20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Brooklyn Sloane January 2025 Saturday — 1:51 pm
The silence seemed to swallow every breath and heartbeat within Nora Miske’s small apartment. Outside, life went on as usual for the people walking by, completely unaware of the tragedy that had occurred within these walls. Nora sat alone in a chair while staring blankly at the couch. The faded cushions had lost any trace of Vaughn Queller’s form now that his body had been taken to the morgue.
Not even the flutter of her eyelashes could snap her out of the stunned trance.
The local police and medical examiner had vacated the premises fifteen minutes ago, and Detective Kitsis had taken his leave shortly thereafter. His intention had been to return to the station, satisfied with his findings, leaving Brook to drive back to S&E Investigations. She found she couldn’t bring herself to leave Nora alone quite yet.
Brook had wondered many times over the course of her life if her ability to feel empathy had been swallowed by the violence of her brother's past. But as she studied Nora, a shred of sorrow formed as she witnessed the rawest form of human grief—loss.
The oppressive silence of the apartment seemed to seep into every corner. Brook's gaze lingered on Nora for a moment longer before she quietly rose from her seat and made her way to the kitchen. The dirty dishes piled high in the sink had never made it to the dishwasher, and dried bits of food were still scattered across the countertops. The fact that Nora could function so well in her position at the restaurant left Brook to believe the woman had dropped everything in the past week to take care of Vaughn.
Blessings were sometimes disguised by loss.
Some might say that Brook’s view of the world was appalling, but it was her outlook that allowed her to function on a daily basis. Nora had invested all her emotions and energy into someone incapable of reciprocating love. She wouldn’t view her circumstances as such at the moment, but she was being given the opportunity to truly live for herself.
Brook searched beneath the sink and found a pair of yellow dish gloves that had seen better days. She slipped them on and began to scrub away at the grime and debris that cluttered the space. As she worked, the familiar rhythm of cleaning offered a sense of order, allowing some much-needed time to piece together some threads of the investigation.
Over an hour passed, marked only by the steady sound of running water and the faint scrapes of the sponge against the dishes. Not even the powerful dishwasher would have been able to remove all traces of dried food from the plates. The once-dirty kitchen now gleamed with spotless surfaces.
After starting the dishwasher and storing the yellow gloves back underneath the sink, Brook shifted her focus to the standard single-serve coffee machine next to the refrigerator. It only took a few moments to brew two cups of coffee. She carried them into the living room where Nora remained in the chair in the same position as Brook had left her.
“Nora.” Brook stated the woman’s name, not softening her tone. It was time for Nora to return to the land of the living. “Take this. After you’ve had a few sips, we’ll get you something to eat.”
Nora's gaze finally shifted from the couch to the coffee.
“Nora, take the coffee.”
Instinctively, the grieving woman reached out and took the hot beverage. As if her arm hadn’t the strength to lift it to her lips, she eventually ended up cradling the mug in both hands as she stared bleakly into its dark contents.
“It’s hard to breathe.”
“I know,” Brook replied as she took a seat in the other chair.
“I feel like I'm drowning.”
Raw vulnerability laced Nora's voice.
“Grief comes in waves, Nora. There will be a break in the tide. You’ll be able to breathe, function, and take a step forward.”
“And if there isn’t a break?”
The fact that Nora could rationalize her thoughts was a positive sign. It wasn’t long until she lifted the mug to her lips and took a tentative sip. She grimaced at the bitter aftertaste, but soon, the caffeine would help snap her back to reality.
“There is always a break. If one doesn’t come naturally, then you force it yourself. You’re strong, Nora.” Brook had read the woman’s background, and her childhood had been anything but good. “You’ve faced worse.”
“Why are you still here?” Nora asked, genuine confusion written across her features. “You've got all the answers you'll ever get from Vaughn. Why stay?”
“Sometimes, people shouldn't be alone.” As Brook spoke those words, she realized asking Graham to cancel his trip wouldn’t have been the end of the world. “Nora, is there anyone you can call?”
“No one will understand.” Nora focused on the couch, but this time, she was fully present. “Do you think they’re together now?”
“I think Vaughn forgives you.”
Brook’s statement had Nora’s full attention now.
“That’s what you want to know, isn’t it?” Brook finally softened her tone as she gave Nora a small smile. “I think it was you who asked Mara for fifty thousand dollars. Vaughn was happy with his usual ten. He was happy with anything his sister gave him.”
“How did you…”
“Vaughn's reaction when I mentioned the large figure.” Brook took a sip of her own coffee. She forced herself to swallow the warm contents, but she wouldn’t be having any more. “Vaughn had no idea what I was talking about, but he quickly figured it out. Instead of denying it, he covered for you.”
“He was so mad at me after you left,” Nora revealed with a bitterness directed at herself. “I couldn’t believe it when Mara walked into the restaurant. I had only been working there for over a month, so she was surprised to see me, too. I didn’t think it would hurt to ask for fifty thousand dollars, but the bitch told me no.”
“You resented Mara.”
“I didn’t kill her,” Nora denied defiantly. It was as if her previous words had finally registered in her head. “Neither did Vaughn. She called to tell him to stay away from the residence. He came here. We were telling you the truth.”
“I know.”
Nora stared at Brook for a moment, weighing if there was any truth to her words. Gradually, the tension in her shoulders began to dissipate. A more comfortable silence settled over the room.
“Do you think they’re together right now?”
Brook caught the slightest of desperation in Nora’s tone. She needed to believe that Vaughn was okay. That he was at peace. That he was finally with his sister.
“I hope so, Nora.”