This story is purely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to person's living or dead, or to events that may have occurred, is purely coincidental.
The author claims all copyrights to this story and no duplication or publication of this story is allowed, except by the web sites to which it has been posted, without the consent of the author.
All of us enjoy the stories here, so please, support Nifty. Like any other Business, it takes resources to keep it running.
I appreciate you, and I know Nifty appreciates your support!
As always, my applause goes to my good editor and friend.
Mark Stevens
CHAPTER 24
Devon's sudden exit from the room left Britt alone with Alice in her living room. He jumped to his feet and headed for the door.
"Wait, Britt. Please."
He turned and faced her. "I need to check on Devon," he said.
She nodded. "Do that," she told him. "Then I think it's about time you leveled with me about what's really going on here," she said. "And while you're at it I wish you would explain Devon's involvement as well. There has to be some reason why his family has been paying Mother all of these years."
Britt didn't give Alice an answer. He remained silent and went in search of Devon. He found the man leaning against the car.
Britt asked, "You okay, Dev?"
"How the hell can I be? I don't know about my father, but it appears to me that my mother has destroyed these people's lives."
Britt stood beside Devon and said, "I think you and I both know it wasn't your mother that did the damage here."
"You feel certain that Alice is my sister, don't you?"
"And you don't?"
"I guess we'll know in the next day or so for sure, won't we?"
"In the mean time, Alice wants some answers," Britt reminded him.
"And she should have them," Devon agreed.
Britt draped an arm around his lover's shoulders. "Are you up to reading more of Margaret's journal? Because if you are, I think we will find the answers we need."
Devon stepped away from the car. As he walked up the steps he called over his shoulder, "Then by all means let's read the rest of the journal."
Britt followed the man inside Alice's home and tried to give Alice an encouraging smile. He fell on the sofa alongside Devon.
"You are right, Alice," he began. "You deserve to know what's going on here; rather what we think may be going on," he corrected himself.
He had placed Margaret Cooper's journal on the table beside the couch when he went to search for Devon. He reached for it and looked across the room at Alice.
"I could tell you what I suspect, but somehow I think if we continue reading this we will find out everything we need to know."
Alice looked doubtful, and Britt said, "Let's read some more and see if we find the answers we need."
Alice gave a nod and didn't speak.
Britt opened Margaret's journal and read the next entry.
March 31, 1978
I said goodbye to my husband today. It still seems impossible that he is gone. Yesterday was Alice's birthday. She is seven years old. I couldn't bear having a party for her. I have told her we will have her party this weekend.
April 2nd, 1978
I received a letter today from the bank. Actually, it was a record of deposit letting me know that two thousand dollars had been deposited into our account. Tom had told me once that should anything ever happen to him, the thousand dollars we were being paid each month would double to two thousand. I called the bank and they verified the deposit for me. I asked where the funds were coming from and was told it came from an undetermined source.
April 5th, 1978
Tom was involved in an accident that cost him his life. When it first happened, I was of the opinion he had been drinking. I found out later that a front tire had blown causing him to lose control of the car. He had been traveling at a pretty good speed, and when he left the road, he had smashed into a tree. The doctor told me he had died instantly. I asked about the possibility of alcohol and was told there was none in Tom's body. I can't explain the relief I felt knowing my husband hadn't lost his life due to alcohol.
April 7th, 1978
I feel frightened. I don't know which way to turn. Sheriff Porter came by the house today and told me that all of the paper work had been turned in concerning Tom's accident. The sheriff said he was opening up a full blown investigation. The tire that had blown on Tom's car looked as if something had happened to it, causing the tire to explode. He said there were signs that maybe a bullet passing through the outer edge could have possibly been the reason. Done intentionally that could only mean one thing. Murder. I said as much to the sheriff. He promised to let me know the minute he knew something.
Britt paused from reading and asked Devon, "Do you suppose this Sheriff Porter is a relative to your family?"
"I believe my mother had a cousin that was sheriff at one time. In fact, I think it was about the time I was born."
Britt read the next entry.
