Chapter 146. The Vase

Elaine sat huddled on the porch until daylight came — and by daylight, she meant until Pops came up the road to check up on her as he did every morning since she moved back from the city. He stopped by the shed before he came to the porch. She told him what happened last night and that morning. Pops had a personal beef with Alfred, so he wasted no time in walking to the shed to check it out. Much to her dismay, he didn’t find anything or anyone in the apartment.

“And you’re sure you hit him with a jacket?” Pops set his cane aside and sat beside him.

“Yes. Sharon’s jacket. It’s thick and strong. Could have suffocated him if I held it properly.”

“Dear girl, let’s not talk about that now. We have to find that creep.”

She turned to him with tears in her eyes. “You believe me? No one does. Jude said—”

“Jude?” Pops sneered. “What does he know? He wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between a rat and a shrew if he saw one.”

“I’m really scared. W