Obsession

by Maya Moss

  Rick’s voice wavered as his body responded to Allison’s touch instinctively, as if it were wired to come alive beneath her hands and lips.

  “I know you want it,” Allison whispered, voice made of sin, moist breath against Rick’s ear.

  “I am not denying it...”he responded in the same hushed voice.

  The next hour went on unnoticed, as they kissed, licked, and touched each other with all those feelings they still refused to speak about. It was still too early for them to get up, but there was no way that they were going back to sleep.

  “Do you think that they will find Monica?” Allison asked out of the blue, once their breathing was back to normal.

  “I hope so...,” was all Rick said.

  “I want this to be over... I cannot imagine my life this way anymore. I think Monica is dangerous,” Allison expressed her fears. She had thought about that long and hard in the last few hours, and had determined that Monica’s actions were part of some kind of sick plan.

  The woman was obviously crazy, but there was some order in all that craziness. She had started with phone calls and messages, making sure that there was no doubt who was sending them, and then had attempted to deal with Allison in person, but this time privately. Monica knew the risks she was taking, but her goal was worth taking them.

  Allison recognized her behavior as that of a confused woman, who searched for love, but was mistaking the feelings inside her. It was impossible for her still to think that Rick was in love with her, but her own obsession was blinding her.

  “I know you want that, I want it to... but, it is out of our control. I am sure the police will find her and put everything in place.” Rick caressed her cheek and gently kissed her lips, as if the physical contact would put more weight on his words.

  “She is intelligent and very determined person, Rick. I think that the police will find difficulty in dealing with her. Do not underestimate a woman in love,” Allison insisted, although she wanted him to be right.

  “Love?! Do you really call her feelings love? Whatever Monica is feeling towards me it is not love, that is for sure.” Rick spoke softly, but the anger was evident in his words.

  “I know, but she thinks that it is love, and at the moment that is all that matters.”

  “Okay, that is enough talk about Monica. Let’s now talk about us. What do you want to do during the upcoming holiday? Do you have something in mind or...?” Rick asked cheerfully.

  “You are out of your mind, but okay... I would like to go back to the ski resort. I had a lot of fun the last time there...” Allison played along, happy to forget at least for a moment about all their problems.

  “Did you? Tell me, why is that?”

  “I met a very special person there. Do you want me to tell you about him?”

  And just when Rick was going to ask her more about that special person, the doorbell rang and their sweet intimate morning ended abruptly.

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  Chapter 9

  “This is a quote from Goethe: Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate.” Monica’s Diary.

  “Who can it be so early in the morning?” Rick wondered, while rising from the bed and dressing in a pair of sweatpants.

  When he opened the door, two police officers were standing at his porch, looking very serious and alarmed at him.

  “Mr. Hamilton, you need to come with us to the station,” the older policeman said politely.

  “Why?” was all Rick could say.

  “There has been a development with Mr. Mike Smith’s case. The detectives found some new evidence on his body that points at you, sir,” the officer explained.

  “Am I arrested?” Rick asked, feeling the panic rising inside him.

  “No, sir. We were sent to bring you back to the station for some questioning.”

  “Can I dress first, then?” Rick looked down at his pants, and the officer shook his head in agreement. “Okay then, please come inside.”

  Both policemen thanked him, and walked behind Rick inside the house, where Allison was waiting for an explanation.

  “What is going on? Did they find her?” she asked.

  “No, but the police found some evidence that obviously points at me. They are taking me back to the station to question me.” Rick tried to stay calm, to give her the strength he was not feeling. Allison had gone through enough, and he did not want her to worry about him. “I am sure it is nothing and once I answer their questions, I will come home.”

  “God, Rick, I am so sorry.” She threw herself at him, and embraced him tightly. “I will straighten everything out. I promise you, everything will be okay,” she murmured frantically near his ear.

  “I know, Allison, I know. Now I need to get ready, please offer something to drink to the officers.”

  After half an hour, she watched him climb into the police car and drive towards the police station. She waited for the car to disappear, and then run inside the house. Monica had finally managed to make her angry. Now it was one woman against the other – no more half-truths and hidden emotions. Allison was determined to end this story now, and bring Monica to justice.

  At the other part of the town, Rick entered the police station still feeling a little insecure and afraid. His mind was telling him that whatever it was the police found, he would be able to explain it to them. But, on the other hand, his emotions were taking the better of him, and making him sweat and fear the unknown.

  “Mr. Hamilton,” the officer, assigned to the Mike’s case greeted him once he stepped into the interrogation room. “Sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, but we have a few important questions for you.”

  Detective Martinez watched the young man sit down, looking nervous and worried. He understood him, and once again wondered if he had something to do with the death of Mike Smith. The evidence they found might be there per pure chance, or it could even be planted, but he still did not know the facts.

