Chapter 2.27: Bridgeport Black Widow

     After their talk with Amy, Emrys and Ochre went to Lean's office where Toya was working on sorting out the files they had copied from Joel's office.  He spent most of his working time on the project so they could save Rebecca and Emrys's brother as soon as possible.

     "How is it coming along?" Emrys asked walking up behind Toya.

     "It's coming.  I got maybe half of the files processed.  Lean has your Aunt Mags and Amber organizing it for presentation before the tribunal."

     "That's good.  Do you think you will have enough for them to arrest him?

     "Based on what I've already processed, he'll be getting multiple life sentences and so will a lot of other sims who've done the work for him."

     "How many are we talking about?" Ochre asked.

     Toya mouth twisted in disgust, "dozens.  He's had years of building up his little army to do all his dirty work so he never has to actually do it himself.  Fortunately for us there's enough evidence to show he was complicit in planning or funding several illegal actions."

     "Thank you Toya," Emrys kissed his cheek.

     "It's nothing, sister," Toya said.

     Emrys smiled.  In the last week Toya had taken to calling her sister at every opportunity.  It was nice, Emrys decided, to have someone whose faith in her never wavered.  It had been there all along she knew but now she recognized it.

     "One more thing before you leave," Toya said as Ochre and Emrys were leaving.

     "What is it?" Ochre asked as they walked back over.

     "Lean asked me to look into the Bridgeport Black Widow awhile ago.  Yesterday I managed to track down the aliases she used.  You'll never guess who she's married to now."

     "Who?" Emrys asked.

     "Joel Mulligan," Toya said looking up at them.

     Emrys stared at him.

     Toya smirked and nodded, "I wonder when she's going to decide to off him.  Hopefully, she won't get to it before he's arrested."

     "How did you find this out?" Ochre asked.

     "I started with her earlier victims.  I traced her movements.  She started in Bridgeport with her first two  victims.  She married them under aliases June Randall and Janice Westing.  From there she's been moving west ever since.  She married Joel almost two years ago under the name Jane Rice."

     Toya leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms.  Frowning at the screen he added, "this is the longest she's ever been married without killing her husband though."

     "Maybe he's not rich enough for her to kill just yet," Emrys suggested.

     "Maybe," Toya shrugged, "wanna see a photo of her?"

     "You found a photo?" Ochre asked.

     "Yeah.  It's from the wedding announcement to her third husband so a little old.  Maybe ten years old."

     "Bring it up to the big screen," Emrys suggested.

     Toya typed a few buttons on his keyboard and the map on the wall faded out to be replaced by the picture of a couple.  The prospective groom looked happy and in love with his bride-to-be.  She on the other hand appeared distant, almost disconnected from the happy nature of the photograph.

     Behind her she heard Ochre swearing, but Emrys couldn't look away from the bride.

     "It's her," she whispered.

     "Who?" Toya asked turning away from Ochre.

     "She was outside the apartment that day.  She was there when my parents died."

     "What do you mean?  Emrys, what are you talking about?" Ochre gripped Emrys' arms and turned her away from the screen.

     "Her," she said pointing to the screen.  "She was outside my families apartment the day my dad was killed.  I passed her on my way home from school."

     Emrys dropped her head into her hands when the tears began to fall.

     She sobbed from the pain.  The lady had asked if her dad would be home.  Her father died because Emrys had said he would come home later.

     Ochre pulled her over to the couch and held her while she cried.

     "It's not your fault," he murmured over and over, kissing her head and rocking her to comfort her.

     "It is," she cried.

     "No," he pleaded with her, "you were a child.  Nothing that happened was your fault.  Bad people did bad things to your family, but you are not responsible for anything that was done."

     "Your dad will be here soon.  He's coming from HQ at your aunt's house," Toya said.

     Emrys looked up at him.  He was putting his phone on the table and looking at Ochre.

     "Why is Lean coming home," Emrys asked.

     "I recognized the sim from the picture too.  It's Sienna. And she's already threatened to use her baby to take our family's money."

     "She can't do that.  Can she?" Emrys frowned.

     "Mom thinks it's a possibility," Ochre admitted.

     "You were getting Amy's birth certificate when she told us last week," Toya added.

     "But Amy's the first born." Emrys argued.

     "A paternity test would have to be done before the courts can declare her rightful heir," Toya said.

     Ochre nodded, "and in the meantime Sienna can submit a claim that her baby is mine.  The courts may still give her an allowance from our funds until the child is born and a paternity test can be done."

     "Isn't there anyway we can stop her?" Emrys asked gripping his hands.

     "Your mom dismissed the idea of asking an unknown ex about children Ochre, but wouldn't Em be a different matter?  It's not like she's going to try and reject you from Amy's life." Toya suggested.

     Ochre looked at him, "that's a good idea.  We'll ask her."

                                                                                         

Random Rambling

   I got no ramble in me today.  Enjoy the story.