CHAPTER SIX

The atmosphere reeked of cries and the morning birds refused to sing. The sun looked damp beneath the humid cloudy fog and the cold was intense than ever as white fluffy ice crystals fell from the sky. It had snow-stormed heavily overnight and the road were covered with sleets of ice.

Outside the road cross Anthony Cooper's house hung spectators in the streets trying to get a clear view of the bodies that were wheeled outside into the ambulance. The crime scene carried a gruesome sight and rumors filled the air with uncertainty.

Jake was with one of the police officers, giving a statement; he had called Luay who was yet to arrive due to the sleets of ice that blocked the roads. Jake had pain in his eyes and one could tell he was disturbed. He had found the bodies first and had immediately called the police. He had been there very early to deliver the money he got from selling off the machines, he knocked several times but didn't get a response. 

They couldn't have left for New Orleans already, the plan was to get the money first and leave when it was noon. He tried the knob on the door and it flung open without asserting any effort and on the ground in the vestibule laid a drained-old-pale-white-Mr Anthony Cooper. He made to run but immediately his subconscious had slapped sense into him to call 911. Margo who was just passed out on the living room floor, had struck her head hard on the edge of the oak table that graced the living space. 

Jake called 911 then Luay because it was the only thing he could think of. He knew better not to try to lift someone who had head injury for it could worsen the case.

"The old man is dead but the lady is out cold" one of the forensics told inspector Ashton Duke who was busy inspecting the crime scene and placing tags on every little detail. He was the best when it came to judging a crime scene from the tiniest least-bit of evident threads and he could tell that a man single-handedly murdered Anthony Cooper in one shot, and left. Anthony had tried to shoot first but missed then Margo heard the sound, tried to come to her husband's rescue, slipped, fell, struck her head on the hard-wood and blacked out. Tony was destabilized, tried to turn to his wife but received a shot at the back of his head, crushing through his skull and leaving him dead on the floor.

Once Luay got to the scene, he didn't mind the yellow crime scene tape, he tore though it and rushed to see what was really going on. He found Jake and grabbed him by the collar "where is Tony?" He asked breathlessly. There was pain in the lad's eyes that told him only one thing.

Tony is dead.

He let go of Jake and pushed through till he got to the ambulance that had Anthony Cooper's body in it.

The body was already placed in a bag and was going to be zipped. "No. What are you doing?" Luay tried to stop them "that's my friend you are zipping in that bag" he was in shock, he was trying not to believe what he was seeing. The insane part of him knew that if he talked to Tony to get up from the bag, he would do so and the sane part of him told him Tony was dead. The words replayed in his head.

My God! He spoke to that man last night and that man told him he was going to New Orleans so he could be happy with the love of his life. How come he is lying in a bag, drained of life?

The forensics stopped him and some policemen held him back.

"Sorry, who are you?" Ashton came to Luay.

"Luay Sanders. That man is... Dead?" He said still trying to register what was going on.

"Yes sir. Jake here, found him dead this morning. His wife is however unconscious and has been taken to surgery as we speak."

"Margo?" His eyes darkened with pain

"Yes. Margo Cooper" Ashton replied, he was interested in the young man who had appeared to him once on the cover page of a newspaper for a disastrous architectural design. "And who are you to the deceased?"

Deceased. The word stung Luay in the chest. Tony had only spoken to him about nine 'o' clock in the night and now very early in the morning, they call Tony deceased? How dreadful life treats the dead.

He was trying to contain the shock "Friend. I work for him too... I, ah..." He stuttered.

"I am very sorry for your loss sir, right now, I'd have to go back to my work."

"The hospital. I need to see Margo at the hospital" he said. At the time, Jake was already by his side.

"I'll ask one of my men to escort you there" Ashton called one of his men to take Luay and Jake to the hospital and then returned to his investigation. He touched his chin and murmured to himself "what is an architect doing working for a paper-cup maker?" He wrote on his notepad, suspect number three.

