Detective Liam Niles: The Last Crusade by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

The Last Crusade

In the foyer of Chivalry Chapel. Inspector Crouse, standing next to Detective Liam Niles, in the continuation of solving a clue leading to the past disappearance of him and his brother, Detective Trey Niles’ mother, as she now stands in front and center of both, Detective Liam Niles and Inspector Crouse. A long moment of silence between them. The woman standing slender with now sandy brown shoulder length hair with a touch of grey, looking at him in final resolution.

Liam, as to verify in his mind of his long lost mother, now stands in front of him. “Hello Mother. I must ask. Is there anyone else here with you?”

His mother, in understanding position.”No, my son.There is not. I am here by myself. There is no one else. My, this place looks so grand compared to my humbled dwellings. I see you did very well.”

Liam, concurred loosening his hands from his back he stayed in place. “So says Father as well.”

His mother gave him an inquired look. “Oh. Did he also show up at your door too?”

Liam, with quirky smirk. “Well let’s just say, he was like a mysterious surprise at our doorstep before our reunion. Inspector Crouse. Let me introduce to you, my mother, Mariam Niles.”

Inspector crouse, cordial. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Maam.”

Mariam, giving a slight grin.“And Trey. Where is he? You two were always inseparable.”

Trey, racing back into the foyer, stops just short of his brother. ”Liam, everyone is waiting for you!” Seeing in front of him, his mother looking back at him, stood in place in disbelief. “Mother? Is it really you?” In a moment of careful inspection. “It is you!” Goes to her, grabbing her, picking her up off her feet in such marvelous joy then placed her down.

Mariam, surprised. “Oh Trey, look at you. You’re so strong to lift me so high.” She held him tight.

Liam, with dimpled grin smile,being coy of taking the credit along with Crouse.

Sir William, coming into the foyer, abruptly stopped when seeing his estranged wife. “Mariam.” He quietly said.

Inspector Crouse, “Sir William. I’m sorry but its regulations. We must have her in for questioning. But for now, I’m sure there is room with you, If you don’t object.”

Sir William, stood in her view. “ I never have.” Mariam, turning away from her estranged husband. “Inspector, Liam, if you don’t mind. I think I’d lke to stay in the guest room. That is, until all questions have been answered. Then I shall be on my way back home.”

Liam, informing her. “Mother. Father is living in the guest room. There is no other room.”

Mariam, taking a quick glimpse of Sir William. “Fine. Then I’ll guess that means I’ll be sleeping on the floor until I leave back from where I came from.”

Sir Willam, with sigh. “Mariam, you take the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor. You know I’ll do anything for you.”

Mariam, straight face. “ I bet.”

Sir William, with a memorable smirk. “like son, like mother.”

Liam, raised his sighing eyes. “But Mother. From where did come from?”

Mariam, giving him a sigh. “From a nearest measly hole-in-the-wall-they call-hotel. Now, would you please lead me to your questioning room, so I can get back in time before they close up with cardboards on the windows.”

Sir William, taking her hand. “Miriam. I insist of your comfort. Please stay.”

Mariam, taking a long look into his eyes. “Alright. I’ll stay, as I used to. What I have is all I have. I shall retrieve what little left I have later.”

Sir William, taking her hand kissing upon her hand with chivalry. “Thank you Mariam.”

Mariam, giving him a loving but cautioned expression. Then leaving the room with her two boys along with the Inspector, going into the Great Hall.

In the office of Pastor Connor Drake. Trey, Liam, with their mother and Inspector Crouse, all sitting around the table.

Liam,sitting next to her. “Mother I’m sure you know by now. I must question you. Protocol.”

His mother nodded in understanding.

Inspector Crouse started. “Mrs. Niles.”

Mariam, objected. “Oh please, its Mariam.”

Inspector Crouse, with respect. “Ok. Mariam. For the record. We will need to record your testimony on video Please take your time to tell us what we need to know.” He turns on the camera. “I’ll start with this question. What happened to you on the day when your sons, discovered you missing?”

When your father and I separated and I took up residence elsewhere. There was a man at my door who addressed himself to me as, Sir Ralphane Belger, A friend of Sir William. He said he needed a maid and would pay me handsomely. So I took the bait.”

Liam, giving her a questionable look. “The bait. “What bait is that mother?”

His mother looking straight at him. “Times were hard Liam. Jobs were scarce. The pay too tempting not to take. You know me Liam. I am a very reasonable person, it was hard enough to make the decision to part from your father in our too difficult circumstances. And I was very loyal to your father loving him dearly. But It was always, of just waiting a little longer, but nothing showed differently.”

Liam, in memory. “Yes Mother. I know all too well.”

Mariam, giving a slight grin in appreciation of acknowledgement. “So, as naive as I was. I took the job.”

Liam, sat back in his chair. “ And that’s when we found you missing.”

Mariam leaned forward in her chair. “But I did give you a letter of my whereabouts.”

Liam, unamused. “We did not get any messages. It must have been intercepted somehow.”

In Mariam’s conclusion. “ I wondered why my messages were not being returned.” She sighed.

Trey, humbled. “And as Father’s search for you went dry too many times for fifteen years. So Father quit his job with Connor to leave in further search of you with a sizable pension.” He held his head low.

Liam, interjected. “ And that’s when Pastor Connor requested for me to investigate in finding his ancestral signet ring .”

Inspector Crouse, seeing her need to conclusion. “Go on Mariam.”

