Don't Betray Me

Chapter 6

"If I could just pause because, I just... who is that guy?" Joni gestures to the man who has been sitting in the back of the room. Lieutenant  Elliot ignores her question. "We're tending to be thorough, so we can figure out the manner of death." (Walt) "So by 'manner of death' you mean if someone killed him? If one of us killed him, one of his family?" "No, no Walt." Lieutenant Elliot tries to calm Walt, but fails. "Is that what your suggesting, Lieutenant?" Walt shouts at him. "No one is saying that, okay? This is all pro-forma." (Richard) "Okay. So who the fuck is that?"

"Um, this is Benoit Blanc." Lieutenant tells Richard. "Benoit Blanc?" "Yes, Blanc is a private investigator of great renown." (Joni) "Wait a minute, I read a tweet about a New York article about you. The last of the gentlemen, sleuths? You solved that case with the tennis champ." Joni laughs. "Your famous." She gags over Blanc. "Mr. Blanc is not with the police department, and not officially involved in the case, but he's offered to consult. I happily obliged and I can vouch for him."

(Linda) "Mr.Blanc, I know who you are. I read your profile in the New Yorker and I found it delightful. I just buried my 85 year old father who committed suicide. Why are you here?" You wait for Blanc to respond. "I'm here at the behest of a client." "Who?" Linda looks at Blanc expressionless. Same face Ransom makes. "I cannot say, but let me assure you this: my presence  will be ornamental. You will find me a respectful quiet, passive observer of the truth." 

(Richard) "Fine. Are we getting there?" "Nearly. Harlan's nurse. She was at the party in a professional capacity?" Blanc asks Richard. "Martha? I guess. Harlan hired her to be around to take care of whatever medical needs popped up, but really she's like part of the family." You smile at Richard's words since Martha loved Harlan and being apart of this family. "Good kid. Been a good friend to Harlan. Families from Paraguay. Linda really likes her work ethic." 

(Linda) Blanc gets up and walks towards Linda. "May I just say, then I'll recede, but as a self made man myself, I have to express my admiration for how you've followed in your father's footsteps." Linda smiles. "Thank you." "Just marvelous, you know, the whole too. Joni with her thing, Walt with his publishing empire." Linda interrupts "Yes, I mean, Walt, he's done well with what dad gave him. Not that it matters, but really, Dad hands him a book twice a year, and Walt publishes it. It's just not the same." "But, surely, Walt runs the merchandising, adaptations, film and television rights." Linda looks at him upset. "Are you baiting me, Detective?" Blanc hesitates. "You know we don't and if you think I am dumb enough to be baited into talking family business into shit talking my baby brother in front of a police detective and a state trooper..."

(Richard) "Walt doesn't run shit because there are no TV rights. Harlan never allowed any adaptations of his books. Hated the idea." Richard tells Blanc. "No!" Blanc acts shocked. "Yeah, drives Walt nuts, cause that's where the real money is."

(Walt) "Harlan took you aside at the party, when you returned you were chastened. What did Harlan say to you?" Walt hesitates at the question. You listen closely since you saw Walt and Harlan talk, but like Richard, you couldn't hear anything. "We talked, we had a business discussion about e-books. It was nothing. You wanna talk about an argument, hell, Ransom had an argument with him." 

You sigh remembering Ransom storming out of Harlan's office. "Ransom, that's Richard and Lindas son? (Y/N) fiancé?" You roll your eyes at what Blanc asks. He's always been so noisy. "Look, we all love Ransom, he's a good kid, we love him." "But?" Blanc looks at Walt eager for an answer like he always did. "but he's always been the black sheep of the family. Im not trying to... I like to keep stuff like this in the family, but with Ransom he's never had a job." You sigh at what Walt said since you always wanted him to get a job. "and dad, for some unknown reason, always supported him. They have this love/hate bond. They fight. But that night, God, they had a blowout." "About what?" Blanc asks Walt. "We couldn't make it out really, but it was huge and it's strange, they went into another room to do it. Usually they like to start up drama in front of the whole family."

"Okay, why don't we take a break and we will..." Lieutenant was cut off by Walt immediately walking off. "Is there anyone left for questioning?" "We still need to question Martha and (Y/N)." Trooper told Lieutenant. "Okay, let's bring (Y/N) in first." You rush back downstairs and hear Linda asking Joni if she knows where Richard is. Then the Lieutenant walks out saying, "(Y/N) we're ready for you now."