My Life As An Escort (The Beginning) Book 1 ~ (Completed)✅.

Chapter Thirty- Who Did It?

Marci's POV



"Is this Marci Ashford?"

"Yes," I said looking at the caller id.

"Ms. Ashford, this is Detective Harrison Turner from the New Orleans Police Department. I have been trying to get in touch with Ms. Lilly Monroe but she has not returned any of our calls."

"She is in the hospital," I said. "What is going on?" I had just gotten back from seeing her.

"Monique Laverne has been attacked and two of Monroe's Enterprises security guards have been murdered."

"Oh my god! What happened?" I said in confusion and shock.

"We think someone was trying to rob Ms. Laverne and the guards tried to stop the perpetrator but they shot them. We will need you to come to Monroe Enterprises since Ms. Monroe can't."

"Okay I will be there shortly," I said getting up. I hung up the phone and went to the closet.

"What's going on, honey?" I heard my husband Franklin's voice.

"There were several murders at Monroe Enterprises and Monique was attacked. I am going down there."

"You are not going without me," Frank said getting up. I loved my husband and I was thankful I didn't have to do this alone.

We headed towards downtown to the office. Police cars adorned both sides of the street and a couple of ambulances were leaving the building. Frank pulled up and parked and I asked for the detective. Moments later a tall black man with a suit on came in my direction.

"Mrs. Ashford, come with me," he said. Frank and I followed him as he took me to the basement where the parking garage was.

I could see policemen taping off where the security officers were shot and photographers were snapping pictures of the blood stains. I could feel Frank's arm wrap around me as nausea bubbled in my stomach.

"Do you have a key to the security shack? I'm sure Ms. Monroe had cameras in here," the detective said.

"Yes, yes, I have it." I pulled out the key and unlocked the door. I was the only other person besides Lilly, Ben and the security team that had a key. The detective walked in and looked around until he found the recorder. He sat down and rewind the tape. Once he rewinded the tape only snow appeared.

"Does anyone else have access to this area beside the security guards?" He asked looking at me suspiciously.

"Only myself, Lilly, and Ben her driver," I said looking back at him.

"Do you think this Ben person could have down something like this?

"No, he has been at the hospital with Lilly since earlier this morning."

"Why is Ms. Monroe in the hospital?"

"She had a heart attack and she is in ICU." I could feel tears wanting to run down my face.

"Sorry to hear that," he said getting up.

"Where were you tonight?" He asked as if I could have possibly have something to do with this.

"My husband and I went to dinner with our daughter and then we went home. Why are you asking?" I said looking at him.

"Because someone did something to the tape. Who is this Ben person and do you think Ms. Monroe would have given the key to someone?"

I shook my head. I had no idea who would want to do this. "Like I said Ben has been with Lilly since she was admitted to the hospital and Lilly would never give up her key."

"Do you know of anyone that would try to harm Ms. Laverne? Anything unusual happening at work or someone trying to get to Ms. Monroe?

"Not that I am aware of. Ms. Monroe is a nice person. I can't see anyone trying to harm her. As far as Ms. Laverne I don't have a clue. She is really a sweet person and wouldn't hurt anyone."

"What does Ms. Laverne do here?"

"She runs the finance department."

"How long has she been working here?"

"For several years."

"And what exactly do you do here Mrs. Ashford?"

"I am Ms. Monroe personal assistant and have been for over twenty years."

"So I am sure you know a lot of ins and outs of what goes on here, but I noticed you don't have an office here," he said writing in his pad.

"I guess so, but I can't think of anything unusual. My office is not here but in uptown at Lilly Monroe's home."

"Did you know Lauren Taylor?" He asked catching me off guard.

"Yes, I knew her." I didn't want to lie because I didn't know what he knew.

"The report showed that Ms. Taylor use to work for Monroe Enterprises at the call center but she left. Why did she leave?"

"She left because she was using drugs. This is a drug free company."

"I see." He made more notes in his pad. "That's all I have for now. I will be in touch. Oh by the way, you may want to change your locks on the security booth. Someone else may have another key."

"I will, thank you." I watched as the detective left and walked back out the room to talk to the other officers. I must have been shaking because Frank walked up to me.

"Are you okay?" He said wrapping his arms around me.

