Thursday Nov. 26th
Dear Cal
I left New York City as soon as soon as I could, our deal still stands even though nothing went according to plans. All that matters is Martin is dead.
AMF
+++
December 1st
Dear Cal
Far be It from me to want to further separate Rosalie from her mother, however it will be an extremely cold day in hell before I find myself charged with murder.
+++
Dear, Cal
I have just recently arrived back in New York. Ms. DeLune is now aware that I was in New York City when Martin was murdered. She may be getting closer to the truth, but she knows nothing about us.
I 've devised a way to keep her quiet and learn all her secrets.
AMF
Rainer read the letters that had been anonymously placed in her office
mailbox.
She looked up from the mail as a very tired Clara DeLune was being signed out of police custody, again.
The letters and the
nomenclatures were a mystery to Rainer. She could have easily called Clara back
to question her about the new evidence but it had been a tough night for the girl
Beside Rainer knew Clara wasn’t dangerous, but maybe if she let her go she would get just enough string to hang herself with
+1+
all of this past
M-O-Z-A-R-T
I looked at the word on the white washed board the black dry erase marker was shaking in my hands.
Why had I written Mozart on the board ? What the hell had I been talking about ?
I turned around to face the lecture hall full of half-asleep, half-confused freshman who had been expecting an final exam review today. My eyes shifted to the corner where Dr. Witten the head of the Music department at Rochester University was sitting. The one day he decided to sit in on my class and this had to happen.
I underlined “Mozart” for effect and put the cap on the marker.
I suppose this is what happens when you spend all night in police custody without getting any sleep.
Rainer seemed to be full of herself last night when I was escorted into the station. I had looked around expecting to see my mothers or sisters. If my father was still alive he would have been able to pull strings to have them all out before they were even arrested.
“I’m here”, I had said to Rainer, “Please let my family go.”
“They are just filling out some paperwork, I need you to come with me.”
She led me into the strangely comfortable interrogation room and I took what I was starting to become my usual seat.
I expected her to start questioning me but she left me alone in the room for 2 hours. It gave me way to much time to think. When she finally came back in she had a stack of folders with her.
“So”, she said recapping, “You tell me you are innocent then the next day you mysteriously leave for 2 days. Do you see how that might make you look guilty ? And not only that but you have a ‘secret admirer’ who sent you the exact flowers your father was killed with the same week he died.”
She showed me a photo of pink oleanders, similar to the ones Mr. Fierro and Rosalie had sent me last week.
“Can’t you just find out where the flowers are from ?”, I said
“Do you know how many florist in the United States would allow oleander arrangement deliveries”
“No”
“None.”, she said, “ I'm thinking you brought the seeds you grew the flowers and use them to poison your father.”
“First”, I said sitting up, “I’ve been living in New York for six months. The cold weather would have killed the plants. Second I don’t even have my own home let alone a gard-“
“You seem to know a lot about how to grow oleanders.”
I folded my arms and sat back. Once again I was not under arrest and I knew I could leave anytime I wanted but she would just pull me in again.
There were three knocks on the door and Juliet was let in. I could swear she knew there was something different about me when she walked in. Like she suddenly knew I wasn’t on her side but I wanted her on mine.
“Can I see your hand ?”, Juliet asked
“What for ?”
“I want to help you.”
“I’d do it if I were you”, Rainer suggested.
I brushed my hand against my coat and reached for her hand. I didn’t expect anything to happen but the minute my hand reached hers my vision went black, I could feel my eyes reaching for the back of the socket. Somewhere I head Rainer gasp.
The black slowly dissapared and I was standing upright on the front porch of the Victorian Farmhouse in Monroe county. I took one step in after the other while listening to the strange sound of my heels on the floor. Just below my feet was a trail of pink oleander petals.
I walked alongside
them ,never on them. I followed them outside the house and through the grass as I kept walking the
trail of flowers began to thin. Finally
only one petal remained and it was pointed at the crooked wooden barn in the
backyard.
Was there a barn in the back of the house ?
Something warm and welcoming was coming from the door of the hideous structure, so I continued to walk closer till I reached the doors.
The doors opened easily and the trail continued except instead of a trail of petals there was a trail of blood but for some reason I followed it with the same enthusiasm.
