ma’am, back to the car.” Politics was the last thing on his mind right now. “Can you tell me what color it was?”
“Of course I can young man, weren’t you listening to me?” She wanted to do this her way and only her way. He had a feeling a trip to the dentist would be less painful.
“Yes, ma’am, go on.”
“Besides, young man, don’t you just want to know the license number instead?”
“So, you have the number?” He didn’t know if he should hug or throttle her.
She made a face. “Of course I do. Don’t they teach you anything at that detective school you went to!”
Abruptly shutting the door she left him standing on her front porch dumbfounded. Knowing he wouldn’t be invited inside his only option seemed to be waiting.
As if on cue the front door reopened and Mrs. Rivers presented him with a written log of the coming and goings in the neighborhood. It was a wealth of information and Morris was truly impressed.
“Thank You.”
“Well, what are you waiting for!” She made a gesture that was as impatient as her tone, reminding him of his sixth grade math teacher. Neither of them were patient and both were intimidating.
He looked over the log and scanned the pages for today’s date. Three entries were listed. The first referenced the suspicious car with the license plate noted. He quickly checked it against his list and found an entry that matched.
Then he saw the name that the car was registered to.
He made some notes and handed the pages back to her.
“Mrs. Rivers you’ve been very helpful. I was wondering if you can do another thing for me?”
“Of course, young man. The police need all the help they can get.”
He decided she meant that in the nicest way possible.
“Can you keep these logs until I can get someone over here to make copies?”
“I always keep my logs!” Mrs. Rivers was indignant that he’d suggest otherwise. “I have them as far back as 1990 when I first moved here. Been doing it that long.”
He didn’t doubt it for a moment.
“Well, ma’am, again, you’ve been very helpful and I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help the police today.” Morris turned to go. “And, I’m sure Maggie does too.”
“Nice young lady. Needs to be married, though, what with two young boys and all.” Mrs. Rivers shook her head, a disapproving look on her face.
He was left wondering what and all meant but left it alone, anxious to get back to Maggie. He even felt his heart race – just a little. In part from excitement at being near her and in part from apprehension at sharing his discovery with her – something he couldn’t avoid. Not now.
Chapter 6
Maggie watched from the bedroom window as Detective Morris crossed the street, a look of concern on his face. Of course Mrs. Rivers – or Mrs. Busy Body as everyone in the neighborhood called her – would have information on the suspicious car and anything else that happened in the area.
Her older neighbor tended to make everyone feel less than adequate with her admonishing ways. Still, Maggie was always taught to respect her elders, something she passed onto her children.
Stifling her laughter when Mrs. Rivers shut the front door and disappeared leaving a confused Detective Morris standing on her front porch, she knew that this was just the way the older woman did business. As if on cue, the door reopened and Mrs. Rivers produced her log. Everyone knew she kept a log of what was happening in the neighborhood. Many parents were glad that she did. Many teenagers were not.
When he first called her about her nosy neighbor, she chastised herself for not thinking of it herself, but it also showed her that he was a thorough investigator. She was beginning to relax and feel safe, a feeling that she welcomed because she didn’t like being afraid in her own home. She rushed downstairs to let
“Of course I can young man, weren’t you listening to me?” She wanted to do this her way and only her way. He had a feeling a trip to the dentist would be less painful.
“Yes, ma’am, go on.”
“Besides, young man, don’t you just want to know the license number instead?”
“So, you have the number?” He didn’t know if he should hug or throttle her.
She made a face. “Of course I do. Don’t they teach you anything at that detective school you went to!”
Abruptly shutting the door she left him standing on her front porch dumbfounded. Knowing he wouldn’t be invited inside his only option seemed to be waiting.
As if on cue the front door reopened and Mrs. Rivers presented him with a written log of the coming and goings in the neighborhood. It was a wealth of information and Morris was truly impressed.
“Thank You.”
“Well, what are you waiting for!” She made a gesture that was as impatient as her tone, reminding him of his sixth grade math teacher. Neither of them were patient and both were intimidating.
He looked over the log and scanned the pages for today’s date. Three entries were listed. The first referenced the suspicious car with the license plate noted. He quickly checked it against his list and found an entry that matched.
Then he saw the name that the car was registered to.
He made some notes and handed the pages back to her.
“Mrs. Rivers you’ve been very helpful. I was wondering if you can do another thing for me?”
“Of course, young man. The police need all the help they can get.”
He decided she meant that in the nicest way possible.
“Can you keep these logs until I can get someone over here to make copies?”
“I always keep my logs!” Mrs. Rivers was indignant that he’d suggest otherwise. “I have them as far back as 1990 when I first moved here. Been doing it that long.”
He didn’t doubt it for a moment.
“Well, ma’am, again, you’ve been very helpful and I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help the police today.” Morris turned to go. “And, I’m sure Maggie does too.”
“Nice young lady. Needs to be married, though, what with two young boys and all.” Mrs. Rivers shook her head, a disapproving look on her face.
He was left wondering what and all meant but left it alone, anxious to get back to Maggie. He even felt his heart race – just a little. In part from excitement at being near her and in part from apprehension at sharing his discovery with her – something he couldn’t avoid. Not now.
Chapter 6
Maggie watched from the bedroom window as Detective Morris crossed the street, a look of concern on his face. Of course Mrs. Rivers – or Mrs. Busy Body as everyone in the neighborhood called her – would have information on the suspicious car and anything else that happened in the area.
Her older neighbor tended to make everyone feel less than adequate with her admonishing ways. Still, Maggie was always taught to respect her elders, something she passed onto her children.
Stifling her laughter when Mrs. Rivers shut the front door and disappeared leaving a confused Detective Morris standing on her front porch, she knew that this was just the way the older woman did business. As if on cue, the door reopened and Mrs. Rivers produced her log. Everyone knew she kept a log of what was happening in the neighborhood. Many parents were glad that she did. Many teenagers were not.
When he first called her about her nosy neighbor, she chastised herself for not thinking of it herself, but it also showed her that he was a thorough investigator. She was beginning to relax and feel safe, a feeling that she welcomed because she didn’t like being afraid in her own home. She rushed downstairs to let
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