Page 82 of No Merciful Corruption

I don’t know much about Brent’s parents other than what Karina has told me. Barbara Hopkins is originally from the south and her family comes from oil money. She meant Brent’s father-in-law school and she dropped out to marry him. Come to think of it, Brent rarely spoke of them. I’ve met them less than a handful of times.

“I’m very sorry.” Karina’s voice is strained. “Please let me know if you need anything.”

“I was there. I saw him that night, before he went to the house.” Her eyes are glossy with tears but her face is twisted with contempt. “He was furious. He said you brought your lover⁠—”

“That’s enough.” I meet her gaze. “Mrs. Hopkins, Brent was mistaken. I was with Karina. The man he saw was my boyfriend. He drove us to pick up a few things. We were gone by the time he got there.”

Her head shakes furiously and a few lose waves come down from her tightly woven chignon. “No, no! We were on the phone. Brent told me he saw⁠—”

“Brent was jealous of everyone.” Karina can barely manage to speak above a whisper. “He saw things that weren’t there. Including on the cameras around our home. It wasn’t the first time he stormed in on my cousin and her boyfriend visiting. The last time he did, he broke down the door.”

“You lying slut!” she explodes. “I’m not crazy! And don’t you think for one second that this is over. I will have that final will and testament turned over. You have another thing coming if you think I’m going to allow my son’s inheritance to be tainted by his adulterous wife! You⁠—”

Barbara is manic, sobbing and raging at the same time. She lifts her hand and pounces for Karina.

Karina flinches and lets out a small cry. I catch Barbara’s wrist seconds before the blow lands and push her back so hard she almost falls into the pile of dirt meant to fill Brent’s grave.

“If you ever raise a hand to my cousin again⁠—”

Karina tugs on the back of my dress. “Dahlia, don’t.”

Barbara points a finger in Karina’s direction. “You…” the word trembles and quakes. “Killed my son. You killed him, I know you did! He didn’t want to get divorced. He knew you were cheating on him and he still wanted to make it right.”

My cousin struggles to drag me away. “People are starting to look. Drop it.”

Of course they’re looking. How could they not? Barbara has not only called my cousin an adulterous, gold-digging whore but she also accused her of playing a role in Brent’s death. If we stay now, we’ll only cause a bigger scene. Yulissa watches on in silence while the rest of the Hopkins clan whispers and gasps with horror. Karina’s cheeks burn with humiliation and fear as she yanks on my arm to force me to leave. And I almost do.

Until Brent’s mother says, “Murderer.”

I whip around with the speed of lightning. Barbara staggers back a step and falls against her husband, whom as of now, has not uttered a word.

Barbara lifts her chin to feign in difference but there’s a tremor in her voice when she speaks next. “You heard me. She’s a murderer.”

I take a step closer. We’re toe-to-toe, eye to eye. I can see my reflection in her pupils as I smile. “Okay. Prove it.”

She inhales a shaky breath. “I won’t let her get away with it. She will answer for what she did to my son in a court of law.”

“You don’t even have enough evidence to open an investigation much less file criminal charges. And you cannot find evidence for a crime that doesn’t exist.” I say. “I’d never get in between a mother and her grief but I’ll mind you not to throw defamatory accusations against my cousin again. Because the next time you do, I’ll slap you once with a slander suit and twice with the back of my hand.”

I grab Karina and pull her away from Brent’s open grave and the stuttering mother standing at the foot of it. “Let’s go.”

“You shouldn’t have done that…” Karina worries on her bottom lip. “You’re too much, Dahlia. You’ve just antagonized them and⁠—”

“They should’ve thought of that before they threatened you out in the open.” I bite the inside of my cheek when I sense my temper flaring. “She had no right to talk to you like that. You aren’t some washed up nobody their son plucked out of obscurity and gave a better life. Son of a bitch, I wish I could kill him twice. You have a family to defend you. You have me.”

“But—”

I stop halfway down the hill and turn to face her. “Kay, there are only two people alive who know what really happened. You and me.”

“I know but⁠—”

“No buts. The Hopkins are just pissed you’re inheriting his money. Barbara is a grieving mother. I doubt anyone will give credence to a word she said this afternoon. Especially since it was common knowledge you guys hadn’t been living together for months and you’ve been in the city with me.”

Her features soften. “We still shouldn’t have upset her.”

“She isn’t going to do a damn thing. Especially not once she finds out the ‘body’ she just buried is actually ashes in a metal urn.” I say. “This battle is won.”

She drops her head and looks away. “For now.”