CHAPTER THREE

Brandon was just a bastard as the man who killed her father was. He was a filthy rich bastard that had everyone at his fingertips and he was married to a perfect match, Mrs. Salina-Baker-Mills, her mother.

Before Alex's father died, he and his wife were working on their divorce and he had moved out of the house for her; he moved to Texas. Immediately he moved, the coming wedding ceremony of Salina and her new husband was published on every news headlines.

Alex had gotten her looks from her mother; Salina, Lina for short was tall, slender, had shinny ebony skin and full breast and buttocks to complement her stunning figure, she was a damsel. She could make all the men turn their heads when she walked into one of those expensive rich parties she attended,

But Brandon was not contented. He wanted Lina but Jackie was even more beautiful than her mother so, he wanted them both.

He had made moves on Jackie ever since she was a teenager and had raped her twice. The third time, she had hidden a razor beneath her jacket and when her made to defy her, she reached for it and slashed him cross the face. She stabbed him several times till she felt he was dead.

The noise alerted the maid and someone had dialed nine one one.

The police came and took her away. Brandon promised he wouldn't press charges only if she went along with his lie; his lie was I spoke about your father in a jocular manner, you got furious and stabbed me. Though she didn't comply, everyone took Brandon story over hers and she was asked to be sent to a mad-house till she dealt with her anger issues and became better.

Mad house? She had screamed. She wouldn't only be confined for what she hadn't done but she would be under Brandon's health care facilities which made it even easier for him to take her whenever he wanted.

She sat in that cold room in the attic of the house waiting for them to take her away when something strange happened.

Her father came back, he had read the news and believed his daughter story so he came to rescue her. The very next night, he was murdered and when it came out in the news, they said he committed fraud and had killed himself.

Damn media! She saw the whole thing happen but nobody believed her. She ran away from home to clear her father's name and to find that bastard who had killed her father.

She made a list of everyone who had something to do with the death of her father and Brandon was the last on her list. He would taste the most severe punishment.

First was the assassin, next was the company who lied her father had committed fraud, next was her mother then Brandon.

She had been tracking the assassins for many years now and she wouldn't give up. She had crossed out a few names on her list, names of people she had dealt with such as the media houses that published the false news and the dirty police men that man-handled her while she was in holding cell.

Brandon had a lick-spittle that did all his dirty work for him, if she could control his lick spittle, she would have Brandon eating from the palm of her hand.

She looked at Eden laying weakly as if drained of life on the bed and the machine against  the walls were beeping to keep him stable. She slid her finger around his hands and it felt really cold.

The police said he was rounding a sharp corner when a truck with failed brakes ran into his vehicle.

Who gave him the damned car anyway? She thought as she pressed softly on his lifeless hands. He must have gotten it from Simon again. She sighed and the though of Brandon's lick spittle danced through her mind. Could he be the one doing this to threaten her? She sighed again when a nurse walked in.

"Ma'am, you'll have to excuse the patient now." She said politely but Alex wanted to stay. Eden was hurt and she wished it was her lying on that bed and not him.

Sara was out in the corridor and as soon as Alex stepped outside, Sara rushed to her.

"What did the doctor say?"

Alex hesitated "he hit his head real bad and he has a fifty percent chance of getting through this alive and sane" she bit her lower lip at the thought if it "I shouldn't have let you two out of my sight"

"Alex..." Sara meant to say but Alex cut her short with a snap

"This is what happens when I leave you two to do what you want"

Sara froze for a moment and tears rose to her eyes again. "He wanted to go to the grocery store himself. I told him not to go... He was so excited about me moving in... It's my fault" she sobbed. Then her eyes flew open in a frown "and where the hell did you put your phone. I called you over a million times and..." She sobbed again.

Alex walked way from her just to bump into Simon who had worry etched deeply in his eyes. As soon as he saw Alex, his glare softened for he knew she was the money bag.

"Your shit-head puppy wrecked my car. It was a spider ferrari!" He said on top of his voice. "I heard he was here fixing his broken leg, I want to give him more bones to fix"

Sara jumped at him with anger boiling in every fiber of her being. Alex would have loved to invite him outside into the dark parking lot away from the security lights and beat the shit out of him but Sara had intervened.

