Meanwhile, Natalia, who has been in London for a few days, is going to the building where Alicia Middleton’s apartment is located. Before a certain moment, she did not know the address of Raquelle’s aunt, but she found it thanks to a common familiar, who she met by chance, and who gave her the address of the woman she needed.
Natalia does not know about anything that’s happening in the life of Raquelle and Alicia or what’s happening at the meeting with Eleanor Woodham. Being sure that she would be lucky to meet Raquelle today, the girl is going to the destination with the hope of meeting her, talking to her a little, and finding out how she is doing.
“I hope that the man didn’t lie to me and called the right address of Raquelle’s aunt,” Natalia thinks after she leaves a taxi and gives the money to a driver. “I wanna meet my friend so badly and find out how she’s doing here.”
When the taxi leaves, Natalia quickly looks around, standing a few miles away from the building where Alicia’s apartment is located.
“However, something tells me that the taxi brought me to the right place,” Natalia thinks and bites her lip slightly. “I’m starting to think I know these places. I’ve been here somehow… I was here many years ago… When my parents brought me here for holidays with Raquelle…”
Natalia cracks a slight smile.
“Hey, I would’ve easily found this building without the help of that man,” Natalia assumes. “I clearly remember how to reach it. Yes, it’s been very many years, but I’ve forgotten nothing.”
Natalia looks at the familiar building she sees from afar.
“It’s here!” Natalia thinks. “I clearly remember that there must be an apartment of Alicia. If it’s so, it means Raquelle is here, as well. So, I need to find her at that place.”
Natalia thinks for two seconds.
“Maybe, I call Raquelle and say I’ve come to London?” Natalia thinks. “Or do I make a surprise and come there without the invitation? I don’t know what would be better…”
Natalia thinks about what to do for a few seconds and eventually decides to call Raquelle to warn her about her arrival. The girl takes her smartphone from her purse, types the number she needs, and waits for the answer for a few seconds. But nobody answers her. The number of her friend is not available now.
“It’s weird, she doesn’t answer,” Natalia frowns slightly. “I will try to call her again…”
Natalia tries to type Raquelle’s numbers one more time, but a few seconds later, she gets the same answer from the robot that lets her know the number is currently not available.
“Damn, it seems like I’d have to go there without the invitation,” Natalia thinks. “So, someone in heaven wants me to surprise my friend with my visit and not to tell her about it earlier.”
Natalia turns off the screen of her phone and puts it in her purse.
“So, as Cameron doesn’t call me, and her number is not available now, I will go there,” Natalia decides. “Find out how she’s doing here… And talk to Alicia, as well. Find out how she is. I haven’t met her in ages. The last time we met happened so long ago… But I’m missing that woman and would be happy to spend some time with her.”
After thinking a little, Natalia wants to come to the building, in which there is an apartment of Alicia, with her head proudly raised. The girl starts to understand more and more that everything around her is very familiar to her, even if she notices many things have changed since she was here the last time. However, even such radical changes do not prevent her from calling more and more memories of wonderful moments that had to do with being in London and the pastime with Raquelle.
Natalia takes some distance all alone, but then she hears a man calling her and comes much closer to her in a quick step:
“Natalia!”
Frowning slightly, Natalia turns around and sees Terrence coming to her after he showed up out of nowhere.
“Oh, shit, MacClife, how did you come from?” Natalia wonders. “You weren’t anywhere around!”
“Hi to you, too, blondie,” Terrence says confidently. “I’m also happy to see you.”
“Seriously, I didn’t really see you.”
“I also just saw you leaving the taxi.”
“Really? What did you forget here? Walking for nothing or going to do a business?”
“Nope, I’m just walking in London. Examining everything about this place.”
“Huh, okay. So, go where you were going.”
“So, don’t you wanna invite me to your company?”
“No, I don’t want.”
“But why?”
“I’ve got some things to do. Which you don’t have to do with.”
“That’s how! Where are you going if it’s not a secret?”
“Do you really care?”
“Are you gonna visit Raquelle?”
“If it’s the truth, what’s next?” Natalia asks with a sly smile, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Hey, I wanna go with you, too!”
“Oh, no! I am not going to take you with me!”
“Please, Natalia, give me a chance to talk to Raquelle.”
“Yeah, do I tell her that I literally helped you find her? I couldn’t get off you for the whole way from New York to London.”
“Okay, but at least tell me where you’re going.”
“None of your business.”
“Did you manage to find out her address? I mean the address of her relative she is now living with.”
“Yup, I did.”
“Really?” Terrence smiles slightly.
“Really.”
“But how?”
“One man helped. My familiar that knows Alicia, Raquelle’s aunt, as well.”
“That’s how!”
“I met him at our hotel by chance. We welcomed each other and decided to go to a small café. Ordered a cup of coffee and talked a little… And then he began to tell me about a woman, who had a niece.”
“Wow…”
“So, I quickly understood that the woman he meant was the one I needed. And later, I found out he really meant Alicia and Raquelle. So, I asked him to tell me how to find my friend’s auntie and give me her home address.”
“So, he did?”
“He did.”
“How far is she living?”
“Nope. At that building.” Natalia points at the building where there is Alicia’s apartment. “So, I’m going there right now.”
“Without a warning?” Terrence wonders.
“I tried to call Raquelle to tell her about my arrival, but she doesn’t answer.”
“Doesn’t answer?”
“I don’t know, maybe, she’s busy with something…”
“Are you going there anyway?”
“Yeah, I will go. Maybe, I meet her aunt. Talk to her, find out how she’s doing, and ask about Raquelle. I’m sure she will tell me everything. And if I’m lucky, I will meet Cameron herself.”
“Listen, Natalia, take me with me,” Terrence begs with pity in his eyes.
“Oh, Terrence…”
“Please, tell me where that girl is.”
“Seriously? Do you wanna go to the place where nobody is surely waiting for you?”
“Natalia…”
“Do you know what Raquelle is gonna do to you if she sees you on the doorstep of the apartment? She’d kick you out like a puppy and report you to the police, charging you for chasing her. Tell them everything you’ve done to her. And you would get many problems.”
“Okay, I won’t go to the home of that woman. But at least tell me how to find her.”
“I don’t need problems because of you.”
“I promise I will not say you were the one to help me find Raquelle’s hideaway.”
“Don’t ask, pretty boy! Ask someone else for help.”
“Please, Natalia… Take me with you.”
“Oh, okay, okay…” Natalia exhales sharply. “Come with me… But I will not call you with me. You will be waiting outside or somewhere else.”
“I agree.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Let’s go.”
Tightly squeezing the handle of her black lacquered purse, Natalia turns around and goes where she needs to be, while Terrence follows her confidently.
“Yay, MacClife, you are really like a maniac,” Natalia laughs shyly.
“Me?” Terrence rounds his eyes.
“Don’t you know when a girl rejects you, running after her would be just a waste of time?”
“I know, but your friend just decided to show off. Wanted to increase her value. Made me work much harder to get her attention.”
“Of course!”
“I would look at you if you liked a man, who wouldn’t even look at you,” Terrence chuckles kindly. “You would be chasing him wherever he’d be, and do your best for him to pay attention to you, after all.”
“I’m not the one to blame for you to think that a girl would like being felt up and kissed a few minutes after meeting someone. If you behaved otherwise, my friend would probably think of a date with you. If you were much shyer and more decent.”
“It’s okay, even if I met failure then, I would meet luck the next time. I will not give up until that girl agrees to go on a date with me.”
“Aha, until she agrees to have sex with you.”
“I want to get more than just sex from Raquelle.”
“Ah, not only sex!”
“I wasn’t just shy about telling her a wish of all the men in the world,” Terrence replies confidently. “You think they really wanna spend time on dates and romantic? Any man would take that beauty to his bed without resistance!”
“If you suggested to me something like this, I would reject you at once. Just like my friend, Anna. She wouldn’t lie in bed with any man to stand in her way.”
“Maybe, you agree?” Terrence smiles slyly.
“No, MacClife, don’t even dream. I don’t lie in bed with everyone. Anyone to stand in my way.”
“By the way, you’re a very gorgeous and attractive girl. And Anna is sweet. You two are not worse than Raquelle.”
“Do you think you’d get off me by making me compliments? Do you think you’d make me softer by telling me beautiful words?”
“Just telling the truth.”
“Remember, you owe me after I had to have such a hard adventure with you.”
“You could ask me anything you want if I found Raquelle and talked to her.”
Natalia says nothing and just chuckles quietly. Silence settles in the air for some time, during which she and Terrence walk together on the streets of the city but look at different sides and think about something, seeing there are many enough people that are going somewhere to do their business.
“Hey, how long ago did you meet Raquelle’s aunt the last time?” Terrence asks.
“Very long ago…” Natalia confesses. “When Raquelle and I were kids and somehow spent our holidays with Alicia.”
“Did you visit that woman in London?”
“Aha. My parents planned to go somewhere together and leave me alone for a long time. So, Raquelle’s grandfather and aunt came to help us by agreeing to watch me with pleasure. Besides, I didn’t reject my friend’s suggestion to spend holidays in London.”
“Did you actually often meet her?” Terrence asks.
“Alicia? No, not very much! Maybe, I would meet her much more if she lived in the USA. But alas, Raquelle says she didn’t often come to visit her because she wasn’t so rich to fly as if New York and London were located on the opposite side of the street.”
“Okay.”
“But Alicia is a very good woman. Very kind and caring… Quite funny, active…”
“Really?”
“I still remember she could cook every well.”
“That’s how?”
“We could literally overeat delicious food that the woman could cook.”
“Great,” Terrence smiles shyly.
“I still can’t forget the baking she was making. She was incredible at it. Even if my mother cooks not much worse and makes Dad and me admired with her dishes.”
“You are teasing me, to be honest.” Terrence claps his stomach slightly with his hand. “My stomach is grumbling.”
“Well, close your mouth, pretty boy, and forget about cakes and pies,” Natalia says confidently. “You should think about how to explain to Cameron why you are the fuck chasing her wherever she is, not about chocolate donuts.”
“C’mon! I would be happy to eat a couple of them! And I actually love eating much and well.”
“You will do it later.”
“Okay, later! When we find out if Raquelle is where her aunt is, I will be able to please myself a little.”
“I hope they won’t refuse to accept me…” Natalia sighs quietly. “I’m going to visit them without the invitation. They don’t know I arrived in London.”
“Why not.”
“I think Alicia already forgot me and wouldn't remember who I am.”
“Why?” Terrence wonders truly. “What if your friend often tells her about you and a second friend of you?”
“I dunno,” Natalia shrugs. “But I think Alicia won't call the memories about me now. The last time we met happened many years ago.”
“Oh, c’mon, Rochester!” Terrence waves her hand. “It’s impossible to forget you!”
“Me? Impossible to forget?”
“You’re a girl with a very memorable look. A beauty without weaknesses, who you could usually see in movies and books, and who definitely has something attractive. Something that makes you differ from others.”
“Gonna think it’s a compliment.”
“Just telling you what I think about.”
“Oh, MacClife, you’re imitable…” Natalia smiles shyly.
“M-m-m, you noticed it right.”
“Now I understand why so many girls get a crush on you so easily. You probably tell them tons of compliments, and they get pleasure and literally purr like kittens when they get their bellies or heads petted.”
“Not only that, my darling,” Terrence replies confidently with his head proudly raised. “It’s impossible not to fall in love with Terrence MacClife.”
“Come on!”
“Nobody has been able to stay indifferent to such a gorgeous man like me.”
“Yeah…” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully. “My poor friend… She stood in the way of the selfish donkey…”
“Yeah?”
“She’s gonna have to deal with the one, who definitely suffers from a mild form of narcissism. Whose heart stops every time he sees his reflection in the mirror.”
“Yeah, I am handsome,” Terrence smiles widely. “I could say I’m Apollo!”
“I can’t deny it. Because you’re really good-looking and hot. Even if you’ve got a terrible character.”
“Why is it terrible?”
“It is!”
“You know, I’m personally not envying your friend, who befriends such a beautiful but very hard girl.”
“What?” Natalia resents, opening her mouth slightly. “Why am I hard?”
“As if you don’t know!”
“What do you mean?”
“Tell me, Natalia…” Terrence moves his eyes sharply to Natalia. “Answer my question… Have you ever fought with Raquelle?”
“Have I ever fought with Raquelle?” Natalia specifies.
“Have you had misunderstanding and serious fights, which could be the reason why you could be mad for a very long time?”
“Erm…” Natalia says nothing for two seconds. “Nope… We’ve never fought.”
“So, never?” Terrence wonders.
“Erm… Of course… Sometimes… We may argue about something. Especially when it’s about fashion and boys… But we’ve never had serious fights.”
“Have you never fought for one man?”
“Nope. Cameron has never stolen men from me, and I’ve never done it to her.” Natalia chuckles kindly. “I mean, I would not do… Because our beloved Raquelle is as clean and innocent as an angel and doesn’t know anything about love things.”
“It’s amazing…” Terrence shakes his head.
“We can fight only because of some stuff. But it happens very rarely.”
“Okay…” Terrence laughs shyly. “I was sure your friend would barely stand your character and sometimes shakes you up enough.”
“Think what you want, pretty boy, but the friendship of the brunette and I is unbreakable,” Natalia says confidently with her head proudly raised. “Even despite my temper, we’ve always gotten on well with each other.”
“Yeah, as it turned out, you’re a lady with hot blood,” Terrence nods with a quiet laugh. “I made sure about it personally.”
“Okay, I admit it…” Natalia raises her hands up. “I don't really have the best character.”
“That’s good you admit it,” Terrence notices.
“But I’m very good. I love my close people, am loyal to them, would always come to help, try to comfort them… I am a wonderful friend and would be the best sweetheart for the one I would fall in love with.”
“At least talking to you is a pleasure to me.” Terrence chuckles kindly. “When you’re quiet and happy.”
“Calm down, I ain’t gonna bite you,” Natalia smiles shyly. “Besides, I quickly calm down even if I get mad.”
“So, I got off you after we finally arrived at the hotel at the right time.”
“Maybe.”
Natalia fixes her hair, which got slightly disheveled because of the mild, cold wind. And at some moment, she looks at Terrence a little shamelessly, while he puts his hands in the pockets of his black coat.
“Hey, Terrence…” Natalia pronounces a little hesitantly with sadness in her eyes. “You… Forgive me for behaving not very well when we were going to arrive here… And when we did it…”
“It’s okay, I’m not mad,” Terrence replies amicably. “Don’t think about it…”
“I swear, I didn’t wanna hurt you… And make you think I’m bad and capricious…”
“Don’t apologize, Natalia. It’s okay.”
“I was just excited after everything we had to get through. And you decided to join me… So, I snapped, whined, and complained about my life…”
“I got it.”
“Listen, I’m really sorry for you. I’m sorry it all happened.”
