Page 2 of The Devoted Husband

“My wife said you don’t believe this was a robbery-homicide,” Elliot said, sitting up in his seat.

“No, I don’t. Originally, we believed the robber or robbers were hiding in Patrice’s car, and because she came out quicker than they expected, they killed her and left before they could take anything.”

“What makes you think that is no longer the case?” Elliot continued.

“Well, for starters, it was daylight. Vanzette is a fairly safe and crimefree town. We hadn’t had many murders before this year, and we haven’t had multiple murders in the same year in a while.

I don’t think it’s plausible that someone was trying to rob your daughter during the day and then killed her when they were caught.

If that’s the case, I believe it was a drifter passing through town looking for money or jewels to pawn before their next stop.

Even so, they wouldn’t have left without taking something . ”

“So, you have no proof that this wasn’t a robbery gone bad. Just an assumption?”

“Not quite. Patrice had connections to another woman who was murdered shortly after her. I don’t believe that was a coincidence.”

“Who was the other woman?” Amanda asked.

“Trina Roe. Is that name familiar to either of you?” Amanda’s head shook as Elliot gave a firm no. “What about Willow Frank?”

“Neither one,” Amanda answered. “But it’s not a surprise. We didn’t know too many of Patrice’s friends as she aged. She worked a lot and didn’t go out too much, but there were a few women she would hang with occasionally.”

“Imani Williams.” He paused. “She would have been Imani Griffin while in school with your daughter. Do either of you remember her?” Jones asked, getting comfortable in the recliner.

“She was one of Patrice’s closest friends while they were in high school and college,” Amanda replied. “Has something happened to her too?”

Chuckling, Jones crossed his ankles. “I guess you could say that. She was recently sent to federal prison for several crimes, including credit fraud.”

Gasping, Amanda clutched her chest. “Not little Imani. She seemed to have such a bright future ahead of herself.”

Elliot sucked his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not surprised. I always felt like she was a bad influence. That’s why I was glad Patrice moved here and didn’t continue their friendship after college.”

Amanda’s eyes rolled as Jones requested, “Tell me more about why you believed Imani was a bad influence.”

“She brought out the ugly in my daughter. Patrice’s attitude completely changed when they started hanging out. She was no longer my bubbly, innocent child. Patrice became catty, bitter, and downright mean.”

“They were accused of being bullies,” Amanda added. “The fights Patrice got in, Imani was often the center of them. I thought Patrice was trying to be a good friend, but Elliot believed Imani was getting Patrice into trouble and that she needed to stay away from her.”

“Did you know Imani’s sister . . . Sade?” Jones asked.

“I don’t think so, no,” Elliot replied, looking at his wife. “Do you recall Patrice ever mentioning Sade?”

“I...I don’t know. Maybe vaguely.” Amanda laughed softly. “It’s been so long.”

“I understand,” Jones said. “I’m asking because I have reason to believe Imani and Sade were involved with Patrice’s murder.

” He paused, giving them time to register what he’d said.

“Patrice and Sade were not friends in high school. I believe that Sade was one of the girls Patrice and Imani bullied.”

“Wait,” Elliot chortled before licking his lips. “Why would Imani bully her own sister?”

“That’s a conversation for another day. What I can say is that Imani admitted to the toxic relationship she had with her sister and that Patrice was a part of that.

Now, Patrice and Sade came back into contact with each other earlier this year.

I don’t have proof, but I believe Patrice was murdered because she knew about a secret Sade was keeping from her sister. ”

“What secret could have been worth taking my child’s life?” Amanda asked.

“I’m not sure if you kept up with the news a couple of months ago, but a man was killed after breaking into a Vanzette resident’s home and trying to rape her...”

“Yeah, I heard about that,” Elliot replied.

“That was Sade. The man who broke in was her sister’s boyfriend, Adam.

Adam was on his way here to kill Dante, Imani’s husband.

” The couple’s confused and surprised expressions made him smile.

“You heard that right. She had a husband and boyfriend.

Now, the husband was missing. Turns out he had amnesia and had been in Vanzette the whole time with Sade.

“I don’t know if he really had amnesia or if that was a lie, but that’s his story to justify leaving Memphis while the police were looking for him.

Anyway, Sade was helping Dante after his accident and while he had amnesia.

I believe that’s why she killed your daughter.

I believe Sade didn’t want anyone to know Dante was here with her, and Patrice found out.

Because they all went to school together, Patrice knew Dante was considered missing in Memphis. So Sade killed her to keep her quiet.”

“Do you have any proof of this? If there’s a suspect, why is the case still closed?” Elliot asked.

“I don’t have any actual proof yet. There was hair in the car that didn’t belong to Patrice, but we didn’t get a DNA match. Even if we did, any good defense lawyer could argue the hair belonged to someone who had been in the car with Patrice and not to the murderer.”

Amanda shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t understand why Sade would keep her brother-in-law hidden from her sister and go as far as killing someone to do it, even if she didn’t have the best relationship with our daughter.”

“It’s my understanding that Dante was facing the charges Imani was recently convicted of.

If so, that’s motive for murder—protecting him.

Also, I did a little research and learned Imani’s boyfriend tried to have Dante killed, which is how he ended up with amnesia.

If Sade believed Dante was in danger in Memphis, she wouldn’t want anyone to know where he was. ”

“So if Patrice found out, there is a chance Sade would try to silence her,” Elliot said.

“Exactly,” Jones replied.

Again, Amanda shook her head as she stood and began to pace. Wringing her fingers, she clicked her tongue.

“I can’t accept that without proof. I want to know who did this to my daughter and why, but this seems like something in a movie. If Sade really killed Patrice, I need you to be able to prove it. Until then, I can’t accept this.”

“That’s exactly what I intend to do,” Jones said.

“I know Sade killed your daughter. I feel it in my gut. I might not have all the proof and details now, but I know this is the truth.” Standing, he added, “Keep this under wraps for now. Sade has left town and if she knows I’m still looking into this, she won’t return.

But I promise I will get the answers you need. ”

They both thanked him before Jones made his way out and headed to the house of Trina Roe’s parents...determined to connect the dots and paint a picture that showed him exactly what happened to both women and why.