The Cornelius Saga Boxed Set

by Tanya R. Taylor

  “Uh… I guess. Sure. No problem. But are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Absolutely,” Mira replied.

  “I guess you should know I tried to keep the layout of the room the same as it was when she was here that night, even though all the furniture is new. I can’t say why I did that and it may seem macabre, but I saw the basic layout from the crime scene photos and went from there. I don’t know how my mom would’ve felt about it. Maybe I should’ve done the opposite. I don’t know.”

  “I’m sure your mom knows whatever you’ve done, you’ve done it with her best interest in mind.”

  “Thanks, Mira. I appreciate that.”

  Mira’s cell phone went off and she reached inside her pocket for it. “Excuse me a sec,” she said. Her screen was lit with the notification: “Wade calling”.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” She asked her brother, while keeping an eye on Daniel.

  “By the way, I was about to call you to ask if you’d bring my things later. I decided to stay here at the guest house…

  “Yes, I’m sure.

  “I’ll see ya later then.”

  She hung up.

  Daniel gulped down the remainder of his water, then sighed heavily.

  “What is it?” Mira put her phone away.

  “Sometimes when I think of that night, I wonder what would’ve happened to me if I had been here with her. What if she didn’t leave me back home in Florida with my aunt? Would I have been murdered too?”

  Mira listened quietly.

  “I can’t help but think that it would’ve been better had it happened that way – for us to have died together.”

  “Daniel…”

  “No. Don’t! Don’t say I shouldn’t think that way.” He shook his head vehemently. “I don’t wanna hear that. Why rip a kid’s mother away from him like that? Why did she do it? Why?”

  Mira felt a thick cloud of darkness hovering over them. Daniel seemed to have switched from “okay”, to “depressed” in a flash, and Mira’s gut told her she’d only seen the tip of the iceberg.

  Am I outta my mind in asking to stay here? She wondered. In spite of Daniel looking all smart and sophisticated, he was an internal train wreck; slightly unhinged.

  She reminded herself of the reason she’d picked up and flown out of the country, leaving Rosie and her mother behind to see if she could help this man she didn’t even know. In spite of his odd behavior, she had no doubt that Wade would not approve of her being alone with him if he’d thought for a second that she would not be safe.

  “I can’t say I understand how you feel, Daniel, because I don’t. I truly don’t. But listen to me. It’s really important to me that you try very hard to hold it together, okay?”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Remember, you said there must be a reason you’re still here?”

  He reluctantly nodded.

  “Well, I personally believe you’re right. Like I said, I’m here to help you in any way I can to get the answers that, hopefully, will set your mind at ease. I know it’s a challenge to feel positive about life when some things we buried in the past kind of surface to the top. And we find the emotions attached to those things are still quite raw.” She looked squarely, yet compassionately into his eyes. “You’ll get through this, Daniel. We’ll get through together.”

  Mira hoped he was digesting it all, although he said nothing in response. She glanced at her watch. “My, how times flies. It’s almost noon. What do you…”

  Daniel’s cell rang this time and he quickly grabbed it and answered.

  He spoke briefly before ending the call and sliding the phone back into his coat pocket. Clearing his throat, he said, “I had forgotten about a meeting I have to attend out east. That was someone calling to remind me.”

  “Go right ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “I’m positive.” Mira affirmed with a smile. “I’ll go for a stroll in the area and grab a light snack.”

  Daniel got up. “Okay. I’ll only be gone about an hour or two. I’m staying here too, of course. My room is right next to the one you’ll be staying in. We can have a nice dinner this evening. Invite Wade and his family; the more the merrier. What’d you say?”

  “That sounds great.” Mira could see he was getting back to a better mood.

  “I’ll see you later, then.”

  She wished him a good meeting and he walked off.

  Suddenly, he turned back. “Oh, by the way… I meant to tell you I was able to purchase the old house my father and his family lived in when I was a child. They never owned the house, mind you — just rented. I simply wanted to have something both of my parents had use of when they were here.”

  That bit of information caught Mira by surprise. “I see. Well, would you have time to take me there, maybe tomorrow? I’d love to see the place.”

  “Sure. No problem at all.” Daniel had hoped she’d be interested. “Okay. See you in a while.”

  5

  _________________

  After Brenda Braithewaite handed Mira the key to her room and having shown off those perfectly white teeth of hers again, Mira headed outside into the noonday sun.

  She strolled along the busy sidewalks of the surrounding area, mostly window shopping, and relishing the fact that she was not at work, caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She ventured into a few stores to see if she could locate a souvenir to add to her mother’s already extensive collection. And she knew she must get something for Rosie too. Finding just the right thing for her, however, might prove to be more of a challenge. Maybe some locally hand-made jewelry would be ideal, Mira thought.

  “Can I help you with something, dear?” A middle-aged Bahamian lady asked, as Mira browsed the little souvenir shop.

  “I’m just looking for a couple of items to take back home to my mom and daughter,” Mira replied.

  “Where are you from, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “Mizpah,” Mira said.

  “I see. Well, it’s wonderful to have you here on our shores.”

