~After a surprising end to their day, we last left Frank in the throws of an erotic, sexual, dream involving his sister. Roxanne had brought it on after her latest attempt in luring her brother into "innocent" sexual contact. Something Frank was having a hard time swallowing. It was a disturbing night for dear brother Frank~
*
I woke up at the kitchen table with drool running from my mouth, not knowing how I'd gotten there. A major groan followed, elicited by my stiff neck. The groan did nothing for the pain. I rubbed at muscles that screamed back in rebellion. Unsteady and feeling like I'd been drugged, I remained in the chair as the fog lifted from my mind. After a period, I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus on the clock. Time suddenly became an issue and so did Roxy. That's when I heard her callout, "I got him Frankie!"
"Got who? I called back, just as she popped into the kitchen.
"What do you mean who - Morgan of course, just as you told me to..."
"Oh yeah, make some coffee will you." I mumbled back, unclear as to when I'd issued any instructions.
Morgan ambled into the kitchen, grumbling, up-set that his day had been interrupted, making threatening gestures and, in general, mouthing off. He was about to make a very nasty comment about Roxanne when I pulled my Beretta from its shoulder holster and slammed it on the table.
"One more word you fat bastard, go ahead! I haven't shot anyone in a long time and as far as I'm concerned you'll do." I growled at him. He never finished his sentence. Visibly shaken, his tone changed dramatically.
"Ah now hey, Frankie...No need to get riled so early. You guys know I'm on a case and your sister there blows my cover, demanding I come see you! What's a guy to think?" He explained apologetically, throwing a thumb out towards Roxy. "Why am I here anyway?"
Closing my eyes, I rubbed my face and muttered, "Give me a second."
I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. Apparently, I had good reasoning earlier that morning and I just needed to regain my thoughts. The sound of the coffee pot was heavenly and I thanked Roxy for making it. Morgan cleared his throat. He wasn't a patient man and his being uncomfortable wasn't helping him. I liked it and gave him a 'fuck you' grin before getting to the point.
"We've walked into a hornets nest Morgan, you, me and Roxy. I'm not sure about personal danger -- yet, but, I'm damn sure convinced your client is in deep trouble." I started out.
It got his attention and I launched into just enough detail for Morgan to get the picture. I omitted the blatant sexual stuff, leaving in only enough to assure Morgan we'd done our homework. It was sufficient. By the time I finished Morgan's mouth had dropped, hanging open like a dead fish.
"My God Frankie. You're sure about this?" He finally croaked out, as Roxanne placed coffee in front of him.
"Oh yeah, were sure." Roxanne commented and winked at me. I gave Roxy a look that encouraged her to go on and eagerly sipped at my coffee. I could have kissed Juan Valdez at that point and his burro too!
"My research was thorough but, it was Frank that came up with the real deal." She began and winked at me.
"Nothing else makes much sense, Morgan. He hires you - she hires us. The old man damn sure knew who she was fucking and she knows he knew it, from what she told Frank yesterday. It's a game with them and junior is involved."
"Junior? Who the fuck is..."
"Didn't have a clue did you Morgan? I mean when you told old man Hawthorn she was fucking some guy named Peter did he seem surprised at the name?" Roxanne offered up, as she leaned against the kitchen counter, drinking her coffee.
Morgan's blank stare said it all. He added a small side to side shake of his head. "Okay, so what you're telling me is that this Peter guy is her step-son?" That's when I took over, ignoring Roxanne's large grin.
"By God I think he's missed it all Roxanne! No Morgan, Peter is actually Tony and Tony is her brother! They are the ole man's kids, you fucking idiot. Certifiable all of them and a bigger group of game playing loonies you'll never find." I stated with obvious distain towards Morgan. "Old lady Hawthorn was found with her..." I started to add when Roxanne jumped back in, unable to contain herself.
"The old lady was kind of divided -- by a .38 and the entry point was her twat Morgan. Paints a real pretty picture doesn't it?"
"Jesus fucking..." Morgan began to mutter, dropping his raised cup.
