CHAPTER 1
Scott pulled into The Grand Hotel parking lot where he was supposed to meet his father for lunch.
Just as he was stepping out of his car, his cell phone rung. At one point he thought of ignoring it, but changed his mind when he saw it was his office calling.
"Hi, Doctor Garrett. Sorry to bother you but you told me to contact you as soon as Mr. Anderson's results came in. I have them downloaded for you to look at."
"Ok, great. Thanks Karen." Scott replied to his nurse.
Scott ended the call and switched over to his cellphone to look at Mr. Anderson's information.
After a minute or two of reading the results, Scott called his office back and had them schedule an appointment with Mr. Anderson for the day after tomorrow before going inside the hotel.
"Hi, there's supposed to be a room key left for me at the front desk for room 327." Scott asked the front desk clerk.
"Good morning Mr. Garrett, there is, here you go." The clerk said handing Scott the key to the room.
"Your father finished up about ten minutes or so and headed up to his room. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, that's about it. Thank you though. Oh yeah. How's your aunt doing? Did Doctor Bell take care of her?"
"She's doing great and we are so glad you recommended her."
"Well that's good. I'm glad she's doing ok." Scott replied walking off and waving goodbye.
Scott was about to take the elevator when a couple with four active kids and two full luggage racks approached at the same time. Scott smiled and decided to take the stairs instead.
As Scott was making his way up the third floor of the hotel, he bumped into a woman rushing down. She dropped her purse and a few items fall out. One particular item was a container holding a needle and vial of some sort.
"Damn it!" The lady yelled not worrying about her money and keys that fell out also. But more about the vile that rolled across the floor.
"Please forgive me. I wasn't watching where I was going." Scott said bending down picking up the woman's driver license and other items.
"It's alright, I got it." The woman said taking her driver license from Scott.
"No, please allow me to help you. It's the least I can do." Scott answered back.
"No, it's quite alright. I'm in bit of a rush......I'm uummmm running late." The woman answered back.
Scott and the lady looked at each other for a brief second. She stopped what she was doing and thought there was something familiar about him but just couldn't pinpoint what it was.
The woman finished gathering her things and rushed downstairs and through the exit door.
Scott continued to his father's room and used his key. "Hey dad. I'm here." Scott said opening the room door. "Dad!" Scott yelled after seeing his father on the floor. Scott admittedly administered CPR but with no luck.
When the officers came to the room they found Scott kneeling on the floor holding his father in his arms. The officers approached Scott with their guns drawn trying to get him to respond to their demands but it was no use, Scott didn't hear a word they were saying.
One of the officers put his gun back in his holster and approached Scott.
"He's dead." Scott mumbled.
"I know sir."
"He's dead."
"Sir, if you would please come with us so we can help you."
"How can you, he's dead. My father is dead."
"Did you kill him, sir?"
"No."
"Let us do our job and find out what happened?" The officer asked again looking at his partner who still had his gun drawn pointing towards Scott.
Scott rocked back and forth holding his father in his arms.
"What is your name, sir?"
"Huh?"
"What is your name sir? We need to know your name so we can help figure out what happened to your father."
"What does my name have to do with anything? You need to be out there trying to find out who did this to my father." Scott said.
"Well how about this; let our examiner look at your father so we can figure out if there was foul play. Can you do that?" The officer asked.
"Yes."
Scott laid his father back on the floor and slowly stepped away from his father, as the officer helped him over to one of the chairs.
"How do you know the victim Sir?
"He's my father."
"Why was your father here at this hotel?"
"He had a business meeting here with some clients."
"What makes you think that someone killed your father? There was no sign of a struggle. Our examiner states from his observation that it looks to be a heart attack maybe."
"That can't be right because my father just had a complete physical and was given a clean bill of health."
"Could you think of anyone who would want to harm your father?"
"Not off the top of my head I can't."
"Did you notice anyone suspicious?"
"I bumped into a woman that was coming downstairs as I was coming up, other than that, no."
"Do you remember what the woman looked like?"
"No, because she was wearing shades."
"Is there anyone we need to contact?"
"I need to call my mother and let her know." Scott replied back.
The officer questioned Scott a little longer before letting him go.
An hour or so later........
Scott sat in the front of his mother's house not sure how to break the news to her. He would rather tell her than police officers telling her.
Scott pulled into his mother's driveway and waited. He didn't notice his mother standing beside his car knocking on the window. It startled him.
"Boy, what are you doing in that car and where is your father?"
Scott looked at his mother with puffy red eyes.
"Scott, where is your father? What happened?" Louise asked.
"Get out the car, Scott, and tell me what's going on?"
Scott opened the car door and stood in front of his mother.
"Scott, where is your father? You're scaring me!"
"Mom, dad's dead."
