The Article - Jackie Zufall (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .txt) 📗

my mother is dead.

An hour later after showing her key parts of his mothers journal and explaining all the papers he had found in Rons file box, Abby finally understood why she had found Paul so distraught when she had arrived.

“So”, Abby finally said, “What are you going to do now”? “Well”, replied Paul, “The first thing I am going to do is check on that detective my mom wrote about, and see about exhuming both my parents to be tested”. “If there is proof that my mom was poisoned as I suspect she was, I want to have her death ruled murder and see if it is still possible to collect the insurance”. “Then I want it to go on record that both my parents were murdered by Ron”. “I won’t rest until justice is served, even though Ron is dead now, I want everyone to know what kind of person we had to deal with all these years”. “So first thing in the morning I am going over to Sherman to look up this “Dean Simmons” guy and just go from there”.

Chapter Thirteen


The next morning found Paul sitting across from a man that now was gray haired, and possibly in his mid sixties. “Well Mr. Simmons, what do you think”? Paul asked as Dean Simmons finished looking over the journal of Faye Zimmerman and the other papers including the clipping of Pauls article. “Well Paul, I think we just may have something here, we will have to go ahead with the exhumation of course to be sure, but yes I think it is very feasible that Ron probably figured out that your mother knew he was responsible for James death, he probably knew that she had talked more than she let on to him about me”. “Yes, I would say it would be a pretty fair bet that he also killed your mom to keep her quiet, he figured out she was leaving him somehow and why, so she got in the way as well I guess”. “I will go this afternoon to the courthouse with these power of attorney papers you signed for me, and get started on getting the court order to exhume your parents right away”. “Let’s see what we find out from their autopsies, then we will check into the insurance and the rest”. “Fair enough”? he asked Paul. “Yes, thanks for all your help Mr. Simmons”, Paul replied as he reached out to shake hands with the man. “Call me Dean, I feel like I know your family very well from all my investigations.” “ I’ve been waiting for the chance to finish this case after all these years, not only for my clients peace of mind but yours as well”. “It’s time for James to be able to rest knowing everyone will finally know the truth about his death, as well as your mothers”.

After promising to contact him the minute he had any news at all, Dean shook Paul’s hand again and walked him out of the inner office. Turning to his secretary he said, “ Make sure to get Paul’s phone number for me. “I’ll talk to you soon Paul”, Dean promised as he turned back to his office.

Paul walked across the street to the café where Abby sat waiting. He sat down as he came to her table and waved the waitress over. “How bout some lunch before we head back”? he asked. “Sounds good to me, I’m famished”, replied Abby.

After placing their orders, Paul began to recount his conversation with Dean for Abby. “So he really thinks your father was killed because of Ron then huh”? she asked. “Yeah”, started Paul, “Seems Ron had told someone along the way that he was in love with my mom and something about her being too good for my father”. “I wish I had never left now, mom would have eventually opened up to me and told me what was going on, I could have done something and she would still be here”. “You can’t beat yourself up over it Paul, she did what she thought was best at the time”. “At least now the truth will come out and though it won’t bring them back, you can have the peace of mind of knowing they are together now”.

Just then the waitress came to the table with their lunches, Paul had the country fried steak dinner and Abby had opted for a cheeseburger with fries. They settled down to eat making small conversation. As they finished eating and sat finishing up their drinks Paul looked over at Abby. “Thanks Abs for everything”. “What I didn’t do anything”, she said as she smiled up at him. “Yeah you did, when I needed someone most last night, seems you showed up like some kind of angel”. “Yeah well Paul, maybe your mother had a hand in it, cause when I kept calling and could not get through, something told me I should get over there”, she replied. “However it happened, I am grateful and really glad for the first time since coming home to be here”.

A short while later after paying the bill, Paul walked back to the table and laying a tip on it asked if Abby was ready to head back. They walked out to Pauls pickup and he held the door for her to get in, walked around the front of the truck and got in on the drivers side. Turning to Abby he said, “How bout we pick up Tony and Amanda on the way through town and pick up stuff at the store to have a cook out”? “We could even get Jay and Sue to come over with the kids, that way the kids have someone to hang out with”. “Sounds like a plan”, Abby replied. “Let’s go to the store first, Jay will probably be there and we can ask while there”. They headed back to Loganville both with thoughts running through their minds when ever there was a lull in the conversation. Paul kept side glancing every so often at Abby, thinking to himself, he realized, Abby still looks great after all this time, and it almost seems like I’ve never been gone. I had forgotten how easy it was with her. With his thoughts drifting away, they pulled into town and went the two blocks to the store. There sat Jays truck Paul noticed as he pulled into the parking lot. As they walked towards the store Paul said. “How bout you get started on the shopping, you know more what the kids will eat, and then pick up some steaks for the adults too”. “I’ll see if I can track down Jay and talk to him”. They agreed and each went separate ways once they entered the store.

