It's A Crime (24 page)

After his Friday afternoon appointment,
Dr. Delaney asked Cole to please wait in the sitting room so he could speak with his aunt. Cole nodded, his eyes downcast.

“
Doctor, I don’t know how to help him,” Aunt Theresa said softly, wringing her fingers together, her eyes tearful, distress apparent in her features. “I wish I could, for his sake and my sister’s sake. God rest her soul.”

Dr. Delaney led her to the chair in front of his desk
. Taking her seat, she wiped her tears aside with the back of her hand.

“Cole is a highly intelligent young man
,” the doctor explained. “However, he is dealing with a serious form of depression, characterized by a clinical withdrawal from social contact and involvement. Unfortunately, if left untreated it will eventually lead to detachment. He lacks social or emotional connection.”

“I’m at a loss.
I don’t know how to help him. I tried to encourage him to talk to me, I hoped if he opened up, maybe he could release some of his sadness. I have two daughters and things are difficult at home. Cole…he, um, he needs more than I am able to give him right now. He needs someone who will be devoted to him and his recovery. I don’t know what to do.” She once again wiped at her tears. “He doesn’t have anyone else but me; I won’t, I can’t abandon him when he needs me, not now.” Her sorrow and guilt overtook her and she bowed her head and cried into her hands. The doctor pushed the box of tissues on his desk toward her. She thanked him with a nod, grabbing a few in her hands, blotting her eyes.

“
I understand the conflict you are facing now.” He paused. “I would like to propose a therapy for Cole I think he will benefit from.”

She looked up, eyes wide, giving the doctor her full attention.

“I am the house psychologist at Girard College,” he continued, “Girard's mission is to prepare students for an advanced education and life as informed, ethical, and productive citizens. We use a rigorous educational program that promotes intellectual, and in Cole’s personal circumstance, social, and emotional growth. It’s located right here in Philadelphia, local, so you’d be able to visit as often as you wish, which would benefit both your family and Cole as well. He needs to know he has his family. He needs your continued support.”

“I’m not sure I have the money for…”

“Girard offers a scholarship program which will take care of Cole’s expenses. The founder, Stephen Girard, had a philosophy. His vision was a school for poor, orphaned boys or boys who’d lost their fathers. His sole purpose was to educate an entirely unserved population. You see, Girard saw a chance to educate these boys who might otherwise be lost, and prepare them for useful, productive lives.”

“And you think Cole will do well in that environment?” Theresa asked.

“I do. I believe we will be able to help him, give him the attention and focus he needs.”

“
I have to give it some thought, speak with my husband, and, of course, I’ll need to speak with Cole, but from your description, it sounds like a godsend.”

“
To get things started, I will forward Cole’s records to the admission office and follow up with it. I’ll be in touch with you.”

“Doctor, I so appreciate your help and understanding.
It’s been hard losing my sister, and Martin, and my nephew Tommy. I never wanted to let her down. I just don’t see anything I could do that will help him. He is so sad. He deserves much more than I am able to give him.”

Theresa nodded.

“Cole is a bright young man. It’s been both a challenge and pleasure working with him, getting to know him. I have every reason to believe with help he
will
succeed.”

The doctor stood and walked over to Theresa
. He took her hand in his. “We will talk again soon, but in the meantime, I would like to continue seeing Cole for his regular weekly visit.”

Theresa left the doctor
’s office feeling hope and relief. Her prayers had been answered; her heart felt lighter.

After
dinner, later that night, she discussed what the doctor had told her with both Cole and her husband.

“Cole, sweetheart, this could be a great opportunity for you and something
I really think you should think about.” She continued, “Of course, we want you to know the choice is ultimately yours. We love you very much and you are wanted here with us. I just feel like, like I am not helping you. I know you are not happy here.”

Cole looked at his aunt, h
is mind slowly processing everything she told him. He promised her he would think about it, and walked out of the kitchen into the living room where he sat in front of the computer and searched GIRARD COLLEGE. As the screen jumped to life, Cole read everything. His aunt was trying her best to take care of him and his two young cousins. She’d been sad losing her sister and her family…his family. His chest constricted and the pain that started deep inside him grew until almost unbearable. Tears, unbidden, filled his eyes and streamed down his cheeks. He quickly brushed them away. Cole promised himself he’d find who set the fire that killed his family. Cole would kill whoever did this.

He
stood and walked into his room, closing the door behind him. Climbing onto his bed, he pulled the pillow to his face, screaming his anger and frustration until he was exhausted. No one heard. No one saw the pained look on his face. He fell asleep knowing the dreams would come again, but exhaustion took him and he slept fitfully.

Cole
awoke early Saturday morning, his clothes wrinkled from his restless sleep. He made his way into the kitchen carrying the weight of the world on his young shoulders. He found his aunt sitting at the kitchen table sipping her coffee, staring out the sliders to the backyard. She looked up when Cole walked in. She had the same heartbroken look each time she looked into his eyes. Cole knew he reminded her of his mom, her sister Evelyn; they both shared same green eyes.

