Yes, I'm still very much alive although I have a bad cough from a cold I had a few weeks ago. But I'm still, slowly, working at least on this writing. I'm half uninterested and half uninspired and a dash of writer's block doesn't help. This chapter is very long so I cut in half or so and chopped the ending off and put it in the next chapter, otherwise, it will go on, and on, when it needs to end. I've busted up the paragraphs at points to make it easier to read, however the structure is weird at times having anecdotes and switching to points of view from Dustin's, Brandi's, and Beau's, when he has his flashback. See if you can put the clues together and guess who killed Skip Broke before I eventually reveal who the murder is. Is it a male or a female, and who is his or her accomplices in the background, okay, you will never guess that, or at least not one of them. But you might be able to guess who did kill Skip Broke, then are left wondering the big question(s), why? Ruby Broke is revealed in here and why she isn't in their Family Tree in the Sims 2 game but is there in the Sims 3 game, why and how that plays in, is explained in this chapter.
Remembering, Clues, And Realization
Dashing off Dustin found Beau playing with the dollhouse that came with this safe house. This was perfect, and he could use this in fact, "Wow that looks like a lot of fun, Beau. Do want me to play dollies with you?"
Excitedly he took one of the dollies nodding as he handed it to Dustin, as he sat down beside him to play, "Uh-huh, uh-huh, Duh!"
"Okay, I'll play house or dollies with you. But first, I really need to ask you something very important. Beau grunted in acknowledgment, he was listening, as he continued to play dolls. "Beau, I apologize, ahead of time, for making you cry, if I do, but, do you remember how daddy died?" Beau started sniffling and quietly cried, then was soon bawling loudly, Dustin had expected that and quickly grabbed him before mom could get to him, and hug held him there in his lap. "Ohh I know, Beau, I knew you would cry if I asked you this. I'm very sad too, very sad and very angry with whoever did this to daddy, very angry, it was so wrong. I'm sorry to make you cry, Beau, but this is a very, very big important question that I need to ask you. So listen really carefully try to remember, I know it hurts but please try. Do you remember anything, anything at all how daddy died?" Beau whimpered and sniffed and nodded. "You do, oh that's good. Do you know what that means?" Beau shook his head no. "It means you're the witness, and that's good, you can help solve the mystery of who killed daddy. We all need to know who killed daddy. Do you want to do that?" Beau looked a bit surprised and a bit happy as he smiled and nodded. Dustin saw something flash in Beau's eyes, it was a memory of some sort, and a smile spread across his lips. Beau actually remembered, someone, saying that exact same thing, you're the witness. Realization was hitting him at that moment. "Yes, smile, Beau, because that is a good thing, it really is, that means as small as you are, God can use you if you let Him, you can do something really big, you can help us. Did you see someone, anyone, kill or hurt daddy?" Beau nodded oh yes! "I knew it, I knew it! He is the witness, he did see how daddy died, he did see at least, something; I knew it. So do you think you can try telling us, who did it, or how it happened, who killed daddy. Or how daddy was killed?" At first, his heart sank thinking mom was right, or it was just an act, perhaps just a refusal, or that Beau was not cooperating, or he never saw anything, and was only agreeing or going along with saying without really saying what Dustin only wanted to hear, you know, kids.
"No," he shook his head, "no, Duh, no! No, uhh," moaning whimpering slightly about it, he pointed to his mouth then half naughtily blew a raspberry.
Dustin half smirked almost rolling his eyes as he looked up, of course, duh is right, Dustin. "I know you can't really, talk, yet, that's okay you can't talk. But I promise I'm going teach you how to talk. So when you, can talk, then can you or will you tell us who did it? Or maybe how it happened, how daddy died, when you can talk?"
"Uhh, uh-huh, uhh y-yes Duh, no," pointing to his mouth, and whimpered. "Duh," Beau pointed to his mouth again then to Dustin then to himself.
"Yes, I'll teach you I'll be more than happy to teach you how to talk. In fact, I got that want to teach you how to talk. I bet mommy does too, but you know what, this want if I fulfill it, it will help me also to get out of my red Aspiration. So is it okay that I teach you how to talk instead of mommy?" Beau nodded and was hugged by his big brother. "Oh good because that will really help me, I'll be in a lot better mood when I get that want fulfilled that's for sure. Still okay with you, mommy?"
"Yes, just fine, I do have the want, but if you do it, that's one less thing I have to worry about. As well as happy, to know you will be happy, and be out of that awful red Aspiration. You go right ahead, and teach him how to talk, and I don't care what language you teach Beau how to talk in."
"English first, then some French later. You're going to bring me peace when you can snitch on the creep who killed our daddy. Honesty, that gift of Tongues changed me mama, it really did I was so angry and vengeful, I was angry enough to want to kill that person right back for the murder. I was so stupid, foolish. God forgive me, sniff, I was foolish. I've changed, I know I have. I know because I don't think I care why whoever did it. It was hate, anger, I don't care the reasons, so much now, why, and I see that now much better. There is never a reason or excuse to murder. I just want to know who it is, and God I pray that at time that You make that person whoever it is, really know, I mean really know, what they did, and what that means, what that could mean. Then with that sinner knowing the sin, they committed, I can properly forgive that person face to face. Maybe they didn't know, really, who but God knows, I mean, really, Jesus really said it all, forgive them Father for they know not what they do, it could be the same. Maybe the murder was sick, mentally unwell, I mean, you got to be at least a little right, to do it in cold blood or listening to something evil the devil to, ugh. Oh God, I just want to know who it is, not so much the reasons, that will come in due time. I want that as bad as you want to learn how to talk, to know who the murder is, and I can't wait until you can tell me who it is. So we can tell whomever, that what they did wasn't right, it isn't right. Yes, they are loved, and are forgiven, especially by God, but, they have committed murder, and they will be punished for it. I bet you want that bad Sim punished too?" Beau looking sad, pitiful, and justly angry, nodded.
"Dustin, sniff I'm so proud of you, and I know your daddy would be too, you just had a big growth spurt, spiritually I mean."
