“I don't know; he didn’t say.”
I move to the sink and splash cold water on my face. I found toothbrushes and passed one to Joshua. I cleaned my mouth. A moment after Joshua finished with his, Ethan and Matthew entered the on-call room. Matthew's right hand and wrist is splinted.
“What happened,” I ask, pointing.
“Marcus,” Ethan says. “Matthew may have a sore throat. Check it and see if it's infected. Then check Joshua's. And their heart rates.”
“What?”
“Just do it,” Ethan orders.
“I don't have a kit,” I snap, heading to the door. “Excuse me, nurse. May I get a kit for an oral exam, please?”
The nurse nods and I turn back into the room. “Matthew –”
Ethan shakes his head. “Not one word; not until you examine them.”
I glare at Matthew. He did something he shouldn't have. We stand around silently, waiting for the nurse to bring the instruments. When she does, I take Joshua's temperature and feel his neck glands then do the same to Matthew. I then look down his throat.
“Your throat is red and inflamed, Matthew, but no sign of infection. Didn't you complain to the doctor that wrapped your hand?”
Matthew looks at Ethan, who nods.
“I'm not sick, I've been yelling and screaming for the last few hours,” Matthew replies, his voice is hoarse.
“At who,” I ask, going to the medicine cabinet.
“Guzman.”
“How the hell did you get to him? You're not a cop!”
“Uh, well... he's not with the police. FBI has him. I told you, Russell is high ranking with them. I was in the interrogation.”
I hand him a lozenge. “Still... you’re not a cop! How can they let a citizen in on an interrogation?”
“He's an undercover federal agent,” Ethan says.
“What,” Joshua and I shout together.
“I was recruited after Stanford,” he shrugs, popping the lozenge in his mouth.
“That's how the hell you met Russell,” Joshua yells, punching his arm.
“Ow! Yes, all right? He was my dorm mate, but at the bureau, not graduate school. I didn't get a scholarship to the University of Virginia. I was at Quantico. Everyone assumes Russell recruits for basketball teams, but it's really for the FBI.”
I smack him on the back of the head as hard as I can.
“Fuck! That hurt!”
“Good,” I shout. “Does your mother know?”
“No. Just you, Josh, Ethan and Alissa. You cannot reveal any of this. Technically, I’m still an agent, even though it's sort of part time now.”
“Jesus Christ, Matthew,” Joshua says, scratching his head. “How the hell have you been able to hide this?”
“Easy. We're so forthcoming and honest as a family that you all accepted what I said without question.”
“No, we're the honest ones,” I say gesturing back and forth between Josh and me. “Are you crazy or something? What if you'd gotten hurt? We wouldn't have known shit, except where to collect your fucking body!”
“Marcus...”
“No, Matthew! Quit! That's a fucking order!”
“I’m not quitting!”
“Quit,” Joshua snarls. “…or I'll tell your mother.”
“You do realize I'm almost forty, right, Twerp?”
“Fine,” I say. “Josh won't tell Mother. I'll tell Mariah. We all know you love and cherish her as well as value her opinion. You know she will not tolerate this.”
Matthew narrows his eyes. “She's my sister, Marcus. There's nothing more than that there.”
“Bullshit! Everyone falls for Mariah. I think even Mandy has girl-crush on her,” Joshua yells. “You fell for her when you investigated her. Proof positive was when you paid her medical bill.”
“I love her as my brother's wife; the idea of her, even. I have a woman who makes me happy. I don’t have that kind of love for her!”
“Whatever,” Joshua mutters.
“Quit.”
Matthew glares at me then sighs. “I’m retiring anyway, Cramp. I'm going to ask Sidra to marry me. If she accepts, I don't want to be called away… but you do not tell me what to do!”
I tilt my head and glare. He quickly puts his head down. Holy shit, it still works. Too bad because in this moment, I feel as though I could really kick his ass and be justified in doing it. And that Russell’s next. I’ll be on him about his career, next.
“Why are you seeking Ethan's services,” Joshua asks.
