12.1 Four Corners of Law

She took a cab and arrived at Harbour View Inn late in the afternoon. The room was absolutely stunning, fully carpeted with a view facing east waterfront. Natalia stepped on the small balcony. She could see the piers, the fountain and a reddish afternoon sky. A flat screen TV and a fireplace. She tipped the bellboy.

She called Valerie Burke to say she was in town and hoping to meet next day on 14^th February.

Natalia wore a simple white sheath dress, gross red lipstick, sunglasses, a light blue jacket and cone heel black booties with a leather shoulder bag. She reached the intersection of Broad Street and Meeting Street better known as the Four Corners of Law. There stood the City Hall, St Michael’s Church and the Post Office in front of her by the corners, the County Courthouses by her left – all historical monuments. She entered the building from the courtyard.

Clerk at the circuit counter glanced at her card; Miss Natalia Phol, Private Investigator from Teep Lab, San Diego. “I’m Patricia. What is the probate case you want to look for and the year?” she asked.

“I believe it entered between 1983 and 1984. I do not know when it was granted. 69 Church Street, Crape-Myrtle House,” replied Natalia.

“What pages do you want specifically?”

“I want the whole thing. I can’t come again.”

“It could be very large.”

“How much will it cost?” asked Natalia.

“A dollar a page.”

“Get me the probate grant, wills and testaments, records of the heirs and executors. All there you have on Noth Edwidge Wellinois, the Cyrils and the Martins.”

“Inventory, court hearings…testimonies!?”

“No.”

“Please fill in this form,” she said, “it will take a couple of hours. You may sit there or you can come back later!”

Natalia sat down on a wooden bench in the hall, upright, cross-legged and double cross-legged. After half an hour, she tired, got up and reached the counter. “I will go out for a drink. Is there a café around?” she asked with a vibration in her voice.

“Right around the corner on Meeting Street.”

“Thank you.”

Natalia moved slowly towards the exit, digging into her bag under her arm on shoulder strap. The girl at the counter caught sight of something very strange. The glare that entered from the exit door penetrated through Natalia’s dress to define her contours.

After two hours, Natalia returned, collected the documents and paid for some three hundred odd pages.

The clerk reminded, “Please check if you got the important docs before you leave town,” and rested her chin on an elbow to concentrate on Natalia as she moved slowly towards the exit, browsing the pages.

Natalia arrived at the hotel, sat down for an à la carte and ordered a steak. She read random pages to find interesting new developments – including documented fingerprints of Noth Edwidge Wellinois.

The Anton Cyril’s will, dated 28^th January 1981, from the Carmen file photostats, protected the property only to Sidney Martin and Savon Martin wasn’t mentioned in it. That was an oversight. Anton Cyril, in sickbed, asked his eldest son, Thomas, to bestow the property to Savon Martin but he did not mention Noth Edwidge Wellinois – the eldest son of Sidney Martin.

Therefore, the asset would fall into the hands of the only heir alive; Noth Edwidge Wellinois.

So, who would want them all killed?

A will registered at Hulsen & Quinn in Madison, by Sidney Martin Cyril, devised 69 Church Street to Noth Edwidge Wellinois and only him. Sidney Martin passed a photostat to Hulsen & Quinn of the will Anton Cyril wrote and registered at Carmen Law Office to support her claim over the property of 69 Church Street.

Jacob Lawrence PLLC acted as the executor for the Cyrils Family and after several years, lost the case. In the absence of Savon Martin, who could have otherwise been a strong contender, the Cyrils tried to claim it back. However, the H&Q’s testament supplanted the Carmen’s will.

After the meal, she made copies of all the pages from the hotel and bound. She made a handful of floppy disks for her to keep and for Teep Lab. Then she walked to the Four Corners again to the Post Office and mailed a package to Enrique Cavanes. There was no urgency to fax all the pages and faxes would make them unclear.

Natalia strolled lazily up Meeting Street towards east. A beautiful afternoon and quite comfortable at this hour. A red sun hanging low over the western horizon behind her, filtered the rays through white cotton fabric. Shadows fall long and carroty in the surrounds. Branches of the crape myrtles appeared like old broomsticks with tousled straws and standing dead by the sidewalks. Some of the trees cut at the forks and they looked like skinny bare legs.

She turned to Church Street and entered Hutton House. Stepped on the patio and rang the bell.

“Hey! Happy Valentine’s Day!” Valerie Burke felt overwhelmed. Particularly, those soft mounds she felt in a hug. She corrected her glasses and rolled her eyes, “I’m glad to have you back.”

They spent the night at Harbour View Inn, dined at the restaurant, took a walk in the Waterfront Park. It was cold.

In the morning, they watched a cruise ship dock by the pier from the rooftop restaurant. Things changed in a matter of years.

They took a sightseeing tour in Valerie’s new car; a Honda Accord that she bought recently. They climbed Lockwood Drive and drove over the new bridge on James Island Expressway, the Robert B Scarborough, built after Hurricane Hugo caused huge destruction in this area. The marinas were repaired and the masts of the boats extend out of eyeshot on either side in a cloudy mist. They came to the end, Folly Beach, and then turned back home.