by Van Thomas
2006. His body was recovered by a fisherman in December of that same year. Mr. Jamison’s death was ruled a suicide.
Sergeant Read cautions no one, under any circumstances, should swim in the river because of its strong undertow and current. If in a boat, Sergeant Read emphasized, life preservers should always be worn. “There were no floatation devices on any of the young men in this incident,” he revealed.
“Man,” Jorge said shaking his head, “you’re telling me someone living in the exact same apartment where another guy drowns who then has the exact same thing happen to his nephew isn’t some kind of strange coincidence?”
“That’s too much of a coincidence,” Raven agreed. “That sounds to me like Edward Jamison’s death gave Davey’s uncle the idea. I mean, you’re living in the exact same apartment as the dead guy lived in? And, you’re hearing all these stories about him? What he was like and what he did all day? All that sort of stuff from the neighbors a sick mind would grab onto the idea of drowning, wouldn’t it?” Raven asked.
Jorge nodded his head. “If Eric wanted to get rid of somebody, he had the blue print of how to do it carved in the wall of the apartment he shared with a dead man.”
“No wonder Julie can’t deal with this. Her brother’s killer is walking around a free man,” Raven said angrily. “And, it’s her own uncle. How messed up is that?”
“Sick enough for me to want to hurt him real bad . . . to make him pay for what he did to Davey.”
Raven nodded her head. “Is there anything else on Davey?”
Jorge went to Goggle and scrolled down. “No, I don’t see anything else. No criminal charges, no arraignment, nothing. The guy just got away with cold-blooded murder and he walks.”
“What about the other two? Those two kids that were on the boat with Davey and his uncle? Are their names ever given?” Raven asked.
“Let me try typing in a new search: David Price drowning and boy on boat,” Jorge read while he typed. “No, luck.”
“It’s the same page we read before, isn’t it?” Raven asked. “They’re just referred to as `two youths.’ So, they’re both under 17.”
“We could ask Julie,” Jorge said logging off.
“What are we gonna say? `Hey, Julie, I know we both just met you and all, but we really want to help you find out exactly what happened to your brother?”
“I don’t know,” Jorge said holding the door open, “if somebody said the same to me, I’d want their help. I wish somebody would come up to me and say they’d help,” he said looking down the entire way to the first floor.
31
The Plan
“Have you noticed how none of us ever talk in group?” Julie asked smiling.
“I know,” Raven said, “I feel kinda bad for Ms. Wilson when everyone’s real quiet, but I don’t like talking in front of people like that.”
“Me neither,” Julie said sincerely. “It’s hard enough just one-on-one. I hate all that eye contact shrinks make, it really creeps me out. I lose my train of thought and everything when somebody’s peering into me like that, like they’re trying to read my thoughts or something.”
“You just have to be a couple of steps ahead of them, that’s all,” Jorge advised. “It’s good to talk about things, about the reasons we all are in Ms. Wilson’s group, but some things I don’t even really want to think about myself. Some of my own thoughts are so dark and scary, I want to keep them locked up, even from me,” he confided. “And, remember, head shrinkers can’t read your thoughts. They just like to think they can.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Julie smiled. “Thanks.”
“I like how Ms. Wilson makes suggestions on how to deal with sadness,” Raven said, sandwiched in between the two of them on the couch in the game room. “Like being prepared mentally on days that will trigger sadness: holidays and birthdays and times like that.”
“Birthdays are hard,” Julie said sadly.
“Christmases, too,” Jorge added. The three of them nodded.
“I wish we could all go trick or treating together,” Raven said excitedly.
“Yeah, man, Halloween’s the best holiday of all. There’s no stress about buying gifts you can’t afford, it’s just dressing up and making yourself sick on candy.”
“Don’t you think we’re all a little old to go trick-or-treating?” Julie laughed.
“Never!” Raven and Jorge yelled in unison.
“Do you think you’ll be out of the hospital by then?” Jorge ask Julie.
“Definitely. My mom just found out my dad canceled my insurance like the week before I came in here. He didn’t even tell her. I mean, she just found out when he came to see me last week. Dad said he’ll pay for half of all my medical bills, but Mom doesn’t believe him.”
