Chapter 27 – Murder for Hire
Emerson let out a sigh throwing his tie on to the counter. Quickly followed by the contents of his pocket. The last few days had been tumultuous to say the least.
Reaching for a wine glass, he thought better of it and reached for the rocks glass instead. Wine would do little to ease the burdens he carried today. Whiskey poured. Bottle in hand. He slunked into the living room and collapsed into a chair. Sipping at the alcohol, before ultimately raising the chilled glass to his temple. A half-hearted attempt to alleviate a blooming migraine.
It had been a nice funeral, he thought. Polarizing a figure as Henry Aquitaine had been, his death had brought every well-wisher out of the woodwork. Though the manner of his death, he was certain, accounted for at least a portion of those in attendance.
Reflecting on the ceremony, a sudden weight in his lap announced the arrival of the newest member to his household. Reaching down he scratched the cat’s head.
“What do you think Theodore?” he asked the cat “I don’t think all those well-wishers were well-wishers at all.”
Theodore purred in response. Happy to agree with whatever Emerson said, so long as he continued to be petted.
“I’m not sure I could blame them” He discussed it with the cat. “It’s an intriguing bit of gossip. Murdered in your own home. Left to be found by your widow. It’s a grizzly way to go.” Stopping mid-pet, he stopped to look down at the feline. The cat appeared to be returning his stare. “Right, sorry about that. Nothing personal that was.”
The cat hopped off his lap, satisfied or offended was anyone’s guess. Emerson sighed and sipped more of the smoky liquid. Leaning back in his chair he was at a loss. He supposed he should be happy, his employer was dead after all. No employer, no contract. No contract meant he was a free man, but something about the whole thing nagged at him.
He kept going back to the funeral. After paying his respects to the man in the casket. He had stopped to pay his respects to the next of kin. His widow was a hollowed husk of a woman. Grieving and in shock. That he had expected. What he had not expected was the reaction from Avery. When he’d spoken to her the woman seemed distracted. Not in pain or sorrow, like her mother, or angry and vengeful, as would be her right. Just, distracted, as if completely removed from the somber surrounding the two had been in. Unfortunately, that had not been the time, nor the place, to probe further.
A knock at the door interrupted his mulling. Turning in his chair he arched an eyebrow at the door. In response there came another knock. Setting down the drink, he got up and approached the door. Looking through the peephole, he saw the brown-rimmed cap of a delivery person. Even more intrigued than before he opened the door a crack.
“Yes?” He peered out at the small man standing in the hallway patiently.
“Hi. Are you the current resident of this domicilie? I’m looking for a Mr. Emerson..”
“Yes. That’s me.” Emerson stated, cutting the man off before he could finish. “ What can I do for you?”
The delivery man held out a thin cardboard envelope. “ I have a package for you, if you could just sign.”
Emerson started at the man for a moment, suspicious. Who would send him a package? Who even knew where he lived?
“Just a signature sir” The delivery man prompted again.
Talking the package cautiously. He signed for the parcel, then backed into his apartment before shutting his door.
Walking back into the living room. He turned the envelope over and over in his hand. There was no indication as to whom it was from, but that was to be expected. As he sat down, he tore open the package, discovering the contents to be a small packet of papers. Setting the envelope down. He transferred the papers to one hand and reached for the drink with the other.
Leaning back he began to read the first page. As he did Theodore decide to reclaim his throne, making himself comfortable.
Emerson sipped his drink pensively, as he finished reading the first page. “Well Theodore, it appears I’m no longer unemployed.”