“I sorta lost my temper and may or may not have broken a few of Guzman's appendages.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Somehow a chair landed on his hands... right before I sat on it.”
“You didn’t answer Marcus’ question, Toad,” Joshua snarls. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“No! I was trying to find out what happened to Cookie and he was being... less than forthcoming.”
“Jesus, Matthew.” I turn to Ethan. “What kind of trouble is he in?”
He shrugs. “Depends. I need to talk to whoever else was in the room when he was with Guzman. Matthew's official story is that Guzman tripped trying to escape interrogation. I'll know more after talking to Russell.”
We all glare at Matthew.
“I'm calling your mother,” Joshua grumbles, pulling out his cell.
“No, Josh,” I command. “We're going to your house, after I check on Mariah. And then you,” I point at Matthew. “…are going to fill us in on what he said. And since you'll be retiring after you propose to Sidra, who I know will accept after that kiss I witnessed, are going to confess about your day job. No secrets, Matthew. We all agreed! Stay right here until I get back.”
I stalk to the nurses’ station and ask about my wife. The nurses tell me Mariah is still in surgery. I gave them my cell number with explicit instructions for them to call me as soon as she's out.
* * *
“Marcus, don't make me tell Mother,” Matthew mumbles as Joshua pulls into his drive.
“What are you, six,” Joshua shouts.
“I just don’t want her to worry, Twerp, and you know how she gets with her clapping. Do you tell Mother everything?”
“Of course I do.”
“Did you tell her about the lost contract with Sweden?”
“Joshua,” I scold. “Do you know how long Crawford Industries has worked with Sweden? Why didn't you tell me?”
“You and your fucking spies, Toad! I didn't lose the contract; I terminated it. I'm moving production State side. It's cheaper, believe it or not. They wanted to hike costs seventy-five percent! That's fucking robbery! Not to mention the thousands of jobs and revenue Crawford's will create in the U.S. doing this. Your spies didn't tell you that?”
“Focus,” I yell at them. “Fuck! Am I the only honest one in the family?”
Matthew snorts.
“What,” I snarl.
“Did you tell Mariah you fucked Jeanelle Roberts at HRC?”
“What the fuck, Marcus,” Ethan yells.
“I sleep with no one but Mariah! Who told you that lie?”
“Never mind,” Matthew says, smirking. “Did you tell her?”
“I did not fuck that woman.”
“Marcus, come on. The day before we went to Tokyo.”
Damn. I know what he’s talking about. I glare at him. “I didn't fuck her.”
“Well, she must have fucked Dad because he's the only other Dr. Cannon I know.”
“Hold it,” Ethan says. “He said he didn't fuck her. Does that mean you had oral with her, Marcus?”
I scowl but remain silent.
“Damn it! You kiss my sister with that mouth! And my niece! What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I was in a bullshit engagement, Ethan, and wasn't getting any sex and Jeanelle's mouth looked really, really fucking good that day while she was begging me and unzipping my pants. I did not reciprocate! And for the record, Matthew, I h
ave not done anything with anyone other than Mariah since July 2nd, 2011!”
They stare at me then break out into loud laughter.
“Damn, Cramp,” Matthew laughs. “How the hell do you remember the date of the first time you sleep with someone?”
“Fuck you,” I mumble getting out of the car. “You don't forget the day the woman you love lets you make love to her for the first time. At least I can't.”
They stare at me again. Annoyed, I walk toward the house.
“November 19th, 2011,” Ethan calls out. “After I found out I didn't pass the bar. Boy, was Alissa comforting.”
I turn and frown at him. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope.”
“Thanksgiving, 2010, after I digested Rhetta's pumpkin pie,” Joshua says, smiling. “Comfort rocks.”
I remember his mother-in-law's desserts. Bet that took hours to digest. We look at Matthew. He sighs then frowns as he looks at the ground.
“July 22nd, 2012.”
I scowl. “Sidra wasn't working with us then. You didn't reconnect with her until August 26th of that year.”
