Blood Ties (18 page)

“I understand w
hy you can’t be there,” she whispered, “Susie was like a daughter to me. If anyone was implied in the murder of my best friend, I’d have a hard time facing them. But I hope you can understand why I have to be there, Sammy.”

“Of course mom, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I just can’t stop thinking about Susie. The fact that either of my siblings had
anything to do with her death…It’s terrible, but it’s what the evidence is pointing at, and I can’t overlook it.”

“I understand. I can only pray for Noel and Kelly’s salvation. It’s up to them to seek your forgiveness, as well as God’s.”

“Exactly mom. It’s their own decision to accept what actions they’ve done, and who they ask for leniency. I can‘t pretend everything’s alright. If they had a part in Susie’s death, they have to own up to it.”

“Okay then. Sammy has to work; we’ll be with Noel and Kelly. It will be a short arraignment, Steven said they would both accept the deals the DA is offering, and then it’s just a matter of accepting the state of our lives and learning to live with things the way they are. Unfortunately, I can find no positive outcome of this situation,” Rod said as he kissed my mom again and then moved back to his seat.

We finished eating in silence. I cleared the table and carried with ice-cream with three spoons back, so that we’d eat straight from the containers. My mom looked at me disapprovingly, but gave in to my idea. The three of us found a momentary bout of comfort, for whatever reason.

Once we were done
, I threw the empty containers into the garbage bin, hugged my mom and Rod, made a somewhat feeble attempt of reassuring her—and myself—things would be alright, and returned home.

I called Jared but his phone was off; I didn’t leave a message, fearing he’d consider it hovering. I changed into my pajamas and went to sleep.

I got to the office on time, and was pleased to find Maggie already working on Mark’s manuscript. Without waiting for me to ask, she stopped reading, got a cup of coffee and delivered it to my desk.

“Samantha, I changed Maxwell’s meeting to half past five. I’m sorry, but he said it was urgent and that he couldn’t be in any earlier. Besides, as you’re done with Andrea’s book and Mark’s is on my desk, I thought you’d be clear for working on Kelly’s text.”

“Okay Maggie,” I replied as I hung my coat and purse; I wasn’t pleased she’d set me up with Max, and I didn’t appreciate her assumption that I had nothing else to do. “Did you finish Jared’s book?”

“Yes, it’s under Kelly’s. There were no mistakes; at least, none that I could find. It was very good, and I totally get why you said it’s the next HP. Anyway, I’ll continue with Mark’s,” Maggie stated as she left and closed the door behind her.

I knew she was lying through her teeth; the manuscript wasn’t anywhere near as good as HP, but Maggie was smart enough not to question my decisions.

I went over Jared’s manuscript swiftly and
sent it to the designer. Even if it wouldn’t go to press, Aidan had called to let me know to keep the ruse up for a few more days. Something in his gut told him the case wasn’t closed.

At around eleven, Rod called me; my mom couldn’t speak due to being too upset. The arraignment had taken place and Kelly and Noel were now being escorted to their respective jails. The judge had been swift and direct; as my siblings had already settled
on Violet’s offers, there were no reasons to disagree, especially as the judge had agreed that the deals were fair.

Kelly would be serving
twenty years in jail, with the possibility of parole after fifteen. Noel would be spending twenty-five years imprisoned, with his first parole interview on the seventeenth year; Violet had decided to change the deal for my brother on the basis of the drug use.

I didn’t really know if the sentences were fair or not; the fact that they both had DUI’s in their respective records had meant less leniency.

I didn’t feel relieved or comforted by the outcome. My sister hadn’t acknowledged her guilt; my brother had accepted his involvement in the murders, as well as drug possession.

I wanted to talk to Susie. I needed her to ease me out my concern and dazedness. I required her company, her friendship, and it wasn’t until that very exact moment that I was able to fully grasp the fact that she was dead, as in not liv
ing…dead.

I spent the next hour crying. The tears eased some of the pain I felt in my heart. I was distraught over
my loss of Susie, I felt terribly betrayed by Noel, bewildered and disappointed by Kelly…and lonely. I wanted to feel Jared’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tight, stopping my shudders, but his cell phone rang endlessly until it gave me the possibility of leaving a message, and I was reluctant to do so in my current stage.

I sat on the floor, attempting even breaths but failing. After trying to stop the continuous flow of tears, I gave
in to the wretchedness and let it pour out of me.

