The Secrets That We Keep

The Secrets

That We Keep

Thomas A. Whiting Jr.

AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: 1-800-839-8640

© 2014 Thomas A. Whiting Jr. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/30/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2649-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2648-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2650-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014912581

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7      1943

8      When they first met…

9      Younger years…

10   Present day….

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

T here are so many people I w

ant to say thank you to. First and always, I want to say thank you to God for blessing me with this opportunity.

Thank you to everyone for your support during the writing of my second book The Secrets That We Keep and my previous book Choices. Without your constant support I wouldn’t know what to do and for that, I am forever grateful.

I want to personally say thank you to Sonya Whiting Moore, for your endless support and encouragement during this process. I love you cousin!!

I can’t say thank you enough to my Aunt Janie, my parents Thomas & Betty Whiting and Veronica Foster. Love you all.

I truly hope you enjoy reading this book and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Please contact me at thomas.whiting.jr@gmail.com

Again, thank you for your support and love. God bless you.

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S cott pulled into The Grand Hotel parking lot where he was supposed to meet his father for lunch.

Just as he was stepping out of his car, his cell phone rung. At one point he thought of ignoring it, but changed his mind when he saw it was his office calling.

Hi, Doctor Garrett. Sorry to bother you but you told me to contact you as soon as Mr. Anderson’s results came in. I have them downloaded for you to look at.

Ok, great. Thanks Karen. Scott replied to his nurse.

Scott ended the call and switched over to his cellphone to look at Mr. Anderson’s information.

After a minute or two of reading the results, Scott called his office back and had them schedule an appointment with Mr. Anderson for the day after tomorrow before going inside the hotel.

Hi, there’s supposed to be a room key left for me at the front desk for room 327. Scott asked the front desk clerk.

Good morning Mr. Garrett, there is, here you go. The clerk said handing Scott the key to the room.

Your father finished up about ten minutes or so and headed up to his room. Is there anything else I can do for you?

No, that’s about it. Thank you though. Oh yeah. How’s your aunt doing? Did Doctor Bell take care of her?

She’s doing great and we are so glad you recommended her.

Well that’s good. I’m glad she’s doing ok. Scott replied walking off and waving goodbye.

Scott was about to take the elevator when a couple with four active kids and two full luggage racks approached at the same time. Scott smiled and decided to take the stairs instead.

As Scott was making his way up the third floor of the hotel, he bumped into a woman rushing down. She dropped her purse and a few items fall out. One particular item was a container holding a needle and vial of some sort.

Damn it! The lady yelled not worrying about her money and keys that fell out also. But more about the vile that rolled across the floor.

Please forgive me. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Scott said bending down picking up the woman’s driver license and other items.

It’s alright, I got it. The woman said taking her driver license from Scott.

No, please allow me to help you. It’s the least I can do. Scott answered back.

No, it’s quite alright. I’m in bit of a rush……I’m uummmm running late. The woman answered back.

Scott and the lady looked at each other for a brief second. She stopped what she was doing and thought there was something familiar about him but just couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

The woman finished gathering her things and rushed downstairs and through the exit door.

Scott continued to his father’s room and used his key.

Hey dad. I’m here. Scott said opening the room door.

Dad! Scott yelled after seeing his father on the floor.

Scott admittedly administered CPR but with no luck.

When the officers came to the room they found Scott kneeling on the floor holding his father in his arms. The officers approached Scott with their guns drawn trying to get him to respond to their demands but it was no use, Scott didn’t hear a word they were saying.

One of the officers put his gun back in his holster and approached Scott.

He’s dead. Scott mumbled.

I know sir.

He’s dead.

Sir, if you would please come with us so we can help you.

How can you, he’s dead. My father is dead.

Did you kill him, sir?

No.

Let us do our job and find out what happened? The officer asked again looking at his partner who still had his gun drawn pointing towards Scott.

Scott rocked back and forth holding his father in his arms.

What is your name, sir?

Huh?

What is your name sir? We need to know your name so we can help figure out what happened to your father.

What does my name have to do with anything? You need to be out there trying to find out who did this to my father. Scott said.

Well how about this; let our examiner look at your father so we can figure out if there was foul play. Can you do that? The officer asked.

Yes.

Scott laid his father back on the floor and slowly stepped away from his father, as the officer helped him over to one of the chairs.

"How do you know the victim Sir?

He’s my father.

Why was your father here at this hotel?

He had a business meeting here with some clients.

What makes you think that someone killed your father? There was no sign of a struggle. Our examiner states from his observation that it looks to be a heart attack maybe.

That can’t be right because my father just had a complete physical and was given a clean bill of health.

