Chapter 9
NINE
I rubbed the invisible wrinkles from my tawny jacket and straightened my spine. The three-piece suit was custom-made and a gift from Edward Sledge, a client who’d managed to beat two murder cases in one sitting. Not because of lack of guilt but because self-defense was the plea.
Altered videos.
Threatening texts.
Missing evidence.
Forged police reports.
They all played a major part in freeing Edward. He was a law-abiding citizen on any given day. That day, however, he was defending his honor, and rightfully so. His mother and father designed four custom suits as a way to thank me for the trouble.
The locks turned on the door as I placed both hands in front of me. I uncurled my shoulders and lifted my chin. My freshly pressed hair was bone straight, resting against my threads and swaying with each movement of my head.
My makeup was freshly applied. A natural beat was always the best solution. I didn’t have to give it much thought. My brushes glided across my face with so much ease.
A fair-skinned woman appeared at the door. As it widened, a young girl came into full view. So did the other woman, standing beside her.
My heart plummeted from my chest, landing on the tips of my shoes. I attempted to replace the pain of seeing the pretty little face with a smile. It didn’t suffice.
Aubrey.
Images of her most precious gems flashed before my eyes. Still, I remained composed.
“Good evening,” I greeted, “I’m Attorney Childers. Range Childers.”
I extended a hand. Instead, I was catapulted into a set of comforting, cocoa drenched arms. The front door closed behind me. I wasn’t sure when I’d entered the spacious home, but inside, I could feel his presence.
His love.
His history.
His life’s story was in front of my eyes.
“I’m Danielle. This is my daughter Janeese. And, my grandaughter–”
“Aubrey,” I finished. “Josiah has told me so much about you.”
I leaned over, extending my hand toward Aubrey. It didn’t exist in her world. Her tiny arms wrapped around my legs as her head pressed into my thighs.
“Hello.”
Her tiny body and large presence was as pleasurable as it was saddening. Her father had the power to destroy her voice and ruin her confidence with his greed and selfishness. I hadn’t met him a day in my life, but I wholeheartedly believe he was where he needed to be.
“Hi, sweetie.”
Her little arms made my belly flutter. Rome’s words revisited me. She’d always dreamt of being a mother, but life was taking her in another direction. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see the day she denounced motherhood, but it had come.
And, strangely, I was proud of her. In fact, I was proud of any woman who wasn’t afraid to admit that the traditional way was not their way. It had made too many women unhappy, overwhelmed, overworked, overstimulated, and underappreciated.
“Where is Uncle Siah?”
She pulled back, running a hand through her hair. Her head was tilted and one foot was on top of the other. The white dress she wore reminded me of paradise.
St. Catana.
I missed the island. I missed the people occupying the island. I missed Jru. égée. Teddy. Egypt. Rhea. Rugger.
“He’s away, but he will be back soon.”
“How soon?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t be certain, but I’m going to try my best to get him back home as quickly as I can. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Janeese.”
This time, my hand was accepted. Weary eyes and a forced smile greeted me.
She and Josiah resemblances were uncanny.
She was stunning. Her face belonged in magazines and on billboards.
Her skin was silky smooth. Her teeth were straight.
And perfect. Her hair was soft. It hung down her back, pressed with the precision of a master stylist.
She was over five feet, but far from the six foot mark. I towered over her with ease. She was barely one hundred and fifty pounds. The stress of her brother’s incarceration and the pain of her husband’s death had likely stripped her of a few pounds. Still, she was breathtaking.
“If you don’t mind, there are some questions I need to ask you to clear up my timeline and tie up my motion.”
“Motion?”
“To dismiss.”
A gasp fell from Janeese’s lips. “Dismiss?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “That is my plan, and if you are up to it, I’d like to speak with you. If not, I can return at a later time. I won’t be long. Ten minutes at best.”
“I– I have ten minutes to spare.”
“Thank you.”
“Aubrey–” Josiah’s mother called out to his niece.
Just like Janeese and Josiah, Danielle’s skin was flawless. Free of blemishes. Free of wrinkles. They were aging backward. Hadn’t the gray consumed her strands, I wouldn’t have guessed her age bracket.
