2 CHAPTER ONE

Day one before October 6, 1990

Doctor Fredrick held the result out for the miserable woman to take. She seem lost with thoughts. The death of Patrick had poised a great heartbreaking jeer on the woman, Miss Agnes Benedict, the wife of Patrick Benedict. She could not believe that her healthy husband could just die like that. She believe that something must be wrong somewhere, either spiritually or physically.

Miss Agnes returned her gaze down at the doctor who had been calling her respectfully and demandingly altogether. She looked at the white paper before her. Without bothering to take it, she casts a complicated gaze at the doctor. With much tears and in a frosty voice she spoke.

"What is this paper all about, doctor?"

The doctor ransacked the room with his gaze, not feeling sure where to begin the long explanation from. He felt maybe he should better choose a place to begin with when his eyes met those of Agnes. Her eyes were full of tears and she appeared complicated altogether.

"Miss Agnes Benedict," the doctor began. "I just believe you can cope with what I am about to tell you-"

"-so what exactly is inside the paper?" Miss Agnes said again sniffling, trying to calm herself; although it seems impossible. For a while, the doctor observed her; trying to know if she can cope with the result. She looked at him miserably and nodded, assuring him that she can cope.

The doctor dropped his hands on the massive desk before him and faced Miss Agnes squarely, trying to be sympathetic.

"According to our autopsy result, your husband was murdered through poison…" the doctor stopped and looked at the woman to know if she was well carried along. He could see that she was well carried along by the effortless dribbling of tears down her cheeks. With queer tone in his voice, he continued again. "…and there was no trace of evidence on his murderer."

Mrs. Agnes stood up briefly, ignoring the paper on the desk, took her car keys and left for good. The transfixed doctor stood, not knowing if he should follow the old lady or he should just stand and look. He observed the paper on the desk without touching it. Reluctantly, he sat back on his chair, rocking it slowly and hitting his fingers against the desk; trying to comfort himself.

∆∆∆

Charlie sat lifelessly on the sofa adjacent to the wide plasma TV in his living room. The room was well furnished. From the green marble tiles to the well-constructed settee, all was grand, and everything in the room depicts the class of man who lives in it. His gaze was fixed on the TV, he was expecting something, or perhaps; he wanted to catch the 8 O'clock news.

Charlie took the last gulp from his glass of red wine, with his gaze still tight on the TV. Whatever he was expecting must be very important to him, he in fact knew that the time was still 7:56, but chose to stay and wait till it is 8 O'clock.

Charlie was rich, but not as rich as Patrick, his elder brother and that's what aggravated him so much where ever he is. Patrick and Charlie was the only child to their parent, although Charlie did not even see either of their parents, he was so little when their parent died. As they had nobody to cater for their needs, they had to live for the scratch they could gather. As a child, though not aware; Charlie had always envied his elder brother, whatever he does, instead of bringing joy to Charlie, it normally brings hatred to him. Patrick being a man of diligence had always endured, hoping that one day his brother will improve. From little, Patrick took care of Charlie with whatever resource he could gather. All his hands could bring home was used to cater for his little brother. He took care of his education; right from basic to university level, he dedicated all his time and energy in training him. It was after he saw that his brother, Charlie, was doing well that he decided to marry his beautiful wife, Mrs. Agnes Benedict and God had blessed them with little Carly; who was in fact their only child.

Charlie was brought back to reality through the loud jingle coming from the TV, it was actually a warning to whoever it concerns that the 8 O'clock news was about to begin. Charlie flashed his wicked gaze on the TV, with a scorn written all over his countenance. As expected, the news caster for 8 O'clock news popped up on the screen and began talking briefly. Charlie paid rapt attention, trying to get whatever that comes out of the news caster's mouth.

∆∆∆

The first hearing, October 1990

Charlie listened to the woman as she made her declaration in tears and frosty voice. He had his smiles hidden under his lower lips. Until the woman is through with the declaration; the smile will not yield laughter. He listened casually, and silently. The woman though with a heavy heart, maintained a proper speech. The solicitor, being sent by the law court, watched with utmost wonder. He was a bit shaken with emotion; but as a professional, he maintained a stern facial expression. He was not aware of the kind of case he was being sent to handle; in fact, he is a freshman on the case.

