The Brothers Stone

No one tried to stop him or even tried to greet him as they took in the glacial expression on his face and the aura of anger that simply radiated off of him.

Which suited him just fine. He wasn't sure if he could control himself from lashing out at anyone who dared to get in his way right now. It felt like all the blood in his body was starting to boil sending ropes of pain from his limbs straight to his heart. He had to get into his brothers office and he prayed the fool hadn't been detained by his wife or children's last minute morning emergencies that happened from time to time. His nephews were spoiled by their mother and her parents and even though they were 8 and 9 they acted much younger whining and throwing tantrums to get their way. While he loved his nephew they just made him happy that he himself didn't have kids of his own.

Sampson didn't bother knocking on the door but twisted the handle and pushed the door open suddenly. His brother Perry was just hanging his suit jacket on the coat rack behind his desk, but his brothers sudden intrusion and the angry expression on his face caused Perry to freeze. He hadn't seen his brother this upset in a long time. "Sampson, whats going on? Is there a fire somewhere?"

His brother asked him concerned as he finished hanging his coat and started for his desk chair. He had a feeling whatever caused his brothers irritation would take a while to talk about and unlike his brother who was 27 and still full of energy he was 39 and spent most of his life behind a desk.

"Two Words. Kinley Cross." Sampson said his tone making it sound like he couldn't wait to strangle the woman whose name he hadn't mentioned in years. Perry felt a headache coming on. There was something that would never be forgotten such as the death of his good friend and the apparent insanity where he had left everything to some unknown person.

"What about her? Did your detectives finally dig up some information? Its been four years I can't believe your still paying them after all this time." Perry told him as he sat down. Not that he hadn't also tried investigating Miss Cross when the news first came out. Something had been going on right before his death.

At their weekly lunch Logan had seemed so distant and distracted, but originally the brothers had just thought he was adjusting after the death of his wife. He had loved her so. At the end of the meal he had thanked them both for everything and told them that he had to go and meet his lawyer to make sure that she wouldn't be a problem in the future. The brothers hadn't any idea about the mysterious she Logan was talking about. They thought perhaps it was some disgruntled employee causing trouble at the office. It wasn't until the will was read after Logan's death and Miss Cross was left everything company, family property, even his wives small jewelry company. Perry and Sampson had immediately began to investigate this woman and while doing so they realized that the will that had been left had actually been made the day they had last seen Logan alive. His death was called a natural death and they had said he died from heart failure, but none of the medical staff would comment, nor would any of the household staff. When Logan's body was cremated before being buried that had only confirmed that their had been some foul play surrounding Logan's death and it all pointed to the mysterious Miss Cross.

"She's come back." Sampson said his voice harsh. "She's speaking at Bell's Construction's party next Friday. Tell me you haven't give up my seat yet." Sampson felt himself letting his anger out in his voice and tried to draw it back. He knew it wasn't Perry's fault but every time he thought back on what happened to his mentor he couldn't help but want to find the truth. And if he found that woman had anything to do with Logan's death then it wouldn't matter how rich she was he'd deal with her.

"I haven't...yet." Perry said as he looked at his brother. "But maybe I should."