"Heh, thanks, but I still got a lot of growing to do, and God's not done with me just yet, I got a lot more growing to do spiritually to be more like Jesus and hopefully a little physically too."
"Huh, he may be the witness, but he's too little so he probably doesn't know who it is, how can we be sure," Jason the unbeliever said.
"I hope he's not just going along with whatever you say," Billy says.
"No, he's not, I know he knows. I feel it, he knows, he might not know who exactly it is, but I bet whoever's face is burned into his mind. You don't ever forget something like that, no matter how little you are. So, if that bad Sim ever came here…" Of course, holding the dolly in his hand, "Let's pretended, this dolly is that naughty bad Sim who killed our daddy, what are you going to do about it? What do you want to do to that bad Sim, or say?"
"Mal, mal, aaaahhaaaa, MAL," Beau screamed out and smack whack the dolly out of Dustin's hand and kicked it, "mal, mal, mal," Beau screamed loudly angrily! Then he shook his head and there was a change the violent act had changed to something, else, when Beau slapped it on the back then he proceeded to spank the dolly firmly but not angrily, as screamed at it, "Mal, mal, m-a-a-l, mal, ow, ow, ow, mal! Mal."
Teared over too, "That's right buddy; that naughty Sim deserves a good spanking, which is jail, which will happen, justice, will happen. You don't need to know who did it," Beau shook his blond head no, "you already know who it is, you know that face," Beau nodded, "you just maybe, want to know why?" Beau nodded and started crying and hugged Dustin tightly. "I know, it's different for you than it is for me and mommy. See that, he knows, he knows. No doubt about it, he knows. He wants justice done, just as much as I do."
"Well it's good he knows, but it also proposes a very dangers situation to Beau as well," Jason points out the situation.
"How so," Brandi asked, worried, as well as curious, "why is it dangerous?"
"Because," Jason continues on, "I'll bet that whoever did it, knows that Beau might know or knows, something, that he witnessed possibly everything. With that said, whoever might…"
"What are you suggesting," Dustin said defensively and angrily quickly standing up, holding Beau tightly, "he or she might hurt, or, kill, my little brother?" Both cops nodded. "No! I won't let it happen! It won't happen," he said in an almost a growl, while hugging Beau tightly, "for the Lord is my Shepherd, and He is Beau's too, and He will protect Beau, His little sheep. Nothing bad is going to happen. Nothing, you hear, nothing. I know for a fact that God will protect little Beau. God has a very special place in His Heart for the little children. They are very dear to Him, and, I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that He already has, that night our daddy died. Beau wouldn't be here if something didn't happen, if God didn't intervene, somehow, be it angels or whatever. So I know nothing bad will happen to Beau, if that creep ever shows up here, or anywhere when Beau's around."
"Oh pfffft, if you believe that, that's fine, but the fact still remains the murder might still come after Beau and try to kill him too, if he or she or they suspect Beau knows something. I'm surprised he wasn't killed that night, when Skip was murdered."
"That's because hello bonjour, as I said God protected him, and I know He will do it again."
"I have to agree, unlike Jason, I do believe in God, and what you just said is undoubtedly true, but, sigh, however, I'm just as concerned that the murderer will come back and may be after killing Beau this time. How do we protect him when we're not around, though, he needs some sense in how to deal with that murderer, not to act scared, and know what to say, or do, to protect himself," Billy says and silently prays for some wisdom and insight on just how that might be done.
"Uhh, un-n-a-ha-na-aabn-na-bhh," Beau babble talked and whined and looked over at the two cops then up at Dustin.
Nodding, "It's true that bad Sim who killed our daddy might want to do the same to you, just because you know who he…or she is or who they are. You've very lucky to be alive, and I wouldn't call it luck, it's God's Hand of protection on you. With that said, whoever, it is, might try to find out if you know anything and, maybe try to kill you if they suspect you do know something."
Conversing Beau asked Dustin a question, "Ba-a-annl, (k)no(w), nanaun, manaig-hnn-auh, Duh?" he asked.
"No I don't know who it is, I don't. I think it's a guy name Gordon King who killed daddy, but, I don't know who it is. Not for sure. I could be wrong. I'm only guessing or assuming that it's Gordon King, but I could be wrong.
"You understand him, what he asked," Brandi chuckled.
"Heh pretty much, I was a baby once too, you know, besides it's not too hard to figure out what he's saying. And I speak gibberish again now too, Heavenly gibberish."
"Duh, mal, mal me, ma-a-al?"
"Yes, the murder might try to do something bad evil very mal to you, kill you, just because you know who the murderer is. Sigh, it's true, whoever might try to hurt or kill you, Beau, but they won't, I know they won't. God will protect you from that evil mal Sim or Sims who killed daddy. God already protected you that night, didn't He?"
"Uh-huh, Duh, dada, bye-bye," looking and pointing up, "Dada, uh-huh, Dada yes G-God, yes Dada, Dada God, uh-huh!"
What was amazing was the usual empty proto word dada was acknowledged, Beau meant dada as in Skip, but obviously here, he meant Dada God as in Dad, Daddy, or Papa God too. "He calls God Dada, oh my, ohh, and he knows, those aren't empty proto words he knows."
"No he knows, and I praise You God for that, that such wonderful mysteries are revealed in the little ones, that's no mystery to little ones such as this. This is how we must believe in You that You are our God our Dada, our Daddy and You will watch over us, and I thank You I can freely call You that without rebuke You are my Daddy my Dada too," Dustin went off speaking and praising God in Tongues! "Now I'm going to pray that you will remember everything, who killed daddy, all that, very clearly, what happened that night. As well as be protected by God, however, that might be, when that murder shows up or comes looking for you, whoever it is." Dustin went off again as he put his hand onto Beau's head, and as Dustin prayed, the words became garbled and hushed around Beau as Beau shut his eyes and he clearly remembered not just from before, but he much more clearer now, Beau was aided to remember in much more vivid detail than before. He saw something a bit more, in more realization also, than he did before. As afraid as he was back then, and now, he felt peace, as well as protection, as Beau remembers that night, very, very clearly.
