Jane remained shattered. She could not believe what had just happened. “Who knew Jeff saw me at Good Times? Will he report me? Benny is just a friend… there is indeed nothing going on between us …. For now..” Jane smirked at her thoughts. “Did I just say for now? How did I get into this mess?” She heaved a sigh.
She jumped slightly as her phone rang out unexpectedly. She had blanked out. “Oh! Lisa!” She yelled and went for the phone.
“Hello? Where are you? You were supposed to show up in time… Investigator Patrick is here already. We are checking out…” Lisa’s voice boomed from the other end.
“You should go on without me. I might join you at the hospital,” Jane responded and hung up before Lisa could probe further. “What the heck was that?” Lisa muttered and made her way out. She joined Pat in his car and both headed down to the hospital.
Lisa walked in with Pat behind her. She had a brief discussion with the receptionist who had a wide smile plastered on her face. Lisa signaled to Patrick and led him into Alex’s room.
Patrick empathized with Lisa when he saw Alex. He viewed his burns and took note of the degrees. It was beyond doubt that the culprit was out to get him. It did not add up that he sustained such degrees of wounds when firefighters were supposedly on ground even before the outbreak.
After Patrick was done, he walked out to give Lisa some space and to gather his thoughts.
” I need to see your husband’s mistress, since she is still our main suspect for now,” Patrick said to Lisa as she walked out.
“Oh yeah… You are right,” Lisa responded and sniffled as she tried to hide her tears.
“Do you know her residence?” Patrick asked. Not at all but I should be able to track down her phone number. She called me the day the fire happened. It was the day I got the divorce papers,” Lisa responded and scrolled through the call history on her phone.
“Yikes!” Here it is. She exclaimed and called out the number to Patrick. “I wondered how she got my number in the first place. That slut!” Lisa mumbled while Patrick dialed the number.
“Hello, am I speaking with Marie Tanner?” Patrick said immediately the line was connected.
“Of course, please who is this?” Marie asked.
“Do you know any Alex Peterson?”
“Yes, he is my husband.”
“Then we need to meet, I have some information regarding his present condition.”
“Oh! Are you for real? His wife hid him from me since the fire” Marie responded.
“When and how can we meet?” Patrick asked.
“We let’s meet today and right now if possible,” Marie responded without hesitation. She called out her address and gave a detailed description of her house.
Patrick signaled to Lisa and they left immediately.
They followed the address and description and after about a 30 minutes drive, the mansion that fitted Marie’s description was in view.
Lisa marveled at the building and wondered if Alex indeed got it for Marie. “You should wait in the car while I go see her,” Patrick’s words broke into her thoughts.
“Oh, yeah. Alright,” Lisa responded and Patrick ventured in.
He pushed the gates open and walked into the compound. He redialled Marie’s number as he made his way into the porch.
Marie picked up the call and bolted out. She was out in a second. Marie smiled and invited Patrick in. She made him sit comfortably and served him some juice. “How did you get my phone number,” Marie spoke up. “You are finally doing some rationale,” Pat thought and ignored her question. “Thanks for the refreshment,” he said and sipped down the drink.
“I learned you worked as Mr Alex’s secretary for two years,” Pat began.
“Yes, and I am sure you also learned that we fell for each other during those times,” Marie said with a cryptic smile.
” Love is so unpredictable, it occurs where and when we least expect it… but were you aware he was married?”
“Yes but Mr Alexander’s way with women is no news,” Marie said and rolled her eyes seductively.
“What do you know about the fire outbreak in the company?” Pat took a leap.
“What do you mean? How would I know anything? I wasn’t there when the fire occurred.”
“You’re right but that makes me even more suspicious… Why did you quit the company since you both were lovers?” Pat questioned.
“Quit? You must have been wrongly informed. I did not quit working at Evans. I was fired. Alex fired me for reasons best known to him,” Marie yelled.
“You are at logger ends with his wife. Her husband got burnt in an unexpected fire outbreak the day you called in and threatened that she might not see her husband anymore,” Patrick said.
“What are you insinuating? He is my husband too. I am carrying his child. And who is that impostor? Lisa? The last time I checked, they ain’t even married. They divorced… And by the way, who the hell are you? Am I being investigated?” Marie blurted.
“Yes you are under investigation for arson and attempted murder of Mr Alexander Peterson. I am investigator Patrick,” Pat said and flashed his identity card.
“What?!” Marie yelled and stood to her feet. “You’re a scam! You called me saying you have information concerning my husband’s condition but here you are claiming to be an investigator.”
“I never lied. Being an investigator doesn’t mean I don’t have the latest information about your husband. Moreso, when I called I did not deny being an investigator.. you never asked for my identity… You will do yourself good to supply answers to my questions. You are the prime suspect of the arson.”
“What do you mean? I left the company and I have nothing to do with the company.” Marie yelled.
“Well, you might have nothing to do with the company, but you have all to do with the man Alexander Peterson. You are carrying his child. It makes you Lisa Peterson’s biggest rival.”
“Mr investigator. Where is your evidence? If you are laying claims on the threat I made, you are wrong. If you tell someone they are dead and that you would kill them all because you were angry. Does that automatically turn you to a murderer suspect? Moreover, given my condition, I am the last person that would want him dead,” Marie countered.
“Well, l am interested to know the reason behind the anger that made you make such a threat. Remember, you have nothing to do with the Petersons in the first place,” Pat said.
Marie was flustered but she recovered quickly. “Who put you up to this? Is it Lisa? I think you’re missing something. Come to think of it, who is more likely to murder Alexander Peterson between Lisa and I. Is it a woman carrying Alex’s baby or the one that just forced him to sign a divorce paper? I am done here, investigator,” Marie said and showed Pat the way out.
“How was it?” Lisa asked Patrick as he walked towards the car. She had got out of the car and was pacing the street impatiently. “I am sorry Lisa, unless we find strong evidence, it would be difficult to have her indicted,” Pat responded and both walked towards the car.
Marie checked to be sure Pat had left. She locked up her door and dialed up her ally’s number.
“Hello, Luke. You should be careful. An investigator came over to investigate the fire outbreak in Evans. They have pronounced it as arson, you know what that means. It would surely be investigated. You did a wishy-washy job!” Marie yelled.
“Is that why you refused to pay for the service rendered?” Luke asked but Marie hung up.