Abediah Thornton

Chapter 27 - Monday

Abediah pulled into the space in front of the Holtby and Cope offices. She left the bags filled with her shopping on the passenger seat, grabbed the bag with the tiny key from the glove box and headed into the office. 

As she entered the little bell over the door tinkled in a friendly way. 'Good Afternoon,' she heard Karen say. She popped her head around the plant.

'Hi Karen,' she said with a little wave. 

'Oh, Mrs Thornton, hello! Did you have an appointment?' Karen suddenly looked very flustered and frantically started clicking on the computer. 

'No! No!' said Abediah, shaking her hands. Karen paused, 'I was driving by and I thought I'd just pop in on the off-chance that Winnie was here. I wanted to show you both this key.' 

Putting her hand into her pocket Abediah pulled out the plastic bag. Karen looked confused. Abediah explained further, 'Mr Goodman told the police that this is what Frank gave him that day.' And held up the key, swinging in the bag. 

'Really?' said Karen, 'a key? Well that's a bit unusual.' She came around from behind her desk and took the bag from Abediah. 'It's not a very exciting looking key is it?' she said with visible disappointment. Abediah laughed. 

'I know. It'd be better if it was gold or all curves and swirls on the key head. Although, it's normality is perhaps the key to it's mystery. No one knows what it's for.'

'Hmm...' said Karen, looking closer. After a minute she seemed to catch herself. 'Unfortunately Winnie's in court today Mrs Thornton. She'll be back in tomorrow morning if that would help?' As Karen finished her sentence the little bell tinkled and the door behind Abediah was pushed open. She could see immediately that the woman who had entered the office was obviously Winnie's wife Etta Cope. She was sporting the same short afro Abediah had noticed in the wedding pictures but dressed quite differently to her wife. Where Winnie was clearly a big fan of the colourful trouser suit, Etta instead was wearing a much more traditional black suit. The only thing showing colour was a stunning turquoise necklace and her engagement ring, twinkling on her finger. 

'Thank God that's over!' she said with exasperation as she pushed the door open. She powered straight past Abediah and Karen and headed for the door to her office. 'Let me get out of these clothes, Karen!' she said over her shoulder. 

Karen smiled at Abediah. 'Come and take a seat Mrs Thornton, I think Mrs Cope-Holtby will probably want to meet you. Can I get you a drink?'

A few minutes later the lawyer emerged again from her office, but she looked like quite a different person. She wore jeans and a t-shirt with a sweatshirt artfully draped around her shoulders. Her feet were enclosed in some big fluffy slippers. She came straight out to the front desk and sat down in the other visitors chair opposite Abediah. She picked up the steaming cup of coffee Karen had made and took a big sip.

'Oh, thank you Karen, that's just what I needed,' she said, closing her eyes to enjoy the flavour. 

'How did it go?' asked Karen.

The lawyer smiled, 'we won, obviously!' The two high-fived across the desk. 'I'm sorry for being so rude Mrs Thornton,' said the lawyer as she sat back down. 

'Oh,' said Abediah, a bit taken aback that she seemed to be known. The lawyer held her hand out towards Abediah and began introducing herself. 

'You can call me Etta, Mrs Thornton. It's lovely to finally meet you.' Abediah grasped the warm hand and smiled.

'Lovely to meet you too. I'm surprised you know who I am!'

'Ah, well, you're quite famous in my circles now Mrs Thornton!'