After a few more steps the light-heartedness of the path I followed began to fade. I came across the familiar figure of a man, a man I thought I knew but he was older-- elderly even. His neck was twisted into an unnatural angle and wrapped in silver chains ripping away at his pallid skin. The whites of his eyes were as red as the blood slowly being expelled from the wound on his chest.
I was strangely calm and approached the old man, kneeling next to him in the blood.
“I-I think know you”, I said not knowing why, “Mr. F-“
The old man made a noise it was short and sounded painful but he was telling me to stop, to not say his name though suddenly I wanted to say it more than anything.
“I’m sorry it had to end like this ”, I said examining his macabre state.
I was suddenly frightened and tried to run away when something caught
me off guard. I looked down to see the sharp edge of a knife between my
ribs, staining the dress I was wearing. I watched as the blood saturated the fabric and began to drip on my legs.
"I knew it", I said still standing, "I knew you would--do--this"
I took one step and almost fell to the ground.The world shivered again and something pulled at me like a bright blinding light.
I felt Juilet’s hand in mine and my eyes fluttered back to the police station. My throat was dry and my heart was beating fast.
“That is so strange”, Juliet said with fascination, “Those were your thoughts. Usually I can only read the thoughts of those that passed. How interesting.”
“I would never think things like that.”
“Maybe not with the part of your brain you are aware of”
“What did you see ?”, Rainer’s voice suddenly broke us out of our conversation
Juliet picked up her pencil and pad to draw the scene and I immediately reached over to stop her.
“Don’t”. , I begged, "It has nothing to do with the investigation"
She looked from my hand and straight to my eyes. I quickly retracted my hand.
"I guess not", she agreed
She set the pen down and turned to Rainer.
“She knows him.”, Juliet said, “The man in the eighth sketch but she doesn't trust him”
“Who is he ?”, Rainer asked Juliet though I wondered what sketch she was referring to.
“I couldn’t get that far”, Juliet said narrowing her eyes.
"Try again", Rainer insisted
"I can't. . . I'm tired."Rainer paced around the room and turned back to Juliet
“Fine, get home I’ll deal with Ms. DeLune”
“She won’t tell you”, Juliet said gathering her things, “She loves him , she think she can help him, she thinks she can replace. . . someone but she can’t she’s wrong.”
“Stay the hell out of my mind”, I finally said I realized my anger may have been directed at the wrong person
“Clara”, Rainer said in a soft patronizing voice, “I want to help you and your family. If this man did kill your father you have to tell me.”
I looked over to Juliet who was slowly making her way out of the room. Just as she pushed the door opened a man with slick black hair and a three thousand dollar suit walked in. I groaned at the sight of Claudia’s husband Derek. He was a lawyer and compared to Colin he was 10 times less likable.
“May I help you ?”, Rainer said knowing a lawyer when she saw one.
“I’m Clara’s lawyer and once again Detective because Clara is not under arrest I’m taking her home. . . come along Clara.”
Derek pulled my chair out and even though I had never been fond of Derek I decided to listen to him
“Next time Clara”, Rainer said, “Next time you won’t be leaving out the front door.”
I turned back at her words to see her flipping through her mailbox.
I let myself breathe as Derek lead me outside the precinct where my mother was waiting. She was angry with me but hugged me first.
“Clara you can’t just leave like that. I don’t care how old you are a mother wants to know where her child is and that she is safe at all times.”
“Believe me I know Mother.”
Our reunion was interrupted by Claudia who had felt the need to take over the family
being the eldest daughter and all. She looked as if she had been dressed for a party when they took her into custody.
“Clara they put us in a holding cell. How could you be so irresponsible? Where were you ?”
“I’m sorry Claudia. I –I just needed space.”
She stepped up to me with her arms folded.
“I don’t care Clara you don’t abounded us. Go home with Clarice and Colin, go to work tomorrow and do not get into anymore trouble. Whatever Detective Rainer has on you Derek will take care of it.”
“Alright”, I said not faltering under my sisters gaze.
Colin and Clarice called for a car to take us back to their house. The children were staying with their paternal relatives while things were being worked out. Clarice sat in the back seat with me trying to improve the situation.
“It wasn’t even that bad, it was like being in a hospital
waiting room.”, Clarice said, "Claudia had a fit the whole time. It was actually kind of funny"
“Did you tell the police I took your passport ?”