"What the hell do you mean he's dead? I just spoke with him earlier today after his meeting. So, he can't be dead!"
"When I went to pick him up, I found him in his room dead. I tried to revive him but I was too late."
"NO! NO!" Louise yelled hitting Scott on his chest.
Scott held his mother in his arms as they both cried.
"That bitch did this! I know it!" Louise yelled.
"Momma, come inside." Scott told his mother.
Scott had to give his mother a sedative to take the edge off. Louise laid in bed mumbling something.
"He said today was the day." Louise mumbled.
"What did you say Momma?"
"He called me this morning and told me that today was the day."
"The day for what?" Scott asked.
"He wouldn't tell me, just that it was a surprise."
"Hold on Momma, there's a knock at the door. I'll be right back."
It was an express carrier company with a package.
Scott signed for the package, placing it on the table wanting to stay by his mother's side.
An hour later a detective knocked on the door wanting to speak with Louise but Scott explained that his mother wasn't in the best of conditions to answer any questions. Rather they would be more than happy to come to the station first thing in the morning.
CHAPTER 2
"Lawd, I can't believe my baby is gone at such a young age." Thelma said as she moved her fork around on her plate
"We sho gone miss us some Richard Jr.." another person repeated in conjunction to Thelma.
"Are you alright Mama?" Michelle asked rubbing her mother's back trying her best to comfort her.
"I'm ok sweetheart. I'll be fine." Angelia said taking her handkerchief to wipe away a tear.
"Momma's gonna be alright Michelle. Just let her get over it on her own time." Charles said not skipping a beat while eating.
"Nobody asked you for your two cents Charlie Brown." Michelle shouted back. A nickname he has had since childhood.
"Baby slow down, you still eat like you're twelve. There's enough for seconds." Angelia told her son.
"And stop calling your brother that. You know he hates that name."
"Well, he shouldn't be such a Charlie Brown." Michelle said laughing.
"Did you hear your Mama child?"
"Yes, Grandma Thelma."
"Where's that other son of mine?" Thelma asked looking around the room.
"Alexandria, where's your husband gone an taken himself?"
"The last time I saw him Mama Thelma, he was out back smoking." Alexandria responded.
"Well, go tell him to get his ass in here to this table so we can have a proper meal."
"Yes m'am." Alexandria said getting up from the table.
It didn't take long for Alexandria to find Jerome sitting on the porch in the backyard smoking a black & mild talking to Christen. Alexandria didn't say anything at first but observed their conversation from a spot they couldn't see her.
"So, what have you been up too besides staying as fine as ever I can tell."
"Why thank you Jerome. Just trying to keep myself busy is all. And you should already know what I've been up to."
"That's a story for another day. So how's the big city life treating you? Have you gone and met you some celebrities?"
"Not really. I've seen one or two but not actually talked to one. Not too many riding public transportation." Christen said with a laugh.
"Well, I guess you have a point there. So how's that husband of yours doing?"
"Pete's just as always. He's Pete, need I say more."
"So why didn't he show up?" Jerome asked.
"Pete said there was no way in hell he was going to step foot back up in this town. Period!!"
"And to this day I still don't know why. He and Richard Jr. were best friends growing up and all of a sudden he was gone. Not one clue as to why." Jerome said shaking his head from side to side.
"I'm surprised he let you come back."
"That's the strange part because when I told him about Richard Jr. dying and that I wanted to attend the funeral, he didn't make a fuss. Just simply asked when I plan on being back."
"Now I know the world is gonna end soon if Pete didn't put up a fight."
"Oh you better believe he has his bodyguards watching me as we speak." Christen said pointing over to Billy and Alex who were drinking a bottle of beer and pretending not to pay them any attention.
"Hi sweetheart, Mama Thelma is looking for you." Alexandria said coming out of her hiding spot looking directly at Christen.
"Hi baby, you know Christen."
"So does every man in town."
"Excuse you!" Christen replied leaning back in her seat looking up towards Alexandria.
"Now, now ladies let's not get all worked up over nothing." Jerome said stepping between the two ladies.
"Worked up my ass, say some more bullshit like that again! Let your lips even look like it want to form the syllables and I will put my foot so far up your...."
"Baby, didn't you say my Momma was looking for me. Let's go see what she wants." Jerome said cutting Christen off.
"Yeah, let's go." Alexandria replied back with a sarcastic tone.
"You better." Christen said taking a puff of her cigarette.
Jerome and Alexandria walked into the house and Alexandria stopped him in the living room.
"What in the hell is that bitch doing here!"
"It's a funeral. She's here to pay her respects to the family. That's all"
"Respect my ass. Who in the hell goes to a funeral with a damn mini skirt on with six inch heels. Looking like a damn prostitute. Let her be here later and they will have to give another funeral before the day is out."
