Deadly In Stilettos (50 page)

             
The officers gave their names with tears in their eyes. That was one part of the job that they all hated, and at that very moment one of them wished he would have finished medical school like his father wanted him to. For this part of the job never got easier. Constance tried to contain Corrin who was now on her feet lunging toward the officers. “I have to go! I have to go home and wait for Charlie, he will be home soon.”

             
Constance grabbed Corrin consoling her as best she could. Charlie was one of her dear friends, and she had stood as matron-of-honor in their wedding. Her own husband was Charlie’s best friend. How was she going to tell Marcus that his friend was dead? How was she going to be there for Corrin and him and make sure everything else was taken care? Constance prayed right there for strength to overcome that sad occasion. She prayed for grace and mercy on Corrin’s behalf. And although she knew it was true, Constance prayed, asking God for it not to be.              

Constance immediately called Marcus and Corrin’s parents to meet them at the address she gave. She didn
’t know it or not if they knew where they were going and that didn’t matter either, because Constance could not bring herself to say the name “morgue” and Charlie in the same sentence.

             
When they got to the morgue, Corrin was as white as a ghost. She was shaking immensely, unable to keep her balance. The two officers held her by each arm keeping her from falling on the cold, gray tiled floor. When her parents and Marcus saw her, they knew something terrible had happened, but what? They all rushed to Corrin’s side trying to find out what was going one.

             
It was extremely cold and drafty in that place; Corrin remembered sipping from her glass. When the attendant asked her to sign before she could enter, she was barely able to hold the pen. Her father took the pen from her and quickly signed her name. He was disgusted by the attendant and under any other circumstance. He would have given him a stern talking to on a lesson in manners. As he walked in front of them eating his lunch like nothing, Corrin wanted to smack him in the back of the head. He held no compassion for her. He didn’t even acknowledge her, until one of the officers gave him a stern look, warning him of his outlandish behavior. Marcus shook his head and made a mental note to speak with the man when everyone else left. He couldn’t believe how cold-hearted the guy was.

             
Corrin remembered the morgue as if it were only yesterday that she had been there. The steel portals side by side, in rows of five, sparkled like water. They looked lively and somehow comfortable, Corrin thought watching as the attendant found the one that held her Charlie. When he unlocked and uncovered the body, Corrin fainted. It was Charlie barely recognizable, mangled beyond belief.

             
The only way she knew it was him for sure was by the Purple Heart tattoo with her initials, he had on his left arm that he got on their wedding night. Her favorite color and a symbol of his undying love for her, he told her. She too surprised him with a matching tattoo, only green, his favorite color with his name on it. They laughed, making love endlessly that night, exploring each other’s bodies for the first time, because they decided to wait until they were married. Both being Christians, they didn’t want to disobey God, in fear of losing each other.

             
The only thing Corrin could do was say to the attendant and officers before fainting were, “That’s him.” How could something so tragic happen to them? They were not bad people. They went to church, served in different ministries, and paid their tithes consistently. They always helped people. Never treated anyone different, or looked down upon anyone. What had they done to make God angry with them? God had truly turned his back on them, Corrin thought, vowing at that very minute that she would do the same thing to him. She didn’t need a God like that.

             
That day changed her life drastically. And although it had been over two years since it, Corrin relived it every day. The three year anniversary of Charlie’s death was in a week, and Corrin was heartbroken all over again, just as she was the previous two years. Would the pain become less bearable, she wondered?

             
Corrin looked down at the emptied glass. She poured herself another. Her life was sad. She still worked freelance, but it held no enjoyment as it once did. Charlie made it all worth-while and now he was gone. Still doing exceptional work, it didn’t burn within her as before. The fire went out when Charlie was taken from her.

             
Just then, Corrin heard a voice. “I am still with you my love. Just let God show you the way.” Corrin jumped, looking around the darkened house. Her mind was playing tricks on her. “I have had too much to drink,” she said out loud. “I must be really drunk. I am hearing voices.” Corrin laughed despite being afraid. Charlie was dead. He couldn’t possibly be speaking to her.

             
Slowly, Corrin got up from the sofa walking into the kitchen. When she looked around the room, she almost lost it. Dirty dishes were everywhere, the smell on rotten food filled the air, and there were three emptied bottles of wine sitting on the island countertop.

             
Once upon a time, the kitchen had been her favorite place in the house, except for the master bedroom. Lately, she didn’t even make it up the stairs to the bed before falling asleep, drunk on the sofa or in the downstairs guestroom. Looking at the various amenities in the kitchen, Corrin thought of the first time she stepped foot into the house. Charlie had been working overtime, and she felt lonely and taken for granted.

             
One day, she went to see her parents and overheard her father talking to Charlie on the phone. “Son, you cannot let her find out. If she does, all of this will be ruined. Try to finish before your wife gets too suspicious,” her father told Charlie.

             
Corrin was devastated that her father would encourage Charlie to cheat on her. She walked in on him shouting. “Daddy, how could you! I trusted you. How could you just sit there and let the man that I love have an affair and not do anything?” The look on her father’s face was still priceless.              

             
Corrin laughed despite her depressive state. She removed dishes from the sink, and took old food from the refrigerator. That day her father confessed Charlie’s secret to her, making her promise never to tell anyone that he was the one who told her. After hearing that Charlie was building their dream home, wanting to surprise her by Christmas, Corrin felt like an idiot.  She thanked her father and apologized to him. She also promised never to say a word about knowing everything regarding the house.

             
The day Charlie came to pick her up from her office, she knew that that was the day he would finally reveal his secret. When they pulled up to the gated entry-way that closed their world off from unwanted visitors, Corrin couldn’t stop squirming in her seat. The half mile drive to the residence was lovely landscaped with trees lining the driveway on both sides.

