Dedicated to the inquisitive reader always ready to get down to the nitty gritty.

- A.N

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They sat next to each other on the train, still pretending to be strangers. About 20 minutes ago they were bumping heads in the front aisle of the train because she dropped her earring, they tumbled to the floor to pick it up. If that doesn’t show someone that I like you then I don’t know what does. I’m pretty sure by the time we get to Sabbyville they will already be married. Sabbyville is where I am headed to visit with my father who asked me to stay with him this summer. He suffering from his divorce with my mother it is having a toll on him. I honestly don’t care that they divorced because my mother knew my father was no good when they were married for 3 years and he still didn’t change his Facebook status to “Married.”

My father is a tall, beer-bellied, rough looking man. He works at the Hertz Nettle Company, four blocks down from his home because he’s too lazy and cheap to travel to far places. That is also why I’m traveling from Norfolk, Virginia about 1,200 miles from Sabbyville on a train that should have been fell off the Shabby Way Bridge 20 miles back. I arrive to Sabbyville Station at 2:30pm. I get my luggage from out of the luggage storage and proceed to head off of the train. I get off the train to see an austere man, who's dressed like a conductor walking to go get a warm coffee from the nearby cafe stand. It is a 20min bus ride to my father’s house on Tea Tree Lane. I get off the train and head west to get on the B bus that will take me to Tea Tree Lane.

The B bus is so packed. Even worst is that I’m sitting next to a crusty hobo who smells like he hasn’t washed in 4 weeks. He is slowly falling asleep. When the bus hits a sharp turn he always falls against me and his nasty spit gets on my shoulder. The young boy sitting across from our notices and lets out a little snicker. I try to take my mind off of it all and start examining the people on the bus. They all seem very calm and in their own little world. The bus driver keeps his eyes on the road the whole time, not even noticing the old lady standing next to him talking about how she hates that he never lets down the bus when she gets on. My attention is then taken by a child screaming “Mommy!” while his mother argues on the phone with what sounds like the baby’s father. The woman starts cursing and swearing that if he doesn’t come see his child, then she is going to move away and he will never see or hear from them again. I think that was pretty harsh. No one should ever do that to a child’s life. It is suddenly quiet. All I can hear is the sound of beeping horns on the highway and tires running along the street. All of a sudden the bus comes to a complete stop.

The bus comes to Tea Tree Lane at 2:55pm. Everyone gets off and go their separate ways. When I get to the sidewalk there is no sign of my father anywhere. I look both ways and even inside the nearby liquor store. I go back outside and stand in front of the bus station to look like I am waiting for the bus again. Many people pass by but still no sign of my father. I decide to walk since my father’s house is only 8 blocks away. These blocks seem so long when you are walking alone. I knew my father was going to do something like this. I finally get to my father’s house at 3:35pm. I walk up the steps to his house. I can hear the sound of the television through the door. My father always would keep the volume high on the television. He says he likes to hear every single syllable and instrument. I knock on the door very loud so that he could hear me. It takes him a while but he finally hears me knocking at the door and gets out of his chair. She slowly walks to the door because it sounds as though something interesting is happening on the television. He opens the door and shouts “Is that my little girl Mina?”. I roll my eyes saying “ Arthur I’m not a little girl anymore, I’m 16 years old now. And why didn’t you come get me from the B bus station?” He stares at me for a while as if trying to think of an excuse to feed me. “What took you so long? How was the ride?”. I stare at him for a while wondering if he really just said that to me.

