FICTION

Forbidden Love Part 3

A Sunny Alexander-Johnson and Henry James Series By P.G. & Sharon Barnett

My name is Sunny Alexander-Johnson, and I’m Henry James, and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth Magazine.

We met at Dark Sides early Tuesday morning then took one car to the offices of Grayson and Dillion and Pace law firm in downtown Austin. Charlie Alvarez was waiting for us in the lobby of the high-rise office building.

“Morning, you two.”

“Morning, Charlie. Jason knows we’re coming to see him?”

“Yeah, Henry, I called him right after you two left the station. He needs to be at the courthouse at nine-thirty, so we should have enough time. But I got to tell you I don’t think this is going to take us anywhere. Four different detectives have spoken with him about Gloria, myself included, and his statement never changed and checked out every single time.”

“Maybe we need to ask different questions.”

“Maybe so, Sunny. Maybe so.”

The law firm of Grayson and Dillion and Pace was noted as being one of the premier realty law firms in the state of Texas. When we stepped out of the elevators, it became clearly evident just how lucrative realty law actually was.

We’d seen opulence before but the reception area, in its classy, understated way seemed to shout swanky.

“Wow, get a load of this place.”

“Why are you whispering Henry?”

“Damn, princess, I feel like I’m in church.”

“Not likely old man. Neither you nor this place is on fire.”

“Bite my ass, Johnson.”

After checking in with the receptionist, we sat waiting, but not for long. A young man wearing a crisply starched long-sleeved linen shirt, a power tie of fluorescent blue, and tailored suit pants with creases so sharp they could slice a finger, stopped at the receptionist for a brief exchange. It was difficult to hear what he said, but the tone of his voice seemed confident and self-assured.

When he looked up, he gazed at us and smiled, then covered the short distance of the lobby as we stood up.

“Hello, Detective Alvarez. I must say I wasn’t surprised to hear from you last night.”

“Really? How so?”

“It’s been twenty years Charlie, but I haven’t given up hope. And I’m thinking neither have you. So you must be Henry James and you, Shaundrika Alexander.”

“Alexander-Johnson, yes. Just call me Sunny. Is there someplace we can speak in private, Mr. Bowers?”

“It’s Jason, and of course. Follow me. Can we get you folks anything? Charlie?”

“Naw Jason, I’m good.”

“I won’t speak for Henry, but water would be great.”

“Water’s good.”

We waited as Jason stopped once more at the receptionist’s desk.

“Bobbie, would you mind bringing two bottles of water to the executive?”

“Certainly, Mr. Bowers.”

We settled into plush swivel chairs around a large teak-wood table, a distinctive scent of fresh lemon oil filling our senses. After Bobbie brought us our waters along with a pair of coasters, Jason peered at us from across the table waiting just long enough for Bobbie to leave the room.

“The fact that Charlie has brought you into this can only mean one thing. Gloria’s still missing, and you two think you can find her.”

“It sounds like you think she’s still alive.”

“Why wouldn’t I, Henry?”

“Fair enough, Jason. I know you’ve been down this road at least a million times, but can you tell us what happened that night?”

Jason’s face grew taut and pensive. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and pinched the bridge of his nose as if being forced to relive something from his past, a moment he would rather not experience again.

The young man spoke in measured tones, often stopping as if fearing the emotions building up inside would overtake him. When he finished, he clasped his hands in front of him on the table and continued to stare at them.

“Jason, I know this is hard, and we realize you’ve been through a lot, but is there anything you can tell us that you’ve maybe never shared with the police? Maybe something you didn’t think was important or possibly relevant?”

Jason shook his head, “no, Henry. Nothing. Each time it’s been the same questions, and each time I told the truth and had the same answers.”

“So you and Gloria went to different schools, right Jason?”

“Yes. Apparently, you and Henry did your homework.”

“So how did you two meet?”

“What?”

“You seem surprised at the question, Jason.”

“That’s because none of the other detectives ever asked that question. Charlie? Did you ever ask me that?”

“No, I didn’t. Where are you going with this, Sunny?”

“Hang on Charlie. Jason, how did you two meet and strike up such a close friendship? When I was in school, I barely even knew the kids at other schools existed. It wasn’t until I got to college that we hooked up.”

“Summercamp.”

“Summercamp?”

“Yeah, I met Gloria when we were counselors at Saint Igleasia’s Youth Camp. Why? Is that information important?”

“It could be.”

“Did you love her, Jason?”

“Henry, it’s like I told Charlie and all the other detectives. Gloria and I were best friends, and yes, I loved her as a best friend would.”

“But in her journal, she said she and JB made love, kinda sounds like you two were more than friends.”

“Impossible Henry.”

“Not from where I’m sitting, it ain’t.”

“I said it’s impossible! Look, I swore an oath to Gloria I’d never breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you as long as her father was alive! Well, he died last year. And it’s not like this bit of information has any bearing on Gloria’s disappearance, but as I said, we were never lovers.”

“Sorry, bud, I ain’t buying it.”

“Henry. Gloria was gay.”

“Do what?”

“She preferred women, Henry. Sure, I was her best friend, but I certainly wasn’t her lover. Now, do you understand why your suggestion is so impossible?”

We both turned and looked at Charlie in amazement who appeared just as stunned at this revelation as we were.

“What did we tell you Charlie about asking the right questions?”

“Damn, Henry. Look Jason, we’ve taken enough of your time, and I know you need to leave. We’ll stay in touch if we find anything.”

“Thanks, Charlie. Henry? Sunny? Find her. If you need anything from me, anything at all, you two let me know.”

We left the man to his own memories and found our way back to the elevator then rode down to the lobby in silence. As we stepped out of the building, we huddled up on the sidewalk.

“So I have to agree with Jason. Although it is new information, I don’t really see how that’s going to help much. Us knowing her sexual preferences really has little to do with her disappearance. Especially If we can’t tie that bit of information to anything else.”

“Trust us on this one, Charlie. Any bit of information the police didn’t have before is important.”

“If you say so, Henry. I’ve got some other cases I need to work, so I’m going to be out in the field most of the day. Are you two good to go over those boxes of evidence on your own?

“No problem Charlie. Henry and I need to head back to Dark Sides and get my car. Then we’ll head down to the station and take another crack at it.”

“Okay, I’ll see you two later.”

We watched him walk away and, for several seconds, stood leaning against the stone masonry of the office high-rise.

“So, what do we do with it, old man?”

“The information about Gloria being a lesbian?”

“Yeah.”

“Haven’t the foggiest.”

“Same here.”

Read On — Forbidden Love Part 4