Empty Shell

by Ashley Fontainne

  Hot tears cascaded down my face, my heart beyond broken. I was shattered on the inside. Detective Knowles had been right: all of this tied back to me in ways that I doubted I would ever truly fathom. I felt my mind and body begin to shut down from the overload of events.

  I heard what sounded like another crack of thunder and realized the walls and floor were vibrating. Roger must have felt it as well because his grip loosened and he rolled on top of me. His eyes were wild with fear, anger, love and sadness all mixed together.

  “Best laid plans, right? I’m sorry, Melody. I never meant to hurt you. I truly didn’t. My love for you is what kept me going after I lost Corinne. But, I realize now that all I’ve managed to do was destroy your world. The only good thing that came from this is that at least you won’t have to spend the remainder of your life living in a world where Serena Rowland was the mother to Jack’s child and not you.”

  “That would be a really nice sentiment if it weren’t for the fact that you were the father, not Jack,” boomed the voice of Detective Knowles over the siren and wind.

  Roger didn’t flinch and never took his eyes off mine. I saw the shock of the detective’s words burn behind his eyes, his face contorting in agony. For a split second, I felt his pain. Pain from the knowledge that none of this should have ever happened and that he had killed his unborn child.

  “Roger, it’s over now. Let go of her and get up.”

  Tears flowed down Roger’s face and dripped off his chin onto mine. Roger closed his eyes, bent his head down and planted a delicate, light kiss on my cheek. I felt his body shift and he whispered in my ear, “I love you, Melody. Forever.”

  Just as Roger began to push himself off of me, I felt the floor shift. Detective Knowles was yelling something at Roger, but I couldn’t hear anything over the deafening roar that filled the house. In one swift motion, Roger grabbed me by my shirt, heaved me off the floor, and shoved me into the arms of Detective Knowles, who stood less than five feet from us, his gun trained on Roger. His body moved with lightning speed as he tried to lower his gun from my trajectory but lost his footing on the wet floor. Between the house shaking, the wet surface and the force of my body crashing into his, we fell to the floor at the top of the stairs.

  Strong arms grabbed my shoulders and pushed me as I heard the detective yell, “Get downstairs now! It’s coming!”

  I turned my head back to the kitchen for a split second. The last thing I saw was Roger standing in front of the sliding glass doors, his arms lifted to Heaven as the ceiling was ripped away. A last push sent me tumbling down the stairs, and I saw nothing more.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - SATURDAY MORNING

  I woke up in a fog, still groggy from the pain medication. The bright sunlight streaming in from the window hurt my eyes. I blinked and tried to focus, then remembered that I wasn’t wearing contacts. I reached under the stiff pillow to retrieve my glasses, stopping short as I realized I wasn’t at home. A bitter, cynical laugh caught in my throat. I didn’t have a home to go to anymore. The twister had destroyed it. A rather fitting end since everything else in my life lay in ruinous heap as well.

  “Good morning, sunshine. Look, I brought you a present.”

  Though I couldn’t make out her face, I recognized the voice of Regina. Her fuzzy shape walked toward me and she leaned over and kissed my forehead. I felt her place something in my hand. Immediately recognizing the shape, I smiled and put them on.

  “How did you find them?”

  “Oh, I didn’t. I just went to your eye doctor and had him make you a new pair. Got you some contacts, too,” she smiled, patting her purse. “Because you know how much I love to shop! After all, it saved me from occupying the bed next to you.”

  I snorted at the irony. “Indeed it did. Not many people can say shopping saved their life!”

  “So true! Hmm, there was something else the eye doc wanted me to tell you. What was it? Ah yes, he said not to wear the contacts until you are off the pain meds. Something about dry eyes and corneal abrasions.”

  “Okay, I won’t. And listen, thank you. For everything.”

  “Um, we’ve already had that talk once before, I believe. Remember? Anyway, I have a few other things to share. I’ve contacted everyone that I can think of and told them the new time for your Mom’s funeral is Monday at two. Oh, and get this—Brunie Funeral Home is doing the service for free.”

