THE FIGHT FOR GRACE
Chapter 2: The long Journey Home
Leaving Alex behind had not been easy for Rick, or for Evelyn, but neither of them was willing to expose him to any more horrors. They did not know what to expect when they got to Chicago, and the letter from the attorney told them very little about how Lucy had been murdered. As the plane leveled off in the clear sky, Rick looked at his wife, who was staring at her hands, and reached out, with one of his own. He took her right hand in his hand, and lifted it up to his mouth, placing a gently kiss on the back. “I miss him too,” Rick said, able to guess what she was thinking about.
“Maybe we should have let him come with us Rick. What if he has a nightmare while we are away? I know Jonathan is good at watching after him, but I worry about my baby,” she admitted. As Evelyn told him this, she felt a tinge of guilt, because she knew it should be her giving him comfort.
“Jonathan will take good care of him, and if he thinks Alex needs us, then we will send tickets for them to join us. Rick placed a kiss on her lips, and as he pulled away, she offered him a smile, and asked him how he was feeling. “I don’t know, going back there after this long feels strange. I barely remember Franklin, and Lucy was a month old the last time I saw her.” He thought about his baby sister again, and shook his head looking away from Evelyn.
Evelyn took his hand, and held it letting him think, yet wanting him to know that she was at his side to comfort him. They sat in silence for sometime before he spoke again. “I asked Franklin how they found me, and he told me Lucy started writing to the Embassy in Paris after our parents died. She continued to do so until they began sending her letters to the Embassy in Cairo, and then England where they found us, and now she is dead.” His guilt was eating him alive, and Rick didn’t know how to escape it. He kept thinking about how things would have turned out differently had he only sent a letter home telling his family that he was alive, and then he wondered if his dad would have allowed it.
As Rick seemed to be lost in his thoughts, Evelyn began to wonder more about what they would be facing when they arrived in Chicago. The Attorney, Franklin, who contacted them, wanted them in Chicago for a reason he was unwilling to disclose over the phone with Rick. Keeping a hold of Rick’s hand, she looked out the window. They were above the stormy clouds that had threatened rain back in London, and now outside the plane, it was a beautiful sunny day.
O
As Jonathan drove his brother-in-law’s new car through the English country side, back toward the manor, he periodically glanced over at his young passenger, with concern in his eyes. Alex hadn’t cried when his parent’s left, but he had tears streaming down his cheeks, tears he quickly wiped away. Jonathan wondered just how much more evil this family could take before it began to fall apart, though he knew that he didn’t need to worry about that. Rick and Evelyn had their moments in their marriage where they were angry, but the rest of the time they got along very well, and were still madly in love, which drove Jonathan and sometimes Alex madly insane. “Hey partner, what say you and I go to the theater, and catch a picture show?” he asked.
On his side of the car, Alex had been looking out the window still hurting because his parent’s didn’t seem to want him with them. He knew why, but he could have gone, and stayed in the hotel room while all the stuff was happening over his Aunt Lucy’s murder. “I want to go home,” he said, not looking away from the passing landscape. Jonathan tried to strike up lively conversation with his nephew, but to no avail. Alex didn’t want to talk, and when they arrived at the Manor he left the car, slowly making his way to the mansion.
O
A gentle hand on his shoulder woke Rick from his restful slumber, and as he opened his eyes, he saw the face of the woman he loved most in the world. “Are we there already?” he asked, raising his arms over his head to stretch.
“We have quite a way to go, but they are serving fruit, and drinks, and I thought perhaps we should eat, since we hardly had anything before we left the house.” A stewardess brought them fruit and some bread with butter, as well as, pouring both of them a glass of white wine. When she was gone, they began to eat, and Rick began to tell Evelyn about his life before things had gone so wrong that his father kicked him out. “I was born in Chicago, just after they moved there from Montana. Dad bought about 40 acres of land on the east side of Chicago maybe an hour away, and began to raise horses to sell to people interested in racing them.” As Rick talked about his childhood, he found that he remembered more than he had thought was possible, and his heart began to ache as he thought about how stupid and foolish he had been when his dad had taken enough of his crap. “It must have hurt mom, because her heard her crying as dad went in to the house, and shut the door. I think she would have come out, and brought me inside, but she wasn’t the type of woman to go against what her husband expected of her.”
“That had to be difficult for her, and for him. I’ll wager to bet that he regretted what he did after you left home.” Evelyn said hoping to make Rick feel better.