Mariam once again moistened her lips of absolution. “It began on that first day he would come to me giving me gifts of flowers, wage bonuses, he even brought in guests for fancy entertainment as I did my job. It was rather quite lavish, but thinking he could be on my side of his disillusion, the madman. Even I thought well of myself getting involved of the thrill of the watching the masquerade of his wonderful escapades of extravagant dresses, drinks and laughter for all, even though I did not participate, I found him amusing. He asked me to stay longer. So I did.”

Liam, with staggered response. “What could he possible want from you? A maiden in the fortress of your humble dwellings with nothing of value to gain?”

Mariam, staring at the table. “Except, I had the information he wanted.”

Liam, with a british -stiff-upper - lip. “Alright. Then what happen?”

Mariam sat straight in knowledge. “Your father had previously knew Pastor Connor Drake being good friends in their time as fellow knights. Sometime before our separation, your father told me of his job as guard at Chivalry Chapel. The knowledge of the great possession of wealth that Chivalry Chapel had and that in order to gain access to it, would mean pure anarchy to the last sword swung in the demise of Connor to achieve it.

Then the next day, Sir Ralphane came to me telling me of his purpose of ‘The Men of Unknown Origin,’ Was to overthrow Pastor Connor Drake pirating his way into Chivalry Chapel in hostage take over with promises of me as stewardship with him in the share of that wealth. It was then, I came to realize, all that time, him, knowing full well of who I was, Sir William Niles’ separated wife and his close friend of Pastor Drake. He simply took advantage, lured me into captive hostage into his mansion in the disguise as gentleman.

I immediately took a step back away from him, I told him I would not comply and I quit my job. Sir Ralphane had told me that until I divulge my husband’s knowledge of The Chivalry Chapel, I will be stationed there until further notice.”

Inspector Crouse, raised his intrigue brows. “ Really. Please continue. Then what happened?”

Mariam pressed on. “I eventually saw into his weaknesses. I found a way out going through a hidden tunnel escaping from his mansion and left the grounds without being noticed.

As I reached the city, I carefully reserved a hotel room, quickly closing the door behind me with my back up against the wall, and there, I remained. I didn’t want to take any chances of him finding me, so I took up residence in an old hotel of what was left of my earned funds giving my name of identity to the hotel registry in the name of ‘Mariam Russell’ and went into hiding for many years and finding another job to sustain myself while to make sure of clearance.” Liam, giving his mother an ‘aha’ look. ”Your maiden name. Brilliant.”

Mariam concurred. “And no doubt the hotel had to verify my identity. At least I was safe in knowing it was private.”

Inspector Crouse, “And that’s how we found you through our computer’s investigated system when in searching for you. It showed your both names, your maiden name and married name”

Mariam sat back into her chair in relieved calm. “ I did try to carefully contact my family on occasion, but seemed unclear why I still could not obtain it. The phone numbers had changed. So at that time,I gave up trying thinking that my William, after my estrangement with him, now would not have me back anyway. It was only because of your lead through the police that brought me here, that I felt compelled in safety, I could not hold off any longer.”

Inspector Crouse, placing his pen down on the table, turning off the camera. “Right. I think we are done. The questioning is now officially over. Liam, I think its time to introduce your mother to the family.”

Liam standing from his chair, going to his mum.

Mariam, standing.

Liam, slowly gets close to her, then within a second, without question, wraps his devoted loving arms around her for the first time in fifteen years. The scent of her, the feel of her as he closed his eyes in her arms clutching her tight. Never wanting to let go of her. Opening his eyes. ”Right. Mother. I think this a good time to meet the rest of the family. Come with me.” Taking her hand, escorting her into the hallway, Trey and Crouse following until they stopped to see the family, each one coming out of the Great Hall, Lauren, leading the way out. Tauna, with her mother, Bren, her father, Pastor Connor, all stood.

Devon, with his wife, Breyen and young William, Tremen, his wife, Saren with child in her arms, coming behind them, stopped in wondering.

Liam, looking back at his family, stood tall. “Everyone. This is Mariam. Mine and Trey’s mother.”

Everyone stood stunned.

Bren and Connor, giving a brief look at each other, then went to her shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you Mariam.”

Liam, attentive. “Mother. This is Lady Tauna Drake, Niles. My wife. And our son, Devon, with his wife, Breyen, our grandson, William.”

Mariam, looking directly at Tauna with raised brows. “A Lady. Oh Liam. You certainly have won you valor. And a beautiful one at that.”

Tauna, tilt her head down, then up.

Mariam, in same position as her.

Liam, with delight. “Right. everyone. She will be staying here with my father, Sir William. Now. Me, Trey and Inspector Crouse have a very inportant assignment to tend to. And I shall see you all later.” Taking a step to Tauna, taking his gentle hand, careeses her face in cheer, then walks off with his brother and Crouse.

Tauna, sees Liam walk off, then turns to look at Mariam, with honorable but in apprehension as Mariam giving her the same look.

But tauna, self reserved, stood in place.

Bren in her infinate wisdom, seeing Tauna not budging from her stance, offering out her guiding hand to her daughter’s just met mother in law. “Mariam. I’ll show you to your room.” Bren looking at Tauna in understanding as both older women pass by her by leaving the room.

Tauna, seeing them pass her by, taking a moment to reflect upon herself as Lady of Chivalry Chapel, with unlady like mannerism of uncoordinated reception toward her new mother –in –law, then in a desperate act of self plea of questionable conviction to herself of less appealing appearance, winces her face in disgrace of herself.

Connor, by his daughter’s side. “ Tauna. It was shock to us all. Your not used to the suddeness of it. Give it time. And Be kind to yourself love.” Kissing upon her forehead, he tenderly gave his fatherly love and care to her, going off to his duties as Pastor.