by P. C. Zick
"You want that, too, don't you, Eddie? You know you do; there that's right; I've missed you so much," she said.
I began working on the buttons of her blouse, and when I couldn't stand it any longer, I pulled at the material until the bottom buttons fell onto the floor. I soaked up the scent and feel of her. I blotted out the rest of the world from my consciousness. I could hear her voice continuing its litany.
"We'll go to Mexico, first, baby. That feels so good. You always know what's right. Mexico, OK, Eddie?"
"Yes, yes," I managed to mumble between mouthfuls of her ample flesh.
"You love me, don't you, Eddie?"
"Yes, for God's sake, yes, Kristina." I closed my eyes and only felt the sensation of her hands caressing me.
Suddenly Kristina pulled away from me. "Cassie," I heard her say through my thick fog of confusion.
"Cassie?" I repeated.
"Hello, Kristina, Ed," I heard my wife say from behind me. I turned to stare at her standing in the doorway.
"What?" I said.
Cassie glared at me. "Kristina called me and asked me to come over. She said she had something she wanted to share with me. I didn't realize it would be my husband. Ed, really, how could you?"
I looked from my angry wife to Kristina and saw the sardonic grin spread across her face.
"I thought it was time that she knew," Kristina said. "Ed has always loved me, Cassie, long before he even knew you. He only married you because his high standards prevented him from pursuing me. As you can see, he's always wanted me no matter what."
"Kristina, shut up. Cassie, wait, we need to talk."
"That's probably an understatement. I'll meet you at home later," Cassie said as I saw her fight back the tears, and then she left the room as quickly as she appeared, leaving me alone once again with Kristina.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
"Someone needed to do something. I got tired of waiting for you to move. In the long run, you'll see that it's better this way, Ed. Now everything's out in the open." Kristina stood before me with her blouse still gaping from my exuberance of a few minutes earlier.
"Kristina, you and I . . ." I was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.
"Hello," Kristina barked into the receiver. "Hi, Theresa. What'd you find out?"
Kristina's body tensed imperceptibly as she listened. Only someone who was familiar with her body would notice the tight ball of steel it had become since answering the phone. She buttoned the two remaining buttons on her blouse while she listened.
"Of course, I want to know now," I heard her say.
I continued my scrutiny of her until I heard a knock at the door. I had forgotten until this moment that the detectives would probably be showing up soon.
"What do you mean?" Kristina paid no attention to the demands of the visitors as she continued her phone conversation.
I knew who I would face when I opened it, and I hesitated slightly in the hopes that Kristina would answer the door herself. Just as my hand touched the handle, I heard her scream, "Everything!? What the..."
When I finally opened the door and faced the detectives I called before leaving my house, Kristina's cursing filled the room.
"Hello, Mr. Townsend. We got here as soon as we could," one of the men said as he needlessly flashed his badge and identification. "This is my partner Detective Winston."
"Is that Miss Timmons?" Detective Winston nodded toward Kristina's back as he reached to shake my hand.
"I don't believe it!" came the scream from the spot next to the bed where Kristina stood tightly holding the phone's receiver to her ear.
I pointed toward the angry form. "She seems to be receiving some bad news."
"Interesting," Detective Winston said.
Kristina slammed the phone back into its cradle and came toward me, her eyes wide and wild.
"Miss Timmons, I'm Detective Larson with the Marion County Sheriff's Department; this is Detective Winston. We'd like to question you about the death of . . ."
Kristina's voice pierced the air and effectively cut off the detective's attempts to engage her attention.
"You bastard! You really won this time, didn't you? She left it all to you, you son of a bitch. First, Gary, and now you, Mr. kiss-my-ass Perfect! I could kill you!" Then she fell toward me, fists flying as she pummeled my chest.
The detectives each grabbed an arm and pulled her away from me. Kicking her legs fiercely, Kristina continued to struggle even as the large men held tightly to her upper arms.
"Please calm down, Miss Timmons." Detective Winston spoke to her as if she was a child. "We need to ask you some questions about your grandmother's death."
Finally, Kristina turned to look at the detectives. First one, then the other. Slowly they released her from their grips.
"Who are you?" she asked as if they had just appeared in the room.
"I'm Detective Larson, and this is Detective Winston. We're from the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and we need to ask you some questions about the death of your grandmother, Claire Townsend."
"What did you say?" She seemed to be struggling to understand the detective.
"Your grandmother. Claire Townsend. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, and we need to ask you a few questions."
I excused myself from the motel room and left the detectives alone with Kristina to ask their questions. I assumed that whoever had just called brought the news of Claire's will.
When I arrived home, I went directly to my study and shut the door. Cassie hadn't arrived yet, but it didn't matter. I wasn't ready to face her. I needed time to think about the events of the past few days. I usually liked to just push those thoughts aside or write about someone else's life during these moments, but I had reached a crucial turning point in my life. It deserved my immediate attention.
I had always taken care of the family. Everyone, including my Uncle Philip in his later years, learned to depend upon me. I didn't question why I took on the role of family patriarch; I just did it. I'm sure if I examined my reasons, I would have discovered that I actually enjoyed having the family come to me for advice.
