A Degree in Murder

Chapter Nineteen: Going Back In Time

Edgar pulled up into the driveway of his parents' household in the suburb of Oakwood. He peered through the windscreen, gazing up at the two storey house he spent the majority of his adolescent and teenage years in. He slowly got out of his truck, picked up his stuff from the backseat and slowly walked towards the front door. The house and the yard looked considerably different from the last time he was here, which was just over a year ago. The house had been repainted and the lawn completely replaced. This could be the handiwork of only one person.

Mother has outdone herself yet again.

Edgar made his way up the stairs onto the porch and rang the doorbell. When the door was opened, Edgar was greeted by a long and tender embrace from his mother, which he was more than happy to return. He had always been a momma's boy and proud of it. Despite being the first born, he had no shame in admitting it. She was his biggest supporter throughout the brightest and darkest moments of his life.

"This is a pleasant surprise. I really wish you would have called earlier so we could have prepared your room and everything," said Gladys Ross in a happy but exasperated tone.

"I wasn't sure I'd show up until yesterday. Besides, you love surprises."

"Quit being a smart mouth and take your stuff to your room. Dinner will be ready in an hour. Your dad should be in by then."

Edgar trudged up the stairs with his bags in hand, bypassing the baby pictures suspended on the wall besides the stairs. He stopped to stare at his picture, taken more than twenty years ago. Where it was taken, he had no idea but that was not his primary concern. It was the look of innocence in the picture that captured his attention. Life seemed so much easier back then when all you were concerned about was food.

Upon entry, Edgar noted that his bedroom was pretty much the same as he had left it. He sat on the edge of the bed, studying the posters adorning the walls. Between the posters of his favourite footballers and the videogames of his youth, reminiscing was a given. He had maintained these interests all the way through to adulthood. They were great distractions from a world wrought with injustice and danger at every corner. Overcome with exhaustion, he lay his head on his pillow and shut his eyes.

A knock on the door woke Edgar up from his sleep. It was his mother at the door saying, "Son, it's time for dinner."

He got up, stretched and let out a yawn. Feeling both refreshed and famished after his power nap, Edgar strolled down the steps towards the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked apple pie greeted his nostrils, making his stomach growl even more. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who was seated at the table and smiled. His father was seated at the head of the table in his uniform.

"When I saw the truck parked out front, I figured it was either you or your younger brother Kevin. How have you been my boy?" said Mathew Ross, standing up and extending his hand.

"I'm alright dad. You look like you had a busy day," Edgar replied, giving a firm handshake.

"There was a meeting between the captains of the precincts and the mayor today with regards to the proposed budget cuts. As the police commissioner I had to mediate the discussion and given the contentious nature of the subject at hand, it was never going to be wrapped up any time soon. We still haven't concluded anything."

"Enough talk about work. Wash up and get settled," barked Gladys Ross, placing the potato salad on the table.

Mathew and Gladys spent the first part of dinner updating Edgar on the latest happenings in the family. Edgar kept in touch with a handful of his extended family. The older he grew, the more things he learnt about his family that he wasn't sure how to handle. The amount of shit his parents dealt with so that he and his brothers didn't have to, astounded him to say the least. Eventually the crux of the conversation shifted back to work.

"How did your first case as a detective?" asked Mathew, taking a bite of his apple pie.

After wiping his mouth with a napkin, Edgar took the next twenty minutes explaining the intricacies of the case as well as the clues that lead to the break in said case. His parents hung on his every word, even his dad who was a twenty-five year veteran on the force. Satisfied by his telling of his story, Edgar returned to his slice of apple pie.

"Your mother and I were planning a trip to the lake just outside of town tomorrow. Why don't you join us?"

"I haven't been there in forever. I'd be happy to join you provided we'll have more of this delicious apple pie that mom made," replied Edgar happily.