  I struggled to sit up in the hospital bed. Every movement was a new experience in pain. Regina set her purse down on the small table beside the bed and had my arm in a flash. Her strong hands helped me situate my torso so my broken leg was still propped up but my back wasn’t in such a bind. “For free? Why?”

  “Mr. Brunie didn’t say. He was just adamant. Tore the bill up right in front of me.”

  “Hmmm. Interesting. Guess Mom was right.”

  “Right about what?”

  “She always felt Mr. Brunie had a crush on her ever since high school. Maybe this is his way of showing it.”

  “That’s sweet,” Regina said as she busied herself with checking my myriad of bruises and cuts. “Some more money came in today. The total now is over fifteen thousand dollars.”

  I gritted my teeth. “I don’t want charity from people who don’t even know me! I’m just some sad story they heard about on the news.”

  “Mel, I realize you are still in a lot of physical pain and doped up, so I will ignore that drug-induced ugly remark. People are trying to help you and not just ones from the Justice for Jack site, but from all over. Most of the money is for all of you who lost your homes in the storm. Twenty three in all were destroyed in the path, though yours was the only one in your neighborhood. Thankfully, no lives were lost, just property damage.”

  I appreciated Regina’s tact in overlooking the demise of my former boss. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so mean. I’m just, oh boy, I don’t even know what I am anymore. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what others are doing, I just wish it wasn’t necessary. You know me—I am sort of a loner.”

  “No you aren’t. You are the giver. Always have been. Now you get to experience what being the recipient feels like. Sometimes, it’s nice. Other times, you sort of feel embarrassed.”

  “That’s an understatement. Mortified beyond belief is more like it,” I grumbled as heat flushed my cheeks.

  “Well, that’s why you have me around. To point out your flaws and steer you in the right direction. So, new subject: has your doc been by today?”

  “Yes, early this morning. Why do they insist on making rounds at the crack of dawn?” I whined.

  “Beats me. So, what did he say? Any idea when you’ll be released? I’m ready to practice my rusty nursing skills on you. I’ve even set up my bedroom for you since it’s on the first floor. See, I think of everything.”

  I smiled at her and reached out my left hand to grab hers. Though I didn’t say it because I knew I’d start crying, I let my eyes express how much I appreciated and loved her. She and Kendal were all I had left now. “He said I could leave tomorrow as long as I take it easy. Like I can do anything but take it easy. I can’t even hobble around on crutches because of this stupid cast,” I said, holding my broken right hand up off the bed. “At least this injury I enjoyed getting.”

  “Oh, Mel, I still can’t believe you and Detective Knowles survived. When I saw the damage, well, it’s a God thing all right. A true miracle. Your house is in pieces.”

  I was glad I was on pain medication because it helped block out the heartbreaking pangs of sorrow in my chest. It also gave me the ability to change the subject on a dime. “Listen, talk to the guy over at the Justice for Jack site. Tell him to please put something on the page asking people to send their donations to a different cause, because I don’t need it.”

  “Mel, you have big expenses—”

  “I spoke to the insurance adjuster earlier,” I interrupted. “Seems he is on the same time schedule as the d
octor, since he called me so early. He said the house sustained enough damage that rebuilding will cost more than it’s worth, so I’m taking the money and paying the mortgage off, then listing the land for sale. Besides, you knew already that I had decided to move because I couldn’t stand being surrounded by all the memories. I didn’t want to struggle to scrape together enough cash each month to pay the bills, either.”

  “Well, that’s good news, but you will need a vehicle. And an entire wardrobe, though you are welcome to share mine until you are able to go shopping. Oh, and you will need furniture. I mean, you are basically starting all over again.”