  This case has been confusing from the very beginning, and he had to start from the very beginning. This man had come to the precinct to give a statement even before the evidence against him was found, something that few criminals do. But he looked highly intelligent, so that might have been part of his plan.

  “Mr. Hamilton, we found your business card inside Mr. Smith’s pocket. How would you explain that?” The detective asked calmly, looking at the other man carefully.

  “I have no idea,” Rick answered immediately, looking confused. “Sunday night was the first time I saw Mike after we graduated from college, and even then, we only say hi to each other. I have no idea how he had come into possession of my business card.”

  “What would you say your relationship with the victim was?” the detective continued.

  “I would not call it a relationship,” Rick said. “We were rivals in college, and after that our paths separated for good.”

  “Where were you Sunday night and Monday morning?”

  “I was home with my girlfriend, Allison. After the wedding, we went straight home, and never left again, until late into the morning.”

  “I understand that Mr. Smith left the wedding with your ex-girlfriend, right?”

  “Yes, she came uninvited to the party, and made a show of seducing him and leaving with him. As I already said in my statement, she has been stalking me and my girlfriend for a few weeks now. I am sure she went for Mike just to make me jealous, as she was aware of our past rivalry.”

  “And was she successful in making you jealous?” the detective insisted.

  “No, I filed for a restraining order against the woman; all I wanted was for her to leave me alone.”

  “Was she in possession of your business card?”

  “I do not know for sure, but it is probable that she had some. We worked together on a legal case, and went out for a while. I suppose she could have easily taken as many of my business cards as she wanted.”

  “Thank you, Mr. H
amilton, this is it for now. But if you remember something more about this matter, please contact me immediately.” Detective Martinez stood up, and opened the door for the man to exit. He still had his doubts, but there was no solid evidence against him, and a card would not hold up in court.

  The case was going nowhere, and the only solid lead they had was this Monica, who seemed to have disappeared. The whole precinct was under pressure, and his captain was asking for quick results. He needed something solid, and he needed it now.

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  Chapter 10

  “To show someone how much you love him, you need to take action and make him see, even if he prefers to stay blind.” Monica’s Diary.

  Allison waited for Rick’s call, and listened carefully to his story about the business card and his probable involvement in the murder. She felt anger and fear mix inside her at the thought of what could happen now. She was sure that Monica stood behind all this, but the police would act only on real evidence.

  The only way for Rick to be cleared of all suspicions was for Monica to take responsibility for her action. And that could happen only if she was arrested and questioned by the police. She needed to make Monica come out of her hiding place, and there was only one way to do so – Allison had to become the bait.

  In order for her to confront Monica directly, she needed to make her angry and careless. So she dressed quickly, made sure her phone was fully charged, and went out. The next hour she drove around her neighborhood and the places she usually visited. When nothing happened, she considered going home, but just then she noticed Monica’s car in her mirror.

  She had taken the bait.

  Allison acted quickly, without losing any time. First, she made sure to turn away from the busy roads, and into a side street with few cars going through it. Then she called the police, telling them that Monica was following her and giving her location.

  Unfortunately, Allison once again underestimated Monica’s determination to get rid of her. She had been counting on the fact that they were in the middle of the town, but it obviously was not a problem for Monica. She once again tried to run her off the road, aiming to force Allison’s car into an electric pole. But this time, Allison fought back, and managed to run Monica off the road.

  She watched with fascination how the other car hit the wall of a stone building. She waited a few moments before getting out of her car, and going to see what had happened to Monica. The car was badly damaged, and Monica had her face covered in blood, but Allison could see that she was still breathing.

  That was the moment when the police arrived, and Allison was asked to give her statement.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” one of the officers asked her.

  “This woman has been stalking me and my boyfriend for a few weeks now, she is wanted for a murder, and this is the second time she tried to run me off the road with her car,” Allison explained, while watching the paramedics taking Monica out of the car.

  “Okay, Miss, we will check your story and you will have to come to the station to make a statement.”

  “Can I come with you to the hospital? I need to speak with her, as soon she regains consciousness.” Monica asked the paramedics. Her car was part of the investigation, and needed to stay at the place of the accident.

  “Sure,” the young paramedic said. “You can ride with us.”

  The drive to the hospital was a short one, but it seemed like ages to Allison. She called Rick during it, and was sorry to learn that he had been held at the pricing, because the police feared that he might run. Allison told him about Monica and what happened between them, but she left out the fact that there had been danger for her life.

  Rick expressed his relief that Monica was finally in the hands of the police, and asked Allison to call him as soon as there was any news. Allison really hoped that it would finally be over.

  The local hospital was a busy place, and Allison had to wait for hours before there were any news about Monica and her condition. A policeman was positioned in front of her hospital room, and everyone who entered the room was asked to identify themselves. Allison was not allowed inside, although she tried a few times.

