Eric pulled up to the standard suburban house. Two levels with a neat yard, there was an older woman in a yellow flowered house dress. Her graying hair hung long to the middle of her thickening waist in a fat braid. Her blue eyes were less brilliant than the woman from last night but there were striking resemblance between the two. Her face lined with wrinkles had the same heart shape and high cheek bones from the younger woman. The house dress little to conceal a nice figure for an older woman and it made Eric think of what the young Susannah would look like in 30 to 40 years. There was a hose in her hand and she was watering pots of all shape and sizes overflowing with flowers. A Yorkshire terrier was snapping at the water playfully while a Black Lab lazed away on the porch. Music flowed from the house, not your typical granny music, more suitable for the rave from last night.
Eric noted everything with a critical eye from years of being a street cop. The car sitting in the drive way matched physically along with the license plate. The dogs didn't look vicious but there was always a possibility for a protective streak to surface in any animal. In the relative quiet of the neighborhood it seemed the old woman was the only one up and about on this Saturday morning.
The woman stopped what she doing, and put a hand against her forehead to block the sun from her view. A scowl crossed her wrinkled face and briefly she looked back at the house with a worried glance. The Lab perked up his ears and slowly got to his feet, even the Yorkie stopped to look towards Eric.
He figured he was spotted and now was time to approach the house. Getting out of the car a dark blue sedan he swung his long legs to the pavement and walked over the property line. The older woman came to meet him at the edge of her property. Warily the dogs went with their mistress. They were barking up a storm and a young man with looks similar to the blond bombshell stuck his head out the door.
"Hey Gran, who is it?" The young man was in a pair of sweat pants and bare chested, he looked physically fit with a washboard stomach and well defined arms, from shoulders to wrists.
"I'm not sure." The older woman called over her shoulder. "Good morning." She greeted Eric in a questioning tone.
"Good morning, ma'am. I was wondering if you have a Susannah Stackhouse living in your residence." Eric stood on the side walk leaving enough space from the dogs as not to further aggravate them.
"The only people who call Sookie, Susannah are our pastor at church and police officers. Since you don't have the look of a man of the cloth, you must be a police officer." Her eye brow arched in almost a disapproving movement.
"Well, yes ma'am I am. Is Sookie here?" He used the familiar name of Susannah, the older woman noted his quickness. Eric glanced to the yellow car sitting in the drive way and back to the Gran.
"Yes, but she is inside right now taking a shower. How can I help you?" It seemed to Eric the old woman was not going to invite him in for coffee, which he could desperately use right about then.
"Do you happen to know where your car was last night?" Eric pointed to the old beater sitting in the driveway.
"I don't have a car any longer." She answered abruptly.
"So is that Mrs. Stackhouse's car then?" Eric tried again.
"Yes."
"Do you know where Mrs. Stackhouse was last night?" Eric realized the old woman was scared but was putting on a good front. Her hands were trembling slightly.
"Presumably with the car."
"Where was the car then?"
"I suspect you already know the answer to that question."
"Yes ma'am but since Mrs. Stackhouse is still under probation for what was it?"
"Manslaughter."
"It was your brother she killed wasn't it?"
"Congratulations Officer you did your homework or maybe not. In the report you read did it say anything about her being molested repeatedly by him or the fact she was a prostitute when he raped her or that she was high as a kite at the time. No, you didn't read any of that did you? I can see it in your eyes. My granddaughter has repeatedly paid for her crime. When she meets our maker he will judge her on her crimes but neither you nor I can inflict any punishment on her that she hasn't already inflicted on herself. Now are you ready to tell me what this is all about?"
Eric was silent for a moment digesting all the information the grieving woman told him. She was definitely still grieving but Eric doubted the grief was directed towards her brother's death. Mentally he gave himself a shake to finish what he came here for.
"She broke her probation last night by attending an illegal rave."
"Technically she gained permission to go dancing last night, which by the blisters on her feet I know she did dance. As far as the legality of the dancing she did is neither her nor there. Her PO said she could go dancing he didn't mention where she could or couldn't go. I know, I was there with her when she asked. She also has been in therapy for the last four months and has repeatedly talked about it with her therapist. Both of them thought it would be good for her to do something she used to love. And in a half an hour's time she has a toxic screen to go to. Her PO will determine from that toxic screen whether or not to further her probation or to finally stop this absurdity." She snapped at him.
"If I could just talk to Mrs. Stackhouse for a moment I would be grateful." Eric started to walk to the gate at the side of the white picket fence.
"Unless you have a warrant for something, then I suggest you take yourself off." The young man joined the dogs and woman.
"Jason, stop." Gran told the young man.
"No Gran this is how it all started last time. They come on the property by our good will and then the shit hit the fan. I am not going to allow her happiness to be screwed over again. Either he has an arrest warrant for her or he can go to-"
"Jason!" The woman put a hand on the young man's shoulder holding him back physically. "That is enough. I think the Officer understands what you are telling him and since he seems like a law abiding man he'll stay off our property." Turning to Eric. "Isn't that right?"
"Yes ma'am. I just wanted to talk to her about her association with DJ Billy C, that's all."
"That asshole is still around?" The shock in her voice reached so high it startled the dogs into barking again.
"Yes he is still around but I would like to say he is going away for a long time, yet I can't guarantee that right now." Sighing Eric put his hands in his pockets and kicked a stray rock that was out of place.
"It ain't right he is still walking the streets while Sook, spent nearly ten years in the slammer." Jason shut his trap as he heard the squeak of the porch door. All three people turned to look at the woman of their conversation centered around.
Quietly and shyly she nodded to Eric. In the light of day she looked like an angel, Eric thought. As much as a temptress she looked like last night; today she looked ethereal.