The brief dry laughter made by Charlie rattled the solicitor back to reality again. The laughter being a signal to show that the woman, Mrs. Agnes Benedict was through with her own portion of the declaration allotted to her by the state government, having that in mind, Charlie stood up; ready to make his own declaration. Charlie approached the podium which stood lifeless at the center of the solicitor's office, he smirked wickedly and began firmly.

"My lord, and whom it may concern to listen," Charlie said and eyed the recording device that lay on the solicitor's desk. "We all know that I am the rightful owner of all the property of my brother. I am the next in line to acquire all the investment he made both in the state and other states; including his wife." Charlie glared at the woman, and then to the solicitor who was more like a hungry lion. He smirked again, searching for a word that will be rude enough to begin with. Seeing no word rude enough, he tried to be brief and straight.

"I therefore, my lord, declare that starting from today, all the assets of my brother should be made available to me for proper management. I promise that…"

The solicitor waved him short, indicating that he had heard enough. Charlie smiled and went back to his seat.

"What you said, Mr. Charlie is wrong…" the barrister frowned. "It's just that it's not in my power to decide your case. But to me, you are wrong."

Charlie glared at the man wickedly.

"-is there something wrong in claiming ones' brother property…?" Charlie smirked. "Surely not…!" he hollered.

The barrister peered at him.

"I owe you no explanation. Just come back in few days' time to get a confirmation from the law court…"

Charlie stumbled out of the room. Who was he to talk to him like that? Does he at all know who he was…? He thought as he walked to his vehicle, entered it and drove off.

∆∆∆

"-hello," Mrs. Agnes fumed. "Who are mine speaking with?"

Mrs. Agnes knowing fully well that she was speaking with Charlie chose to fake ignorance. But Charlie will never fake ignorance, he is fully aware of whom he is talking to.

"How is everything, dear?" Charlie said and chuckled scornfully. Mrs. Agnes waited patiently to understand where he was driving at. She knew that he was not a person to be trusted.

"Did you listen to the eight o'clock news?" Charlie said again in complete jeer, but the woman did not utter a word. From the onset, she knew that Charlie called just to make fun of her.

"I am talking to you, old woman, don't you ever dare keep silent on me. I should be the one to keep silent on you for killing my dearest brother-"

"-What?!" Mrs. Agnes felt her voice boiling with anger and hates. "Are you trying to call me my husband's murderer?"

Charlie kept mute and the woman did same, not really knowing why she did so. She should have hung up the line or smashed the phone by now, but the curiosity; she must know what Charlie meant by those words. Mrs. Agnes held the cell phone tight against her ear to the point that her hands began to ache, yet, Charlie didn't say a thing. Mrs. Agnes glared around the room, still crying. As Charlie refused to talk, she found her chance to utter her most grieved question.

"Charlie, are you involved with the death of your brother¬-?"

"-I said it," Charlie began. "You are the most foolish of all women. You are asking me if I am involved with the death of my goddamned brother, isn't it?" Charlie fumed, breathing heavily, "I will not blame you after all."

Charlie listened as the woman wailed, he knew what to say to end her misery but decided to add to her problems. Charlie knew that the news of his dead brother was everywhere and that he was in the position to take whatever he owns. The property is just what he was after; his heart had been engulfed with greed.

The miserable woman still held the cell phone, trying to get what her vicious in-law had to say, Charlie on the other hand chose his word carefully to avoid any form of suspicion by the woman.

"Woman," Charlie began loudly, trying to make sure that the woman hears all he had to say. "It is true that your husband is dead, and sorry for our lost, but you know; your moodiness will not avoid me from taking what belongs to me-"

"-What exactly belongs to you, if I may ask?" with dry tears, Mrs. Agnes agued.

"Listen, I will not answer that foolish question," Charlie rants. "I am giving you just a week of grace to evacuate the Benedict's mansion, and you should hand up all the documents related to Patrick's assets."

Charlie hung up the line, Mrs. Agnes knowing fully well that the line is dead, still had the cell phone over her ear. Her mood became unpredictable, and her tears dribbled in torrent down her cheek in a voiceless cry. With her heart so heavy with agony and shock, she dropped down lifeless.