April 10th, 1978
Sheriff Porter was by the house this afternoon. He told me that the investigation concerning Tom's death had been dropped. Further investigation showed that the tire on Tom's car blew from natural wear. I'm not certain I believe the sheriff. After all, he is a cousin to Elaine McKenzie. I'm sure she must run the police department same as everything else in this town.
Britt looked up from the journal. "I guess that answers my question. The sheriff is related to you, Devon. Do you know if he is still living?"
Devon shook his head. "I have no idea. I haven't heard my mother speak of him in years."
Britt returned to Margaret's journal. He turned the page and read the next entry.
July 2nd, 1978
Glancing up Britt said, "For whatever reason, your mother didn't write anything new for almost three months, Alice."
He continued reading.
I was able to have the car repaired after Tom's accident, but I don't feel comfortable driving much anymore. My sister, Sarah, has been helping me run errands. Today she took me to see the doctor. When we walked into his office I had quite a shock. Elaine McKenzie was just leaving. She had her son with her, and when I looked into his eyes, I felt as if I was seeing Tommy's face. My legs suddenly felt weak, and I fell into a chair. Before I realized what I was doing, I called out Tommy's name. I will never forget the look on Elaine McKenzie's face. Words can't begin to describe the look of coldness that appeared in her eyes. She told me his name was Devon, and that he was her son. She had the nerve to add that my son had been killed in an accident. An accident caused by my husband, Tommy's father.
Britt looked up from the journal once again and said, "Would you believe the next entry Margaret made wasn't until just about a month before her death?"
"Read it, Britt," Alice said, her voice sounding strained.
May 30th, 2006
It's been almost thirty years since I last wrote anything in this journal. I feel frightened at times, thinking I must be losing my mind. I know it cannot be possible, but on several occasions I have seen someone who reminds me so much of my Tommy. My son, if he were alive, would be thirty-five years old. I can't explain why, but three times now I have seen a young man around town that reminds me so much of my husband, Tom. The first two times I saw him, I didn't have any idea who he might be. Today I saw him again. I was going into George Carson's jewelry store to have the setting on my wedding ring tightened, and this young man was just leaving George's store. The young man gave me the sweetest smile, and for some reason I suddenly remembered the last smile Tommy had given me as he lay in my arms in the hospital. It may have been over thirty years since I had seen my son's smile, but I could remember it as plain as if it had happened yesterday. I asked George who the nice young man was. He told me the man was John and Elaine McKenzie's son, Devon.
June 2nd, 2006
I'm becoming unsure of myself. Not only did I think I saw Tommy a few days ago, but today I was sure I had seen Daniel Williams. I know Daniel has been gone for quite some time. In fact, I'm pretty sure I attended his memorial service. I wish I could discuss this with Alice, but I fear she thinks I'm losing my mind. If I were to voice my fears, I'm sure she would think her mother completely insane.
Alice interrupted Britt and said, "It's sad to say, but she might have been right. I was beginning to think Mother was having some real problems. If I had only known what she was going through."
"Alice, I think your mother was becoming confused by some of the things she was seeing, but I do not think she was in any way losing her mind. Confusion can be done away with, once things are explained. The mind, on the other hand... once that begins to leave, well, there's not much you can do about that."
Alice looked at Devon and said, "Like Mother, I'm becoming very confused about some things. Is it possible that I will find the answers I'm looking for?"
Devon suddenly leaned forward in his seat. "I'm hoping we both will," he whispered.
Britt continued with his reading.
June 4th, 2006
Sarah came by today and drove me out to the cemetery. I don't know why, but I just felt like I needed to see Tom's grave. I got out of the car and stood in front of his marker. It is a double stone with both of our names on it. As I stood there trying to remember exactly how my husband had looked the last time I saw him, I was sad to think I could hardly remember that look. Another realization took hold of me. I couldn't remember the way my husband looked, but I could remember the look on my son's face the last time I held him in my arms. The thought saddened me, and I became restless. Then I surprised my sister by asking her to drive by the Porter family plot on the way out of the cemetery. She never said a word. I followed her back into the car, and she drove slowly along the narrow lane until she spotted the plot I was looking for. She stopped the car, and I got out and walked over to the grave sites. I read the different names on the grave markers. I remembered Elaine's parents and grandparents quite well. I especially remembered Donald and Marlene Porter. I was just a girl when Jonathan and Louise Porter were around. Then I spotted a small marker toward the back of the plot. I couldn't get close enough to read what it said. I asked Sarah to read it for me. My sister leaned over enough to be able to read the stone. She told me it only said DDM. I asked Sarah if she had any idea who DDM might be. She didn't know.
