For The Love of Aunt Rose 5
For The Love of Aunt Rose 5
Gordon stopped at the quick stop for milk and bread. While he was waiting in line Neville asked him if he knew what was going on over in their neighborhood.
“The three of us have been gone all day. We just got back from the Ronald Reagan presidential library and museum in Simi Valley.”
Neville went on to say the police had the neighborhood blocked off about an hour ago. He only heard there was a death or suicide. That was all he knew.
Gordon got back into the car. Both Kitty and Aunt Rose were napping so he said nothing and drove the six blocks home.
At the house he saw the coroner's vehicle and three police cars. He tried to pull into his driveway but was stopped.
Showing his identity to prove it was their home he was asked if he minded parking in front just until the investigation was over.
He moved to the front. By now Kitty and Aunt Rose were wide awake.
The police woman told them all to go into their house and wait and they would be asked questions later. Going inside Gordon put on the local news to see if he could find out any information.
The news stated a murder and a suicide had been found by way of a local teens drone. It seems he was visiting his grandfather and his drone accidentally flew into the open window next door. When he got the drone out he and grandpa saw the tape of what he had inadvertently discovered. Grandfather called the police to report and show the tape.
Gordon helped unload the trunk full of Aunt Roses packages and the small box of books. They went inside and waited for the police woman to come for their statements on what they knew about the couple next door.
The officer finally came over. Gordon informed her where they were today. She then asked Kitty what she knew. Kitty told the police woman how Clarke had come over a few weeks before with the strange conversation.
“He only wanted to inform us Leanne was with her Ex and he, Clarke would be leaving with the two dogs. It was a real weird situation on his part making sure to inform us of his whereabouts stating he would not be here. I thought it strange and so did my Aunt Rose.” said Kitty.
The police woman was then called away. She did not even interview Aunt Rose. For once in her life Aunt Rose was happy not to talk.
Apparently Clarke was setting up an alibi with them. He had planned all along to murder Leanne then act like the bereaved husband when the body was found next door.
He had been living at his brother's house. He told his brother he had left Leanne and filed for divorce. Clarke and the two dogs were going to stay a couple of months then move on to Florida. He had insisted on paying his brother for two months rent and care for the dogs.
Clarke also lied and said he had a private night watchman job. This guy was very sly. He said this to cover where he was at night.
At night he was actually next door with Leanne. That is why the light came on every night and the curtain opened and shut. He had been administering drugs to her. She was physically tied to a chair. Apparently the drugs killed her.
In his evil sick mind he continued to bring in the mail and packages during the evening. No one noticed as the front door was set in an alcove off the porch.
At night he left his car on the next street over and walked to their house.
Leanne's body was starting to smell so he opened the upstairs windows. Thus Aunt Rose smelling the horrid smell. The teen's accidental fly into the window with his drone finally showed the evidence.
Clarke had been sitting at the table with Leanne when they found him. He also was deceased from a drug overdose.
he before his death he had been making meals for the dead Leanne. He stacked the uneaten plate of food in the sink. Flies and bird droppings were all over the place.
His empty coffee cups and whiskey bottles were also piled up in the sink.
His brother said he had not been home for a week. His cell phone had several calls and messages. They were mostly from his brother asking when he would be home.
A sad state indeed.
©Julia A Knaake