After arriving home from the Sunday dinner catastrophe, I started to put a plan in place. I’d been skirting around the issues of trying to find out more about Darius’s time here in Charleston, and I was tired of not getting anywhere, especially with Monique Sanders on some blind rampage. I could only think that her father’s sources were feeding him information we were not privy to.
Before heading to bed, I went to my desk and rifled through the items I picked up from the Charleston Place Hotel last Wednesday. The card I needed had been inserted inside the conference program.
Anna Hudson. Financial Advisor. Chambers Financial Group.
Monique was at the restaurant eating with Anna. The women were obviously friends. I didn’t know how deep their friendship went, but Anna’s apologetic actions around Monique’s behavior stuck with me. She almost seemed use to the behavior.
I studied the card again. Something about the Amber Street address stuck a cord with me.
I knew this address.
I made sure to include Monique Sanders in my prayers. The young woman was disturbed. She had lost the man she felt would be her husband, watched a man she used to date with his bride-to-be and the man who’d been there all of her life was fighting for his life.
If I’ve learned anything in my sixty odd years, there was always evidence to be found that drove a person over the edge. It was often my most difficult students who had the most challenging home lives. Their time in the classroom was their time to get the attention they craved. Even when Monique dated Cedric, I sensed in her a woman desperate for love and attention.
I slept better than I did the past week. Somehow, I convinced myself I had a plan, and all would be well.
When I arrived on Amber Street, I understood why the address seemed familiar to me. The bakery where Carmen and I tasted wedding cake samples was only a few doors down. My mind tried to comprehend the close proximity, but I needed to push ahead. It was almost ten o’clock and I didn’t know if my showing up without an appointment would help me.
I stepped in and approached the receptionist’s area. A middle age woman with short-cropped salt and pepper hair smiled at me. “Can I help you?”
“Well, I don’t have an appointment, but I met Anna Hudson last week.” I pulled out the business card. “I was wondering if she was available today.”
The secretary typed on her keyboard. “She doesn’t have any appointments this morning. I can check with her to see if she can see you.”
“That would be great.”
I waited to see Anna’s response. After a minute of talking on the phone, the secretary said, “She will be out in a few minutes.”
Thank you, Lord! I moved over to the waiting area.
About five minutes later, Anna walked out smoothing her knee length skirt.
I stood up to greet her and noticed her smile wavered the closer she walked towards me. “Mrs. Patterson?”
“Yes, we met last week.” There was no need to bring up the incident at the restaurant yesterday. That was for behind closed doors. “I was hoping you could talk with me a little more about what you can offer.”
“Sure, I would be delighted to talk to you.”
I followed Anna back to her office. I really did want to know about her services.
Once seated, Anna handed me brochures and launched into her spiel. Ten minutes in, my patience had run thin.
“I’m sorry, Anna. This is all good information, but I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t mention my concern for your friend, Monique. How is she?”
Anna’s body seemed to freeze in place as though I pressed some invisible pause button. She was one of those talkers who liked to use her hands. My interruption left her with her hands facing up as if waiting for me to place something in her palms. She snapped to attention, sliding her hands behind the desk. “I haven’t talked to her since yesterday. They took her down to the police station. I called her dad. I felt so bad because he had to make his way down to see her.” Anna’s voice broke. “I hadn’t realized how frail Mr. Sanders had become.”
“So you and Monique have been friends for a long time?”
She swallowed. “Since eighth grade at Northwood Academy. I remember when she dated your son.”
“Oh,” I choked out. “She didn’t take that break up too well.”
Anna grimaced. “One of her dreams was to marry a doctor. She did go a little overboard, but that was Monique. She was an only child, and her dad admits he spoiled her. Especially after her mom died.”
I nodded. I’d forgotten Monique’s mother had passed when she was still in middle school. I knew the woman only from a few social events I attended with Ralph.
“She seemed really close to Darius Randall. I imagine losing her fiancé fueled her need to blame someone yesterday.”
“Fiancé?” Anna stared at me.
I raised my eyebrow. “That’s what Monique told me. Well actually, she said he was going to propose to her in the spring.”
Anna shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how disillusioned Monique had become about Darius.”
“What do you mean?”
“Darius broke up with Monique weeks ago. He came to Charleston to see Mr. Sanders. He thought of him as a father figure. Monique had this idea that he came to see and support her.”
“Is that why Monique and Darius argued last Monday?”
Anna’s face reddened. “You know a lot.”
“Well, I know Mr. Sanders. He was friends with my husband. I talked to both Monique and Kendall last Friday. I don’t think he approved of his daughter’s relationship with Darius.”
“There was no relationship,” Anna exclaimed. “Darius would have never proposed to her. He was selfish… A real narcissist.”
I narrowed my eyes, observing the spark of anger in the young woman’s face. “You seem to recognize the real Mr. Randall.”
Anna’s mouth softened. “I feel bad for Monique. She’s very needy, and she’s always been unlucky in love, which only causes her to embarrass herself.” She sighed. “After Darius spoke at the conference last Monday night, Monique rushed up to him like they were together, grabbing his arm. He snatched his arm from her and began to walk away. Instead of taking the hint, Monique went after him. They argued. Anyone near them could clearly hear him tell her it was over between them and she needed to let him go.”
I frowned. I realized Monique wasn’t the most stable chick, but the story Anna was laying out in front of me was cause for concern. I leaned forward. “Anna, I’ve seen Monique in action, even before yesterday’s blow-up at the restaurant. Do you think she did something to Darius?”
Anna seemed to give my question some thought. “You know I tried to call Monique a few times on Tuesday. I started to invite her to attend the dinner we’d plan with Darius.”
“What dinner? Where was this?”
Anna shrugged. “Tuesday night at Good Eats. A group of us, the conference committee, wanted to treat Darius before he left town on Wednesday. Everyone had a good time. If Monique had been there, she would have made everyone uncomfortable. I’m sorry to say, but I’m glad I didn’t invite her. Anyway, Darius left before the rest of us. He said he was tired and wanted to rest for his flight home. He had to fly out again in a day or two to some conference in Las Vegas. He was a very busy man.”
Good Eats. Charleston was the largest city in South Carolina. Was it really possible that the world was this small? Was it possible that I merely glimpsed Darius seeking out the same restaurant where he would join the committee for a meal later?
Darius lost his life in the early morning hours on Wednesday. “Monique knew Darius was staying at the Charleston Place Hotel. She had to know where his hotel room was located,” I pondered aloud.
Kendall had provided his daughter with an alibi. Did he really get discharged at the same time Darius was killed?
Anna cleared her throat. “Mrs. Patterson, I’m sorry again about Monique’s behavior yesterday. I know she loved Darius and wanted him to love her back. I’ve known her a long time and she’s had issues in the past. I can’t say what her state of mind was and if she did anything to Darius. I know I saw her leave the hotel in a huff on Monday night and she returned on Wednesday looking for Darius.”
She stood up from her desk. “I really need to move on to other business.”
I stood as well. “Sure, I appreciate your time. And I will take a look at these brochures. There’s just more pressing matters going on right now.”
Anna’s mouth curved into a smile, but I noticed a sadness had crept into her eyes. “I’m really sorry again for all this. Hopefully, this time Monique will really get the help she needs.”
This time. “Help as in mental help?”
Anna nodded. “She’s been treated a few times. Last time, she stayed at a facility in Florida right before she moved to Atlanta.”
After Cedric broke up with her.
I left Anna’s office, thankful once again my son didn’t marry that woman. At the same time, I felt bad because all she wanted was to be loved.