Free Random Acts of Murder: A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery, Book 1 (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries) by Christy Barritt

suddenly straightened, looking startled. “You’re not going to take my kids away from me, are you? Just because I let him stay here?”
    I shook my head. “That’s not why I’m here . I’m just trying to figure out how you are.”
    The first hint of a smile tugged at her lips. She ran a hand through her bleached -blonde hair, exposing dark roots underneath. “You’re always so nice, Ms. Paladin. You’ve been a real lifesaver. I know you were the one who paid for Reggie to be able to play basketball at the rec center. The receptionist didn’t want to tell me, but I finally got it out of her that the person who’d paid was wearing a frilly dress. I knew it was you.”
    I contemplated whether or not I should own up to it, but I finally nodded. “I’m not really supposed to get involved with things like that. But I know you’re trying hard to do right by your kids. I just wanted to give you a helping hand.”
    “Reggie’s having a great time playing ball. It keeps him off the streets.”
    “Exactly.” That had been my thought behind it. If you kept some of these kids occupied, they stayed out of trouble. It was when they had too much time on their hands that they connected with the wrong people. They needed to find positive peer groups.
    “Dewayne did like to play basketball, also. He always went to that new court down on Eighth.”
    “I heard about it. Orion Enterprises donated the money to build it.” I only knew that fact because Jamie had covered opening day for the newspaper. Orion Vanderslice had made quite the impression on her—in a bad way. She’d thought he was rich, arrogant, and stuck up. Yet, when the cameras came on, he became a different person.
    Katrina let out an uneven sigh. “I just can’t imagine who would do this. What really scares me is that this person has struck again. Another young man with his whole life ahead of him has gone to meet his maker too soon.”
    “D id your cousin ever hang out with that other boy? Anthony?”
    “You mean, the other boy who was killed?” Katrina shrugged. “I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea. He didn’t exactly bring his friends over here to meet the family.”
    “Did he say anything to indicate someone was angry with him?”
    Katrina raised one eyebrow. “You’re not working for the police or something, are you?”
    My cheeks heated. “I just want to make sure you and your kids are safe.”
    “No, he didn’t say anything to me. But you could talk to his mom, Desiree. She might have some names for you.”
     
    ***
     
    That evening after work, my mom dropped me off so I could pick up my Mustang—the girl looked as good as new—and then I went to the youth center where I volunteered once a week. As a June Cleaver wannabe, I stood out like the proverbial sore thumb, but that didn’t stop me from coming here and usually bringing homemade cookies, to boot.
    The center was located in an old strip of shops that time hadn’t treated well. A small convenience store stood on the corner, if your idea of convenience was alcohol and cigarettes, the main staples here. There was also a bar—the dark, seedy kind with no windows—across the street and a diner-style restaurant a few doors down.
    The location wasn’t great, but it was right in the heart of where the kids lived. Plus, the rent was cheap and part of the parking lot had been turned into a basketball court.
    Abraham Willis ran the center. He’d gone to a local Christian college, seen the need for something like this in the area, and felt God leading him to open the place. That was six years ago.
    Abraham was here almost every day , and he worked tirelessly for little pay. Whenever I could, I tried to anonymously send him and his wife gift cards for restaurants or even groceries, in an effort to make their lives a little easier. His wife, Hannah, stayed home with their little one-year-old boy, Levi, and I knew money was really tight.
    While Abraham played basketball with some of