  “Thanks. My brother and his family live here, so I get to fly down once in a while. It’s a beautiful place and I’ve always found the people to be really nice.”

  The woman’s face alighted with pride. “That’s so kind of you to say! I’m glad we haven’t disappointed you here. Well, is there any particular type of souvenir you’d like to take home? Further to the back of the shop, we have miniature dolls, lockets, sparkling globes with our little hand-carved policeman standing inside of it… all made right here. Nothing you see in this store was imported,” she emphasized.

  Mira thought for a moment. “I think you mentioned it: Dolls. My mom’s collected at least a dozen of those from countries she and my dad visited throughout the years. One more should make her very happy.”

  The lady smiled.

  “She has souvenirs from The Bahamas already, but I’m quite sure none of them are dolls.”

  “Let’s go and find that doll for your mom, then!”

  Mira followed her as she went over to a glass cabinet at the rear of the store. “We have quite a number of them in here and others here.” She pointed to three rows of shelves above the cabinet.

  Many of the miniature dolls were brown and had black plaited hair. Each was dressed in an ankle-length, colorful gown and custom jewelry; and some were even decked out in little straw hats.

  “They’re gorgeous!” Mira exclaimed. “Did you make these?”

  “Oh, no! I couldn’t manage to. A teenage girl and her elderly mother make these for me. I usually order in bulk because they go so fast.”

  “I can see why.”

  Mira carefully viewed the entire collection until one, in particular, seemed to call her name. “What’s the price of that one?” She pointed out the doll in the emerald-green dress subtly dotted with an array of other colors. Her little brown eyes were perfect circles.

  “That’s one
of the dearer ones,” the lady remarked as she headed behind the counter to check the tag. “It costs thirty-five dollars. Would you like to see it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Mira looked the doll over, falling in love with its elegance. “Rosie would love this,” she said.

  “Oh, is Rosie your mother’s name?”

  “She’s my daughter.”

  “But I thought you wanted it for your mom. You changed your mind?”

  “I think so. Mom has enough dolls in her collection. I’ll pick out something else for her. Probably what I was thinking of getting for my daughter.”

  They both laughed.

  Mira was able to find a beautiful necklace made of tiny sea shells in the same store. She could picture Rosie wearing it, as well as her mom. As she left with both items, she was conflicted about who should get what, but figured she’d have it worked out before she arrived back home.

  As she walked along the sidewalk towards a native restaurant, a disheveled, white man with straggly, brown hair and a long beard crossed right in front of her, nearly causing her to trip. He continued walking ahead without giving Mira a second glance.

  “Hey, watch where you’re going!” Mira blurted. She hadn’t seen his face clearly.

  Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at her with a fiery stare.

  Mira slowed her pace.

  “You tell him he comin’ to take it back, ya hear? He comin’ for it.” A smile broke out, followed by a deep, guttural laugh that seemed rattled with thick mucus. Mira saw two rows of yellow, rotted teeth, a creamy slime draining through them, down his chin and onto his stained white tee-shirt before he continued on his way; his frame getting more and more transparent until he disappeared into the distance. Mira was stuck to the pavement and kept staring ahead at what was no more.

  She located a bench where she sought to collect herself. People passed by, seemingly without a care in the world, as her mind was racing. “This is crazy. I have to get to the bottom of this,” she muttered.

  “Are you okay?” A man had stopped, apparently out of concern.

  Mira looked up at him and thought: Is it that obvious that I’m disturbed?

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind,” she said.

  “Oh, now, don’t let the stresses of life weigh you down, my dear. It’s gonna be all right once he gets what he wants.”

  Mira wondered if she’d heard right. “What did you say?”

  The man, still smiling, replied, “I said it’s gonna be all right.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “What’d you think I said?”

  “Nothing. I just thought I heard…”

  “Once he gets what he wants?” The man repeated; his smile even broader and his expression shockingly sinister.

  Then as people were walking by, Mira heard them say, although not simultaneously, “Once he gets what he wants!” And they were all smiling. A toddler holding his mother’s hand exclaimed, “He’s gonna get you – all of you!”

  Mira watched as they all chimed in and went their way until the noise collectively ceased and people were walking on, and barely noticing her. She got up, grabbed the bags with the souvenirs and hurried down the street.

  * * *

  After enquiring at the front desk, Mira ran up the stairs of the guest house to the first floor. Passing several rooms, including the one assigned to her, she stopped at the end of the hallway and rapped on the door over to the right.

  “Nervy, are you there?” she called. She thought she’d heard some shuffling inside, then the door creaked open.

  Nervy didn’t look surprised to see Mira. “Come on in.” She made her way over to the bed. “Close the door behind you and have a seat.”

  Mira sat down in a chair near the bed.

  “What’s on your mind?” Nervy asked stoically.

  Mira shifted a bit. “I wanted to talk to you about something you said repeatedly to Mister Smith.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You said that someone wants something back. Could you please tell me what it is you’re referring to?”

