PET SHOP OF HORRORS

FRIEND

Chapter Five – The Ugly Shades of Truth

It was dusk when Miles Horryce entered his palatial home. His mind had been burdened with thoughts of what happened the night Abigail died.

Miles locked the door behind him and stood there for a while, remembering what happened that fateful night.

An argument…and how vividly did Miles remember everything, cringing and feeling suffocated as he did so….

Abigail screaming her head off, her eyes blazing with such anger…her words stinging as she kept blaming and accusing Miles for being unfaithful…her hands grabbing any object that she could hold on to and throw at her husband….

Miles ducking, reasoning out, getting frustrated, already bleeding and bruised due to Abigail's blind efforts in hurting him as much as she had been since he admitted about the affair that he had, and mostly blocking off Abigail's attack as best as he could…

And then the argument between them erupting into something much worse…the argument moving from the bedroom to the hallway…Abigail wanting to justify how insanely enraged she had been over the past months since Miles' confession and getting angrier by the minute….and Miles feeling that he had paid more than enough for his impropriety and wishing that he would finally be forgiven.

And then the fall happened, with Abigail losing her footing due to her violently blind effort to hurt her husband as much as she physically could…and Miles witnessing everything and looking down at his wife's body once it was all over.

Every detail was still fresh in Miles' mind – how he tried to grab Abigail and save her from falling, how the chill traveled down his spine as his efforts to save his wife failed, how frantically he ran down the stairs, how he looked over Abigail's body and checked for a pulse, how he cried when he could not feel her pulse, how tightly he held her and stubbornly believed that she was still alive, how he ordered the servants who saw them to call for an ambulance, how everything happened much too fast for him to accept or comprehend…

And how Miles felt sick to his stomach when the doctor told him that Abigail died upon arrival at the hospital's emergency room…

But what Miles could never forget the most was how empty his life had been since Abigail died. Ever since the Chinese fox resided in the estate, the live-in staff which lived at another separate part of the main manor now had to made arrangements beforehand to work in the main manor. Although it made their work substantially easier while their pay remained the same, they were concerned for their young master.

The main house mostly had the two of them - Miles and the Chinese fox - as if they lived in a separate reality, blissfully living life in each other's company.

Miles closed his eyes, smelling imaginary smells such as her light jasmine perfume, the mouth-watering smell of the dinner waiting for both of them over a beautifully-set table, the equally-appetizing fragrance of pastry baking in the oven and ready just in time for dessert that they normally share.

And the wonderful sound of Abigail's melodic voice…

How could Miles simply forget how blessed he felt to have it all at one point in time in his life, and how alone he felt when Abigail got sick and eventually passed away?

"Welcome home, master..."

Miles opened his eyes, being snapped out of his reverie. He saw the Chinese fox looking down at him with a soft smile gracing her lips. She was at the palatial home's second floor, leaning on the mahogany banister with that customary sweet expression that the real Abigail mostly greeted Miles with once he arrived home.

The smells that Miles thought were all in his mind turned out to be real.

"I hope that you'll enjoy dinner, master. I made it especially for you," said the Chinese fox as she descended the stairs, her smile becoming much warmer as she kept her gaze at her handsome master. She now wore Abigail's clothes just as Miles requested her to do.

"Please….call me anything else other than master," was all that Miles could think of saying as he reached out to take her hand. He loved this dress on her – a long one-piece, loose-sleeved hot pink empire dress which flowed freely as she walked down the stairs. The dress wonderfully contrasted with her near-perfect alabaster-like skin.

"Would Honey be a better word to use? You are my master and I am your pet. That fact will never change," said the pet as she took the offered hand and nearly blushed when Miles kissed her hand with such love.

"Yes, that's true. That also means that you're mine and I'm yours. You're more than just a pet to me."

Then Miles added, "And yes, calling me Honey or Miles is much more preferred."

