“Wake up!” Mama B followed up the request with a sharp jab of her elbow to my rib cage.
The unexpected jolt shocked me awake from a dead sleep. I moved suddenly and hit my elbow against the back of the pew, a move which brought tears to my eyes and I barely prevented an oath from escaping my lips which would have generated more than a few sharp looks from the other congregants.
I glanced at my godmother out of the corner of my eye. She looked saintly in a lilac dress with a large matching hat which was pinned at a rakish angle to the side of her head. The hat had a large tulle brim, a large bow and what appeared to be a bird in a nest which bobbed on top. Hard to believe someone I loved dearly who looked so angelic had momentarily generated thoughts of murder in a homicide cop.
“I am awake.” I masssaged my elbow.
She rolled her eyes and had we not been in church, I felt sure she would have snorted. Thankfully, the Holy environs of First Baptist Church prevented her from providing a harsher reproof for commiting the cardinal sin of sleeping during Sunday service.
I sat up straight in my seat and glanced again at my godmother.
Her lips twitched as she struggled to keep from smiling.
My nap wasn’t due to a dull service. In fact, the children’s choir had just finished a rousing version of Jesus Loves Me. However, it was the middle of the summer and the church’s air conditioning wasn’t working. There wasn’t a breeze to be found, despite the open doors and windows or the funeral fans the ushers distributed and which each congregant flapped earnestly.
I had removed my suit jacket within the first ten minutes, but my shirt was still soaked through and stuck to the back of the pew. Nevertheless, I sat up and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from my face and the back of my neck.
Rev. Hilton V. Hamilton stood at the pulpit poised and serene, despite his clerical robes which had to have been unbarably hot. He sighed and read his scripture, a passage from psalms.
I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself to endure another thirty minutes of heat. Imagine my surprise when Rev. Hamilton asked everyone to stand for the benediction.
The congregation applauded.
Later, I sat on the sofa in Mama B’s living room eating cold banana pudding and sipping sweet tea. I’d changed out of my suit into a pair of shorts and a Tshirt I kept in a gym bag in my car. Mama B didn’t have central air conditioning, but the ceiling fans and open front door provided good air circulation.
It was a peaceful Sunday afternoon. So, I was shocked when someone banged on the front door.
Mama B’s house was situated on an alley in the middle of ‘the hood’ and across from the Southeast Side Recreation Center. It was one of the only houses left in the alley where some of the toughest youth in the city came to play ball on the concrete pad and two netless rims behind the building. Despite the dangerous environs, Mama B’s front door was rarely locked so she didn’t have to move from her recliner to open the door.
“Come in.” She rocked.
In rushed Tiny, a huge shirtless thug and known gang member. He had tattoos covering much of his body and sweat dripped from his body like water. “Yo Five-O.”
Tiny talked like a man with a mouth full of marbles, but he’d saved my life once, so the momentary fear that clutched my heart at his entrance and left me wishing I had my gun, vanished quickly.
“What’s up, Tiny?” I stood and offered him a hand which he slapped on both sides and then knuckle punched.
“Yo, you best get over to the center. Somebody just shanked Icebox.”
“Icebox, isn’t that T-bone’s little brother?”
He nodded. “Yeah, and when T-bone find out his brother’s dead, y’all gonna have a war on your hands.”
“Did someone call the police?” I put down my bowl and hurried out the door.
“Yo man, I just did.”
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Travellin’ Shoes. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends July 5, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about RJ Franklin and Mama B in Travellin’ Shoes, the first book in the NEW “RJ Franklin” mystery series.
A house fire is extinguished to reveal the body of a choir director. The smell of gasoline points to murder.
Thomas Warrendale was employed by First Baptist Church, where Detective RJ Franklin Jr. is a parishioner. Recovering from a car accident, RJ is on leave from the police force in St. Joseph, Indiana, when this puzzling case calls him back. His insider’s knowledge makes him the obvious choice to lead the investigation.
The congregation doubled after Warrendale revamped the music to appeal to a more youthful crowd. RJ’s godmother, Mama B, gives the detective an earful about the choir director’s non-musical activities. Warrendale was also an accountant and a “fancy pants” seducer. His clients believe the man was stealing from them. Warrendale turns out to be an alias; his real name was Tyrone Warren, once a highly paid CPA in Cleveland. Was Warren in hiding? From his stone-faced wife? A disgruntled client? Now someone is breaking in to the dead choir director’s office and the homes of his former clients. Believing the vandal to be the killer, RJ is particularly concerned about the safety of one client, the striking owner of two hair salons.
Soul food recipes included.
Purchase Link
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About the author
V. M. (Valerie) Burns was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She lives in Eastern Tennessee with her two poodles. V.M. Burns is also the Agatha Award nominated author of The Plot is Murder, the first book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series; and the Dog Club Mystery e-book series. The first book, In The Dog House, releases in August 2018.
All comments are welcomed.
I can’t wait to read this series. Thanks for the great post & giveaway.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
I have this one on my library list.
Yay! I love libraries. I hope you enjoy the series.
This book sounds interesting and I’m going to add it to my long but hopeful wish list. Thank you for letting us know about this series and others.
Thanks, Cyntha. Best of luck in in the giveaway.
This sounds like a fascinating series and I have to say that this “Day in the Life” pulled me right in to the story and the world. Congratulations on the new series!
Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed the glimpse into RJ and Mama B’s world and hope you enjoy the series. Good luck!
Next on my tbr list. VM Burns is my favorite new author. I am thrilled she has so many books being published. Keep em coming girl.
Thank you, Annette. I appreciate the support. 2018 is going to be busy. I’ve got 2 more books coming out. Hope you enjoy them.
LOL – I hope the choir director wasn’t murdered. That would not be a good omen.
Dear Dru, This very much sounds like the church where I was a student minister for two years!
Looks like my reply went to the wrong person. Sorry about that. I hope the choir director wasn’t murdered. That would not be a good omen. Good luck in the giveaway.
I really enjoyed the excerpt from the book. Sounds like a great start to a new series.
Thank you Dianne. I hope you enjoy the book and good luck in the drawing.
Enjoyed the exceprt.
Thanks Mary. I hope you enjoy the rest of the book and good luck in the giveaway.
Great dialogue!
Thanks Libby. Best of luck in the giveaway.
I want to know if Warren was in hiding.
Good question. Best of luck in the giveaway. 🙂
I look forward to reading this new book! I read about it months ago!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Thank you, Cheryl. I’m excited to hear that. I wish you luck in the drawing.
I am a fan of this author! Please enter me in this giveaway!
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate the support. Best of luck!
Sounds like a good one.
Thank you, Karen. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck in the giveaway.
I look forward to reading Travellin’ Shoes. I am currently reading The Plot is Murder.
**** WINNER ****
Travellin’ Shoes is Reine Carter
Congratulations!
Thank you! I’m excited to win a hard copy of Travellin’ Shoes and looking forward to reading it!