The Last Laugh With Ash

Untitled Part 1

Draft #1

Preface

I was putting Lily down for bed when I heard the phone ring. I knew something was wrong when I didn't recognize the number and it was 10 o'clock on a Sunday night. All I could remember was hearing Leah's faint sob repeating the phrase "Ashley’s dead". All I felt was shock and regret of not seeing her since our high school reunion. Leah and I knew that it was our duty to find her murderer, it was the least we could do. 

Chapter 1:

I filled with rage when I saw Ashley's lifeless body lying in her casket at the age of 30. Jessica and I always said out of the three of us she would be the first to go, but we never pictured her being this young. She had her whole life ahead of her, she had a steady job as a pharmacist and was raising her two children Sky & Christopher. Because of her being a single mother and us living two hours away it was hard to make time for each other. The three of us were like sisters, we did everything together since the age of 12-25 and when life pulled us apart it took a toll. 

So when I saw Jessica walk into the chapel we embraced into a hug and I broke down. 

"How you holding up?" whimpered Jessica.

"I'm doing the best I can. It's just so unfair that Sky and Christopher have to deal with going to their mom's funeral at such a young age." 

"I know, Ash wouldn't have wanted them to have to go through this. Sky has grown up so much though, she's starting to look just like Jack." 

"Let's just hope she hasn't grown up to act like him too", I retorted. 

"I doubt it since she hardly knows him. Do you think he's called or will have the decency to show up?"

"The world will never know with that man, I hope he rots in hell." 

Ashley married Jack Simpson right out college out of fear she wouldn't find anyone else. She always needed a guy to make her feel happy, but that went down the drain when he left her after Christopher was born. 

"Hi girls, thanks for coming it means so much!" Julie murmured. 

"Julie, I'm so sorry is there anything we could do?" Jessica asked. 

"Actually there is. On Tuesday the kids are moving in and I'd be grateful if you guys can help go through some of Ashley's stuff. The police are going Monday to look for anything that will help find that bastard who did this to my poor Ash."

"Of course we will Julie. Anything to help out, I know this is hard for you to have to do this all by yourself." 

"Yeah it's been tough but Travis actually has been helping me get through this." 

"Oh, did Travis move back?" Jessica asked. 

"Yeah he's been back for about four months now. He's really torn up that he didn't get to see Ash." 

"What kept him from going to see her?" I asked.

"Well as you know Ashley and Travis have always had their differences. After mine and Travis's separation, they got into an argument because Travis wanted to live in our house and make me move. No matter how much I and Ash fought we always stuck up for each other." 

Julie and Travis started seeing each other right after Ashley's Mom and Dad got divorced. Ashley hated him since the beginning but I and Jess weren't his biggest fans either. Travis and Julie broke up about five years ago and it ruined Julie. 

Julie began to cry and made her way to the front of the church to prepare for the priest to start the service. Jessica and I found seats toward the back and greeted old friends. We tried to keep it together in front of everyone as we said our last goodbyes to our fellow trio member Ashley.