The Chinese fox held Miles' hand with tightened affection as she led them to the dining room, the huge house being just for the two of them since Miles took her home. "I know, but it makes me wonder if that is the case because you see Abigail in me."

Miles stopped his steps and gazed into the Chinese fox's dark brown eyes. "I know that Abigail's gone, but she came back through you. I will always love Abigail, and I will always love you. You and she are the same to me, and I'll do my best not to make the same mistakes I've made before. Just…"

Pausing for a minute and holding the other's hand close to his heart after he kissed that hand, Miles added, "Please don't leave anymore. I can't…"

The tears that were held back escaped from the corner of Miles' eyes. His near-whispered words were, "I can't live without you. I wouldn't know how…."

"I'm not going anywhere, Honey. I promise. You don't have to be sad anymore. I am your Abigail. I always am and always will be," whispered the Chinese fox.

The Chinese fox then planted a kiss on Miles' lips – gentle, loving, and lingering.

Miles felt as if he was simply going to melt. He easily let go and drowned into that kiss that he shared with the Chinese fox. She not only happened to be a splitting image of his deceased wife, but she also held the many memories that she had of him and their time together.

Drawing the Chinese fox close to him and eventually ending their kiss, Miles smiled at her. "Let's go have dinner, Honey. Everything smells wonderful, just as always…."

The Chinese fox nodded and returned that warm smile that was given to her. She continued leading Miles to the dining room where a delicious meal and the promise of a romantic and intimate evening between the two of them waited afterwards.

"Come in, Detective Orcot…"

Q-chan fluttered immediately behind Count D as they led Leon to the receiving area, the pet making happy noises when its master told his guest, "You have perfect timing. I was about to have some –"

"Tea?" asked Leon in such a nonchalant way and then sighed as he presented a box of pastries.

Count D was ecstatic as he took the offered box with such giddiness. He felt more free showing such emotions in front of Leon over the past few months. He became giddier still after he took a peek inside the warm box and saw what was in it. There was only one place in town to purchase that decadent double-chocolate devil's food cake which was rich yet lightly sweet. "You're most kind, Officer. How did you manage to have The Chanticleer sell you an entire cake, let alone a newly-baked one to boot?"

"Called in a few favors," replied Leon as he sat down on the couch. "It also helps to mention your name."

Smiling so warmly, Count D said, "I see…. Thank you. Such sweet gifts are hard to come by since everyone wants them. So what do I owe the pleasure of such a wonderful visit from you? Clues to a new case…?"

"Curiosity…"

After the pet shop proprietor gave Leon a piece of cake and then began enjoying a piece as well, he asked, "The case?"

"Yes… I just don't understand why you defend that pampered pretty boy so much. All circumstantial evidence points to him."

"Not every fact is visible, Officer."

A nearly-inconspicuous buzzing sound repeated a couple of times, with a grim-looking Leon telling Count D, "Excuse me… It's headquarters…"

Count D nodded and saw Leon rise from the couch as step away from the living room, with the Count hearing the other ask the caller, "Are you sure?"

Then a long pause followed by Leon adding, "All right, Jill. I'll ask…and yes, I'll be nice. Tell the Chief that I've been playing nice."

Leon walked back as he bade goodbye to the caller and hung up his cell phone. "Speaking of pretty boy, the chief medical examiner has asked Abigail Horryce's body to be exhumed. Pretty boy requested it, according to rumors."

The Count gazed at Leon, finishing off the last bite of cake in his plate. After placing down the plate and sipping some tea, he then asked, "Then why do you seem bothered by this news?"

"Just surprised…" replied Leon after letting out a subtle yet burdened sigh, leaning against the couch. "Why have the body exhumed? What for, and why now?"

Leon sat back there, inwardly more baffled than ever before. His sources at the medical examiner's office and Jill's sources were reliable, so any piece of "rumor" coming from them normally turned out to be true. He would not be surprised if this rumor about exhuming and performing forensic studies on Abigail Horryce's body would become face within the next couple of days.