“C’mon, I get it.” Terrence moves a little strand of hair off his eyes. “Honestly, I also wanted to explode after such a long, exhausting flight. I was terribly tired when we barely left the airport. You know how much I wanted to scream at someone! And you were making me nervous…”
“I know…” Natalia pronounces shyly. “Forgive me, please… I’m really very sorry…”
“Don’t worry, blondie, it’s okay,” Terrence replies confidently, clapping Natalia on the shoulder. “The important thing is that we went on different sides at the right time and didn’t kill each other after we arrived at the hotel.”
“That’s right.”
“Besides, I must admit that I don’t have a too discreet character.”
“Are you admitting that you’re by far not perfect?”
“Sometimes I do something that makes me ashamed later. As they say, first, I do, and then I think.”
“But aren’t you really mad at me?”
“Of course, not. You can calm down and relax.”
“Really?”
“Be quiet. Let’s think nothing bad happened.”
“Oh…” Natalia smiles shyly and exhales sharply. “Damn, Terrence, you really made me happy! Now I at least don’t feel guilty of you.”
“Don’t do,” Terrence smiles shyly. “Because everything is alright now.”
“I really don’t know what got obsessed with me.”
“Okay, forgot. The important thing is that we did what we wanted. We arrived in London.”
“It would be great if our suffering was worth all of that.”
“I’m sure we’re gonna take our desired award, early or late.”
Natalia smiles shyly, says nothing for two seconds, and thinks about something. And then she moves her eyes to the high building, which she and Terrence almost came to.
“Oh, it seems like we’ve come,” Natalia says thoughtfully. “The familiar of Alicia meant this building.”
“Close enough,” Terrence notices.
“That man wasn’t wrong. Because I’m starting to call the memories of these places.”
“Great! So, you weren’t wrong with the address.”
“I would definitely find this building by myself, without any hints.”
“So, in this case, go. Check if your friend is really here.”
“Hey, are you gonna stay here and wait?”
“Yes, I will.”
“I don’t understand why you need it. You aren’t gonna go there.”
“But I wanna wait for you and find out what you would find out about Raquelle.”
“I am not going to tell Cameron you’re looking for her.”
“Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna go to the home of her aunt.”
“That’s how? So, how are you gonna talk to my friend then?”
“I’m planning to catch her somewhere in the city so far.”
“Do you hope she won’t think you’re chasing her? Do you think Cameron would believe this is just a little coincidence?”
“Who knows. Anyway, I won’t really go there.”
“But why did you go with me then?”
“To find out where your willful friend is living now.”
“Oh, go to hell!” Natalia exhales sharply. “If you want, wait for me here. Sit on the bench.”
“Great!”
“If I’m not back in a half hour, it means I will stay with Raquelle and her aunt. And they wouldn’t be happy to see you.”
“Deal!”
“I’m coming then.”
“Good luck!”
“Aw, thanks…”
Natalia quickens a step and enters the building, to which she came, some time later, while Terrence stays outside and just watches her. On the way, the girl starts to look around with interest and notices just fewer people, who go by her and do not pay attention to the blonde.
Natalia goes up to the eighth floor quickly enough in the elevator, where she is being all alone, and starts to search for the apartment she needs because there are quite many of them here. However, the girl does not do this for too long and finally sees the door with the right number some time later and comes to the one, understanding she still clearly remembers these places and easily orientates here.
After hesitating a little, Natalia rings the doorbell two times and starts to patiently wait for someone to open the door.
“Wow…” Natalia says quietly and thoughtfully under her nose, leaning on the wall with her hip while waiting for a reaction. “Nothing has really changed. Everything is the same as it was at those times. Even if it's been a few years…”
Natalia cracks a slight smile.
“I still clearly remember where to go…” Natalia notices. “I can orientate here well and easily find all the shops and places where Raquelle and I were when spending time here together.”
Natalia thinks about something for a few seconds, but then finds out nobody is going to open the door.
“It’s weird, nobody is opening the door,” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully. “Is there nobody home? Did Alicia and Raquelle go somewhere?”
Natalia tries to ring the doorbell again with the hope that someone will open the door.
“Damn, it seems like nobody is really home…” Natalia concludes. “Nobody’s opening the door…”
Natalia exhales sharply.
“Did I come here for nothing?” Natalia asks. “Maybe, should have I come here at a different time? What if God doesn’t let my plans come true because I should’ve warned my friend about my arrival?”
Natalia shakes her head.
“Yes, I probably came here for nothing,” Natalia adds. “Okay then… But anyway, now I know I could find Raquelle here and would be back here at any time.”
Natalia stands in front of the door of Alicia’s apartment for a few seconds and decides to leave this place. But when she turns around and takes a few steps, the door against her suddenly opens, and Alexis shows up on the doorstep and gets a little tense when she sees the unfamiliar girl standing in front of the apartment of her neighbor and ringing the doorbell.
“Erm, e-excuse me…” Alexis pronounces with a little scare in her eyes.
Natalia quickly turns on the voice of Alexis.
“Erm, yeah?” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully.
“There is nobody at this apartment now,” Alexis says. “You are ringing the doorbell for nothing.”
“There is nobody?”
“Yes. I advise you to come here later.”
“Alright…” Natalia bites her lip slightly and thinks about something for two seconds. “Excuse me, Ms., is the woman named Alicia Middleton living here?”
“Yes, here…” Alexis shrugs. “But what?”
“Great! I need that woman!”
“Alicia? Do you need Alicia?”
“Yes, I would like to talk to her.”
“Erm…” Alexis’s eyes start running from one side to another, and she gets much tenser. “I am sorry, Ms., but Alicia is not home now.”
“No?” Natalia wonders. “But when will she come?”
“Sadly, I cannot say it… I do not know…”
“So… Sorry… Very sorry…”
“Excuse me for my curiosity, why do you need that woman? And who are you for her?”
“Erm…” Natalia bites her lip slightly. “How I could say it…”
“Maybe, I could help you somehow? If you need it, I can tell Mrs. Middleton everything you want to tell her.”
“You know, Ms.,” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully, tightly locking her fingers again. “I would actually like to talk not to Mrs. Middleton…”
“No? But who?”
“The case is that I’m looking for her niece… I know she’s living here, with her aunt…”
“Her niece?” Alexis rounds her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Erm… Do you mean Raquelle? Raquelle Cameron?”
“Yes, yes, I need Raquelle Cameron.”
“Wow!” Alexis pronounces with a slight smile. “I didn’t know someone was looking for Raquelle…”
“Say, is she really living at this apartment with her aunt?” Natalia asks. “Or is that girl living in a hotel?”
“No, no, Raquelle is living with Alicia. That woman would not let her live at a hotel. The room of that girl is always free in case she wants to visit her relative.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sadly, it’s impossible. As you understood, Raquelle is not here, too.”
“No?” Natalia rounds her eyes.
“Sorry.”
“Do you know when she’s back?”
“Do you need her so much?”
“Yes. I need to talk to her.”
“Erm…”
“Can I… Wait for her here? What if she comes back soon?”
“You know, Ms.…” Alexis bites her lip slightly. “Something bad happened here…”
“What’s wrong?” Natalia frowns slightly, not moving her eyes off Alexis. “Something happened to Raquelle? She got some problems?”
“The situation is hard enough…”
“My God…”
“It’s a… Long story…”
“But what happened to her? What are you so scared of?”
“Oh…” Alexis exhales sharply and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, trying to brace herself and calm down. “You know what… Come into the apartment. I will tell you everything…”
“Come into your apartment?” Natalia specifies.
“Yes, I am alone now because my mother went somewhere for her business.”
“Erm…”
“Come in, don’t be shy. I will quickly tell you everything.”
Alexis quickly steps back from the doorstep, inviting the unexpected visitor to go to her home. Natalia stands in the same place for two seconds and then crosses the doorstep, hesitantly looking around and noticing this apartment is much smaller than the one where the woman is living. There is not a very large hall, from which there is a way to one of two small rooms, the bathroom or the kitchen.
“Alicia’s apartment is much larger than this one…” Natalia thinks. “She’s got a larger one… And I’ve never seen that girl before… I wonder, how long has she lived here? And why didn’t I see her before? I vaguely remember some of Alicia’s neighbors, and I even welcomed someone. But that girl didn’t surely live here at that time…”
Meanwhile, Alexis locks the hall door and comes to Natalia, who looks around with interest and asks herself who the girl, who is living opposite Alicia, is.
“Erm…” Alexis stutters. “Let’s go to my room and talk there.”
Alexis makes a gesture to invite Natalia to go to her room. Which is quite comfortable and light, but not very large. The girl always keeps it in order and never throws her stuff everywhere. Her bed is perfectly done, and there is nothing unnecessary on her bed except something she needs.
“Sit on the bed, Ms., don’t be shy,” Alexis says to Natalia, pointing at her bed.
Meanwhile, Natalia keeps looking around and rating the atmosphere in Alexis's room, which she really likes.
“Maybe, you want something?” Alexis suggests gently. “Tea? Coffee? Water?”
“Erm, no, no, thanks, I need nothing,” Natalia refuses and sits on the bed, putting her purse near her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, yes, I am sure.”
“Alright then.”
A few seconds later, Alexis takes a chair, on which she usually sits at the writing table, and sits down in front of Natalia, who cannot wait to know everything that happened to Raquelle and Alicia.
“Excuse me, Ms., do you know Alicia well?” Natalia asks.
“Yes, very well,” Alexis confirms with a slight smile. “I am a neighbor of Alicia. My mother has befriended her for a long time and meets that woman sometimes. Here or there.”
“Alright…”
“Alicia, my mother, and I have such a good relationship that she gave us a duplicate of keys from her apartment.”
“That’s how!”
“She cannot watch everything because she works and gets very exhausted.”
“Alright…”
“But I help her a little more than my mother does.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… Erm… I cook, clean, wash clothes and go to a shop… Buy something…”
“So, are you someone like a servant?”
“No, I just help her for our good relationship. Besides, I have nothing to do. So, I take care of that woman and help her do homework.”
“Are you so close?” Natalia wonders.
“I love Alicia like my second mother. She’s a wonderful woman with a kind heart, who took care of me when I was a kid.”
“That’s how!”
“Sadly, my parents are divorced. Mother and I live together. She has to work hard to feed me and her. So, when I was a kid, she asked Alicia to watch me. And she spent time with me with pleasure.”
“So, is this how you thank her?”
“I could say so.”
“Alright…” Natalia moves her eyes aside for a second. “Excuse me, what’s your name? Let’s introduce ourselves to each other.”
“With pleasure…” Alexis says nothing for two seconds. “My name is Alexis. Alexis Milton. But all my friends and close people call me just Lexi.”
“Nice to meet you, Lexi,” Natalia nods with a slight smile. “My name is Natalia Rochester. I am a childhood friend of Raquelle.”
“Nice to meet you, Natalia,” Alexis pronounces amicably and shakes Natalia by the hand to welcome her.
“So, would you tell me what happened here? Where Raquelle and her aunt Alicia are, and how I would find them.”
“Yeah, sure,” Alexis smiles shyly. “As I promised, I will tell you everything…”
“I’m listening to you closely,” Natalia says confidently, folding her hands in front of her.
“Alright… So…” Alexis says nothing for a second and clears her throat. “As you know, I am Alicia Middleton’s neighbor. I help her do homework, often visit her, and do everything she asks me about. Mother and I often visit her and talk about everything with a cup of coffee.”
“Yes, yes, I got it,” Natalia nods confidently.
“So…” Alexis says nothing for two seconds and bites her lip slightly. “Some time ago, her niece Raquelle arrived here to visit her.”
“Were you there at that moment?” Natalia specifies.
“Yes, I went to Alicia’s home and helped her do homework. Did something in the kitchen. But when I did everything, I came to that woman to let her know everything was done. And then I saw that girl… Alicia introduced us to each other, but we…”
Alexis says nothing for two seconds, biting her lip slightly.
“We barely talked…” Alexis adds hesitantly. “Because she went to her room to sort her things out and have a rest after a long flight. So, Alicia and I were cooking the dinner.”
“I guess you know what made her come here?” Natalia asks carefully.
“I know. She was slandered by someone, who charged her for allegedly having constant hysterics on the set and being rude to those she worked with. She suspects it was the work of one actor, even if there is no proof of that. However, Raquelle is absolutely sure that the actor was the one to do it.”
“Yes, yes, I’m aware,” Natalia nods.
“So…” Alexis tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “She came to visit her aunt to forget about her problems, at least for a while. She wanted to ride out the storm, so to say.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“But sadly, she didn’t have a rest. Because she got problems literally on the first day of living here.”
“What?” Natalia frowns slightly.
“The case is that Alicia was behaving very strangely for a long time. She was restless and worried about something… She was kind of afraid of something or someone.”
“Oh, my God…”
“I knew what was happening to her but said nothing to Raquelle because Alicia banned me from doing that. That woman didn’t want her niece to meddle in her business. She wanted her to come to herself after what happened and not to think about her problems.”
“Does Alicia have some problems?” Natalia rounds her eyes.
“Yes, that woman got involved in a very bad story.”
“What story?”
“The case is…” Alexis nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Someone threatened that woman. A woman… She annoyed her almost literally every day.”
“Threatened?” Natalia specifies.
“Yes…” Alexis falls into silence for two seconds, glances aside, swallows up nervously, and exhales slowly. “The threats were serious enough… She was literally wanted to be killed…”
“Killed?” Natalia wonders.
“Yes.”
“But why? Who could threaten her?”
“Alicia got threats from one rich woman, who told her to pay a lot of money. But because Raquelle’s aunt refused to agree to do this, that woman started to openly terrify her in all possible ways.”
“Does she want to kill her because of the money?” Natalia wonders.
“Exactly,”
“But what did Alicia do if someone wants to get the money out of her?”
“She hit a little child with a car at the age of nineteen.”
“What?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “Alicia? Hit the child?”
“Yes, the girl. But it happened accidentally. My neighbor didn’t just manage to stop in time. She got busy with something.”
“Is that girl alive?”
“Yes, thank God, she’s alive, but she got a lot of traumas and hasn’t still recovered fully.”
“And how is she connected with Eleanor?”
“She’s her best friend, And her father somehow gave a very large amount of money to the family of Ines, the girl I mean, for therapy and recovery. They weren’t allowed to do it, but Eleanor’s father agreed to help them.”
“So, does it happen that they demand the money back?”
“It happens. But her best friend demands it, not the family of the suffered girl. And she demands it from the one, who was guilty of that event.”
“But did Alicia help that girl somehow?”
“Nope, Alicia was so scared that she just ran away.”
“Ran away?” Natalia rounds her eyes.
“She didn’t wanna pay for the consequences and go to prison in the case of Ines’ death. Moreover, one of the people, who surrounded the girl, scared my neighbor by saying they couldn’t feel her pulse.”
“My gosh…” Natalia shakes her head. “What a twist…”
“Alicia is still regretting being so stupid and irresponsible. She had been asking herself for many years about what happened to that girl. And Eleanor contacted her recently and let her know that her friend was alive, but she wasn’t able to live a normal life anymore.”
“So, hasn’t Alicia served her punishment for that case?”
“Nope, the family of the suffered girl dropped the charges off and did not demand anything from her. Even though the police knew the number of Alicia’s car and all the information about its owner.”
