Chapter 3

"What are you saying? Who killed Richard?" Josie jumped while Bernadette held Estelle whose face had turned pale.

"I wasn't sure before, so I investigated and found out the truth" Daniel replied when at the same moment, Johnny walked into the living room with some unexpected guests.

"Good day ladies." A tall well built man dressed in a t shirt, trouser and brown leather jacket said as he entered the room with Johnny and a woman who was with him.

"Mrs. Adler, I am extremely sorry for your loss. Your husband was a very good and respected man" He said to Estelle.

Everyone in the room was confused as to who they were and what they wanted, which was explained in the next sentence that the man spoke.

"Daniel Steele, you are under arrest for the murder of Richard Adler. You have the right to remain silent, anything you do or say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to'..." The man's words drifted in Estelle's mind along with Daniel's protests of innocence. The room began to turn black and everyone's attention was turned to her as she was now unconscious on the floor.

       Estelle was rushed to the hospital where she had to spend the night. Bernadette prayed all night for her daughter and grandchild's well being.

"Her emotional state is crucial right now. There is a high risk of her losing this baby if she keeps getting agitated." The doctor had said.

Josie also spent the night at the hospital. She loved Estelle like a daughter, especially since she had no children of her own. The doctor advised that Estelle be kept in the hospital for a few days to monitor her and keep her from emotional stress.

"What happened to Daniel?" Estelle asked her mother the next day.

"You should not be concerned with that sweetie. Don't think about any of that." Bernadette said and eventually convinced her daughter to drop the issue.

      Estelle was discharged after three days with strict warnings to be on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Bernadette instructed that she was allowed no visitors, and that someone was to be in her room watching her always. Josie and Bernadette took turns staying with Estelle to make sure she was never alone for any long period of time.

“My daughter’s finally awake. Bring lunch up now” Bernadette said to Carrie, the other maid in the house. It was Rose’s day off and Josie had gone out to the supermarket, so the only people in the hose were Bernadette, Estelle, Carrie, Jeff the personal chef, and two armed guards stationed outside the house.

“Yes Ma’m,” Carrie rushed to the kitchen and Bernadette began to climb the steps back upstairs when there was a knock at the door.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Monroe.” The man who arrested Daniel walked in and greeted Bernadette.

“I’m not sure if you remember me. Things got chaotic the last time we met.”

“I remember you, Detective Jones. What is the reason for your visit today?” Bernadette asked not very eager to know what could have brought him back to the house.

“I have come to speak with Mrs, Adler. I won’t take much of her time, I just want to ask her a few questions.”Jones said in a perfectly calm voice. He had something striking about him, he looked like someone who always got what he wanted.

“My daughter is in no condition to be harassed by the likes of you. So please leave, I can’t help you.”Bernadette said, slightly annoyed.

“I would prefer not to have to summon her to give her statement and make her come all the way to the station” Jones replied in his still, calm voice.

“How dare you threaten something like that?”Bernadette shouted angrily

“My daughter is going through so much and all you care about is harassing her to-”

“Mother don’t worry, I’m here.” Estelle said weakly making her mother and Jones turn around to see her coming down the stairs.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Adler, we haven’t been properly introduced. I am detective Jones of the Fort Ridgewood Homicide department and I am in charge of investigating your husband’s case.” Jones said as he and Bernadette helped Estelle sit.

“I am sorry to disturb you in this state, but I just have a few questions to ask you”

“That’s alright, I also have something to ask you detective” Estelle said as her mother took a sit beside her.

“Why did you arrest Daniel?” She asked, the question which had been on her mind for over a week.

“As you well know, your husband and Mr. Steele were business partners. According to our investigations, we discovered that Mr. Steele has been stealing money from the company and inflating costs to cover it up. From the evidence we have, you husband found this out and threatened to report him to the authorities if he did not resign from his position. We suspect that Daniel had him killed to keep his job and avoid going to prison” Jones explained to a dumbfounded Estelle.

            After the explanation, he asked Estelle many questions about her husband’s company and his relationship with Daniel. He also informed her that Daniel was in prison already, because no bail was set for him and all his assets had been frozen. After he left, Bernadette took Estellle to bed, and gave her some food and pills to help her sleep. Josie returned a while later and was shocked by her sister’s narration of what the detective said. Everyone who was close to Richard knew how much he and Daniel loved and cared for each other. It was more than shocking to anyone that Daniel would do all the things he was accused of.

            It was just a few minutes past seven p.m. when Estelle woke and stood up to go to the bathroom. She heard her phone ring as she was about to step into the bathroom and sighed at the fact that there was no one else in the room to get it.

“Hello” She said, answering the unknown caller.

“You have a call from Thompson Correctional Facility, do you accept the charges?” Estelle felt a sense of fear and doubts come over her as she contemplated what to do.

“You have a call from Thompson Correctional Facility, do you accept the charges?”