“Hey this is a stick up”, Paul said menacingly as he poked a finger into Jays back when he found him. Jay turned around as an elderly lady looked up at Paul trying to decide whether to be frightened or not. “It’s ok Ms. Watson”, Jay said, “It’s just my good buddy Paul Zimmerman, you remember him don’t you”? She smiled and patted Pauls shoulder as she said, “of course, I did not recognize you at first, you were one of my prize students, you and Jay both when you weren’t busy making excuses for not having your homework”. Ms. Watson had been their history teacher in high school. “It’s good to see you Paul”, she continued. “I hope your home to stay this time”. “Well Ms. Watson, a few weeks ago I would have told you no way, but now I’m not sure just yet, but maybe”, Paul answered her. “Well if you do, don’t hesitate to stop by from time to time for a cup of tea, I would love to hear all about how things have been for you”. “I heard you are a big time reporter up in the city”. Blushing, Paul said, “Well, I don’t know bout that, but I will sure come by sometime, that’s a promise”. She leaned to give both boys a quick hug by placing one arm around each of their waists. “I’m so proud of both you boys”, she pinched both their cheeks and smiled then turned and walked away from them.

Turning back to Paul, Jay said, “So what’s up”? “The sky”? inquired Paul, laughing. Then he said, Abby and I are putting together a little cookout for her kids, thought maybe you and Susie could bring the brats over and join us”. Tell you what I’ll provide the steaks, burgers and dogs, you get the rest and we’ll make it a group thing and get the rest of the gang together, that ok”? Paul replied, “well I suppose, let’s go find Abs and see”.

After finding Abby the three of them roamed the store getting what was needed, then Jay walked them to the truck. “Ok then”, he said, “I’ll head to the house and Sus and I will call the gang and be out shortly”. They said their goodbyes and drove off in the direction of the hardware store where the kids were helping their grandfather.

“Hello Mr. Miller”, said Paul as they walked up to the service counter where he stood closing out the register for the day. “Paul, how good to see you again”, he said. Paul asked, “ Can I grab some things or is it too late today”? “Sure, remember I’m running you a tab, so we can just make a list of whatever you get”. Abby said as she turned to Paul, “I’m going to help get the place closed up while you do that”. “Ok”, he said to Abby as he looked over at Tony, “How bout you helping me for a minute bud”? “Sure”, said Tony excitedly, as he liked Paul immensely and loved the opportunity to spend time with him. As they started off Paul looked back over his shoulder and to Abbys father he said, “by the way Mr. Miller, you’re coming to dinner too, and I won’t take no for an answer”, he smiled his best smile. “Well if you insist than I guess I shall join you”, replied Mr. Miller, matching Pauls smile.

Paul was getting the grill ready with directions from both Tony and Mr. Miller and the girls were preparing the meat and everything in the house as the first of the gang arrived.

As Allen, Michelle and two of their four kids piled out of their suburban, Paul called out, “Now I should have known you’d be the first to get here when you heard the word food”, he teased Allen. Allen had been the biggest guy of their crowd, and still was, back in the day he had been the quarterback and the biggest eating machine this side of the Pecos river. “You know it”, agreed Allen. “Let me at it”, he joked. Michelle headed for the house to help Abby as more vehicles began pulling into the drive, they were lining up along the drive, with some of them having to walk a bit to get to the house, as the yard was much too small for everyone to park close by.

Soon everyone had arrived, the guys including Mr. Miller and his two sons were all out back around the grill and tables all talking at once and laughing. The girls were all in the kitchen preparing potato salad, baked beans, salad and bowls of chips and dips along with a variety of drinks. “So”, began Nicole teasingly, “What’s the news Ab”? “What news”? she asked, knowing full well, and thinking to herself, “here we go again”. “Well, been wearing any more mismatched outfits lately”? she winked at the others as she said