“My gosh… They called the memories about it more than ten years later.”
“That family no longer thinks about the situation with Ines. But Eleanor forgot nothing and did not give up on the opportunity to get all the money that her father lent out of Alicia.”
“And how does Alicia have so much money?”
“She doesn’t. She refused to pay because she’s never seen as much money as that woman demanded.”
“And what’s gonna happen?”
“As I’ve said, Eleanor started to threaten her and say that she would get what she wants anyway.”
“Oh, gosh…”
“So, three days ago, Eleanor Woodham, the woman I mean, kidnapped Alicia in the daylight.”
“Kidnapped Alicia?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “Come on?”
“I mean, her people did, not her. They caught that woman somewhere, pushed her in a car, and took her away nobody knows where.”
“My God…” Natalia puts her hand on her heart.
“And two days later, that woman told Raquelle to come to her home with some money…”
“As I see, that woman knows much about my friend.”
“Very much.”
“You said that woman is rich,” Natalia frowns slightly.
“And she is well known here, in England.”
“That’s how!”
“In the 80s, the late father of Eleanor Woodham opened a few shops, which are still giving good money to their family. The Woodhams have very good contacts and enough money… Many people fear them and treat them with respect. I mean, it’s about the old generation. The young one doesn’t know anything about them. Or they know them briefly.”
“I’ve personally never heard the name of that woman,” Natalia shrugs.
“They’re not almost discussed abroad, but they’re known literally to everyone in England,” Alexis says confidently.
“Alright…”
“The death of the owner of those shops was the event people talked much about. I was about six when they started to talk about it on TV shows. But I clearly remember that.”
“You say, Eleanor Woodham kidnapped Alicia and told Raquelle to give her money for her freedom?”
“Exactly! And now Alicia’s niece went to the meeting alongside the policemen.”
“How long did she do?” Natalia frowns slightly.
“It’s been about two hours. But I still have no news about what’s happening to Raquelle and Alicia.”
“Wow…”
“And honestly, I’m getting more and more excited. That woman is crazy… She is obsessed with strong hate for Alicia…”
What she hears makes Natalia shocked and very nervous. She completely understands a serious danger is now threatening Raquelle and can assume this story might be over very badly if the worst events happened.
“I can’t believe it…” Natalia pronounces in a shaking voice and shakes her head with her mouth closed with her hand. “My God… God… My friend got involved in a dangerous game…”
“Very dangerous,” Alexis agrees with sadness in her eyes. “If something goes wrong, that girl might die. As well as her aunt.”
“How awful…” Natalia puts her hand on her forehead.
“Since that woman is so vengeful that she kidnapped the person because she wasn’t able to pay a lot of money to her, she can really go much further and kill someone… If she hasn’t done it yet…”
“My God, please, don’t say that!” Alexis begs. “I shake from thinking it might happen.”
“Me too…” Natalia pronounces quietly and thoughtfully, running her hand through her hair. “It’s horrible… My God… I can’t believe that girl got involved in all of that… And she went to that meeting…”
“I’m scared because she hasn’t told me any pieces of news. Before leaving, Raquelle promised to call me and let me know how everything would be. But she hasn’t called and sent me at least one SMS.”
“But thank God, she went there not alone but with the police. There’s hope that she will have protection and hope for salvation…”
“Right… And she would’ve gone there alone if I hadn’t persuaded her to go to the police.”
“But it doesn’t also mean nothing will happen to her. Because sometimes things might go wrong.”
“Believe me, I am also worried about them very much,” Alexis says with sadness in her eyes. “And I pray that Raquelle and Alicia come back home as soon as possible.”
“It seems like that woman is really very dangerous.”
“Eleanor could do anything to reach her goal.”
“My God, she is really crazy!” Natalia exclaims. “Is she literally ready to cut the throat because of one thing!”
“Erm… You know…” Alexis bites her lip slightly. “The case might not be only about that…”
“What?” Natalia wonders.
“Eleanor said she swore to take revenge for some events that happened in the past by dealing with Alicia and then Raquelle.”
“What does Raquelle have to do with it?”
“I don’t know it, either. She’s done anything bad to Eleanor and didn’t even know her. So… Alicia is the only one to stand in her way somehow.”
“But why does that woman want to take revenge on Raquelle and her aunt?” Natalia wonders. “What did Alicia do if she was kidnapped and could easily be killed as well as Raquelle?”
“I swear, Ms., I don’t know the real reason. I know only the fact that there’s something terrible why that woman is actually revenging. The case is not only about the refusal to pay her the money. It’s one of the reasons. Not the most important one.”
“Is everything really so serious?”
“I guess so. If that woman has gone so far.”
“What do you think it could be? How could Alicia hurt Eleanor to make her kidnap her and wish to kill her and Raquelle?”
“I don’t know. But I am sure Raquelle definitely knows something about it.”
“Do you think Raquelle knows the real reason for this hell?” Natalia frowns slightly.
“I am sure she knows. But she doesn’t wanna tell me anything.” Alexis shrugs. “I don’t know… Maybe, she just thinks it’s personal… Doesn’t have to do with me…”
“But why are you so sure she knows something?” Natalia asks.
“Raquelle doesn’t actually hide that she knows something. Besides, she couldn’t stop finding out something and folding the puzzles she had. I am sure she managed to find something that could be something like a real reason for that woman’s revenge.”
“My God…” Natalia pronounces and puts her hand on her forehead, starting to nervously twist around the bed. “Did she decide to get involved in this business at her wish?”
“Yeah, but I think she would be involved in that anyway.”
“Yeah?”
“Eleanor would’ve made her come to the meeting anyway. And she would’ve told her what her aunt did somehow.”
“At least, I am happy she went to the meeting with the police.”
“Raquelle didn’t wanna agree to report to the police for a long time and believed she would deal with Eleanor and rescue Alicia by herself. But I barely made her sure that woman would not be stopped by anything. And her words about the funeral of the girl that would happen if she took the police with her were just a bluff.”
“You did the right thing!” Natalia replies confidently. “Because Raquelle would not really have done that alone. She needed someone’s help.”
“If she had gone to the meeting alone, I would’ve been much more worried. Eleanor would’ve dealt with Alicia and avoided the punishment that would have been waiting for her.”
“Right, Lexi, right. You should not have let her go alone. It would be much better to go there with the police.”
“Luckily, a very smart and level-headed man is investigating this case. He was questioning me and Raquelle for a long time when I called the police here and made Raquelle sure to report the kidnapping.”
“Do you think they would do this?”
“I would like to believe, Ms. But I am really worried. It’s been a little more than two hours, but I still know nothing about Raquelle and Alicia.”
“How do you know how to contact the one to run this operation?” Natalia asks.
“I know. And I shall surely call him if Raquelle doesn’t show up in a few hours.”
“But if these things are happening, how do I meet Raquelle then?”
“Sadly, I can’t help you in this case…” Alexis shakes her head with sadness in her eyes. “I don’t know when it’s all over… I don’t know if Raquelle and Alicia would stay alive. Whether they actually come back home…”
“No, Lexi, please, don’t say that! I don’t even want to think about it!”
“But it’s true, Natalia. Eleanor Woodham might not get scared by the police and might easily kill Raquelle and Alicia right before their eyes. She could tell her big guys, who are working for her as bodyguards, to deal with them. And the police will be able to do nothing.”
“Damn!” Natalia swears. “I thought I’d finally talk to her after coming to London. But no… The hell is happening here…”
“Do you need to meet that girl so badly?”
“Yeah, I would really like to know how my friend is doing.”
“Excuse me, as I understand, are you not a local one?”
“Nope, I came here from the USA,” Natalia smiles shyly.
“Wanted to visit Raquelle?”
“Yeah, I was worried she didn’t think of me and her grandfather. So, I thought a little and decided to go to London.”
“Some time before Christmas?”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t you want to stay home and spend time with your family?”
“I hope I will be back home by the holidays.”
“Hardly. Christmas is coming in a few days.”
“Anyway, my parents didn’t mind when I told them I wanted to go to London to find my friend and find out how she was doing.”
“As I see, you and Raquelle are very close to each other.”
“We’re like sisters,” Natalia smiles shyly. “We’ve been friends since we were eleven and adore each other with all the heart.”
“You know, Raquelle and I talked about you,” Alexis confesses.
“About me?”
“Yeah. I recently fought with my friend and was worried about it. So, Raquelle decided to tell me about you. Her best friend, who she loves very much.”
“Wow…”
“That’s so good there are such amazing friends like you and Raquelle.”
“Why I couldn’t befriend a wonderful person, who’s done so much to me that spending my whole life wouldn’t be enough to thank her,” Natalia shrugs.
“The one you’ve known for ages.”
“Yeah… We met at school. And she became the only real friend of mine among those I was studying with.”
“Raquelle said she was humiliated by her schoolmates.”
“Right. But I never did it. I just said and did nothing. Because I had no reason to bully the girl like that. She did nothing bad to me, and I didn’t understand why I should’ve insulted and humiliated her as well as the other guys did.”
“You’re brave! You went against people to befriend the one that nobody loved.”
“Those people were evil, envying, and heartless.” Natalia shrugs. “Honestly, I got shocked when I met them and found out what they were. The guys, who I had studied with before, were much kinder and sweeter.”
“But why did you go to a different school?” Alexis asks.
“It happened.”
“Okay…”
“Yes, I felt very sorry for Raquelle. But I couldn’t go against the guys for a long time because I was afraid they would bully me. But… Somehow, I gave a damn about them and decided to get closer to Raquelle. Friendship with her helped me understand that I no longer wanted to communicate with such terrible people. And I sacrificed it.”
“And aren’t you regretting it?”
“Not at all,” Natalia shakes her head. “It’s one of the best decisions of mine. Thanks to which I got a sis. I got a close friend, who would always support me. Who would never leave me in trouble and always help me with everything she can do.”
“Does she probably complain much about the family that wants to marry her off as soon as possible?”
“It’s true. Raquelle has been tortured with this question since she turned eighteen. Her grandfather and aunt hoped she would get a high education, get married to a good man, give birth to many children, and be the best wife and mother in the world. But it happened otherwise. Raquelle got busy with a modeling career, quit her studies at the university, and doesn’t even want to think of marrying and giving birth.”
“So, has Raquelle really never had a relationship?”
“Really, really!” Natalia exclaims cheerfully. “But it’s time for the girl to have a relationship and get married, but she delays it and worries about her career. That’s why her family is worried more and more. They are worried our clean and innocent beauty is still unmarried and rejects those, who propose her to marry.”
“Listen, what do you think of her conflict with Terrence MacClife?” Alexis frowns slightly.
“Terrence? Do you know it?”
“Yup. Raquelle told me they fought on the photoshoot together. And she’s charging him for spreading those false rumors about her.”
“Do you believe it could be the truth?”
“Not quite, honestly. Terrence is such a good and kind man. He’s always so nice to his fans, and the media says no sad word about him.”
“But I think he could have something to do with what happened,” Natalia says confidently.
“But why does Terrence need it?”
“Well… He could get mad because Cameron rejected him. And gave him slaps after he accosted her and gave her the first kiss in her life.”
“Come on?” Alexis wonders loudly. “Raquelle shared a kiss with Terrence?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
“Nope, she didn’t tell me the most interesting thing!”
“Yeah, that selfish, handsome guy stole the first kiss from my friend.”
“Wow… I didn't know… Didn’t know…”
“I didn’t lie! I told you the truth.”
“Oh, yeah!” Alexis smiles shyly, closing her mouth with her hand. “What interesting news! Cameron told me nothing about the fact that her communication with MacClife was much more interesting.”
“That’s right…”
“Listen, isn’t she really in love with him?”
“Anything might happen…” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully. “After talking to her for a long time, I managed to make Raquelle confess she really liked everything he did to her. And her first kiss was very good for her.”
“My God, how could she actually resist such a gorgeous man? He is God! Apollo! The hottest and most handsome guy I have ever seen.”
“I must confess that he is really a walking sex machine,” Natalia smiles slyly.
“It’s impossible not to fall in love with Terrence MacClife!”
“Raquelle couldn’t resist. But she will never confess it. She is going to deny the fact that she liked him until the end.”
“But why did she reject him?”
“She didn’t like the fact that he was rude to her and accosting her.”
“I would like to know what Terrence thinks of Raquelle… What he’s got in his mind… Whether he likes that girl.”
“Ugh, because of her behavior, he’s now ready to run after her like a tail!” Natalia chuckles loudly.
“What?”
“Do you know that he got a crush on her?”
“Come on? Are you serious?”
“But he doesn’t hide that he wants to take Cameron to his bed. But he is not indifferent to that girl anyway. MacClife got a crush on her and wants to do his best to make her his girlfriend.”
“Wait, how do you know it?” Alexis frowns slightly.
“I met him one day before I went to London.”
“Met?”
“Yup, my friend and I recognized him and decided to make him explain the situation of the false rumors about her friend. So, we got busy with the talk, and he confessed he was ready for anything to make that beauty pay attention to him.”
“Wow…” Alexis smiles mysteriously.
“Besides, he didn’t hide his jealousy when Cameron was surrounded by men and told compliments on the photoshoot. MacClife was literally burning from evil. He resented that my friend paid attention to everyone but him.”
“Maybe, was that her tactic of seducing?”
“Maybe… Maybe, she really wanted to make him a little nervous. However, that handsome guy also made her nervous when girls ran to him, as well as bees get attracted to honey.”
“Yeah… I will not believe it if she says it wasn’t her tactic of seducing that man.”
“Anyway, they got each other nervous. And they barely finished working on the together photoshoot.”
“I’m interested in seeing the result of their work.”
“I think an issue with photos of them will be released in a few months. Everyone will see what those, who did not stand for each other, could show.”
“Listen, you really surprised me!” Alexis exclaims. “I never thought everything was actually much more interesting than it seemed.”
“Yeah, that’s the story!”
“I wonder, does he really have to do with spreading those terrible rumors? Or is this a lie?”
“Who knows, Lexi…” Natalia replies thoughtfully. “MacClife categorically denies his fault and says he knows the name of the real one to blame for that situation.”
“The name of the real one to blame?”
“Yeah, but I am letting you know that I don't know who that is.”
“Terrence doesn’t say?”
“Nope, he says he wants to tell Raquelle everything first. Make her sure he is innocent and tell her who actually did all of that.”
“Something tells me she wouldn’t listen to him. Raquelle is definitely really mad at Terrence.”
“I’ve told him that millions of times. But it didn’t stop MacClife. And to reach his goal, he even went to London to find her and talk about the current situation.”
“What?” Alexis wonders loudly. “Terrence MacClife is here? In London?”
“Yes.”
“Did you help him find her?”
“Nope, I don’t have to do with it. Terrence found out where Raquelle was by himself. He was told by someone to see her going to board the airplane to London.”
“Did you come here together?”
“Yeah, but he went after me by himself. I was actually planning to go here alone.”
“Did you meet at the airport?”
“Exactly! I was quietly waiting for the board on the airplane when that handsome guy came to me at some moment and persuaded me to take him to my company. He felt it was kind of boring flying alone. Even if I was praying that we didn’t end up together in the same airplane until the end,”
Natalia falls into silence for two seconds.
