Mama Cracks a Mask of Innocence by Nora Deloach

Author:Nora Deloach [DeLoach, Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-307-79495-6
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

The front door of the Otis jail opens into a small foyer. On the left side, a door leads into a room that has one large desk, one small desk, two executive chairs, two file cabinets, an old water cooler, a small table with a coffee urn on it, and four wooden chairs.

Lew Hunter was the first person we spotted when we walked into Abe’s office. He was perched in the executive chair that belonged to Abe’s desk. It was my guess that Abe had told Hunter how Mama had helped him out before, perhaps in an effort to impress him with her sleuthing talents, because Hunter glared at Mama, his eyes screaming that he wasn’t partial to an ordinary citizen who might feel she could outwit his professional mind, talents, and resources.

To tell the truth, I was uncomfortable at first. I knew Mama wasn’t impressed with this SLED agent for two reasons: first she didn’t like Abe turning over the investigation to him, and she certainly didn’t like the way he’d talked to us the night before. What I didn’t know was how Mama was going to handle Hunter.

As Hunter stared unflinchingly at Mama, she refused to break eye contact with him until he finally looked down at papers on Abe’s desk. By this time, we were seated in two of the wooden chairs. Hunter cleared his throat. “Why did you and your daughter go into Kitty Sharp’s house last night?”

“The door was open.”

“Did you have an appointment with the teacher?”

“No.”

“Why did you go there?”

“A personal matter.”

“Why did you go into the house when she didn’t answer the door?”

“I heard a noise—footsteps.”

“You heard footsteps after you’d entered the house?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure they were footsteps?”

“Footsteps,” Mama repeated, glancing at me.

“Footsteps,” I confirmed.

Lew Hunter took a notebook from his inside pocket and scribbled something on it. He stood up, walked across the floor in front of us and thought for a while. “You know that this teacher was suspected of selling drugs on the high school campus?”

“Are you sure about that?”

Lew took a deep breath.

Abe entered the room and handed Lew Hunter a piece of paper. The detective looked at the note, folded it and put it in his pocket.

You couldn’t tell by the look on Mama’s face, but I knew her well enough to know she was dying to know what he’d just learned.

“Mrs. Covington,” Lew began, “I know you don’t agree that these murders are tied up to drug trafficking. That’s because you’re naive. You insist on believing that your town is immune to drugs’ influence. Let me assure you, you’re wrong!”

Mama started to say something but before she could speak, Hunter threw up his hands. “That’s all for now. If there is any need to talk with you again, the good sheriff here will be in touch.”

Mama looked at me and instead of saying anything she stood up and walked straight out of Abe’s office. I followed, happy that our interview was over.

The rain had stopped, the moving clouds clearing to show a blue sky.

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