“Good morning
, Cole. Cereal?” Standing, she walked to the cabinet.

“Aunt Theresa?” His voice
was so quiet she had to strain to hear him. “I think I would like to go to Girard College.”

She walked over to where he stood.
Putting her arms around him, she held him close, kissing his forehead.

“Cole
,” she said, her voice cracking, “Cole, you know I, we, love you, don’t you?”

“Yes,”
Cole paused; he gave his next words a lot of thought. “I was just thinking it would be good for me, to um, to try something new. I think it will be good for me…for all of us.”

“
Oh Cole.” She pulled him tighter her and tears fell softly down her cheeks. “Honey, I…”

“When do you think I’d be going?”
Cole’s chest tightened and the familiar ache spread.

“I don’t know
. I’ll have to talk to the doctor and get more information.” She squeezed him harder. “I love you, Cole. Your mom...your parents would be so proud...so proud.” She quickly wiped her tears away and standing back, she looked into his eyes. “Cole, you are growing so fast, I think you’re going to be taller than your dad.” She tousled his hair and turning walked to the cabinet. “Cereal or…
eggs
?

“Bacon too?”

“Of course.” She smiled, her relief evident.

“Eggs
, please.”

T
hree weeks later Cole found himself settling into his new home, saying goodbye to his family. He soon fell into a routine, diving into his studies, determined to make something of himself. He met with Dr. Delaney twice a week.

Everyone at Girard was for the most part friendly
, except for one boy, Joseph. He was five years older than Cole, a senior, and would be leaving Girard in six months. Cole was thankful for that.

Joseph
hated the attention the new kid got, jealous Dr. Delaney fussed over the kid. One night after “lights out,” Joseph broke into the doctor’s office and pried the file cabinet open. He searched for Cole’s file, but it wasn’t in there with all the others. He looked inside the doctor’s desk and found it under a pile of papers. Joseph sat on the floor of the office reading each and every word.

A smile slowly twisted his lips.
No fucking way.

Cole graduated high
school at Girard when he was seventeen. His aunt gave him an envelope with two hundred dollars and two pictures. One was a wedding photo of his parents, the same one on the table in his family’s living room before the fire, the other a picture of his whole family in happier times, all together. Two photos was all he had to remember them by. Cole put more value on this gift than he could ever communicate. His aunt, who provided him with the chance to succeed by sacrificing so much, was a bright light in his life.

Cole
was accepted to the University of Pennsylvania on full scholarship and graduated at twenty. He went onto Wharton Business School graduating at top of his class with honors three years later.

Cole started his own b
usiness, Grayson Industries, Inc. at twenty-four years old with a personal loan from Doctor Delaney.

When he
closed on his first deal, Cole sent his aunt a check for three hundred thousand dollars with a note that read, “
Your investment in me, with interest. Thank you for your belief in me.”

He also
opened college funds for his two younger cousins, fully covering the cost of their educations along with a stipend upon graduation. He could see the pride on his Aunt Theresa’s face, as he watched what appeared to be joyful tears.

Cole
had grown from a gangly boy into a striking, ruggedly handsome man. Tall and muscular, lean and fit. He was disciplined, determined to succeed. He would always be thankful to Doctor Delany, who was not only a father figure but also his mentor. When Cole his made his first billion, he set up and funded an account which would satisfy every conceivable need for the remainder of the doctor’s days.

Cole
’s memories would remain with him forever, but due to the doctor’s persistence and guiding hand, he was able to control his feelings of anger, guilt and helpless frustration.

He still had diffic
ulty connecting with people, unable to form relationships. No friends or attachments, much to the disappointment of the many women who hoped to be the one to break through the wall he erected around himself. He threw himself into his work, wanting no ties.

Cole worked fifteen-hour days, three hundred fifty days a year for
five years, and his time and efforts paid off. He became one of America’s most successful and wealthy billionaires at twenty-eight, in his own element, comfortable, capable and complete when working, where loneliness wasn’t given any time. It worked for him.

Chapter 25

He woke me with his hands caressing my breasts. My nipples hardened and I instantly felt the hardness of him on my stomach. I lifted my head to look at him and his lips took mine. Briefly, a sadness filled his eyes, an emptiness. My chest constricted; I wanted to console him, take his pain away. I rolled slightly and he pushed my robe and my gown down, leaving me naked. His eyes raked over me, searing me. He lowered his lips to my belly and licked a trail down to my cleft. The blood rushed to my head, the heat coursing through my body. I spread my legs eagerly. His lips were sucking gently at my trembling clit, his tongue delving deep inside. He was eating me with a hunger I was powerless to fight. His tongue dancing over my clit, plunged into my swollen flesh, and the fire inside me set my blood ablaze.