The Red Wife

by Tyffani Clark Kemp

  “You need to try to eat,” Juliet replied.

  “I can't.” Visions of Holden made her stomach roll. Even if the horrific scene wasn't replaying itself constantly in her head, she still wouldn't have been able to keep anything down.

  “Alright. Let's at least get your hand looked at.”

  Juliet offered her hand and Mariss took it, letting her friend help her to her feet. Her knees were still too weak for her to walk on her own. Her whole body shook with fear and rage.

  “I should have gotten to him sooner,” Mariss mumbled as one of the nurses cleaned and quickly bandaged her hands. She'd hit the ambulance so hard that the sides of her hands had split. There was blood all over her clothes. “I should have made sure he didn't drink it.”

  “You couldn't have known,” Juliet assured her.

  “I saw her,” Mariss said loudly, looking up into Juliet's eyes. “I saw her screw the lid on the bottle and hand it to him. I knew there was something wrong with it. Why didn't I get to him sooner?” she sobbed.

  Juliet wrapped her in a tight hug and let her cry.

  The sun was starting to set when they finally came to get them and Mariss prepared herself for bad news.

  “He's not going to make it through the night,” the surgeon said. “We think it was arsenic poisoning and he got a good dose. You can go back and see him, but he's weak. Just…say what you need to say.”

  Mariss and Sebastian hurried back to the room he was in. When she saw him hooked up to all of those machines, tubes coming out of everywhere, her knees gave way. Sebastian caught her before she could hit the floor and pulled her against him.

  “Be strong,” he whispered in her ear. “Hold it together for him. When he's gone, that's when you can break down. Yeah?”

  She nodded, fought for control over her emotions, and lost. Yet, she steeled her spine and walked, with Sebastian's help, into the room where her husband lay dying.

  “Oh, baby,” she said as she sat next to his bed. “I'm so sorry.”

  Holden turned to look at her. His eyes were full of pain, but he smiled and lifted his hand to touch her face. Mariss pressed her cheek into his palm and let her tears flow. Holden tapped her cheek. She opened her eyes to see him slowly shaking his head. With his other hand, he mimed writing.

  Sebastian was quick on the draw. He pulled a pen from his breast pocket and one of his business cards from his trousers.

  It took far too long for Holden to write the words. Mariss leaned in and read, “I love you and I forgive you.”

  Fresh tears poured down her cheeks. “I love you too.”

  Holden started writing again. When he was done, he pushed the card toward Sebastian. Mariss leaned in to read it anyway. It said, “Take care of her.”

  “I swear I will,” Sebastian promised.

  Holden's hand slipped from her face. The machine that monitored his heart beat flat-lined.

  Mariss cried out. Nurses and doctors rushed in and pushed Mariss out. She watched through the window as they tried to revive him. They all seemed to move so slowly. How could they save him if they were moving so slowly?

  “Time of death,” she heard one of them say, “6:46pm.”

  Mariss never remembered screaming. Deep blackness hedged her world until it was gone entirely, and so was she.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  COMPLETELY ALONE

  The car bounced Mariss out of her seat. She didn't even notice when Sebastian put his arm around her and pulled her against his side so she wouldn't be jostled. Brit gripped her hand tight enough to fuse the bones together, but Mariss didn't try to pull away. She lost all track of time - the hour of the day, the year, the month. It didn't matter. Holden was gone in a tragic, gruesome display that would haunt her forever.

  Mariss blinked up at Sebastian. His bright, sky-bue eyes regarded her with concern. Was that pain etched across his forehead? His brows were knit so tightly together.

  Sebastian's thumb stroked her cheek. Mariss shifted away slightly.

  “I don't like seeing your cry, Red.”

  She hadn't even known she was.

  “Holden's gone,” Mariss whispered. “He's gone forever.”

  “Yes,” Sebastian nodded. “Yes, Mariss, and I'm so sorry for that.”

  She turned away as her heart broke, shattered into more broken pieces than before. “No, you're not.”

