Chapter 5 – Conspiracy

Easter...

Meri watched as her dad came out on the porch and told everyone to go home, claiming his sister had overdosed on drugs. She shook her head in shocked denial that he would lie to Layne's neighbors. Louis walked Trina outside and put her in the back of his patrol SUV. It looked more like a perp walk from the way he held her arm than a concerned uncle comforting his traumatized niece. Hank Richmond looked after them, then walked away with his head bowed. Louis didn't seem to notice Meri as he turned to go back inside after signaling the ambulance attendants to come inside.

Char went to his SUV and then went up the front steps, "Dad, can I take Trina home?"

"Charlene, what are you doing here?" Louis demanded blocking her from coming in.

"She called me. Can you unlock your SUV so I can take her to our house?" Char asked again.

"No. She... needs to come to the station and make a statement," Louis insisted in a strange tone.

"Omigawd, are you trying to blame it on her?!" Char blurted out loudly and the ambulance guys looked over at them as her father grabbed her arm and steered her out onto the porch.

"Your aunt had a seizure after she overdosed," He declared too loudly then he muttered, "Look, I don't want to arrest Katrina but if she hurt her mother..." He looked around and spotted his other daughter leaning on her crutches. "Take your sister home."

"No... No! You are not putting this on her. Aunt Layne is already rigored which means she died while Trina was at church with me and Meri. We were there all day today, and I will testify in court to that fact," Char threatened.

Louis scanned around like he was looking for someone then shook her slightly. "Charlene, don't get involved... Go home." He pushed her toward her car. In a huff, Char stomped away.

"Meri! Get in the car now." Charlene stuffed her in the car and drove away in silence. Her hands shook every time she released her white-knuckled grip on the wheel. Parking in the driveway, and turning off the motor, Charlene pounded her fist on the steering wheel. "Fuk! We have to help Trina."

"What?! What did you see?" She stared at her sister in shocked disbelief with tears still leaking down her face. Meri could barely make herself believe what was happening; it didn't seem real.

Charlene's mouth made a thin line. "I'm not sure, but he was picking up evidence without photographing it and putting it all in the same paper bag instead of separate bags like he should be." She held out the phone. "He almost made it sound like he as going to try to arrest Trina for her death."

The video showed their father cleaning up around their aunt. Meri didn't ask her where she got the pay-to-use cellphone because Char was crazy resourceful, and sometimes crazy paranoid in her mistrust of their parents.

"I told him I would alibi Trina in court because Aunt Layne's body is rigored. That means she died at least two hours ago, maybe as long as six, and Trina has been with us since eight this morning, that's seven hours."

Meri chewed her thumbnail, "I bet Dad is regretting letting you take those criminal justice courses with the College Core prep program."

"A person has to have a conscious to regret something, Meri. Dad and Mom both sold theirs a long time ago." Her sister hid the phone under her shirt. "Don't tell anyone about my new phone. This video might be the only way to prove her innocence. We are the only ones who care about her enough to protect her. She isn't safe here. We need to make them let her live with us until graduation but then she needs to leave and go live with Grandmother Nina, even if the old lady is losing her marbles," Charlene insisted. She walked around the car and held up her hand to help Meri out then she half-carried her sister to the door. "I don't know what is going on, but now I know Dad loves his job enough to publicly lie about Aunt Layne's cause of death."

She unlocked the door, looking around the foyer and into the living room for their mother before continuing in a low voice, "He lied to everyone there that she overdosed and I heard him tell the ambulance guys that she had epilepsy with violent seizures when she took drugs, rather than admit she was murdered on his watch."

"But why would he do that?" Meri whispered back as Char helped her inside. They quietly made their way to Meri's room.

"I don't' know. But it's just like the thing with Winston... Dad let him leave town rather than admit to the town that he, Mom, and the Richmonds let that monster molest me, Trina and four other girls. You were so lucky to have an ear infection and stay home with Aunt Layne the weekend of the fieldtrip." Char eased Meri onto her bed. "Damn, your knee looks bad. I'll get your cold pack."

Char went back to the kitchen. Meri hissed as she took off her knee brace, looking at the sore spots rubbed on her skin and the bruise from her tripping and falling on it. It was twice the size of her other knee. Meri looked up when Char returned with the gel-filled cold compress.

"But Aunt Layne is his sister. Why wouldn't he look for her killer? Why would he lie?" Meri didn't want to believe it. "Do you think someone is paying Dad off to look the other..."

