Chapter 10

As Jesse and I drove up to London's house we saw a lot of activity going on. It looked as if London was throwing a party.

"Please tell me that if I ever die, you won't throw a party a week later." I muttered as we got out of the car.

"Susannah, I don't think it's a party. I think it's a…what do you call it…" He thought about the word he needed.

"Wake." A voice said behind us. "It's called a wake."

"Slater, have you been here the whole time?" Jesse asked Paul as he strolled up to us from his BMW.

"Kind of, I took a break for lunch and dinner and an afternoon snooze…your boy Larry is a pretty boring guy."

I sighed. "Well, at least we know Eric didn't go on a mass killing spree and murder his wife." I said to Jesse. "Other wise this wake wouldn't be happening…Wait, don't you need a body to have a wake?"

"Apparently not." Jesse commented.

The three of us stood on the sidewalk and watched as people dressed in black went in and out of the house. After a while, everyone was inside and all the windows were lit up. Since the windows were huge, the three of us could watch the wake inside. London and Larry where on the couch talking, like they had this morning. They got up and we could no longer see the two of them.

"Aren't you going to ask about my day Simon?" Paul asked me after a moment. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was grinning.

"No. I wasn't planning on it." I retorted.

"Well, since you asked…." Paul blatantly ignored me. "There was one interesting part. I followed Larry to the station and over heard him talking to the higher-ups. The higher-ups told Larry that his position as co-anchor was not permanent. And Larry got angry when he heard this. From what I can tell, I mean I wasn't in the room or anything; he knocked over a coffee pot. He yelled that, "it wasn't supposed to happen this way!". Whatever that means." Paul stuck his hands in the pockets of his chinos.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at Paul. Did this mean what I think it does?

"He really said that?" I asked him.

"Yes. He did. Why?"

Jesse threw a curious glance at me.

"Well, because-" Our conversation was cut short by a loud screaming coming from the front yard.

Larry and London had apparently moved out front and where talking-no correction, yelling- at each other.

"You did what?!" London screamed. Obviously she did not see the three of us, which is probably a good thing. We where in front of that same bush again.

"I did it for us London! You should realize that!" Larry screamed back. Larry stood up from the bench they had been sitting on.

"How could you possibly think that's what I would want?" She shouted back.

"What is going on between them?" I whispered.

Both Jesse and Paul shushed me. We strained to listen to them.

"Larry leave! Leave right now! Get off of my property!" London screamed at him.

"London!" He pleaded. "You do not understand!"

"No! I do! I completely understand! Now leave and don't come back!" London replied in a low and dangerous voice that I could barely hear.

We watched as Larry stalked away from London and got into his car and drove away.

"What was that about?" Paul asked.

Jesse clearly had connected the pieces to the puzzle because he responded, "Larry just confessed." He said in a low voice.

"Confessed?" Paul repeated.

My blood had run cold and not just because it was 40 degrees out. It was because I, like Jesse had connected the puzzle pieces too.

"To murdering Eric." I answered Paul. "It was Larry all along."

later

That same evening Paul, Jesse and I all sat together in my living room. It was late and Andy and my mother had already gone to bed. I had promised my mother that I was going to bed soon too since I needed to be up for work in the morning and that Paul and Jesse where just here to hang out for awhile. The thought of going to work tomorrow made my stomach churn. It meant seeing Larry, a murder.

"So why did he do it? I still don't understand." Paul asked leaning back into the white chair my mother had bought from Ethan Allen. The same chair she threatens to kill the dog if he gets on.

"I think he did it because when he found out London was pregnant he knew it was his." I replied.

"No Susannah, I think there is more to it then that." Jesse countered. We were sitting together on the white couch snuggling. Which caused Paul to make gagging noises. An immature kid he will always be.

"What do you mean?"

"I do not know. Maybe he did it to make sure London will be well off in life. You know, the insurance money thing. Or possibly he did it to get promoted. It would make since considering what he said in the board room with the higher ups." Jesse threw these ideas out.

I rubbed my temples. This was confusing. So many questions where going unanswered.

"What should we do? Should we go to the police?" I asked.

"And tell them what Simon? That we over heard these things? We don't have any solid proof." Paul argued.

I let out a sigh and we sat together in silence.

"Susannah. Go get some sleep. We can regroup later." Jesse said to me after I yawned for the millionth time. I didn't feel like arguing.

"Good night querida."

"Goodnight Jesse. Night Paul." The two of them walked out together. I stretched out on the couch debating whether to sleep here or in my warm bed. Right now the couch was winning.

I was about to be in lovely dreamland when the front door opened.

"Who's there?" I muttered sitting up groggily.

"Susannah? What are you doing up?" A voice asked.

"Jake is that you?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Yes." He said and came and sat down next to me.

"Jake. Are you sleeping with London?" I asked before thinking.