  Brit gasped, but no one said another word.

  “Call your FBI friend.” All emotion drained from Mariss' body. Consuming black numbness came over her mind and the pain leaked away. The tears dried on her cheeks. Mariss wiped them away where they began to itch. “Someone murdered my husband.”

  The drive took longer than Mariss remembered, but it gave her time to think. By the time they were in Sebastian's office with Herbert, her body was no longer her own.

  Herbert eyed her from the seat next to her. Sebastian's eyes refused to leave her face, like he knew she'd gone.

  “What's going on?” Herbert asked. “What's wrong with you?”

  Mariss blinked at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I've never seen you like this before. Empty. Angry. Calm.”

  “Mariss has a disassociative tendency when she's overly emotional,” Sebastian said.

  Maris scoffed. “I'm psychotic,” she said. “I retreat into myself when there are situations I can't emotionally handle. Like my husband being murdered.”

  “What?” Herbert flew out of his chair and pulled Mariss with him. “When did this happen?” He stared into her eyes, but he wouldn't find anything there. Mariss didn't even bother to hide her emptiness.

  “Today,” Sebastian answered for her. “It hasn't hit the news yet. I've done my best to keep it out for now.”

  “Thank you for that.” Mariss didn't know what else to say. She pushed Herbert away. “I need you to find the woman who killed Holden.”

  “Absolutely,” Herbert nodded, his big frame stiff and professional. “What can you tell me about her?”

  “Her name's Alina. She's the daughter of the judge I tried to kill when I was a teenager.”

  “I'll look into it. What else?”

  Mariss produced her purse and held it open. “She touched this and poisoned Holden with whatever is in the water.”

  Herbert took a handkerchief from his pocket and retrieved the bottle. “Mr. Boa, do you have a plastic bag I can put this in?”

  “I'll get it for you.”

  “I'll find this bitch if it's the last thing I do,” Herbert promised.

  Mariss nodded. She put her purse over her shoulder. “I have to go.”

  Without another word, she marched from the office to the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Sebastian called after her.

  “I have a lot to get done before the real me comes back. I won't get through any of this when that happens.” She turned as Herbert dropped the water bottle into the ziplock bag Sebastian held open for him.

  “I don't want you to be alone,” he said.

  “Then come check on me later, but I have stuff to do now.” She left before he could question her further. She was sure it would be a long night, and she didn't want to spend it at the apartment, so she went to the office instead.

  Mariss stretched and moaned as sunlight streamed through her window, but when she opened her eyes, there was nothing but a bright purple wall in front of her. Her apartment didn't have any purple walls. Mariss looked down at her mussed clothes and remembered she'd slept in the Illumination Room at her office. All of the pain, despair, and loss from the day before came crowding in and she fell back against the bed like a one ton weight was pressing her into the mattress.

  “Mariss?” Brit's voice called from the office. “Her purse is here, hold on.”

  Brit's head peeked around the corner. Mariss fluffed her hair and tried to pretend she hadn't just woken up, but Brit wasn't going to be fooled.

  “She's here, Jules. I think she slept in the Illumination Room.” The frown on her
face was devastating.

  Mariss shook her head. “I was just working late and got sleepy. I laid down to take a nap and forgot to wake up.” She yawned, feeling anything but rested. “Where is Juliet?”

  “At your apartment freaking out because she hasn't heard from you since yesterday. When she couldn't get through on your cell, she assumed the worst and called me.” Brit gave her a once over, assessing to be sure Juliet's fears were unfounded. “I told her you were stronger than that.”

  “Tell her to bring me a toothbrush and a change of clothes.” Mariss ignored Brit's pointed look.

  Brit relayed the request and hung up, her worried eyes never leaving Mariss' face. “Are you alright? Why are you working? You should be taking some time-”

  “I don't want to be at home,” she snapped without meaning to.

  “That's fine.” Brit's understanding tone was far more than Mariss could handle.

