Which One

By Anne Tribbett

Fredrick Franklin and Randall
Franklin Morris are identical twins.
Th ey are both very handsome, possess
hypnotic, captivating amber eyes, smiles
displaying deep dimples, and prefect
white teeth. Th ere the resemblance
ends. Once Fredrick becomes enraged
his pupils completely disappears, and
he becomes the turpitude of cruelty
preying on the innocence of youth

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479742066

Anne Tribbett

Anne’s love for writing began at an early age, but it was not taken seriously. Many years later after marriage and a grandmother of three, she began thinking about writing again. It was just a passing thought. She was visiting her cousin in Atlantic City, New Jersey when the subject came up again. Her cousin said, “You should do that.” Anne did take it seriously, and enrolled in a Creative Writing Course. At fi rst it was very exciting with the short stories she had to write. Th en came the bombshell, the writing of a novel! Me? Well Anne thought, this is the end for me. Th ose four words of encouragement from her cousin, “You can do it.” Th at’s all most of us need is someone to believe, You can do it.

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WHICH ONE

Anne Tribbett

Copyright © 2012 by Anne Tribbett.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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122908

CONTENTS

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-TWO

THIRTY-THREE

THIRTY-FOUR

THIRTY-FIVE

THIRTY-SIX

THIRTY-SEVEN

THIRTY-EIGHT

THIRTY-NINE

FORTY

FORTY-ONE

FORTY-TWO

FORTY-THREE

FORTY-FOUR

FORTY-FIVE

FORTY-SIX

FORTY-SEVEN

FORTY-EIGHT

FORTY-NINE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost I give thanks to God

To the following people who without their support, their patience, time, love, and yes encouragement. This Book would never have gotten to this point. /To my husband William who never complained of the many late, and hastily prepared dinners he endured many evenings thank you honey. To my cousin Blanche who believed that I could do it! /To her daughter Gail who sent me an e-mail with directions and encouragement. Thank you Gail I followed your suggestions. / To the Mainor family./Thank you Dr. Mainor for allowing me to take up so much of your lovely wife Debra’s time,/ To your three beautiful children for unselfishly sharing your mother’s time with me. To Sandra who spent two evenings away from her ailing husband, while she acquainted me with my new computer, appreciate you Sandra.

Anne. T

WHICH ONE

A MYSTERY NOVEL BY

Anne Tribbett.

Identical silhouettes of two very handsome men, both with captivating amber eyes, deep dimples, a smile that showed a set of even white teeth that will melt any girl’s heart. That’s where the resemblance ended. Randy’s smile was gentle and kind. Fredrick’s smile had a hint of disdain.

Anne. T first got the writing bug at an early age, she entered a contest and wrote a children’s short story. She didn’t enter it in the contest. Many years later, after marriage and three grandchildren later, while visiting her cousin in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The subject of Anne’s writing dream came up. She said, I am too old now, so I will have to let go of that dream. Her cousin said, Why? Why don’t you write? You’re still alive, you can do it. When Anne returned to her home in Dublin, Georgia, she couldn’t get those four words her cousin said to her out of her mind. She said, Yes I can do it!" Anne enrolled in a Creative Writing class. Two years later this is the results of a dream deferred.

WHICH ONE

The wealthy land developer Johnsom Jacob Morris, his wife Marie Franklin-Morris, my wife Anne Louise and I Dr. William Herbert Tillas have been best friends and neighbors for more than fifty years.

We are godparents to their identical twin boys, Fredrick Franklin, and Randall Franklin born August 3, 1960.

After Johnsom’s heart attack on February 18, 2000, I became his personal physician.

Johnsom explained his unusual first name, when he was four years old his mother changed his name from Johnson Calvin, to Johnsom Jacob, So people will remember your name.

As the twins grew people would ask, "Which one are you?

Forty four years and eleven months later the people got their answer.

On July 1, 2005 he was the victim of the most gruesome, and hideous murder in the history of Pleasantville, South Carolina.

People are still telling their versions of why his parents had an empty thirty five thousand dollar solid bronze coffin with six twenty four caret gold handles. Placed in a Marble Crypt. To this day people remember the name, Fredrick Franklin Morris.

ONE

On Saturday morning July 1, 2005 at nine a.m. Randall, (who preferred being called Randy) received a phone call from his brother.

Randall (Fredrick abhorred nick names) Fredrick said, When I came into my office a few minutes ago this message was on my answering machine. It was recorded at five forty five a.m. ‘This day you die.’

Fredrick I’m on my way. Randy hung up and frantically dialed Dr. Tillas’ home number. Dr. Tillas answered the phone, Dr. Tillas Fredrick received this disturbing message on his office answering machine. He played the tape, ‘This day you die,’ I am on my way there now."

Dr. Tillas said, I’ll meet you there. Dr. Tillas repeated Randy’s conversation to his wife asking her not to share any of it with Johnsom or Marie; Randy will contact them when he has more information.

Randy picked me up in front of the impressive twelve story Morris Professional Building at nine fifty-five a.m. Dr. Tillas I’m worried. he said as I got in his Silver Lamborghini and he drove into the private underground parking garage. We took the private elevator to Morris and Sons Land Development Suite on the twelfth floor.