  “The other joyful tidbit of news the adjustor told me is that when they removed the trees and assessed our vehicles that were under them, they are both totaled as well. So, it seems the tornado was sort of a good thing, since it pretty much wiped out most of my debt. Still have a few maxed out credit cards and it looks like some new medical bills coming after this lovely stay here, but I’ll make it. Mom’s house is paid for and fully stocked with furniture, so that only leaves buying a car. Plus, Jack’s retirement and pension should kick in soon, so I’ll be fine,” I reassured her.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind and come live with me? At least for a while until you find a job? I mean, you aren’t planning on going back to…” Regina seemed to know better than to finish her sentence.

  “Maybe for a few weeks, if that’s okay. And not just no but Hell no. I won’t ever step foot back inside that place again. In fact, I will never, ever work in the legal field again. Rick Overton called yesterday and said the firm was disbanding and all the lawyers were venturing out on their own. He actually had the gall to ask if I wanted to work for him and offered almost double my previous salary.”

  The disbelief on Regina’s face was comical. “After everything that’s happened, I can’t believe he would even ask! What a jerk. So, if you aren’t going to be a paralegal anymore, what are you going to do?”

  “You know, I could kick myself for leaving teaching to begin with and going for the money rather than what I loved doing. Before I landed in here, I had been rolling around the idea of teaching again. Believe it or not, I already have a job waiting for me,” I informed her.

  Regina blinked twice in shock. “You what? How did you manage that? And where?”

  “I called Everett Wilkins—Jack’s boss at UALR—this morning. Told him I wanted to get back to teaching and before I could say anything else, he…oh…he offered me Jack’s old job teaching history,” I said, the last part causing a heavy hitch in my throat. I still hadn’t processed the news myself.

  “Mel! That’s great! You’ll be out of that cast and all healed up before the fall semester starts in September. Perfect timing! Of course, every gift from above is given at the perfect time. No doubt about it.”

  I felt the tears lock in my throat and decided to change the subject again before they burst out of me. I hadn’t cried since arriving at the hospital. I knew it was because I was still in shock from not only my physical injuries, but the ones to my soul. And after everything that happened, all the betrayal, the loss, the death, the gut wrenching sorrow and heartache, I doubted I would ever share my real pain with anyone. The quiet whisper of my mother’s sweet words had replaced, thankfully, the demonic drone of my Meemaw in my head, gently urging me to bring all my baggage to the Lord for healing. I cleared my throat. “How’s Simba?”

  “Don’t you worry about that hairy beast. Kendal’s been taking care of her. Never seen a man so devoted to an animal before. The vet fixed her right up and she’s been the queen of Kendal’s bed ever since. I mean, he dotes on her. Kind of a turn on, if you ask me.”

  “I’m glad she’s better. Oh, I miss her so much. But one question—how do you know she’s sleeping on Kendal’s bed?”

  Regina’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Uh, well, that was the last bit of information I was going to share with you. You see, it’s like this—”

  I held up my hand to silence her. “I’m just yanking your chain, Regina. I saw the sparks between you two during the last few weeks, so I’m not surprised. I’m happy for you both. Guess I should have played matchmaker between the two of you long ago.”

  Regina let out a huge huff of air. “Oh, thank goodness. I wasn’t sure how to tell you or how you would react. I mean, after all that has happened…”

  “If there is anything I’ve learned from this nightmare, it’s that life can be over in the blink of an eye, so cherish and embrace the love of others before it’s too late and they’re gone. And don’t you worry about me, Regina. As my Daddy used to say, I’m fine as frog hair. The willow tree may be bent but it didn’t break.”

  The voice of Bertrand LaFont intruded into our conversation. “Well said, Mrs. Dickinson. And you’re right—you’ll be more than fine once the County settles the lawsuit.”

  Regina and I shared a look of disgust. My lawyer stood in the doorway, holding an enormous bouquet made from just about every flower imaginable. I felt Regina tense up and knew she was about to unleash a verbal assault on him, so I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, followed by a slight nod of my head. Without a word, she rose off the bed and left the room, eyeing Mr. LaFont as she shut the door behind her.

  “Thank you for the flowers,” I said with civility.

  “They aren’t the only gifts I brought, Mrs. Dickinson. Do you feel up to a few minutes of chatting with me?”