I looked over at the sea oat sitting next to my computer. Thank goodness everyone had died so they couldn't see how miserably I'd let them all down. I began to lose control when I first had sex with Kristina as Gary lay dying in the next room. I wondered now if the nightmare would ever end for me.
I sat in my study remembering Howard Mickle and Kristina's extortion of his money and how I had seen myself through his experience. Whenever I felt my lowest concerning Kristina, the image of Howard always appeared to remind me of how far I had gone. When the phone rang, I reluctantly reached for the receiver.
"Mr. Townsend? This is Detective Winston. I think we're going to need to speak with you again."
"OK, yes. You said that earlier. When?"
"How about now? Can you come down to the station?"
"Sure, sure. Is everything all right, Detective?"
"Just get down here as soon as possible," he said.
When I arrived at the police station, I was escorted into a conference room where I found the two detectives who had visited Kristina at the motel earlier in the day.
"Mr. Townsend, I'll get right to the point. Kristina Timmons and her mother gave us some very interesting information today, and we'd like to ask you some questions about it. Did you talk with Kristina about going to Mexico?"
"She mentioned it before you arrived this morning. Why?"
"She says that you planned to leave with her right after Claire Townsend's death. She also told us that you had been having an affair for the past seven years. Is that true?"
"Do I need to call my lawyer?" I asked when I realized that the friendly detectives of yesterday had disappeared into these intense scrutinizers of something loosely called the truth.
"That might be a good idea," Detective Larson said.
Once Tim arrived, we sat and talked for a long time bef
ore the detectives joined us. I told Tim briefly about their questions, and then I told him a little bit about my relationship with Kristina.
"I'd like to cooperate fully, Tim."
"Are you sure? Some things you don't have to tell them if it doesn't relate directly to Claire's death."
"I know I didn't kill Claire, and that's what they're thinking right now. There's the changed will and then who knows what those two have told the police. I need to tell them everything, then they can decide."
"OK, OK, I don't necessarily agree, but you're the boss here, Ed. I'll be here through the whole thing. Keep your answers focused. And just tell the truth." He looked at me and laughed. "I never thought I'd be saying that to you."
When the detectives returned, they began by telling me that Pam suggested I interfered with Claire and Philip and their granddaughter a little too much.
"Detectives, I'd like to tell my side of the story. I'm not sure what either Kristina or Pam have told you, but I think I should let you know the whole story, at least from my perspective."
They told me to go ahead and only interrupted for a point of clarification or to ask a question. I began the saga of Kristina and me, leaving very little out. I felt they needed to know everything that had happened in the past few years, and they needed to understand how Kristina and Pam had been plotting to get all of the money from the Townsend family legacy.
It began to get easier to tell the detectives everything as I moved through the story. I could even talk about her seduction of Howard without wincing.
I paused to take a sip of water after telling them about the Christmas shopping excursion that ended up at a motel. I also told them what Kristina had said about deserving the money.
"So what year was this?" Detective Winston asked.
"1991, I think."
"Did you ever discuss any of this with Claire or her husband? I mean did you try to warn them about the money?"
"Yes, sometimes at the risk of making Claire angry, but Philip began to suspect that not all was right with his granddaughter soon after that visit during Christmas. It was right after that I suggested putting her on an allowance."
I explained that both Kristina and Pam were angry about it. Kristina did not call for some time after that.
"How long did she stay away this time?" One of the detectives asked me.
"More than a year, until Philip's death."
Then I proceeded to tell them about the trip from the airport on the very day that Phillip died.
"So you two got it on, on the very day that your uncle, her grandfather, died." Detective Larson shook his head.
"Look, Detective, I'm trying to tell you everything."
"OK, OK. She's some hot number that's for sure."
"What happened after you two arrived in Ocala for the funeral?" Detective Winston asked before Larson could make any more stupid remarks.
"My wife and I decided we would move into the house with Claire after adding an addition for our new baby."
"What did Kristina think of that?"
"She hated the idea; she thought Claire should sell the house. I could tell she just wanted to get her hands on the money, and she thought I was going to have too much control over Claire by living in the same house."
"It would seem like you were moving in on her territory," Detective Larson said.
"Please, Detective, that's an opinion-laden comment. Let's stick to the facts," Tim said.
"All right, then. What about Pam? Do you think she had a motive for calling Claire after the Phillip's funeral?"
"I think it's like Kristina told me. She hoped that when the money became available to Kristina, it would also become available to her."
"I don't understand the hold that Pam thought she had over everyone. Why didn't Kristina just cut her loose? Why did Philip allow the manipulation over a little groping in the garage unless there was something bigger you're not telling me?" Detective Winston looked at me steadily.
"I'm trying to tell you everything I know, Detective."
As difficult as the detectives made it at times, I continued my story. I explained that after Claire broke her hip, I was grateful when Kristina called to say she was coming for a visit. I remained hopeful that she might help me make decisions regarding Claire's life.