“Come this way, sweetie. We’re going into the playroom so Mommy and Attorney Childers can talk.”
“Okay. Coming!”
Aubrey’s feet patted against the floor. She was on the tips of her toes as if lowering her feet would cause physical pain. She reminded me of someone…
Of my Rome.
We’d known she was a ballerina before she ever touched a bar.
“This way,” Janeese insisted.
Click.
Clack.
I followed her down the time capsule that was formally called a hallway. My feet slowed to a creep as Baby Josiah, wrapped in a white and blue blanket, summoned my attention. Then, there was young Josiah, standing next to a red power car in jeans and a Tommy hat.
Kindergarten Josiah.
Fifth grade Josiah.
Middle school Josiah.
High School Josiah.
College graduate Josiah.
Graduate Josiah.
Doctor Josiah.
Blackwood Pharmaceuticals Josiah.
I rested my palms on my lips, taking in the evolution of the man I was falling headfirst for. His accolades continued through the home, most decorating the study where Janeese took a seat at the round table.
Criminal Josiah.
It was the only image of him that had replayed in my mind for the past month. Seeing him at his finest was awestriking.
No chains.
No shackles.
No doors.
No buzzing.
“He’s something, isn’t he?”
I nodded.
“He’s unbelievable.”
“Which complicates this even more. I don’t understand.”
“Is there something I can clarify?”
She shook her head. “We’re not here for me. We’re here for him. And, that’s all that matters.”
“Okay– but if you change your mind, I will give you the answers I have as long as it doesn’t interfere with the work I’m doing for your brother.”
She nodded.
“Now… When was the last time you saw your husband?”
“The morning of his disappearance. He kissed Aubrey and I goodbye and headed to work as he usually does.”
My stomach knotted at the sound of his lips touching the child he’d exploited so carelessly.
“Did he leave home in a timely manner?”
“No. He was running behind. It’s the same for him. Almost every morning. He likes to spend a little extra time with Aubrey before leaving. It’s hard for him to get out of the door each morning. They snuggle before work.”
Oh, Janeese.
Her cluelessness was disheartening. She loved her husband. The welling of tears in her eyes told me so. The pain written all over her face told me so. Her posture told me so.
I despised the very ground he walked on.
However, it wasn’t my duty to express my feelings.
They didn’t matter. Josiah had yet to report his findings.
I wouldn’t be the one to break the news.
More importantly than any of our feelings was Aubrey’s safety and her uncle had made sure she would be safer in her own home.
“So, tardiness is not unusual for him?”
“Oh gosh, no. Anthony is almost always running behind, even if only by one minute. I am the prompt one in our marriage. Tardiness is never on my agenda. But, we were raised much differently.”
“Yeah? Did Anthony have a tough upbringing?”
I removed my notepad and pen from my briefcase.
“I wouldn’t say tough, but very different. He’s the oldest of three. His father wasn’t present. His mother depended on him more than she should’ve. He was responsible for children half his age by the time he was ten. It didn’t get easier once they got older.
“They still depend on his wisdom, knowledge, and validation. He wasn’t able to be a child, you know, which is why he makes sure Aubrey has the best childhood. He’s been a father, in the most unconventional manner, since a young boy. Time was hardly ever a factor.
“His responsibilities mattered more to him. Because, if he didn’t see after his siblings and make sure they were prepared daily, then no one would. His contributions to their lives are something he’s proud of. His youngest brother is a cardiologist. His sister is an OB/GYN.”
“All physicians?”
“Yes. They followed in his footsteps. However, Anthony had no desire to work with patients. Not at that capacity. Pharmacy suited him better.”
“Are his siblings in Aubrey’s life?”
“Yes, but not very often. They’re lives are more of the same. The chaos they’re accustomed to lingered into adulthood.”
“Even with their careers?”
“I wholeheartedly believe it’s the reason they chose their careers. The uncertainty feels familiar. They never know what they’re going to encounter at work. The instability is comforting.”
“Did it spill into your home?”
Janeese shook her head.
