right now and
at this stage I am not sure when it is going to be released. Adele is currently
in hospital and I am not sure when she will be discharged, so that is another
thing we have to be sure of before organizing the service. I am currently in
the process of trying to find out about any other family for Eric who may want
to be involved in the funeral. I will contact you if I get any more information
from that investigation. We want the funeral to be discreet, possibly in an out
of the way place which is difficult for the media to get to. Usually Adele
isn’t famous enough for the major media coverage that celebrities get but,
because of the way that Eric died, I am a bit concerned that they may try to
put a bit of a sensationalist spin on it.”
“Understandable” Tomas said. “Any thought on whether he was
religious.”
I almost choked. The thought of bacchanalian Eric following
a pious religion was almost laughable.
“I doubt it but I will let you know if his family has
anything to say about that.”
“I will need to know the kind of music wanted and whether
anyone will be doing a eulogy. I know a minister, she’s pretty good regarding
services. Especially if there is the potential for issues such as conflict
between family members, that sort of thing. I know a funeral home and cemetery
that is out of the way which we could use.”
“I will see what information I can get together in the next
couple of days for you” I said.
“Most importantly, I will need to know when the police will
release the body so we at least have a day to work with it” Tomas said.
Thinking of Griffin I said “I may be able to get that
information. I’ll give you a call.”
“That sounds great” said Tomas closing his notebook. “Oh one
more question, will it be an open or closed casket?”
I thought back to the previous morning. “I’m going to say a
closed casket.” I grimaced remembering the amount of blood that I had seen on
Eric’s pillow.
“Very well” said Tomas as he stood and held out his hand. I
grasped it , grateful for his steady confidence .
“Thank you very much for your help .”
“My pleasure” said Tomas . “As soon
as you get more information could you please let me know. Also if you want me
to meet with other family members I would be happy to do that.”
On my way to the hospital to meet with Adele again I started
thinking about Tomas. Since leaving Australia I hadn’t really thought about a
career path. To be perfectly honest I had fallen into my job with Monique. I
loved doing it but I wasn’t really sure whether I wanted to spend my life
catering to the sometimes crazy whims of the rich and spoiled. Sooner or later
I was going to snap and that would not end well. Monique liked me and I knew
that she was patient with a lot of the things that her PAs threw her way. She
hadn’t turned a hair when I’d told her I had found my second body while at
work. Sooner or later though she might lose some of that patience. Maybe I
should be looking at my options in case that happened.
Chapter Twelve
Adele’s hospital room seemed to be abuzz with activity.
Nurses were coming in and out of the room and Miranda Powell seemed to be
directing them with all the efficiency of a general directing troops.
“What’s happening?” I asked as I cautiously entered the room
dodging one nurse who looked particularly harried.
Miranda was the one who answered me while Adele sat serenely
on the side of the bed.
“Adele wants to go home and there is nothing physically
wrong with her , so we are organizing her discharge.”
Adele didn’t seem to be paying any attention to what was
going on around her so I was assuming the ‘we’ Miranda was referring to was
herself, as she took some paperwork from one of the nurses.
Sitting next to Adele I leaned over. “Are you sure you’re
ready to leave the hospital.”
I was a bit concerned as her eyes seemed to be a little
unfocused. Adele always seemed to be a