Mr. C+

“Alright, you two,” Jim spoke up as he looked towards his mother and father. “There’s something going on that you’re not telling me. I can feel the tension ever since Robby picked us up. Spill it.” The room grew quiet. Mario and his wife stepped aside and sat down in the background. Big Jim looked at his wife and nodded to her. Dorothy had either been designated to be the spokesperson or had insisted she be the one. Robert motioned for those standing to have a seat. Jim didn’t like the feel of this. Gina was already wringing her hands together. Whatever it was, it obviously had something to do with the Clavin side. Jim quickly concluded that someone was very sick; probably cancer or maybe Robby’s injuries were acting up. Then, Jim remembered that his brother had said everyone was fine. He was confused and tormented in the seconds it took for Dorothy to speak. “James, I know you wondered why Susan didn’t make it to the wedding and didn’t call to cancel. I know you were disappointed and maybe even angry too. You should know that she was planning on being there. She and her friend Max were driving in late that Friday before the wedding.” “Was there an accident? Is Susan okay,” Jim raised his voice as his emotions surged. Gina looked on in amazement at Jim’s reaction. She was beginning to get a better appreciation of the relationship between her husband and this dear friend. “There was no accident, but still Susan is not okay. Jim, Susan is gone. She was murdered.” Jim turned white and went momentarily speechless. Gina came to his side putting her hand in his and saying in a low voice to Jim how sorry she was. Jim finally broke his silence. “She was murdered…when, how, by who? Did this guy Max have anything to do with it?” Gina gripped her husband’s hand harder as he began to tremble. The details being so horrible, Big Jim took over for his wife and explained the entire story. He assured Jim that Max had nothing to do with it and that Max and Susan were living together and were very happy. “ “Max was every bit as devastated as you are, Jim.” Observers, including Big Jim, would find that hard to believe that day. Robby went and got a glass of water for his brother who was visibly sickened over what he had just heard. Gina was crying not because she knew Susan but for the pain she saw in Jim’s face. The horrific details of the crime as recounted by Jim’s Dad shook her to her core as well. Making a quick calculation, Jim figured he had missed the funeral, “You should have called us to come home. I should have been here for the funeral.” “There hasn’t been a funeral yet,” Big Jim replied. “Because of what happened, the coroner’s had Susan’s body pending the investigation. They just released it today and I understand arrangements are being made by Susan’s Dad.