~Penance Ch.2

I disclaim

~~~

Luis held the file in his hand tightening in one hand while doing the same to Sheridan's hand with the other. It was all there, a twenty-year-old mystery, which could be solved with the information in his hand, and yet it remained unopened. He couldn't do it, what if he was dead, what if he left willing, what if everything he remembered was a lye.

" What if he's alive?"

He hadn't realized he question was out loud but he met her eyes, and knew he hadn't, she had just known." But then why isn't he with us?"

" You won't know until you look inside." Find down the fear he opened it, and pulled out a weather old letter, addressed to his mother.

May 1988

Dear Pilar,

                If you're reading this, I must be dead, I'd like to tell you not to worry that I was in a better place, but I'm not. I can't believe I'm writing this letter, not just it's contents, but also it's lateness. I should have told you sooner, I should have told you something, but I'm a coward, I always was and always will be. I want to beg for your forgiveness, but I know I don't' deserve it, so I merely write you to ease your mind.

It was raining, I shouldn't mention that, but it just sticks out in my mind. We got the call in the middle of the night form the main house. There was trouble too much for the one guard that was already on the house. So we called Martin to help us, he was meeting us there, because Carl and me were on the other side of property.

It was the biggest mistake of my life Martin arrived first and we followed minutes later Martin had already caught the guy.  He was a young, no more then twenty years old, with dark hair and an accent. He was screaming that he needed to speak to Mr.Alsitar, and we were a little shocked when Mr. Crane agreed. But Martin and I led him there, Martin was dismissed, but I stayed.

I never got the guys name; I think Mr. Alistar wanted it that way. The guy was a disgruntled employee that I later learned escaped form a holding cell hidden under the house. He said that he was trying to do Mr. Alistar a favor by not killing the kid. A Kid, that's what this was all about, some illegitimate kid that Julian had with some druggie, this guy was suppose to kill.

Alistar told him it was a bad idea to a favor, that wasn't asked. But he mostly just let the guy talk, he rambled on for about twenty minutes. It was like he was letting him dig a bigger whole for himself getting in deeper trouble. Finally Mr.Alsitar got bored, and told me to lead him to help me through the entryway.

When got back to the front hall of the mansion, Martin was tying to convince Ms.Sheridan to get up to bed. It seems she heard a noise and woke up someone to hold her. Martin had her on the bottom steps when it happens. Julian came in through the front door, he must have been out drinking because he was swaying back and fourth, and mumbling some woman's name. The stranger used this moment to make his move, he pushed me down, and took my service revolver, and ran for the door.

Alistar pulled his own gun, and the guy pointed it at Sheridan, threatening to kill her if we didn't let him leave. Alistar just laughed like he didn't even care, while Martin stepped in front of the girl. She must have been scared because she started to cry. The man began shaking, I could see he hand convulsing. I think it was a mistake, at least I think he didn't mean to, but his finger pulled the trigger, and all I saw was Martin falling.

                Before he even hit the ground, the stranger was running out the door. I didn't know what to do, my first instinct was to call the cops, but Mr. Alistar said we couldn't, he said he would fix it. He told Julian to put his sister to bed, while Carl and I carried Martin down to the rode garden, we buried there, in the spot he cleared for a gazebo, and spent the rest of the night building it. The next morning I was able to retire at thirty-three.  

                I'm sorry Pilar, after all the kindness you and Martin showed me, I should have returned the favor. I shouldn't have let you think for a moment that Martin had let any thing other then death separate him form his family. I wish you well Pilar, I hope your sons grow up to be just like their father, and that your family can recover from this, and I apologize form the deepest place in my heart for my part in it.

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                James Whitfield

                                                                                                                                                Head of Security, Crane Industries 1980-1984

Luis folded the letter back up, and closed the file, letting his tears fall. He finally found his answers, there weren't the ones he wanted, he looked up and met his wife's eyes. " He's dead, my papa's dead."

~~~

Antonio let his hand drift lower on his girlfriend's waist, as he leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. " Can we go now?"

Kay looked at him amazed, before she shook her head, and moved his hand back above her waist. " No we can't leave your brother's wedding reception."

" Why not, he did."

She looked past him, and searched the room, and oddly enough he was right, the groom and bride were both missing. " That's not the point, you're the best man, people we look for you, more importantly my father will look for you."

Antonio groaned and let his head fall on her shoulder. " You know I'm starting to think it was better when he didn't like me."

" Oh don't go getting confident, he still doesn't like you." The couple stopped, dancing and turned toward Jessica, who gave a bright smile. " He's sitting with Coach Russell talking about convents to sent disobedient daughters, I think they're trying to get a group rate."

" Jessica, you always bring me good news, have you noticed that?"

" Calm down, Lopez-Fitzgerald, I'm only stopping to bug you while my date handles a 'family call', besides what kind of little sister would I be if I didn't try to scare you."

~~~

" You're not there to network, with the town folk, Fox, you're on a mission."

" I understand Grandfather."

" Obviously not, because you're flirting with little tart, while your mother flits away my money, find what I need Fox, or I won't need you anymore."

Fox gripped the phone tightly, barely controlling his anger, of course his grandfather would think Jessica was a tart, his opinion of women was lower then imaginable, but he was quickly crossing a line.  He was about to reply, when he spotted his mother, secluded in a corner with David Hastings. A sexist pig or not, his grandfather was right about one thing, Ivy was up to something.