The Forgotten Child-Twilight

Chapter 21

Carlisle Confers With Clara

The next morning I paid a visit to my former house. The small, but quaint cottage was gone, replaced by a dry goods store. A store by the name of "Shaws Dry Goods."

I became major pist! I stalked into the law office as soon as it opened that morning. I entered the law office with no introduction and spied a man sitting in Bernard Shaw's previous office. He was in his thirties, red hair, and appeared shocked and afraid of me, despite my impeccable dress and colored eyeglasses.

"Where in the hell is Bernard Shaw?" I demanded to the man, "And just who in blazes are you?" I further questioned him.

The terrified man's mouth quivered before he was able to say, "My name is Nathan Johnson," then he continued, "As far as Bernard Shaw...he's been dead for several years."

"Do you know anything about a boy named Christopher Cullen?" I asked Johnson, "He'd be around twenty-six by now," I finished.

"No, not that I'm aware of," answered Johnson.

"Would you mind checking through your records for him?" I snapped.

"Yes sir, of course," Johnson stated.

Johnson stood up and went into a file room and closed the door. I waited impatiently for several hours wishing I could search the files myself. I'd be a million times faster.

Johnson finally returned and said, "I'm very sorry sir, but I have no information about a Christopher Cullen in my files."

"Did you personally check EVERY damn file?" I asked Johnson.

"Well, no," began Johnson, "There are several private files that are only available to the Shaw family."

"Where in the hell are the Shaws?" I asked angrily, "Don't any of them work here any more?"

"No," said Johnson, "They're extremely well off. I don't think any of them actually work any more. Although they do attend many of the social galas frequently," he finished.

"Would you know anything about the land that the dry good store sits on?" I asked Johnson. "There used to be a small cottage at that location," I finished.

Johnson answered me saying, "I believe the previous owner owed the Shaws a lot of money. It was simply absorbed into the past owners debt.

I quickly left Johnson's presence without so much as a farewell, slamming the door off it's hinges as I left.

I shot towards the Shaw Mansion like a speeding bullet. I removed my hat and knocked upon the door again.

The same dark Jamaican woman opened the door and stood there.

"I need to speak to Mr. or Mrs. Shaw. NOW!" I demanded of her.

"Come on inside," the black servant said to me reluctantly.

I followed her into an ornate sitting room. It had to have cost a small fortune.

"Please sit down, I'll be back with Mrs. Shaw and some tea," the servant told me.

The servant soon returned with a tray and tea service and placed it upon a low table near me. Suddenly an old woman appeared at the door of the sitting room. She was of a substantial size and dressed all in black.

"Thank you Clara," the old woman said, "that will be all for now."

The black Jamaican woman named, Clara, bowed her head and left the room.

I turned to the old woman recognizing her as 'Hortense Shaw' immediately.

Hortence studied me for a moment and asked, "Who are you and what can I do for you, sir?"