             
When they pulled up in front of the three-story house on the outskirts of the city, Corrin couldn’t contain her excitement. She took a deep breath, and put on the best performance of her life. Having a background in theater had its advantages she thought waiting for Charlie to open her door. “Who lives here, Charlie? We are going to get into trouble for showing up unannounced,” Corrin said. Charlie tried to keep his laughter at bay. Corrin’s father had filled him in on everything, and he knew that she was messing with him about knowing anything. He loved his wife even more that day. It also helped when he carried her across the threshold. That way she couldn’t start asking a million questions as she always had whenever he tried to surprise her with something special.

             
Corrin was speechless, an emotional wreck. The house was breathtakingly beautiful. The circular driveway and seven-car garage was just a small indication of what lay ahead, Corrin thought trying to compose herself without letting Charlie know she knew who the owners of the gorgeous estate were. He grabbed her hand as he helped her from the car. The look on his face that day helped Corrin cope with so many lonely times. She smiled just reliving the moment. “Wait here,” Charlie demanded in a gentle tone while he disappeared toward the back of the residence. Corrin looked around surveying the beautiful landscaping and hidden lake to the side of the estate, just beyond the wooden area toward the back of the house. A small bridge and gazebo overlooked the tranquil waters. When Charlie returned he had a blindfold, a dozen or so red and white roses, and a keychain with a purple heart.

             
“Baby, I have a surprise for you. These are for you my Sweetness.” Charlie handed her the roses, and Corrin fought even harder to keep back tears. “Charles Lee Ruston III, what are you up to? What are we doing at someone else’s home? We are going to get into big trouble if the owners come home and find us here.” Smiling, Charlie kissed her forehead tenderly. “I really don’t think we have to worry about that. Here, put this on and give me your hand.” Corrin did as her husband said with great anticipation. Butterflies whirled and twirled around in her stomach. She could hardly breathe as Charlie led her to the front door of the house. When he lifted her up into his massive arms, she felt like a child getting ready to open gifts on Christmas morning.

             
After carrying her over the threshold, Charlie slowly placed Corrin back down. “Keep your eyes closed when I remove this blindfold, Babe. I have something I want to show you here.” Nodding her head in agreement, Corrin waited patiently. When Charlie told her she could finally open her eyes, she was ecstatic. The expression on her face was priceless according to Charlie in a later conversation.

             
The home was fully decorated with great taste. All the colors and fabrics she adored filled the home in its entirety. The huge foyer was a circular shape to go with the driveway. In the middle of the room was an oversized, round, mahogany table, with a huge bouquet of flowers. Lilies, tulips, roses of all colors, and other exotic flowers Corrin could not recognize filled the enormous crystal vase. A huge Victoria chandelier was the focal point of the room, which brought great ambience and sophistication to the home as one entered.

             
The room was a deep blue, with complimentary accessories throughout creating a soothing environment. A huge mirror, a side table and two chairs completed the area. A perfect place to read a good book without interruption, Corrin concluded with a great desire to test her own theory. She had been dying to get started on Eric Jerome Dickey’s latest book “Pleasure”. That would have to wait. They were just beginning the grand tour, and if the rest of the home looked like the main entrance, she would spend the rest of the day and night thanking Charlie abundantly.

             
Charlie grabbed her hand, kissing it with his soft, sweet lips. “Follow me.” Corrin did. A formal dining room, decorated in greens, beiges, purples and oranges set to the left of the home, as the formal living area set to the right. The room looked vibrant with all the rich colors of blues, browns, and yellows, blending to perfection. Oversized furniture gave the room a livable, yet contemporary feel. An open bricked, floor to ceiling, fireplace set in the center of the room. Bookcases were on both sides of it, with every book Corrin could think of or ever wanted to read, she later learned from Charlie.

             
Collecting books of all genres was also one of Corrin’s hidden obsessions since a young kid. She had acquired many limited copies of rare publications along her travels throughout the world. She cherished each with her life. Reading was something she loved and would spend the rest of her days making sure she read each and every book occupying the bookcases, Corrin noted in her mind that day as Charlie lead her into the living space smiling.

             
Ceiling to floor drapes covered the windows, in patterns Corrin adored. A round ottoman set on an oversized Italian rug separating one sofa from the other. Two winged-back chairs set vertically in the room.

             
The way everything was put together was wonderful. Corrin wondered who had decorated the home. It was as if whomever it was, simply tapped into her mind. She would have put every piece of everything together herself, just as it was right at the moment. Every vase, trinket, painting, candle, picture frame, and other accessories fit perfectly together, and the colors made the room look even more amazing.

             
The fact that the deep mahogany wood flooring ran from the foyer into the other parts of the home overwhelmed her. It was lovely. She had always dreamed of having mahogany wood floors throughout her dream home, and now her dream was right in front of her. It was true.  Corrin looked up thanking God for blessing her with a husband like Charlie, who would go through all of this to see her happy.

             
Next, Charlie led her to the kitchen. When she saw it, Corrin almost had a heart attack. Her heart was beating so fast, Charlie pulled out a barstool for her to sit down. Every appliance, cabinet, backdrop, color scheme, and the granite countertops were sinful. The gigantic island in the middle of the space, doubled as an eating area so they would not have to use the formal dining room every day. Rich colors of reds, browns, yellows and oranges, gave the kitchen an Italian Bistro feel. And the deep tones in the concrete tiled floor finished the room’s elegance and charm. Corrin could not wait to prepare many delicious, savvy meals for her family.