Chapter Two – No-show at the Memorial Service

Two days later, London got a phone call while she was shopping at Tiffany's. She stepped outside the store and answered her cell phone.

"Hello," London said.

"Hey London," the other person replied.

"Oh, Brandi, it's you," London replied nonchalantly. "What do you want?"

"I have the details of when the funeral is," replied Brandi.

"Oh. When is it?"

"It's actually not a funeral. More like a memorial service."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Your father requested to be cremated, not buried."

"Oh. So when is the – whatever you just called it?"

"The memorial service is at 2:00pm tomorrow at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Hall. You know where that is, right?"

"Uh, maybe... Is that right nearby my school?"

"Yup. So I will pick you up at 1:45pm at the hotel."

"Uh, hold on... You're forgetting one thing – I can drive."

"Oh, yeah. Well then, I guess I could just meet you at the church. You have your driver's license, right?"

"Duh!"

"Ok. Then, I'll meet you at the church at 2:00."

"Bye!"

"Goodbye!"

London then ended the phone call and put her cell phone back in her purse. She continued shopping, then headed back to the hotel.

When she got there, Mr. Moseby yelled for her to come and talk to him.

"What do you want, Mr. Moseby?" London asked, once she had walked over to the front desk.

"I wanted to ask you if you had been informed of when the funeral is?"

"Yes," London replied. "Brandi called me while I was shopping and told me."

"Oh, good. I'll see you there."

"You're going?"

"Yes. Esteban is taking over the front desk while I am gone."

"Oh."

"Is Brandi driving you there?"

"Uh, no, actually. I'm driving to the church and meeting her there."

"Ok, then."

London walked to the elevator, and rode it up to her suite.The next day at about 3:15pm, Brandi came into the Tipton and walked over to the front desk where Esteban was working.

"Hello, Mrs. Tipton!" Esteban greeted her. "How was your husband's memorial service?"

"It went well. It was a very nice service. Everyone had kind things to say about Wilfred," Brandi replied.

"Where's Mr. Moseby?" Esteban asked.

"Oh, he's coming... Have you seen my step-daughter?"

"The last time I saw her was when she left for the memorial service."

"Well, she never showed up..."

"How do you know? Wasn't there a lot of people there?"

"Yes, but there was also a guest list that people were required to sign before they came into the church."

"And London's name wasn't on it?"

"No, which means she didn't go. She didn't go to her own father's memorial service."

"Wow. I don't think that London would purposely not go to her own father's memorial service. She probably just forgot."

"She forgot? How can you forget about your own father's memorial service?"

"London isn't the sharpest tool in the box. Surely you've learned that?"

"Yes, but she left the hotel."

"One word: Shopping."

"Oh yeah... I guess that explains where she is. She's always shopping..."

"Yup, I'll tell her you came looking for her."

"Nah... I'll just call her."

"Alrighty then."

"Brandi walked over to the candy counter and dialed London's number. She heard no ringing. Darn, Brandi thought. Her cell phone is turned off...

"Hey Mrs. Tipton," Maddie said. "How was the memorial service?"

"Oh," replied Brandi, distracted. "It was a nice service..."

"What's wrong? You seem distracted. I mean that's understandable, but... Is there anything in particular that's bothering you?"

"Ummmm... yes. London didn't show up to the memorial service."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yup, there was a guest list that people who attended the memorial service were required to sign. London's name wasn't on it."

"She left the hotel at 1:50, though."

"Esteban thinks she forgot..."

"Forgot? How do you 'forget' about your own father's memorial service?"

"Well, you know London... She's not exactly that bright."

"Point taken."

"Esteban thinks that she's out shopping."

"That would explain it. She does go shopping a lot."

"Yup."

"I have the feeling she may have purposely skipped the memorial service."

"Huh? Why?"

"She has an interesting way of dealing with things. She might just be avoiding her father's death, because she doesn't want to deal with it."

"Well, either way... She's really in trouble. It was very disrespectful for her not to show up to the memorial service. Not to mention, I just tried calling her on her cell phone.. It's turned off."

"Now, that is weird. She never turns her cell phone completely off, even at school."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She always leaves it on vibrate."

"Oh."

"Look, if you want me to, I can talk to London. She's always been rather open with me..."

"Yeah... That might be a good idea. Thanks Maddie."

"You're welcome. Good-bye!"

"Bye!" Brandi said, walking out of the building.