“No, I didn’t want to cause trouble. I don’t care what they say I know you didn’t do it Clara.”
After that she turned her attention back to the window and I kept replaying the horrible images from my mind over and over again.
Once I was locked away in my own bedroom the images replayed everywhere and they seemed so real.
I saw him old, dying, bleeding
Wilting away
Stabbing me in the back, because I would always be second, I would always be expendable
That was who he was on the inside and not even time could change that.
I tried not to think about it and yet I had right in the middle of my own lecture of all places. I drew another line under “Mozart” and turned back to the class.
They were all staring at me and I was still coming up blank.
“I think that is going to be it for the day”, before I could finish the classroom half of them were already packed and whispering as they walked out.
“Dr. DeLune?”
Dr. Cardall called me over to where he was sitting. To say classical music was a boys club was an understatement. I know I needed to prove myself to my colleagues and I had been off my game lately.
“Yes ?”, I said gathering my books and thankful I had dressed modestly in dark jeans and a button-up.
“Today’s lecture was. . . short”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to get back to the swing of things. “
“Should I take it two mourning days weren’t enough”
Hell no that wasn't enough time.
“No”, I said, “It was fine.. . it won’t happen again.”
“Everyone at the university considered your father’s death a great lost to the music community. It is an honor to have you here but we need all of you here.”
“I’m sorry it won’t happen again”, was all I could say
Without looking back I walked out the lecture hall with my keys in hand. I stopped for a sixth cup of coffee in the faculty lounge, drinking it all before reaching the parking garage.
+++
the entertainer
I was half awake as I drove to through Monroe county. The long drive had given me time to realize how angry I was at Detective Rainer. No one had any solid reason to treat me like a criminal. I was always the good one.
My boots crunched in the dry leaves and the door to the house was ajar. As I pushed it open I heard the broken notes of “The Entertainer” coming down the stairs. I followed the sound around the stair case till I reached what I took as the piano room.
I pushed the door open and saw Joy sitting in a rocking chair by the window watching as Rosalie studied the white washed upright piano before her. Rosalie pressed her fingers to the piano playing Scott Joplin with amazing precision.
I jumped as I felt a pair of cold hands rest on my forearms. I turned around not quite ready to look Mr. Fierro in the eyes.
“Joy did a wonderful job teaching her”, I said admiring her technique though her hands were still small.
“She was never taught anything”, he said stepping closer to me
"You're kidding", I said
Suddenly Rosalie hit a string of wrong notes she tried again to play but quickly lost it. I moved to go and help her but Mr. Fierro held me back.
“It’s best not to get in her way when she is like this.”
With frustration Rosalie stamped her foot and picked up the song book hurling it at Joy.
“She can’t just throw tantrums like that”, I said, “It is completely uncalled for”
“leave it be for now”, he said pulling me away from the door just as I heard a vase break followed by something hitting the door.
I followed him back around the stairs and into the hall.
“Do you know where I’ve been all night”, I asked folding my arms.
“No, should I ? ”
“I was being questioned by Detective Rainer and her psychic. Why did you have to send me those oleanders?”
“I sent them to you, I didn’t tell you to kill your father with them.”
“If I hear one more person tell me I killed my father I’m going to lose it.”, I was starting to get a headache, "you sent me poisonous flowers"
“I sent you beautiful flowers.”
“Mr. Fierro I don't think you understand.I loved my father, you didn’t. He was like a principle to you. After all he was supposed to be your son, He knows you’re supposed to be dead and about Rosalie.you had plenty of reasons to kill him”
He tensed a little, I was purposley trying to make him uneasy.
“Are you a detective now ?”, he asked.
“All I know is it is hard to kill a person but easy to kill a principle”
“I will keep that in mind.. . let me give you a tour of the house.”
I looked at my watch, it was almost five and I needed to be at my mother's for dinner. . . oh and I needed to sleep and a nightcap..
“ I should get home”, I started yawning.
“I wasn’t asking Ms. DeLune”, he said leading me up the stairs.
+2+
For the twenty four hours they had lived in the house I had only seen Rosalie’s room and even though I had been against taking a tour of the house I began to appreciate the non-grand antique feel of the house. It was very down to earth. To be honest there wasn’t much to see. The stained glass windows along the stairs were unique and beautiful.
