Murdered

It was a new dawn at Evans Mechanics. The company bubbled with activities. Each department resumed afresh and was gradually taking up shape.
Alex had resumed work. He had a lot to catch up with. Benny provided Alex with relevant updates and he went through them steadily.
Suddenly, Julie ran in. “l am sorry to have broken in. Sir, I just found this online,” she said and handed a tablet to Benny who stared wide and remained dumbfounded.
“What the heck is this? The Secret of Evans Mechanics as Unveiled by Dec?” Benny finally read out loud. “Who the hell did this?!” He growled.
Alex stood up and got the tablet from him. He scanned through and fell backwards into his seat. “Marie Tanner!” Alex breathed out roughly.
Benny was surprised at his boss, “have you known all along? Why did you stop your wife from investigating?! Why?! Long and hard years of labor are crushed! I am disappointed in you sir!” Benny yelled and walked out angrily.
Alex fumed and sighed repeatedly. He paced his office and kicked everything along his path. He knew his company was already crushed but he would surely kill whoever did this.
******
Jane remained at Lisa’s. She needed to get her head straight and get over her foolishness. She could not face Benny and she refused to pick up all of Jeff’s calls.
Lisa got busy with the kids as they prepared for school while Jane lazied around. She tuned in the television to ‘Business World’.
Suddenly she screamed out for her friend. Lisa rushed over and Jane quietly drew her to the screen.
“isn’t it incredible that all of Evans’ unprecedented breakthroughs were built on technical errors? Our engineers from Dec have demystified these errors and they are here to demonstrate to you with all assurance that all of Evans products are created not only from simple errors but from mechanical and technical errors which can’t essentially be overlooked in the production and design of machines,” The chief engineer from Dec said.
“But I am curious, doesn’t it show dexterity? To turn an error around into a design that makes a machine different in capacity and functionality and efficiency. To a great extent that such machine can’t be reproduced by anyone unless the manual is seen?” The show presenter questioned.
“That brings up another question. Isn’t it suspicious that the breakthrough experienced by both Lense Clinic and Dec occurred just after the fire outbreak that occurred recently in Evans? Is there a possibility of a leak?” The presenter added and there was silence in the studio.
“Let’s fix the commercials, we’ll be right back. Stay tuned,” the presenter said
Lisa sprang up like a warrior. She picked up her phone and dialed Alex’s number but no one picked-up. Benny did not pick up either.
She dialed the company’s line and Julie picked up. “Hello, you are welcome to Evans Mechanics. How can we be of help?” Julie said into the receiver.
“This is Mrs Peterson, I need to talk to my husband; your boss,’ Lisa said. “I am sorry, you won’t be able to speak to him now. He is in the middle of something serious,” Julie responded.
“Oh, thanks,” Lisa dropped the call and zoomed down to the company.
******
Marie felt apologetic as she surfed through the internet. She did not expect that Dec would go such length. She realized they were out to destroy Evans and she aided it.
After Alex’s visit, she had decided to let him go. It beats her that Alex knew all along that he wasn’t responsible for her pregnancy and kept mute. He even wanted to forfeit the insurance money all to save her ass. She realized it was high time she stopped her craziness
********
Lisa stormed into the company and headed directly to Alex’s office. “Ma’am,” Julie called and walked alongside. Lisa forcefully opened the door to Alex’s office but it was locked.
“l am afraid, boss drove out already. You can only see his PA,” Julie said.
“Did he drive by himself?” Lisa questioned. “Yes ma,”
“Fuck! Where is Benny?” “Lisa required.
“This way ma’am,” Julie responded and led the way.
*****
Alex stormed into Marie’s residence. He yelled her name as soon as she entered the compound. No one showed up since Marie was the only resident.
Alex walked in and almost stepped on Marie’s phone in the lobby. At the last moment, he kicked it out of his way and bent forward to pick it up. The phone light came up and a message icon flickered on it.