Devon stood to his feet. "I'm going to leave the two of you alone," he said, walking toward the door for the second time since their arrival at the Cooper home. "Just tell her the truth, Britt; at least what we perceive as the truth."
Britt followed the man with his eyes. After the door closed behind him, he turned and faced Alice. Suddenly his mouth became very dry. He picked up the glass beside him and swallowed the last drop of Coke. Setting the glass back down, Britt wondered where he should start with the unbelievable tale. Alice was looking at him, and he could only guess what might be running through her mind.
"Alice, I owe you an apology. For quite some time now I have had my suspicions concerning your family. My intention was not to keep anything from you. I am waiting for some information to come to me from Oklahoma City, and I wanted to wait until I knew something for certain. Perhaps that was wrong of me.
"Alice, I have every reason to believe your brother wasn't killed in the accident that was supposed to have taken his life years ago."
He paused and waited to see what Alice's reaction would be. He watched as her face suddenly turned white. Britt was afraid she might faint. However, he watched her take a couple of deep breaths, and she looked as if she might be drawing on some sort of inner strength.
"You think Devon is my brother?" The words she spoke were very soft.
"I don't know, Alice."
"What are you expecting from Oklahoma City?"
Britt had made a promise to the ER doctor, and he intended on keeping that promise. He would not name the doctor that went out on a limb for him.
"Test results," he answered. "When your mother died her body went to Oklahoma Medical Research. They have all of her records on file there. I had Devon take some blood tests which were sent to the hospital."
"And?"
"And we should know something in a day or so."
"I don't understand. How did you know about my mother's body being donated for research?"
Britt studied the girl sitting across the room from him closely. He searched for any sign of anger, and he was relieved when he saw none on her face.
"Alice, at this point I can't say how I found out. Please understand; a lot has gone down here, and I think a lot more is going to fly when this all surfaces."
"Do you expect trouble from Elaine McKenzie?"
"Would you expect there not to be?"
Alice shook her head. "She is not a nice person," she admitted.
"She is not, and I'm afraid the woman has been responsible for a lot of bad stuff in this town for years."
"What does Devon think?"
"He's very confused."
"He's not alone. Britt, tell me just how could something like this ever happen?"
Britt took a deep breath. "You understand at this point, Alice, all I can do is speculate what I think happened. Here's what I believe may have taken place. We read in your mother's journal about the town picnic and the terrible accident that took place afterward-- the one where your brother was killed and your mother hospitalized. What I think really happened is that it was Devon McKenzie who lost his life that day. Your brother, Tommy, didn't die. Do I think your father had been drinking? Most likely by your mother's own admission in her journal. Was the accident his fault? Again, the answer is yes. Did he deserve to lose his son? Of course he didn't. Of course, John and Elaine McKenzie didn't either. However, Devon did die. Not only did the McKenzies lose their son, but by rights, they could have filed charges on your father and he would have spent time in prison. Involuntary manslaughter it's called. However, the McKenzies opted to make your father pay the ultimate price. In exchange for his freedom, he had to not only give his son up, but he had to take him away from your mother, as well as you."
"Which explains why the money came to us for all those years," Alice whispered.
"Exactly," Britt agreed.
Alice stood to her feet. "Should I go to Devon?" she asked. "And, is he Devon' or Tommy'?"
"For now it might be a good idea to keep calling him `Devon'. I know it's hard for you to realize your brother might be alive after all of these years. However, I can't even begin to think what it would feel like to suddenly discover you might not be who you thought you were, that your entire life has been a complete lie."
"You want to come with me?"
Britt shook his head. "You two need some time. I'll wait here."