Mr. Fierro stopped at one of the doors in the hall, as expected it was locked but he used a key to open the door. The room which was more of of an office suite smelled like dust, but it was clean and covered in top to bottom in antique dark furnishings.
There was a large bay stained glass window and shelves filled with books some of which actually looked new. As I stepped closer I noticed some of the books were about music. I turned back to the large desk that was in the side of the room with a sleek silver lamp on it.
The office was more like a suite, there were two doors on either side of the office, one of which had a silver "A" on it.
“You work fast”, I said once I was done admiring the room.
“Ms. DeLune I really do need to know everything you know regarding your father’s murder.”
I jumped as he turned the key locking me into the room.
“I don’t think I can trust you. I don’t want to put my family or myself at stake.”
“That is exactly what I thought you would say.”
“I’m glad one of us is predictable.”, I said sitting on the desk
“Ms. DeLune, what if all matters we shared between ourselves
concerning your father’s death would have to remain between us. Safe from this Detective Rainer. You wouldn't have to concern yourself with me stabbing you in the back."
“Impossible.”, I said shaken by his unusual use of a metaphor.
“What if we couldn’t turn on each other no matter how much we desired?”
He was quiet for a while and sat down in he chair in front of the desk
“I’m worried.”, I said balancing edge of the desk.
“Don’t be.”
I sort of relaxed knowing the worst thing he could do was kill me and he couldn’t even do that.
He placed his hands on the table and stayed quiet till I looked him in his lifeless muted eyes. He pushed his hands across the table, his palms still pressed into the wood.
“What is it ?”, I said suddenly wide awake
He lifted his hand and underneath it was a tiny velvet red box, before I knew it he flipped open to show me a rose-gold ring with a circular white diamond in it. I wish I could say it was the biggest diamond I'd ever seen, but it was so beautiful.
“Marry me”, he asked.
Breathe, Clara
You haven't slept in 24 hours
I took the box in my hand tilting it slightly back and forth if only to distract myself. It was a beautiful ring one of a kind I imagined.
My thoughts were going a mile a minute and once I pulled myself together It was easy for me to answer.
“You don’t want to marry me”, I said setting it down.
“Let’s say we are expediting the inevitable.”, he said taking the ring out of the box and placing it closer to me. I started putting the pieces together.
“If you were my husband I couldn’t testify against you.”, I said staring at the ring, “Is this a confession”
“Not in the slightest”
“But if I say yes then you will assume that I did kill my
father.” 
"The truth is weighing on you. I need you to tell me what you've done and it will forever stay between you and me."
I would have given anything to be able to leave. I stared at the locked door. Shouldn’t I at least have that option. To say nothing.
“Trust me, Ms. DeLune you want this. I will confess my sins to you and you will confess all your sins to me. . . after we are married of course. Then we shall work together to cut any loose ends.” His tone was dark.
“Don’t you think I’m too young for you ?”, my thoughts going back to those terrible things Juliet had forced me to see.
“After a while that won’t matter.”, he answered
"You do love me don't you ?”
“Of course", he answered kissing my hand, "this study is my gift to you.”
He walked over to the door on the farside of the room behind
the desk, it opened to reveal and empty bedroom. I looked back at the ring as he sat back down.
"You said you don't think about love anymore"
"I won't have to as long as I have you. After all it is the proper choice to make."
"It's the 21st century I don't have to marry you for propriety's sake"
"Yes, though you should"
For a moment I realized he wasn't asking me, he was convincing me.
"We could protect each other, Ms. DeLune It is only logical."
Expediting the inevitable, no wonder we were sitting at a desk.
I thought about the old dying man who was inside of him, perhaps I could bring him back to life. Furthermore the truth about my father’s death weighed on me more than it ever had.
I hated the truth
My father was more trouble dead than he was alive.
I couldn’t believe I still loved him. . .my father, that is.
I realized several minutes had
gone by and I still had not answered.
“Ms.DeLune, do you wish to be my wife ?”
“. . . I think I do.”
He slipped the ring on my finger, it was heavy but I didn't look at it. He kissed the side of my face.
"Forever ?", he whispered
"Forever"
+++
Dear Cal
It Worked
AMF
+++
Author's Note
In before, "OMG, LILE you said this would never happen"