LIVING ON THE EDGE

CHAPTER: 36

Stuart was at the office when Sharon arrived, tapping away on his computer.

"How did the meeting with Adriana's parents go?" he asked Sharon.

"Not that great. It was very sad to see how little Davies knew about their daughter. They had no idea she lived in Huntsville," Sharon said to Stuart.

"Really? Man, this lady had secrets," he said.

"You have got that right. I..." Before she could tell Stuart about the rest of the meeting with Adriana's parents, the phone rang, interrupting their conversation. He answered the phone, but could not get a word out. Apparently, the person on the other end was in a hurry.

"Um...sure," he said, holding the phone out to Sharon.

"Hello, this is..." Sharon was interrupted. 

"Mrs. Stone. Can you meet me in about twenty minutes?" It was Nicholas Davies. He sounded nervous and in a hurry.

"Yes, I can. Name the place and time."

"You know that little coffee place right across the street from Sun Diner? Jesus, I cannot remember the name," he said.

"No worries. I know it well. See you in twenty minutes," Sharon told Nicholas.

She hung up and grabbed her laptop and notepad. "Nicholas Davies wants to meet," she told Stuart.

"Wow. He sounded like it was urgent," Stuart said to Sharon.

"I will be back later. Keep me posted on any info you come across," Sharon told Stuart.

Cafe Nashville is a coffee shop located in the back of a tiny storefront. It is a dark, drafty place lined with old board games and jigsaw puzzles. Sharon had not been there for some time, but during graduation days, she had spent many late nights studying in the back corner. She arrived twenty-five minutes after the phone call from Nicholas.

None of the tables or chairs in Cafe Nashville were vacant. There were a few couches in the corners, though. Nicholas was standing at the counter. They shook hands and ordered their drinks. Nicholas went with a white chocolate mocha with extra whipped cream; while Sharon ordered a large black coffee. They headed to a yellow couch.

Nicholas said, "Sorry about the other day. It has been hard. I feel bad about Adriana, but I got my own problems going on, you know?"

Sharon nodded sympathetically and waited for more. Nicholas took a sip of his drink, sighed, and started up again.

"I don't think this has anything to do with Adriana's murder, and my parents like to pretend it did not happen, but Adriana used to live in that neighborhood of Maury County. It is old stuff, but, weirdly, she was found dead in that area," Nicholas said.

"Really?" Sharon said, pretending like it was the first time she had heard this information. "It is strange that she lived there and was found murdered in that neighborhood. Please tell me more?" Sharon told him.

Nicholas' face was turning red. Sharon could tell that he was about to reveal costly secrets.

"I appreciate you reaching out to me. I am not here to judge you or your family. My only goal is to find out who killed your sister. Her children and husband deserve the truth, but Adriana also deserves justice. We should not just let someone take her life and get away with it," Sharon tried explaining to him.

Nicholas nodded and folded his hands on the table. He sighed, paused for a minute, and then began with a slow, barely audible flow. 

"It might be hard to find the official address for her. She had an arrangement that kept it kind of secret that she lived there. There is something else. Mom and Dad said it would not be relevant; they don't want to ruin her name, you know? People already think she was having an affair with some black dude, and this would just intensify that theory. I mean, this was a long time ago, and there is no way this would play any part, but I think it might be good for you to know it. Adriana lived in Maury County for a while and she did not live alone. There was this guy who lived with her. He was one of those dudes with the long braids, saggy pants, f****d up family, and all that to boot. I am sure he was a drug dealer, probably a criminal gang member, and just one of those overall bad people. I cannot remember his name, but I know that he originally lived somewhere else on the street," Nicholas said to Sharon.

"They lived on Marshall Street? What else can you tell me about this guy? You saw him, I assume?" Sharon asked.

"A few times. He was very nervous about coming to Sweetwater. Adriana was dumb enough to bring home for Christmas dinner one year. i***t," Nicholas said.

"So how tall was this guy?" Sharon asked, trying to steer Nicholas Davies out of the range of sibling hatred.

"He must have been about six feet... maybe a little more. I do not know about weight, but he was thinner than I was, so I would say slim build. He had a full beard and a great deal of hair, he had puffed out in a huge afro hairstyle, the last time Adriana had brought him for dinner. She really thought he looked good. To me, he was a..." He was interrupted by Sharon.

"Okay. Tell me anything else you remember from that time about Adriana or her boyfriend?" Sharon asked him.

Nicholas ran a shaky hand through his hair. He was still withdrawing from the alcohol, Sharon presumed, but to his credit, there had not been any cigarette smoking during this meeting.

"The guy always had a red bandana in his back pocket or tied around his head. I am taking a guess, that he was a gang member, or wanted to be one," Nicholas said.

A Blood? Sharon felt her adrenaline rising. If Adriana had gotten mixed up in gangs at one time, she probably had other skeletons just waiting to fall out of the closet. The good news was that Maury County had a strange gang structure that discouraged thugs from other states from connecting with them. This unique gang structure was inspired by Maury County's strong tendency to have neighborhoods separated by ethnic group, religion, and race. Gang colors are less important because you are your flag; whereas skin color, religious garb, or last name defined a person. 

A/N: To be continued...