CHAPTER 85: FOUL PLAY?

It was mid-noon when I got a chance to seclude Penelope from everyone, as it was her time to have some rest as I strictly mandated her for her own welfare. We are now inside her bedroom, laying consciously on her bed as I cuddle her. I wish for her to sleep, but the conversation I had with her father’s comrade kept on rummaging in my mind, which consistently made me uneasy and agitated. My mind won’t settle down, so will my heart, unless I convey to her Sir Patrick’s peculiar insight.


“Baby, I knew this wasn’t the right timing to convey this to you, but I conversed this morning to Patrick Wallace and he said something that deeply bothered me.”


“What about?”


“He was suggesting that we should have your father autopsied to reconfirm that he definitely died due to his lung illness” I felt her stirred and abruptly glanced up at me.


“Autopsy? But why? Was there any false notion with the cause of dad’s death?”


“He mentioned an example to me, his late cousin. He had a heart condition and died. Everyone assessed and assumed he died because of his heart ailment until his eldest daughter had him autopsied. The result revealed that her father was food poisoned inside their household, which caused his heart to stop beating.”


“And you think that was the same case with dad? That someone might have done such a horrendous act for him to die? Who would do such a thing to daddy? When everyone here at the mansion respected and valued him?”


“Mr. Wallace has a point, Penelope. Your father was a great man with enormous wealth and perhaps a lot of enemies as well. We could never neglect the possibility of an inside job, Baby. Although none of us wished for any of those and rather accept that your father ceased naturally, no one could tell if his illness was really the cause of his sudden death.”


“So what are you implying? That we have him autopsied? Wasn’t it a bit late for that? It’s been a week since he died.”


“Autospies can still be administered to him. The pathologist could still trace any sign of foul play if ever we wish to have your father’s body undergo such procedure. But if we wish for an autopsy then we must do it the soonest.”


“Besides, who among us here has a motive to harm him, the more kill him? He doesn’t have any grudges with anyone here, does he?”


Suddenly, my mind abruptly recollected what occurred recently in this household. The commotion that happened a week ago, when Penelope confronted Nicole and deliberately threw her out of the mansion. Fear swiftly encompassed me as I thought of the possibility. Nicole could have released her fury to the old man to somehow get even to what Penelope did to her. She may have done something to her father in order to inflict pain on the latter before leaving the premises. These were all speculations, but given the fact that there was a grudging gap between the two ladies, these speculations couldn’t be neglected.


“What if someone intentionally did this to your father? What if there was indeed foul play? Because I myself was shocked at what happened. His condition was stabilizing and progressing, then all of a sudden he died? Wasn’t that a bit odd?” I uttered with utmost conviction, which made her stare at me again, but this time, extreme fright filled her weary eyes.. My heart was racing as I thought thoroughly of Nicole’s involvement with Alexander’s death.


“Nonsense, Lewis. Who would do such an evil thing to a helpless old man?”


‘Helpless old man who was sleeping soundly inside his bedroom. Any violator could easily overpower Alexander given his condition, even a woman.’


“Shit!”


The thought made me abruptly bounce off from lying, which bewildered Penelope as she looked at me with confusion. I swiftly climbed down the bed and disturbingly walked away from it as my mind ran through the series of scenarios that could eventually take place.


“What’s the matter, Lewis?”


“Nicole. She was the only one who had an enormous grudge on you, Penelope, for throwing her out of this place.”


“What does she have to do with dad’s death?”


“I’m not quite certain yet, but only she could have a deep motive to do harm to you, after what you did to her. If I was in her shoes, don’t you think I wanted to avenge what you did to me? Don’t you think I would do anything to somehow even score with you, so I could inflict pain to you in any way possible?”


She stared at me with protruding eyes, while analyzing what I voiced out. “She couldn’t do that. Daddy was too kind to her for her to think of such a cruel act against him. Yes, she must be too furious at me for what I did to her, but killing my father in return? That’s absurd, Lewis!”


“What if she did? What if during those times all she could think of was avenging herself at all costs? What if she did something to get even with you? These were merely speculations, Penelope, but we can never deny the fact that she hated us, especially you so much. What if her mind was severely clogged with revenge, which made her think irrationally and did something awful that night before she left?”


***


What Lewis was pointing out hastily created a disturbed feeling inside me. Amidst my mourning stage with the loss of my father, he added another mind-boggling insight, which literally made me more emotionally and mentally restless. As I gazed bewildered at him, the thought of Nicole’s involvement with my father’s death filled my already piled up mind, which caused my head to ache.


I could never deny the fact that Nicole was indeed infuriated at me after what I did to her. But could she actually do such a horrific act to my father after all these years? Was she deeply intoxicated with wrath against me for her to do a gruesome crime to a helpless old man, who did nothing to her but goodwill?


‘But what if Lewis was right? What if she did something, in which she knew no one would suspect her anyway? What if she did something before she left the premises? No one will think about it, right? Because everyone will think that the cause of dad’s death was due to his illness.’


There’s only one way to find out, to know if my boyfriend’s speculations were accurate and do hold a bearing. There’s no harm if ever I give in to what Lewis was imposing at. Whatever the result may be, at least we would know the true cause why my father died so suddenly. And if there was indeed a foul play that occurred, then actions could be done to justify dad’s death.


After several minutes of mindful thinking and weighing, the words that came right out of my lips concluded what we must adhere to. “Alright! Let’s have him autopsied as soon as possible, Lewis. You knew more about this, so I entrust this process in your hands. I will talk to experts to have this whole place checked, to verify if there was indeed an anomaly that occurred that we neglect to see.”


“Right! I will have him scheduled for an autopsy later or by tomorrow at the hospital. Penelope, what if we are right all along? What if my speculations were accurately true and that Nicole has something to do with all of these? What’s your next move?”


“I will turn the world upside down to find Nicole wherever she may be and give justice that my father deserves. I will not stop until justification is served. If she indeed tainted her hands and there was a foul play that occurred, God forbid me, I will make her pay at all costs.”