On or about 4/21/23- your half-bother dies mysteriously in a hotel in Landover, Md. at an extended stay. One of your other male cousins makes the announcement via family text. Another male cousin calls you and tells you he was likely murdered. You meet your half-brother for the first time 35 years ago once he was released from jail. You don't stay in touch much. You see him at some family functions and keep up with him through an Uncle he lived with in DC.
Your male cousin also coaches you on how to get his stuff. He has a house in Miami and some apartment buildings in Ohio. You tell your cousin - you have your own stuff. You weren't raised to be a "grave robber" - as your mom used to call it. Your older half brother has a sister in OH. You talk. She asks you lots of questions about what you know about him. She says he's never mentioned your paternal side of the family. I reply that's weird because he lived with my paternal uncle for years. And you see him at car dealership - where he sells his own cars.
You're reminded that this paternal side of your family loves to ambulance chase and grave rob. You had to cuss another cousin out when your father was "dying". She was going through his things and he wasn't even dead. He'd cheat death for at least two more years.
Upon your brother's death, your male cousin tells you what to do. And get the toxicology report. The police rule it a suicide last year - word was they found a bottle of aspirin next to his bed. You speak to a detective who promises to get back to you. She never does. You text a few more times. But now things are getting weird. Your stalker has made himself visible. And you're distracted.
You follow up with Homicide a few weeks ago. They checked back a whole year and "nothing" for a "Frank Walker" in the vicinity. Now you wonder if he's really dead.
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