“But we eventually ended up on the same airplane and in the same hotel,” Natalia adds thoughtfully and cracks a slight smile. “Erm… Thank God, we at least have different rooms. Which are far from one another. I would really hang myself in the opposite case!”
“Wow…” Alexis pronounces thoughtfully. “That guy is headstrong! He keeps moving on until the end.”
“Yeah… The poor Raquelle got into trouble because of that idiot. She can’t get off him.”
“Anyway, I can’t personally blame that man for something because there is no proof for his fault.”
“It’s alright, we will see. But I would like to believe Terrence will prove his innocence. Because…” Natalia glances aside and smiles shyly. “I’ve always loved Terrence MacClife as an actor. He’s so handsome… Tall, thin, confident… Just a man of the dream! I wouldn’t like him to be so terrible. And… Be able to do such a mean thing to my best friend.”
“Let’s say nothing now and wait for a while,” Alexis suggests. “Early or late, the situation would be solved. Or maybe, the one to blame for the current situation would reveal themselves and explain why they did it.”
“Let’s hope.”
“But we better think about it later. At first, we should get some news about Raquelle and Alicia. Find out if the police manage to get Eleanor Woodham arrested and not to let her do anything to them.”
“And yeah, Lexi, I would like to ask you about one little plea.”
“Which?”
“Please, don’t tell Raquelle that Terrence is now in London,” Natalia says. “And don’t say a word about me, as well.”
“Don’t tell?”
“Yes. First, she wouldn’t like the fact that the man is literally chasing her wherever she is. And second, I think I should’ve called her and warned her about my arrival in England.”
“By the way, Raquelle somehow said she tried to call you, but your number was not available.”
“She called me?”
“Yes, she said it.”
“I don’t know…” Natalia shrugs. “I was probably on the airplane and turned off my phone. But I would’ve seen her missed call anyway. However, I did not see anything. No calls.”
“Then call her yourself. I’m sure Raquelle would be very happy to see her best friend and find out she’s come to London for her.”
“I think God doesn’t let me meet her because He thinks I should warn Raquelle about my arrival. It was kind of wrong to come here without the invitation and warning.”
“No, I think it just happened. You didn’t know Eleanor Woodham kidnapped Alicia and told Raquelle to come to the meeting with her.”
“Anyway, I’m very glad you made everything clear.”
“Let’s hope everything will be alright.”
“Yeah, I want to believe it would be over in a good way, and Raquelle and Alicia would be back home soon.”
“If you want, you can leave me your mobile number, so I can contact you when I know something about them. I don’t know… Call you or send you a message.”
“Great idea!”
“Write it somewhere in this notebook…”
Alexis gives Natalia a notebook and a pen, which she takes from the writing table placed near her.
“Alright…” Natalia pronounces. “Let me write…”
Natalia takes the notebook and the pen and writes her phone number on one of the pieces. Then the girl gives these things to Alicia’s neighbor, who closely looks at what is written with beautiful and careful enough handwriting.
“Thanks,” Alexis pronounces. “I will surely contact you when I know something about your friend and her aunt.”
“I will be impatiently waiting for any pieces of news,” Natalia promises.
“Erm…” Alexis thinks for two seconds. “You know what… Take my phone number! I will write it now.” Alexis quickly writes a phone number in the same notebook. “If I don’t manage to reach you, call me yourself… I’m always on the line.”
A few seconds later, Alexis tears a piece of paper with her number out of the notebook and gives it to Natalia, who quickly runs her eyes over what she sees.
“Thanks a lot, Lexi,” Natalia thanks gently with a slight smile. “Thank you so much… You helped me enough.”
“I’m happy to help you,” Alexis pronounces amicably.
“I’m asking you, say nothing to Raquelle about me or Terrence. She should not know about us from someone.”
“But how are you going to meet her?”
“If you tell me Raquelle is alright, I will try to call her tomorrow and tell her I’ve arrived in London. Ask her if I can go to Alicia’s home and talk to them.”
“But if you want, you can wait for her here.”
“No, Lexi, thanks. I will not impose on them. Raquelle and her aunt better have a rest and come to themselves. And then we will see.”
“Okay. Anyway, you can ask me for help. I would try to do everything I could.”
“Thanks, you’ve helped me enough by telling me everything that happened here. I am madly grateful to you for that.”
“I will not forget about your plea and will tell you when Raquelle is back here.”
“Yes, please. Or I would not calm down.”
“Don’t worry, Natalia, when she does, I will do.”
“Thanks a lot, Lexi. You’re just an angel.”
Alexis says nothing and just smiles shyly, while silence settles in the air for two seconds.
“Alright, I think I better leave…” Natalia says thoughtfully.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here?” Alexis asks.
“Yes, I am sure. It would be bad to impose on them right now. Let’s wait at least until tomorrow.”
“So, if you want it, I have no right to hold you,” Alexis shrugs with a slight smile on her face.
“Thank you again,” Natalia thanks amicably, taking her purse from the bed. “You’re very nice.”
“Nice to hear it.”
Natalia and Alexis get up from the bed and the chair respectively and quietly go to the hall door.
“Remember, Lexi, I count on your help,” Natalia recalls.
“Don’t worry, Natalia, I will surely tell you everything when it’s time,” Alexis replies confidently.
“It’s very important to me.”
“I know. I will do this as soon as possible.”
“Good. Thanks a lot again.”
Alexis quickly opens the hall door for Natalia to leave the apartment.
“Goodbye…” Natalia says goodbye.
“Goodbye…” Alexis pronounces a little thoughtfully.
Natalia leaves the apartment of Alexis, who closes the door after her, quickly enough and quietly comes to the hall, going down long halls and reflecting on everything she has found out from Alicia’s neighbor, who seemed a very good and sweet girl to her. When she comes to the one, the girl presses the button, waits for it to come, and enters the cabin, where there are some unfamiliar people. But they share a quick look and say nothing, while the elevator is going down and down.
When the door of the elevator opens, Natalia quietly leaves the cabin and goes some distance down the hall before she leaves the high building and ends up outside. The girl quickly notices Terrence, who is sitting on the bench and watching what’s happening around him. But when she comes closer to him, the man gets up, wishing to know just something about Raquelle.
“So what?” Terrence asks. “Did you find out something about Raquelle?”
“Yeah, I did,” Natalia nods confidently.
“You met her?”
“Nope, Alicia and she aren’t home now.”
“Aren’t home?”
“Sadly.”
“So, did they go to a shop? Or just to walk?”
“Nope, everything’s much harder.”
“What do you mean?” Terrence frowns slightly.
“I rang the doorbell several times, but nobody opened the door. And when I was gonna leave, a young girl came to me. She is living in the opposite apartment, and she introduced herself as Alicia’s neighbor.”
“And what?”
“I asked if I could talk to Raquelle and Alicia, but that girl said they weren’t there. And she told me something that made my hair stand.”
“Come on?”
“Raquelle’s aunt got some serious problems that my friend got involved in.”
“My gosh…” Terrence shakes his head. “Is everything so bad?”
“I’m afraid it’s bad. But not quite hopeless.”
“Tell me everything you found out. What did you hear from that girl?”
“Let’s walk in the city?” Natalia suggests. “I would tell you everything she said.”
“Maybe, we go to a café? Drink hot coffee or cocoa!”
“Okay, I agree. I saw the one where we could go right now.”
“Great! Let’s go then?”
“Yeah, we could walk on our feet. It’s not far from here.”
“Okay, let’s go. You would tell me what happened to Raquelle and her relative.”
“Let’s go.”
Terrence and Natalia turn around and go where they need to go, going to come to the nearest café to talk about everything Alexis said. On the way, the blonde starts telling the man everything she was told by the young girl while he gets shocked as well as she did and hopes everything would be over soon, and Raquelle and Alicia would come back home safe and sound and forget what happened to them forever.
***
The fight between Eleanor, Raquelle, and the police is still continuing. There are no signs that it will end at the nearest time. The evil lady does not even think of giving up, and the police cannot do anything because they have no guns that are still placed on the floor. They are able to impact her with words, but it does not give them any good results. More specifically, there is no result. Nevertheless, every one of them completely understands that they must do something as soon as possible because Eleanor may kill Raquelle and Alicia or run away somewhere with her bodyguards, the girl, and the woman. But the police cannot let the criminal keep staying free and doing her dirty tricks without getting a punishment. That’s why they are determined to get what they want and catch Eleanor in any way.
“Ms. Woodham, don’t you understand that the best decision for you would only be your agreement to go to the police station?” Alexander asks quietly, still keeping his hands raised in front of himself and trying not to lose hope on the good end of this operation.
“I will never give up!” Eleanor throws rudely, pointing the gun at all the policemen and Raquelle, who is scared and pale from fear, and whom she does not let go and does not let her run away and show resistance. “DO NOT EVEN DREAM!”
“You have no place to go. I repeat, your whole house, the whole territory, and the whole neighborhood are surrounded by our colleagues. Even if you try to run away, you will be caught anyway. You are in our trap and will not run away from us.”
“They will not catch me, Mr. Policeman, do not even dream. If I have to, I shall shoot all of you down to the FUCK! AND RUN AWAY FROM HERE WITH ALL MY PEOPLE!”
“Do not make your life or your situation much worse.”
“You stop hoping that I will go with you at my wish.”
“Give up, Eleanor, stop this snow right now.”
“NEVER!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs, raises Raquelle to her feet rudely by taking her under an arm, and puts her pistol against her temple. “DO NOT EVEN DREAM ABOUT IT!”
“Listen to me…”
“Eleanor Woodham is not going to sit in a rotten prison along with crazy cellmates. She will not pay for what she will never be sorry for.”
“Remember that a full recognition of your fault might make your sentence less severe and make it shorter.”
“I SAID I WOULD NOT GO TO PRISON!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs.
“You are making your life much worse.”
“I would rather die than be in that terrible place.”
“Eleanor…”
“I swear on the grave of my late father, the all-respected Gilbert Woodham, that I SHALL NOT GIVE UP ON YOU!”
“Listen…”
“The daughter of the most famous man in entire of England cannot go to prison. And she will not pay for what she will never regret.”
“Eleanor…” Alexander tries to come closer to Eleanor again. “Eleanor, listen to me…”
“Stay in the same place with your hand raised!” Eleanor shouts, pointing the pistol sharply at Alexander. “I shall shoot you down if you take one more step!”
“Why do you make everything harder?” Alexander wonders, glancing at Raquelle, who is shaking strongly from fear and crying bitterly at the realization of the hopelessness of this situation.
“BECAUSE I WANT TO TAKE REVENGE! TAKE REVENGE FOR THE DEATH OF MY BELOVED DAD!”
“Trust me, Ms., this revenge will not give you anything good, and the dead person will not come back to you.”
“I will decide what my revenge will give me.”
“You have got a chance to avoid a serious sentence if you stop and confess your fault.”
“NEVER! ELEANOR WOODHAM WILL NEVER CONFESS HER FAULT!”
“Eleanor, please, give up…” Raquelle begs in a quiet, shaking voice, still giving quiet sobs at times and being terribly scared because she is under a pistol put against her head, and Eleanor does not let her run and stop looking at her coldly.
“SHUT UP, CHICKEN!” Eleanor puts the pistol against Raquelle’s temple much tighter. “YOU ANNOYED ME WITH YOUR PUPPY SQUEAKS. WHICH WILL NOT HELP YOU ANYWAY!”
“It would be better for everyone…” Raquelle says hesitantly. “Do not destroy your life…”
“I GIVE A FUCK ABOUT EVERYONE! I DO CARE ONLY ABOUT MY BUSINESS! ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MY REVENGE COME TRUE AND KILL YOUR AUNT.”
“Eleanor…”
Raquelle makes a quiet sob, while her whole life and all the happy moments that went fast and suddenly run before her eyes, and she wants all of this to be over as soon as possible.
“No…” Raquelle begs with despair. “Don’t do this…”
“Ms. Woodham, let the girl go immediately and give up,” one of the policemen demands confidently.
“SHE WILL NOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs.
“We will not leave this place until we save this girl and her relative.”
“SO, YOU WILL ALL DIE HERE! I WILL NOT LET YOU STAY ALIVE! I WILL DEAL WITH ALL OF YOU BY ONE!”
“Give up, Ms.,” another policeman insists. “Listen to our colleague. Do not make your life worse.”
“I SHALL NOT GO WITH YOU! IF YOU WANT TO CATCH ME, KILL ME! I SHALL GIVE UP ONLY IN THIS CASE!”
“Stop, Eleanor, please…” Raquelle begs with pity in her eyes. “Give up…”
“Ha!”
Eleanor puts the pistol against Raquelle’s head much tighter and strongly grabs her by the hair, making the brunette wince and squeak from pain.
“Do you think I am so stupid and would give up on the police?” Eleanor wonders. “No! Sixteen years of planning my revenge cannot be worthless. AND THEY WILL NOT BE!”
“Please, give up…” Raquelle pronounces in a whisper and sniffs quietly. “I don’t want to die…”
“Fuck, shut up, you, stupid goose! And stop whining! I am sick of your snots and cries for free.”
“Eleanor…”
“Remember very well that you, idiot, will not avoid your fate. YOU WILL NOT DO IT! JUST LIKE YOUR AUNT, THAT BITCH, WHO KILLED MY CLOSE PERSON, WILL NOT!”
“Eleanor Woodham, stop this senseless fight,” Alexander demands confidently. “First, just let the girl go.”
“I WILL NOT DO IT! SHE WILL DIE! NO MATTER IF YOU WANT IT OR NOT, THE LIFE OF THIS BITCH WILL BE OVER!”
“Please, refuse to take revenge and give up on the police…” Raquelle begs again. “Nothing will be changed if you kill me and my aunt. Nothing will become the same… Your father will not come back from the dead. Never.”
“OH, SHIT, STOP SAYING ALL THE SAME BULLSHIT!” Eleanor grabs Raquelle by the hair much stronger, while the girl quietly cries from pain. “Nothing will be changed, nothing will be changed! IT WOULD BE! VERY MUCH! The killer of my father, who was acquitted by the judge, will finally die and be burning in hell alongside her beloved niece.”
“Do not dare to hurt my aunt,” Raquelle pronounces quietly in a much lower, rude voice with a great evil in her eyes, breathing heavily enough. “Or you will regret it much. You will have to pay a very high cost if I lose my relative because of you.”
“You will not have to grieve about each other for a long time, I promise. And your death will not be torturing – everything will happen very quickly. You two will feel nothing. Well, even If you do, it will be forgotten once and forever.”
“I did say you would pay me if something happened to my aunt! I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNPUNISHED!”
Raquelle tries to get out of Eleanor’s grip, but the woman sharply pulls her on herself and even squeezes her throat tightly.
“DO NOT MOVE, YOU, NIECE OF THE DIRTY SLUT!” Eleanor roars at the top of her lungs, while Raquelle suffers from a lack of air and tries to break free. “The niece, who took after her auntie.”
“I am not a slut…” Raquelle hisses through her teeth.
