The phone nearly slipped out of my hand. I turned to Matthias who glanced at me. We neared my house.
‘What do you mean she’s dead Rebel? I saw her this morning!’
Matthias' head snapped in my direction. ‘What’s going on Adele?’
‘I know! She was found dead in the afternoon. You have to go to the police station. Your brother accused you of killing his wife!’
‘What?! I didn’t kill anyone!’
‘Adele…’ Matthias growled.
I couldn’t believe my own brother would accuse me of murder! Lexa couldn’t be dead, she was fine.
‘I believe you Addie. I was there and he’s furious. I don’t even know what he’s going to do with Maybelle. Please don’t go see him, he might hurt you.’
‘I can’t believe this.’ Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.
‘Find a good lawyer. I know you’re innocent I’ll meet you at the station.’
I cut the call. Matthias stopped the car on the street of a children’s playground.
‘What happened?’ He turned me to face him.
‘Lexa… she’s dead. I saw her this morning. I went to tell Andrin I quit. She’s dead now Matthias.’
‘It’s okay.’ Matthias placed his hand on the back of my neck and pulled me to his chest.
I trembled and soaked his shirt with my tears. Matthias circled his arms around my waist. I was going back to jail, the police would take Andrin’s word over mine. Gosh, I already had a record. Swine would lock me up for good and throw away the key.
‘Listen to me Adele, after you left Lexa's house you went to the cemetery and you spent the day with me.’
I pulled away. ‘That’s exactly what I did Matthias.’
‘I know but you were alone for a while before I arrived. Just tell them you were with me the entire time.’
I shook my head. ‘You think they’re going to pin this on me, don’t you?’
Matthias slowly shook his head. ‘Not the police.’
He started the car again and drove a couple minutes to the police station. The place was buzzing, officers walking in and out of the place. The receptionist guided me to Swine's office. Matthias said he’d wait for me. It gave me a speck of comfort knowing he was there.
The frown on Swine’s face was deeper than the ocean. He marched up to me and I braced for a slap. Axel opened the door before Swine could say anything.
‘Adele, I’m sure you heard what happened. We just want to ask you a few questions.’
‘And then sum.’ Swine muttered.
The men led me to a grey room with a metal table in the middle and a huge glass window to the right.
‘You work for your brother Ad?’ Swine frowned and crossed his arms.
I nodded. He knew that.
‘You see Lexa this morning? The neighbors said they heard you too arguing.’
‘I… I did. We didn’t argue—’
‘That puts you at the scene of the crime! Two dollars that you did this Adele Winchester. You couldn’t come back and not be the center of attention!’ Swine threw his hands up.
I jumped back in the chair. Axel clenched his fist and turned his frown on Swine.
‘Enough Swine. If you can’t put down your childish agendas then fuck off I’ll do this alone.’
Swine cleared his throat and took a seat. Axel exhaled and fixed his gaze on me.
‘Why’d you go see Lexa?’
‘I… well I went to tell Andrin I quit. He wasn’t home.’
My nails dug into my seat as Axel's incredible green eyes scrutinized me. His tone was gentle like the tips of fingers on my neck.
‘Did you see eye to eye with your sister in law?’
I scratched my head. Goodness, Lexa made it hard for me to see eye to eye with her. Especially since she was considering leaving little Maybelle. Still I didn’t want her dead, just to change her heart!
‘Not always Lexa was a bit extra.’
Axel smirked slightly. ‘Why’d you too argue? Over one of her ‘extra' tendencies?’
I shook my head and hands. ‘No, we didn’t really argue we just had a disagreement. Lexa was already upset when I got there. She had a fight with Andrin—’
Swine chuckled, our heads snapped in his direction. ‘Of course, you know your brother’s the one accusing you of killing his wife and you want to throw the scent back at him.’
Axel shot him daggers. ‘Shut up Swine.’
Swine tossed his hands in the air.
‘She was angry and wanted to leave. I didn’t want her to leave Maybelle. That little girl has only ever knows Lexa as her Mother.’
Axel leaned back in his chair and folded his meaty arms across his chest.
‘Lexa was planning on leaving her husband?’
I nodded.
Axel leaned forward. ‘Where’d you go after you left the house?’
Matthias' words blasted in my head. I was innocent I didn’t need to lie. I didn’t kill Lexa, I couldn’t, I wouldn’t.
‘I went to the cemetery to visit my Dad. I met Matthias and we spent the rest of the day together until I found out what happened.’
Goodness then why’d I say that? Wasn’t the biggest lie I’ve ever told. I was only alone for a few hours they really didn’t need to know that.
Axel leaned back against the chair. ‘Your ex-fiancé? Are you too back together?’
My eyes turned to saucers. ‘What? Me and Matthias? Oh no! I’m trying to move on.’
Axel chuckled then folded his arms. ‘What were you doing then?’
Why couldn’t he just take my word for it and be merry?
‘Uh… like I said I was visiting my Dad and so was Matthias… well he said we needed to talk. We really don’t have anything left to say to each other but we needed up going to Uncle Stu's in the abandoned side of town.’
‘The place men take their lovers.’ Swine snorted.
‘Well I’m not anyone’s lover!’ I yelled.
Swine rolled his eyes. Axel glanced at Swine momentarily before he smacked his jeans and stood.
‘Alright Addie, you’re free to go just don’t leave town I’ll probably have more questions later.’
I looked up, surely my face was as pink as a strawberry. I could have danced out of their, but forced my legs to behave. Not another night in jail. I wished I hurried my feet because Swine spoke and stopped me in my tracks.
