Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
E than adjusted his tie, as he entered the funeral home for Amina’s wake. Since he’d learned of Amina’s passing, he scoured the obituaries for any information on a funeral service for her but could find nothing. He finally resorted to looking into her personnel files and looking up an emergency contact number.
Of course, that bastard was listed, and he didn’t think a call from him would be welcome. So, he’d asked one of the nurses to call Mark to see where the office could send flowers and to see when a service would be held.
He learned there was only going to be a private viewing at a funeral home in the city.
Maybe he was crossing a line by showing up to a place he clearly wasn’t invited to, but Ethan needed this one final goodbye if for nothing else, than to have some closure.
The funeral parlor was cold and sterile. The soft sound of organ music played over the speakers that were affixed to the corners of the wall. A bald man with heavy lines in his dark brown face, stood in the center of the hallway. Judging from his dark suit and white gloves, Ethan assumed he was the funeral director.
“Good afternoon, Sir. Are you here for the Caldwell viewing?”
His heart pounded. The director’s words somehow made this seem even more real. Deep down, Ethan had hoped this was all some crazy nightmare he’d wake up from but instead, here he was about to view the body of a woman whose life was tragically cut short. A woman, he couldn’t save.
“This way, Sir. I’m happy you could come by. The Caldwell viewing is this way.”
He was lead into a room that was eerily empty. Ethan wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting but he thought he’d see some family members or at least that deadbeat husband of hers. Yet the room was full of empty chairs. At the end of the aisle was an open casket.
There was only one large arrangement of flowers and he had a good idea that it was the one sent from their office. With each step that drew him closer to the casket, it became harder to breathe.
Ethan swayed on his feet as he viewed the body. He’d seen plenty of dead bodies in his profession, and there were a few unfortunate times when he’d witnessed someone die, so seeing Amina so still and lifeless somehow managed to shake him to his core.
It didn’t look like her. Whoever had prepared her body for viewing had been heavy-handed on the makeup giving her the pallor of someone who had been deathly ill before they passed away. She appeared so much thinner than when he’d last seen her, almost to the point of emaciation. And for some reason she was wearing a cheap looking wig.
What had that bastard done to her? What kind of hell did she suffer in the last few years of her life to be in such a state?
Tears stung his eyes as anger welled in his chest. He clenched his fists at his sides. “I’m so sorry…Amina. I’m so sorry I failed you. I wish I could have helped you. If…if I had another chance, I would make sure that bastard would never hurt you again.”
It was only when he tasted the saltiness of something wet in the corner of his mouth did he realize that a tear escaped his eye.
“Dr. Han?” A soft voice called to him.
Embarrassed, he hastily wiped his face before turning around to see a small blonde woman.
“Paisley?”
He hadn’t seen her in a while since she’d abruptly left the office sighting her inability to handle the work load although he was certain that wasn’t the case. Unfortunately it wasn’t until after she had left did he learn that Carole, one of his nurses was creating a toxic environment for the other staff in the office.
By the time he figured it out, he and Frank collectively decided to let her go and then found themselves dealing with a lawsuit for unlawful termination.
It had been such a headache to deal with.
Paisley smiled briefly. “Yes, long time no see.”
“It’s good to see you, I wish we could have reunited under better circumstances.”
She nodded. “Yes, me too. I’m still in contact with Jennie at the office and she let me know about Amina. I had to come.” She glimpsed over his shoulder to look into the casket and let out a loud gasp.
“Ohmygod!” She covered her mouth.
“I know. It’s upsetting.” Ethan patted Paisley on the shoulder.
Tears welled in her bright blue eyes. “She looks so frail. I don’t understand how this can happen. Was…was she sick? Do you know how she passed? Jennie didn’t offer me many details.”
Ethan and Frank had informed the staff of Amina’s passing but didn’t disclose the reason to protect her dignity. “The last few years have been rough for her but I know she would have been touched that you could be here today,” he said, sidestepping her question.