Could you think of anyone who would want to harm your father?

Not off the top of my head I can’t.

Did you notice anyone suspicious?

I bumped into a woman that was coming downstairs as I was coming up, other than that, no.

Do you remember what the woman looked like?

No, because she was wearing shades.

Is there anyone we need to contact?

I need to call my mother and let her know. Scott replied back.

The officer questioned Scott a little longer before letting him go.

An hour or so later……..

Scott sat in the front of his mother’s house not sure how to break the news to her. He would rather tell her than police officers telling her.

Scott pulled into his mother’s driveway and waited. He didn’t notice his mother standing beside his car knocking on the window. It startled him.

Boy, what are you doing in that car and where is your father?

Scott looked at his mother with puffy red eyes.

Scott, where is your father? What happened? Louise asked.

Get out the car, Scott, and tell me what’s going on?

Scott opened the car door and stood in front of his mother.

Scott, where is your father? You’re scaring me!

Mom, dad’s dead.

What the hell do you mean he’s dead? I just spoke with him earlier today after his meeting. So, he can’t be dead!

When I went to pick him up, I found him in his room dead. I tried to revive him but I was too late.

NO! NO! Louise yelled hitting Scott on his chest.

Scott held his mother in his arms as they both cried.

That bitch did this! I know it! Louise yelled.

Momma, come inside. Scott told his mother.

Scott had to give his mother a sedative to take the edge off. Louise laid in bed mumbling something.

He said today was the day. Louise mumbled.

What did you say Momma?

He called me this morning and told me that today was the day.

The day for what? Scott asked.

He wouldn’t tell me, just that it was a surprise.

Hold on Momma, there’s a knock at the door. I’ll be right back.

It was an express carrier company with a package.

Scott signed for the package, placing it on the table wanting to stay by his mother’s side.

An hour later a detective knocked on the door wanting to speak with Louise but Scott explained that his mother wasn’t in the best of conditions to answer any questions. Rather they would be more than happy to come to the station first thing in the morning.

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L awd, I can’t believe my baby is gone at such a young age. Thelma said as she moved her fork around on her plate

We sho gone miss us some Richard Jr.. another person repeated in conjunction to Thelma.

Are you alright Mama? Michelle asked rubbing her mother’s back trying her best to comfort her.

I’m ok sweetheart. I’ll be fine. Angelia said taking her handkerchief to wipe away a tear.

Momma’s gonna be alright Michelle. Just let her get over it on her own time. Charles said not skipping a beat while eating.

Nobody asked you for your two cents Charlie Brown. Michelle shouted back. A nickname he has had since childhood.

Baby slow down, you still eat like you’re twelve. There’s enough for seconds. Angelia told her son.

And stop calling your brother that. You know he hates that name.

Well, he shouldn’t be such a Charlie Brown. Michelle said laughing.

Did you hear your Mama child?

Yes, Grandma Thelma.

Where’s that other son of mine? Thelma asked looking around the room.

Alexandria, where’s your husband gone an taken himself?

The last time I saw him Mama Thelma, he was out back smoking. Alexandria responded.

Well, go tell him to get his ass in here to this table so we can have a proper meal.

Yes m’am. Alexandria said getting up from the table.

It didn’t take long for Alexandria to find Jerome sitting on the porch in the backyard smoking a black & mild talking to Christen. Alexandria didn’t say anything at first but observed their conversation from a spot they couldn’t see her.

So, what have you been up too besides staying as fine as ever I can tell.

Why thank you Jerome. Just trying to keep myself busy is all. And you should already know what I’ve been up to.

That’s a story for another day. So how’s the big city life treating you? Have you gone and met you some celebrities?

Not really. I’ve seen one or two but not actually talked to one. Not too many riding public transportation. Christen said with a laugh.

Well, I guess you have a point there. So how’s that husband of yours doing?

Pete’s just as always. He’s Pete, need I say more.

So why didn’t he show up? Jerome asked.

Pete said there was no way in hell he was going to step foot back up in this town. Period!!

And to this day I still don’t know why. He and Richard Jr. were best friends growing up and all of a sudden he was gone. Not one clue as to why. Jerome said shaking his head from side to side.

I’m surprised he let you come back.

That’s the strange part because when I told him about Richard Jr. dying and that I wanted to attend the funeral, he didn’t make a fuss. Just simply asked when I plan on being back.

Now I know the world is gonna end soon if Pete didn’t put up a fight.

Oh you better believe he has his bodyguards watching me as we speak. Christen said pointing over to Billy and Alex who were drinking a bottle of beer and pretending not to pay them any attention.

Hi sweetheart, Mama Thelma is looking for you. Alexandria said coming out