Read Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2) for Free Online

busy you couldn’t come to the phone?”
    “Girl, if you don’t stop that foolishness. An emergency came up next door.”
    “What kind of emergency?”
    “I can’t get into it right now, Leesa. I’m glad you’re home safe. Tell the children goodnight for me.” After I hung up the phone it occurred to me that Leesa and the children had left only an hour before everything went down next door. That was too close for comfort.
    It was cold, but Amos and I sat bundled up in our jackets on my porch. I didn’t want to miss a single thing. Neither one of us were surprised when Detective Sarah Wilkes walked towards us. The red-haired detective had her long hair tied in a messy bun on the top of her head. It wasn’t that late, but Detective Wilkes looked like she lacked a few days sleep. She eyed me and then Amos before speaking. “Weren’t you two the first ones on the scene of the last murder that happened in Sugar Creek?”
    I was a bit offended by Detective Wilkes’ tone, but Amos chuckled and responded. “Detective, Ms. Eugeena and I can’t help that we have this much excitement around us. We’re retired folks just trying to enjoy a Sunday evening.”
    Now I liked the way Amos set Missy straight. “Yes, it wasn’t like we were expecting to hear two gunshots next door.”
    Detective Wilkes whipped out her notebook and pen. “You said you heard two gunshots. About what time?”
    I don’t know if Amos was paying attention to the clock or not. “Well, my daughter left around seven o’clock with my grandchildren and I think we’d been talking at least an hour. I would say around eight o’clock.”
    Amos nodded. “That sounds about right. The gunshots were coming from next door. I went out to check and saw the front door open.”
    I waved my hands. “We saw a car take off down the street. The car came up not long after William arrived.”
    Amos said, “Yes, a car sped off as I opened the door. It appeared to be a sports car. Maybe the latest Mustang. Dark in color, wouldn’t you say, Eugeena?”
    Now that Amos asked me I wasn’t sure what I remembered. “It was dark outside. I would say it could have been black or dark gray. I’m not that sure.”
    Detective Wilkes continued, “That’s fine. Did either of you happen to catch the license plate?”
    Amos shook his head. “Nope. Whoever was in the car was moving fast.”
    I added, “I wasn’t trying to be nosy, but I think it was a woman driving the car. I know I heard a female’s voice.” Now I wished I had stayed at the door being nosy. I might have been able to help William if I had seen the woman who showed up at his house.
    Detective Wilkes scratched notes rapidly in her notebook.  She tapped the pen and took a breath. “Okay. So, Mr. Jones you entered the crime scene?”
    Amos lifted his chin. “I went to see if I could help Mr. Hopkins.  When I saw his chest injuries, I reached over to check for a pulse.” Amos paused. “I found none. I realized at that point that the scene needed to be protected for the Charleston CSU.”
    I shivered. I hadn’t seen William’s body up close, but Amos’ description was enough for me. “I didn’t enter the house, but I called 9-1-1.”
    Detective Wilkes shook her head and continued to scribble in her notebook. She looked up. “Did either of you notice anything strange other than the car? Isn’t there an older woman that lives here too?”
    I spoke up. “Louise is in a nursing home. William, the victim, placed her in a home in late July.” It occurred to me that there was something I knew that could be helpful. “You know I did see William earlier today when I was visiting his mother. He mentioned that he found a buyer for the house. I believe the woman that was there tonight could have been the interested buyer.”
    Detective Wilkes nodded. “I will need the contact information for Mr. Hopkin’s mother. Maybe she has more information on this buyer or buyers.”
    I nodded. “Sure, she’s at