishee’ thought she saw Mr. Jones in the victim’s house.  They quickly drawled their weapons and had the officer open the door.  When they got inside there was nothing different, and there was no one in the house.  Hishee’ knew without a shadow of a doubt that she saw him standing at the front window looking directly at them.  The back of the house was still bolted shut just like the crime lab officers left it as well as the windows. 

“Maybe you want to solve this case so bad you are seeing him and want him to be the perpetrator we are looking for in this murder.” Monkeay said. 

“Yeah, maybe that’s what it is, but I know my mind isn’t playing tricks on me.  Besides, don’t call it a murder, because there was no sign of trauma to the body nor was poison present in her system.  Say what it is foul play or suspicious.”  Hishee’ replied. 

Mickett said, “Well we are going to wait for a search warrant to search the former Ms. Davis house as well just in case Mr. Jones like to camp out in dead women houses.”  

As they waited Mickett and Hishee’ stared at Mrs. Cornable house just in case what she saw was him standing in the window doing surveillance on his new target.  An hour after sitting and waiting for their search warrant Mickett grew tired of sitting, she decided to go in on probable cause.  She entered on suspicion that a murder suspect was held up inside waiting to kill his next victim.  Weapons drawn again they enter announcing that they were the police entering with a search warrant.  There was no sign that someone was living in the home or have lived there since Ms. Davis death.  It was covered with dust and no sign that anything had been removed, the furniture was still covered up with a stillness that seemed haunting. 

“I wander if Ms. Davis died in this house and what kind of woman she was, because this place gives me the creeps.”  Mickett mentioned as she ordered them to leave.

They then left the house and locked the doors back up.  Agent Mickett felt a cold feeling come across her as she turned and looked back to see him standing exactly where Hishee’ said she saw him.  She knew he wasn’t there in reality and couldn’t explain him in her head either.  She just continued on with the other detectives as they got into the car.  She knew she needed to know what happened to Mr. Jones and fast. 

When she got back to the station, she went to a private room to make a call.  She called her mother. 

“Hey Momma, this is Ashley.” 

“Hello, Ashley but I knew it was you already.  You didn’t have to announce yourself.” 

“How did you know it was me, Momma?” 

“First of all, I have caller ID, and second of all I know your voice.”  She snickered.  

“Okay, okay, you got me on both of them” She laughed. 

“What’s do you want just the same?” 

“Momma I need to know if you know whatever became of Mr. Jones?” 

As she stood there looking at him as if he never left, she replied.  He had paid Janis a visit every day since he had returned to the surface.  She wasn’t startled to see him, but relieved and joyful.

“No Honey, I have no idea what became of him and I would rather forget what may have become of him.  I don’t want to open those cans of worms at all.  I rather talk about something else if you don’t mind.” 

“Well Momma, I kind of mind, because it is now my job.  Plus, I think I have been seeing him and if so then he hasn’t changed at all.  Do you know if he had any children, especially, sons?” 

“No, he had no children, no family at all.  He was an orphan and that is why he gravitated to us so fast.  We were his only family until you ripped that from him, all to stay face with your daddy.  Do you remember that?” 

“Yes Momma, maybe you are right, maybe we should leave this can of worms alone.”  She sassed as she hung up the phone.      

Mrs. Mickett looked at the phone as she hung it up and then back at Mr. Jones. 

“I have questions but will you have answers?” 

“I shall try my best to answer all your question but first there is something I need you to know.  I am not alive and I am not actually here.  You cannot really touch me it is all in your mind if you think you are holding my hand right now.  I am here because the ancestors have given me a special power to do work that needs to be done.” 

“Where did you go that night?” 

“I don’t want to talk about that night.  I just want to look at you and admire your beauty like I use to before that night.” 

“You still have a way with my heart and you still as handsome as the day I met you.”  She smiled as her heart started beating again. 

“I would like to thank you for that, but I can’t stay, there is much work that needs to be done and I am the only person to do it.” 

“What work?” 

“The less you know the better you will be when it hits home.” 

“I’m not sure what that mean, but it was great seeing you again.  Will I ever see you again after this moment?” 

“I have been here watching over you for a while.  I just wanted to reveal myself to you at this moment.  Remember, whenever you feel lonely you can always call on me and I will come but when I can’t no longer come that’s when my work has been completed.” 

He then vanished into thin air and she was lonely again.  Peter made himself less visible to her but still stood there looking on with his heart hurting for he knew he would break her heart.  His heart wanted her love but his mind and will wanted revenge so he went on with the plans as ordered. She wasn’t sure of the strange events that just happened but she was happy enough to hear from her daughter and see an old friend.  Peter had found Joseph Tumble, but Joseph wasn’t very cooperative. 

“Now Joe; may I call you Joe?”

“Bastard nigger you may not call me Joe.  Joe is what my friends call me and I ain’t never been friends with a nigger and never will be!”

“Now Mr. Tumble I don’t think you are in no way shape or form to be criticizing me right now, are you?  See I am not going to be kind to you in this hour of your life; I am in fact going to be very mean.  See what you all did to me wasn’t right and you all knew it.”

“All I know is that you are a rapist and we did what we did but we should have done more.”

“I already know you know I was innocent.  I also know that you told no one of what you have done so I am going to take from you what you took from me.”

“We didn’t take anything that was of any use to anyone.  You didn’t even have a family because they didn’t even want you.”  Mr. Tumble laughed. 

“Well that maybe true and I don’t know if it is or not but what I do know is that I had love before that night and you all stole it away from me and now, I am going to steal your wife’s love from her.  It is only right.  No, you know what I will spare your life only if you can tell me where Susan Donnell lives.  You know the girl who killed her mother, supposedly.  I must admit that was ingenious of Walt to turn the whole town on her like she was a problem child.  I read the files, yes, I can read.”

“If you can read boy then you will know no one knows where she went to and nobody cares.”

“See that is where you are wrong because her mother cared but you all took her away from her just like you all took me away from people who cared about me.” 

“Be honest with yourself nigger no one cared about you.  Even after you were dead no one came looking for you and no one even inquired about you. NOT ONE SOUL!”

“JUST TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND SUSAN DONNELL AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE FOR YOU!  BETTER YET JUST TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND HENRY DONNELL.  HE IS THE SON OF A BITCH I REALLY WANT; NOW TELL ME!

“He’s gone boy. He was a coward and killed himself in Maryland some years ago.”

“That is all I wanted to know and now I leave you without life.”

He then reached through Joseph chest and pulled out his heart. 

“I’ll take this because you don’t need it because of your heartless ways to mankind.”

Next, he removed his eyes, and lungs along with his brain.

“You aren’t going to need eyes cause clearly you can’t see what is right in front of you.  Breathing is a privilege and you don’t deserve to breathe the same air as a dog.  Since you are closed minded then a brain is well, too much of a good thing for a dummy.  Now I might as well take everything.  I am going to take your kidneys, spline, gallbladder, prostate, teeth and tongue.  See from where I am standing Joe, you are worthless and I have your life to prove it.”

He then started to eat it and grew stronger in his battle to do unto others as they have done unto him.