‘You know we got the murder weapon right? Found it in your work station, uh huh. Pretty sure your dirty little finger prints will be all over it.’
The blood drained from my face. ‘Wha—what? I didn’t kill anyone and I haven’t been to work in a while.’
‘Enough Swine! Let me walk you out.’
‘It seems I’m not the only one with agendas.’ Swine laughed.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Swine shrugged. ‘Nothing at all Chambers. Have a good night now Ad.’
I murmured a good night and rushed out of the room. Axel caught up to me.
‘Don’t mind Swine.’ He said.
‘I can’t help it. Swine would lock me up without a shred of evidence.’
‘You know he can’t do that.’
I puffed. ‘He already did… well something like that.’
We got to the waiting area and Rebel along with Matthias were there fiddling with their fingers. They both stood when they saw me. Rebel gave me a squeeze.
‘Everything okay? I couldn’t find a lawyer, darn it.’ Rebel said.
‘Everything’s alright Rebel, no need for a lawyer.’
‘Not yet anyway, remember just don’t leave town.’ Axel interjected.
My blood ran cold. ‘I really didn’t do anything.’
Axel's eyebrows burrows and his mouth formed a thin line. ‘I’m sorry Addie, I’ll be in touch.’
I sighed. ‘Oh, I’ve got to get home to Comrade he must be worried sick.’
Rebel nodded. I felt lucky to have a friend this time around. Amber Rayne did visit me once in jail, now that I remembered she wasn’t much help.
‘Let me take you home Adele.’ Matthias offered.
‘No, I’d rather go with Rebel if she doesn’t mind. Thanks for everything Matthias, but I meant what I said.’
Rebel rubbed my arm, saying goodbye all over again hurt a little more than last time.
He hung his head then nodded. He didn’t say much else just turned and left the station.
***
The second I opened the door Comrade was on his feet and squeezing the life out of me.
‘Darn it kid.’ He whispered into my hair.
‘It’s awful Comrade.’
He stroked my hair. ‘I know. Maybelle's in your room, don’t worry Andrin won’t be back tonight.’
I stepped out of the hug and noticed Angry Betty sitting in the living room. I straightened up and smiled. She scrawled.
Oh geez. ‘Hello, Angry— Ms. Betty, how are you doing?’
She stood and dragged her bat with her. She really never went anywhere without that thing.
‘Hmm, I’ve been better. Since your granddaughter’s back I’ll be leaving Connor.’
Comrade nodded. ‘Thanks for keeping me company Betty.’
She puffed. ‘You be careful.’ She said as the door slammed behind her.
‘I didn’t know you were friends with Angry Betty.’ I landed on the sofa.
‘Kids these days… her name’s Beatrice Beaumont. She and I go way back, she wasn’t always this paranoia when her husband died mysteriously it sent her a little off the edge.’ He sat down beside me.
‘I don’t remember her living next door when I was a kid.’
‘Oh no, she and her husband lived in a beautiful house on the hills. When Berry died she left it all behind. She only moved here less than five years ago.’
I nodded. I doubted anyone ever visited her, she was just a frightened old lady. I bet even the church ladies didn’t stop by, earthquakes would breakout if the society women gave a damn. Can’t say I didn’t think she was just a creepy old lady with a thirst for bashing heads. I felt bad and had a need to visit her and hopefully not get my head bashed.
‘Comrade what’s going to happen to Maybelle? Andrin can’t take care of her alone that was part of the reason he married Lexa so quickly.’
Comrade nodded. ‘Damn shame. I’m going to keep for a while.’
‘Poor girl she needed up losing her Mama anyway.’ I sighed.
‘I’m worried about you kid. I was told you saw Lexa this morning.’
‘Yeah, Comrade I did. We only spoke for a while she wanted to leave Andrin, I didn’t agree.’
Comrade shook his head. He hauled himself up and wobbled to his room. He came back moments later with a silk black cloth in his hands.
‘I don’t think Lexa was meant to die, no they were after you.’
I shot up in my seat. ‘What are you talking about Comrade!! Who wants to kill me?!’
‘The threats are real. I think this was a screw up or a warning to our family.’
‘Are you talking about the heirloom keepers?’
‘No kid. The raiders for years they’ve known we existed, though they’ve never known who the families were I believe they do now.’
‘Comrade we have to go to the police.’ I stood. I rushed and locked the door.
This can’t be possible, it had to be a lie. Lexa's killers weren’t done, they wanted the blood of my entire family. I had to call Mama, she has to be safe. Even Andrin couldn’t be running around like a headless chicken.
‘No, no Addie. Remember what I told you. Outsiders can never know about the artifacts. It’s too dangerous.’
‘How do we fight this then Comrade!’ I threw my arms in the air.
‘We fight the way we’ve done for years. Here I want you to have this at all times.’
He unfolded the delicate fabric to reveal a black revolver. I jumped back and gasped.
‘What am I going to do with that Comrade?!’
‘Protect yourself Addie! You’ve seen what happened to Lexa. What would I do if something happened to you? Damn it Addie, I can’t lose you too. You’re what little I’ve got left.’
My chest rose and fell rapidly. ‘Comrade I don’t even know how to use that thing.’
He took my hand and placed the little, but incredibly deadly gun in my hand. I’d never even seen a gun up close before. How was it going to aim and shoot one at someone. I’m done for. It’s all over for me.
‘I’ll teach you.’
‘Comrade is protecting these artifacts really worth all this trouble?’ The look of frustration mixed with disappointed on his face really stung like hornets sting, though we just lost one of our family betters for old rusted metal.
‘I’ll take you to them, then maybe you’ll understand.’