Rick sighed as he finished off the last of his food. “I regret it more and more,” he said as he looked at her. “I just wonder how all of that affected Lucy. My dad was likely very strict with her. Maybe that’s why I’m so hard on Alex, making him be polite all of the time, because I hope he doesn’t turn out like his dad.”
To that Evelyn leaned in, and gave her husband a kiss despite people looking at them. “I think if Alex is anything like you at all, he will be lucky, and you are not too strict with him. Alex needs to be polite, and respect other people, and you set a good example.” They kissed again before the stewardess arrived to take their plates. She offered them more to drink but they both declined the offer. Once she was gone, Evelyn took the blanket she had brought earlier and leaned against Rick’s left side. “Do you mind if I catch a little nap?”
“No, I think I might catch some sleep too.” They both shut their eyes and in a few minutes they were asleep.
OO
As Alex spent most of the day moping in his room, Jonathan had his Aunt Maggie come over to the house while he went out on a special errand. He traveled into London, and went through the city, and back out on the west side, into the country there. He arrived at the farm of one of his childhood friends, and as he parked the car, a well rounded balding man stepped out of the large farm house and greeted him. “So what brings you here Jonathan, need another loan?” asked Bert. As children they had gotten into all sorts of mischief, and were practically inseparable, as adults it was seldom they saw one another, and one of the last times Jonathan saw him was to ask for a loan.
“Not this time, do you still have that litter of pups? I saw Molly in town, and she said you were having a hard time getting rid of the runt.” When Bert signaled for him follow, he did just that. They walked through a small field where two very large German Shepherds greeted them. “He’s not so little anymore, a damn good dog too, why, you want him?” Bert asked as he pulled the door to the barn open.
“My nephew Alex is going through a bit a rough time, I thought or rather hoped that a puppy might cheer him up.” The puppy was in the back of the barn, sleeping in a stall full of hay. Bert went into the stall, and easily picked him up. “He’s had all his shots, and been wormed, you sure you want him, he won’t ever be show quality,” He let Jonathan take the puppy who began to liven up during the exchange.
“I don’t think that will matter to Alex, easy there little guy.” The puppy was squirming in his arms, and before Jonathan put him down, Bert tied a piece of rope loosely around his neck. “So what does Evelyn think about this puppy?” Bert noticed Jonathan suck in his breath. “Not to worry, it should only take a day to get him house trained. You might want to go out and get you a crate for when you are away, just until he gets through the biting stage, or your sister will surely have your hide,” Bert said, as they arrived at Jonathan’s borrowed car.
The two friends shook hands, and after getting the puppy secured in a box in the back, one Bert provided, Jonathan set of to surprise, and hopefully cheer Alex up.
OO
Nearly seven hours after taking off from London, the small plane landed on the waters just outside of Manhattan, in Queens. It taxied to a docking area, and the passengers began to get out, and head to their next points of travel. For Rick and Evelyn, their Journey was hardly over. After getting all of their bags, they headed for the nearest ticket agency, which was still within walking distance. Rick purchased tickets for a train to Chicago, but they had a few hours, so they took a Taxi into Manhattan, and after checking their bags in at Grand Central Station, they headed off for the Metropolitan Museum. It was mid morning by then, and the Museum wasn’t open, so they found a horse drawn Carriage around Central Park and took a tour.
Evelyn was fascinated by the fast pace flow of the city, much like London, but seemingly more frantic. “I think we should come here someday, and perhaps go the Theater and the Museum,” she said as they road around the park.
Rick had spent a few weeks here, living on the streets with his friend James, who had talked him into going here, after his father kicked him out. “It’s just a city, and we could go to plays in London. I was homeless here for a while, until my friend James and I boarded a barge heading for Paris, and there wasn’t much compassion for us,” he said as he looked at Evie.
“Is that why you always give money to the orphanages back in London?” she asked. She had always donated, but since they had come into Money, with Hamanaptra, something they were still living off of, Rick had always given them generous amounts of money.”
Being homeless had made Rick realize that if he ever had money, he would help in what ever way he could, and he answered her. “Yeah that’s part of it, I guess. I remember watching people; mostly woman and their children die on the streets because some rich ass couldn’t care to help them out. Now I don’t go giving the beggars my money, but at least I know the Orphanages will put it to good use, and the shelters.” Their tour ended an hour later, and by then it was time to find a place to eat, and head to Grand Central to get their train.