*Flashback*
Shaking a bit Beau remembered how that loud sound hurt his ears, that face was burned in his mind, that hatred, that evil, that disgusting evil, he dared not look more than twice, but it was more than enough to remember that, actual face. Not so much what was actually also in there, controlling that face that person as Beau heard the evil screaming threat, and lies Beau didn't, and couldn't believe, and would not believe, what was said, about Dada, that He isn't real.
"I will kill you if you ever say a word about this, in fact, I should just make sure you don't, ever say a word, you little freak." Cocking the gun, there was no trembling or fear for what was about to happen, murdering, no, just anger, at that point, there was more evil than the actual person behind the gun. Because if it were the other way around, there would have been trembling, and an unsteady hand, not a steady hand. "But first, I want to know my other victim's name."
Skip struggled to try get out, to try to stop it, but the agony was too much. "No! Leave Beau alone, it's me you want, not him, kill me!" All he could do was plead, "God help, please, God, Beau please help him," he cried out in voice and tears unable to do anything to stop it, or to protect his son!
"Ha, ha, ha, so that's your name, Beau, huh. Oh, ha, ha, ha, what an ass, you fool there is no God! You're so dead, want know why, because your whole family is a bunch of, freaks! Sick freaks, sick God loving freaks, there is no God, I know," Beau shook his head no, he knew that was an evil lie. "Oh, you don't believe me, well then, let's just see who is right, and who is wrong! If God is so real let Him prove Himself, let Him stop me." Pausing for a few moments the murderer cackled evilly. "See what did I tell ya, no God!"
That thing that loud thing that hurt daddy was now pointed towards him, he feared he might die with daddy too, as he looked up and wailed out loudly, as he pleaded too, God, where are You, please help me, "Aaah da-da-da-da-da-da-dada, Dada, Dada!" And right then… Both of their pleas, for help were answered! A big bright flash, and a loud cracking boom, and a very deep loud rumbling, fiercer sounding than the gunshot, entered in right then to halt the murder, in attempting to kill again! A bad thunderstorm had startled the both of them. A big bright flash of sheet lightning had badly startled and stopped the murderer before the trigger was ever pulled, as the loud thundering boom a second later shook them! Yes, the fierce Wrath of God had indeed showed up, to the challenge, and just in time too, to stop the murder before a second life was unnecessarily taken! "Aaahhh, uh-uhh, aaahhh, gasp, oh, ohh, Dada," little Beau screamed out in awe, fear, shocked, calling his Father by the baby babble proto word, and it was his very first word, and he knew exactly what it meant, Dada, Daddy, technically, it was, God, more specifically, Father Daddy! Beau did not have to see anything more than that, the thunderstorm, to know Who that was, that was God! God did not even have to make His full Presence be known because His Grace it was so much more, stronger, right then, as it had to be, to not annihilate the murderer. The, thunderstorm however, was more than enough to clearly very loudly covey His Message, I AM, very real, and stop, now; you will not do this, you are not permitted to murder My son!
"The second murder maybe for another time," one was enough, more than enough, as the bad Sim got the message and finished up the task that was started. Beau was a toddler and looking at the brat closely nodded snidely at him, realize thinking Beau is newly transitioned by the looks of things he's so small, so it's highly unlikely that he will remember me. Maybe later some other time, I have a job I came here to do. I can always come back later some other time and kill him if I need to if he knows or remembers any of this. Making quick work of removing the pool ladder, undaunted by the commanding lightning and thunder threats, as it continued to flash overhead, and booming and rumbling thunder shaking all around. Even despite that powerful Presence and threat, the murderer kept up what the murder came here to do! Yes, to do away with Skip Broke, as the ladder was now removed, and whilst doing that made sure to kick Skip in the head each time Skip got near to try get out, or to stop the wicked behavior! Ladder removed now, the murderer taunted Skip, "I'd like to see you try get out of there now, Skip. Loser, loser, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I told you, I told you now, didn't I, now didn't I tell you, that, that I would get you back one day for what you did, what you did to me! And now I did, now didn't I! I got you back, now, and now, you're gonna die now, you idiot! Oh, and want to know the best part of it all, it doesn't stop or end here, Skip. Oh no. I'm gonna keep on screwing with your kid too like I already have been, yes, I have a few connections. I'll screw him over in school, his life, yes, I'll screw him over, in every way I can, so much fun, making him pay. But for now, you can suffer and die, just knowing just how much torment I'm going to pour into his useless life, I got Dustin right where I want him, just as I got you, Skip, right where I want you, about to die. I'm gonna so enjoy watching this. Watching you suffer will be sweet, but I think I'll, skip out, get it; skip out, ha, ha, ha, I crack myself up! I'm skipping out on the whole death thing, there's no need to give myself a bad memory, besides, I gotta ditch this ladder someplace, so tootles. But I'll be back, later, though, for your, remains."
"I knew there was something seriously messed up in your head," Skip moaned realizing he was probably going to die, and made sure to get it right before then. "You have all my pity for your mental illness, whatever it is, and you have my forgiveness. Oh, you don't even know what you're doing, but I know God will forgive you, as I do right now. However, cough, with that said, you will, pay, for what you have done here, God is Just, and He will make sure you do pay for this. Yes, it is true, you will probably get away with it, maybe for a time, but that time will be short, it won't be forever. I unh can gar…cough, cough; guarantee it. Eventually, you will get caught, yes, you will be caught, I pray, that He will see to it, one way, or another, that you will get caught, and then be punished."
"Save your pity and forgiveness, because I don't want either of it! You think I don't know what I'm doing? You fool! I know exactly what I'm doing! Murdering killing you! All I ever wanted was revenge and now I got it! You fool! So, you think someone will figure this out, no way, I plotted this out way too carefully, with my two criminal pals, when to do it, and how to do it, so guess what, no one will ever know it was me who killed you," the murder mocked before running off with the pool ladder!
Daddy had no ladder to climb out of the pool now, and being shot at and badly hurt he was too weak to try pull himself out, he would be dead soon, not being able get out of the pool, and too weak and in pain to try. Holding is ears as loud thunder boomed overhead, Beau screamed, "Aaah!" Beau crawled over and even reached out for Skip to try to heroically pull him out. Yes, of course Beau tried to help, but couldn't do anything, being too little, and especially how dangerous that was. All Beau could do now was watch helplessly as it happened as he cried out loudly mournfully and bitterly. Beau kept being reassured by daddy before he died, as he cried out and whimpered helplessly.
