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PANACHE REPORT ORIGINAL

This story is a work of fiction, a product of the author's imagination, any similarities to characters or events is purely coincidental.

CLEVER:

1985:

Anastasia Davenport was raised as an American Princess in Connecticut. She came from old money; her father was a billionaire financier. The Davenports were considered American royalty.

Anastasia’s father Grant made a fortune by setting up pools of rich investors who bet huge sums on global markets; he was a master at it.

Her mother Sue was a socialite who sat on various boards and organized numerous charitable events.

Anastasia was the only child, she loved music, and her father hired a voice coach and the best producers that money could buy. Anastasia released a self-titled album which did moderately well. She had a hit single, during interviews, she sabotaged her career by discussing her right-wing politics, she took a beating in the liberal press, her next album flopped, she abandoned music.

Anastasia became more politically active behind the scenes. She had no regard for minorities or homosexuals; she was openly uncomfortable in the presence of non-whites and she felt AIDS was a retribution.

When she wasn’t financing right wing politicians, she spent her spare time with her fiancé Cole Kincaid. They often went horseback riding, traveling or to the Opera.

Kincaid was a Formula One racecar driver. He lived hard.  He also took advantage of his notoriety by staying in five star hotels for free and he enjoyed the free luxury automobiles that dealers provided.

Anastasia was out exercising her Lotus Elise sports car when she lost control and skidded into a telephone pole. She was rushed to the nearest hospital and received numerous blood transfusions. It took her a year to recover from her injuries.

Anastasia was interrupted in the middle of physical therapy when the phone rang, it was her friend Renee, after some convincing, Anastasia agreed to participate in a blood drive, she would give blood later that week.

Cole returned from a racing event, he became worried when he couldn’t get in touch with Anastasia. He decided to visit her, she was cold and distant, he left puzzled.

The next morning, Anastasia sat down with her parents, after breakfast, she excused herself  and went out on the balcony.

Within minutes a gunshot rang out, Grant and Sue rushed to Anastasia; she was lying dead on the balcony. Her mother started screaming as her father tried to control the flow of blood, the maid dialed 911.

Two detectives interviewed Grant and Sue, they had no answers, who would want to kill their beautiful daughter?

The answer came in the form of a certified letter, delivered the next day.

“Dear Mom and Dad, I am so sorry for the pain and suffering my death will cause, I love you both and I will miss you dearly and please tell Cole that he was the love of my life.

After I donated blood, a representative from the blood bank called and asked me to come into her office, she informed me that my blood tested positive for HIV. I probably contracted the virus from the blood transfusions I received after my car accident. I would not have been able to fathom the pain, medical problems and the suffering that this disease brings.

How could I have been so ignorant regarding this disease, thinking that AIDS was a retribution, how could I preach bigotry and hatred. Please grant me one final wish. Donate the $100 million in my trust fund to AIDS Research and to the United Negro College Fund.

PS: Regarding my death, “I paid a hitman to kill me.”

Love,

Anastasia

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