Back in Baton Rouge, the case wasn’t going so well and the captain and the lieutenant was not happy.  It had been days and still no results.  To them it looked like everyone was just sitting around twittering their fingers.  Captain Luckett asked in a very calm voice,

“Where are we on this case?” 

Before anyone could answer the news came on and it was a murder that just took place in Jamestown, Ohio.  This grabbed Agent Mickett’s attention because that’s where her mother and sister lives.  She asked the captain; would he mind if she paid attention to the news.  The reporter stated,

“Mr. Joseph Tumble body was found but none of his organs was in his body.  This is a strange situation and that the Detectives here was mystified about the whole thing.  He is a native of Baton Rouge and moved to Jamestown a few years ago to make a fresh start.  We will have more for you as this story develops.” 

The broadcast ended and she refocused her attention to the captain. 

“Excuse me!” The captain said as he rushed into his office to make a call. 

As strange as that may seem to the detective what Mickett was doing was even stranger.  She was having a black out and no one knew what to do.  She was laying on the floor with her eyes wide opened but wasn’t responsive.  She was breathing and jerking but still incoherent to the people around her.  They called and shouted her name but she still was not responding.  She was blinking and everything but just could not respond. 

“Sister, can you hear me?” Ashlay asked.

“I can but where am I and what have you done to me?”

“You are with me in the spirit world but I haven’t done anything to you.  The news of the man being killed caused you to go into a trans and I used that window to tell you that something horrible is coming and you will be in the center of it.  Watch your back because I can’t see what is coming which means I will not be able to protect you.”

“Wait what am I supposed to do if you aren’t sure what is coming and do it concern momma?”

“It doesn’t and we are just fine if that is what you are asking.”  Ashlay said as she faded away into the background and out of sight.

The lieutenant called for a paramedic but by the time they arrived she was back to being herself.  As she was coming around, she noticed everyone was standing over top of her and looking at her very strange.  She asked what they were doing and why was they starring at her.  The lieutenant asked everyone to back up and give her some room.  He asked her if she’s ok and she answered just fine. 

“You gave us a scare.  I didn’t know you had seizures.” 

“I don’t have seizures; I have blackout spells.  I can see but I can’t hear and I am unable to respond.  I had it for about 12 years now.  I don’t know what brings them on but when they happen, they don’t last long and I can resume whatever it is I am doing.” 

“Well until you get medical clearance that say that you are capable of active duty, I am going to have to pull you off this case.” 

“Check my file sir, I have medical paperwork that says I am well and capable of duty.  It is from your doctors here so thank you!  Tells me a lot about personnel!” 

“Are you sassing me?” 

“No sir, I wouldn’t dream of sassing you.  I am just saying that I know what I am capable of and that my medical condition doesn’t affect my decision only my movements.”  She said as she got from the floor and sat down at her desk.

As she was about to relax the captain called all three of them into his office. 

“I have to send you all to Jamestown, Ohio for this case on Mr. Joseph Tumble.  They somehow think that it is linked to the case here in Baton Rouge.” 

“How, sir?”  Monkeay asked. 

“You’ll find out when you get there.  Now go and report all the findings to this office immediately.  I need to know if we have a serial killer forming.”  Captain demanded.

They rushed to their desks, grabbed their prepared overnight bags and headed to the airport.  On the way there, Mickett was thinking about her conversation with her sister in her time of vulnerability.  She couldn’t help but wonder what harm could come to her that Ashlay would not be able to save her from.  Once at the airport, Monkeay saw Mr. Jones; he was cleaning and mopping the floors.  Monkeay walked over to Mr. Jones and asked if he remember him. 

“I do remember you sir.  You are the detective investigating my former employers murder so you say.” 

“Yes sir, I am.  What are you doing here?” 

“Well sir, it would seem as though I am working.  I have a mop in my hand and I am mopping a floor.  I would do it for free but I don’t think that’s going to put food on the table, clothes on my back and keep a roof over my head.” He said sarcastically, as he continued to mop. 

“Well sir you are a hard man to find and I have been looking everywhere for you.” 

“Not everywhere sir, because I have been right here working since my employment with Mrs. Cornable has been terminated.  So, you aren’t a very good detective or you would have found me sooner than now.”  Mr. Jones continue with the sardonic tones. 

“I have to catch a flight but when I return, I need to have a discussion with you.  Will you be available?” 

“I will be right here when you return unless talking to you loses me this job, then no I will not be here.” 

Monkeay laughed and walked away.  He returned to his partners and told them he found Mr. Jones.  Hishee’ so worked up,

“Where is he and why didn’t you arrest him?” 

“Arrest him on what charges?”  Monkeay asked.  “Anyway, he works here at the airport and when we return, we can just pull him in for questioning then.”  Monkeay went on to say. 

He looked back and Mr. Jones was gone.  He wasn’t there any longer and the floor was cleaned.  He quickly turned around to all sides of him to see that he was nowhere to be found. 

“Now I know he was just there.  I spoke to him myself and everything.”  Monkeay thought to himself. 

To make sure he wasn’t going crazy he made himself a note to call the airport upon his return and see if they employed Mr. Jones. 

“Damn, but I have no first name on him.  This is going to be crazy.”  Again, he said to himself as his mind wanders about. 

Mickett snapped her fingers to get his attention,

“It is time to board the plane.  Are you ready or is there something you need to do here first?” 

“I’m ready.  Let’s go!  I just had to make a mental note of some things that’s all.” 

They boarded the plane and took their seats.   They flew business class on the Mickett’s account.  Being a federal agent means that she had access to a bigger account than the detectives. 

“This should be an interesting trip.  I just want to know what makes them think that their case is intertwined with our case.  If they just want us to do their work, they have another thing coming.”  Hishee’ said.

“I am just going to sleep the whole way there.  Wake me when we land and no, I don’t eat airplane food, so I won’t be needing anything until we land.”  Mickett said as she grabbed her pillow, put on some eye mask and relaxed her seat.  

“Aren’t you something?  You are the agent on this flight and you have the nerve to take a nap.” 

Hishee’ said as she watched Mickett get comfortable.  Monkeay still a little disorganized from talking to Mr. Jones, didn’t hear a word they said.  The Pilot came across the intercom to informed the passengers that they will be taking off and to fasten their seat belts.  Hishee’ and Monkeay did just that, because Mickett had buckled in before she went to sleep there was no need to wake her to do so.  Hishee’ looked at Monkeay with worry,

“Are you okay?  You haven’t been yourself since the airport.” 

“I spoke to Mr. Jones.”  “Yeah, you said that already.  Why didn’t you arrest him, though?” 

“To do what with him?  Anyhow I was talking to him one minute and as soon as I turned my back he was gone.  I mean it was like he vanished into thin air.”  He chuckled. 

“I didn’t see you talking to him, when was this?” 

“I was standing by the pay phones talking to him.” 

“I thought you were over there making a call or something.  I didn’t see you talking to anyone.  I could be wrong though or just had missed you talking to him.”  Hishee’ replied. 

“All I remember is that you said you talked to him, but you never said where.  Then again, I do remember you also saying he works at the airport.” 

“Right and when I said it, is when I had finished talking to him.” 