"Beau, you can't help me, you'll fall in the pool too. You'll fall in and drown too. I think that's how I lost my big sister Ruby. I tried to pull her out of the flood waters, after she rescued my life when she got me to the shore. But when I reached out for her to pull her out, I nearly fell back in. Beau, you have an aunty named Ruby my older sister, I don't, cough; I don't know if she's dead or alive. I guess I'll find out soon enough here, won't I, ha, ha. It's alright I'm peaceful, just promise me, if I do die," Beau nodded, and listened very carefully to daddy's last and dying wishes, "if I don't make it, to tell Dustin, cough, when you can talk, that he has an aunty named Ruby, mommy knows though, mommy knows, but Dustin doesn't. That was a mistake, I see it now; I should have told him; he has an aunty."
Suddenly Skip clearly remembered his sister Ruby back in Riverview, well, what once was Riverview anyhow. He wondered if she made it or not, still to this day. He had blamed himself for her possible death and never told Dustin he had an aunt, well Brandi did know, but kept his wishes a secret until he knew for sure one way or another. If this was it, now he would find out if she was dead or still alive if he was going to die shortly here. Skip knew Ruby was saved too so up in Heaven she would be waiting there for him. If he did make it though however, he would make all that more effort in trying to find her, and tell Dustin that he had an aunty. It was a big mistake not telling Dustin this, he realized, no matter if she was dead, or alive still. He had a right to know, he had an aunt, dead or alive.
"No, dada no. Oh no, Dada, no, Dada no," whined pleaded Beau as he waved bye-bye, and cried and pointed at Skip, begging God to not let his daddy die. "No Dada no dada," bye-bye wave.
"Oh you called me dada, oh yes I'm your dada your daddy. Yes, that's right Beau, that's right, God is Dada God is your Dada your Daddy too. As much as I'm your daddy God is much more so your Dada than I am, God is your Dada, your Daddy first. And He is here too. I know, I know you're upset and scared that I'm dying but everything will be fine. I'll try to hold on and not go bye-bye. I'll fight to stay alive, but Beau, I love you. I love you so much, I love you. Beau if I don't make it, tell Dustin and Brandi mommy that for me, please. Tell them I love them. You do that for me when you can talk, tell mommy and Dustin that I love them so much. Please remember that to tell them that, when you can talk to tell them that, I need you to tell them that I love them so much. I'll be with you all always here in spirit, and if God will allow me, I'll watch over you. Beau I will be all right, if I do die, cough, I'm going to go be with God. I gave my heart, my life to Jesus to trust Him as my Savior, when I was a young boy. So I'm going to go up to Heaven to be with God to be with Jesus, if I don't make it. Yes, I know you'll all be very sad because I'll be dead, but I'll be happy I'll be in Heaven with Jesus, and you will all see me again, we will all be reunited one day, that's a promise."
There was much peace in those words daddy spoke. Try as daddy might to stay alive, and not die Beau had no choice but to see it, watch, as he saw Skip bleed and soon passed away as he drown in the pool. Then something or someone showed up, but Beau wasn't afraid. Why; yes, it looked very frightening, but it only looked that way as there was nothing but pureness goodness. Beside the pool, something was left, it matched the red memory, a grave, a gravestone, daddy was dead now, and there was his grave. Daddy was gone now but that strange Sim-like thing never left. He was picked up by it and held and hugged, the deep groaning the strange creature made was that of pain and sadness, it was just as sad as he was. It was unearthly the words it spoke, but Beau knew exactly what it was saying. Beau being still so young could hear words, whispers of Love in the dark, chanting, singing the choir of the angelic hosts of Heaven and this dark hooded one, though very different from the others he hears, was also one of them. Beau smiled as he sniffled and crying as he looked directly at this odd hooded creature, so full of love, kindness, tenderness, that held him dearly, and lovingly, Beau knew he was safe, and loved. Little Beau bravely grasped its neck and hugged it tightly right back.
Grim was able to change languages at will from the Heavenly language, he was speaking in seconds ago, to any earthy language needed at the time, and spoke in English to Beau though still in a very low raspy voice. "I'm sorry you had to see that, I'm sorry your father your daddy is dead," Beau understood it all finally; now, it made sense, now, 'I'm the witness', "but it will be a blessing, and good thing that you know the truth. You're a witness, Beau, and that's what you need to be, a witness, not just for this, but for your whole life as well. Just as your big brother, Dustin, is also a witness for the Awesome Almighty God. For you though, Beau, you will be a different kind of witness, for God. You will have a different gift, you will soon discover, to witness for God, a gift He gave you before you even existed or were born."
Beau was comforted by those words it spoke he then knew for sure, that this whatever, it, was, who had helped take daddy up to be with God, up to Heaven, never meant him any harm, he felt Love around it, it was God's Love hugging this creature was the best way to describe the Light and Love that was around it this Sim-like thing. Whatever it was, this odd creature, this thing, was made of, and by God, and God's Love was on and in it, so it was no threat. Beau could still hear them so very clearly at times the singing of the choir in Heaven, and he could hear that melody, the love music, of praise and worship of God, in the words this creature spoke, he was one of them, a being of the Light, an angel, the death angel, but no less an angel of the Almighty. Sad and crying he was hugged lovingly kissed and was soon taken inside and put into the crib and that Sim-like thing angel stayed there with him. Well, the murderer must have not gone too far to get rid of the ladder evidence and just as it was stated, was now back for Skip's remains. Helplessly, they both watched, as just like a thief, the murderer truly was, had taken Skip's gravestone too. It was bad enough taking away the ladder, after removing it, the murderer wanted to make sure the job was fully done, and take daddy's gravestone too as they watched out the window before he was placed in the crib. "No," Beau screamed as the murder added insult to injury, by kicking the gravestone a few times, and then picked it up and made off with it!
