A/N: It's going to be a bit slow.
Chapter Three
During the next week, arrangements were made, and the funeral was held back at their hometown, in New Jersey. Everyone's back was turned while the casket was lowered into the ground. Rene kneeled on the ground, carefully folding, and placing the joss paper or spirit money which was just made of rice paper into, a container of fire. Burning it was to ensure that the departed have the proper items in the afterlife. Surrounding the air was the heady scent of incense. The rest of the family placed lighted incense sticks around the grave. But her main memory during the day was the mix grief, pity, and disapproval which she felt was focused on her. The phrases that were repeatedly spoken by everyone: "Your husband died, what are you going to do now?" or "Now you can take care of your parents and they can take care of you, when are you moving back with them?" She couldn't say much at those questions. She didn't want anyone to look out for her or anyone to look to her for anything. Not now. Not at that moment. Under different circumstances, she would of went home without hesitation. There were other things that have her attention.
While everyone started to leave, Rene stayed behind a little longer; as she sat, she continued to burn more joss paper. Lost in thought, she replayed the past weeks of events in her head. They are not going to do anything about it anymore; they are not even going to look into it anymore.She gritted her teeth at the ridiculous thought of them getting away with it. I have to do something! I have evidence. I won't know if I don't try. Was that what Daniel was trying to do? He was just following regulations. Attempting to stand up, she struggled a bit. She decided to go back to Gotham, with an excuse of following the belief of the first seven days to greet the departed soul returning home.
Rene stared with swollen eyes and a determined expression on her face. She then spoke to her husband's grave. "I'll come back soon. There is something that needs- have to be done. It isn't right."
Arriving at the Gotham National Bank, Rene quickly located Daniel's office, unlocked it, stepped inside and closed the door. The room was small, modest, and square in shape. It was simply furnished with a desk, a few chairs, and one built-in bookcase. The side and front wall, which the desk faced, was mainly translucent glass. The other two sides were bare ivory walls. It contained just enough room to walk in and sit down. There were a few things on the desk: a company computer, a scanner, a lamp, a solar dancing sunflower, Newton's cradle, and some business related folders neatly stacked. Maybe a few pencil and pens also scattered around. Rene also noticed on top of the bookshelf lay a copy of 'The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Being a New Dad'. A lump formed in her throat and her eyes became damp with tears at the inevitable outcome of seeing her unborn child who will never be held by its father. She quickly dropped the book into the box with the rest of the contents.
The only other decorations were a potted plant in the corner and a simple homemade collage with a few pictures of them, family, and friends. Looking around, she wondered what could be important here. Neatly stacking some of the objects into a box, she wondered if someone had already rummaged through the office. Rene returned to the towards the collage and was just about to take it down, when something caused her to stare closely at the middle picture in the collage. She then examined it and noticed that it was slightly elevated. Heh, Daniel. You found some canny ways to hide things. She thought, regarding it with amusement. After taking down the collage, rolling it up, and placing it in the box, she went through the folders from the desk. It just looks like some pages about verifying receipts and records, and crediting customers' accounts. And this one looks like it is about formulating budgetary and accounting policies. There doesn't seem to be anything suspicious about this. After all it's still here so it can't be too bad. Closing the folders, she packed it into her bag, deciding to take it along with everything else in the box, and walked out of the office.
Standing outside the bank manager's door, Rene considered whether or not to return Daniel's office key and the folders from the desk. She knocked on the door first before poking her head inside. "Excuse me?"
"Yes?" The man inside the room asked, his head jerking upwards, before he started putting aside the files, and placing them into an open filing cabinet. "You are?"
Rene walked in with mixed emotions. I wonder what other questionable dealings you have in there. "My husband Daniel worked at your bank."
"Ah, you must be Mrs. Qiao then." He nodded. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss" He said giving a look of sympathy. "We're sorry to lose him. He was quite the hard worker. When is the funeral?"
She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her eyebrows twitched slightly. "Thank you. It was last week." She answered.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, I just came to pick up his stuff." She gestured at the box in her hands while she continued speaking. "And to also drop off his office key." Placing the box down on to a chair, Rene then handed over the office key. "Have a good day." Picking up the box, she headed out of the door. As she turned, she collided into someone, causing her to spill the contents of the box onto the floor.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking." She mumbled without looking up.
"Mr. Maroni, I wasn't expecting you today." The bank manager spoke as he appeared at the door, addressing the object of her collision.
Maroni?Rene's ears perked up. That name appeared a few times in some of the documents.She took a quick study of the man in front of her while he adjusted his suit. He already seems sleazy and crooked.