I bow my head, close my eyes and think back to the day Matthew gave. My eyes widen when I remember the date he had that night.
“I hate that memory of yours, Cramp.”
“Who was she,” Joshua demands, scowling.
I can't believe the look of pain that sweeps Matthew's face. Quickly, but it was there. He looks off into the distance.
“Madison,” he finally says, quietly.
“Madison King,” Ethan asks, clearly impressed. “Cookie's high school friend?”
Matthew nods.
“Wait... we were talking about the women we love, Toad. Not someone you fucked for sport or leisure,” Joshua shouts.
Matthew gives Joshua a murderous glare. “I did not fuck Madison.”
“Okay, now I'm confused,” Ethan sighs. “Did you sleep with Madison or not?”
Matthew gives a soft smile. “Eventually.”
Ethan and Joshua throw their hands up in frustration.
“You fell in love with Madison,” I ask him quietly.
He nods again.
“Why didn't it work out? What happened,” Ethan asks.
“Our timing is always fucked up.”
“And,” Joshua demands. “There has to be more than that.”
“The last night she was here after the twins came, we made love. I woke up the next morning and she was gone. I was going to go after her, but I had to leave the country for the FBI.”
“Yeah, you were gone for like a month,” I say with a nod.
“I was out of the country for three weeks then I went to Chicago for a few days, trying to find her.”
“You could've just asked Cookie,” Joshua says.
“I thought she would talk me out of going to her. She should’ve had the opportunity to do so because when I got there, she was on a date with another guy and he was all over her in the middle of a restaurant.”
Ethan whistles.
“I had Richards with me and as I was about to lose it, he got me out of there. I took care of some business and came home.”
“So you never told Madison?”
“I did.” He rubs his forehead. “Few years ago, she had an incident with Adam and she sent for me. I left straight away. I told her everything and she calmly informed me that she felt the same way then. She loved me and gave herself to me thinking I only wanted a one-night stand. ‘If you'd only approached that table, I hope it would have led to me being Mrs. Matthew Cannon now and I wouldn't be in all this pain today.'”
Joshua gapes. “She said that to you?”
Matthew nods. “If you guys paid attention, you'd notice I stopped fooling around right after I got back and focused on Sidra. I wasn’t going to lose another woman that way. This is why I keep pushing communication on everybody. If Madison and I had talked before we had sex, I would've been happy now, with her.”
“Madison,” Joshua whispers. “It was her. That night...”
“Yeah,” Matthew nods.
“What night,” Ethan asks, frowning.
“I called Matthew the night I found out about Madison and Adam eloping to tell him about the reception Vonnie was hosting. He was drunk and confessed he had just gotten his heart broken. I must’ve twisted the knife with the news of her marriage. If I’d known it was her, I wouldn’t have called you.”
Matthew shrugs. “You didn’t know and she was happy. I was glad I could help her with the father of her baby; the man she loved.”
“What about Sidra,” Joshua asks Matthew.
“July 26th, 2015.”
I frown at him. “Lila's birthday?”
He shrugs. “Mother took the twins so... Believe me, I waited a long time for her. She’s devoted to your family, Marcus.”
“I'm not going to fire her, Matthew, but I'm sure she'll quit after she marries you.”
“I'll find you someone else and she'll be just as good.”
“You'd better,” Ethan mumbles. “Lila's gonna kill you. And so is Mariah.”
I quiet at Mariah's name and follow Joshua into his home.
Chapter TWELVE
Unbelievable Questions
July 9, 2018 - 2.14 a.m.
We settle the family in the living room and I explain Mariah's injuries. Next, Matthew tells of Guzman's interrogation.
“According to Guzman, Mariah was in the kitchen sitting at the table, like we thought. Because of his weight, Adina decided Guzman should go in and get her, not Vince. She thought he wouldn't be able to get the 'job' done. They had her at Pescado's all day. It's a seafood restaurant, so Mariah was telling Marcus where she was. Guzman's family are co-owners.”
“So where's the fourth kidnapper,” Tom asks, infuriated.
“There wasn’t one. Just those three.”