"I told him I would pay him back for what he did, ha, ha, ha, no doubt now someone is going to grow up badly, and I'll see to it that I also ruin any chance at college as well," cackling evilly as the murder left.
"I cannot leave you here alone, you're too little, and I do not want Social Services coming for you. Your family needs to stick together, now, more than ever. So I will stay here with you until your mother and brother return." True enough that's what exactly happened, as soon as they came home, it was gone.
I know now what that thing meant now, it's good that I know, just as that thing is good, it's good I know. I can tell them who killed daddy dada, who it was, when I learn how to talk that is. Oh, big brother you need to help me I can't talk well but I want to talk! I miss daddy, so much, little Beau nodded, remembering it all now, hug gripping Dustin's neck as he rested his head on Dustin's chest. "Ohh, dada bye-bye," he sigh whimpered, missing him.
That's when the tongue praying eased off and hauled when he heard Beau, and was hugged. "I know I miss him too. Do you remember?" Beau nodded as Dustin gently wiped his tears and Beau did the same for the tears Dustin didn't know he was crying. "Do you remember better now?"
"Uh-huh," looking up and pointing up, "Dada el-elp me!"
"Great that's just what I prayed for, Dada God would help you remember that night very clearly. Great, so was it anyone you know?" Beau shook his head no, "Didn't think so, just checking. I'll be asking you many questions, Beau. We want to try find out who did this horrible thing." Beau nodded understanding. "What about a name, did you hear anything that sounded like a name?"
"Uh-huh, uhh…" There were a few names said.
"Try to say it, I'll help you if I can."
"Uhh, umm, Sa-ip, Sa-ip."
"Skip," Dustin asked, Beau nodded. "That's daddy's name, Skip. What about Brandi," Beau nodded his head. "Good and it's very important you know that name too, because that's mommy's name, Brandi. In case you ever get lost and you need to talk with the police, it's very important that you know mommy's name is Brandi. Any other names mentioned?" Beau pointed to his big brother. "Dustin, my name was mentioned?" Beau nodded. "So whoever the murder is, he, or she, knows me. Hmm, Jessica, did you hear that name?" Beau shook his head no. "Russ?" Beau again shook his head no. "Gordon?" Again, another nonverbal no came from the toddler. "Well that ruled out my 3 main criminal suspects. Do you know if the murder is a boy or a girl? Do you know the difference between a boy and a girl?" Beau kind of smiled and nodded. "Male female, boy girl; I'm a boy a male, so are you, mommy is a female a girl. Do you know if the murderer is a boy or a girl?" Beau shook his head no. "Did that person have long hair…" no response from the toddler, "short hair," same as before no response, "do you remember if they even had hair?" Beau just looked confused. "Hmm," my mind was in overdrive now, trying to figure this out as I grilled my witness. I thought the murder could have been bald, which would lead me to believe it was most likely the murderous criminal is a male. A criminal oh of course, a hat, or a mask, "Wait a sec," putting Beau down. "Did the murder have his or her head covered up, kind of like this," and pulled his shirt up over his head. Beau nodded. "Aha, so that's why you cannot tell. That makes it harder, to tell if it was a boy or a girl." I jumped back to names, if we just had a name, it would make it a whole lot easier if Beau knew the person's name. "Anymore names, can you remember any more names, maybe daddy said?"
"Uh-huh, woo, woo, eee."
"What? Trains go woo-woo; woo-woo, toot-toot," Jason chuckles.
"You're not helping you know," I sat down getting down to Beau's level and tried, "he's trying to, say a name, and you're not helping him, you're confusing him. Do not listen to him he's just a big idiot, a grand one," my French accent popping out a bit. "You're trying to say a name, I know you are. Keep trying. Think of that name in your head, and say that name a few times in your head to practice how to say it in your head first, and then try to say it out loud. That often helped me when there were some hard words I had to learn how to pronounce in French. I listened to my French teacher say them a few times and practiced saying them in my head a few times and tried to speak them. Sounding things out helps too, just like you were doing woo, woo, eee, try it again."
Beau gave him a funny look but he understood, pretty much, but was curious, "Huh fu-nch?"
"French yes oui, is a different language. Français est une langue différente. I speak French and English, I'm bilingual. Je parle Français et anglais, je suis bilingue. I adore love speaking in French. J'adore parler en Français." Beau jutted his head shocked then he giggled about it that sounded so funny to him. "Do I sound droll/ drôle (drôle -saying the French way-Dustin rolled his r's and pounced it the French way) to you, ugh, mon Dieu," now it was my turn to roll my eyes, at myself, and laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, you still do that," she asked Dustin knowing his 'habit' if it could really be called that, Dustin just face palmed nodding and laughing.
"Ah oui my bad habit, ha, ha, ha, droll drôle, funny drôle."
"What does he do? Who calls it droll," Jason asked.
"Dustin has a funny habit if it can be called that."
"My mind gets stuck in French mode at times and doesn't know when to quit. My mind plays a cute trick on me, and I've been teased a bit for it. I will say the French word rather than the English word if I've been speaking French even just a little bit. So most times I say drôle, which is how you say funny or droll in French, and what's worse I will say it the French way, drôle droll. It's one of my weird quirks I have. Come on, Beau, try say that name again, I know you can do it."
"Woo, Roo, Ra-oo…"
Brandi shut her eyes in a moment of silence for the possibly dead, "Ruby?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Alright, we got the name of the murder!"
"No, Dustin, we don't, Ruby wouldn't have killed Skip; she saved his life. Not unless, it's a different Ruby, or she doesn't know who her family is and for some reason has it out for us. Did daddy say something about telling Dustin about his aunt Ruby?" Beau nodded.
"Aunt, what are you talking about, I don't have an aunt."
"You do actually, have, or possibly, had, an aunty, named Ruby. We still to this day, don't know if she's dead or alive. We don't know if she survived that flood or not. Skip thought it might be best if you didn't know until he knew for sure one way or the other. I guess he thought it was best you know now, to tie up the loose ends before he…"
"Oh God," letting out a sob I hugged mom, "dead or alive, I wish dad had told me. Is it even possible to miss a relative you don't even know?" I already knew the answer to that question I was already mourning for another dead relative, well at least in this case, though, a possibly dead, but still a chance she was still alive, but a relative I never had the pleasure of ever knowing about until now.
