Eileen Slovak

Chapter Twenty-three: What About Women?

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and locales are products of the author’s imagination. They are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental. Copyright © 2024 by Eileen Slovak.

Scott

Late Saturday afternoon, I met Kevin Murphy at his apartment in downtown Providence.

      “Kevin, thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”

      “Sure, anything to help Sean’s family. Come on in. My fiancé is on a business trip. I should be picking up. She’ll freak out if she sees this mess when she gets back tomorrow.” He gathers pizza boxes and empty beer cans from the coffee table. Then, he carries them over to the recycle bin while he talks. “Have a seat.” He motions toward the couch.

      “Congratulations. When are you two getting married?”

      “June. Sean was supposed to be my best man.”

      “Sorry man.”

      “Yeah. The whole thing sucks. I can’t wrap my brain around it.”

      “I wish I could say it gets easier, but I’d be lying.” I pull out my notepad and mini recording device. “Do you mind if I record our interview? I don’t want to miss anything.”

      “Yeah, sure,” Kevin runs his hand through his hair, sighing. “Can I get you anything? Water? Beer? That’s all I’ve got.”

      “Nah, I’m good, thanks.”

      Kevin takes a seat in the armchair opposite me.

      “Kevin, do you know who Sean’s friends were in Arkansas? Who he hung out with?”

      “He mentioned getting together with co-workers a few times for some beers. He wasn’t there for very long. He moved about six months ago. Sean made friends easily though. I know he was pretty homesick.”

      “What about women?”

      “Girls loved Sean. He was a funny guy. He was never a jerk; you know what I mean? Whenever we went out, I felt like the invisible man.”

      “Was there anyone special?”

      “He had history with this girl we knew since high school, their parents were tight. Trish Iannuccilli. I was never a fan. She was high drama. They dated on and off in high school. He broke it off before college. But somehow, she was always in the picture. They hooked up again a few years ago, but he regretted it right away. It was like, if Sean was between girlfriends, she was always around.”

      “What didn’t you like about her?”

      Kevin looked down. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

      “Too possessive. Some people rub you the wrong way, she was like that. Plus, she would try to start stuff with all of us. We’ve been his friends forever, so we let it slide.”

      “She lives in Boston now from what I understand. Do you know when they saw each other last?”

      “She’s here all the time. Her brother was in the hospital for a while. She was visiting him pretty regularly. But Sean was already seeing someone else.”

      “Scarlet?”

      “Right. Sean was crazy about Scarlet. They met when he was working for Hasbro. She’s got a big job in the city working with inventors. Her company has some products with Hasbro. Then, when Sean got the job with Walmart he had to move. He was miserable without her in Arkansas. He loved his new job, but she wouldn’t move there. After a few months there, he started sending out resumes again, looking for work back here without any luck.”

      “Miserable is a strong word. Is there any possibility in your mind that Sean maybe…committed suicide?”

      Kevin shook his head. “No way. Sean was basically a happy guy. He was pretty religious too.”

      “How was he when he was with Scarlet?”

      “Great. Never better. He was nuts about her. She was cool. Independent. Not clingy, like Trish.”

      “Too bad it didn’t work out. Who broke it off?”

      “She did. The long-distance thing was too much, she said.”

      “Huh. Was he seeing anyone after that?”

      “No one serious. His neighbor wanted him bad. They fooled around, that’s about it. I heard him say Trish went out there a few times, uninvited. Like I said, always around.”

      “Oh, you said Trish’s brother was in the hospital? Was he sick?”

      “Detox, booze, I think. He’s been in and out of treatment since high school. Sean said he had no off switch. Problems seem to run in that family if you ask me.”