The Last Thought of a Beating Heart

Seven

The drive back from the morgue was unnerving; Nicolas at the wheel of his Dodge truck, Hailey in the passenger seat and Darius sitting in the back seat starring out the window as they drove back to the hotel. Tomorrow the three of them would go back to Wichita to prepare for the arrival of Alexander's body and to prepare for his funeral. No one spoke as they drove through the city, passing the building in which Alexander was murdered. The crime scene tape was strung like streamers around the building and the sidewalk around the building was closed. Only stares and glances were passed as they drove by the building.

As Nicolas pulled into the parking spot to the hotel, Hailey's cell phone rang. Jolting her out of her skin, she answered trembling. "Hello."

Only hearing Hailey's end of the conversation Darius looked up at Nicolas as they realized that it must be her new boyfriend Ethan checking on her. Neither of them had met him before since he was relatively new. As far as they knew, he was into art and loved to travel as much as Hailey did. They both had wanted to meet him under different circumstances.

Listening to Hailey talk to Ethan, it was hard for Darius not to speak. Darius spoke up from the backseat when Hailey had mentioned that she could get him a hotel in Pasture Bluff when he came in for the funeral. "Hailey, both of you can stay at my place. I don't mind."

Hailey nodded at Darius, told Ethan of the plans and ended with the simple phrase of "I love you."

They gathered their things and walked toward the hotel. Hailey was the first to break the awkward silence that hung between them. "Hey, do you two mind if we all shared a suite? I don't want to be alone, and they are plenty big enough for all of us."

Darius was the first to respond with "That seems to be a good idea, and I think it would be good for all of us right now."

Nicolas nodded his head in approval, walked up to the receptionist paid for the room with his credit card.

Grabbing the keys, they head to the third-floor suite, luggage in tow. Darius wanted to collapse on the couch, Hailey wanted to take a shower and eat, Nicolas flipped on the television to watch football. Each exhausted from the stressful day, they ordered room service and flipped on the television.

Hailey stared blankly at the television as if nothing was on the screen. Nicolas leaned over the couch to see a tear streaming down her cheek. He gingerly moved over to the couch and sat beside Hailey not saying a word. Hailey turned to Nicolas and grabbed his hand and held on as if it were her life preserver.

Moments later Hailey leaned onto Nicolas' chest and whispered quietly, "Do you want a drink?"

Nicolas nodded his head and watched Hailey walk into the kitchenette to grab glasses, ice, and liquor.

"I hope you like it on the rocks." Said Hailey as she cracked open the liquor bottle.

"Right now, anything would do. How are you holding up?" Asked Nicolas in a concerned older brother tone.

"I guess I'm doing fine for the time being. It's just been a long day, but I'll be fine. Thanks for asking Nicolas. It means a lot."

"I just want to make sure. You know how I am. I have to think of other people before myself. I guess that's just something everyone close to me has to deal with."

Hailey looked at Nicolas and began drinking.

"Can I ask you something? Why do you think Darius is taking this so hard when he wasn't close to Alexander?"

"I don't know Hailey. We all deal with things differently. I hope things don't get bad like they have before."

Darius lay on the bed staring at the ceiling thinking about the past few months. His life seemed perfect to the outsider. He had an expensive house, car, and was partner in two very successful businesses. He had women who threw themselves at him and he was hardly ever alone. He had money and what seemed a fortune to others, was barely a drop in the bucket to him. He never seemed to get his life together and it usually revolved around funding. Nicolas had refused him a loan a month ago because he couldn't bring himself to tell him that he had to result in illegal activities to help fund his luscious lifestyle.