The Mystery of Chad Harris: Fate Delivers Us, Chapter Seventeen
 
 
 

Eve was unpacking some of her luggage, when the phone rang.

" Eve Russell."

" Dr. Russell. Thank goodness you’re there."

" Sarah? What’s wrong?"

" Dr. Russell, I’m so sorry to call you. I know that your vacation isn’t up until day after tomorrow.."

" What happened."

" Dr. Roth was here, and she got a call. Her parents and sister were in a bad car accident. Her mother’s dead, and it’s bad for the others."

" Oh my God."

" So, she left.."

" Of course."

" And, I haven’t found anyone to fill-in. There was a bad train-wreck last night, and so, the Harmony Hospital is on overload. They don’t have anyone to spare for the Free Clinic."

" I’ll be right there, Sarah."

" Thank you, Dr. Russell!"

Eve hung up the phone and went downstairs, where she found the others.

" Pizza should be here in a few minutes, Mom.", Whitney says, munching down on some potato chips and dip.

" Well, I won’t be here. I’ve got to go to the Clinic."

" NOW?", TC says. " Honey, you’re not supposed to be off vacation for another 48 hours."

" TC, I know all of that, but Linda Roth’s parents and sister were involved in a bad car accident. Her mother’s dead, TC, and she left the Clinic. The Hospital is swamped because of a train wreck. There’s nobody that can fill in at the Clinic, and there about a half-dozen pregnant women due around now. "

" You haven’t had anything to eat.", TC pleads.

" Will you order something for me, and have it sent to the Clinic? I’ll see you guys later." Eve kisses TC and leaves her house.

Chad shook his head. " Man. Your Moms is dedicated. Even though she don’t like me, I respect that about her."

" Chad, I wouldn’t say that Dr. Russell doesn’t like you. She’s just protective of our daughters. Once she gets to know you, she’ll like you as much as I do."

Chad beamed at TC’s compliment. They were all snacking on junk food, when the doorbell rang. Simone opened the door to the guy carrying a stack of pizza boxes, as well as some other boxes. TC took the stuff off the top of his pile, and led him to the dining room, where he placed the rest of it there. He gave the bill to TC, who signed it, and gave him a nice tip. Simone was showing him the door, when George came in.

" Hi, Mr. Alexopoulos. How are you?"

" Fine, Simone. Good trip?"

" Excellent. We’re all in the dining room. Except for Mom. She had to go to the Clinic."

" Good. I’m hungry..got some to spare?"

Simone laughs. " Of course."

Once they get to the dining room, Whitney has the plates out, and has brought out a selection of sodas for everyone. She has an extra glass, and hands it to George.

" Hi, Mr. Alexopoulos. "

" Hey, Whitney."

" George, my man. Good to see you."

" TC. Same here. How are you Chad?"

" Ok, Mr. A.", Chad says, biting into a piece of pizza. Everyone gets some pizza, others take some antipasta and pieces of calzone. Simone is about to sit down when the doorbell rings.

" Sugarbear, I’ll get it. Whitney, this is probably Sam. Go get him a glass of ice and another plate."

TC came back with Sam after a few moments.

" Hey everyone. Good to see you, George."

" Hey Sam."

After they all got seated, George spoke up first. " Should we eat, or do I give  my report now?"

Chad shrugged his shoulders. " Mr. A, Chief Bennett, I don’t have anything to hide from the Russells. Without them, I wouldn’t even be looking. Everyone in this room has supported me in my search, so, whatever you have to say to me, you can say to them."

George nodded. " Ok, Chad. Well, I can confirm that I found your Medallion. I can tell you the day it was made."

" You’re kidding!", Chad said.

" Nope. It was made on the isle of Jamaica. The professor’s friend was right. Those who make these types of Medallions do consider themselves artists. And, they take meticulous records. Wealthy people have coats of arms. The middle class, and working class, have family medallions. So, their level of record keeping is high. " George took the a small jewelry box out and handed it back to Chad. It was his Medallion.

