Ch. 5: Dick's Character

The door closed behind Jonathan, and Wyland's gaze returned to Sonia, who shifted uncomfortably in her chair, although the chair itself was puffy leather, and quite comfortable.

"I know this is painful, and I know you've already given us this testimony, but I need to hear it again, from your mouth."
Her face grew red. "You're all vultures, you know. You prey on the misfortune of the world".
She composed herself, and her face grew stern. "I think you enjoy this."

"I, for one, don't enjoy this. It's a, um... necessary evil. I hope to decrease the misfortune of this world."
She looked at him credulously, and her look eased to a small smile. "I'm sorry, this is all very stressful."

"Can we get started then?"
"Yes."
Wyland opened his notes, and began. 
"Describe your brother's character."

She sighed deeply. "Dick was a cranky old coot. He was sure everything was a conspiracy against him. Taxes, airplanes, food, there was always some evil entity behind it trying to weaken him... control him. He liked guns, and always wore one when he could. He was a great mechanic, he could fix anything."

"When he was younger, he was a good man. He smiled easily, and loved baseball. He always wanted to work for Chrysler, and build trucks for them. He always applied for every design job, and was never offered a position. He took a wife in the late eighties, but they never successfully had children. She had two miscarriages, and the third child took her life. They tried to save the child's life at the expense of Diana's. Sorry, that was her name, Diana. The child died soon after."
She stared at the wall for a moment, then looked at the floor. "He was never the same after that. Not that I blame him, it was a rough time all around."

"They were such a cute couple, too. Dick and Diana. He kinda went crazy after her death. Started hating everything. Got into the right-wing paramilitary thing. Started hoarding guns and ammo, that sort of thing."
"He became convinced somebody had taken her from him, that the doctors intentionally killed her. It was never coherent, but he always got really bad about it when he was drunk. He blamed the pharmaceutical companies, doctors..." She looked up and smiled coyly, "lawyers."
Wyland smiled back to her, "I can assure you, lawyers had nothing to do with it." He winked at her, and she visibly softened. 
"He... he just couldn't accept it, that's all. Anything to turn the pain to anger."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Wyland handed Sofia a box of tissue. They had a long day ahead of them.

Ch. 4: Sonia

After the usual greetings, Wyland led his new clients back to his office and bade them to sit opposite him at his large, sparsly decorated oak desk. He had all his degrees framed up nicely behind him. He hoped it added a hint of credibility to the farce that was his professional and personal life. 

He waited until the woman and boy had both sat down, then eased into his seat. He clasped his hands before him, arms resting on the table, and began to stare at them, as though lost as to how to start. He waited until she had opened her mouth to speak, and put up a finger to stop her, and then fumbled through his pockets. He pulled out a small recorder, hit play, and placed it on the table. 

"This is just so I can take better notes; try to ignore it". They looked at the device suspiciously, as though it could jump up and bite them. Wyland smiled politely. "Trust me, no one else will hear these recordings". 

He looked to the woman. "So, your name is Sonia Elizabeth Yarrow?"

"Yes."

"And you are sister to the Late Richard "Dick" Yarrow?

"Yes."

Wyland now looked inquisitively at the boy. "And you, son, what did you say your name was?"

"Jonathan Alderman."

"And what is your relation to the deceased?"

"He's my uncle."

Wyland scrunched up his forehead. "I was unaware Dick has... had a nephew."

"What difference does it make who he is? He's my son." Sonia snapped.

Wyland, aware now that Sonia was, despite her fading beauty, probably not going to be an enjoyable client, drew a deep breath and carefully said "Ms. Yarrow, all your family may be part of this. We can't have you leaving out important information like the existence of a nephew. Was he present at the, uh, party where Dick was, uh..."

"Cursed?" She said curtly. Wyland nodded silently. 

"Yes, he was there."

"I wasn't in the room, but I heard it. Evil shit."

"Well, I'm going to need you to tell me, each of you, seperately, what you heard. Exactly. Word for word."

"I would like to hear what your mother has to say about it first, so if you wouldn't mind waiting in the lobby. Help yourself to coffee and donuts. I'll talk to you about it in a bit."

Jonathan got up and left the room.