Chapter 6
THIS IS CRAZY,”said Frank Mitchell.
He was sitting in his living room with Amber, Decker, and Jamison. It was after midnight and he had just arrived a few minutes earlier. He had finally called Amber back on the way home and been filled in about the murders.
Frank was about six-one, lean and muscular, with curlyblond hair and long sideburns. He had on a white dress shirt open at the collar with a loosened tie around it and dark slacks. His socks drooped a bit and his black dress shoes were nicked at the toecaps.
Amber sat beside him, with Frank’s arm protectively around her.
She said, “When I saw them talk about the other murders on TV, I was stunned. Things like that aren’t supposedto happen in small towns like this. Now, I wish we’d never moved here.”
Frank looked incredulously at his wife. “I gottransferredhere, Am. It’s not like I had a choice.”
“What can you tell us about these other murders?” asked Decker. “You mentioned you saw them on the TV?”
Amber shrugged. “I saw a report on the local news. I really didn’t pay attention to the details,just that some people had been murdered and the police were investigating. And then I turned off the TV because Zoe came into the room.”
Frank slid off his tie, tossed it on the coffee table, and rubbed his neck. He smiled ruefully. “I’m still not used to dressing up for work.” He sat back. “Like I said, I could either take this job or keep working the line back in Kentucky.” He glancedat Decker. “I used to work retail before getting into fulfillment centers. But shopping malls are going down the tubes because everyone wants to buy online. I never finished my college degree. So here I am.”
“Your mom got sick and you left school to help out at home, sweetie. And you’re working hard and moving up in the company,” added Amber encouragingly.
Frank smiled weaklyand patted her arm. “Yeah, well, anyway, Baronville is it, at least for a while. The job pays almost double what I was making and the benefits are a lot better. And it’s really cheap to live here. It’s why they don’t build many fulfillment centers in or around big cities. Land and everything else is too expensive.”
“Well, areas like this can certainly use the jobs,” pointed out Jamison.
“Problem is, we can’t fill all our positions.”
“Why not?” asked Jamison. “You’d think people would be banging down the door to get jobs there.”
“They are. But they can’t pass a drug test,” said Frank. “We’re starting to recruit from other parts of the state, and even across the border in Ohio.”
Amber said, “We better get to bed. Frank’s been working all dayand I know he must be exhausted. Did you get some dinner, hon?”
“They ordered in pizza. I’m good.” He glanced at Decker and Jamison and smiled shyly. “It’s good to see you again, Alex. And it’s nice to meet you, Amos. I sure wish your visit didn’t have to have this awful thing connected to it.”
Decker looked at him. “I know the police already talked to Amber. But did you eversee anyone in the house behind you?”
Frank thought about this. “No, not really. I moved here several months before Amber and Zoe, to get acclimated, learn my job, and set up the house and all. I leave early in the morning and get home pretty late at night. That’s the way it’ll be for a while. It’s a big learning curve for me now that I’m in management. I’ve got to put in the extra time.”
“You never saw anyone in the backyard there? Or at the window or back door?
Frank shook his head and glanced at Amber. She said, “I’ve never really even been out in the backyard. There’s too much to do inside. Heck, I’m still unpacking moving boxes. That’s the same thing I told the police.”
“How did the people die?” asked Frank.
“The police aren’t sure yet,”said Decker.
“But you found the bodies,” said Amber. “You must have some idea of how they died.”
“I do. But it’s not something I can share with you.”
When Amber looked confused, her sister quickly said, “We might be assisting with the case. So we really can’t talk about it.”
“Assisting with the case! But I thought you were on vacation.”
Jamisonglanced sharply at Decker before answering her sister. “So did I. But apparently murder doesn’t keep to a schedule. At leastmyschedule.”
Amber involuntarily shivered. “My God. I still can’t believe it. A murder right in our backyard, so to speak.” She gazed at Decker. “I guess you must be used to this sort of thing.”