" I found the artist. Actually, it was his son. The man died eight years ago. But, the son swears to me that it was his father’s work, and everything matched to the work ticket. There was no name on the ticket, but, the curious thing is that TWO medallions were ordered. "

" Two?"  Chad shook his head, and looked at George. " Charity told me that she saw TWO of these."

" She did?", Sam asked.

" Yep. She said that she had seen two of these Medallions."

" Well, the original order was for two. Nothing like this one has been ordered since. At least not from that shop, or any of the others that I checked into on the islands."

" This Medallion thing is getting more creepy by the moment.", TC comments.

George nods. " I agree. I’m going to stop speculating and just come out and say it. Chad, someone associated with you gave you the Medallion. The miracle is that you’ve been able to keep it, especially with the life you’ve led, but, it’s no accident that you have it."

" I know, Mr. A. I wish I knew who gave it to me. But, knowing that it meant enough for someone to go through the trouble of getting it for me, makes it even more special."

" Well, even though I didn’t get a name that purchased it, I still think it was a success. Now, I also went to California, to research you, Chad."

" Research me?"

" Yes. Research you.  I thought maybe I could turn up something that others would have missed. I found something interesting."

" What?", Chad asked.

" The lack of paperwork on you, Chad. It was almost scary."

" What do you mean?"

"  Everyone in this country has a paper trail. The rich and famous are more chronicled, because they usually have a public one, in addition to a private one. The middle class is chronicled by their family. People would think that the poor would be least chronicled. Not true. The difference is who does the chronically for the poor: usually government employees from social services offices. Paperwork up the wazoo, mainly, in my opinion, to cover their asses if something goes wrong. I don’t know how to say this, Chad..but, simply put – you don’t have enough paperwork. I couldn't find a birth certificate, or any concrete clues as to when you were really born. It was obvious from the initial paperwork done on you, that they were guessing your age, and picked a date out of the air for your birthday. There’s so little on you. It bothers me, and I can’t put my finger on it why. But , it does. I’m sorry that I don’t have something more concrete for you. But, I’m not giving up. I know that we’re going to get  a break. There is no such thing as the ‘perfect crime’, Chad. There are ALWAYS clues. The most important thing of Law Enforcement is patience. Wouldn’t you agree, Sam?"

Sam nods along with George. " Yep. I agree. Sooner or later, the clue you need, comes forth. You never know how long it will take. But, it is the exception to the rule that the clue you need NEVER comes to you."

" Amen, Sam. So, I want you to know that I’m on this case, and I won’t give up. "

" I’m glad Chad has someone like you, Mr. Alexopoulos working for him. It will be solved."

Whitney brings in the canolis that were delivered with the rest of the food, and they all begin to show on them.

" Well, Chad, I have some news about Crystal.", Sam says.

" Really, Chief Bennett?"

" Yep. We solved the case of Crystal’s murder. It was a case of mistaken identity. Crystal wasn’t the intended victim."

" Who was?", George asks.

" Sheridan Crane. They had on the same type of coat and scarf. The hitman, sent by a French drug cartel that has been chasing Sheridan for some time, mistook Crystal for Sheridan. She was an unfortunate victim of circumstance."

" Wow. That sucks.", Chad says.

" Yep. It does. But, while going through Crystal’s belongings, an officer found this."

Sam put an envelope on the table and slid it over to Chad opened it. Inside was an audiocassette, and a note addressed to him. It had his name on it, and as he opened the note, it said: Your mother

Chad looked at George and slid it down to him. George looked at the note, and jumped up from the table, rushing out of the room, to the living room. Everyone else followed him. He put the tape into the Russell’s music system, and pushed play. Everyone was frozen in their tracks as the soulful voice boomed from the speakers, singing the sad Billie Holiday tune. George stopped the tape after about a minute, and took it out. He went up to Sam.

" Are you sure that this note was attached to it?"

" Positive. It was hidden behind something in the dressing room, which is why the officers didn’t get it the first time."

George burst into a big smile and looked at Chad. His smile grew wider and wider.

" What?", Chad said.

" We caught the break I’ve been looking for."