Chapter 8
"What are the chances of that?!" Izzy gasped as she sat back on the sofa across from Elsie and Beryl. "I mean...the fact that the man who saved your life was involved with the woman who Joe was having an affair with, I mean...God, what are the chances of that?! It's ludicrous!"
"Bloody well is...God I hate Joe even more now, if that's even possible!" Beryl burst out.
Elsie reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm flattered that you're angry for me, truly, but as much as I hate what Joe did to me and to himself, I can't hate him." Beryl and Izzy looked at her bewildered. "I loved him...what he was before all the bad stuff. Before all that...he was a good man. The fact is when we first met, he was wonderful to me and he loved me. I have no doubt of that. The booze, the drugs, the women...that part I hate...that's what took him away from me...but I don't believe he set out to do all that...to hurt me. It wasn't intentional. If it had been I'd feel differently. Anyway...I'm on the other side of all that now...new start and all that, right?"
"Some bloody new start, falling off a cliff and nearly dying." Beryl stated flatly. Izzy looked at her wide-eyed and then they all burst out laughing.
"No kidding! I really know how to kick off a new era!" Elsie laughed.
"What's all the giggling going on in here? Should I be worried?" Charles asked, coming in from doing some gardening.
"Oh I think any time the three of us are giggling you need to be worried!" Beryl chortled.
Charles laughed, shaking his head. "I think you're right...I'm just going to take a shower and change to be ready for our lawyer's visit." he said, winking at Elsie, then disappearing into his room.
"So, what has Thomas said? Anything new?" Izzy asked.
Elsie shook her head. "Not much. Just that he has confirmed that there was a woman with Joe the night he was killed. She was questioned and released. They didn't have any reason to hold her and although Thomas did know about the woman, he chose not to tell me. He said it was irrelevant to Joe's death. She didn't see or hear anything other than the shot that killed him and was too afraid to come out of the bedroom until the police arrived. Thomas did confirm her name was Alice Neal."
Izzy sat back, sighing loudly. "How did Charles take that news?"
"He just keeps saying he's sorry as if he's somehow responsible for her actions, which he's not. We're both still processing it all."
The doorbell rang a bit later and Izzy and Beryl answered it as they were on their way out. "Good afternoon ladies." Thomas Barrow said kindly.
"Hello Mr. Barrow. Elsie's waiting for you in the great room. We're just on our way out." Izzy said, smiling up at him.
"Have a wonderful afternoon then." Thomas replied as he walked toward Elsie. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Hello Els, how are you feeling?"
"A little better each day. Please, have a seat. Charles will be out in just a minute. His lawyer is on his way as well."
"Yes, I spoke with him this morning. I know him well. We've uh...well saying we worked together is not exactly right...we've been in the same courtroom many times. He's good, he's just usually on the other side." Thomas grinned. "But have no fear, I like him. Smart guy, knows his stuff. Now, Els I need to show you something and I want you to remain calm alright? It's unfortunate but I think compared to what you've already dealt with…"
"Thomas stop you're scaring me…just show me what it is!" Thomas handed over the morning Denver News and splashed all over the morning's headlines Famous Romance Writer Carson Edwards in Love with Woman He Rescued. There was a photo of the two of them, Charles holding her in his arms as he placed her into the passenger seat of his Land Rover, another of him pushing her across the parking lot of the medical supply, she shielding her face, and still another of her sitting in his car as they left the hospital. Hot tears began rolling down her face when she looked at the bottom photos. A mugshot of Joe and another of Alice Neal smiling, holding up a glass of wine. The caption below, Their Former Lovers Were Having An Affair With Each Other! Charles came in from the bedroom, just as Elsie tossed the paper on the sofa next to her and covered her face with her hands, sobbing.
"What? What's happened?" he asked, looking worriedly at Thomas. Thomas reached over and picked up the paper, handing it to him, then sitting down next to Elsie and putting his arm around her, pulling her into his side. Charles' face turned white and he sat down hard on the sofa across from them. "Bloody hell."
The doorbell chimed again and Charles stomped over to open it, still holding the paper in his hands as he opened to door. "Mr. Branson...have you seen this?!" he barked angrily.
"Aye, Mr. Carson. I have." he said as he came in. He glanced at Thomas, still consoling Elsie and then looked back at Charles. "Listen, now that everyone knows who you are I really think you need to get that gate installed we talked about. I spotted a couple cars parked down the street and I am pretty sure they were paparazzi."
Charles sighed heavily, rubbing his eyebrows. "Alright, yes, I'll call a security company today. Come on, have a seat. Let's get all this figured out. I assume you know Mr. Barrow?"
Tom walked over and shook Thomas' hand. "I do indeed. I worthy adversary in court many times." Tom grinned.
Elsie leaned back wiping at her eyes and sniffling. "I'm sorry." She reached out her hand and shook Tom's. "Elsie Hughes." she said, managing a weary smile.
