An Unspoken Thing

3

The next morning as I'm pouring my coffee a knock sounds on my front door. I sigh putting it down and walking up front. I look out the window curious, seeing some guy standing out there. I slowly push open the door and look out the crack.

"Um, can I help you?"

"Rosalie Ashe?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"My name is Ethan Chambers, I've left you several messages. You're a hard person to get ahold of."

"Ah, so you're the guy I've been purposefully ignoring." I say crossing my arms and he smirks.

"Cute, can I come in?"

"Sure." I say stepping back and motioning him in. He steps in, in his fancy little suit and briefcase and makes his way to the kitchen. He puts the case on the counter and opens it as I walk over.

"So Mr. Chambers, what would you like to talk about?" I ask sitting on the stool and grabbing my coffee.

"As you well know, following Jacob's death his and his grandmother's wills must be passed on."

"Yeah, so?" I ask

"So, there are no living relatives of him. No brothers, sisters, parents, anything."

"I know, he told me." I say

"Well, then you know that you're the only person who had any connection to his life, that is still living today." He says pulling out papers.

"You guys were married for three years before the car accident, correct?"

"Yes." I say and he slides the papers to me and I pick them up.

"Holy shit." I say staring at the information and numbers.

"Yeah, holy shit. Your husband was rich."

"He was a business man." I say and he nods.

"He was. However, even though those numbers are high, he was in debt."

"What do you mean?" I ask as he hands me more papers.

"Oh my word." I hiss out

"Your husband racked up quite the bill."

"Please stop calling him my husband." I say looking up at him and he nods.

"So, what does this mean for me?"

"Well, his and his grandmother's wills are both now yours, but, if you accept, so is the debt." He says

"Well can't I just pay it off with the money here?" I ask

"You can."

"Okay then easy, I pay off the debt then keep what's left for myself." I say

"If that's what you want to do." He says and I eye him

"There's a catch?" I ask and he nods.

"Well spill it."

"Miss Ashe, there are several people that wanted your husband- excuse me, Jacob, dead. If you file this money to your banking system, there's no promise they won't come after you. One of these men includes a Joshua Lewis." He says sliding me more papers.

"Do you know this man?" He asks and I stare at Josh's mugshot, confused.

"Yes, I do." I say and he nods.

"Josh, was one of the business men Jacob had ripped off with a violent past. He's ill." He says and I laugh.

"No, that's false. Josh was a farmer. Nothing more." I say

"That's not the case." He says and I shake my head as he points to the bold print.

"God." I say covering my mouth with my hand and seeing all the supposed crimes Josh has committed.

"What kind of a lawyer are you?" I hiss eyeing him and he shakes his head.

"I'm not the enemy here Rosalie, I'm just doing my job." He says as I look back down at the papers.

"How did I not know?" I whisper staring at his photo.

"Miss Ashe, there's something else."

"Well, spit it out." I hiss and he nods

"Jacob's death has been ruled as murder."

Silence... I have nothing to say, my mouth will form no words... I just can't- Josh? No way there's just no possible way he could be capable... capable of such evil and chaos. He was my best friend, my rock, my strength... a good man... and Jacob? Murdered? This makes no sense to me. I can't- I don't understand...

"Miss Ashe... Do you know where Joshua is?" He asks breaking into my thoughts and I slowly look up at him and shake my head.

"No- no I don't."

"Has he tried to contact you?"

"Y- yes, he leaves me voicemails all the time. Especially these past few weeks. He keeps saying we need to talk."

"He knows your number?"

"Yes." I say running my fingers through my hair.

"Do you have anyone you could stay with? Chances are with your number, he already knows where you live. If not, he'll be tracking it as soon as you send that money through." He says

"Uh.. no. No I don't."

"Family?"

"He knows where my sister and mother live, and they're all I have left."

"Any friends?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Okay, you need to sit here tight and patient. I'll talk to someone about getting you a safe house just until we have Josh under surveillance."

"Okay." I say

"You need to keep this money hidden, and silenced. Nobody can know about this, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." I say and he nods.

"Good, I'll be in contact. Just hold tight."

"Wait, what should I do?"

"Just live your life. Act like nothing's going on."

"That's hard to do. My ex best friend might be trying to kill me." I hiss

"Trust me. It'll be more obvious if you act out." He says and I nod as he grabs his coat and briefcase.

"We'll be in contact, shortly." He says and I take a deep breath and nod as he leaves. I stare down at the numbers and his name. Jacob Loghs.

God I knew I couldn't escape him and his fuckin world.

The tears fall as I run my fingers through my hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~