RACHEL’S POV
She sat quietly at the back of the car with her sunshades on as they waited for the kid.
“Are you sure he follows this route home? I do not want mistakes.” She asked Max as she kept looking out the car window.
“I’m very sure. I have been following the kid for days now.”
“This had better gone as planned.”
They spent the next few minutes waiting for him and just when she was losing her patience, they sighted him walking towards them.
“That’s him.” Max said and got out of the car.
She watched quietly as he walked up to the boy and engaged him in a conversation. Max suddenly pointed at the car in her direction and she waved her hands at them.
She watched in amazement as he convinced the boy and soon they both walked towards the car.
“Get in.” She said to him, and the boy turned to look at Max and he gave him a reassuring nod.
“I guess you are Timothy McVeigh.” She began, as he sat next to her in the car.
“Who are you?” He asked, surprise evident in his voice.
“My identity doesn’t matter at this point. What matters is how we can both help each other get what we want.”
“I’m lost here.”
“I know you are, my boy. But I will make things clearer.” She said, patting his hair
“My name is Timothy and not your boy. And can you please not touch my hair again?”
“Oh! Fiesty. I love that. How come you are this outspoken but don’t have the balls to tell her you love her?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about your love for your best friend and how you have not been able to tell her how you feel about her.”
His eyes widened in shock as he sat up on the car’s chair. “Who the hell are you?”
“A friend. And if you accept my offer, we can form a strong alliance that will get us what we want.”
“I’m afraid, I have to take my leave.”
“Not so fast, boy. How about I tell you that I have an idea that can help you get Tiffany Dion?”
“Who are you and what do you know about Tiffany and I?”
“A lot. For starters, I know you have loved her for years but you are afraid to tell her because you do not want to ruin your friendship with her. But you are hurting in silence. And then, Shawn Gold comes into the picture and takes her away from you.”
“How did you know all of these and why are you concerned?”
“Because we are alike. The ones we love have been taken away from us.”
“You are still speaking in parables. I can’t make sense of what you are saying.”
“You want Tiffany Dion, I want Shawn Gold. You see? We can’t have them because we don’t want to ruin the friendship we have with them, but should we continue hurting in silence when we can have them?”
“Bu.. but they are married.”
“A marriage of convenience. They were forced into it by their wealth and power thirsty parents. They don’t love each other but are sleeping doing it to please their parents. They are suffering and barely tolerating each other in that sham called marriage. Why let the ones we love suffer when we can help save them?”
“Do you mean Tiffany is unhappy in the marriage?”
“Yes, she is.”
“Does that explain why her grades have been dropping drastically? Because she is unhappy?”
“Do you need a soothsayer to answer that? She is obviously not happy. And I guess it all started since her engagement to Shawn Gold. Why let her suffer when you can help her get out of that shit hole called marriage and finally have her to yourself. I have no doubt that you will treat her well.”
He momentarily went silent, and after what seemed like a brief moment of contemplation, replied, “What do I do to help?”
DETECTIVE COPLER
“Hi, detective. I was wondering if you will be willing to be my escort for a date tomorrow evening.” Zara’s voice sounded over the phone.
He smiled briefly and then sadness crossed his features for a moment before disappearing. “Hi, Zara. I would have loved to, but I will be working on Derek’s case. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I guess I will have to cancel my attendance.”
“You don’t have to. You could ask someone else.”
“I don’t know of anyone else, detective.”
“You can ask any of the guys at the precinct.”
“No, thank you. It’s you I want, but since you would be unavailable, I will have to stay back. Attendance is not mandatory anyway.”
“I’m sorry, Zara.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I will have to go now. But before I go, any leads so far?”
“Yes, but it is negligible. I’m not giving up anyway.”
“I know you won’t. Good luck with work and bye.” She said and the line went dead.
He sighed and pushed the paperwork on his table aside. He was putting too much effort into the investigation at hand, yet he was getting little or no result.
His social life was suffering because of his job, yet the result was not equivalent to the work, time and energy he put in.
He had a thing for Zara and turning her request down was a very hard decision to take.
He was still lost in thought when his phone rang.
“Detective Copler speaking. Who am I into?”
“This is nurse Janet from the hospital Mr Derek is admitted in. I saw something you might be interested in.”
“Really? Is it related to the case?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Okay, then. I will be at the hospital in an hour.”
He shut down the laptop on the table, arranged the paperwork and picked up his car key on the table before hurrying out. He was almost out when his subconscious mind asked him to put all evidence and materials in his safe.
He walked back to the table and packed all the materials on it and locked them in the iron safe at the back of his bookshelf after which he walked out.
He drove to the hospital in anticipation. He couldn’t wait to hear or see what the nurse had found.
“Hello, I’m Detective Copler. I’m here to see nurse janet.” He said to the nurse on the counter.
“Nurse Janet? I’m sorry we don’t have any nurse that goes by that name.”
“What do you mean? She called me a few minutes ago.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but we do not have a nurse by that name. I am a nurse myself and I Know all the nurse’s names.”
“There must be a mistake somewhere.” He said and took out his phone to dial the number the nurse used to call him.
To his utmost surprise, the number was switched off.
“Are you sure there is no nurse by that name here?”
“Very sure, Sir.”
“Can I see the hospital’s directory?”
“Of course,” She replied and looked through the shelfs on the counter after which she brought out a large book.
He took it from her and spent close to an hour checking the names of staff and their positions. He was disappointed when he didn’t find any nurse Janet on the list.
“Thank you for your time. I will take my leave now.” He said and handed her the book.
He walked out of the hospital disappointed. He was lost in thought when it suddenly struck him.
What if the call was a fake alarm to get him out of his house?
And then his mind went to the evidence and materials he was working with. Without hesitation, he got into his car and sped off.