Free Deep Fried Trouble (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries) by Tyora Moody Page A

stupid asking my next question, but since my child had failed to keep me in the loop. “Do you remember his name? I really am concerned. I haven’t seen Leesa in a few days.”
    “All I can remember is she called him Chris. I only knew that because they liked to argue. Outside my wi ndow and my door.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. Do you know what type of car he drove?”
    Mrs. Hattie narrowed her eyes. “You sure ask a lot of questions. Like some cop. Anyhow, he drove a black pick-up truck most of the time I saw him. Don’t ask me what kind.”
    “That’s okay. You’ve been very helpful to me, Mrs. Hattie.” We had walked outside the wal kway. From where I stood, I could see Amos.
    “Is that your husband?”
    “Oh no. My husband passed years ago. That’s a neighbor. I needed some help driving today.”
    “Mmmmm. Well, I do hope you find her. These young people these days, I would not want to be in their shoes. Your daughter seemed to be d ecent. Really quiet until that boyfriend of hers came by. I always thought she should lose him.”
    “Thank you. You’ve been pretty helpful.” I marched back to Amos, probably with Hattie’s eyes glued to my back. Once inside the car, I let out a loud sigh.
    “I saw you talking to the neighbor. Any clues?”
    “No, but her neighbor mentioned a man, I guess Leesa’s boyfriend has been looking for her.” As much as I didn’t want to speculate, I couldn’t help it. Was it possible this young man may be the cause of Leesa’s disa ppearance? “I really don’t know where to start next. Any ideas?”
    “If you want my advice, you are going to have to consider getting some more help. It has been over twenty-four hours.”
    I looked over at Amos. “You mean report her missing. I can’t do that. Detective Wilkes already wants to talk to her as a person of interest in a murder. Suppose they think she’s on the run.”
    “Wouldn’t you rather she be found safe?”
    “Of course, I would.”
    “I promise. I will do whate ver I can do to help, but if you think she might be in danger, we need to find her ASAP.”
    Murder. Missing persons. Danger.  Why did my first week of retir ement resemble an episode from Law and Order? I prayed we never made it to the part where I would see my child on trial for murder.
     
     
     

Chapter 14

In my heart, I knew Amos was right. The relationship I once had with my little girl had become estranged. No matter that I carried her for nine month during the part of my life, where I should have been long finished with babies. Or that I received the brunt of criticism for her actions. I’m sure people thought I’d lost my parenting skills when it came to her. You just never know how a child is going to turn out. Despite our conflicts, Leesa was my daughter and I wanted her safe.
    I walked into the police department, and waited patiently for a good five minutes, thinking the officer behind the desk would acknowledge my pre sence. When I realized the person on the other end of her conversation was definitely not an emergency, but more like a gabbing girlfriend, I rapped my knuckles on the desk. “I want to report a missing person.”
    The officer narrowed her eyes and turned her back to say something to her telephone buddy. She hung up the phone and grabbed a clipboard. “Ma’am, how did you say I could help you?”
    I read her name on the badge. Arnetha Pearson . Didn’t I just tell this woman, I wanted to report a missing person? Could she not hear the desperation in my voice? I cleared my throat and raised my voice, “I said I want to report my daughter missing? Her name is Leesa Patterson.”
    “No need to raise your voice, ma’am. Your daughter, has she been missing for over twenty-four hours?” The woman narrowed her eyes, which were already slanted and cat-like.
    I felt an urge to slap some sense into this woman, standing before me looking like I inconvenienced her. The attitude I could do without. She was the one wearing a