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A Mother’s Tale


~Chapter Fourteen- Investigating No Truths

Papers lie scattered around his desk filled with various astringent reports of the car accident, some so detailed it disturbed him causing nausea to rise. He feels a pair of eyes on him and frowns looking up to see Winterland enter.

“Why are you curious to working on it Dorough? I already told you I’m taking care of this case.”

“Yeah well, I have questions that need to be answered so I’m not walking away. By the way do you know where an Amsterdam is at around here?” Howie quips up, eyeing the older officer curiously.

Winterland yawns, nodding: “Yeah it’s a small town right on Millbury. I’m surprised you don’t know where it is since you live around there.”

“Eh, I’m still getting used to the area, I didn’t know it was in the same place.” Howie shrugs, busies himself separating files in folders.

“Oh well its fine. Why you asking?” Winterland adjust his glasses, pulling a napkin out to clean the lens.

“Because there’s going to an investigation at the deceased man’s place.”

“Oh, very well then.” Winterland sits down before him, stretching his arms over head. Smiling, he reminds himself that he was the only officer on site during the whole chaotic ‘tragedy’ with the death of the young man. Media was constantly calling to get any new data and people were eagerly speculating any new info about the road. Smiling, he knew all the answers and was amazed the planned was pulled of so well. He was unsure of the whole idea when Roger first came up to him to tell him. But with the impending rewards facilitated with it, he couldn’t deny it and immediately went along with the plan. He received his reward of cash over the mail earlier today and was already planning an excursion before the news becomes to get big. Handing the case fully over to the clueless officer before him, he was more than happy to get away from Oakland and all its little life dramas.

Howie looks over at the older grey haired man raising his eyebrows: “Why are you still here? I thought you had to head home early today for your grandson’s kindergarten graduation.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave in a few, just going through some ideas of what to wear. Do you think its too early to wear white, we haven’t reached summer yet so I don’t want to appear brash at the young children’s ceremony.” Winterland sits up, wrapping his lithe arms around his small round pouch stomach.

Howie smiles, closing the filed folders and places them lined up together: one on top of the other. “The weather is getting better, I’m sure whatever you have on will be fine.”

“Yes, I don’t want Betty to get angry with my clothes, she tends to get that way recently. Said that I lost all sense of dressing and putting clothes together. But I say I wear what I like and feel comfortable in right?” Winterland’s thin lips curve into a sinister smile.

“Uh yeah…though you should listen to her for this. Its only one time, get dressed up nice for your grandson, he’ll be up there getting ready to move on in school. And you want the pictures to come out right.” Howie tilts his head. He was eager to dabble in the case further but somehow Winterland was delaying him lounging around the office.

Winterland smirks and grabs the evidence bag eyeing the wallet found: “Gotta say this is a big clue. The fact that most of the valuables are missing like ID’s is pretty interesting. Whoever is responsible for this must have wanted to make this man almost unknown…even nonexistence if that makes sense at all.”

“Are you implying it was a murder? Because I thought it was an accident.”

“Look I’m just coming up with theories Howie, no need to assume more. The fact a man driving in the night without no one around just sounds a bit off and you made it safely driving around that same night. It just seems off to me that’s all.” Winterland states, brushing a pale hand through his gray thick locks.

“Kirk…I don’t want to sound rude…but I’m really busy at the moment and I just want to get some answers for this case before it drags on too long.” Howie taps his fingers on his oak deck, hoping the older man got the point across already.

The older officer simply smiles and waves bye, exiting the office shortly afterwards leaving Howie alone in the office finally. Sighing in relief, he grabs the cradle of the black phone on his desk, quickly jabbing the Carter’s household number.

“Please pick up this time.” He had left a message about two days ago and haven’t heard from Jasmine yet. Assuming that she was still dealing with the rough times, he didn’t mind and even let it slip away. But now he needed some answers and time was running out before the case is thrown away.

Sighing out in annoyance, he was close to hanging up by the fifth ring when he hears a gruff voice answer.

“Hello, I’m officer Dorough calling from precinct 15. Is a Mrs. Carter there at the moment?”

“Ohh…no she’s out at the moment…I’ll make sure she gets the message though. I’m her husband, maybe you can tell me the message.”

“Well I just need to speak to her face to face, its in regards to your son and the case.”