"Enough, Meredith! Charlene!" Their mother's harsh tone cut them off. "You will not speak of your father that way. Or say anything about Layne." They could smell the alcohol on her breath.

"You can't tell me what to do. She's our aunt and she was murdered," Char snarled, standing between the bed and their mother.

"No, she can't but I can. If either of you tell anyone what you saw tonight," their father's voice had a harsh threatening edge to it. "We will disown you. This family has a responsibility to this town to make the people feel safe."

"Why aren't you at the crime scene?" Char snarled. "Where's Trina?"

Meri sat on her bed and demanded, "We loved her, and you lied to everyone about how she died. You ruined her reputation and made Trina look like a junkie's daughter, and you want to frame her. We won't let you do it."

Louis stared outraged at the accusation then glared, "You have no idea what happened, and your cousin is a suspect because she shares a house with the victim. It is normal police procedure. She became distraught so I took her to the hospital; they will keep her under a suicide watch for her protection."

"Her protection?" Char scoffed. "Trina isn't suicidal."

"Look, Charlene... Getting her a psychological evaluation will garner the support of the community for us before she is sent to her father's family," their mother declared, "He may be dead, but they aren't. She can be a slut like her mother in California where no one cares about virtue and decent family values."

"But Aunt Layne wasn't a drug addict or alcoholic or anything addict, and if you tell people that, I'll tell them the truth," Charlene threatened. "She was beaten and strangled to death. Trina didn't do it because Aunt Layne's body was rigored and Trina has been at church with us since before nine this morning. Everyone at the Easter Day Celebration and Dinner saw her. You can't make them all lie."

"And even if you do... We'll tell the truth," Meri vehemently added, standing with her sister. She gritted her teeth against the pain. "And Hank Richmond was with her when they found the body. We saw them leave the church together and we saw him leave her house!"

"We'll drag your rich friends into court with us!" Char shook her finger at her mother.

"You wretched, ungrateful brats," Miranda shrieked at them. "You don't know anything. Layne was probably killed by one of those men she brings home from a bar. She's basically a prostitute."

"She was not!" Meri shouted back. "And it would be better to be a whore who loved her daughter than a lush like you who hates yours." The sisters held hands, trying to strengthen each other as they finally faced the horrible realization that their parents were more concerned with their status in the community than caring about them.

"She was arrested for solicitation!" Miranda

"But never convicted because it was a fake charge. She never did that! She worked hard and did whatever job she had to do to make the rent because Dad's family cut her off when she was a pregnant, single mom. Just because you didn't like her, doesn't mean she deserved to die like that! She was your sister for gawd's sakes!" Charlene ranted Meri's thoughts at their father. She let go of Meri's hand and stepped closer to Louis.

Meri kept her spine straight and head up, mirroring Charlene. Together they were being strong and standing up for what was right, but Meri could see in his eyes that their dad was conflicted; he was proud of them, but he was also angry and maybe scared.

It made Meri wonder, 'Our father is the police chief, what or who would he be scared of?'

Their mother on the other hand looked like an angry drunk because that was exactly what she was. Suddenly, Meri realized she couldn't remember the last time her mother stayed sober past 3 PM, while Char argued with their father.

"Why didn't your family just send her away? Why keep her here where everyone knew she was an unwed mother after high school? Why would you let them put your sister through that?" Char demanded in their father's face.

Meri struggled to understand why it felt like Charlene knew something she didn't. Her tone turned pleading as Char added, "Why put Trina through that? Or through this, now? She's your niece."

"She's a jezebel." Their mother made a disgusted sound.

"She is not!" Char looked like she was about to slap Miranda, their father stepped between the two.

"Do not disrespect your mother! In this house, you will respect our orders and behave properly. If either of you contacts her before or after she leaves..."

"You have to let her live with us until graduation... She has no one else here..." Meri started to argue but her father painfully pushed her down onto her bed again.

"No." Turning, he glared at Charlene, taking her by the arm. "Katrina is not living here. End of discussion."

Meri saw something flash in her sister's eyes then Char accused, "You know who killed her, don't you, daddy dearest? You know who killed her and you are protecting them instead of getting justice for her. Just like you refused to get justice for me!"

"It was an overdose," their father claimed, but she snorted derisively, leveling him with a flat look.