Luay sat at the waiting bench for almost an hour and Jake was glued to his side. Poor lad, a horrible sight he must have encountered so early in the morning; Luay was sure Jake hadn't eaten anything when he saw Tony in a pool of his own blood and his stomach was still churning with morbid thoughts of Tony's bashed head. He stood to his feet and strode to the hospital's cafeteria. He searched his pockets roughly for money and when he found some, he bought two cups of coffee and a bagel only to return to Jake. Series of thoughts roamed his head as he peered through the glass walls of some of the rooms to see the sick patients, tangled with cables for life supports, trying to survive. Something about hospitals scared him, it made him think of death and it shook him down to the bones. He stopped at another wall and there was a young boy lying comatose in one of the beds with cables attached to his skin and beeping machines against the walls. Beside him was a young woman who held his hands and sobbed gently. She looked familiar from behind but he couldn't see her face. Her hair was draped sideways, prohibiting him from recognizing her. She looked to be in immense pain and without mercy, the young boy was stiff as ice on the bed. 

He heaved a sigh "I thought you'd be hungry" he offered Jake a bagel and a coffee.

"Thanks man, but I don't think I'll be able to eat that after what I saw this morning. It was awful!"

"I know. More reason you should eat so we can be strong for Margo. We are all she's got" after hesitating, he took the food from Luay and started eating.

Luay settled beside Jake and sipped the coffee gently then his eyes caught something that suddenly made the taste of coffee bitter in his mouth. There was a large green WF imprinted on the side of the cup. "Walt and Foam" he murmured within himself and a hatred pulled in his heart. He stood from the waiting bench and threw the full cup of coffee into the trash can.

Anthony Cooper wouldn't die for nothing. He'll make sure whoever did this paid.

He turned back to his seat but crashed into someone.

"Omigod, are you okay?" It was a woman. The woman he had seen in the hospital room at the end of the hall, sobbing into the young boy's hands, the woman who also had his picture on her phone, the woman whom he owed ninety dollars and fifty cents. Should he say sorry or wait for her to yell at him like she did the other day? He deliberated but before he could come to a conclusion, she spoke softly.

"Are you okay? I wasn't watching where I was going. I was carried away" he was taken aback.

She seemed a lot different than the other day, she had manners now and her voice carried emotions that didn't concern money or maybe the hospital was having its effect on her. That was something hospitals did to people; it made them feel sentimental, makes them shudder and apologetic to any living thing, it forced even the least bit compassion in one. She looked at him, recognizing him and that bitter look formed in her brows then, softened.

She wasn't happy to see him, matter of fact, she hated him and she felt she could take back her words.

She wished she said something else and not just stand there and stare into his sea-blue eyes. He looked like a greek-god. Once, she had though Miller was the only good-looking creature of his species on earth but there she was, looking at another creature with such perplexity and hatred at the same time.

He held her stare for many seconds and when things began to feel awkward, she looked away.

She hated him but he was her bait. All she had to do was use him so he could lure her to Brandon. She had made up a plan in her head when she saw him with Anthony Cooper the previous night. Nobody really knew what marvelous things her brain and mind could do. Even Miller couldn't figure it out.

She had come in to see Eden and when she had seen Luay walk down the hallway, she had thought of a plan on how they could get acquainted again even though she hated the idea, she had to take that leap.

"Are you here to see someone?" She spoke with that same pretentious softness and when she saw that the question brought pain into that sea-blue-eyes that sent a pang of worry down her spine. She wished she could take it back but she had trained herself to be cold and inconsiderate to  most men who felt too sure or too good of themselves. It wasn't in her character to ask someone of their well-being but she found herself asking. Its just for a little while Jackie, its all part of the plan, she told herself

"Huh, yes. Margo, she is in surgery" he cleared his throat. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he was trying to push the thought to the back of his mind. He shouldn't have stray thoughts now especially when Margo was still in surgery but he couldn't help it. Standing so close to her radiant beauty steered his mind, it made him confused. He had loathed her the last time and now, he was having second thoughts. How could just one woman make so many emotion roam his head at the same time? He wondered. "And you?"

"Oh. I'm here to see my sister's son. He is comatose" she sighed "thank you for the kindness you showed the other day, you'd have to understand I was in shock. The car was a gift, I'd barely used it..." She paused then looked into his eyes "can I buy you coffee to compensate? Its not much but its a token of my gratitude" she loathed herself even more for being such a polite lady. She hated that she wasn't being her real self. But he declined. The last thing he wanted was for his coffee to be served in one of those foam cups.

