Crime Real Estate: An Aunt Hill Mystery

By Shanna Carrigan-Preikschat and Duane Goins

Victoria is on her way to show a house to a really nice couple. Just the day before, she was at her sister Janets house, and wow! What a story Janet had for her about witnessing a murder in her own workplace. She is so glad nothing like that ever happens in her small town. One thing is for sure, she knows just what goes on in Lindenwood, Illinois. She works as a dispatcher for the police department. One day, though, her real estate career will finally come through for her, and she can quit the police department once and for all and work at something she knows she will enjoy doing. That is until she starts to show the house to Stacy and Dale and find a body inside it. To make matters worse, that lunatic cop she works with is the first one to show up. Thankfully, the detective handling the case knows what hes doing, but Victoria is unaware of the dangers that face her as this case goes on. Read as Victorias mundane life takes on unwanted excitement.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514428160

Shanna Carrigan-Preikschat

Shanna Preikschat was born Shanna Carrigan (Okay, so we all make mistakes and I happened to marry the biggest one!) in Joliet Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. As her Texan Great Grandfather Alfred Carrigan would call her, “That damned Yankee”(didn’t he have a great sense of humor?). She is the third oldest of eleven children all still alive (fortunately despite driving each other crazy, the murders are all fiction and we haven’t killed each other off yet). Shanna’s father read her stories and her mother, father and grandparents told many stories of when they were growing up adding to her love for reading. She has made a change of careers a few times, the latest of which is store greeter (or as I call it “stand up comedian”) and now is attempting literary murder (I’ve also been accused of killing my audience). She was raised Catholic and attended Catholic School (and now as a result I’m allergic to plaid). She later became one of Jehovah’s witnesses. A fan of mystery stories she decided to try her hand at it and in addition add a spiritual element to her writing. After reading other mysteries that seem to occur in the same small towns with the same main characters she decided to try something different to add variety and entertainment to her series (And at the same time I get to lampoon the people who tried to make my life miserable, so if you see yourself as one of the characters, IT’S FICTION I CAN WRITE WHATEVER I WANT, SO DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF!) She currently resides in Chicago Heights, IL (still stuck in the Chicago Suburbs) and plans to add more books to the series (unless I run out of aunts, and that ain’t happening soon).

Book preview

RUN! IT’S THE AUNT HILL!

B EFORE I START this story, here’s more about the Aunt Hill. The main character is based on my sister Vivian, who I’ve renamed Victoria because it is supposed to be fiction. Vivian really was a police dispatcher; in fact I started working as a police dispatcher in another small town about a week before she did. I eventually decided to try other careers before my sanity completely disappears. Vivian decided to take real estate classes and had just received her real estate license in time for the bottom to fall out from under the real estate market. As I was finishing this book, Vivian quit her job as a police dispatcher and went into full time real estate. I wish the best for her.

Now, back to the story. Vivian also worked with a number of policemen and dispatchers, so I decided to combine their craziness into one loco Latino cop who ends up saving the day. Believe me; from my own years of experience as a police dispatcher; trying to enforce the law can cause anyone to lose their mind. I’ve included Vivian’s husband in a minor roll. He seems to have discovered that if he pretends the Aunt Hill doesn’t affect him, he will survive. I think he figured out what Vivian’s first husband didn’t. I suppose that’s why we get along with him. Some elements of the Aunt Hill mysteries are based on things that actually happened but may be exaggerated or details changed to fit the story. By the way did I mention that the story was fiction? (Just checking to see if you were paying attention.)

One of the elements in this book taken from the Aunt Hill history was the cop’s baseball team. Mom and Dad coached little league baseball for about 10 years. They wore yellow tee shirts, and they were called the Orioles. You will notice the name the opposing team calls the Orioles. It was used back when my parents coached by several opposing teams and Dad, when he was disappointed in the way the kids were playing. It almost seemed like a badge of honor at times. And like the Stacy in the story, I sometimes wondered what team my mother was supposed to coach.

I used my niece Michelle for a woman who calls in with animal complaints (she wanted me to). It seems where she lives near Ft. Worth, Texas, to her dismay; strange animals seem to be attracted to her house; snakes seem to like her home the best. The animal calls that are in the book (except the bird which happened one night on Vivian’s shift) actually happened to Michelle.

For anyone in my family some characters, who are not named, may seem familiar by their behavior and description, but it is up to the reader to guess who the inspiration for them was.

I would also like to extend thanks and appreciation to Eric Maluchnik Sr. who is an auto technician at Car X in Homewood for the ping pong ball idea and Denise, the manager who lets me know when I’m not taking good care of my car. I also want to thank Bernard Ward again, a friend who has given me information on automobiles for this book and the previous one. I also extend a very belated thank you to Chris Owens; a team leader at my current job. Who gave me the encouragement to finish and publish my first book which led to this one. I thank my crazy aunt hill family for their votes and ideas which I intend to use to keep the series going. I also thank Marquitos Patino who works with Vivian, and whose facebook entries have inspired the humorous exchanges between Victoria and Juan. I want to thank as well, Mark Price an attorney who works for Lake County Indiana court house for answering questions about the legal results of my characters foolish behaviors.

Most of all, I thank everyone who chooses to read my books. I hope you enjoy this story. (Did I tell you it was fiction?). If you get a chance; I welcome all readers to check out the Aunt Hill Mysteries page on Face book for information on upcoming books in the series, book signings, and some cartoons I’ve been trying my hand at, and more Aunt Hill fun.

CHAPTER ONE

V ICTORIA PULLED UP the driveway of a two story brick house and parked in front of one of a pair of garage doors. She was five minutes early so she decided to give one of her sisters a call while she waited for her clients, the Springs to arrive.