“Then who drove the second getaway car and where is it?”
“Adina. That car is the vehicle she killed herself in.”
“That small woman could not have gotten Vince in that trunk, Matthew,” I insist. “He was easily four hundred pounds.”
“Guzman confessed to killing him. He said he kept going on and on about the life he and Mariah would have after they went to Mexico. He says he snapped and shot him to shut him up, not intending to kill him.”
“And what about the FBI, Matthew? Couldn’t one of your bosses step in and throw the book at that bastard?”
Matthew's eyes widen. “What are you talking about, Dad?”
Dad glares at Matthew. “Did you really think we bought scholarship bullshit?”
“Uh... yeah, I did.”
“Please, son. Your parents are billionaires; why would you need any kind of scholarship? We knew better and got to the bottom of things. You got your excellent detective skills from somewhere,” Dad says as he glances at Mother.
“Mother! You knew?”
Mother scowled at Matthew and clapped with her first sentence. “Do I look stupid to you, honey? I know everything seven minutes before everybody else. Did you propose to Sidra yet?”
A gasp goes around the room.
Joshua reddens. “What else do you know, Mother?”
“I know about everything. Sweden, Japan, the new set of twins. You think you're hiding, but Mother knows all.”
“What twins,” Mandy asks. “Who's having twins?”
“Mariah was. A boy and a girl. Unfortunately, she lost them both today.”
We all look at Mother in complete awe. She has some really good spies.
“So... to break this all down in one pretty little package...” Mother says. “That bitch and those stupid motherfuckers,” she pauses and counts. “…kidnapped my daughter-in-law, shot at my precious granddaughter, killed an honest, decent man and nearly destroyed a family for a broken pseudo-engagement and to reclaim an abusive relationship? Do I understand correctly?”
We're speechless. Mother never name-calls or gets this angry.
Matthew l
ooks frightened. “Uh, yeah, Mother. Are... are you all right?”
“Do I look like I'm all right, honey?” Mother shouts then starts shaking. “What do I have to do to get a fucking drink around here, sweetheart,” she shouts at Joshua.
Joshua jumps up and gets a bottle of vodka, her drink of choice. He pours some in a glass and holds it out to her, but she glares at him and I think he cowered. He poured more in the glass and Mother scowls. She snatches the bottle from him then gulps straight from the bottle. The rest of us watch, stunned into silence.
Joshua crouches next to Matthew and I. “Have either of you ever seen her act like this?”
Matthew shakes his head.
“Once,” I whisper looking at Evelyn who is gaping, then to Dad, who is removing his tie.
“What happens now?”
“Another,” Mother grunts when she finally finishes. “Now,” she screams.
Mandy quickly gets her another bottle. She opens it shakily, then stretches it to Mother, careful not to get too close. Mother immediately takes down a third of the bottle. Dad, I notice, is staring at Mother and removing his jacket. Mother stares back at him and turns her head to Mandy.
“I need a room as far away from the kids as possible.”
“Oh, no,” I mumble as a chill goes down my spine. “No, no...”
“What,” Joshua and Matthew say together.
“Uh... there's the guest room upstairs. At the end of the hall... you know, the green room you did,” Mandy mumbles as a chill goes through her. She figured it out. She takes the glass from Joshua and gulps the vodka.
“They... them... they're about to...” I stutter.
“Move your ass,” Mother yells at Dad. I haven't seen either of them move that fast in years.
Flashes of a particular night in my childhood flood my brain. I start to remember the night Dad told Mother about Evelyn and her birth mother. The yelling and screaming... Mother drinking the vodka like water... he and I arguing... me going to the TV room, slamming the door... and then the sounds of the rough sex they had... her commanding him what she wanted done to her. Going to Joshua's room and making him go in Matthew's room with me and blasting the stereo to drown out our parents while convincing my brothers they were just arguing and would be done soon. Then there were the sounds of Mother screaming at Dad to get the fuck out of her life and that she never wanted to see him again.
Marcus: The M Series, Book Three Page 26
