to function normally, which I now suspect was the case with Ollie.
The apartment was clean and relatively
tidy, although it was hard to tell whether it was the cops that had returned
things to how they were before they delved into his belongings and his life, or
it was how Ollie chose to live.
When I had asked whether there was any
further information regarding the investigation, Detective Johnson had informed
me that Nate would be in contact when he returned from Denver City. He had also
updated me to the fact that Nate was continuing the investigation from his
office in the city, and wasn’t expected back until after the weekend. It
seems that Nate was putting distance between us to ensure that last night’s
kiss didn’t reoccur.
Kicking off my wedge sandals, I look
under the sink to find some marigold gloves and cleaning products and set to
work cleaning the entire apartment before I take residence.
********
Closing the door on the landlord, I
wander into Ollie’s kitchen area and open the fridge to bring out a bottle of
beer. The living and kitchen area was open planned, separated only by a
breakfast bar. Pulling off the cap of the bottle with the contraption
stuck to the fridge, I lift the bottle to my lips and suck back a healthy
mouthful.
The more I delve, the more I discover
about Ollie and his miserable life. I always assumed he had the better
deal living a life of luxury with our father, rather than being dumped on
unassuming relatives at birth, but it transpires that his life had been
possibly harder than mine in a lot of ways.
Ollie had been behind on his rent,
by three months. That also meant that he had been behind on his rent for
the salon, also by three months. The only way the landlord would permit
me to remain in the apartment was to settle Ollie’s arrears and to pay three
months’ rent up front.
I step into the living room area and gaze
down on the street outside. I could have returned to Marnie’s; she would have
found me a room until the time came for me to return to England, but here I
felt closer to Ollie, closer to finding out the reason why his life had swiftly
gone down the pan. I also preferred my own space and Ollie’s provided me that
luxury.
I had questioned Detective Johnson about
Simon, but he had shaken his head reaffirming that Nate was in charge of the investigation,
and the easiest thing to do was to speak to Nate. I had then pointed out
that Nate wasn’t around and asked that maybe someone else could help, but he
had updated me that Nate was working the case with his own people.
Frustrated, I had returned to the
apartment to find the landlord standing in the middle of Ollie’s living room.
Making an on the spot decision, I put the
bottle of beer on the side table and collect my keys from the dish on the work
surface and run down the stairs to the salon.
********
On the following Sunday night, I finally
receive a return call through from my father informing me that he had arranged
Ollie’s funeral to take place in Boston. For the first time in my life, I
argued with my dad. I expressed how Krystal was the perfect resting place for
Ollie, seeing as he had made it his home for the past four years. As
expected, he dismissed my claims and updated me that the service had already been
organised for the following Thursday, he also remarked that there was no need
for me to attend seeing as I hardly knew Ollie. That hurt, a lot.
He seemed oblivious to the fact that it
was he that prevented that from happening. How could he not see that I
would have loved to have had the opportunity to know my brother a whole lot
more?
After reminding me he was Ollie’s next of
kin, he hung up on me. I was powerless.
********
Tuesday afternoon, I pop into Ellie’s and
eat a sandwich sat up at the counter to enable me to chat to her as she worked.
‘So, Nate called,’ she placed a pot of
tea in front of me, her gaze flickering to mine, measuring my
The apartment was clean and relatively
tidy, although it was hard to tell whether it was the cops that had returned
things to how they were before they delved into his belongings and his life, or
it was how Ollie chose to live.
When I had asked whether there was any
further information regarding the investigation, Detective Johnson had informed
me that Nate would be in contact when he returned from Denver City. He had also
updated me to the fact that Nate was continuing the investigation from his
office in the city, and wasn’t expected back until after the weekend. It
seems that Nate was putting distance between us to ensure that last night’s
kiss didn’t reoccur.
Kicking off my wedge sandals, I look
under the sink to find some marigold gloves and cleaning products and set to
work cleaning the entire apartment before I take residence.
********
Closing the door on the landlord, I
wander into Ollie’s kitchen area and open the fridge to bring out a bottle of
beer. The living and kitchen area was open planned, separated only by a
breakfast bar. Pulling off the cap of the bottle with the contraption
stuck to the fridge, I lift the bottle to my lips and suck back a healthy
mouthful.
The more I delve, the more I discover
about Ollie and his miserable life. I always assumed he had the better
deal living a life of luxury with our father, rather than being dumped on
unassuming relatives at birth, but it transpires that his life had been
possibly harder than mine in a lot of ways.
Ollie had been behind on his rent,
by three months. That also meant that he had been behind on his rent for
the salon, also by three months. The only way the landlord would permit
me to remain in the apartment was to settle Ollie’s arrears and to pay three
months’ rent up front.
I step into the living room area and gaze
down on the street outside. I could have returned to Marnie’s; she would have
found me a room until the time came for me to return to England, but here I
felt closer to Ollie, closer to finding out the reason why his life had swiftly
gone down the pan. I also preferred my own space and Ollie’s provided me that
luxury.
I had questioned Detective Johnson about
Simon, but he had shaken his head reaffirming that Nate was in charge of the investigation,
and the easiest thing to do was to speak to Nate. I had then pointed out
that Nate wasn’t around and asked that maybe someone else could help, but he
had updated me that Nate was working the case with his own people.
Frustrated, I had returned to the
apartment to find the landlord standing in the middle of Ollie’s living room.
Making an on the spot decision, I put the
bottle of beer on the side table and collect my keys from the dish on the work
surface and run down the stairs to the salon.
********
On the following Sunday night, I finally
receive a return call through from my father informing me that he had arranged
Ollie’s funeral to take place in Boston. For the first time in my life, I
argued with my dad. I expressed how Krystal was the perfect resting place for
Ollie, seeing as he had made it his home for the past four years. As
expected, he dismissed my claims and updated me that the service had already been
organised for the following Thursday, he also remarked that there was no need
for me to attend seeing as I hardly knew Ollie. That hurt, a lot.
He seemed oblivious to the fact that it
was he that prevented that from happening. How could he not see that I
would have loved to have had the opportunity to know my brother a whole lot
more?
After reminding me he was Ollie’s next of
kin, he hung up on me. I was powerless.
********
Tuesday afternoon, I pop into Ellie’s and
eat a sandwich sat up at the counter to enable me to chat to her as she worked.
‘So, Nate called,’ she placed a pot of
tea in front of me, her gaze flickering to mine, measuring my
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