  She slipped off the bed and straightened her clothes. Absently, she smoothed the wrinkles out of the comforter. As she was about to open the door to the hall, the intercom buzzed.

  “Mrs. Red, you have a visitor in the lobby.”

  Mariss yanked the door open and marched out to the lobby on her bare feet. Of course it was Sebastian waiting with his horribly undeniable eyes looking worried. She almost went back into the Illumination Room and locked herself in.

  “I couldn't get through on your phone so I came to check on you,” he said quickly, as if he knew that he was, for some reason, the last person she wanted to see.

  Mariss nodded. “Thanks. I'm fine.”

  “I've cancelled my most pressing appointments so I can be here for the funeral. Did you get everything settled last night?”

  Mariss shook her head. What she'd spent the night doing had nothing to do with Holden or his funeral or even finding his killer. She'd spent the night going over balances and trying to figure out how many new authors they could take on in the new year.

  “If you need any help…”

  Mariss nodded again, ready for this awkward conversation to end.

  “Did you sleep here?” Sebastian asked, his forehead dipping into a more severe frown.

  “I fell asleep here, yes. It wasn't on purpose,” she lied. How did they expect her to sleep alone in the bed she'd shared with her husband? Granted, he hadn't been there every night because of basketball, but-

  “I need to tell his team,” Mariss groaned before she could stop the words from coming.

  “I'll take care of it,” Brit promised.

  Mariss' knees gave out as despair settled in her chest. As she fell to the carpet, she felt like her whole world had just collapsed around her. Holden was gone and sleeping in her office wasn't going to change that.

  Sebastian's strong arms and warm, spicy scent enveloped her as he lifted her from the floor and cradled her against his chest.

  “Mariss, you really shouldn't be working right now,” he said softly in her ear. “Let me take you home-”

  “No!” Mariss shoved him away. “I don't want to go there.”

  “Then let me take you to my flat. Or a hotel.” He was making no attempt to be quiet any longer. “Just somewhere that you can get some rest.”

  “You can stay at my place, Mare,” Brit offered. “Or maybe Juliet's?”

  Mariss shook her head. Too many decisions. She was always the one making the decisions, but today she wanted one of them to make the choice for her.

  “Come on.” Sebastian reached for her, waiting for her to accept his help. “I'm taking you to a hotel until you're ready to figure out what to do next.”

  “Mom,” Mariss blurted out. Her body shook with a sob.

  “What?” Sebastian asked.

  “I want my mom.” She felt so pitiful and helpless begging for her mother.

  “I'll take care of it,” Brit said again. “Do you want me to phone your dad too?”

  Mariss nodded, knowing he wouldn't be able to come.

  Sebastian took her by the hand and led her to the elevator. Once they were inside and the doors were closed, he pulled her against his chest once more. Mariss let the tears flow, because it hurt too much to keep them in.

  Juliet was in the lobby as they exited the elevator.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, more than a little suspcious.

  “I'm taking her to a hotel to rest, because she doesn't want to go home.”

  Juliet nodded and handed Sebastian the duffle she had slung over her shoulder. “That's what I was going to do. Mariss, call me if you need anything.”

  She nodded, unable to form words.

  Mariss woke with a start. The dreams that plagued her sleep were anything but comforting. The image of Holden dying replayed over and over so that even in her sleep she couldn't stop crying. Mariss could tell by the stinging dryness of her eyes as she attempted to open them.

  Sebastian sat in a chair next to the bed wearing a pair of black-framed glasses. There was a book in his lap that looked like it had been written in the eighteenth century. He'd insisted on the finest suite in the hotel, of course. Nothing but the best for The Man Without Rules.

  “I know that's not in English,” she mumbled.

  “Hm. Latin I think.”

  “You think?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “I'm skimming.”

  Mariss shook her head and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She still wore her clothes from yesterday and hadn't had a shower or brushed her teeth for just as long.

  “Your bag is on the dresser,” Sebastial told her without looking up.