"You asshole! Are you crazy?" She hit him across the face "how could you lease a car to a minor!"

With anger, Simon replied "A minor, he came to my joint every Saturday to pick up girls and he bought shit from me. Do you still call him a minor?"

"Eden is in coma Simon and he has a fifty percent chance of surviving" Alex had said to calm the rising tension. She was sure Simon didn't know about Eden current state of health and he wasn't that heartless to come here asking for money even if he knew.

Simon froze for many seconds then spoke.

"I didn't know" there was empathy in his voice

"I thought as much" Alex responded

"I am so sorry, but that won't pay for the damages" there was the arrogant tone in his voice again. Sara was furious! This man was a heartless prick but that didn't surprise Alex. She had tested him and he had failed.

She would have to invite him to that parking lot after all.

"You want your money? Follow me" Alex said, her expressionless look, giving nothing away. Sara was upset that Alex was being a gentle woman. She  was expecting Alex to fight Simon but unlike her crude attitude, Alex was civilized and matured.

Little did anyone know what she had in mind for Simon. He would learn how to feel compassion tonight and she would teach him that.

Simon nodded and followed her leaving Sara a mocking look.

"Sara, stay here with Eden. Let me finish quickly and come back"

Reluctantly, Sara nodded.

Alex led Simon to the parking lot away from the security lights and moved to the boot of her car.

Simon anticipated the arrival of the money and he was happy that Alex was reaching for the boot because that only meant she was giving him cash.

"How much for the damages Mr Simon?" Her voice was cool and seductive and happily, he said

"two fifty" 

Alex nodded and opened the boot of her vehicle. She bent over to  reach into it and pretended that the money was deep into the boot. Her hands reached for a crowbar.

Simon stood close enough that his groin was almost touching her behind. Alex bent over was a beautiful sight to see; she looked beautiful and he would love to do her right on the spot. His mouth watered and his groin ached for pleasure.

"I know you to be a smart and beautiful woman Alex. I really feel bad about what happened to Eden, trust me, I do." He said in pretense

She paused

"I might collect just fifty." He said still biting his tongue over what a beautiful behind she had. His groin ached harder "if you follow me to my office so we can talk this out"

His hands moved and he grabbed a handful of the wonderful plum flesh in front of him.

"Oops my hands slipped" he laughed.

It was time. Alex turned around quickly and slammed the crowbar into his skull. and she watch him hit the floor with a broken head

Sara glanced at her wristwatch. Alex had been gone for thirty minutes. She stood to her feet and behold, the runaway woman was walking majestically back down the hallway.

"So?" Sara asked and Alex shrugged

"I paid him in full. That bastard won't be disturbing us anymore" and Sara nodded.

*************************      

Luay liked the little town, he had hated it when he left seven years ago, but now, he was falling in love with the beautiful atmosphere and the love that sprung among the people that lived in Grady Gulch Oklahoma. He loved the cool evening breeze just as much as the Mike Posner-I took a pill in Ibiza tune playing through the earphone that was pinned to his ears. The music was as cool as the breeze that swept up his spine and the thought of being jobless, childless and woman-less didn't worry him at the moment.

He stood on the sidewalk for a minute, staring into the distance when he noticed a small cafe around the corner but he wasn't looking at the cafe, he was staring at a strange figure lurking somewhere in the dark as if lost. He squinted and observed for about a minute then decided to go over to ask what the person wanted. He should mind his business but he knew how it felt to be lost and if there was indeed anyway he could help, he'd be glad to.

As he approached the figure, what seemed like a float of shadow sank into a man in a black coat and hat. He was peering through the glass walls of the cafe and as Luay touched his shoulder, he jumped around in fright.

The man's face began to register and even beneath the hat, Luay could tell he was the most horrible looking man he had met in his entire life.

His nose was long and crooked at the edge, he had three deep dots on the left side of his cheek and his eyes were bulgy, his face was half scarred like he was a fire survivor or someone who had survived the wrath of an acid bath.

Luay still spoke politely, pushing the picture of the man's face aside.

