Free Black Princess Mystery by Jim Power

“I’d really like to work there.”
    “You also
caddied a lot for Mike Power at the golf club, didn’t you?” Tasheka suddenly
asked.
    He seemed
to freeze.
    “Did you?”
Tasheka said.
    “Yes,” he
mumbled.
    “Did you
caddy for Mike Power at the Lakeside Golf Club Tournament in September?”
    He did not
respond.
    “Did you?”
    “Yes,”
Adam finally said. He cleared his throat. “Yes, I did.”
    “I thought
so.” Tasheka paused for at least five seconds. “Tell me, did something happen
between Mike Power and Father Tim?”
    Adam did
not respond.
    “Yes, Adam,”
Tasheka said. “If I get a chance, I’ll definitely put in a good word for you
with Green Landscaping. Momma and I own it, you know, but she allows me to make
all the decisions. With a year’s experience, I’d be looking at you for the
assistant manager job. That would be a raise in pay from last year.”
    “Yes,” he
said enthusiastically.
    “What
happened at the golf tournament, Adam?” Tasheka asked matter-of-factly, tired
of playing games.
    “Everyone
heard about it,” Adam said lowly, as if trying not to be overheard. “You could
ask anybody.”
    “But I’m
asking you, Adam. You were right there, weren’t you?”
    “Yes.” He
lowered his voice to a whisper. “I was the only one right there besides Father
Murphy and Mike. Father Murphy used a cart to pull his own clubs around.”
    “So you
heard and saw everything?”
    “Yes,” he
surrendered.
    “I need to
know what happened, Adam.”
    “Listen,
Tasheka, this is a small village. I don’t want anyone angry at me or accusing
me of ratting anyone out.” The nervousness was palpable in his voice. “Mike
Power is a big man and he has a temper.”
    “This will
be between you and me, I promise. I’ll never tell another soul anything you
say.” She hesitated for a few seconds. “If you help me, I’ll help you. I’ll
make sure you get that job.”
    “All
right,” he whispered. “I can’t talk right now because my brother is in the
other room and Mom is coming home any second. Can we meet somewhere?”
    “I have
some work that needs to be done behind the house,” she said. “I’ll pay you.
You’re not in school right now, are you?”
    “No, it’s
Christmas break, but I could really use some money.”
    “There are
some old boards in the stable. I’d like you to pile them by the tennis court
and I’ll have Mr. Johnson haul them away. Could you do that?”
    “When?” he
asked.
    “Tomorrow
morning? Eight?”
    “Not
good,” he mumbled. “We have company coming tonight and Mom has tomorrow planned
down to the minute. I could come the next morning, though.”
    “Sounds
good. Eight?”
    “I’ll talk
to Mom and if you don’t hear back from me, I’ll get her to drop me off at your
place on Sunday morning around eight.”
    “Good,”
Tasheka said eagerly.
    She
returned downstairs to her mother and the two of them spent the rest of the day
together. They tried to pretend everything was normal, but the murder
unquestionably upset their sense of equilibrium. Yet the attempt was made. Mrs.
Green asked Tasheka in detail about school and was pleased with her high marks
in the first term.
    “When you
came home last night, you didn’t seem yourself,” Mrs. Green said casually.
    “I was
tired,” Tasheka replied, pouring them both a cup of tea.
    “Your
studies?” she asked. “Or is something else bothering you, honey?”
    “My
studies,” Tasheka returned, looking away so her mother wouldn’t see her eyes.
“In September my professor assigned me a project on serial killers. For months
I was reading about Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Jack the
Ripper. Then the professor decided he wanted me to focus on female serial
killers.” She took a drink of tea. “One day in class it just popped up when he
asked if women have the same capacity for evil as men. That very morning I had
seen my professor arguing with his wife while their three young