CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: The Day The Light Died

ADELE'S POV

The day I lost my father and brother, my world paused. The days bled into nights. But I had my mother. There was hope.

Today I lost her too. Where do I go from here?

Something inside me is dead.

I sat rigid in the doctor's office, Julian by my side. I gripped his fingers so tight, desperate to feel something.

The room was cold, like it had moved on.

The doctor was saying something. My ears struggled to tune in. It doesn't matter anymore anyway. Nothing matters.

But I just saw her. My nerves tingled with a strange feeling. My gut twisted. I had to know.

“What exactly happened to her? Because I was with her just before…”

Just before she died. The words hung in my throat.

“We performed the autopsy, and erm…there were some anomalies”

I sat up straight. Julian rested a tentative hand on my back.

What anomalies? Julian echoed my question.

The doctor shifted uncomfortably and adjusted his glasses on his round nose.

“Well erm… your mother died of a heart attack, but it wasn't…” He paused ”It was medically induced”

A loud ringing erupted in my ears.

I willed myself not to say the words, but it was no use.

“You're saying it's possible my mother was…killed?”

Julian bolted from his seat and paced the office.

The doctor swallowed. Small beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

“Well…we found high doses of potassium chloride in her bloodstream, but it wasn't part of her medication.”

Julian slammed his hands fists down hard on the table, sending waves of violent shock through my spine. The doctor shrunk visibly.

“You're telling me that my mother-in-law was murdered in YOUR hospital under YOUR supervision?”

“I'm so sorry sir. We don't know how it happened. She was fine minutes ago”

I shut my eyes tight and willed myself to remember the last time I saw her. But there was pain. So much pain.

But wait. There was a nurse. Right before I left. The tight lipped one who gave me the creeps. I struggled to remember her name but my memory was hazy.

Daniella. Candice. Shanice.

“A nurse clocked in. Right before I left.”

The doctor leaned in desperately. Julian placed his hands gently on my shoulders and squeezed lightly. I shook my head.

“I'm trying to remember her name”

I have to. Someone killed my mother. If that nurse had anything to do with it, I have to find out.

“We can access the security footage from the hospital's CCTV, can't we?” Julian urged. His voice was trite with anger and desperation.

“Er…yes. But we'll need clearance for that”

“You're going to get it or so help me God, I will burn this place to the ground until I get what I want”

******

We sat huddled in front of the small screen.

I watched with my heart pounding as a nurse took calculated steps towards my mother's hospital door. Her back was turned to the camera.

I watched as I came face to face with her. The moment the door shut, I got that eerie feeling again. I know her name. Why can't I remember it?

A few minutes later, the door opened and she stepped out, her back still turned to the camera.

At that moment I knew. My mother was already dead. I watched in mute horror as doctors flooded into her room.

What was the nurse's name? Shaniya. Shine.

SHIRLEY!

I pointed at the screen as the first bout of tears burned my eyes.

“THAT NURSE!” I couldn't breathe. My chest heaved up and down as raw pain tore at me. She killed her. She killed my mother. I was there. I let her.

Julian cupped my face in his hands

“Shhhh! Look at me baby. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. That's it”

My heart thudded violently.

“Her name is Shirley! Julian, nurse Shirley killed her!”

The doctor shifted uncomfortably and took off his glasses with shaky hands.

Julian whirled around and pointed a stern finger at the security team.

“What are you waiting for? Get the goddamn nurse!”

They exchanged nervous glances and looked at their feet.

The room was spinning. Why wasn't anybody moving?

“Mr Hawthorne… there must be a mistake”

A pause.

“We don't have a nurse Shirley in this hospital”

******

Celeste slammed a crystal glass onto the marble table, eyes blinking.

Alexander and the other man raised an eyebrow.

Alex spoke first.

“How nice of you to join us, my dear. We were just getting the party started”

Celeste felt anger and helplessness tear at her insides.

“You sick fucks! You killed her!”

The other man chuckled darkly and sipped from his glass.

Alex shock his head and sighed

“There's no pleasing you, is there? We did what you wanted for a change and you're still mad about it”

Celeste clenched her hands at her sides and bit back tears.

“I asked you to use her mother as a pawn. To distract her. But you killed her. She was innocent and you just killed her!”

The other man finished the contents of his glass and slammed it down on the table.

Celeste took a conscious step back but kept her chin up.

“You're one to talk, Laurent. You pushed the poor girl down the stairs. She could have died. Get off your moral high horse and take a seat. We have work to do” A smile of derision warmed his face.

Celeste took another step back and shook her head.

“Not a day passes that I don't regret what I did. I was desperate, but not this desperate. I'm not you. You're a cold blooded murderer”

And with that, she turned on her heels and stalked off.

“Where do you think you're going?” Alex broke into a laugh.

Celeste whipped around, tears streaking down her face.

“I'm done. I'm not doing your dirty work anymore. Find someone else”

The other man chuckled and waved a hand, ordering another bottle of champagne.

“Go on then. Tell Julian everything. We'll see what he has to say about Paris…and how his precious son came to be”

Celeste paused. Her heels stuck to the marble floor. Her mind raced. Her heart thudded.

He was right. Julian will never forgive her. She'll lose everything and spend the rest of her life behind bars. This was the only way to keep her head and save her son.

Slowly, she walked back and sank into the plush sofa amidst the mens’ raucous laughter.

“That's a good girl. Now, it's time for phase three. I say we kick the bitch when she's down. Make sure she doesn't survive this one”