"Can I help you? You seem to be looking for something"

The man was silent for many seconds before he finally spoke with a smile touching his eyes and exposing his almost toothless gum. "Oh, hey there young fella, I wuz hoping to get maself some coffee here but, I don' have money. I have walked many miles and I'm hungry." The man said in an unusual accent with utmost sincerity in his voice.

Luay smiled. Even through his hardship, he was a perfect gentle man; well almost perfect.

"It's okay, come on in and let's eat dinner. I am hungry myself" he lied.

They walked in and the old man couldn't help but notice the shocking look on the faces of people inside the restaurant. What in God's name is a young handsome chap doing with someone this hideous? Beauty and the beast? He read on their faces but he didn't look away. With a smile on his face, he followed Luay to a table and they sat. Funny enough, Luay saw the look on their faces but he never thought they would be thinking about the man that walked in with him. Omigod! Is that the guy that killed a twelve year old? What is he doing here? He could read from their faces.

He shrugged as he sank into the seat opposite the horrible looking old man. A waiter came to take their order and they were left alone.

Left to Luay, he'd prefer not to have a conversation at all but he chose the wrong partner to keep him company.

"Oh, thank you young fella. I haven't eat'n in two days" he grinned broadly "you are very kind"

Kind? I am a murderer Luay thought and he passed a soft smile. "You don't look like you hail from here do you?" He pressed.

"Oh no" Luay found his voice "I am from Louisiana"

"Then what are you doin' here?" His bulgy eyes popped out even more in an askance look

"My sister moved here when she got married." I actually live in New York but came back here because my life in New York came crashing down; he wanted to add but he refrained "so I am here to visit her" he cleared his throat.

The man observed him for a while then smiled warmly "I seen you in the nuwz headline" he said and it gave Luay a clean blow across his jaw back to reality "they say you killed a twel' year old. You don't seem to me like you a killer" he eyed Luay then arched a brow "or are you?"

The pain settled back in Luay's chest and he didn't know what made him speak, but he gently said "My design had killed that kid. That makes me a murderer"

"Hmm" the man nodded "you got off quite easy. In some country, they'd behead you" this jocular comment made Luay sick to his stomach. This old man had a way of piquing his pulse.

"Well, I lost my job and I don't think I'm getting anyone soon" Luay shrugged and just then, their meal was brought to them. Luay had ordered the man a nice meal of French rice, steak, vegetable salad and a warm cup of coffee to complement while he just ate bread and drank warm cocoa.

The old man's mouth watered and happily, he ate. "My name is Anthony Cooper. Call me Tony for short" he said through the warm scent of food that enveloped them.

"My name is Luay" Luay gestured and Tony nodded. This man made Luay curious. How come he was on the road for two days with no food? But he didn't intend to pry so he just kept his mouth shut.

"You are an architect right?" The man's voice shook him and he nodded as he sipped his drink."You have a drivin' license?" Luay nodded "been in any road accidents?" Luay shook his head in negation "Good." Tony said "What if I told you that I can get you a job where you earn two hundred dollars per month" he eyed Luay.

Luay scoffed. The man barely fed himself and he looked quite jobless, how could he possibly get him a job "I know, I know, you'd be looking at me and be saying in your mind that what can a tattered man like me offer" he chuckled like he knew what was going on in Luay's mind. Luay glanced at him with a guilty look but he continued "A lot of people say that at first. Most mate ten' to judge a book by its appearance. How devastating" he cleared his throat "my wife forced me on an irregular diet and I been hungry since two days and my chauffeur got sick, took two days off so, I'd have to walk from my house to work." He looked at Luay who shrugged at the thought. The little explanation seemed doubtful but it also made sense as to why he was that hungry "though I don't earn a lot but, I don't carry cash around either" he ate for a while then continued "I own a small firm, we produce paper cups. Like this one" he raised the salad palette. Before he could proceed, Luay interrupted

"I'm an architect"

"Wuz an architect. Your life as an architect is literally over. For now" he was right and that was the reality but the thought of it made Luay shiver "look at you..." He shoved rice down his throat and after he finished with what was in his mouth, he continued "...you are handsome, young, city boy and agile, you have a chance of makin' som'n out of yourself" he ate again "I have a vacant post." He gazed into Luay's eager eyes "we can't reach out to all 'em customers at once so you'll just drive around delivering paper cups for a couple of hours three times a week., we need a dispatch rider"

Luay couldn't believe his ears. Dispatch-fucking-what? Or messenger-boy? Even though his last job resulted in an epic failure, he would not reduce to a messenger-boy. Never! He would not stoop so low to become an errand boy of a man who barely-fed himself.