“Slut! The slut that went on the way that was checked by your aunt!”
“Do not make me mad!”
“Even if all your rich sugar daddies, who paid for your brilliant career, came here, I would not leave you alone. NOT FOR ANYTHING!”
“Do not dare to insult me!” Raquelle demands rudely. “AND DO NOT DARE TO INSULT MY AUNT ALICIA!”
“Now it’s clear who her niece took after. You did not definitely take after your mommy. You took after her sis. You decided to sell your body for a brilliant modeling career and great fame.” Eleanor smirks evilly. “One whore slept with men for money, and another lies in a bed with powerful men. You have reached nothing!”
“This is what YOU want to think!” Raquelle throws rudely with a heavy breath.
“This is what ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE thinks! The way in which you quickly built your career is not a secret.”
“It’s a lie!”
“That’s good at least one person has opened everyone’s eyes and told them what a nasty bitch you are.”
“Said by the nasty bitch!”
“You are taking a bad example, Cameron. Look, your aunt has not met a man and is now living her last minutes alone. Do you know why? Because nobody needs the one to jump from one bed to another at a young age.” Eleanor smirks evilly. “If you keep fucking all the men, you will not also meet an idiot, who would agree to be with the prostitute.”
“We will see it!” Raquelle exclaims. “We will see!”
Raquelle tries to break free and run away from Eleanor as far as possible, but the girl’s attempts to get out make the woman much madder, who is literally green from anger.
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET OUT!” Eleanor roars, grabbing Raquelle by the hair with a free hand, pulling the girl by it strongly and keeping her pistol against her head. “YOU DEFINITELY WANT ME TO SHOOT AT YOUR EMPTY HEAD!”
“I shall pull your hair out if you dare to insult me and my aunt again,” Raquelle threatens with evil in her eyes.
“Try! But you can do nothing. Because one slut will be destroyed, and then I shall deal with the second one.”
“We will see it!”
“Relax, baby, nobody will be grieving because of the death of pathetic prostitutes, who were ready to shake their naked ass before any rich and powerful man, who would give them all the best.”
“DO NOT DARE TO CALL MY AUNT A PROSTITUTE!” Raquelle shouts, tightly clenching her hands into fists. “DO NOT DARE!”
“You will have to admit that Alicia is a pathetic prostitute, who killed my father. You cannot deny it and keep covering your auntie when there is enough proof of that.”
“AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO HER AND FOR INSULTING AND HUMILIATING HER FOR NOTHING!”
Raquelle barely manages to get out of Eleanor’s grip and attacks her with fists. She grabs the woman tightly by the hair, drags her a little, gives her a couple of strong slaps in the face, and hits with her feet and hands. However, the criminal does not get confused and answers her back, striking the girl on one of the leather armchairs and shouting from a strong pain when she hits her foot against her stomach. After a cruel crush against one of the bookshelves, a part of the books falls to the floor with a loud sound, also hitting both of them on the head slightly. Also, they use all the small things that they see in their way and throw at each other, leaving some cracks on the windows.
And after a short hand-in-hand fight and a few more slaps on the face and attempts to pull each other’s hair, Eleanor pushes Raquelle rudely off herself and gives her a very strong slap in the face. Then she gives her two more, because of which the young girl falls to the floor and has to fight with her opponent hand in hand again, striking her down at some moment and giving her a few painful enough hits on some vulnerable parts of the body. But then the girl herself gets a few ones from the criminal, who drags her painfully by the hair.
“You wave your wings well, I admit it,” Eleanor throws rudely. “But it will not save you, dolly. You will die anyway. As well AS YOUR AUNTIE!”
Eleanor gives Raquelle a very strong slap in the face and grabs her by the hair with both hands, forgetting about the pistol that she lets fall on the floor and crying quietly as the girl ruffles her ponytail with no regret and tries to get a little bit of her hair out in anger.
“A-A-A, SCUMBAG, LET ME GO!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs. “LET ME GO, I FEEL PAIN! BITCH! BITCH! A-A-A-A-A!”
“I will not let anyone insult my close people and me,” Raquelle says confidently. “I would tear anyone for them. ANYONE!”
Raquelle gives Eleanor a couple of more strong slaps in the face and has to start a hand-in-hand fight when the woman strikes her down by painfully hitting her on her ankle and tightly grabbing her by the hair. Meanwhile, the policemen see that Eleanor starting to beat Raquelle with no shame, while the girl does not manage to react to everything and shouts loudly from strong pain after every single hit with the legs and hands. At some moment, they forget about the threat of being shoot and rush to help the girl to take the crazy criminal away, deciding to use the moment when she does not have a pistol in her hands.
“Eleanor, let the girl go now!” Alexander demands loudly, giving a start sharply. “Eleanor! Eleanor Woodham! Stop immediately! This is an order!”
But Eleanor does not react to it because she is too busy fighting with Raquelle, whose clothes got ripped in some places after rolling from one side to another several times, and whose head starts to hurt a little because of the criminal’s attempts to pull her hair out. Alexander sees it well and decides to take the chance, running sharply to his pistol that is still lying on the floor. But when he takes the gun, Eleanor moves her eyes to him, takes her silver pistol that is placed not far from her, and moves it sharply to Inspector Bradford.
“HEY!” Eleanor shouts hysterically, making Alexander stop sharply and freeze. “STAND IN YOUR PLACE!”
“Give up, Ms. Woodham,” Alexander demands confidently, getting closer to Eleanor slowly and keeping the pistol pointed at her. “You can do nothing.”
“NEVER!”
“Do not make a mistake that might lead to very bad consequences.”
“GET BACK, I SAID!” Eleanor threatens the other policemen with the gun. “STAND, EVERYBODY! MOVE, NOBODY!”
“If you do not give up now, we will have to open fire and shoot,” one of the policemen says.
“Shoot as much as you want! I said, If you wanted to catch me, kill me!”
“You are making a mistake,” Alexander says quietly.
“I am warning you, if you do not leave, I will shoot you down to the fuck.”
“I completely understand that you are nervous. You are because you understand that you are in a hopeless situation and have no place to run.”
“SHUT UP!” Eleanor roars at the top of her lungs.
“I repeat, we have no goal of shooting you down on purpose. It’s not our main goal. We do not want to kill you or hurt you somehow.”
“ALRIGHT, ENOUGH! I HAVE WASTED SO MUCH ON YOU, EVEN IF I COULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS CHICKEN AND HER AUNT, WHO WAS SHAKING HER ASS FOR MEN AND KILLED MY FATHER AT A YOUNG AGE!”
At this moment, Raquelle, who already got up and is now standing behind Eleanor, pushes her sharply so that she shakes and lets her pistol fall. Then the girl gets a strong slap in the face from her opponent and fights with her hand in hand for a few seconds.
“Ah, you scumbag!” Eleanor resents. “You dare to attack ELEANOR WOODHAM herself from behind! THE ONE, WHO IS LOVED AND RESPECTED IN THE WHOLE ENGLAND!”
“It’s time to confess your fault and pay for what you have done,” Raquelle says confidently.
“It’s alright, bitch, you have a little time to resist.” Eleanor strongly beats Raquelle in the face. “You have a little time to whine and ask for mercy.”
“When will you understand that you have no place to go?” Raquelle wonders, fighting off Eleanor with a book that she finds on the floor and giving the criminal a strong hit on the head. “When will you finally give up on the police and pay for everything you’ve done? For deceiving honest people… And hurting my aunt!”
“NEVER!”
Eleanor gives Raquelle another slap in the face, after which the girl falls on the floor with a loud shout and lets the book go.
“Eleanor Woodham will never give up on the police!” Eleanor says with her head proudly raised. “She will never have regret about what she did to the old snake that deprived me of the dearest man of mine in the world.”
“Ms. Woodham, you have no choice,” some of the policemen says quietly. “Either you let the girl go and give up at your wish, or we have to shoot you.”
“SHOOT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT! I WILL NOT GIVE UP WHILE I AM ALIVE!”
Eleanor painfully grabs Raquelle sitting on the ground by the hair and puts the pistol against her head after taking it from the floor.
“No matter if you want it or not, the funeral of that gal and her aunt will happen,” Eleanor says confidently. “I will kill her right before your eyes. And NOBODY will stop me from this!”
“We are giving you the last chance to give up,” Alexander says quietly. “Let the girl go, put the gun on the floor, and raise your hands up. Or we will stop being sorry and open fire.”
“Ha, you are such a naive man, Inspector, or what’s your title!” Eleanor simpers contemptuously and sharply gets up. “It’s life, Mr. Policeman. In real life, kindness never wins over evil. The strongest, smartest, and sliest one wins.”
“Ms. Woodham…” one of the policemen tries to take a word.
“By the way, I am wondering…”
Eleanor grabs Raquelle rudely by the hair, making her get up on her feet, and starts threatening her and all the policemen with a pistol.
“Why have I been playing with you for so long?” Eleanor wonders. “Why have I wasted so much time on you? I came here to kill. To take revenge for the death of my beloved daddy. There is everybody I need: this girl and her aunt.”
Eleanor puts the pistol tightly against Raquelle’s head.
“If it’s so, nothing will stop me from dealing with these two bitches,” Eleanor adds confidently. “Nothing will stop me from making my longtime dream come true.”
“Don’t do this, Eleanor…” Raquelle begs in a quiet, shaking voice and sniffs quietly. “Please… Don’t do this…”
“What are you saying, bitch!”
Eleanor looks at Raquelle crying bitterly with greater evil in her eyes.
“Praying for your salvation?” Eleanor asks and smiles smugly. “Stop, my sweetheart! Nothing will save you!”
“Eleanor…” Raquelle pronounces in a shaking voice.
“When I kill you, your beloved aunt is going to be the next one.”
“NO!”
“Soon, the killer of my father will get what she deserved and get the punishment that she should have gotten sixteen years ago.”
“You will not dare to kill my aunt!” Raquelle hisses with evil in her eyes, breathing heavily enough from tiredness, fear, and evil at the same time. “I swear I will kill you if you hurt her a little. And I give a damn about what will happen to me! I will tear anyone, who wishes to hurt my close people.”
“I doubt that you can do just something,” Eleanor says confidently. “Sadly… Or maybe, luckily… You will not repeat the fate of your aunt, who has already been in prison but avoided a sentence because she fucked someone, who was supposed to put her in prison. BUT HER LUCK WILL NOT BE PERMANENT!”
“Eleanor Woodham, I am asking you for the last time: will you give up on the police or not?” Alexander asks loudly and confidently.
“I do not care about what that policeman is saying there,” Eleanor ignores these words, addressing Raquelle, whom she looks at with an icy look. “Nobody will stop me from doing what I want.”
“For God’s sake, Eleanor…” Raquelle pronounces with pity in her eyes.
“And first, I want to kill you, nasty girl.”
“No…”
“And I shall do it right now, not giving attention to this crowd of pathetic policemen.”
“Eleanor, please… Raquelle pronounces with pity.
“May they watch me killing you. And then they will watch my people help me deal with your aunt.”
“No!”
Not wishing to waste time anymore, Eleanor wants to shoot Raquelle, putting the pistol against her head with a wish to press the trigger. The young girl closes her eyes tightly, crying bitterly from hopelessness, shaking strongly from fear, thinking of all the happy moments of her life, and silently saying goodbye to her close people, who will probably not know what is going to happen to her and not see her for the last time. The policemen understand that they can no longer waste time. So, Alexander, looking at everybody quickly, decides to open the fire with the pistol that he is holding in his hands. But when he points and wants to press the trigger, a policeman breaks into the office suddenly, holding a pistol pointed at Eleanor, and shouts loudly:
“Stay there, do not move!”
Then everybody hears a loud, defeating sound, which makes everybody shake slightly and look at each other, and Raquelle gasps quietly. And when she glances aside, she notices that Eleanor wincing strongly and moaning quietly grabs her chest sharply.
“Oh, damn…” Eleanor pronounces painfully. “It’s hurt…”
Eleanor falls slowly to the ground, letting her pistol go, weakening the grip, and stepping back from Raquelle, who jumps aside quickly.
“Eleanor!” Raquelle exclaims with horror in her widely open eyes, closing her mouth with her hand.
At this moment, Raquelle loses balance, stumbling over the book lying on the floor accidentally but getting up quickly. The girl looks at Eleanor for a few seconds with her dumbfounded, widely open eyes, while the woman suddenly starts bleeding and cannot even move from the pain, not being able to say something and wincing strongly as if she feels a very strong pain.
“Eleanor…” Raquelle pronounces in a shaking voice.
“H-h-help…” Eleanor barely begs quietly.
“My God…”
“P-p-please…” Eleanor makes a painful moan, wincing from pain strongly. “I feel bad…”
“Someone, help her!” Raquelle addresses the policemen loudly. “She is wounded! Eleanor is bleeding!”
While Raquelle steps back from Eleanor but looks at her with a little heavy from the excitement breath and fear, which she is still obsessed with, Alexander moves the pistol down slowly and glances at all the policemen.
“Stay here, everybody,” Alexander orders. “I shall go to check what happened to her. What if she is pretending to play time.”
Alexander carefully but confidently comes to Eleanor moaning quietly and rolls her onto the back, seeing quite a serious wound on the chest, from which a strong flow of blood is getting out.
“Oh, my God…” Alexander mumbles under his breath. “She’s wounded…”
Alexander shakes his head and checks the pulse on Eleanor’s neck and wrist, seeing that it’s very weak. While the bleeding woman winces strongly in pain and moans quietly.
“I’m dying…” Eleanor moans painfully. “Dying… I was killed…”
Meanwhile, the discouraged Aidan comes to Alexander quickly, while the other policemen stay in their places by his order, looking at each other sometimes.
“She got a gun wound,” Alexander says. “In the chest. Almost close to her heart. She is bleeding strongly. And she has got a very weak pulse.”
“Will she hold on until the doctors come?” Aidan gets anxious. “Blood is flowing strongly!”
“I don’t know… I can say nothing. If the bullet wounded her heart, there is a very low chance.”
“Yeah… I’m shocked…”
“Oh, my God…” Alexander shakes his head. “In the worst case, she may die.”
“Yeah, I think you overdid it a little!” Aidan notices thoughtfully. “You should’ve pointed at least at her arm. That’s good it didn’t get into her heart. Otherwise, she would’ve died immediately!”
“Yeah, but I didn’t take a shoot.”
“No?”
“I barely pointed and got ready to shoot at Eleanor when everybody suddenly heard that loud sound.”
“Oh, damn…”
“Alright, there’s no time to guess!” Alexander pronounces confidently. “Aidan, call an ambulance right now. Say that the woman got a gunshot wound on the chest, is bleeding so hard, and has a weak pulse. Tell them to come here as soon as possible. This woman is dying!”
“Yes, yes, Inspector Bradford, I'm already calling. Now.”
With these words, Aidan takes a mobile phone from his pocket and types the number of an ambulance very quickly. And then he starts to explain something to an operator while Alexander looks closely at the wound on Eleanor, who is moaning and bleeding.
