“Fucking Joplin. Why did it have to be you? Of all the people in this gotdamn world...how did you get mixed up with Andrew--and why are you responsible for Tollin’s death?”
**********
Chapter 20
Last chance
Lucien couldn’t believe his luck. Twice in one day, he’d been dealt a crappy hand. On the ride home from the Children’s Center, he’d busied his brain, trying to figure out ways to contact Ona. She lived with her parent’s, and he didn’t want to chance calling her there. He’d considered going to her home, but the Samaritan’s lived in closed communities. Even if he waited for her at the dock, he’d couldn’t count on her being alone, and more than likely, after today, her parents’ wouldn’t allow her out of their sight. Then after standing by, doing nothing, and listening to crazy Sahara babbling lesbian nonsense; by the time his limo pulled up in front of his apartment, the full weight of his dilemma had left him mentally exhausted. He’d convinced himself into believing that there had to be away; he just needed time a lone to contrive a plan. When he stepped off the private elevator, and noticed the door to his apartment slightly ajar; he’d rightly assumed, that his sister had made herself a guest in his home. When he’d entered, he’d learned that he’d only been partly right. Chantel and Marisela were seated in his living room, waiting for his return. They’d both appeared to be in good sprits, and after the day that he’d had, he’d needed an infusion of good news.
Marisela jumped off the sofa, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, then drew back, angling her head for her hair to drape over her shoulder.
Her breath smelled of fruity wine, when she said...
“Your friend at the medical examiner’s office finally came through. He spoke to my attorney, and he said that on the day of Tollin’s autopsy, he’d been there and he’d noticed a number of irregularities. First oft--the procedure had been performed after hours, and a mixup had been the only reason he’d been there. He’d left the keys to his apartment in his locker. When he passed one of the examine rooms, and noticed the occupied sign was lit, he’d dawned a mask and found the head examiner, performing the autopsy on Tollin Pettier. He’d asked if he could offer his help and he’d thought it odd that the doctor had been there because except for the nighttime staff; everyone else had left for the day.”
“Is he a credible witness?”
Lucien had asked.
“Yes.”
Chantel called out to them because she didn’t want to be left out of the conversation.
“Come...sit you two, because her news gets better.”
Marisela joined Chantel on the sofa, and Lucien sat across from them on a chair.
Marisela said...
“He say’s that if we can get a judge to reopen the case, he’ll testify that my brother’s injuries were not consistent with suicide. There had been facial bruising, suggesting that he’d been hit. And that letter... If it comes down to it, I will testify to the fact--Tollin wouldn’t have ended his life all due to a letter. He’d been trying to contact Gloria Randolph and my parent’s and I had supported this decision; mainly because he didn’t have anyone in his life willing to support him. Especially after the way Eliza dumped him, when he needed her most.”
Lucien wasn’t a gossip and he’d never talked to Eliza about her breakup with Tollin. He also wouldn’t sit listening to her name being dragged in the mud.
“Don’t forget, that I’ve talked to Eliza about your family’s case and she assured me that she would help, however she can. She really wants to help Marisela”
Then he said...
“If suicide is being ruled out--have the private investigators formulated a motive for Tollin’s murder--and have they created a list of possible suspects?”
Marisela said...
“Tollin’s ex-business partners are being considered. Then there are a few foreign investors--and I don’t know the specifics concerning those beefs and I suppose that’s the reason the investigators are looking closely at his investments.”
He tried to sound interested when he said...
“That all sounds promising. I’m glad to hear that something is finally getting done.”
“And it’s all due to you Lucien.” Marisela leaned into her words when she said...
“I mean it. You get all the credit and if it had not been for your support, I would have given up months ago. When my parents saw how disturbed I was over my brother’s death, they’d advised me to leave it alone, and to get on with my life. Personally, I think that my parents had tried to discourage me because my father is afraid that we might learn that my brother had been involved in an unsavory business deal.”
“Well...that’s still a possibility.” He warned because he sided with her parents on that note, but Marisela didn’t appear daunted when she said...
“I don’t care Lucien...and I have you to thank for that. You see...you helped me to understand why knowing the truth is so important to me. I loved my brother...and unlike my parents who have chosen to remain in the dark; you’ve given me the courage to accept whatever I might learn.”
“Well...” He shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He brushed off the compliment, when he said... “You’re giving me to much credit.”
“I don’t think so.” She'd said...
“Oh, let him play the modest card because he won’t accept any praise. Not my brother. Perhaps you can think of another way to thank him. Maybe a trip. Perhaps we can jet down to Saint-Tropez it’s beautiful there at this time of year.”
Chantel had made a remark to her friend, but Lucien had zoned out of the conversation, and his thoughts had strayed to the woman of his dreams. He still had not figured out how best to contact her, and he wouldn’t accept that he’d never see her again. Lucien’s mind clouded with possibilities and he wasn’t even sure how long he’d zoned off.
A voice startled him, like the snap of a finger.
“Lucien--what’s wrong? Did something happen at the office?”
Marisela said...
“He wasn’t at the office. Remember...we stopped there before coming here.”
Chantel studied her brother, and she knew the reason he appeared so distracted, but with her friend here, she didn’t dare discuss his Ona problem. On the other hand, what were siblings for, if not to share their mistakes
She said...
“If you need to talk...you know that I’m always here to listen.”