Chapter 45 – Falling Pieces

“Hello Avery.”  Emerson swung open the door before she could knock.

She froze in place, impressed by his premonition?  “How did you?” She looked at him quizzically.

Emerson shrugged without much emotion.  “I was watching Christopher leaving. I saw you get out of your car.”  He turned away from her and waved her into the apartment.  “Lord knows why I bothered keeping my address a secret. It appears everyone in town knows where I live.  What’s the point in being mysterious if everyone has beaten you to the punch!”  He collapsed into an armchair, next to a glass & bottle of liquor.  Replenishing what was by no means an empty glass.

Avery stood in the doorway a moment longer, slightly confused by the rhetorical, yet seemingly random question.  She slowly stepped into the apartment, surveying her surroundings.  From his attitude she’d have expected the place to be a disarray, litter cluttering the floor, dishes everywhere, a bachelor pad really.  Then again though, this was Emerson, the man was meticulous. 

Turning back towards Emerson, she deliberately walked in his direction, placing her feet carefully as if she half expected a trap.  “And how exactly do you know Topher?”

“Topher” Emerson sneered as he chewed on the name, “What kind of name is Topher?” 

Avery raised an eyebrow. Sitting on the edge of a seat next to Emerson. “I take it there’s no love lost between you two then?”

Emerson sighed.  “We were actually room-mates once if you can believe it.  Small world. We used to work together from time to time at your father’s request.”  Emerson swigged at his drink letting the liquid roll back and for over his tongue before swallowing.  He stared forward with apathy written across his face.

In retrospect, she shouldn’t have been surprised by that admission.  She had known both the men had worked with her late father.  It wasn’t that much more of a stretch to imagine the two had crossed paths. “So, if you don’t mind me asking.  For two people who used to be room-mates & also worked together, I would have assumed you’d two would be at least professionally cordial?”  She tried her best to put on an air of innocence and concern when phrasing the question.

Emerson held his drink in one hand, pondering her quietly with his piercing eyes.  He set his drink squarely on its coaster.  Without looking at her he asked his question. “Why are you here Avery?”

“Excuse me?”  She was taken by the sudden change in his demeanor, the man was unpredictable.  One minute apathetic, the next guarded and caged. 

“Why? Are? You? Here?” Every word he spoke, he articulated as its own question.

“I…Do I need a reason to stop by and see an old friend?” Her facade was cracking.  She was playing a game she couldn’t win.

Emerson barked and laughed in response. “That my dear is a lie.  You and I are not friends. And the two of us know very well what the question is you want to ask.  So just go ahead and ask it?” He looked her dead in the eye. Any sense of defeat had vanished from his features.

Avery nodded. She returned his gaze. “What do you know about my father’s involvement in James’ death?”

Emerson blinked.  “What?”

She repeated the question. “What do you know about my brother’s death?”

“I thought you were here to ask about my being back in the city.” Emerson evaded the question.

“We will get to that next, but please, tell me.  You were close to my father, he confided in you. Did he ever mention anything about James?” She moved closer to Emerson, putting her hand on his knee.  Imploring him for answers.

Emerson stood up quickly, moving out of her reach.  “You know what I know Avery. You know what happened to James. It’s why I left the city.”

“I know what you told me and what the police had confirmed, but tell me is it true?” She stood with him, committed to getting the answers she wanted. 

“James died of an accidental overdose! You know this! I held him as he died in my arms! Mine!” Pain was written across Emerson’s face, as he gestured as himself to emphasize his point.  “It’s my fault James is dead! No one else.”

Avery held firm, though it pained here no less.  “But is it true Em?  Is that really what happened?”

Emerson flung his arms into the air. “Why would you even ask that?! What else could it have been? I was there! I know!” 

“Em.”  Avery said it quietly. “Tell me the truth.”

Emerson stared at Avery, his mouth moving soundlessly.  He turned to the window, but said nothing.

“That morning before my brother” She choked on saying it, the memories and guilt flooding her once more. Soldiering on she said. “The morning before my brother died, we got into a fight.  A terrible fight.  James had all but admitted to me, he was intending to blackmail our father into giving him the company.  He had said he’d found something through some connections he’d made.”

Emerson turned to watch Avery as she spoke, but still said nothing.

“I pleaded with him to reconsider, to just talk to our father. I’m was certain it was a misunderstanding.  He didn’t have to resort to such terrible tactics to get his way, but he wouldn’t listen.”  The tears were glistening on her cheeks.  “He never told me what he found, I didn’t want to know, but I thought, if my father knew what he was up to, maybe, maybe it was something they could work out.  That it’d all just been an awful misunderstanding or a fabrication with no basis in truth.”

Emerson stood there watching her longer still, but the look of pain had returned to his face.

“Please Em, just tell me it’s not my fault James is dead. Please. What happened that night? Why was my father involved?” The damn holding her emotions had broken, she’d given up being strong, she just needed the truth.

Emerson hung his head in shame.  “I’m sorry Avery.  I’ve told you all I know.”

“Liar!” She screamed at him. “If what you say is true then why do I have a note saying my father was involved?”  She dug the note from her pocket, throwing the crumpled paper across the room. “And why do I have another note apologizing for my father’s death, saying it was for my own good?! Why am I on a list of people who are either dead or seemingly missing?! Just tell me something! Anything!”  She collapsed onto the sofa, head in her hands, sobs wracking her body. 

Emerson, bent down, picking up the crumpled up note. He unfolded the paper, studying the contents quietly for a moment.  He walked up and sat down beside Avery.  Resting his hand on her back. He waited for her sobs to subside.

She looked up, realizing Emerson was now sitting beside her.

He held the note in one hand, the other still on her back.  He looked at her with pain and confusion in his eyes.  “Where did you get this?”