The Little Black Win

The Little Black Win

By

Faye L. Owens

The mild weather in the Caribbean is always so inviting. It has been a hard year and a get away is just what I need. Losing my fiancé so unexpectedly, has been so heart wrenching. Hayden was so gentle and loving, yet strong and masculine. The decision was made. In one short week I am heading to Nevis, a small, but unspoiled island in the Caribbean Sea that is part of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies. This is where Hayden and I were going to honeymoon in September. It is March, and Hayden had flown down to check things out and start planning for our wedding on Lovers Beach. One of the most secluded spots in the Caribbean. He said he wanted to surprise me and make it special. Since neither one of us had family we were planning a small private intimate ceremony.

Oualie Beach Resort has the charm of old-time Caribbean with its laid-back atmosphere. Hayden had arrived 3 days prior and decided to go Kayaking to take a break, with the warm waters, sandy bottom and virtually no waves it made for a great day of kayaking. No one knows what happened by a passer by found his body washed up on the beach.

I was flying down to collect his belongings and try to make sense of what has happened. Heartbroken and weary I was not looking forward to going to the place we were to become Husband and wife and took my love away.

The plane ride from Miami to Nevis seemed long, even though it only took three hours. I arrived at the Resort where I met with local officials. I thought I was going to plan to fly Hayden’s body back to the states but was shocked to learn the local government had cremated him before I had arrived and without my knowledge. They kept telling me it was procedure, but my gut kept telling me something else.

The Resort staff was very kind and gave me the key to his room. I was exhausted emotionally and just wanted to go to his room and touch his things. I slumped on the bed and fell asleep crying and clutching his shirt, taking in the scent of his cologne on the collar.

I awoke early the next morning hoping this was all a bad dream, but it was my new reality. Alone without the love of my life. I kept asking myself how could this happen? They said the waters were calm and Hayden was a good swimmer. Why did they cremate him? So many questions and so few answers. I was hungry but to upset to eat so I stayed in the room and started collecting Hayden’s things. I cried as I packed his favorite shirts and his Versace Palazzo pool slides. He loved nice clothes and looked so handsome in them all. Even the casual ones.

I never knew how he could afford some of his clothes, and frankly it did not seem that important to inquire, always thought he must have been left some money from his parents after they died. I was finishing up packing his suitcase when I noticed a lump under the lining on one side of his suitcase, so I unzipped it and found a small Black Notebook.

Why did Hayden have this little Black Book? Why was it hidden in his suitcase? This was not making any sense to me! I started to look at the book, but it was filled with initials for letters and dollar amounts. This made no rhyme or reason. What was Hayden doing with this? Did this have something to do with his death? More and more questions with no answers. Do I go to the local authorities and show them what I found, or do I keep it to myself? I decided not to say anything and try to figure this out on my own.

That afternoon there was a knock on the door. I was hesitant to answer it but decided to act normal. It was the local authorities. I asked if they had any information regarding Hayden’s death, but they had nothing new to offer. One of the detectives kept looking oddly through the door trying to glance around the room and asked if I had found anything of interest in Mr. Harper’s personal effects. I told him no nothing just packing up his clothes for my return trip in a few days. They said if I needed anything or found anything please give them a call and the detective handed me his card.

I closed the door and took a deep breathe. Tired, nervous, and hungry I decided to grab something to eat in the restaurant. As I perused the menu, I found myself suddenly famished and the Lobster & Jerked Chicken Club sounded great. It had been two days since I had really eaten, and the Island food was delicious.

When I returned to my room, I noticed that some things in Hayden’s suitcase had been disturbed. I checked the room’s sliding doors to the beach, and they were still locked so someone had entered with a key. I had taken the Black Book with me in my purse to the restaurant but the significance of finding it seemed more intriguing than I first thought and important enough for someone to search my room. What did this Black Book mean and was this what someone was looking for in my room?

In the morning I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the mortuary to pick up the box with Hayden’s remains. I would choose a beautiful urn when I returned to Miami and decide where to bury him.

The next morning it was raining and hid my tears as I left Nevis with no more information regarding what happened to Hayden then when I arrived.

The book was knowing at me the entire plane ride home. I did not want to bring attention to myself or the book, so I left it in my purse until I got home.

I put my suitcase and Hayden’s inside the door and plopped in my comfy chair to start trying to make heads or tails of wit initials and the dollar amounts. What did it mean? I was trying to think of Hayden’s friends and business associate’s names, but nothing fit. It was so confusing. I decided to put it away for now and unpack our things. I needed a good night sleep in my own bed and would tackle the Black Book again tomorrow. I had taken two weeks off work to handle the arrangements and needed to go by Hayden’s office to collect his things there too. MCA Aviation was an aircraft manufacturing company that Hayden had been the Comptroller for.

The next morning, I headed to MCA to collect Hayden’s belongings and receive the condolences from his co-workers. Miami traffic was unbearable as usual. When I arrived Josh Granger, the CEO had Hayden’s things packed and loaded them in my car. He said he was so sorry to hear of Hayden’s passing and said to let him know if there was anything, he could do for me.

At home I started to unpack the box and noticed a key ring with a mailbox key attached. Hayden and I had lived together for 14 months and mail came to the house. We did not have a PO Box that I was aware of. My curiosity was at its peak, so I headed to the closest Post Office to our home. I inquired about the key, but they said it was not one of theirs. after going to two more with no luck I decided to google Post Office locations and there was one close to Hayden’s office, so I headed there. I explained that Hayden had died, and I was collecting the mail and although the young woman told me she could not help me because I was not on the signature card when she laid it on the counter, I was able to see the box number. I decided to wait until the next day to return and collect the mail.

Box 131. The key fit and I removed a thick envelop along with a couple of pieces of junk mail. When I got in the car, I opened the envelop and found 20,000.00 in cash with a note that said you win… There was no postmark on the envelope and not return address so whoever put it there had a second key. What did this have to do the Hayden’s death? What was this money for? How did Hayden win anything he was dead, and all the clues were in the Little Black Book?