19.2 Thistledown

They entered a foyer and three steps to descent to a sparkling living room. Natalia noticed two prominent colours; whitewashed walls and oak white wooden floors. On the other side of the house, kitchen finished of white marble tops and a dining room with the view of the pond.

Thomas Cyril told the maid, “Mrs Sharon. We’ll have lunch here. This is Miss Natalia.”

Thomas ushered her to the wicker lounge chairs in the patio paved of bluestone. She noticed the outdoor pool beside the steps. Again, an outdoor kitchen in this area, lavish trees with young leaves and grass so green.

“What would you like to drink?” he asked, “Miss Natalia.”

“Call me Natalia,” she replied, “Anything, sir.”

“Natalia! Let’s drink some craft beer. This comes from Asheville. You know, North Carolina is the state of Southern beer.”

“I must admit I made a lousy mistake,” he began the conversation, “A huge error on my part. When Sidney Martin died, Justin Carmen contacted Jacob Lawrence to find out what to do about the will. It seems my father did not bother to do anything about it. He was lost and old. A will that did not mention Savon Martin or Noth Edwidge Wellinois. And I didn’t know them.

“When my father told me about it in his sickbed, I asked Jacob Lawrence to check on it. He began to study the case. Suddenly my father died and there was this call from Carmen saying that Hulsen & Quinn was keeping a will from this lady, Sidney Martin, and those particulars to be revealed only to me in person if I meet Jadon Quinn. You know, Jadon Quinn waited all this time for my father to die before bringing it out so that his claim will replace any other ruling.

“I flew from Chicago, first time we met at a villa. He told me that he could dissolve it if we could settle a sum for Savon Martin. Half a million dollars…it’s worth a try. And two-hundred thousand dollars for Jadon Quinn. I paid him.”

“That’s a big amount!” Natalia quizzed.

“No,” said Thomas, “We were going to dissolve a testament illegally. And I was in it…my mistake.”

“When was it?” asked Natalia taking down notes with her silver Cross pen.

“I can’t remember dates,” he pointed, “you may write but don’t record anything.”

“Okay,” she said, “It was before Savon’s death!”

“That is right,” he carried on, “Jacob pushed me to keep the house, 69 Church Street…”

“Did you visit there?”

“Oh yes, yes, I go there. When I am in Charleston, I visit my parents. Usually, I drive. I know that place very well. I knew something about Crape and Myrtle. Have you heard of them!”

“Absolutely.”

“Crape and Myrtle! What I didn’t know was that my father was married to a Crape. So, I flew second time to meet them in Madison. Under strict rules, I cannot take a lawyer, no wires, no recording, no noting, no copies, no photographs and I had to leave my wallet at the counter. From the first meeting I knew, Jadon was not a good man. Anyway, I was too focused on 69.

“We delayed a court case by talking to Carmen, thinking I could find a breakthrough with Savon.

“I went in and somebody frisked me. And after thirty minutes, Savon Martin arrived. My half-brother, my blood. I met him for the first and last time,” he shrugged, “He wore a jumpsuit, red…white…green…floral. And we talked. I made this offer; half million dollars. Jadon tried to explain it’s worth taking it, better half of what he could get for the house. Savon wanted to think it over. It seems, he learnt very recently about this will. He was confused too. Jadon said, we give him time to think.

“And then I heard Savon committed suicide. My father has died, Savon is dead, time was running out. The law offices, Carmen, Jacob, Hulsen & Quinn, they have to submit these cases for probate trials and they did.

“But the will sent by Hulsen & Quinn devised the property of 69 Church Street to Noth Edwidge Wellinois and only him – a son of Sidney Martin who would prosper the house.

“This Noth Edwidge Wellinois, nobody knew. My father never mentioned him. Hulsen & Quinn threw down a different will from what I saw. Yes, I saw the will. They showed it to me. I read it in Madison. It clearly stated this property deliberated to Savon Martin and only him.

“And when he’s dead, I’m the one to get it, if not for this other will that bequeathed the property to Noth Edwidge Wellinois…and only him.”

“And that will was even dated wrongly,” revealed Natalia, “actually, they signed these three wills in October 1982. Those ladies just signed without reading anything. Jadon Quinn was there to show them where to sign. And Sidney Martin died soon after on 6^th November 1982. This date here shows 18^th December 1981. It is the same year this holographic will was registered at Carmen dated 28^th January 1981.”

“We knew Jadon fooled us. We disagreed but we didn’t have proof. We tried to hold the case as long as we could. Our disputes made outside the court mostly. In the end, court ruled to grant the house to Wellinois. He was a living soul and a son of Sidney Martin.

“This isn’t my worry. You know, all these people have died. Paul Clancy was an H&Q operative. He bought the house.

“We stayed out. It was a dirty game. I heard you were investigating this case years ago. We decided not to meet anyone on this matter. Jacob still didn’t want me to see you.

“Things changed. We are in a different situation. Mr Cavanes told me that you have figured everything. I’m keen to know the truth. If murders are involved, we can call a retrial. I believe that Wellinois is also in danger but the house is already gone. Maybe, we can turn it around!”  he caressed Natalia’s knee gently, “So, who killed Savon Martin?”