After a long period of silence, Leon added, "There's just been too many smokescreens and lies, Count. First, Mike Bartles said that he was at the Horryce home all evening handing papers here and there for Horryce. You ask him other questions and he seems unable to keep a straight story – all pointing out that although he might have been there that night, he's been keeping something. Second, the higher-ups are constantly defending him. They have been simply dismissing Mrs. Horryce as a nut case. Third, the coroner's office has been evasive with us for many months and now they're carrying out these latest instructions. If you ask me, everyone's lying. I just want to get to the truth."

Count D gave Leon a long, meaningful gaze. "Why do you want the truth, Officer Orcot? Is it for personal edification – proof that your suspicion about Miles Horryce is correct? Another opportunity to show your superiors that you know better and they do not? Or is it to appease your sense of justice?"

Leon was quiet for a long time. He then said, "I just want the truth. If that woman was killed, I want the truth to come out so that she would have some peace."

"You do not seem to be a praying man or someone who believes in the existence of things beyond the five senses. Although I do know you are passionate about your work."

"Do you know how many cases of domestic violence are piled on the police department's desk? Do you know how many of those cases end in a death – whether it is the victim, the abuser, or an individual who intervened to stop the violence? It doesn't choose who would play the role of abuser of victim. Even children…babies…are not safe from it."

"This time, the victim was a successful woman who gave up everything that she had professionally. Once that happened, she became a trophy housewife and ended up dying mysteriously. The lies just have to stop."

"Do you think finding out the truth behind Abigail Horryce's death would solve or eliminate the root of humanity's corruption and lies? You make it sound as if you've taken a personal crusade."

Without hesitation, Leon said, "It's a start. I don't know if Abigail died in Miles' hands or one of Miles' enemies….or despicable clients. All I know is that someone killed that woman, and I will get to the bottom of it. If everything proceeds as planned, the department will be closer to that truth."

It was late evening when the doorbell rang at the Horryce household.

"I'll answer it, Hon…" whispered Miles to the Chinese fox, knowing that the servants were on leave and were now at the other wing of the house. He got up and began wearing his pajamas, blinking a bit and noticing the visiting cars' flashing lights.

"The police…" thought Miles as he looked at the Chinese fox.

Miles then told his pet calmly although he was inwardly panicking, remembering one of the contract provisions that he signed for when he purchased her from Count D, "I can't let them see you. I made a promise."

"I'll be fine…"

The panic was more evident in Miles' eyes as he reiterated, "I can't let them see you. I don't want to lose you."

The Chinese fox smiled, holding Miles' hand with affection. "You won't, Honey. You won't lose me. Go downstairs and don't worry. I'll be fine here."

After kissing his pet's supple lips, Miles let out a quiet yet burden-filled sigh and then descended the stairs. He then opened the door and saw five familiar faces from the police squad – all of them having apologetic looks.

Captain Gene Burton gave the attorney a tight-lipped smile as he said, "I'm sorry, Miles…but we have a search warrant here. You remember Jill, don't you?"

Miles nodded, opening the door wider to let the officers and Leon's partner inside the house.

Out of respect, however, the officers waited until Miles would give them the go-signal to search the home. As much as they understood that they were just following orders, they just felt weird if they conducted themselves as they would customarily do on such an occasion.

Reviewing the entire documentation given to him and finding out that Leon Orcot was one of the primary people responsible for expediting the search warrant that was now in his hand, Miles let out a sigh and told the officers, "Go ahead…although I really don't understand why I am being constantly harassed about this. If it has something to do with my request to exhume Abigail's body, all that the police department should've done was to ask me. I would've let you guys in even without a warrant."

Jill thanked Miles, leading the officers to do the search and leaving the most senior officer to speak with Miles.

"Talk to the Chief tomorrow. I'm sure this mess could be straightened out. We're just so sorry," explained Captain Burton as he and Miles walked and sat inside his police car. The captain was a long-time friend of Miles' father and eventually became one of Miles' personal friends when he became a lawyer.