I step into the house and examine the area. He was watching the Basketball Finals, drinking a beer with the recliner up, when he was so busy not coming to pick me up from the bus stop. He closes the door and look at me. “You have gotten so big Mina, how have you been?” It's weird that he could even ask me that because if he would have thought to call or come see me once in awhile he would know the answer to that question. “I've been fine Arthur… no thanks to you”. Arthur looks with a surprised look on his face. “What's wrong?” I look at him and say “Nothing”. “So where am I sleeping?” “I set up a room for you upstairs in the back, I hope you like it” he said. “Okay I'll go check it out”. I walk slowly up the stairs as if I was in a strange place. I haven't been here since I was 2 years old but I can remember it so clearly. I get to the top of the steps and go towards the back room. I open the door and it actually looks like how I remember it. The walls are painted blush pink with white dressers and bed frame. The dresser still has the picture of me, my mom and my dad that I drew when I was 2 and a half. The room makes me feel more comfortable being here with my father for the summer. I set my things down and flop on the bed. I am exhausted. up, when he was so busy not coming to pick me up from the bus stop. He closes the door and look at me. “You have gotten so big Mina, how have you been?” It's weird that he could even ask me that because if he would have thought to call or come see me once in awhile he would know the answer to that question. “I've been fine Arthur… no thanks to you”. Arthur looks with a surprised look on his face. “What's wrong?” I look at him and say “Nothing”. “So where am I sleeping?” “I set up a room for you upstairs in the back, I hope you like it” he said. “Okay I'll go check it out”. I walk slowly up the stairs as if I was in a strange place. I haven't been here since I was 2 years old but I can remember it so clearly. I get to the top of the steps and go towards the back room. I open the door and it actually looks like how I remember it. The walls are painted blush pink with white dressers and bed frame. The dresser still has the picture of me, my mom and my dad that I drew when I was 2 and a half. The room makes me feel more comfortable being here with my father for the summer. I set my things down and flop on the bed. I am exhausted.

I just remember that I forgot to call my mom and tell her that I made to my father's home safely, even though he left me at the bus station. She probably already knows because she calls my father for everything since their is no man in the house and she doesn't trust my judgement. Just as I said I hear my father downstairs on the phone with my mother now. It seems they are talking about her coming over next Sunday for dinner together as the family we never was. I have a weird feeling about this idea but there's nothing I can do. I hear my dad hang up the phone and hear him yell “Amina, come down for dinner”. I look at the clock and it is only 5:00pm. I take my time getting out of bed because I'm so tired. When I get downstairs I smell pizza. Me and my father's favorite meal. “Why are we eating so early?” “I work the night shift now and have to be to work by 6:00pm. After dinner was over my father out his shoes on, got his keys off the kitchen table and headed out the door. Before he left he told me to make myself feel at home but don't go rummaging through his things. I go sit in the couch to watch some tv. All I could find was football, wrestling, the news and some of my father's personal enjoyments. I start exploring the house a little bit. I start to walk towards the backyard door. I see a big gate sectioning my fathers home from everyone else's. The backyard looks deserted. Like my father hasn't done anything with it since I was a little girl when he put up that junglejim for me. I then go look for the door to the basement.