Brandi nodded yes, while comforting Dustin. "Yes of course, and if she has passed, you will see her and get to meet her in Heaven one day. So in a way we're all still connected, no matter what, we are family."
"I guess this might explain my constant fear of losing a relative." Mom just nodded with a sympathetic smile as I sniffled. "And here I thought we had cracked the case," I tried to joke.
All jokiness aside I was about to crack a case, a different one, and a huge one, a case the police down in Riverview, nor anyone else for that matter had yet to solve or fully figure out until now that is. Of course, I didn't know about Riverview, until now, but something was off, something hit my mind, hard; something, did not make sense to me, at all, to me. Though I had bad grades, at least right now, I was far from stupid, something did not add up. I was an ace at French and it didn't take me long to pick up new French words. I was so good at it, and my comprehension of the French language was so high that it was easy and a snap for me to figure out say taking a simple word like say, sing, and figure out the past present future particles the precepts or the nouns, verbs, adverbs, or the singular or plural, things like that, and how to use them correctly in a sentence. My next loved subject in school was history. I loved to learn from the past, gleaning things from the knowledge of the past. Of course, my next best class was math; I had a head for numbers. If anyone knew how much of a nerd I could be, or rather really am, no one would ever believe it. Everyone, even I, thought I was stupid, until my mom straightened me out. I wasn't stupid, my mind and the way I learned just worked a bit different, from what most teachers cared or would bother to teach, which is verbal, straight from the textbook and, yawn, boring. I needed visual stimuli and to be engaged, and to make it fun. Who said education had to be boring, you could make it interactive and fun and a joy to learn, anything. That was certainly Angelique's philosophy, to teach the way a child learns, and most importantly do it by playing. Simply put is I saw things and learned a bit differently that's all, it didn't mean I was stupid. And that was a good thing.
"I'm so sorry, Dustin, I'm sorry your father didn't tell you."
I accepted the hug and more importantly the apology on behalf of my mom and dad, however something just didn't add up. For starters, "Hey, what flood, there was no flood here in Pleasantview. And if there were a catastrophe that big don't you think it would be in our history books?"
"That's because it didn't happen here, it happened in our hometown, of Riverview."
"What, Riverview…never heard of the place." Mom had grabbed Beau and heled him as he got up and walked off. Rather than going back to playing with toys, Beau was headed off towards the door instead. Probably wanting to wander off to explore the new place or go play in the toilet as he tended to do at our old home.
"Well that might be because of the name change, before the name change it used to be called Riverview. They renamed it Riverblossom Hills after the flood, because even after that disaster, that catastrophe, new life soon blossomed, and once again flourished there on the hills of what was once our old town. It's kind of poetic in a way."
Riverblossom Hills I heard of, but not Riverview, now it made sense, why I never heard of the place with the name change. "Oh. So the flood, how did it happen, a lot of rain…a mudslide, a dam broke, or what?"
"Well at first that's exactly what everyone thought had happened, to the hydro dam. There was a big rainfall for two days, and it was declared it was a structural failure, a breech in the dam. Well later on, a big investigation finally discovered the truth Skip knew all along, that it wasn't a breech, it was explosives; someone had blown up that dam."
"What?! Dad knew, but how? Why didn't he do anything, or say anything?"
"He did, but nothing was really done about it, no one regarded his words as truth, seems no one really cared, amidst the chaos. He was even warned, that everyone who lost loved ones was looking for a scapegoat, someone to point a finger at, for this travesty. So it's best to keep his mouth shut." Dustin just shook his head. "Skip knew, because he was up there at the time. I was just heading out there to go meet up with him. We were going to go have a picnic up there and do some fishing, and I could finally get to know Ruby a bit more. I had only met her twice, and both times, it was right before she went off to work. Skip swore that he heard what sounded like loud thunderous booms; I think I even heard it too. And before that, he said he had seen someone walking around up there on the dam. Skip had tried to tell the police in Riverview he heard the big explosions right before the dam gave way, and before that he said he had seen someone walking around up there."
"So the police did nothing at all, even though dad might have known something?"
"No. The police in Riverview balked at him saying things like no you didn't see anything. Or you're imagining things or making it up or you probably heard a big tree snap, or it was thunder. What about the person I saw up there? Oh, the person you saw up there, was probably just one of the dam workers just checking the integrity of the dam after the big rainstorms we had, and lost his or her life along with the countless others."
"Unbelievable, that's sick, they wouldn't take his word for it, or look into it, and try to find the real person responsible for the destruction of the dam."
"Well not in Riverview, it didn't happen, but after we moved here, someone finally listened. I didn't think it could happen, let alone twice but it did, as they say in French coup de foudre! We both knew that we were going to be moving, but not when, and not where to. So later on, when we met up in Pleasantview in school on the playground we were both surprised to see each other again. Ha, ha, and well, despite we were still kids, sparks flew, again." Mom had a funny look on her face as she told me this. Where did this suddenly come from, I have to wonder as I smiled. What can I say, my silly mommy, still in love, awww, she still loves daddy as much as ever. "Still kids but so in love, oh, yeah sigh." Blushing, "Oh sorry honey, why'd I mentioned this, just reminiscing I guess."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, coup de foudre love at first sight, eh, cool, I guess it does happen. I don't get it, though, at all, lightning, or lightning bolts, what it has to do with love or love at first sight. Besides, I thought lightning doesn't strike the same spot twice."