"Liar. Meri and I saw the body, she was beaten and strangled. And for your information, Aunt Layne was eight years sober. She has been sober since Katherine and Mom's best buddy Winston paid Mom to be allowed to molested Trina and me." She ended with a shriek of accusation.

"I didn't... he didn't." Miranda looked shocked at her words for a moment, then ordered her, "Go to your room, now."

"You. Did. Too!" Char held her ground. "Trina lives with us until graduation, or you can kiss your precious reputation and Dad's job goodbye. I'll go to the media if I have to. Who would want a police chief who lets his daughter get molested and his sister be murdered? Nobody!"

They stood there glaring at each other, then Meri suggested, "If we clean out Chuck's room tomorrow, Trina can have a room of her own. He can live in his boy-cave, he never leaves there anyway."

"Then Mom can play Saint Miranda and brag to everyone how she just couldn't leave her poor, orphaned niece alone in the world while she wears those diamonds Winston paid for us with," Char spat her hatred of her mother out with mocking words, but tears leaked from Miranda's eyes as she retreated from Meri's room and fled.

"Charlene! Your mother said go to your room." Louis grabbed her by the shoulder and forcibly propelled her out of Meri's room, snapping, "I won't let the two of you get yourselves killed like Layne did." Slamming and locking the door, he left Meri behind.

"I hate you! Let me out!" Meri shouted as she pounded on the door.

She heard Charlene shouting profanities as she was dragged upstairs, then a door slammed there. Pressing her ear to the door, she heard her parents shouting at each other.

Charlene climbed down the tree outside her window, eavesdropped on her parents for several minutes, then crawled into Meri's window. "Un-freaking-believable! They are fighting about whether or not to bring Trina home where they can control who she talks to, or pulling her from school, making her test for her GED, selling her mom's house and bakery before sending her out of state. They are going to do the same thing to her they did to you."

Meri turned to look at her, worried, "Do you really think Dad knows who killed Aunt Layne?"

"Yeah, and I think Mom does too... The week of Memorial Day, we are outta here. You and Trina are not staying here without me, " Charlene declared. "My medical exams at MEPS are on the fifth then I ship out to basic training on the seventh."

"What about Chuck?" Meri worried for their little brother, but Char scowled.

"Prince Charles will be fine." Char clenched her fists. "Mom worships the ground he walks on... But I am serious, Meri, once I ship out, you and Trina need to stay at Granny Nina's in Pueblo. It's not as nice as here but... "

"It's safer than living in a place that protects pedophiles and murderers," Meri agreed, finishing Char's thought.

Veil Falls was a beautiful place but there was something very wrong with the people who lived there.

~~~~

May...

The surprise mid-may snow was melting and the DuBois girls were getting restless to escape Veil Falls. Charlene got into a few fights protecting Trina from Princess Heather's little cliché and shills. People at Veil Vally High School and First Community Church gossiped horrible things about her mom, sometimes saying them to her face. The gossip mill viciously attacked Layne. But worse for Trina was that Hank Richmond, who brought Trina home that night, wouldn't even talk to her anymore. His sister Heather started telling everyone he just wanted a one-night stand and hadn't expected to walk in to find her junkie mom dead on the floor. No one talked to Trina except her cousins.

Everyday Char sat with her on the College Core bus, but they had different free periods. Trina always spent hers in the computer cubicle in the back corner of the college library, head down, eating her lunch and sometimes crying. She was so depressed, Meri was terrified she would kill herself, especially after Char caught her cutting herself. Trina only wore black or gray, and she never did anything with her almost shaved hair. Meri was in anguish for her, but Trina wouldn't talk to her or Char about Layne, even when Meri made Layne's recipes. She would just sit and eat with tears running down her face.

One evening, Char came into Meri's room and shut the door. "I found Hank in the library, standing a few rows away, listening to her cry. His head was against the shelf of psychology books, there was a book on overcoming grief in his hand. He looked embarrassed that I caught him. I heard her move and dragged him out of sight until she was gone."

"That jerk! The last thing she needs is to see him," Meri hissed.

"That's not all. Somehow the princess got a coroner's report showing the cause of death was violent seizure cause by a drug overdose. It explains away the bruises and destroyed house to those who are gullible enough to believe it." Char held out her hand and Meri saw it was bruised again.

"Who did you hit?"

Char smirked, "Her favorite jock. Then I shared the Only Fans link to their page to everyone in the school. Somebody is about to get suspended again and it isn't going to be me."

"CHARLENE!" Their dad's roar echoed through the house before the garage door finished closing.

The elder twin chuckled malevolently then slapped her cheeks and opened Meri's door. "Yes, Daddy?"

"I hope you're happy. Heather Richmond has been expelled and will not graduate on time." Louis growled at her.

"Oh, what a shame," Char responded in a light, insincere tone then her voice dropped, "Are they going to send her off for rehab and sex addiction counseling? No? Then it doesn't really matter."

He rubbed his forehead. "You have got to stop targeting her. I won't always be around to protect you."

"You mean protect yourself." Char bumped him with her shoulder as she walked past and stomped upstairs.

"Did you know she was going to create some bogus pornography page with videos stolen from Heather's boyfriend's phone and spread it all over the community?" Louis demanded.

Meri clicked her tongue. "If you had seen the page you would know that they probably aren't all from just one boy because she's a nympho. And it isn't fake. Heather Richmond created and profited from selling videos of herself screwing around. Char had nothing to do with it."

Louis sighed, shaking his head. "You and your sister have to get past this idea that Heather is the devil. She is a struggling young woman. You should give her a chance and show some forgiveness."

Meri blinked at him slowly, wondering if he had lost his mind. When she didn't respond, he turned and walked out of her room.

