Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2) (14 page)

It seemed like hours went by before anyone came back to let Louise and I know what was going on. We took the time to catch up as best we could. I asked, “Louise, do you remember the young woman who came to visit last Sunday? Did you understand who she was?”

Louise smiled. “Not really, but she reminded me of a person I knew a long time ago.”

There was my cue. “August?”

Louise looked startled.

“I’ve learned a lot about you, my dear friend. You want to tell me more about him.”

Louise grinned. “I see you have been busy. I have always wanted to tell you about him. It just never was the right time. August Manning was one of my dearest friends from the time I was a little girl. It was hard for us to be friends the older we got. People warned us to be careful, but we were young and in love.”

“You said it never was the right time to tell me about him. Why? Did you feel uncomfortable bringing him up especially around Bill, maybe?”

“Bill and I never talked about August, but he knew when the anniversary of his death came around that I needed alone time. I know there were rumors.”

“So you knew the rumors about Chuck Nelson.”

“I confronted him.”

“You did? Well, what did he say?”

“He denied it, but I knew it was him. It was Chuck who told my parents that I was pregnant. A few days later I got shipped off to this home. It was terrible there. They wouldn’t let me see the baby. I kind of felt like the baby was a girl. I can’t explain it. But I have always been haunted by her cries and knowing how August died and that no one would listen to me. I had a baby out of wedlock with a black man. I thought years later when I lost my other baby that is was punishment.”

“Oh Louise. No.”

“I know better now. Eugeena, do you think I will ever meet her? That was my daughter in that photo.”

“I’m pretty sure you will see your granddaughter again. Her name is Jocelyn. We will work on Clarice.”

“That’s her name? Clarice.”

“Yes.”

“That was my grandmother’s name.”

Amos showed up at the door of Louise’s room.

Louise shouted, “Amos, my friend, it is so good to see you. I feel like I’ve been rescued.” Louise’s shoulders sank. “I just don’t know what I’ve been rescued from.”

Amos chuckled. “I will do my best to fill you ladies in, just know that my old detective brain is still trying to process all that I’ve seen in the last hour.”

Amos pulled over a chair from under the television next to the bed. After he sat down and caught his breath. “Well, for the news you’re probably waiting for, Jacqueline Saunders is in police custody.”

I said, “That was fast. Did you call them after we got off the phone?”

Amos nodded. “I did call Detective Wilkes, but she informed me they already had everything under control. When you saw James Nelson here earlier, he was in her office with a wire.”

“He was setting his sister up?”

“That’s right. James might be a slick car salesperson, but he’s a good man. According to the detective, James had been suspicious about his sister’s return to town for months. He was friends with William and didn’t think his sister was being sincere with her intentions.

Louise looked confused, “William didn’t mention he’d been seeing Jacqueline.  Of course, he didn’t talk to me. He was so in love with her. She broke his heart years ago.”

Amos said, “It seems like William and Jacqueline were caught up with a group of people working on several scams at the same time. I can’t get into all of them, but that healthcare app startup company was one of them. They had a lot of investors, but no one was seeing the product come through in a timely fashion.”

I nudged Amos. “What about here at the nursing home? What was going on?”

Amos sighed. “Yeah, well, there have been some suspicions here for a while even before Jacqueline started as the new director. It seems that Jacqueline and her staff that she brought on had been quietly doing some false Medicare claims. Pat may have caught on to some of this when she started to see nurses being let go.”

I asked, “And by staff did that include that Lexi woman? She was young, pixie haircut. I always thought there some something strange about the chick. I caught her trying to give Louise a syringe full of something.”

Louise’s eyes widened. “I never thought she was a nurse, but what do I know?”

Amos nodded. “I think she was one of the ones in handcuffs out there. There were at least three women.  One was the accountant and I believe she had red hair. Anyhow, there seemed to be an even bigger issue and here is where I think William and Jacqueline might have clashed. The detective will have to let you know more, but Jacqueline had power of attorney over her dad the same as William had power of attorney over your estate, Louise.”

Louise shook her head. “I don’t even remember signing anything. I kept telling him I was fine. I have been taking care of myself. So what were they doing with the money?”

I shouted, “Stealing. They were stealing money from their own parents. I still don’t know why Jacqueline shot William.  I can see Pat catching her in the act of filing wrongful Medicare claims.”

Amos nodded. “It’s just a theory now, because Detective Wilkes wouldn’t let me hear too many details, but I think William started to get the sense that Jacqueline was trying to cut everyone out of their slice of money. He may have asked her about a discrepancy in a bill from the nursing home, and well, things escalated from there.”

Louise rubbed her arms. “That girl always had a temper like her dad, Chuck.”

“Mrs. Hopkins?”

We all turned towards the door to see the large male nurse.

Amos grinned. “Good work, Agent Skinner.”

I raised an eyebrow at the large man. “Agent? You look like a nurse to me.”

Agent Skinner walked into the room. “Undercover. Hello, you must be Ms. Eugeena. I heard a lot about you today.”

I blinked. “Really? Who exactly are you an agent with?

“FBI, ma’am. I must say you pulled together details of the case rather well in a few days.”

“Oh, well, thank you. I had some help. So you’ve been looking at this place for a while now?”

“A few months. Just so happens our sting operation was planned for today. Unfortunately, we’re sorry we lost Pat Brown. She was a good source.”

Louise looked confused. “No one has told me what happened to Pat.”

I tried to figure out what was the best way to tell Louise, but someone else was at the door.  I sucked in a breath and found my eyes watering at the sight.

Jocelyn stepped in the room. “Is it okay if we come in? We saw the news, and wanted to check in on Ms. Louise. It looks you have lot of visitors today.”

I peered at Jocelyn. “Sure, you both can come in.”

Jocelyn turned towards the door. “Mom?”