He opened the message and read through. Alex’s blood boiled. The message was a credit alert from Dec as a fulfillment regarding the sales of some data. Alex knew he was right after all. He fumed and roared Marie’s name.
The house was still and it felt empty. Alex walked into the living room and screamed out loud. By now his screams would have made Marie show up in defense. He knew her well but Marie wasn’t in sight.
Just then his phone rang. He checked and it was Lisa. He ignored the call and shouted for Marie again. He ventured into her bedroom after much hesitation.
Alex entered the bedroom and turned on the lights. Marie was in bed. She slept on her side and faced the wall. “This isn’t her habitual posture when sleeping.. possibly because of the pregnancy..” Alex thought and ventured to wake her up.
“Marie! You get up! You are a dead meat!” He moved closer and yanked the cover from her. Alex staggered and screamed at the bloody mess revealed before him.
He was confused, he ran out and returned to her. He picked her up and held her in his arms. “Marie!” He shouted.
Her ripped throat bled profusely. “She is still warm,” Alex muttered shakily as he felt for her pulse. He brought out his phone and dialed the emergency line.
Just then Marie muttered. “Run! He… is s… till he.. re,” Her words were slurry, blood had filled her lungs.
Alex looked around and heard a sound. Someone had just jumped over the fence.
He left Marie and ran out of the compound but it was too late, no one was in sight.
The paramedics arrived and Marie was pronounced dead.
It was all creepy. Alex could not believe Marie was dead. He could not believe he almost encountered the killer.
Detective Jude walked up to Alex and told him he would have to follow them down to the station. They needed his statement as a witness.
Alex agreed. They drove into the precinct and Alex was led in.
“What is your relationship with the deceased? Why were you at her place at that hour?” The police asked. “What? Am I being investigated? I thought I was brought in here to give a statement of what I had witnessed”.
“All I know is this. Marie was already wounded before l got to her. She told me to run that the killer was still around. Just as she said that, I heard someone jump over the fence.”
“If what you said is true, why did the killer spare you? He should have attacked you,” detective Jude said.
“What the hell are you insinuating?” Alex asked. “You still don’t get it? Do you? You have enough motives to kill your ex mistress. Mr Alexander Peterson!”
*******
Lisa ran out of the company like a mad woman. She looked around shakily and clutched at some parcels.
Suddenly her eyes fell on the young bum who had brought her the parcel. She approached him carefully and knelt beside him.
The homeless kid was chewing on some puff. She knew it must have been the prize for delivering the parcel. She knew it was useless to ask but she still did.
“Who asked you to give me this?” Lisa asked. The boy shook his head and continued to chew on his puff.
“Fuck! Lisa exclaimed and looked around. She scanned the premises but nothing was unusual. She held tightly to the papers and returned to her car. She checked the pictures contained in the parcel thoroughly. They were her nude pictures.
She was depicted in different sex scenes with an unidentified man whose face was perfectly cropped out. The picture looked like she was having sex with a ghost. It was the work of a professional.
“No! No! No!” Lisa screamed and fidgeted. Her hands shook visibly as she tried to tear off the pictures. “Alex, can’t see this. Jane can’t either! No one must see these!” She screamed as different scenes flashed through her mind. The pictures fell from her grips and she trampled them under her feet.
Just then her phone beeped, it was an email.
“I am sure by now you must have received the pictures. If you don’t want this to go viral, you are to deposit a sum of 1 million dollars at a location that will be disclosed later. If you love your integrity, reply to this mail as soon as possible.
Lisa grunted helplessly. She read through the mail again and again. Just then her phone beeped. She jumped and yelled. She saw the caller and picked up shakily. It was Benny.
“Hello ma’am, I am afraid your attention is needed. Boss is at the police station. Marie was murdered and boss was right at the scene,” Benny said.
“What?! Murder? Alex? No!” Lisa shook her head vigorously. “No, Alex can not even kill a rat. My husband is not a murderer!” She yelled.
“It’s better you come right here. Things are pretty bad,” Benny said.
“Which station? Which of the precinct?!” Lisa shouted out.