Malevolence

Chapter 24:

Please read the Writer's note before continuing the read this chapter:

Evelyn:

"Thank you all for getting together like this," Alan begins, looking from family member to family member, "it isn't legally necessary, but I thought because you are all in town and some of you are leaving soon – "

"Excuse me." Blanc interrupts, stepping forward, standing next to my chair. "I – I'm sorry. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to gently request that you all stay in town, until the investigation is over." he proposes, his tone calm and collective.

But then, how long will this investigation go on for? Days? Weeks? Months?

Oh! I wish this investigation was over now! These detective still want to question me, and I don't want to rehash about what happened to Harlan that night!

"Oh well, he's gently requesting, but I'm going to have to make that an order." Elliot says, standing next to Blanc as he speaks. "No one move until we figure this all out." he instructs.

"So we can't move out of our seats? Are we to sit here and wait until this investigation is over?" I blurt, purposefully being sarcastic.

Elliot pulls his brows together as he glances my way. "No, I didn't mean that literally. I meant you cannot leave town until this investigation is over." he states before he walks over to where Wagner is standing.

I hear Linda snicker softly, looking to Richard. "Stupid blonde bitch." she jeers.

"Mom, shut the fuck up!" Ransom hisses.

Linda turns her head so she is looking at Ransom. "Well she –"

"As I said," Elliot raises his voice, silencing Linda, "no one leave town until this investigation is over."

"What?" Linda almost spits.

I look around the room, and I know that nobody likes this. Absolutely no one.

And who actually hired these detectives? I thought the whole investigation was over?

"Can we ask why?" Joni queries, looking at Blanc, her voice a lot calmer than Linda's. "Has something changed?"

Blanc raise his hand, looking toward Alan. "No –"

"No it hasn't changed, or no we can't ask?" Joni asks, narrowing her eyes at Blanc.

"Mr. Stevens," Blanc doesn't look at Joni as he speaks, "you may continue." he gestures for Alan to carry on speaking, ignoring Joni's questions. He then steps away from me, but it could be because I purposefully shift my chair to the left to get away from him.

This move of mine, unfortunately, has me sitting closer to Ransom, who I know is going to try and pull me closer to him.

Dammit! I don't want Ransom to pull my chair closer, nor do I want Ransom to touch me. He is giving off bad vibes and it is starting to scare me. I know Ransom acts like an asshole in front of his family, but today, he is taking the asshole part of him to a whole new level.

I think it would be best if Ransom and I get out of this house, away from his family.

Away from the detectives.

That may change Ransom's mood back to the one he had in his car earlier...

"Yeah. Right." Alan clasps his hands together. "Well, the other reason I thought this gathering would be beneficial, is because Harlan...altered his will, a week before he passed away. He sealed it. He asked me not to submit it to the courts for probate until after his death."