Chapter 35: Drowned World
As the flames rose higher Sheridan started to cry. All she kept thinking about was that the Crane limo had gone up in flames and who could be inside. What it her father? Julian? Ethan? She knew it couldn't be Julian he was in his library. Ethan was with Gwen at an auction so it had to be her father.
"Oh Luis what if my father was in there...I...will....never...for...give...myself" She started to cry and the tears quickly rolled down her cheeks. If her father really was gone she would regret it. She hadn't come to terms with her father's affair of trying to kill Luis. She knew he was behind it, but still she should have told him she still cared about him. He was her father and despite how manipulative and cold hearted he seemed at times, he was the only father she ever had. And now he could be gone.
The firefighters arrived on the scene and immediately began to take out the blaze. The hose hit the car with such force and the fire began to subside slowly. Sam rushed over to Luis and Sheridan and said. "Luis, Sheridan are you two alright? What happened here?"
"Yes Sam we're fine. I don't know what happened. One minute Sheridan and I were in bed and the next we heard a large bang. We rushed outside and saw the limo in flames. Sheridan thinks her father - Alistair could have been inside the car."
"Alistair as in Alistair Crane. We'll we won't know until the fire is out and the police investigate. You two should go inside and rest you two have had a very eventful day."
"You're right Sam thanks for everything. Keep us posted." "Are you sure you two are alright Luis?" "Yes we are fine. I'll see you tomorrow at the police station." "Thanks Sam goodnight" Sheridan and Luis walked back to the cottage together. Once they were inside Sheridan broke down in tears again. "Luis I will never be able to forgive myself for having never said goodbye to my father. I know..."
"Sheridan stop thinking like that. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides we don't know for sure that Alistair was in the limo. Now let's go to sleep. You have to take it easy. Remember you are carrying twins and this added stress isn't got for either you nor the babies." "You're right Luis. What would I do without you." "You'll never have to find out because I will always be here for you - always." The next day, Luis received a call from Sam Bennett in the afternoon.
"Hi Luis it's me Sam. How are you and Sheridan holding up?" "We're okay. Did you find out anything about who was in the limo" "We have found the remains of two bodies. We don't know who was in the car. The only evidence we recovered from the fire was a gold ring and some other small findings that the fire department managed to salvage."
"So how will we know who died Sam?" "We are going to need Sheridan and Julian to come down to the police station to see if they can identify any of these belongings we recovered. Perhaps they can shed some light on the matter."
"Alright Sam we are on our way." At the police station, Sheridan, Luis, Julian, Ivy and Ethan were awaiting to see the evidence that had been recovered from the blaze. Sam walked into the interrogation room and placed the remaining evidence on the table.
"Can any of you identify this ring. Have any of you ever seen it before." "Why yes Chief Bennet, that ring belongs to my father Alistair." Julian said bearing no emotion in his tone of voice or facial expression. "Oh my god Luis that's his ring" Sheridan said sobbing. Luis pulled her in closer.
"It's ok Sheridan." Luis said in a soothing voice. The other belongs seemed to be mostly Alistair's so everyone concluded he must have died along with one of his personal limo drivers. Julian agreed to make all the necessary arrangements for his father's funeral.
Later that night, Julian sat in the library and smiled. "Father is dead. My plan worked and now I own all of the Crane empire. Sheridan is so distraught over the death of father, while I couldn't be happier."
He took another sip of his brandy as he went over in his head what he was going to inherit. The next day, the Cranes along with Luis sat in Alistair Crane's lawyer's office awaiting details of Alistair's will. The man looked over the papers and popped in a video into his vcr that Alistair left behind. "It seemed that Mr. Crane has explicit instructions as to were his money and the Crane empire is to be left behind to. He has asked that we listen to his final words that he taped - now let me see the date of this tape says - no this can't be right."
"What is it Mr. Hoffman?" Sheridan asked. "Well Mrs. Fitzgerald, it appears this tape was made yesterday, but that can't be right." "Well father did know everything about everyone maybe he knew when he was going to die." Julian said. Sheridan eyed her brother and it seemed like Julian was delighted that his father was dead. "Well Mr. Hoffman I can't give you an explanation for my father's actions, but please play the tape I am anxious to see it."
"Alright" Mr. Hoffman popped the tape into the VCR and pressed play. Suddenly, Alistair's face appeared on the screen and he began to speak. "Well if you are seeing this than it means that I am dead. Before I tell you who is entitled to what portion of the Crane empire, I would like to reveal the truth about some secrets that I have been harboring for long enough...."
To Be Continued....
Preview for Chapter 36: What secrets will Alistair reveal? Why was the tape recorded the day before his tragic death? Find out in Chapter 36: Shocking Revelations
