TW - Death

Wednesday was quiet and so uneventful I could have found more entertainment from a television program about paint drying. I did chores and read and visited Joanna for a bit but when it was time for my lessons with Mrs. Cunningham she didn't show. I called her several times, even knocked on her door but nothing. My only thought was that maybe her sister was worse than she thought and she had to stay longer than a day.

The following day I awoke to my mother shaking my shoulder. I stir with bleary eyes and squint up at her. She's still in what she fell asleep in plus her silk robe, her hair hanging in sleep created tangles.

"Mom? What is it? What time is it?" I ask while slowly rising to the occasion and stretching out stiff muscles.

"It's 5:45, I'm so sorry honey. Something has happened..." She seems uncertain how to finish her sentence.

"What? Are you okay? What's happened?" I am a little more alert and stand up. Normally I'm waking her up, at least in the next half hour to get ready for work. This is indeed unusual. She doesn't look hurt. What she does look is wary and possibly frightened.

I let her usher me out of my room only to stop dead at the sight of two police officers standing in our living room.

A very tall man somewhere in his late thirties with light hair takes a step forward with a grim smile, the sort one puts on when you are the bearer of bad news. The other officer is younger and a woman of short and stout stature. She has a tough expression and dark hair and skin. She also has a notepad out, pen at the ready.

"Hello there, young man," the male officer says as if he were a grandfather and not practically a 'young man' himself. "I'm Officer Stanwick. This is my partner, Phillips. Sorry to wake both of you, but a death has occurred in this building and we would like to ask you a few questions."

"What? Who's died?" I blurt out with barely a thought. I am completely thrown by this and suddenly I am more than awake. I find myself suddenly sitting on the couch without realizing how I got there. The officers remain standing.

Stanwick turns to his partner and she reads a name off her notepad. "Virginia Cunningham."

A jolt strikes my heart and it feels like all of my blood has rushed to my ears. An arm wraps around my shoulders, likely my mother, but my gaze remains focused on the officers with an expression I am sure is utter shock. Virginia. I never knew her first name. Officer Stanwick comes around and sits on our shabby, cluttered coffee table. He has a pitying look on his face and I hate it. I've seen such looks my whole life.

"We understand that she was your tutor," he began, seemingly searching my eyes for something. I'm not sure what. I nod my acquiescence. "When was the last time you spoke with Miss Cunningham?"

"Missus."

"I'm sorry?"

I look up from staring off into nothing and repeat. "Mrs. Cunningham."

Stanwick frowns and glances at his partner. "We don't have any record of her being married."

"Oh..." I trail off, my mind still trying to wrap around this. Mom starts to slowly rub my back.

"Colin, can you answer the question?"

"Oh, right, uh..." I say blinking a few times, eyes a bit watery. "Monday? I think. She said she was, uh, going to see her sister."

Officer Phillips speaks up this time. "An Abigail Cunningham?"

My eyebrows furrow at that and I shrug. "Abigail? I...I didn't know her name. She said she would be back today. What's—What's happened to her?"

Stanwick sighs and sits back. "Her body was found this morning. That's all I can divulge, I'm sorry." He stands up and I suppose motioned for my mother for she stands up too and follows the officers to our door. They whisper to each other but I really don't even try to strain to hear.

I can't believe she's gone. It seems too surreal. "Who found her?"

The grownups shut-up and I know they look my way. I'm determined. "Who found her?" I ask again.

"Another tenant. Felix Chevalier."

---

I can see him.

He's talking to a shorter man with a tie and a receding hairline. Those piercing eyes catch mine for a second, as I get further down the hallway. I avert mine down and focus on the ugly carpeted floor. I know he still watches me even as I stop at the door next to his and knock.

I can't look at him. I just can't because if I do, I know I'll break down. I'll do something I'll regret. I know he wants me to but luckily enough Jo's door finally opens and she drags me inside.

Joanna envelops me in a warm hug without saying a word. We stand at the threshold of her apartment not saying a word. I break down then, ball my eyes out. My fingers digging deep into her hoodie and clinging to it like my life depended on it. She smells like vanilla and it's comforting. Slowly, after I don't know how long, I lower my arms. They feel heavy and weak. I feel heavy and weak. I pull away and stare up at her. No words need to be spoken.

She settles me on the couch and makes us both a cup of tea. I revel in the warmth of the mug, my hands wrapped around the ceramic dishware like a cozy lifeline. I can feel Jo's eyes on me but I keep them on the amber liquid in the mug. It's some fruity concoction. I know she'd love to give me chamomile to calm my nerves but she also knows it messes with my asthma. "Your mom?"

"Work," I supply and my voice sounds odd even to my ears. "She wanted to stay but we both need her job to keep afloat."

"Did they tell you much?" Jo asks carefully.

I shrug and take a sip of the tea finally. "Not really, just that she died. They asked me some questions about her but I don't think they were satisfied with my answers."

"Hmm, I see." She pauses a moment. "I was coming in when they wheeled the body out."

I finally look at her with surprise. I couldn't even imagine how I would have reacted if I had been in her shoes. Jo was looking off at nothing in particular, her eyes distant. "Heard two cops talking about the scene. She was in pieces, Colin. Stuffed down the trash chute..." She pales a little.

I suspect she's imagining it. I am too and it has me reaching into my pocket for my inhaler. "Felix found her," I say abruptly after a brief silence.

"What? Seriously?" She says rather alarmed by this.

"That's what the officers said to me. I saw him talking to a detective when I came to your door."

"Shit. You don't think?"

"I don't know. Maybe?" I frown and lean my head back to stare up at the ceiling. I wonder if I should tell her about the strange occurrence that happened to me last night. The weird voices. Probably not, she'd just think I was nuts. However, I really can't shake the feeling that the two incidents are related.

"Hey, quit that. You're bleeding." She smacks me lightly on the head and gets up retrieving a napkin. I furrow my eyebrows and touch my lip, wincing at a sting. It seems I have been worrying or rather chewing my lip a little harshly. I thank her for the napkin and press it to my lip. A little blood shows up on the snow white paper. I almost involuntarily lick my lips, tasting pennies. I drink some of my tea to get the taste out.

"I really don't know what to do or think about this," I say finally. "I mean he says he's a private detective and all that but something doesn't feel right. I just..."

"It's alright, Collie. Just go home and get some rest, okay? We'll hang out or something tomorrow. Your birthday is this weekend."

"Ugh, I don't think I can even bother with it after this," I say standing up and making my way to the door. "Seems wrong."

Jo hugs me again, saying stuff to soothe me but I honestly don't feel an ounce better. We say are farewells and I'm out the door.

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