Page 145 of Darkest Obsession

I grunt in response and turn towards my bedroom. Violet doesn't want to know what adventures I've had, but I look forward to tea with my sister and listening to stories about her happy life in America with that lovable idiot, Jack Dyson. I dress in a blue gingham shirt and grey trousers, tucked in, of course. Mum would prefer if I wore a bowtie, but I reach a happy middle ground by selecting a coral pink tie from my infinite collection of excessively formal clothes required for attending tea.

Fussing with my hair is utterly useless, so I leave it a large fluffy mess and head down the hall to the parlor. I hear Violet on the phone in her bedroom, yelling something about babies and tangerines to Jack. Maybe she's the crazy one in their relationship...

I enter the parlor and thank the maid for handing me tea before I join mum, choosing the seat across from her.

She smiles at me and then a single tear forms in her eye.

"It's so good to see you," my mum whispers.

"Mum, there's no need to cry. Seriously."

I've been under two hours a way. If she missed me that badly, she could have visited. I dunno. There's something weird about her.

"Thomas? I have some unfortunate news," she says in a nervous, jittery voice. Did she forget her Xanax again today?

"What is it?"

"The police are on their way. They're extending us the courtesy of tea but after that, they plan on arresting you under suspicions of murder."

"Murder?"

"Yes, darling. We're well connected. I won't have them barging in here before you've had a chance to unwind. Drink your tea and then you'll leave with them. Don't worry, I've already spoken to your lawyer. You don't have to say a word, alright? Just drink your tea."

"Mum..."

"Drink," she responds stiffly. "We'll deal with the rest later."

Oh, I’m definitely fucked.