Paisley moved closer to the casket and briefly placed her hand along the edge. “Amina was so sweet. She always took the time to answer my questions and she was patient with me. I know this is stupid but whenever we had donuts, she would usually save my favorite one. We even went out to lunch a few times. I would like to think we were friends but…”
“But what?”
“Well, when everyone at the office got an invite to her wedding, I was pleased to go. But then I saw her groom for the first time. I got an icky feeling about him. He seemed nice enough but I just couldn’t put my finger on it, ya know?”
Ethan knew exactly what she meant but he could only nod, wanting her to continue. It was interesting to get someone else’s perspective of what he’d also observed.
“Shortly after she got married, Amina changed. She always closed her office door and she stopped doing the little stuff. I would ask her if she wanted to hang out but she’d decline. She always seemed so skittish. And…” she leaned in closer as if they weren’t the only two people in the room. “I think he might have been hurting her but I couldn’t be sure. But she was a whole different person. I kind of wish I would have stuck it out at that job, but well…”
“I understand.”
Paisley looked over her shoulder. “Why are we the only two people here? Where is her family? Where’s her husband?”
Ethan had been so caught up in his grief at seeing Amina’s body that he didn’t give that a thought. Before he could answer, he was interrupted.
“Ugh, how long do we have to stay here? No one is going to show up to see her lame ass.”
Ethan and Paisley turned simultaneously to see Mark saunter in with a large soda and a bag from a fast-food restaurant. A woman with waist length multi-colored braids, and a tiny black dress that barely covered her breasts and ass, followed behind him.
He assumed she was the owner of the voice.
The pair halted when they noticed him and Paisley staring at them.
Mark’s lips firmed to a thin disapproving line before he squared his shoulders and approached them. “Well, well, well. I didn’t expect you to show up, but you were always fond of Amina weren’t you? When she worked for you, it was always Dr. Han this, and Dr. Han that. Didn’t think the next time you saw her would be in a casket did you?”
The woman behind him snickered. “Mark, be nice. These people are obviously here to pay their respects.” She maneuvered her way around Mark and held out her hand to Ethan. “Did I hear him say doctor? I’m Amina’s cousin, Candace. I can’t thank you enough for coming to pay your respects to our dear Amina. Her death came as a surprise to us all.”
As she spoke, she pushed her chest forward, to the point where Ethan thought her boobs would spill out.
The instant distaste he felt for this woman made the rage that had been simmering below the surface bubble to the top. He stared pointedly at her hand until she lowered it.
A deep red colored Candace’s golden-brown cheeks. “Well, excuse you.”
“There’s no need to be rude, my guy.” Mark walked next to Candace and placed his arm around her shoulders in a comforting gesture.
“So you two just happened to go out during your wife’s viewing?” Ethan asked with clenched teeth.
“No one was here. We went to the place across the street to pick up some food. What’s the big deal?” Mark shrugged as if he wasn’t standing in front of Amina’s dead body.
“The big deal is, your wife is no longer alive and neither you nor her….” Ethan gave Candace a sweeping look from head to toe. “Cousin here don’t seem very bereaved. In fact, it sounds like the two of you can’t wait to get this thing over with. Amina deserved so much better than a piece of garbage like you.”
Mark dropped his arm from around Candace and got in Ethan face. He tilted his head back until their eyes met, and noses were only inches away. “What the fuck did you just say?”
The contempt he had for this man ran deeper than the Grand Canyon. He refused to be intimidated by this low life piece of shit who only went after people who were physically weaker than him. “You heard me just fine, but a coward like you isn’t going to do anything about it because I’m not a women and I’m not afraid of you.”
“Oh, I know you’re not going to let this guy talk to you like that.” Candace burst out laughing.
Mark flared his nostrils and snarled as he raised his fist, sending it directly toward Ethan’s chin.
Ethan easily caught Mark’s fist in his palm and drove his own fist into the other man’s midsection.
The other man doubled over with a loud gasp before collapsing to the floor, clutching his stomach.
“Oh my God!” Paisley call out.
“Damn!” Candace sounded mildly impressed.