"Pleased to meet you Miss Hughes. Now, don't you worry. Thomas and I are going to take excellent care of the two of you. Of that you can be certain." he stated with confidence as he sat down next to Charles. "Now, here's the nub of it. Mr. Burns was involved with Miss Neal for about six months prior to his death. She states that…"
Charles interrupted. "You've spoken to her?!" he gasped.
"Yes, I have. She is the one who told that scum reporter Carlisle who you really are and she's claiming that she and Mr. Burns were married and…"
"What?!" Elsie shouted, cutting him off.
Tom held up his hand. "...and she's claiming that she is the beneficiary of any insurance."
"Does she have proof? A marriage license or something?" Charles asked, completely aghast.
"She does. It's in the process of being verified as is the insurance policy with her named as beneficiary." He looked back over at Elsie, who had fresh tears streaming down her face once again. "Now, I know this is a shock...for both of you...but...there's more." He said, his eyes flicking back up at Elsie. "You see...she has made claims that you threatened your ex husband on multiple occasions and that you may have hired someone to kill him, thinking you would still get his insurance money."
Elsie began hyperventilating and Charles jumped up, rushing over to her as Thomas scooted over to allow him to sit next to her. He put both arms around her hugging her to his chest. "Shhh, now you and I both know her claims are ridiculous Elsie. It's going to alright. We'll prove she's lying and this will all be behind us before we know it." he comforted. "Take some deep breaths love." He looked over at Tom. "Mr. Branson, I would like you to work closely with Mr. Barrow and make certain that you share any and all pertinent information with him on this case.
"Absolutely Mr. Carson. Now, the other thing is...because you are now a recognizable public figure you are going to have to be very careful of what you do and say. Your front page news in Denver and it's just a matter of time before the National networks pick this up. Because of who you are, Elsie's story will most likely also be picked up. There's really nothing we can do to stop it I'm afraid. The only thing I can say is that this too shall pass...one day, hopefully soon, something else sensational will take its place. Until then, lay low. If you must go out, consider hiring security. You're going to have to live like a celebrity now Mr. Carson and that means hiring a publicist to speak to the media on your behalf and maybe a driver."
Charles sighed heavily. Elsie hiccuped and looked up at him, her face red, eyes swollen from crying. "This is my fault. I should have never moved in here. Now you're all tied up in my mess and…"
Charles pulled her chin up to look him in the eyes. "This is not your fault Elsie, none of it. It's...life...and life can be hard sometimes. But we're going to get through this together. Whatever happens, I'll be here for you. I'm not going anywhere. We can do this together."
"But...what if...I'm not strong enough?" she hiccuped.
"You are the amazing Elsie Hughes...who can fall off a cliff and survive. You my dear, can do anything." he said, kissing her nose.
She turned and laid her head against his chest, placing her hand over his heart. "And you are my brave hero, who'll come to my rescue once again?" she asked, nearly whispering.
"Aye my wee bonnie lass...Aye." Charles teased in his best Scottish accent causing her laughter to bubble over and fill up his heart to bursting.
Elsie sat up drying her eyes with a tissue Thomas handed her. "Well, I'm sorry you guys have to witness my breakdown."
"Nonsense Els, nothing can break you. I should know." Thomas answered, giving her a wink. "Now that Mr. Branson has filled you in on all the details, there's a few more things I need to discuss. First, as he said, the marriage license and insurance policy is being verified. If they turn out to be legit, there's not a lot we can do about it. However, if they were married then that makes her the next of kin and she will be responsible for his medical bills. I'm betting she hasn't thought of that yet. So, even if she does get the money from the insurance policy, she'll have to use a huge chunk of it to pay those bills." He hesitated, and looked at Tom, who nodded for him to go on. "The other thing is, since she has made accusations that you hired someone to kill your husband for his insurance policy...well it has to be investigated."
"What does that mean?" Elsie asked weakly, biting her bottom lip.
"It means that law enforcement will want to question you. They may get a search warrant for your computer, phone calls, texts and such. They may question your friends as well. They will ask you about the time Joe attacked you and they may require you to submit to a psychological exam. While you are under investigation, you will not be allowed to leave town."
"My God Thomas...I haven't done anything wrong! How can this be happening to me?! What happened to innocent until proven guilty?!"
"Els, you've got to let them do their job so that we can prove once and for all that you are innocent of any wrongdoing. Don't fight them. Give them whatever they want. Cooperate fully and this will all be over before you know it." Thomas urged gently. "Hey…" Elsie looked back up at him. "I know you're innocent. Charles knows it. Tom knows it. All those closest to you know it. So all we have to do now is prove it to everyone else. Easy peasy."
She nodded. "Easy peasy." she sniffled, laying her head back on Charles' chest.
"We'll show ourselves out." Tom said, standing to go. "And Mr. Carson...call the security company...and oh...I almost forgot...here's the name of a wonderful publicist. Call them!" he said firmly.
"Aright, I will." Charles said, rubbing Elsie's hair and not even looking up at the men as they left.
TBC
