Whiskey Lullaby

Chapter 4-Ashton

Chapter 4

Ashton

“Ashton?” she asks, shocked. “Hey sweetheart. What are you doing here?” he asks. “I work here. What are you doing here?” she asks, confused. “This is my company.” I tell her. She shakes her head. “I thought you owned the bar.” She says. “I do. I own several companies under this umbrella.” I tell her. “Oh.” She says simply. “What are you doing here this late?” I ask. “Um…I asked for extra hours. Need to keep busy.” She tells me. “Have you eaten today?” I ask and she nods her head yes. “What did you eat?” I ask as the elevator doors open, and I lead her out with my hand on her lower back. “I ate.” She says simply. “I get that. But what did you eat?” I ask again. “Crackers and juice.” She says softly. “What are you in the mood for? I’m buying.” I tell her. “Oh, no. That’s okay. I’ll make something when I get home.” She tells me. “Izzy, let’s go get something to eat. I know you have to be hungry.” I tell her. She looks down at her feet and says “Ashton, I really just want to go home. Thank you for the offer.” She tells me, clearly trying to fight off the tears, before heading to her car and I watch her go.

I get to my car and Nick opens the door. Getting in, my phone rings. “Yeah Rico.” I say. “I got that info you asked for.” He tells me. “Meet me at my house.” I tell him before ending the call. Getting to my house, Rico is waiting for me. He hands me the file and heads out. Looking at the file, as I move to the kitchen to pour a glass of Jameson, I read the first page.

Jason Michael Walker, age six months. Mother Isabella James. Father Mark Walker. The police report states the infant was with the father for his visitation weekend when the incident occurred. Father told police that he put the infant in the tub for a bath when his phone rang. Father reportedly stepped out of the room, leaving the infant in the baby tub and when the father walked back into the bathroom the infant was face down in the water. Father states he took the infant out of the tub and started CPR and called 911.

Shit. Who leaves their kid, that small, in the tub and walks away. f**k. No wonder Izzy’s destroyed. I look through the rest of the papers and see the autopsy. Looking over it, there’s injuries to the baby but nothing that isn’t consistent with CPR. I look at the third page and start reading.

Father of six-month-old drowning victim found not guilty. The judge in the case of Mark Walker, in the death of infant son, Jason Walker, is found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. After seeing evidence, the judge deemed there was not enough evidence to prove Mr. Walker to be negligent and deemed the infant’s death as accidental.

I pick up my phone and call Rico. “What evidence did they have?” I ask. “Looks like they had his phone records, and he was on that phone call for ten minutes.” He tells me. “How was that not negligent?” I ask, getting pissed. “Looks like his family knows some people in high places that helped make the evidence inadmissible.” He tells me. “I need everything you can find on this piece of s**t, his family and who they f*****g know.” I tell him. “On it boss.” He tells me before hanging up. I look back at the paper and see that the date he was found not guilty was the day I met Izzy. That’s why she was so upset that night. s**t. I need to keep a check on her.

I down the rest of my drink before heading to the shower. After I get out of the shower, I sit on the bed and move against the headboard. I grab my laptop from the nightstand and start to make my to do list for the next day, like I do every night but this time there are some non-work-related items on there.

To-Do

· Find out contact information on Isabelle James

· Find out information on Izzy’s ex and his family

· Get with the lawyer to find out what legally can be done to ex’s family and connections

I work on a few more things before putting my laptop back on the nightstand to load into my briefcase in the morning. I move down under the covers and close my eyes, finally falling asleep.