Ethan debated kicking Mark as he writhed on the ground, but the funeral director chose that moment to enter the room. “What’s going on in here?” He ran over to Mark who was still writhing on the floor and groaning.
Ethan looked down at Mark, daring him to get up. “He just ran out of hot air. He’ll be fine. Trust me. I’m a doctor.”
He couldn’t bear to spare another glance at Amina’s body. That was no longer her. Ethan wanted to remember her smile, and kindness and the gentle warmth of her eyes.
Besides, seeing her lifeless body would only serve as a reminder of what might have been.
Storming out of the funeral home without looking back, he didn’t notice anyone had followed him until a hand fell on his shoulder. With adrenaline surging through his body he spun on his heel with a balled fist ready to swing.
“Eek!” Paisley backed away with a jump. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to walk up on you like that.”
Ethan took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. That guy just rubs me the wrong way. Even still, my behavior was inappropriate for the setting. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
She shook her head and waved her hands in a flurried gesture. “No. There’s no need to apologize. You were great. I wish I could have done the same. That guy makes me uneasy. And did you see how close he was to the cousin? It’s like they have something going on between them. That was so tacky. Anyway, what was that move back there? I didn’t know you had that in you.”
Ethan clenched and unclenched his fists to stretch his muscles. “I used to do some boxing in high school and college. I was actually pretty good. Made a little money on the side to help with expenses.”
He had invested some of his winnings in the stock market that still earned him dividends to this day.
Paisley stared at him with awe shining in her blue eyes. “I’m impressed. I assume you don’t box anymore?”
“Not since I started med school. In my specialty the preservation of my hands is important so it was either continue to box or forget about being a surgeon.”
“Well I’m glad you gave that jerk what was coming to him.” She bowed her head. “Dr. Han, I wish there was more we could do for Amina. It’s clear that jerk was hurting her. Maybe we could go to the police or something.”
Ethan had thought about that but he’d seen so many domestic battery victims get pushed to the backburner when it came to the police. “It’s a thought, but I’m not sure what they’d do. And people like him, will always have an excuse and wiggle their way out of trouble.”
Paisley raised her chin defiantly. “Well, I’m going to go to the police. Even if they don’t do anything about it, it will be on record. Amina deserved so much better.” She sighed. “I need to get out of here but if we ever see each other again, I hope it’s under better circumstances.”
On his drive home Paisley’s words resonated in his head. She was absolutely right. Amina did deserve better and if it was the last thing he did, he’d see that bastard pay for what he did to her.
He released an exhausted breath when he pulled into the garage of his condo building. As he walked across the parking lot toward the entrance, the hairs on the back of his neck rose. He stopped and looked around him. The parking lot appeared empty but as just as he pulled out the key card to allow him access to the building he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
He cautiously turned, thinking it was probably one of his neighbors, but a man in a black hood approached him. “Hey, are you Dr. Ethan Han?” the mysterious man asked in accented English.
Ethan tensed. “Who wants to know?”
The hooded man approached him. “I have something to give you.”
“What? And who are you?”
Though Ethan couldn’t make out the person’s entire face, he saw the man had a visible scar on his mouth from cleft palate. His lips curled into a smirk. “Oh, just a special delivery.”
Before Ethan could respond, the man pulled out a gun and fired off three shots directly to his chest, sending Ethan flying backward.
Collapsing to the ground, he coughed, and a splatter of blood erupted from his mouth as he clutched his chest. The sharp pain from where the bullets had entered his flesh was brief, but a slow ache spread throughout his injured body.
He looked up to see the hooded man standing over him. Ethan wanted to ask why, but each time he attempted speak, he’d cough up more blood. He was losing blood so rapidly, Ethan realized his wounds were fatal.
The man bent over and whispered something that seized his already dying heart.
As his body grew cold from the rapid lowering of his blood pressure, so many thoughts swam in his mind. He thought about how sad his mother would be and about his practice. But most of all, he thought about Amina.
Ultimately he hadn’t been able to save her. But now that he was dying, he hoped he saw her again in the afterlife.