What Life Throws at You

She seemed cool about her brother's death. Too cool. "Were the two of you close?"

"I knew him about as well as I new myself." She stated flatly. "We were very close. I mourned his loss. He and I were almost 6 when we were adopted." She paused, "Growing up in an orphanage, we both understood that life was cruel." A single tear appeared on her cheek. She was either very good or telling the truth. "I had to move on."

"What kind of a brother was he?"

"Lee protected me before we were adopted. We were inseparable. After our parents brought us to America, we developed relationships with different people and we weren't as close, but he still continued to watched out for me."

"Since his death; have you noticed anyone unusual in your life or maybe items or possessions of his that came up missing?"

"No, Richard I haven't." She swiveled in her chair. "Why do you ask?"

"Just routine questions. Want to make sure you're safe. Some people prey on surviving families after an accidental death." I wanted to make sure she didn't know my ulterior motives, by throwing up any red flags.

We chatted a bit more, but I found out nothing that was useful. "Here is my card Kelly. If you can think of something else or if you see anything unusual; give me a call. I will probably be around in a few days, if any more leads turn up."

"Give me a little advance warning and I'll cook you dinner Richard."

On the way out, I shook her hand. I really wanted to take her in my arms, but that wouldn't have been very professional. Fuck professional; I wanted to take the log to the beaver. "That's what I get for watching 'Grumpy Old Men' last night." I said to no one in particular. Come to think of it; it has been a long, dry spell.

Over the next few days I backtracked information on brother Lee and Kelly's slimy boss. Then I checked the link between the Pascorreli family and Greco.