Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Porsche sighed, leaned back in her white leather chair, and clutched the arms, shaking her head.
“Let her in.”
As she took a sip of her coffee, the door opened and there stood the woman who’d drowned in perfume and left it floating in her office long after she’d departed. Ava was an unusually kind and intelligent person, but emotionally needy. Ava was shockingly short, and her stoutness made her look all the shorter. She was blessed with incredibly thick, long, bone straight dark brown hair and gorgeous, big brown eyes. Her cheeks were peachy and her skin pale, without blemish. Her chubby arms were covered in sheer sleeves from a thin jacket, on top of an expensive floral dress, and black heels. Porsche knew well-made clothing when she saw it.
“Yes, Ava?”
The woman patted at the corners of her eyes with a light pink tissue.
“I know you don’t think my brother means much ’cause he was a drug addict, and I know you’re not taking this seriously because—”
“No, no.” Porsche shook her finger and tsked. “You stop right there. That is not true, Ava, and you know it. Please don’t come in here and try to manipulate or guilt trip me for telling you the truth. You’re wasting your time. Every person born is important, regardless of their struggles.” She tapped at her desk with her index finger. “What I told you, this last visit is that it will be difficult for you to try and find out who did this to your brother because the local police do not have Clark’s murder as a priority. I was honest with you, and said it was in part due to his affiliations. They have active crimes to investigate and unfortunately, because of Clark’s issues,” she sighed, “he is not high up on the list. I never said that was fair. I never said it was right. I never said him being missing wasn’t being taken seriously. At least not by me.”
Ava hung her head. She looked like a teardrop, the way her shoulders slumped and she folded into herself.
“And now that his body has been found, and it’s been ruled a homicide, we have to let the police do what they need to do. I help find missing people, Ava. I did my job for you. He is now found.”
“Porsche, that’s not good enough! The person who killed my brother is still out there and could kill again. The police don’t care about that, either?!” the woman cried out, her voice shrill and full of hurt. She began to rummage in her purse, then pulled out a folded, faded photograph of a little boy and girl playing in a swimming pool. Porsche gingerly took it from her hands.
“You and Clark?”
Ava nodded.
“He taught me how to swim. Mom gave up on him after he wouldn’t stay in rehab. Dad gave up on him before he died, too. Clark had done too much damage. But not me. I won’t give up on him, even after death. I remember who he was before the drugs, Porsche. Before the addictions.” A tear strolled down her cheek. “He was the best person in the world!” Her voice trembled. “He literally took his own jacket off one time and gave it to a homeless man.
“My father left money to me and my mother after his passing last year. I’m usin’ it to find out who did this to my brother. To the police, he’s just another burnout who got killed. I get that. To me, he was my world!” She patted her chest with her palm, her eyes filled with moisture. “He was my defender. My protector. He convinced me to go on to school and become a registered nurse. Everyone else didn’t think I could do it. He believed in me! And you know what? He was right… I did it. I graduated. I work my dream job. I owe him…”
“Ava, you owe your brother peace. Peace for yourself. I didn’t know Clark, but if he loved you as much as you say he did, there is no way he’d want you to suffer like this.”
“That may all be true, but I have to know in my heart that I did everything I could for him. I know… I know your focus is more on missing people, but… you were a detective in Boston. A great one.” Ava clasped her hands and stared into her soul. “I know you know how to investigate things like this, irrespective of your current job title. I need… I need your help! PLEASE! I will pay you whatever you want! My father left me enough money to—”
“Ava, this is not a financial issue. I feel for you, I do. I have referred you to two other detectives and a grief group. I do not investigate murder cases. And the few I assisted with, it was due to insurance fraud claims. Why do you keep on insisting that I do this when I’ve told you, several times now, that it’s not how this works? I am not a murder investigator.”