The man saw the look on Luay's face and decided to give him time to think about it "It's a tough decision kid. I look at you and I see a very brave fella and also a dumb human. Permit me to say, but it's the truth, like you are split in half or som'n. Think bout it you have all the time you want but not all the time you need" he removed a card from his pocket and pushed it to Luay. The rest of the meal was silent and once he was done, he thanked Luay, stood to his feet and walked out.

Luay watched the old man for a while and he laughed within himself; a rueful kind of laughter. So this is what I have reduced to? He looked down at his food, he'd barely touched it and just then, a waiter walked up to him.

"You need anything else sir?"

"Yes. The bill" Luay stood to his feet, paid and left the restaurant.

****************

Alex asked Sara to go home while she stayed with Eden throughout the night. The doctor said that he hit his head against the side window and it resulted to a skull fracture. That made tears roll down her eyes.

Her mother had made mistakes with her and she hated it now, she was becoming like her mother and she had led Eden to this. Sara might have taken the blame but it was her fault to let them leave in the first place.

She fondled his hands softly and the thought of Brandon crossed her mind. The police were still investigating the cause but she had made up her mind that Brandon was out to get her. She kissed Eden's hand softly and muttered against it "I'm sorry". She really was.

Now it was time to tighten her slack. Brandon might be a wealthy bastard that ran New York along side her mother but she was the dark knight, the nightmare of rich pricks like Brandon. She wouldn't let him hurt the people she cared about and she meant it.

"You have a call" A nurse came to announce so, she released Eden's hand ever so carefully and went out to receive her call at the hospital booth.

"Edward?" She breathed against the receiver

"Oh Alex, hunnay. I heard about your little chap. Is he okay?"

She steadied her voice to suppress her teary voice "Doctor says he is in bad shape" she said softly "but he is a strong kid"

"I am so sorry about this Alex" he told her

She nodded and afresh tears formed in her eyes "okay" she sniffed 

"what of your phone? I sent you three voice messages"

"You did." She croaked

"Yes. The agency wants to know when you'll finish the next book. I am sorry that I'm bringing this to you right now but it is rush hour"

"I totally understand Edward but I'm cancelling all publication for now" her voice was frail and there was silence for a stretched period of time before he cracked

"Are you okay? Is it because of what happened?"

"No!" A voice shot out of her throat "I want to take a break" she knew Edward did not like the sound of that but she had more important commitments and she had to face them before it escalated into something more disastrous.

"Okay Alex, it's your call. Should I come over?"

But the last thing she wanted was to be in anyone's company; she wanted to be alone but considering that it was the thought that came to her mind when she sent Eden and Sara away, she pushed aside her pride and said "I would like that"

"I'll be there in five"and she pressed the off button.

Edward arrived with his secretary, Risinda just about the time he promised. At the time, Alex was cuddled in the cold on one of the waiting benches and as soon as she saw Edward, she shot to her feet.

He was tall, handsome and had a fitting body build that tapered to long legs. Aside being her manager, he was a friend; at least that was what he considered himself. He had fallen in love with her ever since she set foot in Sun city and he was the second person to accept her after Mr Donnavich. He had forced himself into her cold heart and he had found a place for himself; that was another thought of his.

Edward loved her but as a friend, he had once told her that she was like a character in a horror movie and later on, he changed his words saying it was more of a classical horror movie.

He read her first write-up titled jingoism is a lie and he had fallen in love with that as well.

He rushed to her with worry in his eyes. Risinda had the same look on her face as well.

Unlike Edward, Risinda was blonde.She was slender and beautiful. She was just a fan of Alex, a lover of good writing and someone who was compassionate about humanity even though she considered herself a friend of Alex, Alex never considered anyone as a friend.

Alex told him what the doctor said and they both sank into the waiting bench. They spoke for about a minute when he stopped to look at her keenly "why are you really cancelling?"