“You aren’t making much sense.  I think this case got your mind going in circles.  Maybe a fresh case will have your mind back on track.” 

“Or maybe it will have me even more jumbled in thought than what I am now.”  Monkeay said under his breath.

They both turned their backs to one another and relaxed.  Monkeay mind was on the case and Hishee’ mind was on music as she placed the earbuds in her ears to listen.  Not soon after the stewardess came over and asked what they wanted from the snack tray.  Then asked was they a part of the long flight or the short flight.  Monkeay asked for the dry fruit and water and Hishee’ had just water.  As she was about to touch Mickett, Hishee’ grabbed her arm and told her,

“She won’t be having anything but the nap she is getting.  Thank you very much.” 

The Stewardess pulled away and said, “I also would have heard it if you would have said it without touching me.” 

Hishee’ then pulled back her jacket to show the stewardess her badge.  The stewardess just rolled her eyes and went on about her business.  When she returned with their water, she still had found pleasantry from neither one of them.  She couldn’t wait for them to exit the plane because she had enough of their attitudes and disresp

Chapter Two

O

ne early morning, on the 13^th of June 2000, the hottest day of the year thus far.  It hasn’t been this hot in years.  Everyone was feeling it and was not sure what this weather meant but they just wanted it to pass already. 

“Lord this is a scorcher, feels like Death Valley out there today.”  Mrs. Cornable said with her asthma acting up. 

The temperature was a mere 107* and the humidity was a whopping 98*.  What was there to do but sweat?  It was so hot the air conditioners weren’t helping, swimming was making it worst, but nevertheless trying to stay cool was a task all on its own. 

Ashlaye was 17 now, and still doing the same routine as every week, walking along the bridge heading to her grandma’s home.  Her grandmother wasn’t feeling so good due to the heat wave, so Ashlaye was rushing to be there for her.   Ashlaye so focused on getting to her grandma she didn’t notice the screaming at first but as soon as she stop talking to herself, she noticed it.  It was like someone was yelling and squealing at the same time.  She turned quickly; nothing was there.  She continued to walk, now she was singing to pass the time.  She hears it again, but louder.  Not sure if she was walking towards the danger, she picked up the pace.  She started looking around and still nothing. 

“My mind is playing tricks on me.  I must hurry up and get there.  Damn it’s hot!  Hell can’t be this hot. The devil must be happy in hell right now, damn! Shit!  I need something to drink.”  Ashlaye spoke aloud but to herself.

Then suddenly, a chill rolled down her back like someone was watching her.  Then a shadow cast over her head.  She was scared to turn around, so she started walking faster.  Just then a hand grabbed her shoulder.  She shivered with fear as she turned around.  It was Mr. Jones.  She was relieved to know that it was someone she knew. 

“Oh, Mr. Jones you scared me half to death.”  She said as she tried to catch her breath. 

He smiled in a crazy way, “Ashlaye, what are you doing out so early in the morning?”  

“I am going to my grandmother’s. She isn’t feeling so well, so my mother told me to go over and keep her company.”  Ashlaye replied finally catching her breath.  “Did you hear that screaming a while ago?”

With a deep voice, Mr. Jones instructed her to hurry along and don’t stop to talk to anyone.  Not answering her questions but directing for her to rush along.

She said, “okay” and went on her way.  

Mr. Jones disappeared suddenly like air.  She started to run.  She thought that was spooky, the way he was gone just like that as well as showed up out of nowhere.  Mr. Jones walked behind the trees, watching her runaway.  When Ashlaye got to her grandmother’s she was all out of breath.  She had to relax and try her best not to panic to make her grandma panic.  She knocked and knocked on her grandmother’s door but there was no answer.

She kicked on the door hard with her foot, still no answer.  She called out to her grandmother but still no answer.  Her grandmother was too weak to come to the door, so Ashlaye went to Mrs. Martha’s house to use her phone.  Afraid that something terrible had happened to her she called in a panicking state.  She wants to let her grandmother know she was at the door.  Mrs. Marth’s husband, Bob died early this year so she was always trying to get someone to stay over.  Mrs. Martha had fell into a state of depression from being so lonely. All she really wanted was some company and people to converse with over tea and dessert.

Mrs. Martha offered Ashlaye some cookies and a piece of pie so Ashlaye would stay for a while, but Ashlaye said no thank you and left out the door.  Her grandmother had made it to the door to let Ashlaye in but she wasn’t standing there.  She left the door open for her to get in.  She started back upstairs to her room when the door made a creaking sound like it was being opened.  She turned to look but no one was there.  She paid it no attention and continued up the steps.  Ashlaye opened the door yelling,

“Gramps! Grandma, where are you?” 

Her grandmother replied, “Stop yelling and close that door, you’re letting the heat in.” 

“Okay, so, where are you?” 

“I am on the stairs, girl.  What are you doing here and why haven’t your mother returned any of my calls?” 

“She had to go to work early this morning.” 

“Well baby I am so tired.  I am going back upstairs to rest.”

“Grandma call me if you need me, I’ll be sitting down here watching television.” 

Her grandmother said no more but continued up the stairs as slowly and best she could.  As she was almost there when the doorbell rang. 

“Who is it?”  Ashlaye yelled. 

“It’s Mrs. Martha.”  She replied. 

Ashlaye spoke loudly behind the door. “Oh Mrs. Martha, grandma is on her way back to bed.” 

“I heard she wasn’t feeling well so I made her some homemade chicken soup.” 

“Ashlaye go and open the door, don’t be rude.  I know I’ve taught you better than that.”  Her grandma intervened. 

Ashlaye opened the door; Mrs. Martha came in pass Ashlaye and went to the stairs.  She looked up and noticed Cynthia standing on the stairs. 

“Honey, I brought you over some chicken soup.  I made it myself.” 

Grandma took the soup; slowly walked down the stairs and to the kitchen, placing it on the stove. 

“Thank you, Martha, I’ll eat it when I get up, okay.” 

Martha gave Cynthia a hug and went out the door.      

“Take care of her Ashlaye and make sure she gets plenty of rest then eat my chicken soup.” 

“Yes, ma’am I will!”  Ashlaye shut the door as her grandmother headed upstairs to the bedroom. 

Ashlaye sat down on the couch to watch television.  The morning had gone on like normal and Ashlaye never heard her grandmother cough nor wheeze.  She ate some of Mrs. Martha’s soup only to find it was quite delicious.  Ashlaye went to the upstairs bathroom just so she could check on her grandmother. When she peeps in the room, her grandmother was still sleeping, back downstairs to the television she went.  Hours had passed and Ashlaye was getting tired of channel surfing and eating. 

Peter entered the house with such force it brought a breeze upon Ashlaye’s neck but instead of thinking it was something strange it was a relief from the heat wave.  She enjoyed it and wished for more.  Peter then made his way up the steps and to the bedside of Mrs. Cornable.  She woke abruptly feeling the presence of his spirit.  As he hovered over her, he wondered why she didn’t do or say anything when she had a chance to set things right.

“Why are you in my bedroom?”

“I am here to take you with me.  I know a place where it is cool and breezy.  There are no worries for your asthma and you can breathe freely.”