"Excuse me; I didn't see a little thing like you there, Ms.…?"
"Mrs. Qiao" The bank manager spoke, finishing the sentence. "Her husband just passed away, she was picking up his things, and leaving."
"You have my condolences. Why don't I send a bouquet of white lilies as my sympathy for your loss?" he said in an attempt to appear friendly. Unexpectedly, he crouched down and placed the contents back into the box. "I'm sure the bank is sad to lose an honest, hardworking employee. It's not very often a diligent worker pops up. " He said, though there was a bit of a snooty tone to his dialogue.
He is an honest, hard worker. Rene thought defensively, before deciding she had heard enough.
"There is no need for that, but thank you for the condolences and the compliments," she paused for a bit before she continued speaking. "Also thank you for the illuminating lecture on work ethics in addition." As her hands reached towards the box she then winced as Maroni grasped one of her hands into an almost crushing handshake. Rene tried to wrench her hand away, but was unable to, the grip was too strong.
"It was nice meeting you." Still holding onto her hand, with a sly smirk on his face, Maroni leaned forward. "A word of advice sweetheart, there's no room for righteousness in this city."
Maroni loosened his grip and Rene pulled back her hand away. "And darlin? Be careful out there," placing a firm grasp on to her shoulder. Keeping her in place, she only stared back. "You don't want anything bad to happen to you," he said, giving her a barely veiled menacing grin. She took the box out of his hand and quickly moved towards the exit, she took a quick look over her shoulder as a feeling of dread starting to form inside of her.
Sitting alone in the apartment it was no longer furnished, with only a temporary altar containing flowers surrounding a picture of Daniel and a memorial tablet. She first deleted the messages left on the answering machine without bothering to check them, it was most likely were condolences. Outside the apartment, a white cloth was attached, covering the doorway. Rene was halfway done placing books, crockery, pots and pans into cardboard boxes. She had put off going through Daniel's things and simply stood in the room, before falling to her knees. Her hands reaching for one of his shirts with a coffee stained in the middle, which she had meant to clean but never gotten around to it. Bringing it up to her nose, inhaling a faint mixture of detergent and cologne, her eyes began to water. She quickly threw it in one of the boxes with the rest of their belongings. When she began to feel tired from packing she decided to have a look through the flash drive that had been hidden behind the collage along with a few more documents. It seems to be about some sort of illicit trade and a potential dealings with a big company located in Hong Kong? She thought to herself as she scanned and memorized the new information. Setting aside the material, she started flicking through her phone book.
Standing in front of a law firm, Rene hoped that this particular lawyer would have the experience that she so badly needed. That is, if there even was a case, and, if he or she would be willing to take it on. Walking through the corridors, she finally found the office. She was greeted by a bald, spectacled elderly lawyer wearing a dark suit. He seemed to be credible and trustworthy. After the discussion with the lawyer, Rene exited the office, declaring that she needed a little more time to decide whether or not to hire the elderly lawyer. She lightly but firmly refused to allow the lawyer to keep hold of the documents she had. As she walked down the corridors, she forgot that she had another question, and decided to go back. Approaching the door she caught a snippet of a conversation between the lawyer and someone he was speaking to over the phone.
"roni…saw the accident and the one who did it. She has quite a bit of proof, but she refused to hand over any of the information. It shouldn't be too hard to follow her and keep an eye on her." The lawyer guaranteed.
Slowly backing away, Rene's eyes widened at hearing the conversation that had just occurred. She rushed out the building as quickly as she could, back to her apartment. Panicked, she pushed through the door and quickly locked it behind her.
"Is there no one I can trust in this place?" she asked herself. Rene ran through the room frantically gathering everything within sight and stuffing them into a bag, her mind racing. Her eyes landed on to the small alter, her hands shook as she slipped the portrait of Daniel into her bag. Ever since they moved to Gotham, she had a bad feeling. It made sense why things were a little tense between them since he started working at the bank. He kept telling her to stop being judgmental, stop asking so much about work, and his manner made her suspicious. This whole time her suspicions were right, a chill rolled down her back, pushing her mind to thoughts she did not want to go. What have I done? What have I gotten myself into?
She stood still for a few minutes trying to figure out a solution. Rene picked up a bag and went towards the door. Her trembling hand touched the doorknob. "I'm so sorry, we won't be able to greet you." She said in a shaky voice. Opening the door Rene took one last look at the apartment before shutting the door.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Revised: 03/10/14
