New In Town Short Story Part 5

New In Town Part One

New In Town Part 5 by Susan Zutautas

Morag was totally wiped out, exhausted and emotionally drained. Kelly and Ian were very supportive, and Ian did apologize for asking Morag earlier if she wanted him to call a lawyer for her. Kelly insisted on staying on for a few more days in Toronto, and Morag had no objections to this whatsoever.

Someone was going to have to make funeral arrangements after the body had been released, and Morag was not at all looking forward to doing this, as she did not have a clue where to start. She would call her mother and find out how to go about making all the arrangements. She was sure her mom would be more than willing to her.

Morag, Ian and Kelly were sitting at the kitchen table back at Morag’s wondering who had found the body, when Morag said, “I could sure use a drink. Anyone else, want one?” and headed to one of her kitchen cupboards, where she kept her liquor. “Well the Canadian Club is gone, and I know I had an unopened 40 ounce bottle in here. I wonder if they will find Jen’s blood alcohol level to be high when they do all their tests. It had to have been her that broke in here, as I know I did not give her those pills. Well the tequila is still here, anyone up for shots?”

Ian declined, but Kelly said, “Sure I’ll join you in a couple, got any lemons?”

“No, I don’t sorry. You still want shots though right?”

“When have you ever seen me turn down tequila, of course I still do, bring em on.”

“Is anyone hungry?” asked Ian

“Food is the last thing on my mind right now. My stomach feels like I’ve been on a really long roller coaster ride, and I probably shouldn't even have a tequila.” relied Morag.

“How about we order something in a bit, and maybe you’ll want to try and eat something a little later Morag,” said Kelly.

“Okay, I suppose I should try and eat a little something, but let’s wait about an hour or so before we decide on where and what we are ordering.”

Just as Morag was about to pour a few shots of tequila her phone rang. It was Detective Sommers, and he had some new information. He was in her apartment building lobby, and wanted to come up and talk to her.

“That was the detective and he’s in the lobby and will be right up. Says he has some new info for me,” Morag announced.

Morag went to answer the door when the detective knocked. “Please come in.”

“Miss Stirling, we found a letter that was left in your cousin’s apartment, and it is addressed to you. We have read it, and here’s a copy for you. You may want to sit down before reading it.”

Morag slowly unfolded the letter and began reading.

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Morag,

Well since you are reading you this, you know what has happened to me. Yes I did in fact commit suicide. So I suppose you would like to know why. Well, let me tell you then.

I plod along day after day in life with nothing to look forward to. Most days I am miserable, lonely and wondering why I have to put on this mask that makes me appear happy and cheerful. I don’t enjoy anything at all. I have been living this way for as long as I can remember and I cannot take it anymore. Most people will say oh poor Jennifer she lost her parents and ever since she has been depressed.

The truth is I think I have always been depressed. Yes, even way back when we were children. I hated school because I always felt that I never fit in anywhere. My parents were always fighting over something and felt that it was my fault. I could never keep a guy interested in me for more than a month at a time. I thought that moving away from Montreal would somehow make me a happier person but that sure did not work.

I have always been so envious of you with your long blond hair, big blue eyes, a body to kill for, always tons of friends, all those perfect report cards you used to flash at me. You move to Toronto and boom you meet a guy almost instantly. Sorry to say this but I really hate you. You have always gotten everything in life so easy.

When you said that you were moving to Toronto I acted like I was thrilled about it but I dreaded the day that you would arrive here. I actually had thoughts of killing you but then after thinking about it I really did not want to spend the rest of my life in prison if I got caught. Life itself to me is prison enough so I have decided to escape the prison that I am in.

I might as well also tell you that it was me that sent those flowers to you. I just wanted to play a trick on you and make you think that Ian had sent them and see how it would affect you. Unfortunately I did not choose to stick around to see the outcome and play further tricks on you. See you are not that perfect person after all are you Morag? You thought you knew me, boy were you wrong.

When I broke into your apartment I was looking for anything I could do myself in with. When I found these Demerol’s that I am about to take I hit the jackpot. Just hope that 15 of them will do the job along with the Canadian Club Whiskey that was in your cupboard. But if you are reading this right now then the pills and the booze worked.

I was contemplating setting up my death somehow to make it look like you killed me but I just did not have the energy or strength left in me to plan something like that out. So lucky you get to enjoy the rest of your perfect little life.

I hope that it makes you miserable even for just a day to know how much I truly loathe you.

Jennifer

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Morag folded up the letter and placed it on the coffee table. She was numb and could not believe the words that she has just read. After starring down at the letter on the table for several minutes, she looked over at Detective Sommers, as he said to her, “Not that this will make any of this any better, or go away but thank God she didn't go through with killing you, or trying to make it look as if you killed her.”

“This blows me away as I had no idea.”

Handing the letter to Kelly, Morag said, “Here you and Ian read this as I really do not feel like telling you two what it says.”

Part 6