How dare he turn her down? This raged her but thanks to the acting, she kept her cool. "How can I ever repay you?" She cursed herself from within.

"Huh..." Luay steadied his breath "by taking my picture off your phone". He still remembered.

She gave a short derisive laugh hoping he didn't hear the contempt it carried "Oh my, I was so dramatic. I don't have your picture on my phone anymore and I told Edward to cancel the payment. I told you I was in shock, I was worried, I was supposed to be at the hospital at the time" she should leave his sight before she broke her act and did something irrational. Her anger issues were still a mess and everything was happening to fast for her. "I will be on my way now. And I will pray for Margo" she said. Damn, she still remember the name of the woman in surgery.

She turned on her heels and scurried away leaving him in puzzlement. Women were mystery species indeed. He looked at Jake who just finished the last drop of coffee in the WF cup.

*********************************

Alex returned to her apartment with an unusual kind of bitterness to see Sara in the company of Miller who was making breakfast. She wondered how he could eat anything after what happened the previous night.

They had witnessed a murder, first hand and he was just going to pretend like it didn't happen. He had been quiet about it when they drove back home and even when she was hurting, angry at the fact that her major source of tracking her father's murderer got jeopardized, he said nothing.

Brandon had figured she was going to meet Basil Howard and had sent someone to kill him. There was someone indeed monitoring her closely.

Sara was seated at the television while Miller was at the kitchen compartment. As soon as Alex stepped into the living room, Sara stood to her feet and rushed to her.

"What do you want?" Alex queried as she removed her jacket and hung it on its hanger. Sara followed her across the large living space to where Miller was busy making sandwiches.

"I need to talk to you" began Sara "its important"

"I'm listening" but Sara was silent. Alex finally turned to her and there was a muffled response.

"In private" Sara said through clenched teeth.

Alex looked at Miller and he was indifferent. He was busy minding his business and after hesitating, she led Sara into the study.

She pulled a chair and sat and gestured at the opposite sofa for Sara to sit.

After an awkward silence, Sara began to fidget and sweat broke from her forehead then, she stood to her feet and began to pace.

"Its better you say what you are here for. I have things to do" Alex was getting impatient.

"That man..." Sara cleared her throat "the man..."

"Miller?"

"Is that his name? The one in the kitchen"

"Sara, if you are here to talk to me about Miller, I'm not interested"

"That's not why I am here. Its just that, he was really inquisitive when I got here. He introduced himself as your fiance but he spoke more like a bodyguard"

Alex raised a brow "Miller told you that he was my fiance" she wasn't surprised though. Miller had introduced himself to a Chinese man as her father once and to an Indian as her step brother and now to Sara as her fiance, she was wondering when he would introduce himself to someone as her son. But that was not the main reason why Sara came.

"Well, I m happy for you." She stopped and turned to Alex squarely "I tried to fight it off but I can't" she paced for a while again before she stopped meanwhile Alex was indifferent, quietly observing the panic-stricken young lady in front of her. 

"What do you want Sara?" Alex repeated.

"about Simon..." The look on Alex eye hardened and she stood to her feet. Trying to contain the sudden statement and trying to fight the nausea that crept up her spine, she crossed the room to the water dispenser to get herself a glass.

"What about Simon?" Her flawless brown eyes gleamed with no least bit of guilt, Instead it shone with radiant confidence. What she did to Simon was just and she felt no pang of remorse whatsoever. Because of him, her baby boy was lying in the ICU comatose.

"He seemed so shady when I asked..."

"You spoke to Simon?" Alex raised a cautious brow.

"He is still in bad shape. I went to see him two days ago. I was still bothered."

"You shouldn't be moving around people who are liable to cause you harm. After what happened to Eden, I thought you learnt to live by precautions" Alex was passing her a hard glare from across the room.

"He couldn't probably hurt me from the sick bed he was detained to" Sara stood stiffly "which brings me to my question. What happened at the garage that night of the accident?"

Alex looked at her with that sordid expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you get into a fight with him? Did you give him the money? The police are asking too many questions and I want to be sure we have nothing tied Simon's condition"

Alex looked at her for many second before she such spoke. "Did you actually think I could take on Simon?" She raised a brow exposing those innocent brow eyes of hers that glowed quietly.