OO
Just after lunch, Jonathan returned to the manor with the puppy, and all the things Alex, and he would need to take care of it. Maggie greeted him with disapproval, but Jonathan had learned a long time ago to take her nagging with a grain of salt. After she left, he took the box with the wiggling puppy inside of it, and headed up to Alex’s room. “Hey Alex, open the door for a second.” Jonathan waited for a moment, and then Alex did as he was told and his eyes were drawn to the box.
“What is that for?” he asked trying not to be interested. He watched his uncle set it down, and before either could say a word, the top burst open, and the puppy jumped out, and began to bark and chase its tail. Despite himself, Alex began to laugh, and picked the fluffy, wiggly guy up. “Mum is going to be really mad at you,” Alex said as his puppy licked his face.
“You let me worry about your mum. What are you naming him?” Alex only had to think about that for a second. “Maximus, but I’ll call him Max for short.” Alex put the puppy down, and it ran out of the room. Both he and Jonathan ran after it, and followed it all the way to the front door. As soon as it was opened, the puppy ran to a grassy area, and did its business. “Well that was easy, why don’t we get this pup settled in.” Alex agreed, and for a while he forgot about the hurt he had been feeling most of the day by his parents leaving him here to face his demons alone.
By evening, the crate was set up in Alex’s room, and for the first time since returning from Egypt, Alex felt safe as his puppy snuggled in his arms in his bed. Jonathan found them asleep a little later, and put a blanket over both of them hoping that Max wouldn’t have an accident on the nice Oriental rug which covered most of the wooden floor in Alex’s room. He gave Alex a kiss, and went down stairs to listen to the radio, missing his usual night time activities, but not that much.
OO
By nightfall, in the United States, Rick and Evelyn were well on their way to Chicago. They had their own private berth, complete with a bed, and a sink for use when they needed to wash their hands and face, or brush their teeth. Now the two of them were lying in the bed which came out of the wall, and also was a little small for two people, but not too bad for them. Evelyn lay with her body draped over Rick’s, and her cheek pressed against his bare chest. “I wonder how Alex is doing, I wish we could have called him before we left New York,” she said as she lifted her head to look at the man she loved.
“I know, I guess we got a little carried away with present buying.” They found a huge toy store, and had spent more money they had intended, all to try and make it up to Alex when they got home. Evelyn pushed her body up, and they kissed briefly as the train beneath them continued on its path. They had another day and a night to spend aboard the train, before they would arrive in Chicago, and as they began to sleep, Rick tried to push back the dread that was steadily trying to take over.
Two days later around 9am, the train arrived in Chicago. Rick and Evelyn found their luggage, and hailed a taxi, which took them to the Renaissance Hotel Chicago. They went up to their suite, and after they both took a bath, and got into some fresh clothing, they went downstairs where a driver was waiting to take them to see Franklin, the attorney Rick’s parents had been friends with when he was a boy.
Promptly at, 11:15am, Rick and Evelyn arrived at the huge office building Roger worked in. Evelyn looked around the city, amazed by all the tall buildings, which there were not that many of in London. She took Rick’s hand, when he offered it, and they went inside, finding Franklin’s office to be on the 12th floor. As they road the elevator up, Evelyn looked at Rick saying, “Are you worried?” He had been staring at the indicator which told them what floor they were passing, but looked at Evie. “I just want to get it behind us. I know that sounds selfish, but I need this to be over Evelyn.” The elevator stopped, and they stepped out onto the marble floors of the hall leading to a large set of offices. On the walls were pictures of fine art, and Rick had to pull Evelyn along to keep their appointment with Franklin timely. Finally they arrived at his office, and upon entering, found a secretary waiting for them.
The secretary was an older woman and she smiled at them. “Rick is that you?” she asked. For a moment he didn’t respond, but then he realized who he was seeing. “Jenny? Evelyn meet Jenny, she is Roger’s daughter, the sister of my friend Joseph.” Evelyn held out her hand, and the two women greeted one another, before Rick gave her a hug. “I am very sorry to hear about Lucy,” she said as she went to a door behind her desk, and knocked before opening it. “Daddy, Rick and his wife are here.” She stood aside and let them in, and then she shut the door behind them.
