Not That, That's For Sure- a Sequel. Part 1
This is a response to Ibenton's "What Would You Have Done?". The man is an excellent author, and the premise is fantastic, but the story, the outcome, and the fate of the poor guy who didn't have a clue what was going on is unacceptable. I'm going the opposite way. Same ending, but THEN what happens? My take. I have contacted the author and received his permission to write this sequel. His exact words?
"Go for it!" So I have his approval.
Please, read, enjoy, and comment. I'm a large bear, a dad, a grandpa, a veteran, and a New York Football Giants Fan. You can't hurt me. Thanks.
If you haven't, I urge you to read Ibenton's story "What Would You Have Done?" for context. Just don't blame me. Not my favorite. This is Part 1
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My version of a sequel, not an alternate ending. This starts after the discovery of Bryan's body.
The screaming echoed through the garage and reverberated out to the street, through the front door. It drew her sister and the two females collapsed in each other's arms. Fifteen minutes later, after being alerted by the screams, neighbors called police, and the house was a crime scene. The damage was done.
Bryan's older sister, Elizabeth, a sharp attorney, was contacted, and she immediately dropped everything and raced to be there. His older brother, Michael, an Army Ranger, was also called.
Now the shit gets interesting.
You see, the Kelley family was close. And they were cohesive, as only an Irish-American family can be. No offense to any other ethnic broods.
They were solid. There was Michael, the oldest, a career soldier. Then there was Thomas Kelley, an FBI agent. Then Siobahn, an attorney with the SEC. Then Elizabeth Lang, senior partner at Meredith, Lang, and Walden, Attorneys at Law, married to a Wall Street banker, Martin Lang. She was also Bryan and Tina's attorney. Next, Patrick is a partner in a prominent New York private investigation firm, Kelley and Leibowist. Then Bryan. Bryan was an aircraft mechanic. He worked for Butler Aviation, at Newark Airport. The baby of the family, Bryan was loved and doted upon by his siblings. Extremely talented mechanically, and always there to help with anything, He was loved.
But Tina and Bryan were in love. Well, they were. Until the snake worked its way into the garden. Two snakes. Carol King and Matt D., for Duncan, Owner of Duncan Industries. But don't worry. Family will take care of everything, except for the immediate grief.
Elizabeth was the first to arrive. The police had come and gone, the crime scene was cleared, and the house was released. Michael had to put in a request for emergency leave, but being between assignments, and a Major, he had enough clout that his boss expedited the request and he was cleared for 45 days 'personal tragedy' leave. So Thomas and Patrick beat him there. Thomas was up from D.C., but Patrick a short car ride from Brooklyn. (Well, short by miles, but traffic, well, you know.) Anyway, they arrived at Bryan and Tina's house in Bergenfield, N.J. later that day. Michael arrived the following day from Georgia. Siobahn was tied up but would get there as soon as she could.
Elizabeth came in to two shattered women and immediately started to sort things out. She slowly pieced things together.
At first, she couldn't understand her brother's action-suicide. She learned of the births and the subsequent death of one of the infants, and she suspected severe depression. She was over the top with consoling her two sisters-in-law in their grief. She herself was heartbroken. After a while, she went to the kitchen for coffee and to set up her laptop and sort through paperwork. She started to read.
Then she got a look at the birth and death certificates.
Uh, Oh!
Elizabeth blanched. She poured over the hospital reports and the doctor's notes. She shook herself, and then her ire rose. She grabbed her cell phone and called her paralegal and long-time friend, Sally Jones.
Sally answered on the second ring.
"Oh, Elizabeth, I just heard. I'm so sorry. Is everything alright?"
"Sally, drop what you're doing. I need you to get everything you can find about a condition called 'hetero-paternal super-fecundation'. EVERYTHING, understand?? You're working for me, on this and this only, 'till I say differently. I'll call back." She hung up and jumped up from her seat at the kitchen table where she had been going over all the forms, papers, and assorted b/s that had to do with their wills and Bryan's death. The only thing she didn't have was the police and coroner's report. That would come. Then, she raced to the master bedroom where Tina and her sister Lizz were sequestered, consoling themselves. By the time she got there, she had somewhat calmed down. She didn't know everything, and she was sure there was more. Slowing down and calming herself, she slowly walked into the bedroom.
The compassion and understanding were gone. The calm criminal attorney took over and she put her brother's death on hold. Pulled out her pocket tape recorder and turned it on. She entered the bedroom.
"Tina, I'm so sorry for everything that's happened. I'm just so heartbroken. But I've been going over your wills and things and was perusing the hospital paperwork."
That's when the demeanor shifted slightly. She stared at her sister-in-law with a cold intensity. (Maybe she hadn't put her brother's death quite so far under control as she thought.)
"I want to know, just WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CHEATING ON BRYAN??"
Lizz shuddered and came off the bed in a leap toward Elizabeth.