“I don’t want to go and besides my granddaughter is downstairs she will hear me yell.”

“Yell now because I guarantee she cannot hear you at all. See I just want to know one thing and one thing only.  When you found out that your husband, Sheriff Walt Cornable killed me why didn’t you try to do anything about it?  Why didn’t you convince him what he had done was wrong?”

“I did.  I told Walt that he should give up being a Sheriff; turn himself and all those involved into the State Police but he said that they will not find him guilty because of what you did.”

“Did he not tell you that I was innocent and that the Ashley girl lied?”

“He did not.  He told me you put up a fight and I told him that it was still wrong to kill and leave someone on the side of the river like that.  In fact, I defended you!”

“I’m sorry but I can’t say you did or say you didn’t.  All I know is that your prayer that night I appeared on your door step was the first time I heard of someone who had known of my death.  You asked the Lord for forgiveness of what your husband did, but I don’t forgive him at all.  Now I must take away what he held dearly to him.  I must end this life for you and move on but first I need to know something and I might allow you to continue on in this miserable life you suffer through.”

“What is it?  Anything if you will spare me where my husband didn’t spare you?”

“Do you know where this man in the photo with Walt live?”

“You mean Joe.”

“Yes, Joe!  What is Joe real name?”

“Joseph Tumble and he lives in Jamestown!”

“Well Jamestown is where I am going.”

“Am I spared from your wrath?”

“Yes, you are and now you can go back to sleep.”

He leaned in, kissed her lips sucking the air out of her body and into his; giving himself a breath of fresh air and taking away her life.  He then got up and exited the house once again passing Ashlaye with an even larger breeze.

As she was about to give up on the whole television idea, the 12:00 news came on.  They were reporting the death of her grandmother and how she died in this heat from a horrible asthma attack.  She turned and look towards the stairs.  She rushed to the steps when she heard sirens wailing outside.  She turned towards the door to open it for the Ambulance, but no one was there.  No police, no ambulance, no Pathologists, but she sees all of this on the television.  She thought that she was dreaming so she turned the channel.  Just then, Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones knocked at the door while the phone was ringing.  She grabbed the phone and rushed to the door. 

“Who is it?” 

“Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones, oh you poor dear we just heard on the news.” 

“What did you hear on the news?”  She replied as she opened the door. 

“About your grandmother.  I was just here, oh dear!”  Mrs. Martha said in a panicking voice. 

Ashlaye still confused, she heard a voice and wasn’t sure where it was coming from.  Someone was calling her name.  It was coming from the phone in her hand, that was barely touching her ear. 

“Ashlaye, Ashlaye are you okay?  I’ll be there shortly.  I am on my way!”  Her mother said fluttered with concern.

She hung up and rushed upstairs to find her grandmother laid out on the bed dead, aged as if she’s been dead for a while.  She called the police to report the death.  When she went downstairs to open the door, they were there already. 

“That was fast.”  She uttered, crying and falling over the place. 

“We saw it on the news.” Agent Mickett replied as she showed her badge to get in.  “I am Agent Mickett and this is Detectives Hishee’ and Monkeay.” 

“What happened to the police and news crew that was here?” Detective Monkeay asked. 

Ashlaye replied, “You all are the first.”  Still shedding tears 

“But we just saw it on the news live.” Detective Monkeay speculating. 

“You and the rest of the world, but I am telling you, you all are the first crew on the scene.” Ashlaye answered weak in the knees and needing a seat. 

A few minutes later the Pathologist arrived on the scene and was told nothing so he just waited.

The Detectives went over to Mrs. Martha, “Can you tell me what happened to the news crew and officers that was here before we arrived on the scene?” 

“You are the first officers here.”  Mrs. Martha answered. 

He spoke again, “I even saw you on the news.” 

“I know I saw myself on the news and I know that I wasn’t here until ten minutes before you all arrived.”  Mrs. Martha replied perplexed. 

The Detective feeling a little puzzled walked over to the Pathologist to ask him for the time of death. 

“I don’t know I haven’t been upstairs yet.  I was just told that’s where the body was located.  I’ll let you know as soon as I examine her.” 

The news crew was arriving and it was the same lady that they see on the television reporting the same incident.  Everyone in the house was even more muddled.  Just then the Medical Examiner called downstairs for one of the Detectives.  They all rushed upstairs to the master bedroom. 

“What do you have for us?” 

“I would say she died 12 days ago, around 12 noon.  I can’t be absolute about the exact time but the days I’m certain about.” 

“Why would these people be sitting here with a dead body upstairs and wait this long to call us?  It doesn’t make sense to me; something strange is going on.”  Detective Monkeay said as he scratched his head. 

The Detectives then came downstairs to question everyone who had contact with the victim within the last month.  They gathered everyone in the living room to ask questions. 

“It seems as though the victim has been dead for a while, according to the Pathologist.” 

“What’s a while because we just spoke to her like 3 hours ago?” 

“According to the Pathologist, she has been deceased for 12 days.” 

Everyone started whispering and murmuring.

“People, people I am going to need you all to cooperate in this matter.” 

Mrs. Martha stated, “That can’t be right.”  Ashlaye agreed sitting with tears flowing but gasping for air.  “She was just standing here complaining about not getting enough rest.” 

“Ma’am the Pathologist placed the time of death 12 days ago.” 

“Well, your Pathologist is wrong!” 

“Well, I am her granddaughter and I am telling you that she was just down here talking to me! Forget all that, first off who are you?!”  Ashlaye said with an attitude but still hurting from the pain of her loss. 

“I am Detective Hishee’ from homicide.” 

“Wait a minute from homicide!  Why would homicide be here if she died from an asthma attack?” 

“Are you sure that was the cause of death?” Detective Monkeay inquired.  “We are suspicious of this death.  There is more to this story than meets the eye.” 

“You mean to tell me that you all have reason to believe that she was murdered?”  Mr. Jones questioned. 

“No just foul play.” 

“I don’t care how you sugar coat it; it says the same thing to me!  She was murdered!”  He continued to voice his opinion. 

“We need to know who everyone is and how you are related to the victim?”  Detective Hishee’ stated. 

One by one they got the information from everyone in the room except Mr. Jones, by the time they got to him he wasn’t nowhere to be found.  He had slipped out and went on about his day as usual.  He had the police investigating wherein no one even looked for him or so he thought.  Mrs. Martha, Ashlaye and Maye vouched for him as Mrs. Cornable’s handyman.

“I have to get out of here.  The smell is making me sick.”  Agent Mickett implied as she walked out the front door.  This was her first murder case in Baton Rouge.  She was just transferred from Jamestown, Ohio. 

Detective Monkeay stated, “You’ll get used to it after a while.”  As he watched Agent Mickett walk out the front door and onto the porch.     

Detective Hishee’ asked Ashlaye. “When did she discover her grandmother’s body?” 

She responded, “Everything was okay earlier when she opened the door for me, but a few minutes before I let you in to answer your question.” 

The Detectives looked at her surprisingly.  Detective Monkeay said, “That’s impossible!” 

Martha interrupted and said, “Oh no it isn’t!  Check the phone records, Ashlaye had used my phone a few hours ago to call over here and get her to come downstairs to let her in.  I offered her pie but she didn’t want any.”    