Franklin was a man in his early sixties. He looked tired, and after introductions were made Evelyn and Rick sat down on a brown, leather sofa in the large office, and took his offer of tea before they began. He told them that Lucy’s boyd had been found in a small waterway just outside of the city, and that she had likely died from the terrible beating she had received. Rick learned that his sister had been married, and that her husband Michael had been on the police since she went missing to find her. He finished and looked at Rick. “We don’t have any leads at this point, and our only possible witness is too young to tell us anything.” Rick was angry, and stood up. He began to pace. “Well if your witness knows something, then someone needs to get him or her here, and make them give some answers. He stopped pacing as Franklin pulled something out of his black, leather brief case, and put it on the coffee table separating him from the sofa where Rick had been sitting with Evelyn.
Rick sat down again and took the item and found that it was a picture of a small girl. Before he could ask, Roger said, “That is our witness, your niece Grace. The neighbors heard yelling and glass breaking and when the police arrived on the scene, they found a window broken out in the parents’ bedroom, and Grace was huddled on the bed alone. Michael was at work at a meat packing plant, and best we can tell someone came in and assaulted your sister, and when things went wrong, they killed her not knowing Grace was there.
It all made since now, and he looked at Franklin. “Lucy wanted us to take Grace?” he asked taking Evelyn’s hand. Franklin nodded his head and gave them a paper she had left in her own safety deposit box in the bank. It was a letter to Franklin that said should anything happen to Lucy, he was to contact Rick at their home in London and get Grace to them. “Why wouldn’t she leave her with Michael?” Evelyn asked puzzled by that.
“They were not getting along, but we are not sure why.” Franklin said in response to Evelyn’s question. Rick ran his left hand through his hair. “So where is Grace now?” he asked as he looked at the attorney.
“Michael took her to his mother, and they have been staying there.” Rick asked him if the police had questioned him, and Roger informed them that Michael had an air tight alibi, by his work records saying he was there. Franklin informed them that after Rick’s parents died; Lucy had stayed with Dennis, a very good friend of his father’s, and his wife Rebecca. “She is widowed now but she knows your coming and wants you to see her.” Franklin said of Rebecca, as he stood up. “Keep that picture of Grace if you want.” They shook hands, and Rick and Evelyn headed back to their Hotel.
OO
Max was a smart dog, and had not once done his business in the house. He did like to chew, so Alex made sure he had the things he could chew on, and after school, he and the puppy played outside before he had to go in and do his homework. Now Max was asleep on Alex’s bed, and Alex was reading his history when Jonathan walked in. “Hey pal, your mum and dad are on the Telephone.” Alex jumped up waking Max, and ran out of the room to his parents. He settled on the bed before he picked up the receiver holding it to his ear. “Mum, dad?”
On their end, Evelyn and Rick delighted in hearing their boy’s voice. “Hey pal, how are you?” Rick asked, as he and Evelyn shared the phone. They listened as Alex told them about Max, and under normal circumstanced, they both would have been furious, but it seemed Alex was happy and for now hearing him that way was all they needed to know about Jonathan’s choice to get the dog. “Listen love, it is late here. I promise we will call earlier tomorrow to talk longer,” Evelyn said.
Alex put Jonathan back on the phone, and went back to Max and his studies. “Well I guess he let you in on his present, but really this pup is good.” He was happy when they told him they were not angry, and listened as they told him about Grace and Lucy. “We might be here a while, and if Alex starts getting mopey, we will send for him.” Rick said, as the line began to get static, distorting their conversation. They ended the conversation and for Rick and Evelyn it was a relief to know Alex really was happy. They settled in their bed and talked about Grace. “What do you want to do?” Rick asked when Evelyn brought their niece up.
Evelyn was again resting in her husband’s arms, and had been thinking about the little girl. “We need to find out what happened, and why Lucy wouldn’t want her to stay with her father.” Evelyn said. In her heart she wanted to go to that child and help her but she was hesitant to do so without more information.
“Tomorrow well will go and see Rebecca, and hopefully get some insight into what Lucy’s life has been like since I left her.” Rick said. Evelyn looked up at him. “Rick you didn’t know.” She said, detecting the sadness in his voice. “I should have,” he said as she sat up and turned to look at him. “Then we find out what happened, and if we have to, we take Grace with us back to England.” She said firmly.
Rick reached out, and lifted her up, and settled her so that she was sitting just below his belly button. Right now he needed her touch, and to drowned out the sorrow and anger he had been feeling all day with her love. She leaned down and her hair fanned around him as they began to kiss, and for the moment his only thought was of his wife, and sharing the love that they had for one another.
Back Home The Mummy Main Page Next