I find the basement door in the dining room next to the china closet. Such a weird place to have a basement door. I jiggle the doorknob but the door doesn't budge. I start to jiggle it a little harder and a key falls from on top of the door frame. I use the key to open the door and it works. I look down into the cold creepy darkness. I'd be crazy to go down there. I place my foot on the first step. It makes a loud creaking sound. I look for a light switch on the, and when I find it I flicked the light switch and the light doesn't come on. This must be a sign. I rush down the stairs to avoid any other signs. When I get to the bottom I search for a string hanging from the ceiling. I walk a few inches and a string smacks me in the face. I pull the string and the light comes on. The bulb must be old because the light keeps flickering. I look around to see if I can find something interesting to fiddle with. I see boxes sitting in the corner behind the stairs. I go over to the boxes and sort them through. Some are just old albums from like the 60's and others are photos from when I was a little girl. One photo says on the back "Amina's toddler years". The photos are of me learning to ride a bike and my first steps. As I am looking through the box I come to a photo with me, my father, my mom and a man named Boss Green. It looks as though we were at some kind of carnival place. I wouldn't have cared for the photo if hadn't looked so suspicious. I keep the photo in my hand and head upstairs. When I get to the top of the steps, I am startled by my father standing right at the door. "Now didn't I tell you not to rummage through my things Amina?" "What's that in your hand?" I try to bury the photo in my hand but my father snatches it from me. He examines the photo and smirks a bit. "This was the day me, you, your mom and your uncle went to the carnival". I look confused... Uncle?? I don't remember ever seeing this man before. But it doesn't matter. I've seen him since that day. I walk towards the living room and there he was, sitting at the dining room table smoking a cigar. He looks me up and down and says "Mina, how's my beautiful niece?" I looked at him, dazed... "Umm, who are you?" He looks at me surprised... "Is that a way to greet your uncle?" "Sorry," I walk past him and go upstairs to my room. I can sense him staring at me as I walk up the stairs. I go in my room flop on the bed. I sit in silence. I start to hear my father and my "uncle" talk downstairs. I hear my "uncle" say "The girl is back?". "That girl is my daughter and yes for the summer". "She shouldn't be here are this time of the year, you know things always get crazy in the summer for us". "Not this summer for me, my daughters' here," said my father. "Look we have business to take care of, shouldn't have let her come here anyway". I promise she won't get in our way". "Good". I wonder what kind of business they are talking about. I hear them get up and head towards the door. "Come by the Company at midnight on Sunday, we have some things to discuss". My father closes the door and heads upstairs to towards his room. He stays in there for until the next morning. The next couple days are a real drag. All I did was eat pizza for dinner every night and stay in my room. When Sunday came I felt the most excitement since I've been here.

My mom was coming over for dinner and potentially taking me home with her. I don't like being here with my father. All he does is sit around all day and go to work at night. I stay in my room until 5:00 when my mom should be coming for dinner. I walk downstairs and smell something that isn't pizza. I think it is spaghetti. I hadn't had some of my fathers' spaghetti for as long as I can remember. The door bell rings. I run to the door to greet my mom. I open the door and my mom is wearing a skimpy red dress as if she was going to the club. "Hi Mina, how are you?" "I'm good mom, I missed you". I missed you too sweetie". "Come on let's go have a seat mom, we're having spaghetti for dinner. We walk over to the dining room. I sit down while my mom goes to greet my father in the kitchen. They exchange some words and then she comes back in the dining room to sit with me. "You like staying here so far? I whisper "No, it is so boring here. I want to come home". “You can't find something to do. I know you've been in this house some you been here. Go explore, you may grow to love it here". "Mom please, I really can't take staying here. Let me come home and I'll get a job or something. I promise just get me out of here". "Okay Amina, I'll come get you tomorrow at 3:00. Your father is not going to like this". "Then don't tell him". "Alright," my father comes out with a big bowl of salad, plates, and glasses. My father looks different as if he were really happy. He goes back to the kitchen to get the utensils and the ice tea he made. I'm really surprised by how my parents are acting right now. I just go with it because I will be out of here tomorrow. After dinner, we all go into the living room to watch a little tv. I sit in the chair by the television while my parents sit on the couch. We all look like a big happy family. This feels so weird.good mom, I missed you". I missed you too sweetie". "Come on let's go have a seat mom, we're having spaghetti for dinner. We walk over to the dining room. I sit down while my mom goes to greet my father in the kitchen. They exchange some words and then she comes back in the dining room to sit with me. "You like staying here so far? I whisper "No, it is so boring here. I want to come home". “You can't find something to do. I know you've been in this house some you been here. Go explore, you may grow to love it here". "Mom please, I really can't take staying here. Let me come home and I'll get a job or something. I promise just get me out of here". "Okay Amina, I'll come get you tomorrow at 3:00. Your father is not going to like this". "Then don't tell him". "Alright," my father comes out with a big bowl of salad, plates, and glasses. My father looks different as if he were really happy. He goes back to the kitchen to get the utensils and the ice tea he made. I'm really surprised by how my parents are acting right now. I just go with it because I will be out of here tomorrow. After dinner, we all go into the living room to watch a little tv. I sit in the chair by the television while my parents sit on the couch. We all look like a big happy family. This feels so weird.