Detective Monkeay inquired as to who she was and how she got in here?  Detective Hishee’ introduced Mrs. Martha Ashford. 

“She lives next door.”

“If there was any sign of foul play, I would have known about it?” 

“She’s right, she knows who did what; how they did it; and why they did it?!  She is the nosiest woman on the planet.  Ever since her husband passed, she learned to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.  It’s like her hobby!”

“I can hear you B’Linda!  I’m standing right here!” 

“So, you are Mrs. Martha!  So, you are!” 

“Mrs. Ashford, I am Detective Monkeay and if you could step over here with me, I would gladly take your statement.” 

They stepped into the kitchen.

“Like I told B’Linda, she was very much alive earlier.  I came over to give her some homemade chicken soup.  She took it and placed it on the stove.  See it is right there.  I told her to eat some after her nap.  She went upstairs and Ashlaye turned on the television down here, not to disturb her while she napped.  Did she have an asthma attack?” 

“Yes, ma’am she did.  Then what happened?” 

“I don’t know I left.” 

“Thank you, much Mrs. Ashford, for your help.  If we need any more information, we will call you.” 

“Mrs. Martha sweetie, that’s my name.  Mr. Ashford is gone home, so I am Mrs. Martha now.”  He looked bewildered as Mrs. Martha walked away. 

Monkeay signaled for Mickett, “Mrs. Ashford said that the soup is hers on the stove.  She made it for the victim because she wasn’t feeling well.” 

Monkeay implemented Mrs. Ashford as a suspect. Have forensic bag her soup and have it tested for poisons of all kinds.

“By the way what is the deceased name?” 

“Cynthia Cornable, age 78 at time of death.  Check this out she just turned 78, twelve days ago.  The family had a party for her 10 days ago in which she attended.  Ashlaye mother, Maye Cornable confirms this and have live video to prove it on her phone.” 

“This is one for the books.  Let the boys’ downtown figure this one out.”  Mickett said. 

Hishee’ walks over with a mysterious look on her face.  “I am not understanding, how the Pathologist could say she’s been dead for 12 days, but family and friends are disagreeing with it.  This would mean that she died on her birthday. But the family and friends are saying no, not true.  I am so not pleased right now.”  She continued as she scratched her head.

They wrapped it up so they could take it back to the lieutenant. 

“He’s not going to believe this shit!”  Monkeay said. 

“Let’s go over what we have so far.” Mickett said getting in the car.  

“A grandmother died of an asthma attack or so it appears.  Pathology said she died 12 days ago, but the family is saying she had a party 10 days ago.  It showed up on the noon news, 12 minutes before we arrive, but no news crew or police officers was on the scene until after we arrived.  Our suspects in so far are a Ashlaye, Maye, Mrs. Martha and Mr. Jones.  By the way we didn’t get to interview because he somehow disappeared before the interviews happened.” 

She ran it down to them both.

“All I know is I don’t know.”  Hishee’ said as she slammed the car door. 

“Pathology also said it was suspicious. I guess we will just have to go to the State Examination Office to do some further investigating.”  Monkeay hunched his shoulders. 

Agent Mickett was told that she would be the one to tell the lieutenant, she agreed.  On their way back to the station, Mickett noticed Mr. Jones walking about twenty blocks from the crime scene.  She was curious how he got as far as he did without a car when they just left him at the scene of the crime when she was standing outside.  She noticed him at another neighbor’s house working on something in the front yard.  She didn’t say anything just kept it to herself, but Hishee’ also noticed him but thought nothing of it as well. 

They arrived at the station; neighbors of the deceased were calling into the station for information.  They wanted to know what really happened and if their lives were in danger. Detectives Hishee’, Monkeay along with Agent Mickett was ordered to come into the captain’s office immediately by the officer at the front desk.  The lieutenant and captain were waiting for them with questions that needed to be answered right away.  On the elevator, Mickett couldn’t help but think about Mr. Jones until she got in the captains’ office then her focused changed back to the victim.  All her thoughts went out the window as she looked upon the captain and lieutenant’s faces. 

“You all better have some good news for me because my phones haven’t stopped ringing as of noon!”  Captain Luckett yelled.  Captain Luckett was a medium built man with a mustache that looked too big for his face, green eyes and a buzz cut, who wouldn’t never be caught in a tie.   

Lieutenant Wilcox, with the saltiest look on his face, just stood by waiting on an answer but nothing was coming out of either of their mouths. 

“Sir Mickett have something she wants to tell you, sir.”  Monkeay spoke up. 

“Well, Mickett, you have something that you would like to tell me in reference to this case and it better be that you all know who the suspect is and that you are on your way to arrest him now!”  The captain demanded. 

“No sir it is not that at all.  It is that we have no suspects but this case is strange according to the Pathologist, Mrs. Cornable has been dead for 12 days, but according to the family and friends that is impossible.  See the family threw Mrs. Cornable a birthday party 10 days ago.  Her neighbor Mrs. Ashford had just finish speaking to her and brought over some chicken soup because she wasn’t feeling too well.  Same thing for her granddaughter who was there to look after her because she too knew that Mrs. Cornable wasn’t feeling too well.   So, you see sir this case isn’t just one for the solving, but this is one for the books.  This is going to take some time to figure out.”  Mickett explained. 

“Well okay as long as you solve this thing and do it fast and quiet!  Do you all know who Cynthia Cornable is or was?  She was our former Sheriff’s wife.”  The Captain and Lieutenant nodded. 

“We’ll do our best in making this thing go away fast.”  Mickett said. 

They all were dismissed and told to work quickly and quietly.  Mickett paused as they exited the captain’s office. 

“Did you all know that she was the former Sheriff’s wife?” 

“Yes!”  They both replied.

“Is that why you all had me tell the Captain and Lieutenant the verbal of the case?” 

“Yup!”  They said again.  

“Reason being you are the new guy and they rarely come down hard on the new guy.”  Hishee’ stated. 

They all laughed and went to their desks to figure things out.  As they were sitting there Hishee’ asked Mickett what kind of last name is that for a black girl? 

She said, “Well my daddy isn’t black and he married my mother as a trophy to shake his finger in the face of those nay Sayers but when we came along, he told my mother of his first wife.  They divorced of course but she kept the name for financial blackmail motives, but his wife is so naive and blind to the fact that my father wants to be with my mother.” 

Monkeay and Hishee’ looked at each other and shrub their shoulders to say okay it’s whatever.  Monkeay was creole through and through with his soft curly, wavy hair, who stood about 5’11” tall skinny built but with a deep voice so he spoke softly to keep people from thinking he was upset or angry.   B’Linda being Blasian (Black and Asian) was different and she knew it but she came off to people like she was always angry or upset.  She only stands 5’2” tall but had a heart of a lion and didn’t mind roaring at people when she felt threatened.

Monkeay asked, “Where were you born and raised?” 

“Believe it or not, I was born right here in the great parish of Baton Rouge.  My sister, mother and I moved away like 12 years ago.  My dad sent us to Jamestown to live; said it would be the best thing for us since he was married and already had two children then but now, he had four children by his first wife.  My mother said the two she had was enough.  He promised my mother he’ll take good care of us and well he did.”  She replied. 