“I wish you were all cursed…” Eleanor pronounces in a quiet, low voice with evil in her eyes, holding the bleeding hip. “Died… Ar-r-r… The murder of Eleanor Woodham will give you trouble… You can’t be as lucky as Alicia Thompson was… You cannot… You must pay for everything… You must…”
Sadly, neither Raquelle nor the police can help Eleanor, who is lying on the ground without moving and moaning quietly from pain in the wound that starts bleeding literally much more. Nobody knows if she will survive after this injury because Ms. Woodham has already lost enough blood for such a short time. The policemen do not exclude that this wound might be fatal and lead to the death of the criminal, who really gave up only after she had gotten wounded.
At some moment, the policeman, who showed up from nowhere and shot Eleanor, comes to Alexander and Aidan. After glancing at her and hearing her make a quiet moan, the man lets his colleagues know about himself:
“Inspector Bradford!”
“Lucas?” Alexander pronounces surprisingly, gets up sharply and comes to Lucas, who just showed up. “Where you have been all this time? Why weren’t you with us?”
“I’m really sorry,” Lucas replies guiltily. “I’m sorry… I…”
“How can you explain your disappearance in the middle of the operation?”
“I went somewhere… I wanted to do a thing…”
“What thing? I clearly told you to do nothing wrong! You all should have done everything only after my order! What was unclear for you?”
“Don’t be mad, Mr. Bradford, I was doing the thing.”
“Huh, doing the thing…”
“Ah, my bad!” Lucas glances at the bleeding Eleanor, who looks at him with eyes full of hate. “I wanted to shoot at her arm, but I reached her hip. Failed it.”
“Wait, was it you?” Alexander concludes. “Did you shoot at Eleanor Woodham?”
“I had to do it, Inspector,” Lucas shrugs with sadness in his eyes. “Or she would have killed the girl. That woman was too stubborn.”
“My God…”
“The situation seemed hopeless to me. And I thought we would have to open fire. Moreover, Kreider said that if Eleanor didn’t give up, we’d have to shoot.”
“Yeah, the situation was really much harder than we thought.”
“At some moment, I came to the office and started to watch the situation carefully. I saw Ms. Woodham and Ms. Cameron fighting hand in hand.”
“You just watched?”
“I was just waiting for a good moment to open the fire. And when Eleanor Woodham claimed that she would shoot at Ms. Cameron, I decided the time had come. I ran into here and took a shot at her without hesitation.”
“You did it when I decided to try to do the same thing.”
“Yeah, I saw it.”
“But you know, buddy, you reacted just in time. That woman went really inane and could have easily killed Ms. Cameron and some of us.”
“I know, Inspector. That was the only way to disarm her. She wouldn’t have given up at her wish. Even if the guys surrounded the whole territory. Eleanor would’ve shot everybody down to the heck.”
“You’re right…” Alexander pronounces thoughtfully and glances at the wounded and bleeding Eleanor, whom two policemen are examining now.
“We should call an ambulance immediately before that woman dies.”
“Aidan is doing it.”
“Good…”
Lucas glances at Aidan, who says something on the phone, stepping aside.
“By the way, don’t you know if the guys found Alicia Middleton?” Alexander asks.
“Yes, yes, the guys told me that they found that woman,” Lucas replies confidently.
“Found?”
“Yes.”
“And where?”
“In a small room!”
“She is at this house?”
“Yes, on the second floor. In the furthest corner of this house.”
“I see…”
“They said they heard someone’s voice and cry and decided to check it out. So, that woman was there.”
“Was she alone?”
“Nope, not alone.”
At this moment, Aidan comes to Lucas and Alexander after telling the operator of the ambulance everything they need, hearing their talk and joining it.
“There were two men with her,” Lucas says. “Fearsome and tough enough. They were told to watch her and not to let her run away.”
“Alright,” Alexander nods.
“They did not let them come to her and threatened to kill her if the guys got closer. They called Eleanor a madam and showed up by servicing the daughter of Gilbert Woodham himself.”
“She was showing off all the time when we were trying to catch her,” Aidan confesses. “She was pretending to be great, even if she did nothing for that. And her father did not get so famous, as I think.”
“But did they catch those big guys?” Alexander asks.
“Yes, Inspector, they did it,” Lucas nods confidently. “But they had to fight with them for a long time because they were resisting too hard. But everything was over well: the man got those people arrested and got them into a police car. Some of the guys recently took them to the police station.”
“Great!” Alexander exclaims. “I’m glad everything was over in a good way.”
“Me too, but they had to fight with them for a long time. Not only because they resisted.”
“Yeah?”
“Exactly! I saw those bulls and was really overwhelmed by how the guys managed to deal with them.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Inspector…”
Lucas, looking a little excited, starts gesticulating very actively with his widely open eyes.
“You should’ve seen how tall they are!” Lucas pronounces loudly, who is, by the way, not a very tall person and looks little next to the tall Alexander. “They’re probably six or seven feet tall. Those men are very big!”
“Oh, yeah, all the men are big and tall here,” Aidan says confidently. “They are tall and definitely tough. They possibly even wrestled or did sport.”
“If not for my job, I wouldn’t get in touch with those columns at my wish.”
“Because you are a shorty that would be struck down by them for a few seconds?” Aidan chuckles kindly.
“That’s right!” Lucas claps himself on the forehead. “Oh, shit, I really felt like Thumbelina next to those twenty-meter columns. That’s my height multiplied by three or even four.”
“That type must only work as bodyguards,” Aidan notices. “When people see them near someone, they start fearing to come. Eleanor Woodham knew well how to provide for her safety.”
“That’s right.”
“Come on, guys,” Alexander pronounces confidently. “The important thing is that we’ve caught them.”
“I must agree with you, Inspector,” Lucas agrees.
“Yeah, what about the woman, who was with them?” Alexander frowns slightly.
“One of the policemen is now with that woman,” Lucas says.
“She is alright?”
“Mrs. Middleton is really frightened and very weak. I don’t know what madam Woodham and those big guys did to her, but that woman does not look very good.”
“Didn’t they feed her?” Aidan assumes.
“Maybe. But she looks very pale and exhausted.”
“Does she need medical help?” Alexander specifies.
“Definitely. But that woman has refused medical and psychological help. She said that she was fine and just got very exhausted.”
“Maybe, we should call a doctor? What if she needs to take a sedative or painkiller?”
“I asked her several times to make sure about it, but Mrs. Middleton always declined my suggestion.”
“Alright then. Let’s think she would not really need the help of doctors.”
“Still, she would need some time to come to herself. After what happened to her.”
“I hope… But at least, everything has been over. In a good way.”
“That’s right, Inspector, we’ve completed our mission,” Aidan notices with his head proudly raised.
“We need only to know something about the condition of Ms. Woodham, get her arrested, and give all the documents to the court,” Lucas adds. “So, she can pay for all the crimes.”
“When doctors come here, we will talk to them and ask them about their forecasts and think about what to do,” Alexander replies confidently.
“We should probably tell her family about her arrest.”
“Of course, I shall surely tell her family that the woman got arrested. And may they look for a lawyer. They’re rich and are able to pay for the one.”
“By the way, we have also informed those, who are working here, that they should go to the police station to testify in Eleanor’s case.”
“Yeah, take all of them. We will find out who we should charge for being her accomplice or who we can let go.”
Silence settles in the air for a few seconds.
“Yeah, Aidan, what about an ambulance?” Alexander specifies. “Did you call it?”
“Yes, Inspector, an ambulance is on the way,” Aidan says quietly. “Doctors will come here very soon. I gave the operator the dress, and she said she sent the doctors here.”
“Good. We will be waiting.”
“But will she hold on until the doctors come?” Lucas asks and glances at Eleanor lying on the sand, to whom Raquelle comes slowly and carefully. “It seems like the injury is quite serious.”
“I don’t think so…” Aidan says thoughtfully. “That woman has already lost a lot of blood…”
“I’m also sure she might not survive,” Alexander nods. “I doubt that Miss Woodham will survive after this injury… And such a serious blood loss.”
“And knowing how long doctors will have to come here, they may not rescue her in time.”
“Anyway, we will be doing our best not to let her die. Control a flow of blood somehow. Give her the first aid and watch her condition closely.”
Alexander throws a look full of sadness at Eleanor, who is still lying on the floor, bleeding, holding her hip, wincing strongly, moaning quietly from pain, and rolling from one side to another. The policemen are trying to do something to support the life of the woman before the arrival of doctors. Besides, the inspector and his colleagues are watching Raquelle, who is sitting next to the wounded criminal and looking at her with sadness in her eyes. To be clear, she is watching how the woman is losing her blood slowly but rightly and is about to lose consciousness.
“You… You… You…” Eleanor barely whispers with a great evil in her eyes. “Bitch… You will pay me… For everything, bitch… You, two sluts… You… And your aunt… You will get what you deserve… I shall kill you, cads… Kill… Hear me…”
“An ambulance will come now,” Raquelle says quietly, not understanding why she is next to Eleanor and trying to comfort her because it will not lead to anything good, and she will insult much more insults about her. “And they will drive you to the hospital.”
“No… I can’t… I must revenge… I must… That rat can’t stay alive… Alicia can’t stay unpunished… She cannot do…”
“We did tell you to give up. But you did not listen to us. But if you hadn’t shown resistance, the policemen wouldn’t have shot at you.”
“It’s not the end, bitch…” Eleanor hisses through her teeth with evil in her eyes, feeling that she is losing her strength and getting sickly white every second. “I shall reach… You… And your aunt… You will die… Both…”
“Please, Eleanor, stop… Your revenge has no sense. Your father would not come back from the dead if you took revenge on the killer.”
“I shall not give up… Not give up… Hear me, bitch…”
“Eleanor, please…”
“I will… Ah…” Eleanor winces strongly from the unbearable pain. “I shall be fighting until the end… To revenge on you… And your aunt…”
“You will be put in prison anyway,” Raquelle says confidently. “When you get well, you will go to prison.”
“No… No, bitch… Don’t even hope…”
“Eleanor…”
“Dying is better…” Eleanor makes a quiet, painful moan. “Than being in prison…”
“Please…” Raquelle pronounces in a little shaking voice.
“I shall not go there… They will not get me alive… Only… Over my dead body… Dead…”
“Don’t talk, please…” Raquelle says quietly. “Don’t waste your energy. Just hold on. An ambulance is coming.”
“Ah, shit…”
Eleanor, wincing strongly, tries to get up slightly with a feeling of weakness and terrible pain in her whole body, but she falls shortly on the floor, the parquet of which got covered with blood tracks.
“No…” Eleanor moans painfully. “Not this… I can’t die… Not now…”
“You will not die, Eleanor,” Raquelle says confidently. “Will not do. It’s going to be alright.”
“I must revenge on you, Alicia Thompson… Must… And kill you, Raquelle Cameron… Must…”
“Eleanor…”
“No… I can’t die… Not right no-o-o-ow…”
Eleanor first raises her head up slightly but later puts it down sharply, feeling that the strength is leaving her every new second. The woman also starts breathing much heavier and understands that it’s getting harder for her. She starts to feel dizzy from quite a serious blood loss, her skin is getting whiter and whiter, and the pain is getting through the weak body of the criminal deeper and deeper. Raquelle watches Eleanor silently for a few seconds, but then she gets up on her feet, steps aside, and leaves the dying woman losing blood alone, while the policemen are trying to support the life of the one, who is about to die. And some time later, the criminal actually loses consciousness from a massive blood loss, no longer says a word, and makes no quiet squeak or moan.
***
The policemen are running from one side to another and fretting for some time. At some moment, someone looks through the window and sees that an ambulance car is coming here after being on the way for a long time. After they stop not far from the open automatic gates, doctors get out of the car quickly, listen to the policemen, enter the house, go to the office, and try to give first aid to the wounded Eleanor, who has been unconscious for a long enough time. Someone quickly rushes to take a gurney, and someone tries to do something to her wound, stopping the strong bleeding, using some medicament, and giving the woman a chance to breathe through an oxygen mask they set up on her face.
A few policemen ask doctors for permission to go with them in the car of an ambulance to accompany the wounded Eleanor, finding out that her wound is very serious and that there is a minimal chance that she can survive. The others are finishing doing something, talking about some things, filing papers, and taking some things that they will need as clues. Also, some of them have a talk with the other workers, who have not left this house, but who clearly see everything that happened to the daughter of Gilbert. Someone tries to break free to see their beloved madam, but the policemen do not let anyone come to her and tell them to get ready to go with them to the police station, no matter if they want it or not.
And some time later, Alicia goes downstairs slowly in the company of the policeman, who holds her under an arm just in case, being worried that she may fall. The woman looks super exhausted and frightened, but she feels happy at the realization of the fact that this terrible story has finally ended. She can barely take every single step because her legs get weak and feels a little dizzy due to her bad condition. So, the man brings her carefully to the soft sofa and seats her on it, saying that her niece will come to her soon. Meanwhile, Raquelle is watching what the policemen and doctors are doing their work with sadness in her eyes, coming to herself slowly after everything she had to experience. And at some moment, some of the police staff members comes to her and lets her know that her relative has come here. The girl moves her eyes sharply to where someone points at and smiles widely when she sees the exhausted Alicia, who is sitting in the living room and making her horrified by her appearance.
“Oh, my God!” Raquelle pronounces in a little shaking voice. “Aunt Alicia…”
Raquelle runs into the living room, sits next to Alicia on the sofa, and takes her in a strong hug with tears in her eyes.
“Raquelle…” Alicia cracks a slight smile with tears in her eyes. “My sweet niece…”
“Auntie…” Raquelle exhales with relief and sniffs quietly. “My sweet auntie…”
“My girl…” Alicia pronounces in a little shaking voice, answering Raquelle’s strong hug with pleasure and pressing her to herself as close as possible. “Jesus Christ…”
“Thank God, you’re fine.” Raquelle makes a quiet sob and caresses Alicia’s head softly. “My God… I was so scared…”
“You can’t imagine how I was worried about you,” Alicia confesses and puts her nose on Raquelle’s shoulder, making sobs at times. “I was afraid that Eleanor would do something to you.”
“It’s all over, Aunt. It’s all over.”
“I couldn’t stop praying to God that He protected you.”
“And I was praying that you were okay.”
“How are you feeling? Aren’t you wounded? Nothing hurts?”
“No, No, Auntie, I’m okay.”
“You’ve got several scars on your face…” Alicia looks at the small scars on Raquelle’s face that she got during the fight with Eleanor. “My God…”
“It’s okay… Eleanor just scratched me a little with her nails when we fought numerous times. And with the edge of the thick book…”
“It hurts a lot?”
“Nope, it’s okay. Don’t worry.” Raquelle runs her head over her head. “But my head hurts a little because she dragged me by the hair strongly.”
“Oh, Raquelle, my niece…”
Alicia kisses Raquelle cutely on the cheek and presses her much closer to herself. At some moment, not being able to tolerate such strong tension, the woman lets her emotions go out and starts crying quietly on the shoulder of her niece.