As I’d been crying for a long time now, it was only a matter of twenty minutes before I was both drained and parched. I breathed slowly, giving my body the time it needed to stop shuddering, focusing my eyes on the wall; if I’d looked down, I
would have probably thrown up.

I remained seated on the floor until one sharp, when I grabbed my coat and purse and took off. I bought a burger, French fries and a diet Coke, sat on a bench, enjoyed my unhealthy food and spent forty-five minutes staring at passing cars.

At two I was back in my office. I continued reading Kelly’s text, even if it was the last thing I wanted to do.

As I flipped through the pages, I found a sudden interest in what I was reading. I grabbed a green highlighter and a green pen. I proceeded to select parts that drew my attention and I scribbled on a small pad the pages that contained what I was highlighting.

Once I was done, I started searching in internet numbers, places and names I’d selected. Kelly had not changed as many facts as she’d claimed, which meant that most of the stuff I was searching was real.

I called Jared and ended up getting his voicemail. Usually, I leave stammered, incomplete sentences as messages because I do not feel comfortable talking to a machine, without the certainty of knowing when I’ll be heard, or even by whom. But this time I was steady.

“Jared, it’s Sam. I’m reading Kelly’s manuscript and I’ve found some things that I think may link Maxwell to some fucked up felonies. I’m not really sure, because I don’t understand much of what I’m getting into, but just call me, okay?” I finished, just as I heard the ending beep.

I sighed and left my office to get some coffee. I’d gotten so wrapped up in Kelly’s text that time had flown by. Most people had left, others were getting their things together, and very few remained focused on their work.

Maggie was returning from the bathroom as I made my way back with my coffee. She smiled and resumed the correction of Mark’s text; she was almost done.

“Maxwell said he’d be running late, but he begged for you to meet him today, so I took the liberty of telling him you’d wait until half past six, and not a minute longer. Is that okay?”

“Actually, I need you to cancel the meeting. I’ve got to check some things out, and seeing Max today, it just won’t do. So call him, Maggie, please. Tell him I’m sorry but an emergency came up.”

“Okay, but will you leave now or will you be staying a while longer?”

“I have stuff to finish, so I’ll be in a bit longer. Leave whenever you want to, I’ll be okay.”

“Great, thanks. I’ll let you know when I leave,” Maggie said, and I returned to my office, closing the door behind me once I was in.

I had been startled to find references to Max’s deals, specifically some that mentioned alleged mobsters and Artie Hale, who was a fifty year old, three times divorced man who was rumored to have a business in illegal weaponry sales. This information had drawn my attention because Max had never mentioned any of these men, and I doubted my sister had such creativity in her mind.

Maggie let me know she was leaving, so I wished her a pleasant weekend and submerged myself into the final part of Kelly’s book.

I continued highlighting and scribbling words down until I was done with the text. In the end, the felonies I could link Max to included drug smuggling, clear knowledge and protection of a boss of organized crime and even hiring hit men to kill some of his competition.

My bladder let me know I needed to use the bathroom, so I went. I found the whole office empty; computers and desk-lamps were off, papers and folders were in order, there were
no jackets hanging from chairs…

I rushed to the bathroom and, after doing my business, I washed my hands. As I stared at the image that looked at me from the mirror, I was surprised to find a worn out face and concern lines surrounding my eyes. I splashed my face with cool water, hoping to remove the shabby look, and returned to my office.

Max startled me as he stood up when I entered the room. He smiled a simple smile, one that hid emotions, so I didn’t quite know what to think.

“Hello Sammy, how are you?”

“I’m fine Max, how are you?” I asked as I made my way to my chair and sat down.

“I’m happy to be here. It’s been hell getting an
appointment with you,” Max said, his tone playful and not without accusation.

“I know, I’m sorry, as I haven’t read Kelly’s manuscript and I gather that’s the reason you wanted us to meet, I thought it was pretty pointless,” I replied,
my instincts telling me to deny knowledge of the text’s content.

“Yes, right, but I wanted to talk with you about other things as well. I mean, I’ve heard Kelly and Noel have been convicted on murders and your own attempted demise. Guess you’ll need a lot of therapy now, right?”

For whatever reason, I didn’t find Max’s raw sense of humor particularly funny.