"Well maybe one day you will, and besides lighting does strike the same spot twice. Anyway, ahem, the police here had hardly believed him as well, at first, but someone else was listening. It was a young rookie working in the office that had took notice and listened, and took it upon himself to make contact with someone from the Sim CIA who came and talked with Skip about what he knew. Finally, someone believed him and when word got out that it might not be a structural failure as they presumed, agents from the Sim CIA went in and investigated the whole matter. But get this it took them, 3 years, over 3 years after the incident to find out the truth, and the police down in Riverview all determined it was an open and shut case, structural damage, a breech in the dam, caused by heavy rains and didn't bother investigating it any further. It took the Sim CIA less than two weeks, between finding out Sip is the witness and is telling the truth to finding the evidence that it was dynamite used to breech the dam, that caused the flood. Someone had intentionally destroyed that dam, to flood the town. That's why he's a spy. Your daddy didn't want to be a police officer, in his words he said: most police are lazy imbeciles who don't want, or know how to do their job. What's worse, most won't consider what a child has to say. All because it might look bad for them because a little child might know something a big police officer doesn't know, but should," Brandi said in French, so the two police officers standing there hopefully wouldn't understand her. It was a bit of a slap in the face so to speak, considering the help, so she thought it might be prudent to keep it to herself what she at times still thought of most of the police officers, who think they are all high and mighty and invincible and can do no wrong.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I'm in agreement with that, most of them are lazy imbeciles. Most of them won't dare take a child's word into evidence. They didn't believe me at first either, they thought I was lying. Not to mention most of them can't find a clue if they sat their overweight derrieres on one." Mom gave me a look, but I said derriere, not ass. I knew better not to cuss or use certain words around Beau. We didn't want him to pick up mild cusses or off colored words, even in French, at such a young age. Beau would have his whole life to learn them. Trust me, I know, I sure learned them, and didn't appreciate knowing them much now, even if I let a few out now and then.
I was still in shock, that no one believed my dad and that it took 3 years to figure it out, that it was explosives that destroyed the dam that did in my parents' hometown, not a structural failure. What was far worse is how some cops could be such arrogant jerks, not caring, that just because someone is young doesn't mean what a child has to say is unimportant, and how they couldn't or refused to put that evidence into consideration.
**Fun note here, this anecdote from Dustin is based off a true story** I know this might be off-topic for some, about my investigation here, trying to find out who dad's killer is, but I need to explain a little something to you here. See, I've heard on a Christian talk show of a girl that got spanked by her mom, because she was hanging out with the wrong crowd, she wasn't doing what she was told, lying, not doing her homework or schoolwork, ditching or not going to school. Huh kind of what I'm going through right now, eh? Get this bucket of joy though, the social service workers tried to throw-out this girl's testimony, in court. They were making accusations, probably wrongful ones, against her mother, making up lies essentially, and were violating the mother's or a parent's right to discipline their kids. See the parents had exhausted other means grounding privileges taken away and it came down to a spanking, right, seemed fair right, but her mom had to use a paddle or what my mom sometimes uses a wooden spoon, because she was too weak to use her hand, the message wouldn't have gotten through. In my option it's better to use a neutral object like that, which gives the ouch sting and mostly because hands are meant for praying, playing, and loving, and working, not hurting or harming. Well, anyhow, social service screams, 'it's abuse', what's worse is the daughter backed her mom up saying that's not how it went down, saying it wasn't abuse, and the child acknowledged what she was doing was wrong, and they had tried other means of disciplining that didn't work. However, the social workers were still disregarding it all, anything the daughter had to say as true. That her testimony, essentially, that the testimony of a child, cannot be held up in court. Wrong! So wrong! Basically, the social worker was trying to snatch up this kid and get this poor mother thrown in jail on some false abuse charge just because she spanked her child. The judge, thank God, knew better and dropped the case like a hot sac of llama you-know-what, and the woman was freed from any 'child abuse' charges, and that's become the catalyst now for some changes we have now.
Man, can you imagine it, what would have happened if the social workers had won? That mom would be stigmatized for her whole life, as a child abuser, it would screw up her chances for getting any employment, let alone being able to adopt any kids if she wanted to. It's better now I suppose, but still lame! I mean no one is perfect, we all make mistake, right. Nowadays, though, the social service workers, can't come busting into your house and snatch your kids away from you, well, for the most part. They still do, in some cases, if there's a real serious charge of child abuse. But nowadays most parents get a 24 hour warning period to shape up before the second investigation and what's more, they have to take all the kids into consideration, and or any doctor's report. Like say a kid looks small and undernourished, but the doctor's report says, the kid had a medical condition or was born prematurely but is putting on weight, he or she is just small looking for their age because say the kid is a preemie. Things like that nowadays social workers have to take into consideration, they can't just take away a kid on one anonymous phone call, without proper proof.
Huh and while I'm at it, when did it go from spanking being used as loving discipline and correction tool in a parent's arsenal, to any form of physical correction is abusive? Corrupting words, of this jerk, who thinks he knows better than God does. What's more is spanking being changed to mean in social service teams the same as hitting and worse yet beating kids, not to mention these new parents are eating it up, or are too terrified of getting their kids taken to dare do what the Word of God commands us. Ugh, don't even get me started with this stupidity, go look in a dictionary you fool, what spanking, hitting, beating, and abuse, means, or shut up! Yes, I can certainly see a concern about a line being crossed but any good parent and even kids with half a brain, or mentally challenged ones for that matter, knows where that line is.
If you don't want to or don't have the heart to spank, I'm all fine for that, that's your choice, a choice every parent has to make, just love them and discipline them as best you can. And don't get down on us spankers calling it what it's not, it's certainly not abuse. However, I have to say to all you non-spankers out there, that there might come a time when it has to be used though, a smack down on a bottom, and sometimes as much as you hate the idea, that's sometimes, with some children, the only way to get a child to learn right from wrong and be complaint and listen and obey you. And plainly put, some satiations, which are life threating, call for it. All I'm saying is don't get down on the other parents you see out there spanking their child, unless it's actual abuse you witness, mind your own business, and don't, please, don't, call social services, you don't know what kind of hornets' nest that you're throwing their way when you do that! Believe me! I could see how that could easily be my mom, Beau, and me. I get spanked, and I respect my mom, and dad too, he did it too, well, when he was alive, you know.
