A Crisis With Hop

Life and Death

Henry had phoned Luke and told him what had happened to Carol. Clara had made Carol get into bed. I had discreetly placed a sleeping drought in her water to make Carol sleep. We left the guest room and let Carol sleep. I didn't want Carol awake until I had discussed this situation with Luke.

I was angry. That is not a state that was productive to Phillip's health. I've been known to order the death of people who hurt my family or friends. Such people fall out of airplanes or are tossed into the waterfront with concrete anchors attached. In Phillip's case he could accidentally overdose on the opium he was addicted to.

"We can't simply kill your Sister's husband." I and Luke were in his office. Discussing the situation. I was still angry. "I don't think Carol would forgive you. Besides Phillip used to be a friend and my accountant."

"Used to be." Luke caught the flash of anger in my eyes. "You mean you fired him?"

"Carol didn't want you to be upset by it." Luke told me. "Phillip wasn't able to keep track of the numbers for the operation anymore. He was more concerned with his next shot of opium or morphine then he was accurately doing the books. I had to let him go or kill him. Since he was Carol's husband and a former friend I simply fired him."

"How long has he been this bad?" I knew already. Phil had been injured in the Wall Street explosion several months ago. It was while he was recovering at the hospital that he became addicted to morphine, heroin, and opium. "Never mind. I can guess it's been bad for a few months."

"He was never violent before." Luke said.

"We don't know how long he's been beating Carol or intimidating her." Carol was the type to hide any abuse out of shame. "I think we should find him and drag his grungy self back here and lock him in the cellar until he dries out."

"You dizzy thing you." Luke was irritated. "You can't dry him like a drunk. Opium and it's derivatives have to weaned off a person. It will take a long time. Even then there are no guaranties."

"It takes as long as it takes." I said. "I'm a trained nurse. I will administer opium in decreasing doses until he is weaned off. After that it is up to him. If he goes back to the drug, we can let him kill himself. Which is what eventually happens to any addict."

Carol woke up sometime in the afternoon. Not one to play the invalid she was up and dressed. Much to Clara's dismay. To her, someone as bruised as Carol was needed bed rest. Clara escorted Carol to Luke's office where we were concluding business with Luke's other two partners in the business. Marco and Bobby O'Brien. I sat at the secretary desk behind Luke typing away, but I am far from just a secretary. I am nearly an equal partner in the business. Although, none of the men in the room would freely admit it.

"Carol." Luke stood up from his desk. The other two men stood as well. "Please have a seat. Gentlemen, you will excuse us."

O'Brien and Marco nodded to Carol as they exited the office. "I am sorry for what happen, Carol. Phillip was my best friend. I never expected him to do something like this." Luke said after the other men had closed the door behind them.

"I should go back home. Phillip may be back at any time and I want to be there." Carol didn't sit. She looked ready to bolt. "Please don't hurt him, Luke. It was the hop, as I told Ellen."

"You can go home, if you like." Luke said. "In fact, I want you there, in case Phillip does show up. I'm not going to hurt Phillip. We can't have him beating you either. Normally, what a man does with his wife is none of my business. Ellen is your Sister, so you are family. I will not let Phillip hurt a member of our family, even if he is family himself."

"What do you intend to do?" Carol visibly relaxed.

I stood and walked over to Carol. "Sit down, dear, and we will tell you."

Luke explained what had to happen. It appeared as though he had experience with this sort of thing. I do not wish to contemplate how Luke knew this. I do not ask.

"Will he be the same old Phillip after?" Carol asked Luke.

"No, he won't. That drug will haunt him in his dreams, he will crave it the rest of his life." Luke was honest with her. "But he can live a normal life, if he resists the urges. I will even give him his old job back. Only he has to stay off the hop."

"What do I need to do?" Carol held back tears. Despite her ability to bounce back from hard situations, she still had a bad habit of turning on the tears at an instant's notice.

"Like Luke said, dear, go home and continue your life as you always have. If Phillip shows up make a call and we will have him picked up. If you like we can sent Clara with you." I said, not knowing when Phillip would show up, I didn't want to commit to going home with Carol. She tends to annoy me at the best of times.

"Oh, no. Clara practically runs your house staff. She is still in mourning clothes too. I'll be okay, if I have any problems I'll stop by Mrs. Markel's and use her phone." Carol said.

"Henry will drive you home." I said. I also instructed Henry to escort Carol up to the apartment and make sure that Phillip wasn't waiting for her.

Luke waited until Carol left the office. "Phillip isn't the only opium related problem I have encountered lately." Luke swiveled his leather office chair to face me at my cozy little secretary deak.

"This morning a couple of bodies were found on one of the party boats, in one of the little cabins below deck."

I remembered those little cabins. I had suggested them. Luke and I were to utilize one of those little cabins once. I remembered the smell of the sea, mildew, and the dampness. All the same it had served it's function. Luke and I had enjoyed using that little cabin.

"They had died of an overdose." Luke went on to say. Interrupting my pleasant memories of that little cabin. "It created a minor problem. We deposited the bodies in a nearby alley so they wouldn't be connected to our operations."

The last thing we needed was the police to take an interest in our boats. It was the smart thing to do. I might have had them dumped overboard, but this way they were found, and there would be no search for the couple.