"No but..."

"Simon is not our problem anymore. What happened to him was unfortunate but, he sure has hell deserved it. He was being a prick that night." She drank from her cup the settled it down to continue. "People like Simon has a lot of enemies." She raised a brow "is that all you are here for?"

"Yes" Sara was still stiff about her response. She then made for the door just t stop again to look at Alex who was watching her from beneath her brows "just make sure you are taking your medications and you are okay" she sad gruffly then finally left.

When Alex settled in the living room with Miller, he placed a late of vegetables in front of her and settled in the opposite chair.

"You look tense" he observed but she had every reason to be. First, she worried about Sara and secondly she was worried about the fact that Basil Howard got murdered. She had asked William to look into it and there was nothing yet.

"You worry about the girl?" Not that he was concerned, he just had a thing for poke-nosing into anything that concerned her. She eyed him and suddenly, the food in front of her seemed to look distasteful and she hated the aroma that emanated from it. She looked at her phone and scrolled through the to-do-list when his voice reached her again. "Do you know anything about her?" His eyes were demanding but she owed him no explanation. The only thing she wanted to do was to gather information from that creature and nail him if he had anything to do with Brandon. Soon,she settled at her computer to view the files William sent her. Miller still followed her, he was keen on knowing who Sara really was. She hated his inquisitive attitude and his pestering ways. It annoyed her.

Once she began to work and ignore him, he soon retreated.

She scrolled through the files and printed them from her desk jet printer then scrolled through them tentatively. She mulled over the words "contractor" then googled for his name on her personal computer. Luay Sanders, she typed and as soon his name was brought to light, it made questions churn at the pit of her belly. He left New York in such a disgrace, how could he ever be related to Basil Howard? There was one way to find out and even though she didn't like the idea that popped in her mind, she had to put her ego aside and fight her battles. She read through his documents again and again till she knew his whole background and records off hand and by heart and soon, she had newspaper clippings attached to her walls. Slowly a

plan started to form in her mind and she began to look forward to meeting him very soon.

*********************************

Sidney finished packing Matt's lunch box and when she bid him farewell and saw that he safely got onto his school bus, she turned back to the house and a pang of pain struck her a clean blow across the heart. She remembered her last discussion with Luay and it didn't end well. She had tried to reach him but he was still busy stewing over the things she said. He was getting busy with going through with Tony's funeral. That was the least he could do. He sent letters to Tony's close friends and some of the customers that Tony regarded has his small market family and the funeral held in a slow quiet progression. The atmosphere was stark and even the heavy clouds acknowledged the loss of a good man.

Luay was casually dressed in a black polo and jean and he wore black sunshades to hide his reddened eyes. Not that his eyes were reddened from tears but from the effect of under-sleeping and under-feeding throughout the last few days. He had been busy going through Tony's files and financial reports and from what he learnt through the past two tedious days, Tony had built the business from scratch. He didn't forget to register that he tried meeting Walt Edna thrice but was prohibited each time. First by Edna's secretary, secondly by some bullshit story that Edna was out of town and finally, someone had told him that he'd have to schedule an appointment and it might take him months to get into the same room with Edna... That person was Edna's receptionist. It wouldn't take a toddler time to figure out that his meeting with Walt Edna was never going to happen after what happened to Tony.

Beneath his sunshades, he could survey the people that attended the funeral. From Jake who was suited in dark mourning clothes to Margo who was seated in German wheelchair with sorrow etched deeply in her eyes. She had woken from her minor coma and the doctor had told him that she wasn't supposed to be on her feet till she finally healed. She was still undergoing medication  at the hospital and it took all of Luay's willpower to persuade her to stay at the hospital and even at that, he failed. 

