Hidden Melodies

Chapter Twenty-Two

Copyright by Joelle Blue ©

TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of death and suicide. 

Ozzie

As she was? "Hold on, I'm so confused, what do you mean 'was'? What happened to her?" I ask, not sure if I should hope that he's talking about my mother, Winnie, the woman who's hated for me as long as I can remember or that he's talking about a completely different woman.

Jameson seems to be as confused as me, but just as he's about to reply, we're interrupted by a gruff, female voice in a police uniform.

"Are you Oselda? Mr. Black's daughter?" The officer asks.

"Yes, that's me," I reply quickly.

"I'm officer Webster, I'm one of the officers working on your father's accident. Would you mind answering a few questions?"

"Sure, yeah," I answer, glad but also regretful to leave the conversation I was about to have.

"If you would follow me," she walks off without me giving a reply. I look up to Charlie who looks concerned. Then I look to Jameson, who looks confused and kinda angry.

"I'll just be a minute," I tell them softly, squeezing Charlie's hand before letting go.

Once I reach the officer along with two others. A tall, bald, caramel skinned man introduces himself as Williams, and other man, who's slim and pale, has a tag that says Evert.

"When was the last time you spoke to Mr. Black?" Webster asks.

"Almost two years ago."

"Why is that?"

"Well, we didn't have the greatest relationship, so I cut contact with him."

"Okay. What do you know about his relationship with your mother, Winnie Black."

"I know nothing. They seemed fine, or I guess you could say in agreement with each other whenever I saw them."

"Your father never seemed depressed or violent in any way?"

"What? No. Well I don't think so, I didn't spend enough time around him to notice, I guess. Why are you asking me this?"

They all look at each other before Webster decides something. "We're going to ask for a private room and continue this in a moment. Excuse me."

I stand with the other officers, who ask me more information about myself before Webster comes back to lead me to another room.

"Can those two men join us?"

"Who are they?" Webster asks.

"Well, one is my boyfriend, the other is my dad's brother."

They agree to let them follow, and we're all led into a conference style room, with Officer Evert following last and closing the door.

We all sit around the table, Charlie next to me with his arm draped in my lap, my hands wrapped around his forearms, and Jameson to my left.

The officers get information from Charlie and Jameson before starting their questioning again.

"We were the officers on scene after the accident, and he woke up and was lucid for about five minutes while on the stretcher. He kept apologizing over and over again to a Josie. Who would that be?"