“Yes…ok well…perhaps you can call back later this evening when she gets back. I’ll make sure to inform her you called. You’re the officer that had my shirt right?” Roger smirks.

“Oh heh…yeah. Don’t worry sir, its all cleaned and ironed, ready to get dropped off next time I come around there.”

Laughing, Roger shakes his head: “No you can keep like I said before, it doesn’t even fit me. I’m sure you’ll do better giving it some use.”

“Good then…and you take care then sir.” Howie nods, “I’m hoping it’ll be fine if I make a visit at around six or so this evening. It’ll be fast and I’m assuming your wife will be home by then.”

Roger frowns, furrowing his thick eyebrows: “You don’t have to go through all that. I’m sure a simple phone call will do just fine.”

“Well sir if it is a bother I won’t do that then, but later on I have to check the house and see Nick’s room when he was a child and such. Its important I get enough data on the man himself.”

Roger bites his lower lip grumbling under his breath: “We’ll set up a time for that later this week or so, we’re dealing with certain things at the moment and its important we’re ok before you show up to ask more about Nick. I mean Jasmine is very sensitive about talking about Nick you know.”

“Oh yes of course sir, I completely understand. I don’t want to be a bother, but it’s important I can get that done soon before the case is overlooked.”

“Right…I’ll make sure to call you back this week then.” Roger states, cracking his knuckles as he looks around the desolate bedroom frowning.

“Thanks, that’ll be greatly appreciated Mr. Carter.” Howie smiles: hanging up and gets his car keys, exiting the office.
~*~

He eyes the little girl, watching her scribble something on paper. Kneeling down before Eliez, he watches her draw shapes and little scribbles of people. Pulling out a pad of paper, he takes a pen and begins writing down his observations.

Eliez looks up from the large sheet of white construction paper smiling at the doctor. Holding up her picture proudly, she shows it to him.

Kevin tilts his head examining the picture and smiles: “Is that what you’re feeling at the moment?”

Eliez nods and smiles: “Yes. I’m happy.”

Kevin smiles and takes the drawing looking over it: “That’s you…that little girl right?”

Eliez nods: “And mommy and daddy.”

“Ok…” Kevin eyes her and smiles. “Do you have pets?”

Eliez shakes her head and nibbles on her lower lip.

“Ok…is that it? Do you know anyone else?” Kevin points to a shadow figure behind the little crooked house Eliez drew.

Eliez smiles and nods: “He’s special…”

“Who is he?”

“That’s Nick.”

“Who’s Nick?”

“Shhh…you know Nick.”

“Your brother right?” Kevin whispers out as she nods. “Are you sad he left? He’s sleeping for a while now.” He tries to explain the death to her as she frowns and rapidly shakes her head.

“Nooooooooooo! He’s not sleeping! He left…but he comes back to see mommy.” Eliez smiles.

Kevin bites his lower lip eyeing the little girl: “Your mother sees Nick?”

Eliez smiles, “Yeah because she miss him, so Nick is there.”

“And how do you see Nick? What does he look like?” Kevin gazes at the young child as he searches in his lab coat to pull out a tape recorder.

She tilts her head to the side, a few locks of golden tresses spray on her shoulder with the action and begins to whispers out Nick’s appearance.

Quickly jotting down the details, Kevin made note of the man and smiles. “He seems like a great guy. I’m sure he was the best brother you had.”

“Only one.” She whispers pushing the construction paper to him as she reaches for her doll. Cuddling the cabbage patch doll to her chest, she smiles, remaining quiet.

“Is there something else you want to tell me?” He whispers out, eyeing the child as she shakes her head. “Well ok, let’s wait for your mom to come back and we can talk with her ok?”

Eliez nibbles her lower full lip, her azure eyes bright and blue scanning the office around her. “I know a secret.” She quietly states, her voice dropping.

Adjusting the small stool he’s on, he waits for the child to continue.

“This secret…mommy no know secret.”

“Eliez do you want to tell me the secret?” Kevin whispers out, watching the child lean back in the cushioned chair, her eyes darting around as it lands on him. Whispering out, “My brother no sleep. He never sleeps. He’s ok. Daddy told mommy he’s sleeping but Nick no sleeping.”

He gulps, holding the tape recorder in his hands gazing at the little girl: “How do you know he’s sleeping?”

“Daddy say Nick sleeping to me. But Nick not sleeping. Nick wants help. He comes to me.”