Hey Janet. Must be nice to not have to go in on a day like today Victoria said, she then paused for her sister and then replied "Actually I’m waiting for the people who are coming out to look at a house. I hope they decide to buy it. It’s been on the market for over a month and the owners are really getting impatient…….. I wanted to thank you for inviting me over yesterday. I like the cop who was there. I think the guys I work with are nuts……But you’ve got to admit he did clear you and he put that horrible woman where she belonged…… No, you shouldn’t take any of the blame yourself. Lots of people get made fun of. Sometime they bring it on themselves. Hillary sure did. But even if someone does get made fun of or insulted they don’t go looking for ways of killing that person or anyone else who might get them put in jail….. Oh, I think my clients are here. I’ll have to talk to you later…. Thanks again……See ya!

Victoria waited until the couple’s vehicle came to a stop next to hers. ‘They really ought to like this roomy driveway’. She thought. She then got out of her car taking her purse and briefcase with her.

Hello Mr. and Mrs. Spring. Victoria said as she walked up to the pair.

You can call me Dale and my wife prefers to be called Stacy. The man replied.

Ok, Dale and Stacy, it’s good to see you again Victoria extended her hand to greet the clients. "I am sure this house will have everything you’re looking for. As you see you have a two car garage, a great lawn with space for that flower bed you were talking about. And, your whole family will love the back yard. It has an elegant old oak with a swing and tree house; your children will want to spend the whole day in it. Besides, for storage there is a large fifteen by fifteen foot tool shed in the back leaving plenty of room in the garage. There’s even a really cute playhouse too.

Oh, I can’t wait! Stacy said with excitement. "Our townhouse is so small with our twin daughters and son. We really can use the room. Oh, and honey, with this garage you’ll have plenty of room to work on fixing that old Trans Am you just bought.

I should introduce you to my brother in law, Ted. He works on classic cars to. What kind is it? asked Victoria.

It’s a seventy-six with a four fifty five engine, spoiler and it’s in cherry condition. Dale replied. I bought it from a lawyer, his client was up for murder and she used it as a retainer. She lost the case, and I got a good deal on a great muscle car. I heard they needed to put her away. They say she was a real wacko.

Wow, that’s really something! Victoria exclaimed. Well, are you ready to see your future new house?"

Yes! Yes! Stacy was getting more excited by the minute.

This way Victoria waved her hand toward the door and as she walk up the sidewalk she continued to tell her clients about the house.

This has so many modern conveniences. You don’t have to worry about losing your keys, it uses a keypad. I’ll just put the code in and you’ll be able to enjoy viewing the inside.

She punched in the code heard a click and just as she was about to reach for the door handle the entire door fell flat inside of the house. Victoria stumbled backward, and fell into a large potted plant that was sitting on the landing just in front of the door.

Ahhh! she yelped as she stumbled. She then gained her footing back and smoothing out her hair she said to the couple. I am so sorry! I’ll call the office And have them send someone to fix it.

She started back into the house when she was hit by a hideous smell. She looked inside and saw a man laying face down with a wound on his back and a large bloody spot in the rug surrounding the body. She started to feel faint and when Stacy exclaimed.

Oh look! Dale honey! It has the skylights I wanted! Stacy started toward the door when Victoria held her arm out to stop her.

Don’t go in there! a stunned Victoria said there’s someone in there and I think they’re dead. I have to call the police.

Just then Victoria was feeling really queasy and started to fall, when Dale caught her and held her up, her phone falling from her hands. Her smart phone shattered into pieces as it hit the pavement. Just then two women, one fortyish with her long blond hair up in a bun and another in her sixties but looking much younger than her age in a short curly hairstyle were walking up the sidewalk.

Is everything ok here? said the younger one.

I think she starting to faint said Dale still trying to hold up Victoria. She said that there might be a dead man inside the house.

The older one said I have my cell phone I’ll call 911.

The blond said Here let’s get her to the car so she can sit down.

The older woman called 911 and shortly afterwards a siren was heard.

By the way my name is Marla, and my friend here is Gwen the blond woman said to Victoria and the Springs.

Do you live around here? asked Stacy.

I live about four blocks south of here, Gwen lives in Elm Park. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses out visiting the neighbors and spreading the gospel good news. Marla stated.

We have Jehovah’s witnesses out by us too. You guys really get around. Stacy said.

Gwen and Stacy’s husband helped Victoria to the driver’s seat of her van. Just then a Lindenwood police vehicle parked on the curb in front of the house followed by another unmarked car. A short Hispanic police officer and his partner; a tall, wiry, younger man with a military haircut exited the squad car. A few moments later the detective, an older gray-haired balding man also left his vehicle and walked up to the group standing by Victoria’s vehicle. Victoria winced as soon as she heard the shorter officer speak.

Did someone here call 911? the Hispanic officer spoke with a very slight hint of an accent.

Yes, I did Marla replied. This woman here said that there was a dead person inside the house.

Hey Victoria! The officer said to a very queasy Victoria. "Why didn’t you tell me you were having an open house?

It wasn’t an open house, Juan; I was just a showing the house and the door fell down when I tried to unlock it. Victoria said through clenched teeth.

Juan walked up to the door and looked in.

Whew! Must have been here a few days. Juan said. I don’t think even Febreeze can freshen this house.

Victoria rolled her eyes up in a ‘why me’ look. I don’t think that’s funny Officer Valdez!

The older detective came up and looked into the doorway. Juan you radio for the coroner. I’ll start processing the scene. He then turned to the bystanders and said "By the way I’m Detective Sorensen of the Lindenwood P.D. I’ll be investigating this case. I do need all of you to stay here until I get a chance to speak to each of you.

Juan turned to the microphone clipped to his lapel and spoke into it. "360 to Lindenwood P.D.,