Times were changing, yes, and I was beginning to detest, at times, what our society was slowly becoming. Sometimes I longed for the days when things were much simpler. You know, back when parents were parents, and parented you, and kids were kids. Where we respected and loved our parents and elders, and learned and were taught by them. Nowadays I see some kids' parents being their kid's best friend and buddy. There isn't anything wrong with being friends with your folks, in the right sense of that, so don't get me wrong, but damn it, they are your parents, not your sugar mommy and daddy, to suck dry, as you see fit, they are not your best bud! Your best bud is that kid who lives a few blocks down the road from you, you like to go hang out and play with, and have sleepovers with, and joke around with, and tell secrets to, not your bloody parents!
"Was it clue and overweight, you said?"
Ah, mom just got stuck on two words, "Bravo. I could have said that they couldn't find a clue if it hit them in the face, too. He is a perfect example of someone who is stupid and has fat derriere. And a round derriere is not very attractive on a man, at all. Now a nice round derriere on a woman; oh yeah, now that's…." I shook my head and sighed, I had felt such a great well of pity and remorse for the lives needlessly destroyed. I mean who would do such a thing, what monster would do that, kill hundreds of lives like that without blinking an eye? A demon, or rather a demon-possessed demented son or daughter of the devil, that's who. I could not imagine the devastation of my parent's hometown and who would do such an awful thing then I realized… I'll hunt you down… "Oh no…oh my God." Suddenly, I realized… I was officially freaked right out, when I realized at that moment, who had done it! I knew who killed all those people!
Brandi laughed she knew what must have just started to happen, below deck, so to speak, with that deer caught in the headlights look. Apparently, Dustin found fat round butts attractive. She didn't comment on it but went on in French. As she told him, earlier, just ignore it and don't draw attention to it and no one will know. However, that wasn't what was happening at all. "Oh really, well that's because you're a male, but some woman do find round derrieres on a man very attractive, but you're right, he really is not an attractive man to me, with his big round derriere." Brandi concluded with asking her son this question. "So how did I do with it?" She knew French, she is French herself after all, and could speak it. She had taught Dustin simple French when he was a baby and a tot, because she wanted Dustin to grow up bilingual, more so then she is. That happened, because of Angelique, now her French level was considerably lower compared to Dustin's French level. Nonetheless, she was so happy and pleased that he was so fluent, but at times, it was hard to keep up with him when Dustin switched to French mode, and a bit daunting at times to try to do so.
"That was perfect," I said a bit numbly. I knew then I could never tell my mother what I knew, until he was behind bars, or better yet, in an electric chair. I knew exactly what would happen. I know how my mom would react. It would start with panicked screaming, and yelling, and freaking out, then followed right by us packing up and leaving Pleasantview, possibly permanently, and moving to some Godforsaken town, like Strangetown, under some alias. There we would be living out on the run very possibly for the rest our lives always looking over our shoulders. And that was the worst case scenario. Best possible scenario was I would be under lock and key under in some sort of parental house arrest, so to speak, till my 20's or even 30's, not even going to school or college not having any friends, mom constantly watching over me, and stressing over every little sound outside. Speaking of outside yeah, I would never get to go outside anymore. Grounded in the worst possible way for me, no, way, no way was I telling my mom anything more, of what I knew, and just figured out, at least not now. No, I just can't tell her yet, not until he's caught and not until after she had the baby. I mean, God knows that stress isn't good for you, and it's worse still when you're pregnant, right. I couldn't dare tell mom, who blew that dam up. I don't even know if I could tell the cops, that, not after what she said about how they never believed dad. I never even told mom the whole truth of what Gordon did to me. I had conveniently left that part out, until we went to the police station.
Yes, I did tell the cops though, and that's the main reason why we're here. I had told them I needed a bathroom break, I did, but I wanted to tell them without mom and Beau around in the witness room. I was escorted right into the restroom and after I went pee, I thoroughly washed my hands, I was nervous, really nervous, obviously, because I usually never wash my hands after I pee. So it was my nerves and stalling again, maybe getting into the good habit with a little brother emulating me. I was doing the right thing but I had made the Billy cop here promise me first, not to tell my mom this last bit of evidence, at least not until after she had the baby, before I told him what Gordon did to me. Why, I was asked, why else, I told the cop, it's too much stress, as it is, with this mess, and she doesn't need any more added stress, right now. Got it? I will be the one to tell her, sometime later, preferably after she has my sister, my sibling, uh, after Gordon is caught and jailed. I realized what I said, I chuckled, and smiled, when I realized it, I think mom's having a girl. Even though the doctor wasn't able to get a clear look at the gender, turned the wrong way, but I had this gut feeling, the same feeling that I had when I knew Beau was a boy. I told Billy the cop I feel so badly that I can't tell my mom right now the whole truth about what Gordon did to me, but it's for her own good. I can't tell mom just yet, but I will tell her. Then I confessed it all, I told Billy what I'm about to tell you, it wasn't just a verbal possibly idle threat to try to scare me, no, he meant exactly what he said. I conveniently left out the part where Gordon held a gun to my head. He did it without even shaking, just, looking, dead inside, like he couldn't care less whom else he killed, and threatened to pull the trigger if I ever went to the police. That if I ever did it he would do it, he would come after me, and hunt me down and shoot me. No, I didn't do anything in my drawers, but damn, I came close to it! Now, we're here.
I'm glad we're here though, and I do like it here, it's like a mansion compared to our old home, and I do feel safe here. However, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, especially as we were moving out, if this was a good idea or not. Like, what's my carpool driver going to think, when she sees me not at my old home? Trouble, that's what, she works for the criminals. I can only hope and pray that the bad guys don't know that this is a safe house. Otherwise, it will be bad, very bad, and I'll be in a very life-threatening situation. I see now, though, if I want anything properly done about it now, concerning Gordon and the dam, I will have to go to the Sim CIA, myself, considering the situation with dad, and the dealings he had with them. I know who did it, Gordon blew up the dam, knowing it, or not, he confessed to me he's the killer, the mass murder. 'If you ever do go to the police, know this Dustin, I will hunt you, and the rest of your family down, and do away with you all, just like I did to all of the countless numerous others, in that town that you came from.' Gordon did it, I'm sure of it, he was the person on that dam that faithful day Riverview's dam was blown up, he did it he killed off the town, for God knows what reason. Well, maybe he's an evil psychopathic killer.