Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in his career as a police officer and then a detective while raising his children. Both of his daughters lived far away, one in California and the other one out in the Midwest somewhere.  I knew Amos also longed to have contact with his own grandchildren.
    A loud bang shook both of us from the quiet moment of reflection.
    Porgy started barking and running in circles.
    I stared over at Amos. “What was that—” Before I could finish my question, another loud noise sent both Amos and I from our seated positions.
    “Get down.” Amos hunched over. “That’s definitely gunshots.”
    I whispered loudly, “Where are they coming from?”
    Amos moved past me. “It sounds like it’s coming from next door. Stay put.”
    Now that man knew better than to tell me to stay put. As Amos slowly opened the front door, I was right on his heels.
    Amos hissed at me. “Woman, didn’t I tell you to stay put. We don’t know what’s going on out here. Call 9-1-1.”
    “Okay, okay.” I went to reach for the phone by the door, but noticed a car speeding away down the road. “Amos, that car was just in Louise’s driveway. Can you see the license plate?”
    Amos had already made his way outside and down the porch steps. At his age, I didn’t know the man could still move that fast. Was that really the same car that drove up behind William’s car a while ago?  Surely the gunshots didn’t come from next door. Maybe the woman was just scared off.
    I was really concerned. I grabbed the cordless phone from the table in the hallway and dialed 9-1-1.
    The dispatcher came on. “How can I help you?”
    “I think there’s been a shooting in my neighborhood.”
    “Can you tell us where you’re located?”
    “2045 Sugar Creek Drive.” I hung up once I received confirmation that the police were on their way. I pushed open the screen door and peered into the darkness, but I didn’t see a sign of Amos or anyone. “Amos?” I continued to grip the phone in my hand like it was a weapon and crept down the porch steps. I noticed William’s car was still in the driveway, but the other car was gone now.
    Did something happen to William?
    I sure wish Amos would appear because I was really scared. I crept towards Louise’s house. I knew if Amos saw me doing this, he would have some terse words about me staying put. Suppose he needed help? Amos had saved my life a few months before from walking into a situation that I should’ve thought through a bit better.
    I stepped around William’s car and noticed that the front door was wide open. I moved towards the door, hoping the police would arrive soon. As I drew closer, I peeked inside Louise’s home, recognizing the layout of the living room.  It was empty of all of Louise’s furniture, belongings and cats. I had always wondered how William managed to gather all the cats. Louise had at least four or five in the house.
    Amos was squatting down over a man’s body on the floor. It took me a second before I realized it was William’s body.
    I swallowed and asked. “Amos, is William okay?”
    Amos stood and looked at me. “Stay over there, Eugeena. This is a crime scene.”
    I had no intentions of walking anywhere near the scene. From what I could see from where I stood those bullets had landed in William’s body. 
But why?
  I swallowed before I asked my next question, already knowing Amos’ answer. “Does he need an ambulance?”
    Amos shook his head. “He’s gone, Eugeena.”
    As much as I didn’t care for William, I wouldn’t wish that kind of heartache on anyone. I had a feeling I would be the one to break my poor friend’s heart about her beloved son and until recently was known to the world as her only living child.

Chapter 7
    When the police finally arrived, I had to remind myself to listen to my phone messages. Sure enough Leesa had called while Amos and I were checking out the crime scene.
    Leesa fussed, “You told me to call when we got home. You and Mr. Amos were that