“Auntie Alicia…” Raquelle pronounces softly, hugs Alicia tighter, and caresses her head. “C’mon… It’s okay… Don’t cry…”
“It was unbearable…” Alicia confesses in a little shaking voice. “I thought I’d go crazy…”
“Aunt, please, calm down,” Raquelle says in a quiet, soft voice.
“I was afraid I would never meet you.”
“It’s all over, my sweetie. Everything stayed in the past. Nobody will hurt you anymore.”
“Is everything really over?” Alicia wonders in a strongly shaking voice, still not believing that she is finally free. “Am I not really sleeping?”
“No, Aunt, you are not. You can now live a quiet life and not be worried about your life.”
“Can I really do this?”
“Really. Eleanor Woodham will no longer threaten you. I promise you.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ…”
Alicia holds Raquelle in her arms tightly for a few seconds, but then she steps back from her niece and looks at her with eyes full of tears, taking her hands softly.
“My God, has Eleanor really been wounded by the policemen?” Alicia asks, looking at Eleanor, on the wound of whom the doctors are working so hard, and sniffs quietly. “I’ve been told that she’s been taken away in an ambulance car.”
“Yes, Aunt,” Raquelle nods. “Doctors are doing their best.”
“But how?”
“The policeman had no other choice because that woman didn’t want to give up on the police. So, one of them chose a moment and shot at her. He wounded her chest. The bullet got through very close to her heart.”
“And how’s she doing?”
“Bad. Unfortunately, nobody knows if she will survive. They say there’s a small chance.”
“Really?”
“Her injury is too serious. Besides, while an ambulance was coming here, Eleanor lost a lot of blood. The policemen were doing their best, but it was worthless.”
“My gosh…” Alicia shakes her head.
“Anyway, you’ve got no reason to worry,” Raquelle says confidently. “Even if she survives, she will immediately go to prison and get a sentence for what she has done. No matter whose daughter she is.”
“I hope she will not avoid what’s waiting for her.”
“She will not do it, won’t worry.”
“Oh, gosh…” Alicia shakes her head with tears in her eyes, but then takes Raquelle softly by the shoulders and caresses her cheeks, looking at her little scarily. “Listen, my sweetheart, are you really okay?”
“Yes, yes, Aunt,” Raquelle says with a slight smile. “I’m really okay.”
“Did that snake not do anything to you? Didn't you really suffer?”
“Thank God, no. Eleanor didn’t hurt me or give me an injury. Yes, she threatened me with a pistol and beat me a little, but she didn’t shoot.”
“I have already been told.”
“Don’t worry, Aunt, it’s okay. Yes, I’m still a little scared and feel tired, but I will come to myself very soon. Tomorrow, I’m gonna feel much better.”
“I see…”
Alicia fixes Raquelle’s little disheveled hair carefully.
“God, my girl, how white and exhausted you are…” Alicia pronounces with horror in her eyes. “That snake is the one to blame for that!”
“Don’t worry about me,” Raquelle cracks a slight smile. “Everything’s fine now.”
“Were you get so scared when Eleanor threatened you with a gun?”
“Yes, I was scared, I can’t deny it. But I was lucky there were policemen, who didn’t let her shoot or… Give me to her people to kill me.”
“Those people were dreaming about that moment. About how Eleanor would let them deal with you.”
“I know.”
“I could clearly hear everything that was happening here.”
“Were you not far from here?”
“Yes, I was locked in the room that was on the latest floor of this house. Eleanor told two guards of hers not to leave me alone and to watch me closely. I wanted to come to you and protect you from that snake, but those big guys didn’t let me move without their permission. We would come to them only when madam Woodham would tell them. I could only hear the shouts that were spreading from the office. Hear you screaming. Hear Eleanor threatening to kill you. Hear her telling you about her wish to take revenge on me so hard.”
“She made me come here with some money. I had to give mine and borrow it because I didn’t have enough with me.”
“Oh, my God…”
“But Eleanor didn’t need the money. That woman made me come here to kill me.”
“I know, sweetie…” Alicia nods. “It was really just an excuse. No matter if you’d brought the money or not, nothing would’ve changed. She wouldn’t have left us alone and would’ve made her dream of killing us come true.”
“Anyway, I couldn’t refuse to meet her. I couldn’t leave you in trouble.”
“All this time, I was praying so hard that she did nothing to you. I was praying that she didn’t take a shot at you. I hear her threatening you with a gun, judging by her hysterical shouts. And God has heard my cry for help. He saved you.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Raquelle agrees with a slight smile, holding Alicia’s hands. “But I was really worried about you, not me.”
“Raquelle…”
“I couldn’t stay quiet for all those days, and I was thinking about where you were and what was happening to you. I thought I’d go crazy from worrying…”
“Don’t think about it, sunshine,” Alicia cracks a slight smile. “I’m fine.”
“I was afraid that she would kill you. I was afraid that Eleanor would say you were dead when calling me… That she made her revenge come true.”
“She really wanted to kill me… Not only me but also you…”
“I know.”
“I was begging her to leave you alone because you were guilty of nothing,” Alicia confesses with pity in her eyes. “But Eleanor didn’t listen. She was determined to kill you. Sadly, I could not change her mind. I could not protect you. Even if you’re guilty of nothing.”
“She was obsessed with revenge. Hate for you. She said you ruined her whole life.”
“Yes, yes… I know…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “But she would’ve rather killed only me…”
“No, Aunt Alicia, don’t say it, please!” Raquelle begs with despair, taking Alicia by the shoulders softly.
“I’m the one to blame for everything. You almost suffered because of me. Because I am the only one to be guilty of her. You did nothing bad to her and shouldn’t have paid for my mistakes.”
“No, Aunt Alicia, please, don’t say it!” Raquelle begs with despair, taking Alicia softly by the shoulders.
“I am guilty of everything. You almost suffered because of me. Because of the sins of my past.”
“You’re guilty of nothing.”
“I am guilty, my dear, I am guilty.” Alicia shakes her head, looking at Raquelle with pity in her eyes. “Besides, I’m not as holy as you’ve thought all your life.”
“Aunt Alicia…” Raquelle pronounces in a little shaking voice.
“That woman had a reason to try to take revenge on me and threaten to kill me. The case was not only about almost killing Ines when I was young.”
“If that bitch had dared to hurt you, I don’t know what I wouldn’t have done to her.” Raquelle swallows up nervously. “I wouldn’t have taken such a great loss.”
“And I wouldn’t have wanted to live if she had dared to hurt you,” Alicia confesses. “If she had deprived me of my closest person. I was really worried about you. I didn’t care about me.”
“No, my dear auntie, please, don’t say it. You’re hurting me so much!”
“You know nothing about me. You don’t know the terrible story I got into because of being stupid… You don’t know why Eleanor got hatred for me…”
“Auntie Alicia…”
“I…” Alicia sniffs quietly, starting to breathe heavily enough and deciding to confess what she would always be ashamed of talking about. “Erm… I didn’t tell you everything… On that day…”
“Aunt…” Raquelle shakes her head.
“I didn’t say the most important thing… I didn’t call the main reason for all these problems.”
“Please, don’t do it…”
“The real reason everything was happening was not my refusal to pay the large amount of money that her father lent to Ines’ family. That case just helped Eleanor come into my life. I mean, she did it thanks to the information from her familiar policeman, who told her about that event and gave her a chance to take revenge. But she was threatening me not because of the one.”
“Please…”
“Everything was much worse… All this time, Eleanor was chasing me for a different reason.”
“Don’t talk about it. Please.
“No, my sunshine, you must know the truth,” Alicia shakes her head. “The truth about what happened when I was young… Much younger than you are now.”
“Aunt…”
“I…” Alicia makes a quiet sob. “Madly ashamed to talk about it… But… you should know what your aunt did… Find out what she still has to pay for… What still bothers her.”
“My gosh…” Raquelle shakes her head with her wet eyes. “Just don’t tell me everything Eleanor said is the truth…”
“So, did she tell you everything?”
“Yes, she told me about her father. But I don’t wanna believe it!”
“Listen, Raquelle…”
“Is that the lie, right? Eleanor was just mad at you and wanted to slander you before my eyes. Just like Terrence MacClife slandered me for the whole world.”
“N-no, d-dear…” Alicia pronounces in a shaking voice with a scare in her eyes, while tears roll on her cheeks, and she does not try to hold them down. “I-it’s all the truth…”
“No…”
“Eleanor didn’t lie to you, Raquelle. That woman told you the truth.”
“For God’s sake, Aunt, don’t say that,” Raquelle shakes her head with a quiet sob. “I don’t wanna believe Eleanor’s story about the sins of your past was the truth.”
“It’s the truth.”
“But you could not do this!”
“I could not do it, but it happened.”
“Auntie…”
“And I want to tell you how I dared to do that… It’s been sixteen years, but I still can’t forget that… I can’t pretend that anything like that did not happen in my life.”
Raquelle says nothing and swallows up nervously, assuming that Alicia might confess that she already knows about thanks to the notes in her diary.
“Why, Aunt?” Raquelle wonders quietly. “Why didn't you tell me everything? Why did you prefer hiding the fact that you killed the man when you were young?”
“I was ashamed,” Alicia makes a quiet sob, looking at Raquelle with pity in her eyes. “Ashamed of you… I was burning with shame when telling you about how I hit the little girl. But if you’d known about the murder, I would’ve actually wanted to hang myself.”
“But you didn’t want it!”
“Yeah, but still! I became a killer! The killer!”
“People don’t always kill someone at their wish.”
“I didn’t want people to turn their backs on me after knowing I’m a killer.”
“But you couldn’t hide it forever.”
“I know, but I was ashamed.”
“Auntie…”
“I swear, sweetie, I didn’t want to kill that man.” Alicia sniffs quietly. “It happened accidentally.”
“I wouldn’t have told anyone about it,” Raquelle assures. “Even my grandpa, if he wasn’t aware of that.”
“Your grandfather knows nothing about it. He doesn’t even suspect what I had to get through… But if he knew, he would ban me from speaking to you. Speak to the one that killed one person and almost hit another to death…”
“He is a smart man. Grandfather would’ve understood you didn’t want it. And you would not have hurt me.”
“I don’t know… I can’t be sure about it.”
“Honestly, I guessed you didn't tell me the whole story… You told me just a little part of it. I didn’t believe that the case was only about the situation with Ines.”
“Yeah, right…” Alicia sniffs and closes her mouth for a second. “I was scared… Afraid of confessing such a hard sin. I wanted to hide the truth for fear that my friends and close people would turn their backs on me.”
“But you should’ve known it would be revealed early or late,” Raquelle notices.
“I knew… But I wanted to hide it anyway.”
“Is that why you didn’t want me to solve your problems? Were you afraid I would find out everything?”
“Not only because of that. I didn’t actually wanna make you solve my problems.”
“Aunt Alicia…”
“You were very nervous because of the situation of that person… And I would’ve made you help me fight with Eleanor.”
“Now I understand my problems are nothing unlike yours.”
“I thought I’d solve this problem by myself.”
“Without the help of the police?”
“Would going to the police have made sense? You made sure she would have dealt with you and me if I had gone to the police. You brought them here, and Eleanor got wild and almost killed you.”
“Yeah, but you wouldn’t have done that alone!”
“Maybe… And maybe, you did the right thing by asking the police for help. The policemen were replaying time and protecting you somehow.”
“You’re right… It would’ve been much scarier without them.”
“But if one of them hadn’t opened the fire, everything would’ve been over badly.”
“I know… Eleanor is really mad at you for killing that man. Even being wounded and bleeding, she could not stop saying that she couldn’t die until she revenged on you.”
“I could understand her. Because she lost her close person because of me… And I almost deprived her of her best friend.” Alicia shakes her head with tears in her eyes. “Eleanor was revenging on me for killing her father.”
“Gilbert Woodham?” Raquelle specifies and glances at one of the portraits of Gilbert in the living room. “Is that him in the photos?”
“Yes, him. Gilbert Woodham. In England, he was well known and deeply respected. He opened multiple shops in the 80s, which are still open and very popular. After his death, Eleanor took them under control of her.”
“Yes, yes, Eleanor said… And I must notice that nobody has said anything about him in America. At least, I’ve never heard about that man.”
“Right. He was known only here. But when he was alive, Gilbert wanted to go further and open his shops abroad. First of all, in the USA.”
“And…” Raquelle glances at her hands. “The story of your acquaintance… It’s… True?”
“True,” Alicia nods.
“So, didn’t Eleanor lie when she told me how you met him?”
“Nope… Everything started at the end of the 80s… I barely turned twenty…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “When I was a young, stupid, and naive girl, I worked in a nightclub… Where I was dancing…”
Alicia, getting red from shame, closes her face with both hands for a few seconds and makes a quiet sob, but quickly finds the courage to look into Raquelle’s eyes.
“Not very good dances…” Alicia confesses with a scare in her eyes. “For which I was earning money.”
“At a nightclub?” Raquelle specifies.
“Yes… I went there after one friend of mine persuaded me… Who said I had a beautiful body that I could sell well… First, I doubted, but then… Decided to agree… Besides, I needed money to study at the university. Sadly, my parents couldn’t pay for that.”
“Oh, God…”
“I was a beauty when I was twenty. Guys weren’t leaving me without attention and thought I was very attractive. They said I was getting them attracted like a magnet.”
“I know.”
“And I’m not gonna be shy, it’s the truth. Everybody admired me as much as all the men admire you. They think you’re incredibly beautiful and are ready to get through fire and water to be with you.”
“And as I understand, did Grandpa Timothy and Grandma Tiffany know nothing about it?”
“Yes… My family didn’t know I was working as a dancer in a nightclub every evening. They thought I was working in a good place and earning good money for nighttime at the university.”
“Did they let you work at night?”
“Yes, I told them I found a job where I should’ve worked at the night time… But I didn’t say what kind of… Yes, they asked many questions… But seeing how much money I was bringing home after every single workday, they forgot that. So, Mother and Father stopped having something against my job at nighttime. Even if they were worried that I was getting very tired. I was studying at daylight and going to work at night.”
“Did nobody recognize you?”
“I was lucky that nobody could recognize me in the outfits I was wearing.”
“Alright…”
“I was spending my money on paying for my studies and clothes, in which I was dancing at the club. I also had different masks, wings, and some accessories.”
“That’s how.”
“I’m going to open a secret that I still have those things at my home.”
“Your home?” Raquelle frowns slightly.
“In the storeroom, where you somehow went without my permission.”
“Ah, that’s why… Were you afraid I’d find those clothes and suspect something bad?”
“Right.”
“But why haven’t you still thrown them off?”
“I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, but I have no time to sort all the things out. Even if I need to throw off much. There are many things I no longer use. Everything that reminds me of the period of time that I want to forget so badly.”
“So, is there still something that has to do with your profession at that storeroom?”
“Yes, some gifts from Gilbert.”
“Gilbert’s gifts?”
“Jewelry, perfumes that were brought from many countries, clothes from famous brands, and many other things…”
“Wow…”
“Somehow, I threw off a part of them but saved the other one in case I needed money. He was a generous man and spared no money for gifts. By selling some of his jewelry, I could get a lot of money.”
“Haven’t you still sold anything?”
“Nope. I still have those things in big boxes.”
