The Secret Sin

Part Three

                                                                  Redemption

Robert Blackwell wasn't happy to be awake at the ass crack of dawn, but there he was driving to the one place in the world he despised; the insufferable home of Navada Blackwell.

Navada was the devil to Robert. He hated her and every single memory he had with her. She disgusted him and the fact she was dying, gave him some semblance of hope. Once she was gone he could move away, maybe even find love. At his age, he wasn't sure if there was such a thing, but he could hope.

But as long as she lived, he was stuck here in this village filled with superstitious and judgmental peons. He couldn't abandon Charlie because Robert's secrets were what imprisoned his brother, chaining him to the hag who caused their nightmarish lives. Charlie's chains were put in place by Navada because of a mistake he made decades ago. Now, they were both Navada's cabana boys.

But soon all of that would change. When she finally took in her last breath it would all be over and the sun would shine again.

At six AM, Roberts sister-in-law had called telling Robert in a worried voice that Charlie had driven to Navada's the night before and never came home, nor was he answering his cell. That was not like his brother and he frowned with concern. He promised to check it out right away and immediately jumped into his truck and drove straight over.

Confusion marred his brow when he spotted his brothers truck parked on the lawn in front of the old shed. He noticed the shed door was open which was rare. Too many memories for them dwelled in that shed and the family avoided going in there. They had even decided once Navada made her way to hell, Robert vowed he would burn the damn thing down with everything in it.

He slipped from behind the wheel of his truck and walked towards the shed, calling out his brother's name. He hated the silence around him, making the tiny hairs on his arms stand. Everything felt off and he couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed the spare bedroom curtains dropped and he shook his head. It was probably the dingy Miss Murphy checking to see who had arrived. He had found her to be a little batty, but felt sorry for her as well.

He always had sympathy for his sister's caregivers.

Turning he walked through the door of the old shed and immediately wished he hadn't. He couldn't be positive what he had expected when he went in but what he found wasn't on the list. He saw his brother first, lying on the ground surrounded by the violence the gun next to him must have inflicted. His eyes stared unseeingly at the ceiling and his mouth was stained with dried blood.

Robert's panicked, wild eyes took in the dead caregiver as well, the poker sticking gruesomely out of her stomach, and her body propped up by the wall behind her. Shock disoriented him and he stumbled back, tripping and falling over boxes which were scattered about in disarray. He couldn't look away from the bodies nor could he stop the silent tears from streaming down his face as he scooted back from the nightmare in front of him.

"Charlie," he whispered looking at the gun then back at his brother's body," what did you do?" A thousand thoughts went through Roberts head at once as he frantically tried to piece what he was seeing together.

Had Charlie killed the caregiver then himself? God, but that was how things looked. He just couldn't imagine Charlie murdering anybody! Charlie had been the kindest and most self-sacrificing man Robert had ever known. Charlie had struggled most of his life to make life work for his little brother. He had gone without so Robert could have plenty. What was Robert supposed to do now? Charlie always had the answers and now he was dead! How was Robert supposed to explain a fucking murder-suicide without rhyme or reason? Charlie was the thinker and Robert had always just done what he was told. There was no way he could take over Charlie's role!