Wedding Woes by JJ Chow & Jennifer J. Chow

Author:JJ Chow & Jennifer J. Chow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: funny humorous, san jose silicon valley, amateur sleuth, chinese private investigator, mystery cats, Asian American
Publisher: JJ Chow
Published: 2019-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

ORCHID PUT HER HEAD in her hands and groaned. She seemed stuck to her chair in a wilted position.

Bright spluttered. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?” He looked like he would lunge at Tal, but then Winston stepped between the two of them. Bright started pacing around the room instead. With his all-black attire, he looked like a shadow flitting among the chairs.

Viv stopped popping her gum and accidentally swallowed it. She made a choking noise, while Sandy patted her on the back. As soon as Viv recovered, the sisters retreated to a private corner and held hands.

Lyle laid his camera in his bag and zipped up the case.

Tal shook his head. “Fort couldn’t breathe.”

“He’s really dead?” Evan said in a hollow tone.

Tal raked his hands through his hair, disheveling the jet- black strands. “They said we could go see him, to get closure.” He looked over at Winston. “Um, family only . . . ”

Winston nodded. “Go ahead. And take your time.”

After the Chans left, he regretted his rash words. How long would they take? Already his cell phone showed the time as nine o’clock. He texted Kristy.

Winston: Sorry, still at hospital.

Kristy: Is Fort stable?

Winston: He . . . didn’t make it.

Kristy: What?! If only I had noticed sooner . . .

Winston: You did the best you could.

Kristy: The poor Chans.

Winston: They’re getting closure now. Don’t know how long it’ll take . . .

Kristy: You have until midnight, Cinderella.

Winston: I’m the prince . . . or Sherlock, at least. Love you, Watson!

Winston felt a shadow fall on him. Orchid stood above him and tapped her foot. She looked composed, though tired. Her posture seemed stiff, and her stare fixed.

The rest of the Chan family stood behind her in a huddle, their eyes cast down. Some had their arms crossed over their chests in protective gestures. Viv appeared to shiver, though the room felt quite warm.

Orchid turned her attention to her family and looked each of them in the eye. “Two dead? Our family is cursed. We are burning incense tonight.”

“Fire hazard,” Sandy mumbled, but Orchid ignored her.

“We leave now,” said the matriarch. She pointed at Winston with a jab of her finger. “You. Drive us.”

Winston led them away from the ER area by crossing through the lobby. He felt almost like Mother Goose with her goslings. Except that this was the saddest fairy tale he’d ever heard of.

Before they made it to the exit, they passed by the info desk. The lady behind it stood up and waved her arms. “Mrs. Chan,” she called out.

Orchid craned her neck. An expression of deep sorrow appeared on her face. “More paperwork to fill out?”

“No, nothing like that.” The woman behind the desk twirled a pen in her fingers. “I just wanted to say . . . it was his choice. Remember that.”

Orchid nodded once at the woman and continued walking toward the exit.

Winston puzzled over the woman’s words. Why had she flagged down Orchid? And whose choice was she

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