The Detectives' Story

IV

July 15, 2013

1824 Hours

"Dan!" James yelled, hoping to find his brother somewhere in this crowd. The outside funeral was located at the local cemetery, and not that many people showed up. It was just close friends that were present. The brother's family didn't show up, and haven't for years. Dan was used to it and it didn't bother him anymore, but James took it personally every time. Even though Dan gave it up years ago trying to invite their family to things, James didn't. He sent out an invitation to them every single time. And every single time, they just didn't show up.

"Yo, James. Why are you yelling?" Jared yelled across the cemetery. A friend of the brothers ever since middle school, Jared was a tough and ripped man. He was fat back in the days, but turned all that fat into muscle after being bullied all through his teenager years. He then served in the military for three years before being honorably discharged due to a loss of his left arm. He crashed at the brother's place before meeting Lorraine. He married and had four kids, settling down out in the country where there were no noises. Jared came down here by plane, wanting to be there for Dan at his lowest.

"I can't find Dan anywhere, the service is going to start any minute," James said. Jared came over, towering over James as he got closer and closer.

"Well I haven't seen him since I arrived," Jared said, sipping juice from a juice box. He drank it all in one sip, and brought another from his fanny pack. "Dude, these juice boxes are like heaven. Better than beer, that's for damn sure. Try one." Jared offered a juice box to James.

"No thanks... Please don't cuss at a child's funeral, and if you see Dan, contact me." James commanded, and then walked off towards the parked cars. Jared waved his left knob in the air, while loudly sipping a juice box from his right hand.

If he's sulking in the car, I swear. James thought as he made his way to their car. Halfway there, he noticed a couple walking down the road to the service. He never saw them before in his life, yet something didn't feel right. James changed direction to meet with the couple.

"Hey there, my name is James," he said, offering a handshake with the man. As soon as the guy put his hand in James', James gripped it tightly and asked, "Who are you?" The man was a little short, and had messy hair that was covered by his bowler hat. He had a beat up tux, and shoes that were the same way. The woman looked like she was picked up off from the street, and was given a nice black dress. A very nice black dress actually. James noted that it was a Maximo design, very expensive.

"The name is Rogers," the man said, his voice was deep and seemed to rumble, as he shook James' hand. Rogers squeezed a little harder, and James winced from the sudden strength. He backed off, and Rogers assumed his position next to the woman. "And this here's my wife, Ellen." Ellen then shook hands with James, and James had a slight shiver. Her touch was cold.

"How do you know little Chelsea?" James asked, still curious about the couple. He had a suspicion something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"We barely know the child, to be honest. But, when we did meet her. Oh, she was the sweetest thing ever!" Ellen said. James' lying radar peaked, and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"What about you Rogers?" James asked, wanting to hear his story.

"Well, I got to say the same. Although I had more time with her than the wife here, she was so sweet and so young... so young..." Rogers trailed off, reminiscing. James nodded his head slowly, trying to understand why he felt so uneasy. He then shrugged it off, thinking it had to do something with the funeral, and bid them farewell.

Walking a few more steps, he looked over to his left, and saw Dan sitting alone on a bench faced away from the funeral. James stopped in the street, and wondered if he should go up there and comfort his brother.