"I have to tell Lilly and Ben what happened. I just hope she can take it."

"Everything will be fine," he said.

"I sure hope so, Frank."


Frank took me to the hospital. My first stop was to see Monique. There were two police officers standing outside her door. One of the officers called my name in to the main office. Moments later I was allowed to enter. I walked into the dark room to see Monique lying in the bed.

She was hooked up to a lot of machines and was on a ventilator. Her face was black and purple and her mid-section and arm was wrapped up.

I remembered when she can to work for Lilly. She was living on the streets. Once we cleaned her up she had turned from an escort to the Director of Finance. She was always good in math. I walked up to the bed and stroked her cheek. She was always a sweet girl.

One of the police officers came in and told me my time was up. I placed a small kiss on her forehead and headed out the door. It hurt me to see her like that. I only hoped she would wake up and tell us who did this.

We headed up to the floor that Lilly was on next. I could see Ben with bags under his eyes and Cadence was about to leave. He looked up and saw us coming.

"How is she?"

"She is still in ICU." Cadence said getting up. She came and gave me a hug. "I will be back in the morning." She kissed Ben and shook Frank's hand and left.

"I'm surprised to see her here," I said.

"She had called earlier and I told her. She insisted on coming."

"Well that was nice of her. I have something to tell you," I said talking a deep breath.

I told Benjamin what happened at Monroe Enterprises and how I went to see Monique.

"How are we going to Lilly. If she wakes up and we tell her it could set her back." Benjamin stood and starting pacing the corridor.

"Who could be doing this to her? First Lauren now Monique. It has to be someone that knows about you know." I said looking around.

"I don't know. I need you to pull files and see what the commonality is."

"You think it could be a client?"

"Possible. We need to know who it is before the cops. If they find out about the other business, it could blow up and a lot of people could be affected."

"Oh god, if that ever leaked, Lilly could lose everything and the client list could destroy so many."

"Exactly. We need to make sure that information is kept secure."

"I have always kept that information encrypted. I will need to come up with something if they ask for records."

"Do what you have to do, Marci. We have to run this while she is lying in that bed." I nodded. He was right. We had to protect Lilly. I would do just about anything for her and I knew I would make sure no one one found out about Lilly's other business.

The doctor came out. "Marci it is good to see you. Frank." The doctor looked good for his age. I knew he and Lilly grew up together. I always thought he and Lilly made a nice couple, but Lilly always said they were just good friends.

"She had a little dip in pressure. Why don't you all go home? She won't probably be waking up until later on. Ben you look like you are about to drop any minute. You need to get some rest. Frank take Marci home. I will stay with her until one of you come back."

I could see Ben narrowing his eyes at the doctor. I saw something in Ben's eyes as if we wanted to disagree about staying.

"I'm fine. I need to be here when she wakes up, doc," Ben said never taking his eyes off the doctor.

"Ben I promise if her condition changes, I will call you immediately and you too Marci."

"Come on Ben let's go. It's been a long night and we both could use some rest," I said grabbing Ben's arm.

"Fine, but if anything changes, please call me," Ben said to the doctor. Doc nodded and we both left. Ben and I said our goodbyes and left.

The ride back to my house was quiet. I looked out the window wiping tears from my eyes. Lilly had done so much for me over the past twenty years. Through her I met my husband, supported my daughter, she had been like a mother to me and a dear friend.

An hour later, I was at my home in New Orleans East. My husband was very well off and we lived an extravagant lifestyle. Frank owned luxury hotels, spas and a vacation leasing firm. We owned property all over the world and traveled when I wasn't planning events for Lilly, both for Monroe Enterprises and the call center.

Frank unlocked the door and we walked in. He turned on the lights to the stairs. Every step I took seem to go on forever. I was tired, upset, and worried about Lilly and wondering why things kept happening to us.

"Come on. We have both have been ripping and running all day, let's get some rest," Frank said kissing me on the temple.

"I will be there soon. I want to take a shower first," I said.

"Okay, you need me to wash your back?" He said moving his eyebrows back and forth.

"No, I'm good. I just have a lot on my mind. I will be fine through." He nodded and put on his pajama pants.