“Well damn girl you have a story all on your own, now, don’t you?”  Hishee’ stated. 

“I guess I do.”  She smiled in replied. 

Monkeay just wanted to solve this case already so he could be on vacation soon.  Then he started going through his notes and noticed that Mr. Jones never gave us his background nor a statement.  That’s when Mickett remember something familiar about him. 

“Hey that Mr. Jones never gave us his background nor alibi for his whereabouts during the time of Mrs. Cornable death.  Also, I noticed he had slipped out on us during the interview period with the family and friends, even though they gave him a connection to the victim, we still don’t know where he was. 

Mickett stated that, “He looks like a man that her mother dated roughly 12 years ago just before we moved to Jamestown, Ohio but it couldn’t be him because he still look the same.  I don’t know much about how people are supposed to age but my mother isn’t 12 years younger looking even those she doesn’t look 54 either.  It must be his son or he better give me his aging remedy.” 

“Damn your mother even dated young.” 

“No, I’m saying he looks roughly around the same age as he would have 12 years ago.  Not that the man that my mom was dating 12 years ago was 24 or anything.”  She tried to explain. 

“Oh, okay!” They both replied. 

They got up and went to work.  They headed to the State Examiner Office.  He told them that it wasn’t just an ordinary asthma attack.  It looks like every time she gasped for air her body clang to her bones for it.  That had never happened before and he couldn’t make sense of it for them.  Also, there were no trace of any type of poisons in her system.  With that information in hand and an uncertain knowledge of the exact time of death they decided they needed more to go on.  They went back to the house which was still a crime scene; which mean it was empty, to see if they could find any evidence of foul play.  They came up short.  They questioned the police that was on guard if anyone had been in the house since the incident that happened there.  His answer was no, so they started to walk in the direction that Mickett noticed Mr. Jones walking and timed themselves to see if they could make it to the exact same spot that she noticed Mr. Jones.  They didn’t even get close.  Everyone was wondering why they was taking the walk and she said to see if anyone could have gotten this far from the crime scene before we arrived and how far they would have gotten in 12 minutes.

“In walking it would have taken him at least an hour to get to this spot.  He had left like 20 minutes before we did and he made it here.  He had to have caught a ride and then decided that he could walk the rest of the way.”  Mickett thought to herself, but aloud.  “Plus, it was hot as hell out here today and he wasn’t even breaking a sweat.”  Mickett mentioned. 

“Who are you referring to that would have walked in this hot ass heat?”

“Okay so remember when we were talking about Mr. Jones.”

“Yeah.” They both replied.

“I had saw him earlier walking while we were driving back to the station, but he hadn’t even broken a sweat.  This is the spot where I saw him.”  Mickett pointed out.

“Why is that such a mystery?”

“It isn’t except I saw him leave from a neighbor’s house 20 minutes before we got in the car.  You all know how long it took us to walk here so there is no way he got this far without help am I right?”

“Please he had to have been sweating, we were in the car and still was sweating with the air on.  There’s no way he wasn’t sweating.”  Monkeay argued.

“Plus, you see how long it took us to walk here, if he left 20 minutes before us there is no way he would have made it this far.  We took an hour and 20 minutes to get this far.” Hishee’ spoke out of breath and in need of water.

“I remember thinking that when I saw him that he wasn’t even sweating and how in the hell did he get this far?  I think I would have remembered him sweating. So, I think you all understand why this have me baffled a little.”  Mickett argued back.

“Now that you keep mentioning him, I haven’t even heard a peep from anyone about him since they spoke directly to everyone else. Plus, I did see him as well but paid it no attention.”  Hishee’ added. 

“You are so right when we revisited the witnesses or suspects no one brought up his name at all.”  Monkeay also added.

“Well, we need to find him and ask him some questions that he may need to answer right away.”  Hishee’ said. 

“Good thing we had a patrolman follow us while we walked or we would have died trying to walk back.”  Mickett said.

“You got that right!”  They both agreed.

They all got into the car and proceeded back to Mrs. Martha’s house.  When they got there, she was on the porch drinking lemonade.  It was still hot as hell but not as hot as earlier that day.

“Well good evening if it isn’t my favorite detectives, well at least two of you.” 

“Hello to you too, Mrs. Martha.” Hishee’ spoke. 

“Hello everyone, how are you all doing this nice warm and sunny day? Did you all find out what happened to my friend and stop accusing us of foul play?” 

“We all are good, but in need of some of your assistance.”  Monkeay asked. 

“Yes, some of that good ole country hospitality.” Mickett followed up with the compliment. 

“I asked how I can help you all, didn’t I?” 

“Yes, ma’am you did.”  Mickett said. 

“We need to know if you know the whereabout of a Mr. Jones, or know of anyone who does?”  Monkeay asked politely. 

“Sir, I don’t know him personally, I just know him from Cynthia.  She was his employer not me.  I just like watching him work and my he does a wonderful job.  I know it doesn’t help much but that man is easy on the eyes.” 

“Yeah, we understand that but he never done work for anyone else around here?” 

“I’m not sure.  No one else has ever mentioned to me if he had done work for them, but I could ask around.” 

“I saw him working in the lady yard over there.  Do you know who she is?”  Mickett inquired.

“That’s Ms. Davis yard and if he done work for her, he must have done it out of kindness.  Ms. Davis been dead for months now.”  Mrs. Martha replied.

“Thank you, ma’am you have been, a great help and we look forward to hearing from you if you hear anything.  Why in the world would a man do work for a woman that cannot pay him or is dead?  I think we need to search that house to see if that’s where Mr. Jones have been living.”  Mickett said as they were leaving the porch. 

“You all can stay for some Lemonade if you would like to, no.”  Mrs. Martha offered

“No, thank you we really need to be going and we have so much work to do.” Hishee’ declined. 

As they were walking towards the car, Hishee’ thought she saw Mr. Jones in the victim’s house.  They quickly drawled their weapons and had the officer open the door.  When they got inside there was nothing different, and there was no one in the house.  Hishee’ knew without a shadow of a doubt that she saw him standing at the front window looking directly at them.  The back of the house was still bolted shut just like the crime lab officers left it as well as the windows. 

“Maybe you want to solve this case so bad you are seeing him and want him to be the perpetrator we are looking for in this murder.” Monkeay said. 

“Yeah, maybe that’s what it is, but I know my mind isn’t playing tricks on me.  Besides, don’t call it a murder, because there was no sign of trauma to the body nor was poison present in her system.  Say what it is foul play or suspicious.”  Hishee’ replied. 

Mickett said, “Well we are going to wait for a search warrant to search the former Ms. Davis house as well just in case Mr. Jones like to camp out in dead women houses.”  

As they waited Mickett and Hishee’ stared at Mrs. Cornable house just in case what she saw was him standing in the window doing surveillance on his new target.  An hour after sitting and waiting for their search warrant Mickett grew tired of sitting, she decided to go in on probable cause.  She entered on suspicion that a murder suspect was held up inside waiting to kill his next victim.  Weapons drawn again they enter announcing that they were the police entering with a search warrant.  There was no sign that someone was living in the home or have lived there since Ms. Davis death.  It was covered with dust and no sign that anything had been removed, the furniture was still covered up with a stillness that seemed haunting. 

