Wildflowers

Chapter 62

     Chapter: 62

We hang up and I take the photos into the office. I sit down at the desk and I spent he photo box. I look at each one and study them. The address from the bill is a lab located close to San Francisco. Why would a school and church have a bill from a place like that? I look over the names of the donors and they do match the victims. I compare the photos of the cross necklaces in the filing cabinet and the ones from the crime scene and they are identical. I also look at the containers of communion wafers and the one with the star on it are square not round like the other ones. Why are they different shapes? I decide to take these thing to my dad at the LAPD. I go into the safe and I take out an envelope with our names on it and the book I stole from the white room at the school.

I sit on the ground in front of the safe and I look at the book. It was a book written by Rev. Howard called 'Doing God's Work, how you can do your part in God's Master Plan. Yuck I think to my self. I put the book back in the safe and I lock it. I will read that later for sure but I want to get to the bank before my mom gets here for dinner. I put all the photos in my tote bag and I put the copies in the filing cabinet. I grab the money from he cards and I head out the door. I drive to the bank and I park in front. I walk in and I fill out a deposit slip with Patrick's account number and I open the envelope and it's a check for $10,000 from Robert and Julia. Holy shit. I deposit the money into his account and I walk back to the car. There is a note inside and I open it and read it while sitting in the car.

Patrick,

I am so proud of you my darling, I can't believe you just graduated high school, which is weird because you are still in diapers right now. If you're reading this, then I am not here to see what a wonderful man you have grown up to be. I'm so sorry that I have missed so much in your life, but I hope you are happy. This money is for you to do whatever you want to do with it. Just know I am so very proud of you and I miss you terribly.

Love you always, Mom

There is another note one the back of this one.

Patrick and Jo,

I am so proud of you both and I couldn't be more happy to have you in this family, Jo.

Patrick, your mother wrote this note when you were just a baby and told me if anything happened to her I need to give you these at different milestones in your life. She would've been so proud to see the man you have become and what a wonderful women to share your life with. I wish you both nothing but the best in life and I can't wait to see where it takes you.

Love, DAD

I am full on crying now and I can't help but wish I got to get to know Patrick's mom better. I remember her from when we were kids but we weren't super close back then. I remember how beautiful she was and she was always laughing and smiling. I dry my tears and I drive to the LAPD and I walk inside. I check in the front desk and I go to my dads desk.

'Hey, pops' I say and he smiles.

'Hey, Joey what a nice surprise. I was just having my lunch. Whats up?' He says taking a bit of a corn beef sandwich.

'I got the photos I took at the school and I was hoping you could look into a place that's on a bill that was in the filing cabinet' I say taking out the box of photos.

'Sure, where is it?' He says wiping his hand on a brown napkin.

'It's a lab near San Francisco and it's just odd that a church has a big from a lab like this' I say handing him the photo box 'He looks through the photos and I steal a cigarette from his pack and light it.

'It is weird for sure. I also think it's weird that all the victims were donors. We're checking things but the church is fighting us hard. They want a warrant for everything. We have been in contact with the SFPD but it's hard not being there to see things for yourself.' He says and I nod.

'They told me they have been looking into Hillside for a while now because of money. They get donations and people pay to send their kids there but they have a huge property and how did they pay for all that?' He adds and I shrug.

'Everything looked new when I was there and we know it's connected to the church' say and he nods.

'I'm going to look into this lab and try to get in touch with the detective up there. Maybe, this is the break we need, Joey' he says and I smile. I put out my cigarette and I get up.

'I need to go, mom is coming over for dinner and she's bringing our graduation gifts. Give Uncle Willy my love. Call me if you find anything, I'll be in the office starting tomorrow with Jen' I say giving him a kiss on the cheek.

'Will do, and be safe and keep your gun on you at all times.' He says and I smile.

'All my love, dad' I say and he smiles.

'All my love, Joey' he says and I leave.

I walk back to my car and I drive home.