Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Angela had prepared a meal just like she had on so many other nights when I arrived home. I walked in with a smile on my face as I excitedly told the story of what had happened that day and how much closer the police had gotten now to solve the whole sordid mess. 

It was pretty clear to me that Timothy had figured a way to give the killers something in return for killing his wife. Angela listened while I explained everything I had turned over to the police. 

Angela said, “Sounds like they need you working on the police force.”

I replied, “That is what Detective Hagan said. All I know is when they take a close look, they will find whatever Timothy was shipping and that is their story.”

We all sat and ate dinner like a family. The fact was I felt like Angela was like family and she was certainly treating me like family. It was good to spend time and relax and let the police do what they are paid to do. Timothy could wait. I hope the cops figured it out because I think he killed his wife or at least hired it and all we needed was a trail that showed payment. I think him shipping things out at night at the warehouse was where the payment happened. 

Angela always cooked food that made you feel like you were in your grandmother’s kitchen and the treat tonight would be no different. Like the other things she had made, her chicken and dumplings looked like any comfort food I had ever sat at a table with. I was sure Lincoln had never had chicken and dumplings before and this was a great opportunity for him to get a taste of old home-style cooking. 

After dinner I told Lincoln to go get ready for bed. He had pajamas already laying out to put on and I told him he could pick out a book. I continued to talk to Angela until I heard him yell from his bed. When I entered the room he was in his bed with the printed character sheets from his favorite cartoon pulled up to his chin and holding a book up waiting for me to read. I sat in the rocking chair that was right beside his bed and turned on his lamp that helped to illuminate the book pages as I read them. 

The book he chose for me to read was an adventure book about a firefighter. The book he always chose was about firefighters. It was what interested him the most and was what he wanted to be. The storyline of the book was pretty simple. A house caught on fire, an alarm rang out and Fireman Bill came with his truck and hose to save the day. He always sprayed the fire and extinguished all of the flames. 

Lincoln not only had a lot of firemen books but he also had a fireman’s suit and a hat and a number of toy fire trucks. We also had a friend that we knew that was a member of the fire department at the station that was the closest to Angela’s house. She said she felt comfortable that we had a fire station so close.

I finished reading the story. Lincoln was trying to fall asleep before I had completed reading. He knew what happens in the story without hearing the rest of the book. Lincoln had heard the story being read on many occasions. 

I slid the book back in the bookcase that normally held it, tiptoed over and bent down to kiss Lincoln goodnight before going back into the living room to chat with Angela for a while before going to bed myself. Angela was sitting reading through a list of books by new authors and picked out something that kept her interest. She had chosen a book but she put the open book face down on the table next to her to signal that she was ready to hear what I had to say.

I told her the police were reviewing evidence and a forensic team were combing over the computer used at the warehouse where Timothy worked and were especially searching through the hidden second shipping account. I am sure the detectives will tell me what they find in their searches. 

Angela again made some grumblings about me joining the police force. I told her while I enjoy searching for clues and snooping on an amateur level, if it was a job it would seem too much like work. It was fun as long as it was just me snooping because of curiosity but if I had to find the answers for a job I think the pressure would kill out any fun value I may have found as an amateur. 

Angela said, “I understand what you are saying, I was just thinking about how good you are at investigating.”

I replied, “Thank you for your compliment. I enjoy the search and figuring things out. I get a rush while I am working on a case, but I wonder if real professional investigators ever get that rush when they are working on something.”

Angela replied, “I am sure some of them do. It has to be like anything else, you have some people who love what they are doing and others that just drag along to get a paycheck.”

I said, “I can tell you this; I think I know what Timothy was doing but I won’t say until after the police are through the computer for clues.”

Angela said, “We could have some fun with it.”

I asked, “In what way is that?”

Angela continued, “You can write down what you think is going on, onto a sheet of paper and then seal it in an envelope until the police finish and then we can open the envelope and compare what the police say with what you wrote.”

I replied, “That does sound like fun, in fact it sounds like a lot of fun. I will go write it out now, where do we put the envelope after I seal it?”

Angela said, “I can put it in the top drawer of my desk. It has a lock and I can keep it locked until it is time to open it.”

I excused myself to go and write my theory down. It would be there for all to see. That made me a little nervous but excited as well. This would be a test to see if I really figured out the mystery or not. It would be a great test to see if I did have the chops to be an investigator. I took a pen and carefully wrote my theory onto a blank white sheet of paper. I folded the paper with the writing to the inside and slid it into the envelope. 

I walked back to the living room where Angela still sat in her chair. She had momentarily started a book but laid it down when I came back into the room. She looked over her reading glasses at me when I came back into the room.

I said, “Here is the theory, detailed in writing and sealed.”

I handed her the envelope and she left for a few minutes to go to her study. I could hear the old desk drawer squeak a little as she pulled it out to put the envelope inside. Angela’s house was full of old furniture which fit her aging house perfectly. New stuff would look out of place in this home. 

Tomorrow would be a workday for me so it was time to excuse myself to the restful sleep that waited for me in the room I shared with Lincoln. Someday I would have to learn that Lincoln did snore and the person who could get to sleep first always had the best sleep. I covered my head trying to drown out the sounds coming from my little boy.

I did finally fall asleep as became evident because I woke up. It was morning and I could smell breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Angela never slept, I decided. She was still up when I went to bed and was up when I got up in the mornings. I don’t know how she did it. Where did she get her energy from? 

I could see that Lincoln was stirring in his bed and I knew he was waking up. The smell of bacon cooking may have had something to do with him waking. Then I saw his eyes open and I knew it was a matter of seconds now before Lincoln was up and ready for breakfast. 

I was in the middle of dozing back off when I saw a pair of beautiful blue eyes staring back at me. Then that smile spread across his face. He was up and I knew that I had to get out of bed myself and get ready for the day ahead. We walked into the kitchen, hand in hand, and Lincoln pulled my chair out for me. 

I asked, “Where did you learn about pulling chairs out?”

Lincoln replied, “I have seen videos online about it.”

Angela had once again prepared a feast. It was that way every meal. I bet nobody could diet around here. Angela changed up the meats she cooked, sometimes making sausage, other times she made bacon and she made ham. She usually asked what kind of eggs we wanted and she always had a pan of biscuits. What I enjoyed most was the gravy that she made to go along with the biscuits. 

She always had a selection of homemade jellies and jams and butter. I don’t think she hand churned the butter so that was the only thing she had that wasn’t homemade. Angela always cooked from scratch. I had never seen her open a can or package and certainly I had never seen frozen meals in the microwave. 

This morning’s selection had sausage, eggs with hash browns and biscuits and gravy. We had homemade blueberry jam to top off the meal. It was always hard to say no to anything Angela prepared. I ate breakfast and then quickly got ready. I had to work today and that would keep me busy enough to not think about what the police might be uncovering at the warehouse. 

I finished getting ready and told Lincoln bye before starting my car and making the journey to the store to work my shift. I could see Lincoln watching me out the front window as I backed from the driveway to head to my job. He had his nose pressed against the glass with his hands cupping his eyes to give him a good view of me leaving for the day.