Randy called out his brother’s name as we entered the posh office waiting room, There was no answer. Upon entering the private office we saw Fredrick lying on his left side facing the back of his massive mahogany desk topped with its one inch thick blue tinge glass. Without touching him, Randy knew his brother, and best friend was dead. He looked around the immaculate, extravagantly furnished office as if taking inventory. He said shaking his head, My brother will never sit behind his beautiful desk again.

Fredrick was lying on his left side with his head resting on his out stretched left arm, His body was posed as if he was a mannequin, It was perfectly straight, His right leg was lying on top of his left leg, and his right hand was in the coat pocket of his tailor made navy blue Italian silk suit.

Randy called the police. Officers Glen Allen and William Pane were the first to arrive. Randy said, You officers got here quick. He introduced himself and me.

We were leaving a homicide in the Tower Building two blocks away when your call came through, Officer Allen answered as he looked around the room. Officer Pane stood by the door.

Really, who was it?

An Asian man, Thaun Wu.

Wu, what happen? How was he killed?

Decapitation, you knew him?

Yes, Randy answered as he jumped from the chair he had just sat in. Someone cut his head off?

And apparently took it. Officer Allen stated as he walked toward the door.

Good morning gentlemen. Officer Allen introduced Detectives Roger Lacey, Omar Beets, Coroner Jim Slate, and police photographer Paul Sikes as they entered the office.

Dr. Tillas and I are old golf buddies, Coroner Slate said as he shook hands with the two men, and offered condolences to Randy.

After the Detectives drew an outline of the body in bright yellow chalk which showed vividly on the light beige carpet, Paul Sikes began taking pictures of the body.

After the pictures were taken, Coroner Slate knelt down and began to examine the body being careful not to disturb the position of the right hand.

As he slowly rolled the body on its back, he saw that Fredrick’s coat was held together with one of his four ten carat gold letter openers. Coroner Slate slowly removed the letter opener from the coat, the coat popped open. Coroner Slate jumped backwards landing on his back side. The men gasped, and Randy ran into the bathroom.

Fredrick was sliced open from his throat down through his genitals, but there was no blood. Inside the body’s cavity was a clear plastic bag the length of the body.

Inside the bag were the contents of the body, and taped to the bag was a note it read, You always liked things neat and clean, how’s this?

Randy could be heard in the bathroom retching.

Coroner Slate said to the two ambulance attendants who had just arrived wearing protective gloves. Remove the bag. Paul Sikes took pictures of the gutted body’s cavity.

Coroner Slate shaking his head said, After being in this business for more than thirty years, I thought I had seen everything, but this, this is absolutely the most repulsive. It leaves an old scab like me at a lost for words.

He instructed the ambulance attendants to be very careful as they lifted the body.

I’ll meet you at the hospital morgue. He turned and addressed Randy as he emerged from the bathroom apologizing.

I’m very sorry Mr. Morris, but under these extraordinary circumstances, the cause of death maybe difficult to determine, and with the absence of blood it will make any type of poisoning difficult to trace, especially if it’s the type that dissipates after a few hours. The only sure thing at this time is the murder did not occur in this office. He said to the detectives as he was leaving the room, I’ll be in touch.

When I hear from the coroner I will contact you. Detective Lacey said to Randy.

Thank you Detective Lacey. Randy said extending his right hand, the two men shook hands. The Detectives left the office.

I am so tired Dr. Tillas, Randy said sitting in a chair, he placed his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands and began sobbing and moaning, his one hundred sixty five pounds, six foot two inches body folded over like a rag doll shaking uncontrollably. After about ten minutes he sat up and staring at the yellow chalk out line, he began talking, Fredrick how, what words can I say to our parents to prepare them for what has happen to you? I must tell the two people who loved you more than life itself that you are dead! Murdered in the most horrific and gruesome manner possible. How could they understand that someone hated you with such acrimony as to split you open like a pig, take the time to remove all of your bodily contents, and pose you on the floor of your office? How do I tell them that Fredrick how? How dare you die?

Randy was filled with grief and anger towards his brother for the pain, sadness, and loneliness he was feeling.

Oh, and what’s this note about? ‘You always liked things neat and clean, how’s this?’ Did a woman do this to you? I can remember vividly a few that would have liked to. He paused rubbing his forehead, But first things first. Now I’ve got to tell our parents you won’t be joining the family for this year’s Fourth of July picnic.

Randy spreading his hands open said, Dr. Tillas this is so, so very hard. He got up from the chair, and stood looking at the outline of his brother’s body. I placed my hand on his right shoulder, Randy, remember you are not alone, you and your family have many friends who loves you.

Thank you. Let’s go Dr. He walked to the door; stopped, turned and looked down at the bright yellow outline as if trying to infuse the image into his brain. He opened the door, and closed it gently, trying not to disturb the out line of his brother’s body. We took the private elevator down to the parking garage. When the elevator doors open, Randy noticed something he wasn’t aware of when we entered the garage. Fredrick’s car wasn’t in its parking space next to his. He yelled, Fredrick where is your car? It is always parked next to mine.

Randy, he was in such an agitated state he hadn’t noticed his brother’s car wasn’t in its usual space. He called Detective Lacey, on his speaker phone, This is Randy Morris my brother’s car is missing.

Was your brother’s car there when you arrived? Detective Lacey asked

"I don’t