“I wouldn’t allow it. Not only would it become a wedge between Anthony and I, but it would affect our child as well.”
“How’d you bring about change in Anthony’s world?”
“He was a willing participant. He wanted to change. He wanted to regulate his nervous system. He wanted predictability. Routines. Roles.”
“Has he ever left home without you hearing from him?”
Silence.
“For days? For a day? For a week? A month?”
Silence.
“Janeese. This is important.”
With her thumb and index finger against her lips, she nodded.
“He has?”
“Is that why you didn’t reach out to the police immediately?”
“Anthony is a good guy, you know. But, like anyone else, he has his flaws.”
“Gambling?” I offered, choosing to reveal bits of information I was privy to.
She nodded again.
“It was ‘controlled’ chaos according to him. But, the first time he went missing for two days, I knew that was the furthest from the truth.”
“How extensive was his longest binge?”
“Gosh– uh– let me see–”
She inhaled and sat up straight. Her eyes traveled to the ceiling. Her chin lifted and her hands ran down the legs of her pants.
“Nine days.”
“How often were these stretches?”
“Once a year, maybe.”
“And when was the last one?”
“Last year. It was the worst.”
“The nine days?”
“Yes. I threatened him with divorce. However, he promised to never– uh– to never– you know.”
“It is possible that he is alive, Janeese? Is it possible he is too afraid of the consequences of his return home?”
I had cleaned his blood from the floors of Josiah’s home.
I had seen the images he’d taken. I had visited the site where they’d been sold.
I had replaced the flooring and furniture in Josiah’s home after a thorough cleaning.
Anthony was dead. There was no doubt in my mind, but I wanted to raise suspicion in hers.
“I– I don’t kn– I don’t think so. I just– It’s been months! He would’ve come home by now. He wouldn’t leave Aubrey for this long. No matter what the consequences were.”
“Are you certain?”
As she nodded, her shoulders rose slowly. And, then, they fell.
“You nodded, Janeese. But, your shoulders–”
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“But there is a possibility?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her brown skin.
“Okay.”
I made a note on my notepad. After detailing Anthony’s past behavior, I rested my pen.
“That’s all?”
I nodded.
“Yes, that is all.”
Her shoulders curled inward as they lowered. She leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table. Her head fell between her palms. She rubbed them down her face.
“Anthony is no longer with us,” she wept. “I can feel it. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. He’s no longer here.”
“Jane–”
She lowered her hands and turned toward me, face wet with tears.
“Did he do it?”
“I–”
“Did Josiah do it?”
“I can’t answer a question I don’t have the answer to, unfortunately. Mr. Blackwo–”
“Wouldn’t blink twice if he felt like my life or my daughter’s life was in danger. He wouldn’t hesitate. And, he wouldn’t be remorseful. Like now. I just can’t shake this feeling, you know?”
“Feeling?”
“That he’s protecting me again. I just want to know why? From what? From who? I just want answers. I need answers.”
Her sureness of Josiah’s guilt led me to believe she knew her brother very well.
“You think Josiah would kill for you?”
“Without question,” she rushed out. “I don’t want to be the reason he’s turned his life upside down. I won’t be able to handle that. I’ll never forgive myself.”
It wasn’t the heartbreak of her husband’s death that was leading our conversation. It was the idea that she’d caused her brother his career. It was the idea that she’s ripped Josiah’s life right out of his hands. It was the idea that she’d taken his freedom away from him.
“Aubrey can survive without Anthony. Aubrey can not survive without Josiah. I can’t survive without Josiah. Neither can our parents. He’s our glue.”
She was breaking my heart. I couldn’t bear much more of her agonizing whimpers. She was hopeless. Afraid. Lonely. Heartbroken. I couldn’t watch her crumble. I stood from my seat and straightened my threads.
“Josiah will be home, Janeese.”
With my briefcase in my hand, I exited the study. I didn’t search for their mother. Neither did I search for Aubrey. I excused myself from their home and slid into my vehicle with one question on my mind that I planned to get to the bottom of before I laid my head on my pillow tonight.
Whose life has Josiah ended to protect Janeese?