"Susannah! God no. I'm not. Why would you ask that?"

"I don't know. It just came out of my mouth. Sorry." I replied and yawned again. "So what are you doing out so late?"

"I had a date with my teacher, Callie. We went night surfing." He grinned at me.

Wait a minute. Was Sleepy and I actually having a conversation? An actual conversation? Oh hell is officially freezing over.

"How was it?" I asked smiling.

"Good. It was good. Now go to bed. Your going to work with Mom tomorrow right?" He asked. I loved it when he called my mother Mom.

"Yes I am. Hey Jake I need a favor. Will you keep an eye on London for me?" I asked.

"Sure…Why?"

"Just do that for me ok?" I said and got up and climbed the stairs where I dragged my butt into bed.

Later

The next morning I got up and showered, pulled on Bermuda shorts, a black tank top and black flip-flops. It's official; I have turned into a California girl.

My Mom and I drove to work together with my stomach in knots. I was going to have to pretend that I didn't know Larry killed Eric. Which was going to be difficult. I mean, how do you act like you don't know something that big?

When we got to the station, we all gathered around into the conference room. I sat there awaiting orders. Larry, like usual handed us all coffee. Larry handed one to me and smiled. I plastered a false grin on my face as I took it trying not to throw up.

I turned to my Mother and said, "Mom, could you excuse me for a moment?"

"Yes honey. You feeling ok?" She asked brushing my hair out of my eyes.

"Yeah fine of course." I said and took my coffee. I paused. "Hey mom… How are you? I mean I know this is tough for you about Eric and all…" I trailed off.

My mother smiled at me sadly. "Thank you honey for asking…I'm doing ok." I allowed her to kiss me on the forehead, something I usually don't let her do.

After a moment, I left and walked over to her cubicle.

"I can't do this…I really can't do this…" I muttered to myself and put my head against the desk.

I had to confront Larry but how? I needed him to confess to me. I needed a plan.

Later

After a grueling morning of working with a murderer I decided I needed to take a drive. I grabbed the keys to the rambler and walked out to the carport. As I was about to get into the car I noticed something. The passenger door was completely dented.

"Dopey!" I shouted.

Dopey had already ruined one car. We had the Land Rover but he managed to total it because eating a taco was clearly more important then steering. So Andy and my mother bought us another Rambler. And now, the new rambler was dented.

I stalked back into the house and grabbed the phone, fuming. I dialed Jesse's cell number; I knew that Dopey would be with Jesse since after all they are working together.

"Hey Jesse, is Dopey, err Brad, their?" I asked.

"Si quierda. Here he is." Jesse replied. I listened as he handed the phone to Dopey. I heard Dopey ask who was calling and when Jesse said Susannah, Dopey said some pretty colorful words.

"You found out about the car didn't you?" Dopey asked heaving a sigh.

"You bet your butt I did. What the heck happened?" I shouted.

"Debbie and I got into a fight and when she tried to storm out of the car the passenger door hit a lamp post."

I paused for a moment, trying to resist the urge to laugh.

"You wont tell Mom and Dad will you?" Dopey asked sounding pathetic.

"No. I won't tell them." I answered. I could use this as leverage when I needed it.

"I'm going to get it fixed when I get enough cash saved up."

"And when will that be?" I asked, still trying not to laugh.

"Next pay check. Suze you promise not to tell?" He asked again.

"I promise!" I replied. "I'm hanging up now."

I clicked off. Well, nothing like a little comic relief to make ones day better. Before I had a chance to place the phone back into the cradle it rang.

"Hello?"

"Simon? Its CeeCee."

"Hey CeeCee! Did you get fired yet?" I asked.

"No. I didn't get fired but she has me running around like a lap dog. Everything ok? I just got Jesse's, abrupt, message."

"Yeah everything's good." I lied. "Everything is just dandy."

"Ok then Miss Sunshine. So what are you doing tonight?"

"I don't know. What's happening tonight?" I asked.

"Fourth of July. Want to go to the beach or something?"

"Yeah sure. Sounds good." I replied not really hearing her. Because, she reminded me that it was Fourth of July, which meant everyone had the night off at the station. Which means that I could snoop around Larry's cubicle in peace.

"Simon?! You still there?" CeeCee's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Yes I'm still here."

"So what do you think?"

"Of what?"

"About foxglove?" CeeCee said.

"What? What's foxglove?" I asked completely lost.

"Man. You really spaced. I just told you how Eric died. He was poisoned with foxglove. If ingested over a long period of time, it will cause a heart attack." CeeCee informed me.

"What exactly is foxglove?" I asked my heart rate speeding up.

"Foxglove is a plant. Go goggle it and you can see a picture."

"Ok. Thanks." I said and hung up abruptly on CeeCee.

CeeCee had given me the final clues. I know how Larry killed Eric. And now all I needed was proof.