The Mysterious Women Series:Blackmail

by Paramita Choudhury

  Chapter 13

  Michelle stood on her patio with one of her colleagues. She loved watching the city's bustle from here, which was much different from her home in Pittsburg. The lights, crowd of New York called her out here. But now everything was different." Von, you can't be so sure that it was him", Michelle said scowling, "you haven't seen him yourself". Von who was sitting near the guardrails now turned towards her " May be, but there is 99.9% chance that it's him and " his voice trailed off then changing the subject he said" has she come to know yet?" "Yep, she and smarty were after him", she asked, "They said he vanished somewhere in the air". Von shook his head " believe me you wouldn't want doing this Mitch". Michelle hated this hide and seeks game, lot of lies had to be told, and trusts were broken. "She's courageous and stronger than we can possibly think", Von patted her back. She frowned "This guy, 'the convict' is much more dangerous than we can possibly think ". She turned to face the city lights "Do we have any lead on the kidnapped people"."They might be dead" she replied without meeting his eyes, he knew it still pained her to think of her dear ones being killed. "I think its Mr. Nosey, there's no proof yet", she replied. Von stood up from the lounge chair holding a bottle of whiskey "I'm taking this home", Michelle silently watched him, and he is up to some mischief. "Why do you feel the need to do so"? "You know Anatolia, she's over conscious, after the liver surgery she doesn’t let me drink," he said pointing towards the bottle" says it'll kill me, but girl I'll die anyways". She smiled and stood up walking with him "that woman loves you; you finish this thing before getting home otherwise she'll finish me". "Off course, tonight I promised her I wouldn’t dare miss her special Lasagna" he said walking towards the main door" Sara may have been good today, but she'll need you in the future".

  Meanwhile, Ryan was not able to stabilize himself. Why did she not tell me, all this while she kept the matter to herself? After Sara left it seemed difficult for him to drive back home, so he drove to his penthouse apartment near Manhattan. Tonight he needed peace; he still had to gulp down the fact that Rachel is no more. But there is another pressing matter which now carried his attention. He had always known that Sara wanted to be a journalist; she even pursued a career in mass communication. But after that everything seems dark, he knew nothing about her life from the time he left LA. He had left LA, a month after Rachel's marriage. It felt like her memories would kill him there. Those few days he couldn't concentrate on anything. Then as if like a God-send angel Mrs. Karen Aaland, Sara's mother advised him to administer his business from New York. The lady had always known that he loved Rachel and doted on him, as a she would on her own son. His mother had long died of Pneumonia and his father had very little time out of business for him. She had made him promise her that he would never again see Rachel and he kept his promise. But now knowing that she's no more he wanted to see her one last time. So much has changed since he last met Sara, she has turned even more cold, her eyes speak of evil. Her face glows saying only one thing' talk to me and I'll kill you". But why is she here? The most possible logic is that she finds herself better suited here in a designer company than as a journalist, then again she was never a person to follow the common route.

  Sara couldn't stop thinking about Rachel. It was just like walking through a back door into the past. Their childhood, the days they spent together were one of the best in her life and she would always cherish them. I could do nothing to save her. Suddenly the day when Rachel was murdered came as a flashback to her mind, "mom don’t worry, I'm fine here", she was talking to her mother in the phone, " Yes, New York is certainly a big city but don’t forget that your little girl has now grown up", just then the door bell rang "I need to hang up mom, there's someone at the door, yup and don’t worry it's just mild fever, okay I'll consult doctor, bye ".That day she was had taken leave as she was packing and moving to a different apartment , so when the door bell rang she thought it must be Mrs. Lawrence who cared for her like a mother hen .When the door bell rang a second time, she got irritated, the lady cant she wait a little longer " Wait a sec", she shouted to the person standing outside. When she opened the door she was in for a shock two gentlemen completely dressed in black were standing. Their eyes covered by black shades. They seem to have landed here directly from the sets of Men in Black, she amused herself. But that thought soon faltered after what she heard next "Mam, we're sorry to inform you but Mrs. Rachel Smith is no longer with us". She clutched her cell phone tightly, lest it should fall from her hand. Then as if in autopilot she packed her bag and went with these people, she knew by instinct that they must have informed her parents. Rachel's husband was nowhere to be seen in their apartment and the area near their patio was marked as crime scene. The police suspected Rachel's husband to be the murderer but due to lack of proof and witness they had to release him. She spent the whole day with her niece Emily who was just 6 then. After a day of interrogation when the police released Nick, her brother-in-law, he seemed a little indifferent. He was no longer interested in his daughter instead and when her Rachel's legal advisor though she was a lawyer herself she had her will prepared by a fellow lawyer, there it was clearly mentioned all of her property which included the apartment and a few cash deposits in the bank would pass on to her husband leaving a meager amount for her daughter. Neil left his daughter with her aunt Sara. Since her job included more risks than security she took Sara brought Emi to her parent's home in LA, then headed back towards New York. That day on Rachel's graveyard she swore, no matter what, I'll see to it that justice is done. Just then her phone started ringing; the screen showed it was Zack calling her. Oh god what he does want now? "Hello, Mr. Robenstein", she said while recovering from her previous trauma. "Hello, can I please get in?" has he got sick over something? "Excuse me", she frowned. He chuckled "I must sound desperate but I've been waiting outside your apartment for quite a while now", he said" I tried your doorbell, but it seems to need some repairmen", Oh no, she sighed my eyes must be puffed by now, think Sara think." Yes, oh no, now would you please do the favor of letting me in". "Wait a sec", he must have heard me, and she applied some make-up, before rushing towards the main door."So, the princess finally appeared to rescue the prince", he joked. This made her giggle " I'm extremely sorry about the doorbell actually I was about to call a technician tomorrow", she said while walking him to the foyer. Now when she noticed him properly, he truly looked like a prince charming dressed in a tuxedo, he seems to be dressed for some black tie party. "Would you please sit down", she motioned towards the comfy, he shook his head "I need your help and this is very urgent, there is this art gallery," he passed her a pamphlet "It's called 'Images Exquises' somewhere near Bowery". "What do you want me to do?" she asked "I want you to come along with me ", I'm not much of an art lover", she confessed I'm not either but this gallery is hosted by one of my old mates so it's not viable to be missed", why didn’t you me ask me earlier, her expression must be clear to him for he replied" The acquaintance who was to give me company tonight withdrew at the last moment, and since no one would be ready at the niche of time, you are my last hope", she never saw him pleading and his face said he truly needed her "How much time do we have?" he smiled which gave him a boyish look and checked his gold filled Royce watch " half an hour, before we depart", she was about to walk away, instead she turned back " please make yourself at home", then she turned to move towards her bedroom.