“The doctors deserve their money, Julie,” Mom said after Dad left. He didn’t stay for long. He kept hitting on one of the nurses the whole time he was here, too, so I think he just came to make himself look good, not because he cares about me. And, the whole fist through the window stunt? I looked at both of his hands and there wasn’t a single scratch on either one of them. So that was for show, too.
“They deserve every penny of it. They saved you,” she said.
“I know, Mom,” I said agreeing.
“Dad hasn’t even paid child support in two months, so I don’t see how he’s going to pay half of these bills. He gave me his word, but what’s that worth?”
I shrugged.
“Baby, are you feeling better? I mean, do you feel ok enough to come home? I don’t want to rush you, Julie, you know you’re more important than any amount of money, any amount, and I mean it,” she looked hard in my eyes to show me just how serious she was. “But, if you feel better, if you feel like you can be home and come in for the group therapy and the art therapy, let me know, ok?”
“I can come home, Mom,” I said and I meant it. I really did feel better. And, the thought of Mom going bankrupt because of me made me feel so sad. All Mom has ever done for us our whole lives was give and do and give some more. I couldn’t bear the thought of me making her life harder.
“Julie? You’re not going to try this again, are you, honey?”
I shook my head no. I wasn’t either. I felt like I had a reason to live for the first time since Davey died. And that was because of Raven and Jorge. They understand me, they don’t think I’m a freak because I get sad sometimes, they understand about losing someone you really love and how nothing can ever really be the same again. And, we have a plan, too: a plan to vindicate Davey’s death.
“Julie, I don’t want to upset you by talking about this,” Raven started, she was the cream filling between me and Jorge, the cookies, making a human oreo on the couch in the game room.
“What?” I ask.
Raven looked at Jorge and he back at her, so I knew something was up.
“You have to promise us you won’t get upset first,” Jorge said.
“Well, it’s kinda hard to promise when I have no idea what’s coming, but alright, I promise.” Then, I waited expectantly for one of them to say something.
“It’s about your brother,” Raven said.
“Oh.” And I got real quiet. “But, you know what?” I asked.
They both shrugged.
“It won’t upset me what ever it is you want to say. Ms. Wilson’s helped me, you know? And, listening to the others in group talk about people they love who’ve died, I don’t feel so alone. And, I know now Davey will always be with me, not matter what. So, I want to always be able to talk about him. It’s ok, really.”
Jorge took a deep breath and began, “Raven and I went to the library and did some research on your brother . . . on how he died.”
“You did?” I asked surprised. “How come?”
“Because we don’t think it’s right your uncle’s walking around a free man after what he did,” Raven answered.
“I know,” I said. “B
ut there’s nothing I, or the two of you, can do about it. The police investigated Davey’s death and they said it was an accident.”
“But you don’t think is was, do you?” Jorge asked.
“No. No, I know it’s not. Uncle Eric knew Davey couldn’t swim. And, he tried to drown Davey before when Davey was really little. Uncle Eric killed him. I know in my heart he did.”
“Well,” continued Jorge, “Raven and I think he did, too. And, we’re going to help you do something about it.”
32
Dr. Gage
“I have to be honest with you, Ms. Price,” Dr. Gage said standing in my hospital room while Mom and I sat on my bed. “I don’t feel comfortable letting Julie leave St. Vincent’s. She’s only been here a week. It was just a week ago she tried to kill herself, and now you’re fine, Julie? You’re fine to go home, right back to all the things that triggered your suicide attempt?”
“No, it wasn’t home, Dr. Gage. It was me missing my brother.”
“But, you’re brother still won’t be there waiting for you.”
Mom bit her bottom lip and her eyes welled up with tears.
“I know I’m being blunt here, but I have to tell you both I don’t think there’s been enough time yet. However, she is your daughter, Ms. Price, and there’s nothing I can do to keep Julie here if you and she both decide St. Vincent’s isn’t the right facility for her.”
“I still want to come to group,” I said. “And, art therapy, if I can. I just want to do it as an out-patient, that’s all.”
“I also think you need one-on-one counseling,