murder couldn’t have taken place here, unless the body was transported in a refrigerated truck or something back to Parson’s Cove. Did that mean that Grace never returned home after her vacation in Las Vegas or did return and then, for some reason, went to Parson’s Cove? Was she coming to see me? No, why would she do that?
I kept walking until I stood right across from the house. It was a small square box painted light green. The paint was peeling, the steps going up to the porch had definitely seen better days, and almost every other shingle on the roof was missing or flapping in the breeze. In comparison, the house next door looked freshly painted, not a shingle was out of place, and the yard with its shrubs and flowers was immaculate. I realized as I glanced down the street that seemed to be the trend. One lovely house could have something resembling a chicken coop on either side.
I stood and waited for a few minutes. There was no sign of life. The whole street was silent. A couple of dogs barked back and forth from somewhere. There were two or three cars parked further down. I waited a bit longer.
I checked the street once again before I crossed. The wrought iron gate was sagging and permanently held open by the weeds that wound their way around and through the railing. Cracked cement blocks with weeds sprouting through made up the walkway that ended up at the wooden steps. The wooden steps took you up to the lopsided veranda where a faded garden gnome greeted you, wearing an evil grin. There wasn’t one home in Parson’s Cove to compare with this.
My heart pounded as I banged on the door. If there was anyone inside, they were being extremely quiet. Before knocking again, I walked to the side of the house and looked towards the backyard. The house was longer than I thought. Did I dare walk back and knock on the back door? Before I could decide, I heard someone yell, “Can I help you with somethin?’”
I looked around but couldn’t see anyone. “Where are you?” I yelled back.
“Never mind. I’ll be right down, darlin’.”
The mysterious voice came from next door, behind an upstairs window covered with hurricane shutters. No wonder I couldn’t see anyone. I felt a sudden relief that it wasn’t coming from the house that I was standing beside.
In less than two minutes, a large black woman was standing at the fence facing me. The first thing I noticed, besides her size, were her clothes. She was a black version of Flori.
“You lookin’ for somebody?” she said.
I couldn’t say ‘Grace’ - Grace was dead so I just nodded.
She shook her head. “Haven’t seen anyone round here for a few days now. You some relative or somethin?”
“No,” I said. “I knew Grace Hobbs from a trip we took together. I wondered if this was where she lived. Did you know she was in Vegas?”
“Lord, no. I hardly see anything of that woman. If she were away for a month, I probably wouldn’t notice.” She sighed. “Now, if the yard were cleaned up, you can bet I’d notice that!” She laughed and showed off the whitest teeth I’d ever seen in my life. “What’d you say you wanted with her, honey?”
“Well,” I said. “I really didn’t want her for anything. In fact, the truth be told, no one will be wanting her for anything ever again, I’m sorry to say.”
“What on earth are you sayin’? Grace might not be the most Christian person in this world but there’s no need to be talkin’ bout her like that. We being neighbors and all, you know.”
There’s no nice way to put some things. How do those cops do it anyway? You know, walking up to a house and telling someone their loved one is dead. Or, worse yet, what if they have to say, ‘murdered?’
“What did you say your name was?” I asked.
“I didn’t.” She glared at
I kept walking until I stood right across from the house. It was a small square box painted light green. The paint was peeling, the steps going up to the porch had definitely seen better days, and almost every other shingle on the roof was missing or flapping in the breeze. In comparison, the house next door looked freshly painted, not a shingle was out of place, and the yard with its shrubs and flowers was immaculate. I realized as I glanced down the street that seemed to be the trend. One lovely house could have something resembling a chicken coop on either side.
I stood and waited for a few minutes. There was no sign of life. The whole street was silent. A couple of dogs barked back and forth from somewhere. There were two or three cars parked further down. I waited a bit longer.
I checked the street once again before I crossed. The wrought iron gate was sagging and permanently held open by the weeds that wound their way around and through the railing. Cracked cement blocks with weeds sprouting through made up the walkway that ended up at the wooden steps. The wooden steps took you up to the lopsided veranda where a faded garden gnome greeted you, wearing an evil grin. There wasn’t one home in Parson’s Cove to compare with this.
My heart pounded as I banged on the door. If there was anyone inside, they were being extremely quiet. Before knocking again, I walked to the side of the house and looked towards the backyard. The house was longer than I thought. Did I dare walk back and knock on the back door? Before I could decide, I heard someone yell, “Can I help you with somethin?’”
I looked around but couldn’t see anyone. “Where are you?” I yelled back.
“Never mind. I’ll be right down, darlin’.”
The mysterious voice came from next door, behind an upstairs window covered with hurricane shutters. No wonder I couldn’t see anyone. I felt a sudden relief that it wasn’t coming from the house that I was standing beside.
In less than two minutes, a large black woman was standing at the fence facing me. The first thing I noticed, besides her size, were her clothes. She was a black version of Flori.
“You lookin’ for somebody?” she said.
I couldn’t say ‘Grace’ - Grace was dead so I just nodded.
She shook her head. “Haven’t seen anyone round here for a few days now. You some relative or somethin?”
“No,” I said. “I knew Grace Hobbs from a trip we took together. I wondered if this was where she lived. Did you know she was in Vegas?”
“Lord, no. I hardly see anything of that woman. If she were away for a month, I probably wouldn’t notice.” She sighed. “Now, if the yard were cleaned up, you can bet I’d notice that!” She laughed and showed off the whitest teeth I’d ever seen in my life. “What’d you say you wanted with her, honey?”
“Well,” I said. “I really didn’t want her for anything. In fact, the truth be told, no one will be wanting her for anything ever again, I’m sorry to say.”
“What on earth are you sayin’? Grace might not be the most Christian person in this world but there’s no need to be talkin’ bout her like that. We being neighbors and all, you know.”
There’s no nice way to put some things. How do those cops do it anyway? You know, walking up to a house and telling someone their loved one is dead. Or, worse yet, what if they have to say, ‘murdered?’
“What did you say your name was?” I asked.
“I didn’t.” She glared at
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