Chapter 41
Edward managed to eat a little bit but it sat in his stomach like a rock. He waited patiently while Bernard finished his lunch. He wanted to ask questions. He wanted to know what the judges thought. The time finally came and he followed Bernard out of the cafeteria and back into the court room. He sat next to him as the judges re-entered. He felt like everything around him was a dream and he was only watching it all from the outside. He heard them talking. He knew what they were saying, but their words sounded far away.
“Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Keys,” the judge nodded. “My colleagues and I have reviewed everything you had presented as well as all prior evidence, arrests and convictions for Mr. Caldwell, Gracie Honor and John Honor. Given the evidence presented by Mr. Bernard Keys and the prior records on file, it looks as though Mr. Caldwell’s arrest was prematurely played out. I believe Mr. Caldwell’s only conviction was in getting involved with Miss Honor. I do not believe he had anything to do with the death of Gracie Honor or John Honor. I also do not believe that there will be a conviction at this time.”
The judge slammed his gavel down once more and just like that, Edward was freed of all charges. He took a big breath and hugged Bernard tightly.
“Thank you,” he said whole-heartedly. “I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“Let’s revisit that after you get my bill, shall we?” Bernard slapped Edward on the back as they left the court room. He nodded toward the judge when eye contact was made.
“Did you call in another favor?” Edward asked, catching the connection.
“No, Edward. I did my job. You were innocent and she was very bad at planting evidence. End of story. Any good lawyer would have seen the same things.”
“Well, just let me know what I owe you and I’ll be more than happy to write the check.” He hugged him again before getting into his car and driving off.
His flat seemed lonely when he got back. His life felt empty. He needed to gather up the pieces and put it back together again. His first piece was to find Eva and get her back into his life again, before it was too late, unless it already was.
He picked up his phone to call her, but set it back down knowing she wouldn’t take his call. He needed to be smart about this so he drove to the university and grabbed some food at the café where they often had lunch together. He kept his eyes peeled for someone he knew, with a half a hope that she would walk by at the most opportune time. Unfortunately, the only thing he got were looks from others who learned about his most recent demise in the school papers.
“Mr. Caldwell.”
Edward looked over and saw Andy walking toward him.
Ah, yes. The boy who thought he could get Eva into bed.
The thought made Edward chuckle to himself. Take a man like Gerald with the same intentions and it lights a fire inside him, but with a punk like Andy, it all seemed quite funny.
“Andy. How are you?”
“I heard you got fired, killed a couple of people and lost your apartment. Way to spiral down the tubes with a vengeance.”
“It’s funny how rumors change the outlook of yourself in others’ eyes.”
“So, you are saying none of it is true?”
“Not one bit.”
“Why aren’t you in class then? Why were you arrested? Why is Gracie Honor and her brother dead?”
Andy didn’t attempt to keep his voice to a two-person conversation and the looks they were getting made Edward want to finish with Andy quickly.
“First of all,” he said as he looked around the café. “I resigned my position. I am going back to my previous career. Secondly, the charges I was arrested on were immediately dropped when they reviewed the bogus evidence against me, and thirdly, I never lost my flat.”
“Well, that’s not what I heard,” Andy chuckled.
Edward walked up to Andy’s side and put his arm around him.
“Maybe you should stop listening to stories that other people conjure up and stick to the facts. You know, like the fact that you’ll never get Eva into the sack, no matter how hard you try?” He slapped the boy on his back and nodded. “Have a wonderful day.”
Edward noted the time and walked toward the history building. Eva’s class had just started and because he was running out of options, he decided to do whatever he could to get her attention. He remembered where the classroom was from a previous meeting with her and as soon as he found it again he walked in the lecture hall without hesitation. It was much larger than he had anticipated since he only previously looked in the window. Standing in front of the class, the door only caused a few of the students to look up from their work.
“Excuse me.” He held his head up and looked from student to student. “I am looking for Eva Brooks?”
At this time, all of the students had their eyes on him before looking around the room for her. Edward studied each face until a voice in the back interrupted him.
“She isn’t here,” said the girl. “She hasn’t been in class for about a week now.”
“Any idea where she is?”
The girl shook her head.
“Anyone?”
When he didn’t get an answer, he looked at the professor conducting the class.
“When a student leaves for a sabbatical isn’t it customary that the professor become aware of such an event? I’m sure students don’t decide to take it upon themselves to leave without some sort of prior notice.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Who are you?” The professor asked curiously.
He hesitated before answering. He obviously couldn’t get any answers by admitting he was her boyfriend. “I’m her advisor. I need to speak with her before she leaves.”
“You are right. It is customary that the student sign up for such a leave so that all who are involved are informed. Unfortunately, this did not happen in this case. I have no paperwork showing she left on sabbatical. I’m sorry.”
This put a dull ache into Edward’s stomach. If she didn’t go to Morocco for her thesis, then…. Edward felt the air quality grow thin.
“Thank you,” he heard himself say. He swung the door open and left quickly. His mind spun out of control for a few moments like a parent losing their small child in a crowded mall and not knowing which direction to run to first. He ran out of the building and as soon as he hit the sidewalk his mind became clear again.
Gerald.
He jumped in his car and before he knew it he was at Gerald’s place. He knocked on the door with a vengeance but no one answered. He slammed his body into it, repeatedly until something gave way and he was able to push it open. Looking around inside, the place was immaculately clean.
“Montoya!” he yelled. He ran from room to room. “Are you here? Gerald!”
Edward entered Gerald’s bedroom and stopped quick. It was neatly put together, with fresh flowers on the dresser and a clean smell of linen on the bed. Edward pulled the drawers open, noticing each one was empty. Under the flowers was a business card for a cleaning service and next to that was a folder. He opened it and read an itinerary laid out for Morocco. Guided tours, travels to Meknes, Fes, Casablanca, dinner for two, a romantic cruise. He clenched his jaw tightly, drawing his hands together in tight fists before grabbing the lamp on the dresser and hurling it across the room, slamming it into the wall and busting it into pieces. He sat on the edge of the bed and for the first time in his life he felt very alone.