  She walked over to it and looked inside. There were enough changes of clothes for three days and all of her toiletries.

  “I wasn't under the impression you knew anything but English.” Mariss hooked the bag over her shoulder and went to the bathroom door.

  “I know enough Italian to make out the gist of this.”

  She didn't bother anwering. Instead, Mariss closed the door with a loud click. Once the shower was running and she'd brushed her teeth, Mariss stripped out of her clothes and stepped under the fall of hot water. It was more relaxing than she could possibly explain to anyone and make them understand, but the tension in her shoulders didn't ease, nor did the ache in her chest. She groaned as it spread through her chest like dark billowing clouds over a sea of misery. Mariss sank to the floor of the shower and sobbed. It was the only release she had from the pain, even though it wouldn't lessen. It settled in her chest with teeth that gnawed at her broken heart.

  “Mariss?” Sebastian's concerned voice called through the door. “Are you alright?”

  Instead of comforting, it only made rage boil up inside her. Rising to the surface, it eeked out through her tears and poured from her words like acid rain.

  “No!” she keened. “Just go away! I don't need you! It's your fault!” A moan tore its way from her throat as she realized she believed that. She blamed him. If Sebastian hadn't pursued her, if he hadn't made Hellena so damn jealous, Holden would still be alive.

  “I'm not leaving you alone,” he insisted. “I'll call Juliet to come relieve me.”

  Mariss knew he was waiting for her to confirm or contradict him, but she said nothing as tears burned from her eyes. After a moment, the door clicked shut and Mariss was alone. Completely alone.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A RED COFFIN

  Mariss couldn't believe how much she was sleeping. At some point during her greif stricken coma, Juliet had replaced Sebastian. She couldn't help being a little disappointed, but then the guilt settled in. Her husband hadn't even been dead two days and she missed Sebastian's arrogant inappropriateness.

  “You hurt his feelings,” Juliet mused humoursly when Mariss wandered out to the living room. “I didn't know he had any of those.”

  Mariss didn't respond, but checked her phone to see that it was late the next day.

  “I hate to mention this, but we have an appointment with the funeral home in two hours. The funeral is scheduled
for Friday and your mother will fly in that morning. Do I need to change anything?”

  Mariss shook her head.

  “Are you going to stay silent? I just need to know so I can warn others.”

  She shot Juliet a cloudy look and slipped off the bed to get ready. While she showered and dressed, Juliet had breakfast brought up. The smell made Mariss both hungry and nauseous, but she knew that if she was going to make it through the day without passing out or having an episode, she was going to have to put something in her stomach. Still, the thought of food was less than appetizing.

  “Everything is on Sebastian,” Juliet assured her as she looked over the feast before her, trying to figure out what she wanted. “I'm not sure what you said to him, but he was really pissed when he left.”

  Mariss shook her head.

  “Right. Okay, well, I tried to get something light that you could handle.” When Mariss shot her a questioning, impressed look, Juliet added, “I'm no stranger to the body's ways of handling grief. Eat what you can and take your pill. I don't want to have to punch you in the face in public.”

  Mariss smirked because she believed Juliet would do just that.

  “Mare, you know I'll do anything to help you through this, right?” Juliet asked.

  She looked up at her friend and gave her a genuine smile. “Yes, I know Jules. And thank you. Let me just get through today. I'll be alright.”

  Juliet scoffed. “You don't have to lie to me.”

  Mariss reached for Juliet and gave her a hug. The other woman was so shocked that it took a moment for her to hug her back.

  “I'll be alright,” Mariss said as she stepped away and picked up a smoothie from among the food array. “I miss him.”

  “I know. I wish there was something I could have done. Something to stop…” Juliet faultered.

  Mariss looked up to see tears in her eyes. “Don't cry. If you start, I'll start and I won't be able to stop.”

  Juliet shook her head. “I miss him too,” she chuckled. She turned her eyes up to the ceiling and fanned her face. “Just so you know. You're not alone. Eat what you can. We have to go in a little bit.”