~~~~

The twins resented the fact that taking their cousin in allowed their mom to paint herself and their dad as saints, and everyone was praising how they were rescuing the at-risk daughter of his troubled sister. It made Charlene and Meredith so mad, but where Char fought with her martial arts training, Meri fought with her words. Meri was glad her school graduated two weeks earlier so she could plan their escape from Veil Falls.

She packed and shipped boxes to Pueblo without her mother being the wiser. Granny Nina had prepared rooms for them for the summer and even found Trina and Meri jobs at a bistro owned by a friend. As far as Meri could tell, everything they had been told about their father's grandmother being senile was false. Nina was a feisty yet sweet lady who looked forward to meeting the twin great-granddaughters she hadn't seen since they were toddlers. Meri envied that Layne had taken Trina to visit Nina several times a year while she was growing up and hoped that she could get to know the elderly lady as well as Trina did.

~~~~

Last Thursday of May

"Charlene DuBois earned the Principle's Award of Academic Excellence and was awarded a certificate of completion in criminal justice studies and an associate degree in computer security and information Studies from the College Core program. She lettered in swimming, volleyball, and track. Ms. DuBois will be joining the United States Navy in lieu of college at this time. Hooyah and God speed, Charlene."

Meri couldn't see her parents' faces from where she was standing at the steps behind her cousin, but she knew they had to be shocked. They thought Char was going to the University of Colorado like their father. Charlene flashed Meri a smug grin as she walked down the steps on the opposite side of the stage. Trina was already walking forward.

"Katrina DuBois is on the Principle's Honor Role and was awarded a certificate in early childhood development from the College Core Program. She lettered in volleyball, and basketball. Ms. DuBois will be going on to study Pediatric Nursing at CSU-Pueblo. Best of wishes, Katrina."

Then it was Meri's turn. Principle Franklin held out his hand to shake hers as they announced Meri's future plans. He had graciously agreed to let her walk the stage with her sister and cousin after seeing her transcript from the online school.

"Meredith DuBois graduated from Virtual Campus Online after an accident last fall left her in a wheelchair and needing multiple surgeries. We are proud to have her as our alumni. Ms. DuBois was in the National Honor Society, and earned the Superintendent's Award of Academic Excellence, Superintendent's Honor Role. She was also awarded a Certificate in Culinary Arts by completing two years of coursework during her convalescence. From V.C.O, she made the Dean's List in the College Core Program. As Winner of the Cordon Bleu scholarship, Ms. DuBois had been accepted to several culinary schools around the country but chose The International Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College in Las Vegas. Congratulations, Meredith." Meri smiled at the photographer as she took her diploma from Superintendent Grocee.

Glancing at her parents she saw they were there looking proud and accepting congratulations, Meri and Trina smiled and waved at Chuck, but Charlene didn't even look toward their family members as their row returned to their seats. Almost an hour later, the final speech was given, and it was time to turn the tassels. Trina, Charlene, and Meri screamed as they threw their caps.

"We did it! We are outta here! Goodbye, Veil Valley High School! Goodbye, Veil Falls!"