“I wander if Ms. Davis died in this house and what kind of woman she was, because this place gives me the creeps.”  Mickett mentioned as she ordered them to leave.

They then left the house and locked the doors back up.  Agent Mickett felt a cold feeling come across her as she turned and looked back to see him standing exactly where Hishee’ said she saw him.  She knew he wasn’t there in reality and couldn’t explain him in her head either.  She just continued on with the other detectives as they got into the car.  She knew she needed to know what happened to Mr. Jones and fast. 

When she got back to the station, she went to a private room to make a call.  She called her mother. 

“Hey Momma, this is Ashley.” 

“Hello, Ashley but I knew it was you already.  You didn’t have to announce yourself.” 

“How did you know it was me, Momma?” 

“First of all, I have caller ID, and second of all I know your voice.”  She snickered.  

“Okay, okay, you got me on both of them” She laughed. 

“What’s do you want just the same?” 

“Momma I need to know if you know whatever became of Mr. Jones?” 

As she stood there looking at him as if he never left, she replied.  He had paid Janis a visit every day since he had returned to the surface.  She wasn’t startled to see him, but relieved and joyful.

“No Honey, I have no idea what became of him and I would rather forget what may have become of him.  I don’t want to open those cans of worms at all.  I rather talk about something else if you don’t mind.” 

“Well Momma, I kind of mind, because it is now my job.  Plus, I think I have been seeing him and if so then he hasn’t changed at all.  Do you know if he had any children, especially, sons?” 

“No, he had no children, no family at all.  He was an orphan and that is why he gravitated to us so fast.  We were his only family until you ripped that from him, all to stay face with your daddy.  Do you remember that?” 

“Yes Momma, maybe you are right, maybe we should leave this can of worms alone.”  She sassed as she hung up the phone.      

Mrs. Mickett looked at the phone as she hung it up and then back at Mr. Jones. 

“I have questions but will you have answers?” 

“I shall try my best to answer all your question but first there is something I need you to know.  I am not alive and I am not actually here.  You cannot really touch me it is all in your mind if you think you are holding my hand right now.  I am here because the ancestors have given me a special power to do work that needs to be done.” 

“Where did you go that night?” 

“I don’t want to talk about that night.  I just want to look at you and admire your beauty like I use to before that night.” 

“You still have a way with my heart and you still as handsome as the day I met you.”  She smiled as her heart started beating again. 

“I would like to thank you for that, but I can’t stay, there is much work that needs to be done and I am the only person to do it.” 

“What work?” 

“The less you know the better you will be when it hits home.” 

“I’m not sure what that mean, but it was great seeing you again.  Will I ever see you again after this moment?” 

“I have been here watching over you for a while.  I just wanted to reveal myself to you at this moment.  Remember, whenever you feel lonely you can always call on me and I will come but when I can’t no longer come that’s when my work has been completed.” 

He then vanished into thin air and she was lonely again.  Peter made himself less visible to her but still stood there looking on with his heart hurting for he knew he would break her heart.  His heart wanted her love but his mind and will wanted revenge so he went on with the plans as ordered. She wasn’t sure of the strange events that just happened but she was happy enough to hear from her daughter and see an old friend.  Peter had found Joseph Tumble, but Joseph wasn’t very cooperative. 

“Now Joe; may I call you Joe?”

“Bastard nigger you may not call me Joe.  Joe is what my friends call me and I ain’t never been friends with a nigger and never will be!”

“Now Mr. Tumble I don’t think you are in no way shape or form to be criticizing me right now, are you?  See I am not going to be kind to you in this hour of your life; I am in fact going to be very mean.  See what you all did to me wasn’t right and you all knew it.”

“All I know is that you are a rapist and we did what we did but we should have done more.”

“I already know you know I was innocent.  I also know that you told no one of what you have done so I am going to take from you what you took from me.”

“We didn’t take anything that was of any use to anyone.  You didn’t even have a family because they didn’t even want you.”  Mr. Tumble laughed. 

“Well that maybe true and I don’t know if it is or not but what I do know is that I had love before that night and you all stole it away from me and now, I am going to steal your wife’s love from her.  It is only right.  No, you know what I will spare your life only if you can tell me where Susan Donnell lives.  You know the girl who killed her mother, supposedly.  I must admit that was ingenious of Walt to turn the whole town on her like she was a problem child.  I read the files, yes, I can read.”

“If you can read boy then you will know no one knows where she went to and nobody cares.”

“See that is where you are wrong because her mother cared but you all took her away from her just like you all took me away from people who cared about me.” 

“Be honest with yourself nigger no one cared about you.  Even after you were dead no one came looking for you and no one even inquired about you. NOT ONE SOUL!”

“JUST TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND SUSAN DONNELL AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE FOR YOU!  BETTER YET JUST TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND HENRY DONNELL.  HE IS THE SON OF A BITCH I REALLY WANT; NOW TELL ME!

“He’s gone boy. He was a coward and killed himself in Maryland some years ago.”

“That is all I wanted to know and now I leave you without life.”

He then reached through Joseph chest and pulled out his heart. 

“I’ll take this because you don’t need it because of your heartless ways to mankind.”

Next, he removed his eyes, and lungs along with his brain.

“You aren’t going to need eyes cause clearly you can’t see what is right in front of you.  Breathing is a privilege and you don’t deserve to breathe the same air as a dog.  Since you are closed minded then a brain is well, too much of a good thing for a dummy.  Now I might as well take everything.  I am going to take your kidneys, spline, gallbladder, prostate, teeth and tongue.  See from where I am standing Joe, you are worthless and I have your life to prove it.”

He then started to eat it and grew stronger in his battle to do unto others as they have done unto him.

Back in Baton Rouge, the case wasn’t going so well and the captain and the lieutenant was not happy.  It had been days and still no results.  To them it looked like everyone was just sitting around twittering their fingers.  Captain Luckett asked in a very calm voice,

“Where are we on this case?” 

Before anyone could answer the news came on and it was a murder that just took place in Jamestown, Ohio.  This grabbed Agent Mickett’s attention because that’s where her mother and sister lives.  She asked the captain; would he mind if she paid attention to the news.  The reporter stated,

“Mr. Joseph Tumble body was found but none of his organs was in his body.  This is a strange situation and that the Detectives here was mystified about the whole thing.  He is a native of Baton Rouge and moved to Jamestown a few years ago to make a fresh start.  We will have more for you as this story develops.” 

The broadcast ended and she refocused her attention to the captain. 

“Excuse me!” The captain said as he rushed into his office to make a call. 

As strange as that may seem to the detective what Mickett was doing was even stranger.  She was having a black out and no one knew what to do.  She was laying on the floor with her eyes wide opened but wasn’t responsive.  She was breathing and jerking but still incoherent to the people around her.  They called and shouted her name but she still was not responding.  She was blinking and everything but just could not respond. 

“Sister, can you hear me?” Ashlay asked.

