Chapter Five:  Family Ties

Jeff Kozzi

Disdained, Melissa Antonelli shook her head at the television as the aged weatherman hobbled before the 3-D map of Lincoln. Jacket and keys in hand, she’d stayed to watch what should have been "her" segment. Channel Nine’s reporters had questioned her for almost an hour, demanding every smidgeon of knowledge she might have of her neighbor, Michael Hanover.

"Well, Champ, we missed our fifteen minutes of fame."

The mongrel hound rolled his eyes and turned back to the television. She patted his head and pulled on her jacket, feeling more fear for her neighbor and friend than disappointment that Channel Nine had not spared a second of their broadcast to someone who defended the suspect, vehemently. Maybe if she’d said, "I never would have suspected he could do that" rather than "He wouldn’t do that!" they would have aired at least a clip from her prolonged interview. The news always seemed to like playing segments of people either expressing shock at how completely the criminal had fooled them, or venting "old" suspicions they’d always and secretly harbored. After all, they’d given Mr. Higgens almost three minutes on-air, beginning with "I always knew he was strange, but I never would have thought he’d murder her!" and ending with "He must be a sick predator, and they should lock him up and throw away the key! My mother comes by here once a week!"

With the television still on so Champ could watch it while Melissa worked, she flicked off the lights to leave. As soon as her hand touched the doorknob, the phone rang. With barely enough time to get to work, she considered letting the modem’s answering machine pick up before thinking it could be Michael calling for some kind of help.

Melissa frowned when she heard the other voice on the end of the phone. "Mom, hi."

Melissa listened half-heartedly as her mother’s piercing voice shrieked over the receiver. Her eyes rolled in annoyance to the questions she now couldn’t curb. "Yes, that’s my upstairs neighbor they arrested...."

"I’m not ‘lucky’ he didn’t kill me. Michael’s a sweet guy. I can’t see him doing that...."

"I did. They were at the house...."

"I don’t know why they didn’t put me on. I said a bit more than how long he and Dorothy had been dating..."

"Almost a year. I remember when Michael introduced us...."

"I don’t know where they got this six month crap. Probably trying to downplay their time so Michael would look...."

"They talked to me for like an hour...."

"Probably because I defended Michael...."

She faced the painting opposite the streetside windows, one of Michael’s originals, an angel futilely grasping the clouds. "I don’t think he’s capable of...."

"I don’t care what the news said...."

"Yes, I heard his trial could be the telejury...."

"Yes, I’m registered. But I don’t think...."

"Wait a second! He could get the death penalty?..."

"Look, Mom, the club’s going to be busy tonight. I don’t want to hear this. I’ll talk to you later...."

"Yeah, I love you too...."

 

1.  Homicide

2.  Adam-12

3.  The Practice

4.  Cheers

5.  Family Ties