"I walked into my bathroom and turned the shower on. I untied my hair letting the long locks fall down my shoulders. I was exhausted as I could see the weary on my face. I quickly removed my clothes and jumped in.

The warm water softly caressed my face. The stress of the day slowly started to release but other emotions came to light. I closed my eyes and thoughts of my past came back.

I was struggling trying take care of Lina, my oldest daughter. She was three years old and since her father David left me I was working as a server at the Bon Temps Hotel in the French Quarters.

Lilly was attending a ball when I brought her a drink. She was stunning in a dark purple ball gown with her blond hair curled and pinned to one side. She was very feminine as men seem to swoon over her. She smiled and danced with them. I became enthralled with her. Her beauty and her grace is what I think hypnotized me. After the ball she came up to me.

"I'm Lilly Monroe and you are?"

I had to look around to see if she was actually speaking to me.

"Yes, you. What is your name?"

"Marci Turner." I said a little nervous. She shook my hand.

"I saw you watching me all night. Is there something I can help you with," Lilly said.

"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. You are very beautiful."

"Don't be. I get it all the time. But you on the other hand are very attractive too."

"I don't think so."

"Yes you are Marci. You just have to have the confidence. Men will be falling over trying to get next to you."

"Ms. Monroe..."

"Call me Lilly."

"Well Ms. Lilly I don't think so. You had those men eating out the palm of your hand. How did you do it?" You are gorgeous and I am just a simple waitress trying to take care of my daughter."

"You have a daughter?" She asked me.

"Yes and I work two jobs trying to make it."

"Wow two jobs. When do you have time to see your daughter?"

"I don't. My neighbor watches her most of the time."

"Well I just might have a job for you where you can spend time with your daughter."

"Ms. Lilly, are you kidding me? You don't even know me and you are offering me a job?"

"Marci every now and again, we as women need to help each other. The income potential will be set by you. Here is my card and call me."

I took the card and Lilly left. I thought she was crazy but if I could spend more time with my daughter it had to be worth it.

I called her the next day and we set up a meeting. After she gave me the details, I was stunned. I wasn't sure if I could go through with it. She gave me a trial run and it didn't seem to bad. A few months later I met Frank. Who would have thought a year later he would have proposed? He was my best client. He wined and dined me and eventually we fell in love. As soon as he proposed, I quit but then Lilly hired me as her personal assistant after Shelly left.

Twenty years later, I was still married to the man I loved. If it wasn't for Lilly I don't know where I would be. I went to school while I was working with Lilly as an escort and got my associates degree. Of course thanks to Lilly she paid for it. With my business degree and business savvy personality Lilly encouraged me. By being an escort I built up my confidence and I was in control. The men may have paid to have my body, but I was always in control.

The water had started to run cold. I couldn't believe the tears had ran from my eyes and had slowly disappeared down the drain. I placed my hands on the wall and let my head fall down. I prayed that Lilly would be okay. She had been like a mother to me from the very beginning. If something was to happen to her, I would be lost. My second child, Veronica, was Lilly's godchild. Lilly was as much as part of my family as I was hers. It would feel like my mother was gone. My parents kicked me out when Lina was born and Lilly was the one to take their place.

I felt the breeze from the glass shower door as I saw Frank standing there. All I could do was wrap my arms around him.

"She has to be okay. If something was to happen to Lilly, it would pain me."

"Shh, she is a fighter and always has been. She is going to make it through this. Just have faith." He wrapped the towel around me and wiped my tears away. "I know you love her like a mother, but you have to get some rest. I will be with you every step of the way. I heard what Ben said."

"I need to protect her," I said.

"I know you do. If it wasn't for her I would not have met the woman of my dreams. I owe her, so whatever you feel you have to do to protect her, I will be there to protect you. I love you, Marci and don't you ever forget it.

More tears ran down my face. My life was finally complete when I met Frank and I never regretted a day of being with him. Each day our love got stronger and stronger and I was so glad he was my rock.

"I love you too and thank you for always being there for me,"I said kissing him. He deepened the kiss until my towel slipped off.

"Come on, it's time for bed plus I know a way to make you relax."

I smiled knowing that he knew exactly what I needed.


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Who do you think did it if only Ben, Lilly, Marci and security had the key? Don't forget to vote, comment and fan. Thank you all for supporting this story.