“I’m sorry Max, but I don’t wan
t to talk about that right now,” I was exasperated by the situation and by his presence. He still gave me the chills. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“When I spoke to Maggie earlier today, she mentioned you were already taking a look at Kelly’s book, and I’d just like to know if that’s the case.”

“What difference would it make?” I asked as I cursed Maggie in my mind.

“There are a few details I’d like to check, because I believe your sister has created a fictional character based on me that doesn’t quite make me justice.”

“I believe, Max, the key word in what you’ve said is fictional. Kelly’s book is not a real autobiography, it’s a work of fiction, an imaginary tale that does base itself on some actual facts of her life, but as far as I can tell, there’s not much reality in it.”

“So you have read it?”

“Only the first three chapters,” I replied as dismissive as possible, “but I’m not sure we’ll publish it. I think it’s a bit tacky and, between us, Kelly’s not that good a writer,” I said, keeping my expression sheepish.

“I see, I see. Yes, of course. It’s just that I’d hate it if anyone read the story and though
t I was as appalling as the character that represents me.”

“I’m sure that won’t happen Max. Sure, we don’t publish literature for geniuses, but our readers are aware that
we only publish fiction. Otherwise, they’d believe zombies live amongst us or that our president is a Martian!” I laughingly cried, trying to conceal my nervousness.

“Of course,” Max replied in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

“Anything else you’d like to talk over with me?” I asked, hoping the answer would be negative.

Max paused to think about his reply when a thought struck me
; I blurted it out before I could stop myself.

“Didn’t Maggie cancel our meeting?”

Max looked at me quizzically and then shook his head. He smiled tightly as he stood up. I reacted by doing the same thing.

“It’s rather unfortunate Sammy, that you are such a smart woman. You were a good sister-in-law. You’re also fairly pretty, and you’re a great cook. But it’s a pity you never learned to stop yourself before speaking, to take a pause and think about what you’re about to say
,” his voice was deep with regret.

“I…
I…” I stammered stupidly, looking at the door, hoping someone would show up.

Max opened the door and stood under the threshold; he looked outside.

“She’s onto us, come in,” he said, and he walked back inside, followed by Maggie.

I stared dumbfounded.

Maggie and Max together? Kelly’s book…the content, it must be the truth. Max must have relationships with all the dire men, and…what?

“What’s going on Max? Are you in a relationship with Maggie? That’s totally fine by me…” I said
faking innocence.

“You’re not the greatest liar Sammy,” Max said, sounding disappointed. “And I know you’ve read Kelly’s text, so don’t pretend otherwise.”

“But it’s all fiction Max, there’s nothing true in it. And as I told you, I’m not considering it for publication, so you don’t have to worry about your image.”

“You think it’s my image what concerns me?” Max asked
, spite in his eyes and voice.

“I told you, you’ve given her too much credit,” Maggie told Max without removing her eyes from mine.

“I guess. One always wants to see the best in people, most of all in family. Anyway, my image is fine. What I cannot have are policemen tapping my phones, tracking my every move, investigating my work deals…It would mean a severe deterioration of some very good ties I have, and I can’t allow that.”

“No one needs to know,” I said quickly. “We’ll destroy the copy I’ve read, and I’ll talk Kelly out of taking the manuscript to other publishing houses and that’ll be it.”

“Sure, we’ll even call a cab for you to drive you to your house, will that do?” Maggie asked, sarcastic as I’d ever seen her.

I hated the bitch.

“What will you do? Kill me?” I asked doing my best to stay calm.

“Yes, I’m sorry Sammy, but right now you represent a threat in the stability that is my life. On the upside, I promise it’ll be quick,” Max said as he pulled out a gun from the back of his pants.

“How will you sell it?” I asked, stalling.

“A break in. I’m sorry to say, a thief broke in and you were the only one here,” Max explained.

“Okay. Seeing as how you’re about to kill me, do you think it’s possible for you to tell me if you had anything to do with what’s going on with Kelly and Noel?”

“I don’t see why not, Sammy.”

“Max, she’s only keeping you busy. I’m sure she’s called the police or something!” Maggie cried out, exasperated. “Let her find out in hell.”

“Thanks Maggie,” I said dryly, looking at Max
with hope and despair, trying to be as much of a victim as I could. He’d liked that in Kelly. “Wait,” I stated, my mind clearing up; “it was you who tried to run me over. Kelly wasn’t wearing a wig, you were, Maggie,” I said, looking at her. “You killed Sandy, didn’t you?”