Scars

No Rest for the Weary

Past few weeks I'd been hanging around the Wyrm with Joaquin, and he's pretty cool. For a Serpent. We mostly play pool, and I've kept my drinking to a minimum; usually just a beer or bourbon. Which is what I used to sneak when my dad was still around...it was the only thing he'd drink. The bartender warmed up to me quickly, as did a good number of other Serpents. When they realized who I was many of them expressed their condolences, having known who my father was. Oddly enough, most of them were genuinely nice, I wasn't expecting to be as welcomed as I was considering I was a "Northsider" as the younger Serpents called me. 

They were the only ones who were not very welcoming. The group of young Serpents around my age treated me like I was some mole infiltrating their lifestyle. And I guess in a way they were right, I was really only there to scope out anyone that could've been involved with the accident. Little did I know I was slowly enjoying spending my time there. 

The one primary thought I had whenever I was there was finding out who was involved with he accident. After a little while I had a small list of possible suspects. Mostly compiled of the grown Serpents who hadn't spoken to me during my time hanging round. I had a gut feeling, but I couldn't be sure until I had more evidence. The detective in me wondered the why...Why would a Serpent kill my father? What would they have to gain? 

~

Momentarily I had to put my secret sleuthing aside, Tía had a sit down breakfast with Veronica and I,  one of the first since Polly left to live with the Blossoms.

"The lawyers are coming over this week to take our statements for Hiram's hearing," she sighed, I saw her glance at me before continuing, "The three of us are gonna have to testify on his behalf."

I looked at her confused, "Why me? I didn't live with you guys long before he got taken away..."

"Yes but he's your uncle, Victoria. You're more of a character witness," she explained.

"Why do I have to defend his character when all he ever did was treat me like crap! What, he let me live with you guys after my dad died because he was my only known living relative and that means I owe him?" I snapped. 

Veronica clearly looked distressed, "What if they ask what he did? Embezzling all that money? Am I gonna have to lie?" 

"Well...." Tía paused, still hung up on what I said, "We might have to shade the truth a bit..."

I shrugged, "Yeah cause lying under oath isn't a felony or anything. Looks like we're just a family of liars and criminals."

Veronica hit my arm but I didn't flinch as we looked at Tía putting her head in her hands, unsure of how to respond to any of my comments, "Mom?" Ronnie asked worried about her mother.

"I have just made a big mess of things...." she paused, "Hiram found out about...me and Fred...Someone went to him before I got a chance to say anything...and he doesn't like the things I've been doing while he's been away."

Veronica stopped her, "Dad knows?"

Tía nodded, "And on top of that the Blossoms are still after the drive-in land, and Fred still doesn't know that we own it."

I picked up my cup of coffee and gave it a sip, "You could always tell Fred we own the land?" I guessed.

"And risk having him walk off the project? We've bet everything we have on the SoDale construction-" 

"Mom," Ronnie interrupted, "This is a small, gossipy town. You need to tell Fred about the land before someone else does."

I agreed, "Word travels, secrets are bound to come out at some point or another," I told her taking a bite of toast not noticing the scared look in her eye when she looked at me.