I ignore the feeling because I'm not very used to this. At 8:30pm, my mom leaves and goes to a nearby hotel. She said she is still coming to get me tomorrow at 3:00pm. I go up to my room to chill for the rest of the night. I'm happy I don't have to pack because I've been packed since the first night here. It 11:50 when I go down to the kitchen for something to drink. I see my father getting ready to leave. I then remember that he had a meeting with my "uncle" at midnight. I really wonder what they are going to be doing tonight. But I'm not going to go find out. The next morning I wake up on the couch at 10:00. My father still isn't home yet. I decide to go get ready so that I'll be totally ready when my mom gets here at 3:00. When 3:00 comes I wait near the door so I can rush out when I see my mom come up the stairs. It's now 3:49 and my mom still isn't here. I'm starting to think she forgot. I go in the living room to watch some tv until my mom comes. I flicked through the channels and the most interesting thing on is the news. I decide to watch the news and all they are talking about is the upcoming heat wave and that the Zika virus is becoming very deadly. I pick up the remote to change the channel when the words "Breaking News" flash upon the screen. It says "Breaking News, a woman has been brutally murdered in her hotel room at 12:30am last night." They say that the woman was wearing a red mini skirt. My heart starts racing. This can be, this can't be. It's not true. I then find out that it was my mother who was murdered last night.

They didn't say what hotel it was or much of the description of the woman except that she had fire red hair. Then I knew that had to be my mother. How could someone do this to her? She did nothing to nobody. I can't bring myself to cry. I just want to find whoever did this to my mom. They said there is a detective at the scene with the name of Arnold Wattamaker. They say he is one of the best detectives on the job. I decide that I need to go visit Mr. Arnold Wattamaker. I go to leave the house and my father is at the door. He is just coming in the house. I notice that he looks a little dirtier than usual. He has red stains on his boots and doesn't give eye contact when he passes me. He going straight upstairs to freshen up. I leave the house to get to the bottom of the nurses of my mother. I go down to the Sabbyville Police District . It is only 4 blocks away from my father's house. When I get there I am greeted by a big man named Officer Paul. I ask to see Detective Arnold Wattamaker. He asks who is asking. I say, Amina Sylvester. The daughter of the woman who just died in that hotel last night. Her name is Emily Sylvester. The Officer looks at me. He says I just missed him because he was on his way to her father's house to question my father.

They keep me there because they think I may know something about the murder of my mother. About 2 hours pasted when they found out I had nothing to do with the murder and they could've kept me anymore. I wait outside the Police District to see if I run into Arnold Wattamaker. Luckily, 10 minutes pass and Arnold Wattamaker walks up to the Police District. He looks like a modern version of Sherlock Holmes. I stop him in his tracks to see if he would tell me some information about the murder if my mother. "Are you Arnold Wattamaker?" "Yes, I am Ms. Amina Sylvester. I knew you would be here." "How did you know?" "When I was talking to your father he told me about how determined you are when you want to find answers to something". I look at him a bit, I don't believe what he says. "Are there any witnesses?" I ask. "A few. A maid and the owner of the Herr's Nettle Company, Boss Green. That name rings in my ear. It's the name of the man who is supposed to be my "uncle".

I decide to go pay my "uncle" a little visit. I walk several blocks to the Herr's Nettle Company. When I walk it all I smell of fuel. I see a man working class by and ask him where could I find Boss Green. He points to a room upstairs. I walk upstairs come to a door. I smell cigars again so I know he has to be in there. I knock on the door. A husky voice yells out "What?!". I open the door and he is a little surprised to see me there.

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"The Herr's Nettle Company Murder"

Name: The Herr's Nettle Company Murder
Author: anelson2017

anelson2017

Amina visits her estranged father for the summer, only to find herself caught in a web of family secrets and a sudden tragedy that leads her to investigate her own 'uncle' and father.

(18 pages)

Privacy level: PUBLIC

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