“About what time was this officer discovered?” I asked.
“A little after 10:00pm I believe.”
“Okay thanks,” I replied. I walked back to the car with a bounce in my step. Both Officers Davies and Jones were meeting somebody in secret and I had other information also that she didn’t. Now I needed to get back to the hotel and make a phone call. But I did promise her lunch so I didn’t want to be rude.
“Ok, where do you want to go for lunch?”
She looked puzzled as if she knew I knew something that I wasn’t sharing. She probably was afraid to ask because she had spoiled those chances with her sarcasm back at the other scene.
“Well, we can go to my mom’s house. She is making gumbo today and I figured you would probably want the real thing instead of the commercial gumbo you find in restaurants.”
“Sounds good, let’s go,” I said. I kept my high going and I knew it was killing her. She wanted so bad to know why I was elated. I didn’t say a word; instead I hummed to the tunes on the radio. However, I have to admit, I wasn’t ready for the curve ball she threw at me about eating at her mom’s house—but, oh well, I was down for it.
Coffy’s mom had a white country setting home with black shutters and wood railing going around the large porch. Inside it looked like an art museum. There were paintings, small statuettes, and flowers placed throughout the house that blended softly with the furniture, and giving it a warm and cozy atmosphere.
“You have a wonderful home, Mrs. Coffy, and that gumbo was off the chain—that is I mean, great.”
“I know what you mean,” she replied. “Just because I’m older doesn’t mean I don’t understand some slang.” She smiled showing her white dentures with one solid gold tooth and one open-face crown tooth. I see where Coffy got her beauty from. Her mother did not look 65 at all. If I had to guess without ever meeting her, I would have to say she looked to be in her early 50’s.
“Jas tells me you are from Tuscaloosa.”
“Jas?” I didn’t know that Coffy’s nickname was Jas. “Yes ma’am, I am from Tuscaloosa.”
“Home of the Alabama Crimson Tide.” She raised her voice. “I hate y'all. LSU baby, all the way,” she cheered.
I had to smile. Mom was hip in a big way to everything today, even sports. I looked at my watch. I needed to get back to the hotel and make that phone call.
“I’m sorry to eat and run, but I need to get back to the hotel. It has been a pleasure Mrs. Coffy. Jas, could you please drop me off back at my hotel?”
Her eyes pierced me for calling her Jas, but she smiled anyway. I didn’t care. I also needed to get back and call Charlotte and check on things back home. On the ride back to the hotel, I still kept her in suspense. My adrenalin was pumping and I need to make that phone call and get me some more answers tonight.
“Ok, look, I’m sorry about the sarcasm,” she said.
I played along. “Oh, what sarcasm?”
“C’mon, did you find anything?”
“What do you mean?”
She looked over at me. “You know what I mean, did you see something at the scene? Because I think you did and you are not sharing with me.”
“Oh that, well, that was nothing, I just noticed that the second scene was a secluded area also,” I said.
She was fuming, but trying to hide it. I didn’t care. I liked having her on edge.
When we pulled in front of the hotel, I jumped out and turned. “I will see you in the morning for breakfast here in the restaurant.”
“You are really not going to tell me, are you?”
“Tell you what?”
She faced forward and put the car in drive and hit the accelerator hard.
I watched her speed off.
When I got to my room, I pulled out the phone directory from the night stand drawer and found the number for Don’s Pizza and Wings. I ordered some wings, even though I really didn’t want any—well, maybe for later, but I needed to see that young man again. I complimented the wings and requested the young man to deliver them for me. I told her I couldn’t remember his name.
“Yes sir, his name is Jason, and your food will be out shortly.”
“Thank you I said and hung up.”
I looked at my watch. It was close to 5:30pm.
I checked my cell phone. There were no messages. I tapped home on the scroll to dial home. Charlotte picked up.
She told me that everything was all right and that Chief Davis and his wife had just left to go back home and check on things there. But before he left he requested two more units to stay present at the house until he returned. I felt good about it all and told Charlotte I believed I was getting a breakthrough on the case, but not to mention anything to Chief Davis just yet.
“Why?” she asked.
There is something going on here and I believe it involves someone on the inside and to keep the chief from maybe accidently spilling the beans on what I’m doing...”
“I got you.”
“Ok, talk to you later,” I said and hung up.
I felt good. Now all I had to do was wait for my food to come.
I kicked off my shoes and stretched out on the bed for a few minutes looking at the ceiling. I was tired and sleepy. The knock on the door woke me. I must have dozed off for a few minutes and didn’t realize it. I jumped out of bed and peeped through the peephole. It was Jason delivering my wings.
“Hey-- what’s up, Jason?”
“I got your wings, Detective.” He passed me the box of wings.
I gave him a $20 bill and told him to keep the change. His face lit up like he appreciated it.
“So-- did that information work out for you?” he asked.
“Yes, it did, but listen-- I need some more information.”
“Okay, sure, what do you need?”
We talked for about another 15 minutes and I gave him a $50 bill for the information. Jason knew the streets well and he told me that Joppy and Shank were running dope throughout the city for some people. He didn’t know who they worked for but he told me that every time they got busted, they were never arrested and that the same cops always busted them with the dope. He also told me where I could find both of them. Joppy would be at his house soon and Shank always hung around the rail yards at night when everybody was gone. My guess was that he meets his runners there to collect his money after every sell. He also told me that Joppy had a photo of all of them taken secretly for his own insurance. I thought that was smart of him. J.P.’s story was becoming more believable to me every second.
I told him that everything he told me must be kept confidential between us. He agreed and went on his way $60 richer.
It was dark a few hours later. I waited until around 9:00pm to walk out the hotel with my leather jacket on and boots. I placed my badge inside the breast pocket of my coat and secured my .45 on my hip. I hope I wouldn’t have to use it tonight but you can never tell about criminals. I walked the six blocks to the address that Jason had given me. It was an old shotgun house that had a kitchen chair on the porch and paint peeling around the door. I knocked on the door. The door was ajar. The place was dark. Fortunately, I learned since the last time-- when I discovered Judge Middlebrooks’ wife dead in the dark-- to buy a light for my muzzle. I shined light on every part of the room. I walked in a few more feet and went toward the kitchen.
I saw a pair of feet sticking out from behind the wall. I knew whoever it was, was dead. I walked closer. There he was, lying there in a puddle of blood with a hole in the center of his head. Joppy appeared to have been around his late 20’s. He was dressed in just a white t-shirt and black jean shirts. His eyes were looking at the doorway where I was standing. I heard a noise behind me coming from the living room. Someone else was in the house with a flash light. I killed my light and flattened myself against the wall. It was quiet. Too quiet, I thought. I wondered who it could be.