Margo would never miss her husband's funeral for anything in the world. Jake's comforting hand was on her shoulder and she wept softly into her black scarf. Luay's eyes darted around to Mrs. Cleeboo,the most strong willed black American woman he'd known to Mr Sidwick, one of Tony's faithful customers. Even despite a lot of financial turmoil, he still stayed loyal to Tony to Carmen,Windy,all of these names he had learnt to master with their behaviors over his last few months of working with Tony. His eyes moved around and spotted someone striking, someone with shinny brown caramel skin draped from head to shin with black mourning clothes, someone familiar. God! He knew her and her radiance made his heart skip a beat anytime he saw her even though he would never admit to himself. He swore under gruff breath thinking how dirty it was of him to think of the woman's beauty at the funeral of his friend. This made a question leap in his chest. What was she doing here? Did she know Tony too? What a small world it was.

The same impulse that made questions throb in his chest, that told him to wear black sunshades before coming to the funeral or else he'd be mistaken for a bashed up potato also told him to walk to her and ask a question only to find out it was ridiculous to ask in such manner afterwards.

She blinked

He just asked her if she was stalking him. Her heart leapt with fright thinking he had found out. He had marched straight to her, seen beneath that black dress she was wearing straight to her heart to know what was in it.

He saw the puzzled look in her eyes and delved his hands into his pocket to regain composure so he could rephrase his question.

"I guess I see you everywhere I go these days, reminding me of your car's bashed bumper and your dead battery. Its like you are ringing bells in my head telling me that I owe you" he cleared his throat "Are you related to Tony?"

God! He affected her. From his black hair down to that body frame that tapered  to long legs. Her gaze shot to his face and she begged that he didn't notice her eyes orgying his perfection. She cleared her throat, hating herself as she found herself staring into that handsome face of his.

"A friend" she said, trying to look as sincere as possible "Tony was a good man. He helped me out once and I'll never forget him" tears of pretense welled up in her eyes and she silently praised herself for good acting for Luay's look twisted with believing brows and his mouth thinned in pity. He had fallen for her story, hook, line and stinker but she knew better than to be careless. She had to tread with caution. "And besides, you have been cleared off your debts. I thought I told you last time"

He nodded. "But you seemed strong willed about me paying you back" he pressed. She rolled her eyes and somewhere in his subconscious loved the way she beamed with radiance. Only if he knew she had a deep ulterior motive, if only he knew she was out for his blood and was his worst enemy.

"poor Tony..." She pressed "he was a good man, we decided to do business together, he was interested in partnering with me" she had also learnt about Tony's business from William and he had told her all she had to know concerning his nose-diving venture which was on the verge of bankruptcy "I was so enthusiastic about helping him..." She turned to look at his sun-shaded eyes again with pretentious emotions clinging onto her brows. She hated that she couldn't tell what he was thinking for his eyes were heavily guarded but nevertheless, she continued "Good men like Tony deserve the best. He seemed so scared about losing his business." She sniffed and stared away into the distance. She was hating every second she was spending not being that cold person she was. She was too filled with anger that she didn't cry at her father's burial. Instead she was busy gathering hate for the man who set her whole life ablaze. Even as much as she hated herself, she was enjoying that he seemed gullible and was falling for her ruthless lies. She made up her mind that if he was certainly the one Brandon had hired to keep her in check, he was definitely lacking. Or maybe that face was a camouflage, she thought.

It made perfect sense to Luay. It could have been possible that Tony might have come to her for help because at some point in time, the business was hard and things weren't adding up like it should. Luay raised a brow and his forehead creased with askance."you produce paper cups too?" It was rude to talk business at a funeral but it was just as crucial when Walt Edna still had an eye for Tony's business.

"No, but I invest in bright businesses" that was a logical response and Luay was actually a man of logic."I wonder if his business would finally pack-up" she added. Luay took his time to assess her; definitely,  she hadn't heard that Tony business had already packed-up even before his demise. She might be one of those many people Tony's letter didn't reach. He felt sorry for her, in that sense,they were somewhat alike. She shrugged and he decided not to prolong the matter at the funeral. The matter was a delicate one that shouldn't be rushed.instead,they should discuss it over coffee.

"The business isn't going to pack-up, however it is going through some challenges at the time" a frown of concern creased her brows, only if he knew that they weren't sincere concern. "We can discuss about it tomorrow over coffee. Would that be okay?" He had that sincere look in his eyes that made her brain ponder if he was indeed innocent or playing stupid so as not to blow his cover. She frowned at his audacity but accepted because of her own mission.

