~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Everyone, dinner is served. Let’s go sit and we can start to the first course.” Mr. Hargrove led the way into the dining room. Once everyone settled in their seats. David’s father stood and raised his hand to gain everyone’s attention. Once Mr. Hargrove had their attention, he smiled. “Thank you everyone for attending this evening. It’s seldom we come together for a momentous occasion like this. Our family is seeing leadership is changing. I am stepping down and David is taking my place.” “Uncle, why didn’t you tell us you wanted to step down? Others may have desired to replace you.” “Alan Davis that’s not what I wanted. I didn’t want this family erupting in war and tearing itself apart in war. It’s terrible enough we had snakes trying to get their fangs into our members. It had to happen this way and I’m content with the outcome. That’s the end of it.” “But.” “Enough. I have made my decisio
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Maria, David said he’s taking back Belgrave Tech into Hargrove Tech. What will you do once that happens? Stay home and have babies?” One of David’s aunts asked me over coffee after dinner. She showed curiosity about our relationship’s stability. “No, not yet. I’ll help David with guiding the businesses. As I’ve skills and experience that are useful in this situation and David recognizes it. What skills I have is a series is a unique set of skills that allows me to advice and critique. It’s an odd skill set.” With a look to David’s Aunt, I said to David’s Aunt. I hadn’t explained my skills to her because she had no work experience and didn’t expect more from me. I didn’t hate her for it. She came from a different generation and opinions. I wouldn’t hold grudges, at least for now. “Why are you working with it if everything is being taken from you?” David’s aunt inquired and I appreciated her honest question.
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ David joined and left the conversation post-dinner. His father’s voice rose over the soft music and family chatter as they waited for my father to dismiss each of them, as tradition dictated. It took David a moment for him to understand what his father said. He hadn’t thought of Maria as his wife. He had no intention of changing it. “David, Maria is not feeling well. Will you please come here, boy?” His father now felt annoyed. He only called him boy when he’s angry. “What’s mistaken? What happening? Maria? Are you okay?” I walked around the large sofa, which Maria sat on. Her back was to me, and I couldn’t see her face. When I came to face her, I took one look at Maria. “Dad, call an ambulance now. Call 911.” I tried not to panic. My father wouldn’t realize it. My dad understood people in similar situations. “She’s having an allergic reaction, or she’s poisoned.” “Oh, ah. Right
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ David and I sat in the hospital room. I felt rough, as if I fought with an eager bear. We had proof now that someone had poisoned me. Police investigating Jacqueline questioned if I made up the attempts on my life. It's the proof, not exaggerated. Though, I think they wondered if one officer thought I might have poisoned me for attention.I didn’t know when someone would poison me. It could have been anytime. “No, David, I remember a little after dinner. Everything gets hazy after I sat down and started talking to your aunt. I thought the night went going well. Could have someone dropped something into my dinner? Or would it have been before that? Or in my coffee?” I didn’t know when. I wasn’t familiar with the chemical, and I lacked experience in the research side of the business. “The poison’s slow acting, so it’s not in the coffee. The police suspect your contact was at home or work. Can you imagine how it could have h
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ I withheld investigators’ findings from Maria. Frederick was in jail right now. He’d left the cookies for her. When asked, some staff members told investigators that Frederick made it clear the cookies were for Maria, not anyone else. The investigator insisted he say nothing to her. I also could not take her home. They desired her presence in a less secure hospital space. With it, they claimed they could control the rumor mill and give their target a chance to try again to get to Maria. They would now know any attempts to reach Maria. I didn’t like it. Only one wrong glance was enough. Maria would go from target to victim. I couldn’t accept that. I wouldn’t accept that. Until now, I’ve spent as much time as possible with her. She didn’t question why I stayed with her. Maria worried about my thoughts on the situation. She’s afraid I thought she poisoned herself. Or she accused one of my relatives. After everything we’ve go
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Maria, I turned the cookies over. The investigator requested the cookie recipe. Did you know? I asked over my phone when the video screen registered Josy’s face. She sat in my home office. This call had two purposes. I missed her like crazy, and we had business as usual to catch up on. The investigators wouldn’t allow her to visit me here. David could visit me. But no one else. They didn’t allow Jake to come with him, and the bodyguards David hired couldn’t go beyond a certain point, either. So, I wasn’t sure how useful they were. If they made David happy, then it’s better than nothing, I guess. “How did you respond to that?” I wanted to know how Josy answered the investigator. I didn’t care if we messed with the investigation. This was my life, after all. I wanted to know how she explained it. As a team, I didn’t intend to harm her or cause a struggle. Investigators want us to struggle and cannot explain or prove our innocence.
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I could rest only so much. David had left an hour ago. Tubes, drips, and such remained near my bed. The need in my arm was gone, but what they’d done was tape it to my arm without it. So, now I had to be careful. Someone gave the investigators information that Chris was going to kill me again. He believed they provided information. He still gained control of the company. Why did his plan included killing me? I’m not sure of the reason. I’ll inform everyone once I find out. This is crazy. Which bird brain pencil pusher came up with this idea? I want to trade places with them right now. I’d sat here coming up with pithy sayings because I can feel how upset I am with these people. Who makes a wealthy woman a target for a deranged, wealthy murderer? What would Chris Skyler do when he learned that he now wasted his time trying to kill me? David, this entire time, had control of Belgrave Tech, and killing me would change nothin
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Maria’s voice didn’t sound as steady as she believed it did. Alone with memories of a man who hurt her, she looked haunted. “Jake, I need you to find everything you can on Raoul Thomas. He’s a new contract hire. Get everything you can ready and send it to the head investigator. If Mr. Thomas calls and asks you questions, you are to avoid answering the questions.” I needed more information about this man. He must have had a reason to harm Maria. “Okay, may I ask why?” Jake’s voice asked. He had that uncomfortable sound in his voice. But I heard his fingers tapping in the background. I knew I could rely on him. “He may be the lynchpin we’ve been looking for. The one who’s been willing to kill without blinking. Mr. Thomas has access to all spaces. He’s been involved the entire time as Edger Belgrave’s assistant. Maria said she knows Jacqueline paid for his loyalties. Mr. Thomas then abandoned Maria near the ho