Clarice took a tentative step inside the room.

I grabbed Amos’ arm and squeezed.

He leaned over. “Is that…?”

“Yes. Agent Skinner, why don’t we let these ladies have the room? I would love to hear more about Pat’s involvement in the case.”

As we all squeezed out of the room, I turned to see Louise clutching her hands as she looked at Clarice and Jocelyn. As I thought it would happen, Jocelyn made the first move and hugged Louise. She turned and waved her mom over.

I sniffled because I was so happy for Louise, but I was so sad about Pat. Willie Mae and Annie Mae lost a daughter. Louise found hers.

It was all pretty bittersweet.

It took a few weeks to recuperate after all that crazy business at Hillcrest Manor.  All of it was over now. I was just happy to be surrounded by family. I don’t think I’d ever had this many people in my dining room for Thanksgiving dinner. Junior arrived with his crew early Thursday morning. Cedric and Carmen arrived soon after. It helped moved things along in the kitchen much better with Carmen and Leesa.

After everyone had finished eating, I started to clear off the table. When I walked back into the kitchen I took a big sigh of relief. I turned on the faucet and placed my hand under the water to test the temperature. Once I was satisfied, I plugged the drain hole and added some liquid detergent. I could have used the dishwasher, but I kind of wanted the reflection time.

Dinner was a success, though there were a few awkward moments at the table which mainly consisted of all of my children scolding me about my latest snooping. Thankfully, Amos defended me, promising he wouldn’t let me get into any trouble. It still made me wonder how much talking went on behind my back in particularly with my sons.

The highlight was definitely seeing that beautiful sparkling diamond on Carmen’s hands. I knew better than to ask when the wedding was.  I was still hoping Leesa was taking things slow although it was good to see Chris and Leesa together. I hugged Chris and thanked him for coming. I guess he wasn’t too bad, but only time would tell.

I turned around from the sink to see Louise shuffling in the kitchen with her hands full of dishes. Behind her was Jocelyn. It was really lovely to see how Louise and Jocelyn had connected. It reminded me of the first time I saw them together at the nursing home. All the emotion of the moment.

So much had happened since then.

“Thank you, ladies. Just set the dishes on the counter. Now, you are both guests. You really should relax.”

Louise placed plates on the counter and turned to me with her nose scrunched. “A guest?  Oh Eugeena, I’m so happy to be in
my
home and I’m getting to know my beautiful girl here. Did you tell Eugeena your news?”

Jocelyn smiled. “I was accepted into the nursing program. I will start in January.”

I reached over to hug Jocelyn. “Oh I’m so happy for you.”

“I have Ms. Pat to thank. She gave me the idea and told me how she went back to school after she finished at rehab.”

That sounded like Pat. Lord knows that girl has been missed. 

“Grams, I’m going to head out. Mom is over with August’s sisters.”

Louise nodded. “Yes, Clarice told me she would be there today. I plan to visit with them over Christmas.”

Jocelyn tilted her head. “You two are talking more regularly. That’s a good sign.”

“Yes, it is. Let’s have a hug. We don’t want to hold you up.”

Jocelyn hugged Louise and then me.

After she left, I placed the dishes in the sink and then asked, “How are you really doing, Louise?”

Louise’s eyes were shining. “I’m blessed. I miss William even though he didn’t come around much for the holidays; it feels different that he won’t ever be around.”

“He’s with you in spirit. I believe in his own way, he wanted to protect you.”

Louise’s blue eyes were vibrant, but sad tears spilled down her cheeks. She swallowed. “Me too. It’s a lot to digest sometimes. My…daughter.  We have a lot of catching up to do. She’s so beautiful. August would have been proud.”

I squeezed Louise’s hands. “I know Jocelyn has already taken a liking to you. How does it feel to have a granddaughter?”

“It’s good. I’m so glad she’s going back to school. It’s never too late to make something of yourself.”

“No, it’s not.”

Louise smiled. “Never too late for other things too.”

I eyed her. “Louise?”

Louise rubbed her tummy. “Amos did an excellent job of frying that turkey. I wonder what else you would let him do.”

“Okay, time for you to exit my kitchen, Louise Hopkins. I don’t want to know what you’re thinking.”

She reached out and grabbed my hand. “You know I lost my very first love, the second one was a bust, but Bill was my heart for fifty years. What I’m trying to say is I believe God gives us many chances at love. Don’t you agree?”

I didn’t have a chance to answer because Amos walked in with an armful of plates.

“Oh my goodness. I told you people to relax and enjoy yourself.” I took a pan from Amos and sat it on the counter. From the side I watched Louise scatter from the room. I shook my head, but then a case of nervousness came over me. I almost dropped a bowl, but Amos reached out and caught it before it hit the floor.

“What would I do without you?” I asked, playfully.

Amos smiled, “I was kind of hoping you’d realize I’m here to support you. So what do you need me to do – wash or dry?”

“I think washing would do fine.” It gave me a chance to dry the dishes and admire the man I knew I was starting to love.

Tyora Moody is the author Soul-Searching Suspense novels in the Serena Manchester Series, Victory Gospel Series and the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries.  As a literary-focused entrepreneur, she has assisted countless authors with developing an online presence via her design and marketing company, Tywebbin Creations LLC.  Popular services include virtual event planning, social media management, book trailers and book covers.  She is also the author of the nonfiction series,
The Literary Entrepreneur’s Toolkit
, and the host of
The Literary Entrepreneur Podcast
.

Tyora won 2nd Place for the 2014 Yerby Award for Fiction. She is the 2013 Urban Literary Awards Debut Author Winner and 2013 Urban Literary Awards Mystery / Thriller / Suspense Winner.  Tyora is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. For more information about her  literary endeavors, visit her online at TyoraMoody.com