Giving his old friend a small smile, Miles said, "I want to offer you guys something, even if it's just a cup of coffee. Just forgive me if I couldn't do that for you. I don't want to interrupt your search."

Left with nothing to say, the captain patted Miles on the back and then saw the younger man continue to look at the mansion's main door as the search continued.

Captain Burton remembered the happier times and could not help but say, "You should've left things be, Miles. Why couldn't you let go of Abigail and her memory?"

"I want the truth, Gene."

"You didn't do anything wrong, son."

Miles then gazed at the captain. "I know that, but do you know and accept that to be fact?"

The captain blinked, his eyes narrowing a bit. "I don't –"

"If you believe that I'm innocent, Gene, then why is everyone being so overprotective of me?"

There was a long period of silence between the two men. The captain remained speechless.

After letting out a sigh and shaking his head out of silent frustration, Miles then leaned against the police car's passenger seat. "I know many didn't want me to marry Abigail, most especially Dad and Mom. I married her because I love her and I can't picture living a life without her. She was my life, Gene. I'm so lucky to have good friends such as you and TY, but for once I just–"

"Just what?"

"I just wish that someone would really believe me."

"We do..."

A rueful smile escaped Miles' lips. "No, you don't. No one does. No one's doing his or her due diligence in fear of making a politically-incorrect move. Everyone keeps forgetting that although I loved Dad very much, there are many ways that I am not my father's son. I just want to be treated just as anyone else would be treated."

The older man chuckled a bit, doing his best to keep his respect for the other intact but could not help but smirk at what he just heard. "Miles, if you only know how it is to be normal…unprivileged…you would take back every single word that you just said." The captain's smirk even became more rueful as he added, "Do you think that the world operates on fairness and equity? Do you think people get ahead in life because they worked hard and deserved it? It's not what you know and what you've done all this time that would get you ahead. It's who you know and who you are that matter most."

"I know that, Gene…but I'm getting tired of all of this."

"I'm telling you this because your father was my friend and you are my friend. Get your head screwed back strait. If you got what you are asking for, you'd be long dead. Do you think inmates treat wife beaters and wife killers with kumbayas and break into a song-and-dance about peace and happiness?"

Miles' eyes narrowed, getting more frustrated. "But I didn't kill Abigail!"

The captain responded, "I know that, but do you think that the truth matters to anyone? Even though you did not kill Abigail, you would be rotting in jail or be long-dead if you were just a normal person. If you were a normal, unprivileged person then you'd be having many 'accidents' during your brief stay at the precinct….turn a blind eye while you are being beaten to a bloody pulp. And pretty boys such as you get an extra treat if you get lucky. Do you finally get my drift, Miles? No offense meant, son, but for your sake act like the man that your father raised you to be."

Absolutely abhorred from what he just heard but deeming it best to hide his thoughts, Miles took a subtle sigh and made it appear as if he had calmed down. "I don't know if I could last, Gene…but thank you. Thank you for being there…"

Smiling gently, the elder man patted the attorney on the back. "You're like a son to me, Miles. You have a bright future ahead of you and you're still young. You'll find happiness again – trust me…."

"Captain – we're done here!" called out one of the junior officers who walked beside a forensics technician and Jill, with Jill carrying a small box of items from Miles' home.

That prompted the captain and Miles to end their conversation, both stepping out of the car to meet everyone at Miles' doorstep.

Jill had a genial smile laced with a subtle apology. "We've done our best to be quick, Mister Horryce. We did collect some specimens."

"I understand, Detective," said a calm Miles. "If you and he police department need anything else from me, just ask."

After the captain and the officers have extended their apologies and left with Jill, Miles' heart felt heavier than ever. He had so much respect for Gene, but that respect shattered when he heard the elder man make statements that contradicted values that the justice system and law enforcement constantly idealized and supposedly upheld.