“I can but where am I and what have you done to me?”

“You are with me in the spirit world but I haven’t done anything to you.  The news of the man being killed caused you to go into a trans and I used that window to tell you that something horrible is coming and you will be in the center of it.  Watch your back because I can’t see what is coming which means I will not be able to protect you.”

“Wait what am I supposed to do if you aren’t sure what is coming and do it concern momma?”

“It doesn’t and we are just fine if that is what you are asking.”  Ashlay said as she faded away into the background and out of sight.

The lieutenant called for a paramedic but by the time they arrived she was back to being herself.  As she was coming around, she noticed everyone was standing over top of her and looking at her very strange.  She asked what they were doing and why was they starring at her.  The lieutenant asked everyone to back up and give her some room.  He asked her if she’s ok and she answered just fine. 

“You gave us a scare.  I didn’t know you had seizures.” 

“I don’t have seizures; I have blackout spells.  I can see but I can’t hear and I am unable to respond.  I had it for about 12 years now.  I don’t know what brings them on but when they happen, they don’t last long and I can resume whatever it is I am doing.” 

“Well until you get medical clearance that say that you are capable of active duty, I am going to have to pull you off this case.” 

“Check my file sir, I have medical paperwork that says I am well and capable of duty.  It is from your doctors here so thank you!  Tells me a lot about personnel!” 

“Are you sassing me?” 

“No sir, I wouldn’t dream of sassing you.  I am just saying that I know what I am capable of and that my medical condition doesn’t affect my decision only my movements.”  She said as she got from the floor and sat down at her desk.

As she was about to relax the captain called all three of them into his office. 

“I have to send you all to Jamestown, Ohio for this case on Mr. Joseph Tumble.  They somehow think that it is linked to the case here in Baton Rouge.” 

“How, sir?”  Monkeay asked. 

“You’ll find out when you get there.  Now go and report all the findings to this office immediately.  I need to know if we have a serial killer forming.”  Captain demanded.

They rushed to their desks, grabbed their prepared overnight bags and headed to the airport.  On the way there, Mickett was thinking about her conversation with her sister in her time of vulnerability.  She couldn’t help but wonder what harm could come to her that Ashlay would not be able to save her from.  Once at the airport, Monkeay saw Mr. Jones; he was cleaning and mopping the floors.  Monkeay walked over to Mr. Jones and asked if he remember him. 

“I do remember you sir.  You are the detective investigating my former employers murder so you say.” 

“Yes sir, I am.  What are you doing here?” 

“Well sir, it would seem as though I am working.  I have a mop in my hand and I am mopping a floor.  I would do it for free but I don’t think that’s going to put food on the table, clothes on my back and keep a roof over my head.” He said sarcastically, as he continued to mop. 

“Well sir you are a hard man to find and I have been looking everywhere for you.” 

“Not everywhere sir, because I have been right here working since my employment with Mrs. Cornable has been terminated.  So, you aren’t a very good detective or you would have found me sooner than now.”  Mr. Jones continue with the sardonic tones. 

“I have to catch a flight but when I return, I need to have a discussion with you.  Will you be available?” 

“I will be right here when you return unless talking to you loses me this job, then no I will not be here.” 

Monkeay laughed and walked away.  He returned to his partners and told them he found Mr. Jones.  Hishee’ so worked up,

“Where is he and why didn’t you arrest him?” 

“Arrest him on what charges?”  Monkeay asked.  “Anyway, he works here at the airport and when we return, we can just pull him in for questioning then.”  Monkeay went on to say. 

He looked back and Mr. Jones was gone.  He wasn’t there any longer and the floor was cleaned.  He quickly turned around to all sides of him to see that he was nowhere to be found. 

“Now I know he was just there.  I spoke to him myself and everything.”  Monkeay thought to himself. 

To make sure he wasn’t going crazy he made himself a note to call the airport upon his return and see if they employed Mr. Jones. 

“Damn, but I have no first name on him.  This is going to be crazy.”  Again, he said to himself as his mind wanders about. 

Mickett snapped her fingers to get his attention,

“It is time to board the plane.  Are you ready or is there something you need to do here first?” 

“I’m ready.  Let’s go!  I just had to make a mental note of some things that’s all.” 

They boarded the plane and took their seats.   They flew business class on the Mickett’s account.  Being a federal agent means that she had access to a bigger account than the detectives. 

“This should be an interesting trip.  I just want to know what makes them think that their case is intertwined with our case.  If they just want us to do their work, they have another thing coming.”  Hishee’ said.

“I am just going to sleep the whole way there.  Wake me when we land and no, I don’t eat airplane food, so I won’t be needing anything until we land.”  Mickett said as she grabbed her pillow, put on some eye mask and relaxed her seat.  

“Aren’t you something?  You are the agent on this flight and you have the nerve to take a nap.” 

Hishee’ said as she watched Mickett get comfortable.  Monkeay still a little disorganized from talking to Mr. Jones, didn’t hear a word they said.  The Pilot came across the intercom to informed the passengers that they will be taking off and to fasten their seat belts.  Hishee’ and Monkeay did just that, because Mickett had buckled in before she went to sleep there was no need to wake her to do so.  Hishee’ looked at Monkeay with worry,

“Are you okay?  You haven’t been yourself since the airport.” 

“I spoke to Mr. Jones.”  “Yeah, you said that already.  Why didn’t you arrest him, though?” 

“To do what with him?  Anyhow I was talking to him one minute and as soon as I turned my back he was gone.  I mean it was like he vanished into thin air.”  He chuckled. 

“I didn’t see you talking to him, when was this?” 

“I was standing by the pay phones talking to him.” 

“I thought you were over there making a call or something.  I didn’t see you talking to anyone.  I could be wrong though or just had missed you talking to him.”  Hishee’ replied. 

“All I remember is that you said you talked to him, but you never said where.  Then again, I do remember you also saying he works at the airport.” 

“Right and when I said it, is when I had finished talking to him.” 

“You aren’t making much sense.  I think this case got your mind going in circles.  Maybe a fresh case will have your mind back on track.” 

“Or maybe it will have me even more jumbled in thought than what I am now.”  Monkeay said under his breath.

They both turned their backs to one another and relaxed.  Monkeay mind was on the case and Hishee’ mind was on music as she placed the earbuds in her ears to listen.  Not soon after the stewardess came over and asked what they wanted from the snack tray.  Then asked was they a part of the long flight or the short flight.  Monkeay asked for the dry fruit and water and Hishee’ had just water.  As she was about to touch Mickett, Hishee’ grabbed her arm and told her,

“She won’t be having anything but the nap she is getting.  Thank you very much.” 

The Stewardess pulled away and said, “I also would have heard it if you would have said it without touching me.” 

Hishee’ then pulled back her jacket to show the stewardess her badge.  The stewardess just rolled her eyes and went on about her business.  When she returned with their water, she still had found pleasantry from neither one of them.  She couldn’t wait for them to exit the plane because she had enough sending you all love and of their attitudes and disrespect.  She told the other stewardess of the complication.  One of them responded you know how police are!

Sending you all love and kisses. #GoddessLove #GoddezzKPublishing