The funeral ended and Luay took Margo back to the hospital. She was tired but thanks to Jake who was of great help, she had company while Luay ran errands to make sure everyone in attendance was thanked duly.

She laid in bed in the sterile hospital room and Luay sat by her side,his hands holding her veined delicate hand. He watched her carefully and it reminded him of his own mother. His father had died on the spot after the accident while his mother made it to the hospital. Instead of staying by her bedside,he had watched her from the corridor, nursing his anger towards her. Only if she had returned the day she promised, she wouldn't be lying in the bed fighting for the life she once owned with grace.Margo and Tony had taken him in, given him a job when he needed one so badly and given him hope to love and live again. The least he could do was to stand by Margo and protect her; he wouldn't stand in the corridor this time and watch her die. God forbid!

She looked up at him and passed him a weak smile, he had removed the sunshades and the pillows under his eyes were obvious. "You look a mess" she said weakly but honestly. A smile lit his face and he was patted her hands softly.

"I know he croaked" silence spoke for a while before Margo broke the calm.

"They killed him..." Her voice was fraught but she didn't look like she would shed anymore tears. "I don't want to get you tangled in the mess he left"

He knew she was being kind but sorry Margo,I am not going to let anyone turn you to a pushover. He blinked at her with attentiveness and she continued "you are so kind,like the son we've always wanted" she stopped briefly to catch her breath then continued "I want to do this alone Lu. Can I call you Lu?"

He nodded. "Do what alone?" He queried.

"Bury those bastards and sink their titanic"

Luay was rather amused at her response "Tony was always the one running. I told it to stick it to those bastards but he worried too much. I want to do this alone Lu. Thanks for everything"

He kissed her hand softly with a crooked smile on his lips and said "sorry Margo, I want to stick it to those bastards as much as you do. I am going to out-rightly disobey you"

He was a nice young man but not an innocent dummy. He wouldn't stand in the corridor this time, and he meant it.

*********************************

Luay got home late that night and on his door, Sidney had left a note. The last time they talked, he had stormed out of the house in anger and she had left some words unsaid. He sighed unknowingly, pushed the note into his pocket and headed for Sidney's apartment.

She was writing something down in her notepad and once Luay stepped in,she gazed up sheepishly from the table she sat at. Without words to explain his presence, he held out the note and after one glance at him, she gestured him to one of the chairs opposite her but he took the one juxtapose. "Matt is having his school race next weekend. I'd like you to come. He would have been the one to invite you but you are always out these days. We've been to your  cabin twice so I decided to leave a note" she said with a smile.

He nodded, very much aware of the unsaid between them and her eyes that were keyed on him for a response."I'd be delighted to"

He set the note on the table in front of her and to avoid any awkwardness,"coffee?" She asked and when he nodded affirmative, she moved to the kitchen,he could see her try to cover for her slack as she made coffee but he wasn't buying that crap.

"What did Walt Edna do seven years ago Sid? I am not going to pretend that we never had that conversation" he was expecting her to give  an excuse but instead, she remained mute. "You threatened me with death Sid,and the next morning, Tony dies" he paused "for God sake Sid, I am no kid"

"Katherine" the voice shot out of her throat and Luay's eyes widened in interest. He pushed to his feet and strode towards her with a stern look on his face. "He killed Katherine" her voice shook as she tried to regain composure.

"You don't know that" Luay said, trying to disbelieve his own ears. His jaw pressed into a grim line and he clenched his teeth to prevent his heart from hurting but, that didn't last long. His heart tore on hearing Sidney's other revelation.

"He drove her to bankruptcy, painted her a fraud, she begged me to keep it a secret from you because she was scared you'd go after him and he might hurt you. She went home that morning... I had no idea she was going to..." Her voice broke and she went into the inner room only to return with some letters and newspaper clippings. Luay went through them and his heart squeezed with grief. "She was thinking about you all the time. She was trying to protect you" only that was his duty not Katherine's. He shoved the paper into his pocket and headed for the door. Luay's anger was bad but his silence was worse. He returned to his cabin,sank into the woolly carpet, went through the documents again, gripped his face and cried. If only he knew the main reason, he wouldn't have built hate throughout all these years for her.