And most especially contradicted the values that Miles had upheld…

Once he entered the house and closed the door once more, Miles heard that feminine voice say to him in such a soothing fashion, "Everything's all right now, Honey. They didn't see me. I changed and hid from them."

A sad smile escaped the attorney's lips, drawing the Chinese fox close to him and giving her a heartfelt embrace.

In return, the pet reciprocated that hug with such warmth and love. She affectionately tightened her embrace as she could feel how heartbroken Miles was at this time. After a while, she broke from their hug and led him back to the bedroom.

When Miles was about to join her in bed, the Chinese fox asked him, "Why are you so sad, Honey? Aren't you happy that we're together again?"

Miles' eyes had a mixture of a smile and some held-back tears. "Of course I'm happy being with you, Sweetheart. I've always been yours. I just been feeling the same way as I did before…you know…."

Once Miles sat on the bed that they now shared and slipped under the covers, the Chinese fox blinked and asked with a quiet but intent tone, "And what would that be?"

"I just feel that…."

After a long pause, the Chinese fox affectionately tightened her hold of Miles' hand and eventually encouraged Miles to finish his statement as the latter said, "I feel that I don't belong here…that I don't have a place here. I'm tired, Abigail. I'm tired of pretending. Nobody sees me for who I am except for you."

Planting a kiss on Miles' hand and having the back of his hand caress her soft and smooth cheek, the Chinese fox asked, "Then when the time comes and I leave, will you come with me?"

Miles looked at his pet, fear of being left alone again and feeling empty reflected in his eyes. That look, however, relaxed once he heard her say, "I would never leave you behind and I will stay with you as long as you wish…even forever, if that is what you wish. However, there would be a place where you and I don't have to pretend anymore. Will you go with me when the time comes?"

"Yes…yes…" whispered Miles, the tears that beaded at the corner of his eyes now trickling down on his pet's hand. "I'll go wherever you wish to go, Abigail. Even if it means that you're going to return to the dead, I'll go with you. Just don't leave me alone anymore, please…."

The Chinese fox then drew Miles close to her after letting him cry. She touched his cheek and then gave him such a heartwarming smile once their gazes met. Once she saw him make an effort to smile, she whispered, "You don't have to hide anything from me, Honey. You don't have to hide your sadness and pain. Just be….that's all that you need to do whenever you're with me."

The tears welled in Miles' eyes once more. More tears escaped from the corner of his eyes when he gave his pet a nod. He kissed her hand, pouring out everything that he felt at the moment and for her with that kiss.

Miles' pet initiated a passionate and gentle kiss that soothed Miles' troubled mind and soul. The kiss they now shared deepened, becoming more explorative and leading into something more intimate and much-needed by both.

A couple of hours had passed since Jill returned with the specimens, having them tested by the laboratory.

Leon had taken over once Jill bade goodbye and left work, pacing back and forth in-between drinking his umpteenth cup of strong coffee. He was exhausted but he wanted to stay up for the results.

After another couple of hours had passed, Leon felt someone nudge him awake. He stirred for a couple of seconds and then forced his attentiveness once he realized who it was.

"Reilly needs you. We're ready," said the forensic assistant, not knowing if the glare in Leon's eye would be followed with a punch or something unexpected since he woke up the other.

The sleepy Leon followed suit and had spoken to Reilly, the supervising forensic analyst for the shift and the entire forensics department. What Leon heard as answers to his questions were given made him feel as if his head had swollen.

"So what's next, Leon?"

The detective was grim. "Compare the results with the new coroner findings for Abigail Horryce. One way or another, I don't like where this is heading to…and neither will the higher-ups…."

End of Chapter Five

Author's Note

Petshop of Horrors, Count D, Jill, Leon Orcot, and Q-chan do not belong to me…but this fanfic does as well as Miles Horryce, Abigail Horryce, Ty Curtis, Captain Gene Burton, Leila, and Shana.

It's been a long time but I do intend to finish this story. Read and review – let me know what you think…

PJ Zatken