LIVING ON THE EDGE

CHAPTER: 10

Private detective Sharon and Allen the grocery store owner headed back inside the store. She bought a pack of gum from him, waved goodbye, and left the store. On her way out, some unpleasant kids in group colors pushed past her. Three loud, boyish-looking girls with cornrows, style of hair braiding, bandanas, and saggy jeans muttered a litany of swear words as they rambled up and down the aisles. Two of the girls were tall and thin, but the third one, a short, chunky girl, appeared to be their leader. Sharon tried to avoid eye contact, but the chunky girl fought to lock eyes with her. She was no more than fourteen, or probably fifteen years old, but her face was already hardened from the wear and tear of life. Her forehead bore several lines of wrinkles, and her eyes were a dirty sea-green color that made Sharon think of a contaminated sea. She nodded and pushed past the girls.

Outside, a skeleton-like body was lurching around on the passenger side of the Toyota Avalon. Sharon ran her hand over the butt of her gun and made sure her shoes clicked loudly on the pavement. Hopefully, the being would scramble away as she heard her approach. When Sharon got within four feet, the emaciated body began to slowly pivot to face her. The remnants of breasts lay flat on her stomach and a white film encircled the woman's mouth. When she tried to speak, she squawked "spare change?" in a raspy voice. Sharon took her hand off the butt of the gun, dug it into her pocket, and produced two-quarter coins. She dropped them in that woman's hand and muttered, "May God have mercy."

On her drive back to the freeway, Sharon decided to drive past the house of Lorna Smith, the woman who had come into Allen's store the night he had closed early. Nice houses in Maury County are noticeable because they are the extreme exception. 

Sharon drove down Marshall street and immediately recognized what had to be Lorna Smith's house. A modest, but well-kept, brick home was located behind a gated fence. Sharon checked her phone for the time and surveyed the neighborhood. Extempore interviews are not ideal, but she wanted to at least get a look at the landscape. Sharon looked up and down the block of burned-out houses. She assumed that some of them must have been firebombed in drug turf wars. 

What she assumed to be Lorna Smith's house sat behind a chain-link fence that had freshly shoveled sidewalks and a spattering of salt on the stairs leading to a tiny, covered porch. Sharon got out and walked along the street in front of the house. A worn down "Welcome" doormat that was hardened with grayish snow and salt sat on the porch. There was a "Beware of Dog" sign on the chain-link gate, and as if to support this warning, two large American Pit Bull Terriers ran around the side of the house with zeal, barking and making their presence known. Sharon jotted down the address and headed back to the car. 

That same afternoon she headed back to the office and did some research on what had been going on in Maury County over the past few years. She learned that, ever since she had departed from the police force, the neighborhood had shown some sparks of hope. One man had taken to driving around and scaring off people who came to dump trash or use the services of prostitutes in the area. Other residents had started community gardens and neighborhood watch groups. Even so, Maury County was by far one of the most dangerous areas in the city.

By five-thirty pm. that evening Sharon's eyes were starting to blur. She closed the laptop and called Chase Reed.

"Did you find something already?" he asked her.

"I am working on gathering information. Actually, I would like to stop by your house and get a feel for the place Adriana Reed called home," Sharon said.

"She has not... been there for quite some time. What good will that do?" Chase asked her.

"It is routine. I just want to get a better feel for who Adriana was. I also can update you on what I have learned so far," Sharon replied.

Dangling the carrot of information helped change Chase's mind.

"Okay. I am working midnights this week, so if you can come sometime in the morning that would be great," Chase said.

"How about ten tomorrow morning?" Sharon asked.

"Perfect. See you then," Chase replied.

The next morning, she was in front of Chase's house by nine fifty-five. Chase lived in the new part of Nashville, Tennessee Township. Oversized mansions that showcased the excesses of the current millennium, but none of the charm of the previous century, filled subdivision after subdivision. Reed's home was a sprawling structure close to a state park. Chase met Sharon at the side door that opened into the kitchen. He wore a tight grin as he nodded hello, to her. Sharon stepped onto dark hardwood floors that sparkled with perfection. A matching polished wooden table had place settings ready for six occupants to settle into the cloth-backed brown chairs. A little girl with wispy blonde hair muttered a shy 'hi' and held her brother's hand up to wave at Sharon.

"Mrs. Stone, Thank you for coming. Welcome to the house," Chase said.

They shook hands. A quick look around the house told her two things; Adriana had picked the location, but it was Chase who was responsible for the interior decoration. The interior of the place had an old-world charm about it. The exterior though was identical to the rest of the houses in the area.

Chase was dressed in black, creased slacks and a long-sleeved, white, button-down shirt with a blazer. His clothes had a modest quality, that once again pointed to the fact that he was old money. He looked like he was on the way to a business meeting. Of course, the purpose of their meeting was business, but she was a little stunned at his formal dress.

"Hi, Mr. Reed. Hi there," Sharon said, flapping her hand at the two children at the table.

"Hi," the little girl said again, smiling.

"Please call me Chase," he said to Sharon and then called out, "Annie?" Chase turned towards the foyer. "Can you take the kids?"

A small brown-skinned woman came into the kitchen, muttering in French. Chase too responded in French as she gathered the children and left the room. She must be the nanny c*m housekeeper that Chase had told her about. Was she keeping any of Adriana's secrets? Sharon wondered. Perhaps she had some information on why Adriana was in Maury County the day she was murdered. Sharon made a mental note that she would have to talk to her before she left the place.