Chapter 2: Murder and Mayhem
1089 Words
Brooke Madison gasped when she heard the sound of what she thought was a gun. Then someone ran out the back door slamming it behind them.
She found her co-worker Josh Taylor on the floor in a pool of blood. She didn't know much about anything other than she shouldn't disturb the scene for the police. She did step over the blood to see if Josh was alive. He wasn't and she pulled out her phone with shaky hands.
“911, what's your emergency."
Pounding footsteps raced past the house, but Brooke only gave them a small piece of her brain. She should probably leave in case the killer came back, but right now she wasn't thinking straight. “There's been a murder. Josh is dead."
“Did you check for a pulse?"
“Yes. There isn't any and he's in a pool of blood," Brooke said.
“Is the killer still there? Are you in a safe place?"
Brooke looked around. “I think the person went out the back door."
“Okay, the police and an ambulance are on the way. Stay on the line until they get there."
When the first policeman arrived, he ushered Brooke out to his car. The street was filled with cars and flashers. The neighbors came out to watch and Brooke felt as if a spotlight was on her. She didn't like that much attention. That's why she was a writer. Not a successful one. She worked at the library to actually pay her bills. And sometimes she worked at a coffee shop when her friend needed help.
None of that mattered right now. She was in the back of a police car, the flashers circling red lights around the neighborhood.
The back door opened and a man in a rumpled suit poked his head into the vehicle. “Mrs. Madison?"
“Miss," Brooke corrected.
“I'm Detective Leone. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
“Sure. Let's go sit in my car."
Brooke climbed out of the patrol car then he led her to a non-descript vehicle and then opened the front door for her. She slid into the car, her heart racing and the vision of Josh on the floor forefront of her mind. What had happened? Why would someone kill Josh?
“Can I see some identification?" Leone asked.
Brooke dug in her purse for her license, handing it over to the detective when she found it.
“Thanks," he said. He typed into a tablet and then handed it back to her. “How do you know the deceased?"
“We both work at the community library. Josh started a few weeks ago. He called in sick and I was checking on him."
“Are you his supervisor?"
“No, I just am the one that checks on everyone."
“Had you known the deceased before he started working at the library?"
“No. I'd never met him."
“How did you know where he lived?"
“Someone drove both of us home one night. He was dropped off first. I have a good memory."
Leone nodded as if satisfied with her answer. “Tell me what happened."
She related the story, not leaving out anything. Her heart still pounded in her chest, and she wasn't sure if she would sleep tonight. Leone nodded as she spoke and took notes. He asked a few clarifying questions but seemed to be fine with her story.
“Anything else?"
“Just as I was about to call the cops, I heard someone run by the house. The alley is small, and the footsteps echoed or I wouldn't have heard them."
“Which way did the person go?" Leone asked.
“Towards the back of the house. Could it have been the killer?"
Leone grimaced. “Not sure, but there is a cop that lives in this neighborhood."
“Lucky Josh."
Leone didn't react to her comment. She wished she could afford to live in a better and safer neighborhood. Then again, Josh was killed with a cop in the area. He hadn't been safe. She shuddered. Had she been only minutes earlier, she might have seen the person.
“You're sure you didn't see who was in the house?"
“No, Detective. I had just come in the front door. Josh knew I was coming by and left it unlocked for me. He was sick and I was bringing him chicken soup."
“He knew you were coming?"
“Yes. I called him from the library before I left."
Leone nodded and typed some more on his tablet. “Is there anything else?"
“I wouldn't ask, but I need a ride home."
“How were you going to get home if we weren't here?"
“I would have called an Uber, but they won't go into my neighborhood this late at night. I hadn't planned to be here this long," Brooke said.
Leone nodded. “I'll see if I can get you a ride home."
His phone dinged and he looked at the screen and frowned. “I have to go talk to someone else. Sit tight and I'll have an officer come get you when he's done talking to the neighbors. You going to be okay?"
She thought about Josh's pale face. “As good as one can be after seeing a murder victim."
Leone nodded the climbed out of the car.
Brooke waited patiently until an officer finally knocked on the window. She rolled it down.
“I'm here to take you home. The detective wants you to meet him tomorrow at his office to sign your statement."
The officer handed her a business card with the detective's name on it. She tucked it into her purse and then followed the office to his patrol car. He let her sit in the front.
“Where do you live?"
She gave him the address. The officer schooled his features, but not before she saw something cross his face. Yes, she lived in a bad neighborhood. “I know, but it's the only thing I can afford."
“I don't like going into that neighborhood, and I have a weapon on me."
“I have pepper spray."
“Guess that will have to work."
He pulled into her complex and looked around when he parked. “Let me walk you to your door."
He left her once she was inside. Guess her neighborhood was even worse than she thought if a cop was afraid of it.
- Writer