"Now baby why are you acting like that?" Jerome asked smiling.
"You know damn well why I'm acting like this. Don't you play stupid with me Jerome."
"You have had a bone with Christen for years and I've told you for the longest that nothing is going on or ever gone on between me and Christen. I love you sweetheart and only you."
"Jerome, don't think for one second I'm going to be stupid enough to believe one word that's coming out your mouth."
"Why baby?"
"Because your lips are moving!"
"Baby...."
"Don't baby me Jerome because so help me GOD I will make sure the last place you stick this." Alexandria said putting emphasis on her words so Jerome would know she meant business by grabbing his balls in her hand and squeezing. "Will be the last!" Alexandria said before walking off.
It was a rumor around town that Jerome messed around on Alexandria. No one was stupid enough to tell Alexandria who he was messing around with.
"Jerome, where have you been? We've been waiting on you for the longest and why are you walking funny?" Thelma asked
"I know one person who didn't?" Michelle said in a mumbled voice.
"Sit down baby and say grace so we can eat." Jerome's mother said pointing to the chair at the head of the table.
Jerome looked at the chair for a few seconds because even though he was the oldest by a few minutes. Richard Jr. sat at the head of the table ever since their father died. Richard Jr. stepped up and took on the responsibility of taking care of the family. Making sure the family business didn't go out of business. And everyone could sense the resentment Jerome had.
"Everything's ok baby?" Alexandria asked reaching and grabbing hold of Jerome's hand.
"Yeah, everything's fine." Jerome replied back with a smirk on his face looking at Alexandria as if she wasn't the reason he was walking funny.
"Well, sit down so we can eat before the food gets cold." Someone yelled out.
Jerome said grace and everyone started reaching for everything they could get their hands on. From macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, catfish, and grits. Anything you could think of was laid out on the table.
There wasn't much talking being done, mainly the clatter of silverware moving about. A few mumbles here and there. Jerome decided to break the silence.
"So, when will Richard Jr.'s will be read?"
"Really Uncle Jerome!" Michelle shouted. "My daddy hasn't been buried not even half a day and you're already asking about his will!"
"Watch your mouth child. Don't forget you're talking to grown folks." Thelma said.
"I am grown and Uncle Jerome had no right asking about my daddy's will. It's not like he left his lazy butt nothing."
"Child, you got one more time to say something out the way!" Thelma threatened.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart. Your father changed his will about a month ago." Angelia interrupted.
"What do you mean changed his will?" Thelma asked putting down her fork full of greens
"Just what I said Momma Thelma, he changed it, and to make sure I didn't take a peek, he said he would have it delivered by his attorney."
"What in the hell was he thinking?" Thelma asked raising her arms in the air.
"Don't know, Richard Jr.'s attorney said this is what he wanted, down to the letter."
"Well, we will see about that!" Thelma said getting up from the table.
"Mama, what are you doing?" Jerome asked.
"About to call Richard Jr.'s attorney because I want to know what the hell is going on!"
Thelma paced back and forth cursing under her breath hoping it would make the phone dial a little faster. But instead of getting Richard Jr.'s attorney, she got his voice mail instead.
"Dammit, he's not answering!"
"Mama Thelma, you might as well give it up and wait because you and I both know when Richard Jr. gets his mind set on something. He's not easily changed." Said Angelia
"What kind of tom foolery is this? We had already made out his will and everything." Thelma said.
"Excuse me Mama Thelma, but what do you mean we? Richard Jr. was my husband and if any changes to his will were to be made, it would have been discussed between Richard Jr. and me." Angelia said pointing her the fork towards herself and continued to eat.
"But I'm his Mama dear."
"I understand that but he wasn't fucking his mother? Now was he? So I think that puts me at the top of the list."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't stutter Mama Thelma. As long as he was sleeping in our bed, it's me he should make decisions concerning our lives. Not you."
"Oh Lord" someone said.
"Well it looks like to me...." Jerome started to say.
"Shut up, Jerome!" both Thelma and Angelia shouted at the same time.
"I'm just saying it makes no sense fussing about it. No one won't know anything until Richard Jr.'s attorney reads the will, so let's eat and keep the peace." Jerome suggested
"That might be a good idea." Thelma said cutting her eyes towards Angelia
"So Pastor Hunter, would you like some more ice tea?" Alexandria asked.
"My Lord, I didn't even notice you sitting there Pastor Hunter. We up here acting like plumb fools in front of you." Thelma said in her southern drawl.
"No dear, I'm good and no need to fret yourself none Mama Thelma. Families get into it from time to time. But I just remembered another appointment I need to attend to. So if you all will excuse me."
"Sorry that you have to leave Pastor Hunter. I was hoping you would stay long enough to have some dessert." Thelma asked knowing the Pastor had a sweet tooth.