  The white hospital corridors were playing at her nerves, she hated the feeling the wash out colors created. Allison had always associated the white color with sickness and death, after she saw her grandmother die in one, years ago. Now, every time she visited the hospital, she remembered those sad and painful hours, when her grandmother passed away.

  When she saw the doctor come out of Monica’s room, she approached him, and asked about Monica’s condition. He asked her about her relation to the woman, and when he learned the whole story, did not hesitate to answer her questions.

  “The patient has a few cuts and bruised ribs, but her condition is good. She would probably be sent home after twenty four hours.”

  “Thank you very much, doctor,” Allison smiled at him, and went to speak to detective Martinez, who just exited the elevator.

  If there was someone who could help her it was the young detective. He seemed really concerned with their situation and Allison had the feeling that he would be the one to solve the case.

  “Hello detective,” she greeted him. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

  Detective Martinez smiled at the young woman, and went to sit on the empty seat beside her.

  “I want to speak with Monica, if that is okay with you. There are so many questions that I want to ask her, so many doubts I am having. This woman is trying to kill me for the second time, and I still know nothing about her and what she really thinks.”

  “I understand your concerns, but do you really think that it would be wise to face her right now? From what I hear, she is unstable and capable of a lot of crazy things.”

  “Please, detective, this is important to me. Especially after all the photos of me I found in her apartment. I need to face her alone, and make her tell me why she hates me so much.”

  “Okay,” the detective said. “If it is so important to you, I would not stop you. But please, leave the door open, and make sure to call the officer in case of any danger.”

  “Thank you, thank you very much.” Allison smiled at the young man, relieved that he would allow her to do what she felt was right.

  “By the way, your boyfriend is free to go. You might want to call him later.”

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  Chapter 11

  “Because I know the truth, that does not mean that I am ready to accept it.” Monica’s Diary.

  Allison entered Monica’s room cautiously; afraid of how the other woman would react to her visit. Allison knew that this was not something usual in these kinds of cases, but she simply needed to hear it from Monica. She needed to know what had made a successful and beautiful woman, like Monica, act this way and even attempt murder.

  Monica was lying in the white hospital bed, looking very pale and with multiple bruises over her face and arms. She had her eyes closed, and Allison was able for a few moments to admire her beauty. The woman was really beautiful, and Allison felt sorry for her, knowing that it was not enough for Monica.

  “Hello,” Allison called, when it became obvious that Monica would not open her eyes. “I want to speak with you, if you feel up to it.”

  Monica opened her eyes and watched as the woman she loathed most in the world and even tried to kill, came close to her bed. Allison looked tired, with dark rings under her eyes and a complete lack of makeup. Monica felt superior to her, and once again wondered about Rick’s actions.

  “What do you want?” she asked her rival.

  “I want to ask you why you are doing all this?” Allison started quickly, already wanting to get out of this room and away from this woman.

  “You are asking me why I am acting this way? I would tell you. I love Rick, and I cannot understand why he left me for you. What do you have to offer him? He is a successful lawyer with a bright future in front of hi
m, and you... you are no one. I can be his worthy partner, both in life and business. I can help him rise to the very top, to become a powerful and rich man. Together, we can do anything...”

  Monica spoke about herself and Rick, as if there was still a chance for it to happen. Her delusion was blinding her, and making her see things that were not there. Allison saw the jealousy and hurt behind her words. They were visible right behind the wounded pride and misplaced hope for the future. Rick had rejected her for another woman, who in Monica’s head had nothing to give him. It was too much for the proud and demanding lawyer to accept. For her, there was nothing as important as the successful career and the right kind of man by her side.

  Allison wondered, for the thousandth times, if Monica was aware of the fact that she was not really in love with Rick. She was obsessed with him, she saw in him something special and appealing, but she did not love him, because if she really did, she would have let him go long ago.

  “You are totally different from him. Why would he choose someone so different to be with? I can understand if he had chosen someone like me and him, a woman who wants a career and knows how to reach the top. But you... you are nothing... Why then does he want to be with you? I think that he is punishing me, and testing my love and determination.”

  Monica looked at her, and waited for an answer. She was glad that Allison came to her and gave her the opportunity to finally see what was so special about her. It was really bothering her that Rick so easily exchanged her for someone else.

  “These are questions you should ask Rick, not me. I am here because I want you to leave us alone. Monica, we only want to live our lives in peace. I don’t understand why you are acting the way you do.”

  “I am the perfect woman for Rick. I would make him happy; we would complement each other, as we always did.” Monica spoke enthusiastically, as if it was a true fact that everybody was able to see. The obsession was a real sickness that was clouding her mind, making her see things that weren’t there and experience feelings that weren’t real. “Look at yourself, you look horrible and have no style at all.”