"Yeah, call it a gut feeling maybe. Maybe it's as simple as two's company. One thing we know for sure is that daddy, your client, was having his way with our client. We suspect that dear ole momma was involved too. Fact is, there's no way she'd off herself like that with out some help. Personally, I think the old man had enough of her and killed her. There was no mention of either of the kids during the investigation and they damn sure weren't around for the funeral either."
Morgan's lips pursed and he let out a low whistle. Roxanne started to giggle and later told me she had a vision of rusty cog wheels turning inside his head. Her giggle received a glare from Morgan and he raised his hand like a school kid wanting to answer a question.
"Europe Morgan. They were sent to Europe but, exactly when we aren't sure. We do know that about a year after the funeral (maybe longer) Amanda re-enters the picture as Cybil and daddy marries his daughter! Tony a.k.a. Peter is another matter. Neither of us are sure exactly when he returned, to again join his sister. My gut tells me dear ole dad may be next and there is a lot of motive there Morgan. Need I explain?" I retorted and held up my cup. Roxanne refilled it saying nothing.
"Money? But...They'll get the money anyway, they're the heirs." Morgan questioned in protest, yet looked particularly uncertain about his logic.
"Sure they are and very astute of you bringing that up! The trouble with your thinking Morgan is that you're not putting it all together. The incest, the marriage between daddy and daughter, momma's death, that little thing between sister and brother and maybe, most importantly Morgan, maybe dear ole daddy decided to cut them off and they found out about it." Roxanne offered almost too gleefully.
Her demeanor received a sneer, this time, from Morgan, as he rose to refill his own cup. Morgan was behind me when he began talking again. "So what Frank, you want me to go to Hawthorn and tell him that his daughter and son are going to kill him?"
"No! For God sakes, no you moron! We don't have enough yet. You do that and they just regroup for another try. Denial Morgan, "De-Nile" it's not just a river in Egypt, understand? Besides, just how persuasive do you think a naked daughter willingly letting her father carry out his sexual fantasies could be? Don't answer, it's rhetorical." I replied allowing my sarcasm to build.
Morgan appeared in front of me again, sipping at his fresh cup. "Fine, what then?" he asked, retaking his seat.
"Play stupid, it should be easy for you -- right? Go along with the game a little longer. Those two need more rope and more importantly, I need to be sure just who sent the old lady off to hell." I shot back, growing irritated.
"But you said it was the old man, Frank." Morgan commented, in his best New Yorker phrasing, ignoring my agitation.
Roxanne started to laugh when she saw the look I gave Morgan. She beat me to the punch. I was grinning widely when she finished. "Morgan! How ever did you get to be a PI? Frank said he thought it was the old man! Perhaps the words return-flight might mean something to you?" Somewhere in that, shriveled up, lump of grey matter you call a brain you might be able to conceive that one of the kids could have come back and..."
Morgan's mounting anger fell away and, just like the cartoon, you could see the light bulb turn on. "And help the old lady kill herself -- right?" His pleased expression at having almost figured something out sent Roxanne and me into a hard belly laughs.
I needed the laugh. Maybe more than I realized, as it was far too difficult to stop. When I finally managed to calm down, I looked at Roxanne and winked. "We got a winner Roxy!" I commented and immediately started up laughing again.
"Okay -- okay you two smart asses, that's enough! Whadda you want from me, I mean you gotta a plan or what?" Morgan said loudly, his face showing the effects of an obvious rise in blood pressure.
Our personal fun ended but, not until my stomach ached from laughing. We sent Morgan on his way after a few simple instructions, hoping he could manage without fucking them up. The problem for me was that Morgan had too much knowledge and he was only human. Keeping his mouth shut wasn't his long suit, by any means. The fact that Morgan wasn't particularly bright didn't help my thinking either.
"God, I need a shower Roxy." I said, after hearing the front door close. I got up and left Roxanne without further comment from me or her.
Ten minutes into the desperately needed shower, Roxanne entered the room. "Sorry -- I ain't pissin' myself, too much coffee Frankie." She called out.
I didn't reply. I couldn't, my mind was racing once again with the dream memories. I turned my back to the shower doors, knowing fair well she could see my body outline perfectly.