"I already told you Ed." Her voice was cold and her expressionless look was still wrapped around her face "I want to take a break. That's it" she stood to her feet as the doctor approached her with two men in uniform. She hated the police as well.

"Miss Willis" Doctor Adam said as he stretched a hand towards the Inspector "this is Mr Clarence, the detective in charge of the case and this is Inspector Rooney" she could read on the inspector's face that there was news pertain to the investigation. He was tall, six feet and he had a striking appearance in his tailored uniform and hat all that made Alex indifferent but the detective looked younger but about the same height as the inspector

"Hello Ma'am" his Alabama-lousiana's accent was deep "I will like us to go somewhere to talk about this" his voice was firm "hospital cafeteria?" He arched a brow and she nodded. She looked at Edward and he quickly spoke before she did.

"Risinda and I would head back to the agency and work on it. I will call you when it's done" he patted her shoulder and without any further exchange of words, he left.

She settled at one of the tables with detective Clearance and the inspector and waited till one of them spoke first.

"Someone tampered with the breaks" the detective spoke first "the person made sure the truck went in confluence the same time Eden was driving towards east-side." His eyes darkened "I spoke with the lady he lived with; her name... Sara?"

"Yes Sara. She moved in with him this morning"

"I believe both of them lived at your place before they decided to leave?"

"What's your point detective?" Alex raised a brow

"Sara told us that you were a cold person and your behavior drove both of them out of the house, nevertheless, you were out at the time of the accident. She called your cell but it was not reachable." He paused "though she said it made no sense you'd try to hurt Eden for you loved him like a son but she also made it clear that you didn't handle the news of her leaving so well"

This sounded like an accusation. Of course she didn't handle it well because she didn't expect it. The detective continued "we are looking at attempted murder here" his voice was abrupt.

"And you think I did it?" Alex still had that look on her face; that cold look. Damn Alex, this is the fucking police. You look even more of a suspect with that unfeeling glare.

But to her surprising, he said "No" she had read books on this kind of discussion and normally, the man questioning would reply in form of a question like "are you?" Then she would fight her way to prove herself innocent. But he gave her a free NO. "Not yet" he said "but from what we've investigated so far, we think someone is out to get you and Eden was just a victim" she knew the answer. She should say Brandon did it but she had other plans for that bastard; jail sentence was to easy a punishment.

She forced her eyebrows to arch in a frown and she said "out to get me?" She sounded stunned "why?"

"I don't know. That's what we came here to find out. Anybody in mind?" Well, yes Brandon. That son of a bitch but instead she shrugged.

"Why would anybody want to hurt me? I have no one in mind detective" of course, Brandon was dancing all over her mind.

"Miss Willis, this is a very serious issue, please dig deep" the inspector spoke for the first time.

"If there was anyone in mind, I would have come to the police station myself to report. Eden is like a son to me or like a baby brother..." Her voice broke "there is certainly nobody in mind.

"And Simon Stevens? I heard that Eden had wrecked his car last week and you had paid him a huge amount of money to clear the damages"

"Yes." She said "Simon can be edgy when it comes to money."

"So, do you think that he might have planned this to get money from you again because he leased out a very expensive car; the car that was damaged in the accident"

Well, that could be another case. She hadn't thought of that. It could have been Simon but because of her grudge with Brandon, she had quickly painted him to be the cause in her mind.

"I, ah, I don't know" she said truthfully "I find it stupid and crazy that Simon would lease that sort f expensive car to Eden to go grocery shopping." She shook her head at the thought and just then, the inspector's phone rang.

"Damn. Okay, I'll see to it" he put down the mobile device and stared at the other two people at the table like he had bad news. "Mr Simon was found on Wesley lane battered and unconscious."

The detective was shocked. Alex wasn't. It took her back to the parking lot fight.

She had beaten Simon close to pulp with a crowbar, put him in her boot and drove him to dump him at Wesley lane and when she was done, she cleaned out her boot and returned to meet waiting Sara. That explained why she took long.

"That is duty call Miss Willis. We'd love to continue but I think the case just took a turn"

"We will get back to you when we find anything" the detective said.

And with fluttering innocent eyes, she said "please do. I want the person behind this behind bars"

***