The Affectionate Player - Part1 (Editing Chapters 32-34)

Chapter 26

Bare Truths

"It's called a Bare Trust," Curtis states, addressing us both. "It's used when a person appoints a trustee to look after the interests of another. A minor, in Monty's case."

"So Mel didn't make a new will?"

"Not at this practice but if she had I would have expected it to come to light before now especially if Jonny needed to enforce her wishes." The young brief looks from Max to me passing him an envelope.

"Melody came to see me two weeks before she died but I was with a client and didn't see her. She left this with a note instructing that I was only to open it in the event of her father having to take control. At the time I wasn't sure what it was all about but I suppose this is what she must have meant. Jonny King appears to have been given permission to act on it in certain circumstances."

"And we are in no doubt about what those circumstances are," I say, not capable of staying silent any longer.

"But he's moved into my house!"

"I've looked into that already. He's breaking the law on that count. He can't do that unless he can prove that you are undermining the Trust, though he could argue that because you weren't living there for weeks you haven't been looking after the property."

"Bollocks!"

"Max, sweetheart. Please calm down." Ignoring my intervention he continues angrily.

"Look Curtis, you saw how happy Mel was when we set up our wills together. Everything was prepared as she wanted it."

"I agree. It's very suspicious."

"With me being away so much I hadn't noticed that she was any more tired than usual until she fell pregnant but that's normal during pregnancy. Maybe she was unwell before that and I just didn't see it."

"You think Melody was ill when she put this in place? Too ill, perhaps?" Shrugging, Max nods.

"I'd urged Mel to tell her doctor and she assured me she had. What if she hadn't mentioned it? I should have bloody well gone with her. Her doctor put it down to undetected Graves' disease but I've researched it and while she suffered from a few of the symptoms she didn't display many of the others."

"Do you think the doctor lied on the medical report? A cover up?"

"I don't know but I suppose it's possible." Clearly struggling I reach across the chair taking his hand.

"Tell Curtis about the pills, Max." Slowly turning his head he glares at me, his expression fierce and daring. Having expressed this morning I was not to intervene I suspect I may be pissing him off but my impulse to lessen his agony by sharing some of his pain is too strong to ignore. What he'd discovered when he'd found his wife is now vital and I'm fearing he won't mention it.

"What pills, Max?"

"Max found an empty pill bottle by Mel's bedside. He..."

"Gracie!" I jump in response to his almighty roar and Curtis' shock is as clear as my own. "I told you to leave this to me!"

"I know, baby, but how can I? You need to tell the one person who can help you and for some reason you aren't."

"I can't. I just want to forget how she looked."

"Then I will." Pulling his hand from mine I sense his disappointment but I won't let him suffer this alone.

"Max panicked when he called Jonny and Maria. He'd phoned for an ambulance but their family doctor arrived before the paramedics. After everyone had left there was no sign of the bottle and no mention made of it later."