The Widower Murders

Chapter 9 - Price Estate

Literally the majority of what I remembered about my family's home had not changed.  Gone twenty years and still the seventeen room mansion looked nearly as it did the day I went away.  With the exception of some foliage scattered about the grounds, I was impressed with the amazing care with which the property was maintained.  Jarvis himself admittedly not the best at landscaping, when we arrived I was introduced to the groundskeeper Luis, a small statured Mexican immigrant who referred to himself as a Jack of All Trades.  Taking it upon himself to unload my bags, I could tell why Jarvis had hired him.  Even with Luis lending a helping hand, upkeep of Price Estate was easily too much for the two of them to handle.  One of my first orders of business in the days to come would be employing more staff members.

An hour and a half after I was still getting reacquainted with the bedroom and memories belonging to the fourteen year-old I left as, Jarvis appeared.  In his face the decades of unmerited service accented the wrinkles and gray I hadn't previously noticed.  "Master Fence," he began.  "Just wanted to check in to make sure you were adjusting and to remind you that it would be time for your evening doses of medications."

I sighed.  "The adjusting is definitely gonna take some time, Jarvis.  And the meds, you don't have to concern yourself with."

"Oh no?  And might I ask why is that, sir?"

"Simple.  Because I don't take'em."

Seeming perplexed, Jarvis made his way in.  The persona of assurance he normally exhibited vanished the closer he drew.  "Master Fence.  The doctors made it quite clear that should you not routinely take your medications you could easily wind up back in that god-forsaken place."

As with Jarvis, I had heard everything the physicians at The Valley had said. The difference was I had stopped giving credence to it the moment I realized they were using medicine to control me.  I couldn't count how many times I’d witnessed Floyd get shot up with Thorazine or take Lithium and walk around for days in a zombie induced state.  The doses made him so sluggish and drowsy that sleeping became the only activity he had enough energy to perform.  And that's not including the side effects. A lot of the drugs patients were given were experimental and still in the trial phase.  During my stay at The Valley I’d heard numerous accounts of people going blind or developing some disease or another because of the meds they were taking.  All the more reason why I refused to.

Still in the Pure Michigan t-shirt, jeans and gym shoes I'd worn home, I began to undress.  "No need to worry, Jarvis.  I haven't taken those things in years."

The look on Jarvis' face suggested he was just as confused as before.

Shirtless and walking over to my bed where several suits from a local tailor were laying, I looked through the pile wondering why were they there. "Come come, ol' boy.  No need for the long face.  If you seriously think I have some sort of mental disorder and that at any time I'm gonna go nutso, then perhaps I’m not the only one who should be medicated."

"My only concern is that you remain both physically and mentally healthy, Master Fence."

"Of which I'm well aware of," I replied as I retrieved my bags and began searching for a toothbrush, razor and a pair of underwear.

"But please, do understand, my dear friend.  I am not a child.  You do not have to look after me as if I've returned from military school or paroled from Alcatraz."

Jarvis turned and started to leave.  "As you wish, sir."

Unable to find any of the items I was looking for, I wailed.  "What the hell?  Jarvis, have you seen my—"

"All of your effects you will find in your dresser drawer and bathroom, sir," Jarvis interrupted as he stepped into the hallway.

"Geez, Jarvis," I murmured.  "You know I hate when you fold my underwear and put my things away.  Remember?  Haven't  we discussed this before about how a lot of the duties my father expected of you I would prefer you not do?"

"My absolute apologizes, Master Fence.  It completely eluded me as I had Luis put them there suspecting you'd want to shower and change before your dinner guest arrives."

"My dinner guest?" I flared, locating a pair of boxers exactly where Jarvis had said.

"Yes, sir.  My niece, Sam.  Tonight's the night she and I usually have dinner together and seeing as how the two of you have long wanted to meet…"

"Wait a minute.  Are you serious?  Samantha's coming here?  When?"

Jarvis smiled and continued on.  "Oh, in about ten to fifteen minutes, sir."

"Ten to fifteen minutes?" I exclaimed dashing for the bathroom, realizing that's what the suits were for, reminding myself that it was perfectly okay for the help to sort the belongings of the man they now considered master.