Kevin frowns and hears the stop on the tape recorder as the tape stops, already full. Sighing, he opens the case and turns the tape over, ready to listen to her again. “Why did your father tell you that?”

“It’s a secret…mommy no know.”

“Will you tell me?”

Eliez frowns and grips her hands tightly on the arms of the cushioned leather chair: “No! No! NO! NOOOOOOO!” She yells out, screaming loudly as Jasmine rushes into the room alarmed.

Kevin jumped at the pitch high screaming released from the little girl causing him to stagger out of his seat in shock.

“What’s going on?!” Jasmine cuts a look to the doctor as she cuddles her daughter to her chest.

“I don’t know.” He states bewildered. “I asked her one question and she began screaming it out.”

Jasmine nods and takes her daughter’s hand pulling her off the seat.

“I think that’s enough for now doctor. She isn’t ready for this type of treatment yet, she’s far too young to understand the concept of death.”

“Mrs. Carter…I think it would be a bad idea for you to walk out of here without some form of answers. I think your daughter was close to something there, like something is holding her back from speaking. Does your husband ever think of coming in for appointments?”

Jasmine holds Eliez tightly in her arms clutching her to her chest: “No…he’s ok with it. It hurts him, but unlike him I don’t know what else to do or who to turn to about my son’s death.”

“Its understandable. Perhaps we should see each other shortly then. I’m free at one tomorrow, I think I need to understand your side of the whole story.” Kevin glances at her as she nods.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’m only here to help get some answers for you Mrs. Carter. I don’t want you to feel it’s a mandatory thing to come see me. It’s your choice. But I want to help you and I’m hoping you’ll take this into consideration.” Kevin stands up, pushing the stool to the corner of the room.

Jasmine nods and opens the door, holding a shivering Eliez in her arms. Worriedly glancing at her daughter clinging to her shoulders in fear, she walks out of the office closing the door behind her.

Gulping, Kevin shakes his head and sighs, plopping down behind his desk on his office chair, the memories of the little girl suddenly acting up threw him off. He didn’t know what to speculate: is it possible the little girl sees a ghost or that some paranormal activity is taking place around them and they don’t even know it? Or could it be something else…something more. Tapping the tips of his fingers on the mahogany desk, he puts the recorder down rewinding it and replaying it again to see if he can figure out something. Listening closely, he can almost hear a very faint if not far away sound of an infant crying. Frowning, he shuts off the recorder hearing nothing out of the ordinary besides the child’s outburst. Leaning back in his seat, he closes his eyes and waits for the next patient to come in.
~*~

He frowns, his eyes locked on the platinum watch before him on the coffee desk.

“You staring at it: isn’t going to give you answers.” Arianna’s voice seeps in, stepping into the small cozy living room.

“I know that. I just want to know how it ended up at the Carter’s place.” Damien mumbles, drumming his fingers on the coffee table.

“She’s right, I say go over there and demand some answers.” A.J. replies, kicking his feet up on the coffee table.

Damien raises his eyebrows and eyes A.J. and his feet on the table.

“What?” A.J. asks, crossing his ankles as he lounges back.

“You don’t listen do you?” Damien eyes the man.

A.J. snorts: “Nope.” As he keeps his feet on the coffee table eagerly wanting to anger his friend.

Arianna smiles, sitting besides Damien watching her boyfriend licks his upper lip.

“Dude please, I’ll whip your white ass to black if you keep looking at me like that.” A.J. taunts out, sitting up with a smug look on his face.

Damien shakes his head smirking: “The only ass you’re touching is your girl’s. Now get your feet off my table before I kick them off.” He smiles, eager to see if the man will test his low patience.

Arianna clears her throat, touching Damien by the shoulder: “Oh I made a cupcake for you, why don’t you come check it out in the kitchen right now?”

A.J. smiles keeping his gaze on his friend: “Take a deep breath buddy. Seriously, you’ll give yourself a hernia or ulcer stressing out so much. That and I heard your dick shrinks from stress.”

Arianna holds back her laughter keeping her gaze on Damien who smirks and flips the man off.

Laughing, A.J. sits up as Makenzie exits the kitchen with a small metal tray of cup cakes in her hands.

Damien leans back as his eyes remained locked on the watch before him. He wants answers and he needed them now.
~**~


**~To Be Continued…~**