  Nervy fixed her cane that was leaning against the bed. “You have a special gift, young lady, but you must listen to what’s not being said sometimes as opposed to what is. You and me share a sight the likes of which many cannot understand. I was just like you when I was younger: I learned to listen to and take in what I wanted and ignored the rest; sometimes not payin’ much attention to the signs.”

  Mira was in no mood for philosophical rambling. “Nervy, I really…”

  Nervy’s eyes widened. “Young lady, you came here searchin’ for an answer I cannot give. Just like you, I don’t have all the knowledge, but regardless of what Mister Smith told you, he definitely has somethin’ that belong to someone else. It’s up to you as a friend or acquaintance of his to find out what that is.”

  Feeling her visit with Nervy was totally futile, Mira stood up. “Thank you for your time. I’ll let myself out.”

  “Young lady…”

  Mira stopped.

  “You saw the young man; didn’t you?”

  “Yeah, I did.” She sighed.

  “Whatever you do, you better work fast. I’m scared it ain’t gonna end well,” Nervy said.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you wanna stay here instead of with us?” Wade’s wife, Norma, pressed. “This here’s a beautiful place and all, but I thought you’d wanna be around family.”

  Wade and little Tommy were on the couch and Mira at the edge of the bed as Norma paced the room.

  “I would love to stay with you guys, Norma, but I’m not here on vacation, remember? I’m only here for Daniel, then I’ll be flying back home the next day. Gotta get back to work.”

  “But can’t you help him without being here? Without having to stay in this room?”

  “What’s wrong with this room, Mom?” Tommy asked. “It’s really nice.”

  Mira knelt in front of her nephew and kissed him for the twentieth time since she’d seen him that afternoon. He was at school already when Wade had picked her up from the airport. “Nothing’s wrong with this room. Nothing at all,” she assured him.

  “Your aunty’s right, Sport,” Wade interjected.

  “So, why don’t you like it, Mom?”

  Norma shook her head hopelessly.

  Mira stood up again. “Norma, I just feel like being here would help the process. It’s just something I sensed when I walked in here with Daniel for the first time.”

  “Well, okay.” She shrugged. “If you change your mind…”

  “Right. I’ll call.” Mira smiled.

  There was a light knock at the door and Mira opened up.

  “Are we ready to have ourselves a yummy dinner?” Daniel asked cheerfully.

  “You bet, Bud!” Wade got up, and he and Daniel did their manly greeting.

  In a matter of minutes, they had all piled into Daniel’s suburban. Wade’s car remained in the parking lot directly under a lamp-pole until they returned from the restaurant.

  6

  _________________

  Mira was pleased with the level of security Daniel had implemented for his building. According to him, no expense had been spared in installing the finest surveillance equipment money could buy.

  She retired to her room after having stuffed herself with a seafood platter at the exquisite Mel’s Cuisine downtown where Daniel had taken them. She freshened up, then curled up in bed with a suspense novel. As the letters on the pages got dimmer and dimmer, and sleep undoubtedly was creeping in, she wearily rested the book on the nightstand and switched off the lamp.

  Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

  * * *

  Mira was jolted awake by a loud crashing noise in the middle of the night. She immediately reached over, turned on the lamp, and looked around. Easing up in bed, she noticed the flashing indicator on the alarm clock. It was 2:00 a.m. – exactly. Then in an instant, came another loud
crash. The commotion sounded like it was coming from next door.

  Could it be Daniel’s room? She wondered. What on earth’s going on?

  She retrieved her robe that had been tossed across the arm of the couch and opened her room door. Glancing to the right of the hallway, she observed nothing out of the ordinary, then she looked left. That’s when she saw him slowly walking down the hallway in the direction of the stairway. From the faint glow of the wall sconces, she could see that he was bare-chested, wearing only dark-colored boxer shorts. Mira slipped out of her room and without opting to get his attention, followed cautiously from a distance. Down the stairs he went. She was at the top of the landing when he was about to descend the last two steps. When he did, she eased down each step as quietly as possible, seeing he had entered through the sitting area where all the photographs were, then made a left turn out to the courtyard. The entire building was quiet at that hour and no one appeared to have been wandering around.

  Arriving at the door which led out back, Mira stood there and watched as he made his way over to the pool and sat down in one of the folding chairs. The lights in that area were not dim, but they weren’t glaring either.

  Daniel stretched his legs out onto the chair and Mira saw when he raised both hands to his face, and started sobbing. Shortly thereafter, the sobbing turned to the point of wailing, and it seemed like he had the world on his shoulders. Still standing in the doorway, Mira’s heart sunk. She was about to go to him when she noticed something gradually protruding from his face – it was another face, wiggling as it made its way out of the distraught man. Soon, an entire body popped out. It was him again. The same man she’d seen upstairs in the room where Daniel’s mother had been murdered.

  Mira was both wary of and boggled by his presence. Could he have been the one that killed Daniel’s mother all those years ago? She wondered. Is he tormenting the son of his alleged victim just for the sick thrill of it? But why haven’t I seen Daniel’s mother yet? Why isn’t her energy prominent in the very place she died a most horrific death?