Just Common

The Wait

Hi folks, welcome back. Have ta say, glad ta see ya all back. Take a seat, get started here in a minute. Just wanta say few things, befer we start.

Ya see, this story, it bothers me a touch. Ain't been my normal self, ya know real friendly an all. Ain't mentioned, my name bein Common an sometimes I do have common sense, or it don't mean I have common sense. Ain't even mentioned the way corn licker is spelled. Ain't mentioned my love of music an dancin. How the Law, is my well, best way ta put it is my real love. Ifin that makes any sense ta ya.

Just wanta say sorry, ifin my stories have bored the hell, out ya. As Momma would say, always tomorrow Common. Thins a gets better, ifin not may be they won't get worse. So ifin ya think it is worth contintuin on, sticks around. Get a drink of yar preference. Hell, don't care what ya drink. Like ta say don't care ifin ya stick around, but that I do cares about it. Long as one of ya stay, I'll keep goin. Hell might just talk ta myself, least ways, I can vent some. Ya know could be my, voice that Tim foulin this up, not likely could be. So ifin yar ready? I am, so let's get started.

The Wait, Folks

Folks, I studied that alley, Miss Lilly was killed in again. No real evidence, that I could find. Knocked on doors near it. The hard part, ta believe is they all say they didn't see or hear a thin. Folks, that bothers me, is it they don't care about they fellow citizens. I think they fear gettin killed they self. The fear a death takes over, they tell thumselfs, better thum than me.

I paid, out my pocket, fer Miss Lilly's burial. Only ten Lincoln, least ways the City didn't do it. Folks they bury all the dead in a large grave. Might be hundred at one time. Couldn't see that young one, done that way.

Folks, no sign that killer. Been several days since Miss Lilly's death. Five days, folks sent word ta Valdosta ta be on the watch. Told that Ranger, ta not stop just change horses out, an go like the wind! Folks ain't many, that can ride as hard or fast as a Ranger. Folks, I think he put us in the wind, already left town. Doc thinks he is still here.
We decided ta stay one more full day. Doc thinks he don't leave, right after his second kill. He say they is more days than travel time, between the killins.

Doc, say he thinks he rests a day, maybe two. Then he leaves, probably by carriage or some kinda wagon. Doc say unlessin he has, trusted people in all the cities, ta help him dump the dead, an help cover his tracks. Then he needs a good Handsome carriage or wagon. Folks, figure with good team, a horses carriage could abouts cover near the same ground as a normal rider. Not a Ranger or a Cavalryman now.

Me an Doc, tried ta keep the nightwalkers doubled. Both Constables an the City Rangers, said no. Folks me an Doc had fully packed up, when they found the body!

Folks, this one, was more like his normal ifin ya can call it normal work. Found her curled up, left hand tucked under her right arm. Right hand between her legs. Her head was on what, looked like a brick or cobblestone. She was on her left side. Clothes folded an shoes next ta thum, not more than a foot away. Her dark hair lay over her face. She almost looked peaceful, at sleep not dead.

Folks, only odd thin, was where she was found. Fancy part a town, under the steps leadin up ta her own home. Explain, just a little here, ya see these fancy homes a wealth. They kitchen is under the main floor, keep the heat down in the house. Some have door at the front an rear of the house let the heat out durin the summer.

These steps normally made a stone, with a porch at the main door. The man of the house was gone at the time, on business. She was found by the cook, an his helper.
Both didn't touch her, they sent fer the Constable.

Folks, the house has two other servants, none live on the premises. When she went missin, would a been after seven in the evenin. That's when the last servant left. The place had no sign a forced entry, how he got her is not known at this point. The Cooks helper found her about five in the mornin.

I'll talk abouts my interview of the servant that last saw her, an the young lad that helped the Cook. Few other odd thins, Doc an I found. So first the young lad that founds her. His words what he saw, how he founds her.

Cooks Helper, Tyler Butler.

I say Tyler, I am Common, like fer ya tell me how an why ya found her, Mrs Janet Bueller, yar boss.

The servants have ta enter through the back, I arrive befer Jim, the cook. I gets the fire started, pull the food fer the mornin, meal. Jim gets here abouts thirty minutes after me. It started gettin hot, when Jim arrived. So opened the door, ta let some air in. Then walk up ta the main door, ta have paper sent up ta main house.

When I stepped out! That's when I saw her. Didn't know it was the Mrs. Jim didn't either, Jim say best get the Constable, Tyler! It scared me so, I ran out the back door. Didn't want ta look at her, thinkin she was dead an all.

I say, so ya didn't think it was Mrs Bueller, who ya think it was? Tyler tell me, he wasn't sure, just Mrs Bueller I didn't think her hair was that long. She looked different with no clothes on. Her hair covered her face.

I asked, so ya didn't move her or the hair then? He say no Sir! Don't know ifin Jim did or not, I didn't wantt ta know who it was! Folks, I think he was a might shocked. Probably wouldn't a known it was the Mrs. Jim he told me he left her be, thought it best from what he had read in the paper. Folks, poor lady's own help didn't know it was her.

House Servant Miss Becky, no other name.

I say Miss, Becky just tell me ifin Mrs. Bueller, had any plans fer the night. Maybe a visitor or somethin.

The Mrs only, planned ta go over. Mrs. Tarren was havin some kinda music last evenin. Started at about 8 I think. She was dressed an ready when I left.

I asks, where does this Mrs. Tarren live? Just five houses ta the left cross the street, Sir nice people they are. Only five, houses I say. I ask, did she seem nervous or out place yesterday? She say no, she was happy wanted ta get out, since the Mister has been gone. She been lonely, only been married a year now.

Folks, I thanked Miss Becky, told her ta inform me ifin she thinks of anythin that a help. Folks do my interviews first then talk about, what's we found at the scene.

Mrs. Tarren's interview.

Mrs. Tarren was friendly nough, really upset abouts Mrs. Bueller. Folks, seems Mrs. Bueller sent word, Rob Tarren the son of Mrs. Tarren. Came ta escort her ta the party. She told him, her brother had just arrived. That she would spend the evenin with him. Would not be attendin the party.

Her son was not in, at the time. He returned very quickly after, leavin ta get Mrs. Bueller. My interview later with him, I feel he was truthful and upfront with me. The door knocks, didn't help much. No strange wagons carriages or people, that seemed out a place. This person can blend in with ease, like he belongs in any walk a life.

Folks, Mrs. Bueller had no brother, accordion ta all the servants. She had no family here parents dead, one sister she lives in Charles Town. Was she just bowin out because a sickness, or not in the mood. Another Mystery in a mystery, damn folks. We finished fer now, till next time.