  I noticed he was wearing casual clothes and had no gel in his hair. The normal arrogance he wore like an accessory was missing as well. His voice was quiet, almost pleasant. Even in my foggy haze, I realized I was looking at the real LaFont. This time, he was the one who was raw and exposed rather than me. Hell, my life was public fodder now—nothing was hidden. “Sure, though I can’t say how long that will last. The medication sort of makes me hyper one minute and a drooling zombie the next. What brings you by?”

  His stride was slow and methodical as he moved across the floor and set the flowers down on the bedside table. He eyed the chair next to it. “May I?”

  “Of course.”

  He settled into the seat and looked about as comfortable as I felt. “Well, before we discuss what I came here for, I just wanted to say how sorry I am. I…I promise you, I didn’t know about Roger. In all my years of practicing law, I’ve never been so shocked.”

  I bit my lip and responded to his statement with a nod.

  “There is no easy way to approach all this, so I’ll not dance around it. Thurman Thomas, you know who he is, right?”

  “Yes. He is the state medical examiner.”

  “‘Was’ would be the appropriate word. He was arrested yesterday. One of the deputy examiners, Lee German, is functioning as interim chief examiner in his place. And apparently, Thurman’s arrest and Roger’s death triggered an interesting domino effect in others.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “First of all, Roger sent a letter confessing everything, his involvement, the pictures, all of it, to Alex Renfro. He mailed it the day he died. Not only did he mail a copy to Alex, but to the newspaper as well. My guess is that he knew the truth was about to come out, so he wanted to tell you first and then clear Jack’s name in the public’s eye.”

  Dumbstruck, I shot back, “But why would he do that? If he wanted to confess, why didn’t he just tell Detective Knowles in the very beginning? Or Alex Renfro? Once he did, it would have come out anyway when he was arrested for Serena’s murder.”

  “He never intended to be arrested, Mrs. Dickinson. After he told you, he planned on killing himself.”

  “What? How do you know that?”

  “Several reasons. His gun was found under the front seat of his car—loaded. Also, he mailed something to me as well. Two letters—one for me and one for you. The letter to me contained his last wishes in the form of a makeshift suicide note. It outlined his plan to come clean to you, then go to the place he proposed to C
orinne at Mount Harbor and shoot himself. He said he knew the truth was about to blow wide open after his visit from Guy Powell. The letter also included his last Will and Testament. He…he left you everything, Mrs. Dickinson, and named me as Executor.”

  I wanted to throw up. If my body wasn’t semi-numbed from the medication in my I.V., I probably would have. “I don’t want anything from him. Won’t accept it. If you’re the Executor, then give it all to charity or something. I don’t care what you do with it, just don’t try to give me one red cent. That bastard ruined my life and his offering of blood money to ease his conscious can’t make it right. ”

  “I thought that might be your reaction, so I prepared a list of charities I thought you could peruse later, maybe once you leave the hospital and are feeling better. There is no hurry. Since he had no children or heirs, his estate can just sit tight.”

  I gritted my teeth and asked, “You said a domino effect? What else happened?”

  “Bill Witham killed himself yesterday morning. Went to Serena’s grave and shot himself in the head. Though he didn’t leave a suicide note, he did write some of his thoughts down on a notepad. It was like a rambling love letter to Serena, explaining how he avenged her death by poisoning her killer with peanut oil and how he hoped she was proud of him. How much he missed her and couldn’t sleep because when he did, all he could do was dream about holding her again because living here without her was destroying him. He also mentioned how upset he was over the fact that Serena’s father hadn’t spoken to him since he accomplished what Mr. Rowland asked him to. The preliminary investigation has concluded that when the news broke about Jack’s innocence, he couldn’t live with the fact that he killed the wrong man—and at the behest of Mr. Rowland. I imagine that broke the last bit of sanity he had and pushed him over the edge.”

  The pangs of grief at the tragic news throbbed inside my chest. “Dear God. Please, tell me there isn’t any more.”