"You still believed that after all she had done?" Winston asked.
"I did. It might be hard to imagine, but remember, I've known her all her life. I know there's some good in there. It's buried very deeply, but it's there. Pam's influence really can't be discounted here, you know."
"Is there anything else you can think of Mr. Townsend?" Larson asked.
"No, I think I've told you everything I know."
"Then I think we're done here for the night, don't you, Winston?"
"We'll be in touch. You know the line, 'stay in town?' Remember it, Townsend," Winston said as he opened the door of the conference room, releasing me for the night.
"Thanks, Tim. It was easier with you there," I told my lawyer and friend as soon as we made it outside the police station.
"Anytime, Ed, you know that. I know it wasn't easy. Here's some other advice you probably don't need. Stay away from Kristina."
"OK, good night, Tim." We shook hands in the parking lot before getting into our vehicles and driving away.
I looked at my watch and saw that it was just after seven. I could still meet Pam and Oscar and perhaps get some answers to my questions.
I saw Pam waiting in the lobby with a distinguished looking gentleman wearing a yellow golf sweater and gray slacks. He stood to greet me when I approached.
"Ed, we thought maybe you wouldn't come after all," Pam said.
"I've been at the police station. They had quite a few questions for me."
"This is my husband Oscar Timmons. Honey, this is Ed."
We shook hands and took stock of one another. Oscar looked nothing like the creep I had imagined.
"They had quite a few questions for me as well. I tried to be as honest as possible," Pam said.
"Me, too. Let's get a table, shall we?"
"Is your wife joining us?" Oscar asked.
"No, I don't think so. She's probably had enough of me for one day." They both looked at me. "Kristina tried for a family reunion of sorts that backfired."
Once we were seated at the table, I wasn't sure why I had agreed to meet them. I should have been home trying to talk with Cassie.
"Ed, I know you haven't approved of some of the things I've done in regards to Kristina and her inheritance," Pam said. "But I hope you'll give me a chance to explain."
"I'm listening," I said.
"I know that I wasn't a very good mother in the beginning when I was still married to Gary. I drank far too much, probably still do, but once I went out to Vegas by myself with Kris, I really tried hard to do the best I could. I even started having some of those motherly feelings when I realized that this little kid only had me in the world to depend on. Then I started working in one of the clubs dealing black jack."
"You didn't strip?"
"Are you kidding? No, but I would let a few of the girls at the club watch over Kristina while she slept, and I worked. Why do you think I stripped?"
"Kristina told me you did that until you couldn't any more."
"One thing you need to realize is my daughter lies. And she does it quite well. Whatever seeds I had sown in the beginning of her life, soon grew and no matter how much I tried to make up for things as she grew up, something must have stuck from her earliest days. I admit that back then I couldn't stand to look at her."
"So you dealt cards? Is that where you met Oscar?" I asked.
"Yes, Oscar owned the club, and we fell in love. He even liked Kristina, which most of the guys had found difficult whenever I had tried dating before."
"He liked Kristina?"
"Yes, I did," Oscar answered. "No matter what Kris might have told you, I thought the world of that little girl. She was about seven when I marrie
d Pam, but she never let me get too close to her. I think she thought I was going to take away her mommy. It only got worse after our son was born."
"You didn't beat her?"
"We've heard all these accusations before, Ed. But, no, we didn't beat her; I didn't rape her when she was twelve; we didn't send her out into prostitution when she was fourteen," Oscar said. "When Kris turned fourteen, we began a round of nightmare experiences with the police and truancy officers and social workers."
"I was so desperate that I begged her to visit her father," Pam said.
"She knew about Gary from you?"
"Of course. I know I told you once that I told her he was dead, but that wasn't true. I was always honest about that."
"And then when she was about seventeen, she tried to seduce me," Oscar said. "She made sure she was kissing me when Pam walked in the door. She told me it was meant to be; she had always loved me; she could take care of me if I would just run off with her; crazy stuff like that."
I felt the bottom drop from under me. The very words Kristina had always used on me. Except this man, Oscar Timmons, sitting before me, had more sense than to believe it.
"Ed, what's wrong? Have you ever heard Kristina say anything like that?" Pam asked.
I just shook my head and motioned for Oscar to continue.
"We threw her out of the house. That was the last straw for both Pam and me. We couldn't handle her, and we didn't want her around our son. We gave her enough money to fly to New Orleans to visit Gary."
"What about all the times you pushed Kristina to ask for money, for her inheritance?"
"I admit that I did want the Townsends to recognize Kristina as their own. Even though it might have been wrong, I hoped if Kristina felt like she belonged to this family, then maybe she would get the other parts of her life together," Pam said.
"Why did you come here last week?"
"I tried to tell you, but you were so certain that I was the bad guy who had created this monster, that you refused to listen. Kristina started asking lots of questions about medications and was acting suspicious around the time she visited Claire in September. I worried then that something might have happened, especially when I heard about Claire's fall. I even called and tried to get Claire to move here where I could watch her. I began to suspect that Kristina might be plotting to get rid of her."