“Now I understand why you were so bad. Why you always kept that room locked.”
“Every year, I promise myself to clean it but haven’t done that yet. Even if I should’ve gotten rid of from everything a long time ago. Throwing, giving, or selling something and saving money.”
“I got it.”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds.
“Is that true you were known by the nickname, Cheryl?” Raquelle asks.
“True,” Alicia nods confidently. “The owner of the club came up with that nickname for me. And I thought he sounded very beautiful and agreed to take it. Besides, I decided to work not under my real name but under a nickname.”
“Okay…”
“So… I was a shy girl named Alicia Thompson to everyone in the university, who wasn’t a grind but acted very shyly and was studying well. And when it was a night, I turned to a fateful girl named Cheryl. I was called a slim dolly, Cheryl.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve always been very skinny… So, I got that nickname.”
“Did you never think you were making a mistake?” Raquelle wonders. “Could you quietly dance for strange men, being almost naked, and taking money for letting them watch you?”
“Alas, girl…” Alicia falls into silence for two seconds and sniffs. “I was young and stupid and didn’t know that was bad. And I didn’t think of shame… As you’ve probably understood after hearing how I ran away after getting Eleanor’s friend with a car.”
“Were you doing it for your studies at the university?” Raquelle wonders.
“Not quite. I also wanted to help my family, which had always lacked money. Moreover, my younger sister, who barely turned eighteen, should’ve studied somewhere after school. Our parents planned to give her a high education. But sadly, they could’ve not made that plan come true because your grandfather was earning very little money.”
“And did you decide to risk your reputation?”
“Yes.”
“Did my mother know nothing about it, too? Or was she aware, but did you ask her not to tell Grandfather and Grandmother anything?”
“No, no, your mother knew nothing about my secret job. I would’ve never told her anything like that! Because I wanted to be a role model for her… Be a good older sister… And I was doing everything for none of Elizabeth’s familiar people to know her older sister was working as a dancer and getting money from rich men, who she could even… Sleep with…”
“So, did nobody even have suspicious?”
“Luckily, nobody. The two sides of mine are opposite enough. Alicia and Cheryl weren’t similar to each other. For example, the real me never did bright makeup and wore too explicit clothes. The fake me did everything otherwise.”
“It’s something like a double life?”
“Yes… I lived a double life for getting money for studying at the university and helping my close people just a little. Instead of finding a job at a café or a shop where they would’ve hardly paid me good money. Such great money was the reason why I kept doing that terrible thing.”
“My gosh…”
“I would’ve probably kept living a double life: being a shy girl for my family, friends, and teachers in the university but wearing sexual outfits that barely hid some places and wriggling in front of a pole like a cat at evenings and nights. But one day, everything changed…”
“What?”
“The case is…” Alicia says nothing for two seconds to catch her breath. “Someday, I met Gilbert, Eleanor’s father. That man noticed me and started coming to that place very often to relax a little after his work, as he said. And I must’ve made any of his caprices come true. And I was doing that… For much money that he was paying me.”
“Eleanor said he was still married to her mother.”
“Yes, right. But he said he wanted to divorce her and got sick of living with the woman, who stopped being attractive to him.”
“So, did you agree to become his lover?”
“We started to speak a lot and became friends later. Besides, Gilbert suggested I go to his home, so I could please him for money.”
“Did he bring you there secretly?”
“Yes, Eleanor and her mother didn’t guess that Gilbert was cheating on his wife. But the guards, servants, and other people working at this house knew everything.”
“Okay…”
“So, a little later, we became lovers. But the initiative to become a couple belonged to him… And I never loved him, but I did not reject his attention or expensive gifts. Which I never used, however. I just brought them to my room.”
“Because of money?”
“Yes. He was literally ready to gold me and bought everything I asked about.”
“And… The fashion business… It…”
“It’s right. Gilbert was the man, who gifted it to me.”
“Now it’s clear how you actually worked in the fashion industry.”
“It happened after I just said to the father of Eleanor that I was studying at the university at the faculty of design and loved fashion. Some time later, he got the documents, got good staff members, and organized everything without notifying me. I had only to start controlling everything and making my ideas come true.”
“Did you accept that gift so easily?”
“I tried to reject it, but he insisted and gave me documents literally by force.” Alicia shrugs. “So, I had to accept it. And become the owner of the fashion business at the age of twenty, who had no experiences in ruling it. But with the help of Gilbert, I understood everything quickly. The fashion business started giving me good money, and my name got famous in some circles.”
“What about those awards?” Raquelle frowns slightly.
“Gilbert bought them.”
“Bought?”
“Yes. He paid money to someone, and they gave awards to me.”
“Didn't you get any awards by yourself?”
“Alas, sweetie, no award.”
“But wait… Why haven’t you gotten rid of them if they have to do with Gilbert somehow? Why did you keep them in a visible place when I just came to you?”
“I was actually going to carry them to the storeroom much earlier. But I did it some time later after you came here.”
“Oh, Aunt…”
“But it’s okay, I promise I will get rid of everything that has to do with the name of that man. Throw one thing and sell another.”
“Did you really like it all?”
“Not going to hide, yes,” Alicia says confidently. “I really liked ruling all of that. Ruling the empire that I owned… Even if I got it for, so to say, my beautiful eyes. That was amazing… And the understanding staff members made me happier. They did everything I told them and did not dare to argue with me. Well, if someone went against me, Gilbert immediately kicked that person out, despite their merits.”
“Did Gilbert have such a good influence?”
“Very good. Everyone was afraid of him. Everyone respected him. Everyone obeyed him. Gilbert was a provided man with good contacts, who could shut anyone up silently. With just one look.”
“So, did you start getting much more money when you started to work on that brand?”
“Yes, I was getting good money. But since my job took all my time, I had to leave the nightclub. And Gilbert told me to do it. And I decided not to argue with him. But I was told they would be happy to admit me back if I was back.”
“Were you back?”
“Nope, I didn’t come back there after I became a lover of Gilbert.”
“I understand…” Raquelle nods. “You were definitely dumbfounded when you realized you got everything so easily.”
“And I thought I had finally gotten lucky and would be able to provide for my family until the end of their days.” Alicia shakes her head. “Of course, I had to pay for such a generous gift with my body. Gilbert demanded it. He wanted me to sleep with him… And I was afraid to lose a chance to get the money that I agreed to do everything he wanted. I tolerated that man, whom I never considered sweet.”
“Aunt…” Raquelle pronounces with sadness in her eyes.
“But some time later, that man turned into a real tyrant.” Alicia sighs heavily. “He was getting crueler and crueler… That’s why it was unbearable for me to be with him…”
“Did you try to run away?” Raquelle asks.
“I was looking for any chance to run from the one I never loved. But I couldn’t do that because I knew that Gilbert could ruin me, my career, and my life. Only the fact that I was ruling the fashion business he gifted me kept me near him.”
“You were afraid?”
“Yes.”
“So, wasn’t Gilbert really as holy as Eleanor said?”
“No, my sunshine. Although everyone said Gilbert was holy and innocent, that wasn’t the truth. That man could be very cruel. Pity nobody. I think everyone was afraid of him because he was cruel, vengeful, and horrible. And Gilbert liked the fact that everyone was shaking in front of him like bunnies and looking into his mouth.”
“I got it.”
“At first, he tried to seem sweet and was careful towards me. But every day, it was getting harder to take him.” Alicia swallows up nervously. “But I kept being a lover of him and doing everything he told me. I was letting him keep me under control… Which was the reason why I distanced myself from my family and actually left the university a little later.”
“Didn’t you even talk to Grandmother and Grandfather?” Raquelle wonders.
“I was afraid. Gilbert terrified me so much that I began to be afraid of taking the wrong step.”
“Oh, gosh… Was Gilbert someone like a violator?”
“I could say so. Besides, Gilbert always reminded me of where he got me from. He said he could easily do his best for the nightclub to be the only place where I could get a job.”
“And did you take that?”
“Yes… I was pretending I was happy with the man, who gave me such a fabulous life. Greed for money made me take all of that… A fear for that man did not let me leave.”
“Wait, did Grandpa and Grandma know about that man?”
“They did. I introduced them to Gilbert when our relationships just began.”
“Did they let you date him?” Raquelle rounds her eyes.
“Mom and Dad were sure he was very good. They were happy I got lucky to meet a rich man, who would give me a good life. Father and Mother didn’t know the truth about how cruel Gilbert actually was.”
“Did Gilbert know you didn’t love him?”
“No, for the time being. But he got really mad when I somehow told him I didn’t love him and would never love him. That’s why he decided to make me his captive and keep me near him by force. When Gilbert thought I loved him, he was tender. When he found out I got sick of that man, he sharply changed.”
“My God…”
“Nothing left from a tender and attentive man, who was two times older than me. He turned into a monster. The monster that could easily raise his hand on me and pretend that nothing happened.”
“Was he planning to marry you?”
“Yes, some time later after getting divorced from Eleanor’s mother, he proposed to me, but I rejected it at once. And then I confessed that I felt nothing for him.”
“That’s how…”
“Gilbert stopped trusting me and even told his people to watch me. They were allegedly bodyguards of mine. But they actually closely watched everything I was doing and saying, and then they told their boss everything. When I did something wrong, I got into trouble. Eleanor’s father always suspected me of cheating and found any little reason to start a scandal for me.”
“Oh, my God…”
“So…” Alicia sighs too heavily.
“I was tolerating his mockeries for a long time,” Alicia confesses. “A little more than one year was gone after the day I met that man. But one day, I left… Left after he beat me cruelly without regret…”
“Beat you?” Raquelle rounds her eyes. “For what?”
“For just talking to a young man for a business. His people found it out and immediately told Gilbert everything. So, he got wild… And he did what became the last drop of my patience.”
“Stopped being afraid?”
“Yes. I gave a damn about money, the fashion business, and everything and ran away from that man at late night when nobody could catch me. I took some things of mine and left.”
“Were you living with him?”
“Yes, at his house.”
“And where did you go?”
“Returned to my parents.”
“They accepted you?”
“Of course, they did. And they were very upset when I told them Gilbert and I broke up, and I left his house, where I moved after they gave me permission.”
“Did they find out nothing?”
“No, I didn’t tell them all the truth. My family didn’t know about the hell I had to get through. I just told Father and Mother that Gilbert and I started to have conflicts and realized we could no longer live together.”
“And did you forget it?”
“Yes, I decided to do my best to forget what happened. I decided to give much more time to my family that I madly missed. You know how happy I was when I met Mom and Dad and my sissy! Who became much more beautiful.”
“How did you manage to hide the pain?”
“I didn’t hide. Vice versa, I cried much, suffered, felt sad… It was very hard for me. But I was pretending that I just loved Gilbert very much and couldn’t take the fact that we had to break up.”
“Okay…”
“But my family supported me. Mom and Dad listened to me closely and gave me pieces of advice. And Lizzy always took me somewhere to help me distract myself from my thoughts about Gilbert. I had no time to be sad! And I was madly grateful to my family for their support. But if they had known I was working as a stripper and dating a rich man for money, they would’ve one hundred percent rejected me.”
“Of course, it was a bad thing. But I think your family would’ve understood it. Grandfather and Grandmother would’ve forgiven you early or late, and my mother wouldn’t have turned her back on you and would’ve done her best to make her parents softer.”
“Anyway, I told them nothing and just spent my free time with them. And somewhere one year later, I went to America alongside Elizabeth at the invitation of my good friend Jackson, whom I introduced your mother to. And I became a witness to them getting married and becoming parents of you…”
“Were you really hiding from Gilbert for a few years?”
“Yes… I didn’t speak to Gilbert for eleven years after I left him. And I was so busy with you that I forgot about that nightmare. And I was speaking to your family…” Alicia sighs quietly with sadness in her eyes. “Until your grandfather and I broke contact with your mother and father due to their divorce.”
“Okay…” Raquelle nods.
“However…” Alicia glances aside for a second. “In May 1998, some time later after your parents’ death, I decided to go to New York at the invitation of Mr. Cameron. My parents paid for my ticket, and I was getting ready to get on my airplane…”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“But sadly, I didn’t leave because I ran into Gilbert and his bodyguards by chance,” Alicia confesses. “They didn’t let me leave and brought me to his house by force, taking my bag with my stuff and letting me know I wouldn’t run away from them.”
“Were they going somewhere, too?” Raquelle frowns slightly.
“No, someone saw me and told him. So, Gilbert immediately went there.”
“My gosh…”
“By that moment, I forgot to think about that man and didn’t think of the hell I had to get through because of him… But he spent those years finding me.”
“Yeah, he was a vengeful man…”
“And I didn’t think that day would lead to catastrophe for me. Which led to the murder of the man.”
“I get it…”
“When they caught me at the airport, they didn’t start a scandal because they didn’t want to get attention on them. Gilbert just told his bodyguards to take my bag, take me under my arms, and follow him.”
***
May 12th, 1998.
The young woman named Alicia decided to go to New York where her relative – a little niece named Raquelle, whom she misses so badly, – was living. After the parents of the baby died in February of this year, she stayed with her grandfather on the father, Frederick Cameron. Alicia and her parents, Tiffany and Timothy Thompson, sometimes help him take care of the girl, who became an orphan after the tragic deaths of Elizabeth and Jackson.
The ticket was bought a long time ago and taken from the cashier at the airport. Ms. Thompson is going to get on the airplane and take a long flight from here to the United States. At some moment, she hears the announcement on the board and goes to the terminal, which she needs to leave Great Britain with a little bag in her hands.
But at some moment, she is stopped by someone’s rude, masculine voice, which she hears from behind:
“How far are you going, Cheryl?”
Alicia sharply turns with her widely open eyes and sees an adult man coming to her confidently alongside a few much younger men wearing black clothes and looking tough enough but by far not kind. The woman instantly recognizes this man, who makes her start shaking. She did not expect she would meet him here a few years later after running away from him.
“G-gilbert?” Alicia pronounces in a little shaking voice with her widely open eyes, immediately calling the memories of some moments from her past that have to do with this man.
“So, we have met again, dolly,” Gilbert smiles widely. “I have finally found you.”
“Erm…”
“You made me run a lot. So many years of searches did not give me a result, and then you have suddenly been found. Eleven years later.” Gilbert smirks evilly, while Alicia swallows up nervously. “That’s good my familiar saw you here when leaving this place for his business.”
“Your familiar?” Alicia asks.
“Yes. He told me you were buying a ticket and getting ready to get on an airplane. When I found it out, I left my business and immediately went here.”
Alicia silently moves her eyes down.
“And I am madly grateful to him for that,” Gilbert says confidently. “Or I would have been searching for you for many years. My sexy Cheryl. My slim dolly, Cheryl.”
“We have nothing to talk about,” Alicia says quietly. “Leave me alone.”
“Nothing? Why do we have nothing to talk about? We have to talk about so many things.”
“After you almost beat me to death, I do not want to have a deal with you.”
When Alicia turns around and wants to go where she wants, Gilbert makes a gesture, after which one of his four bodyguards tightly grabs the young woman under an arm.
“Quiet, quiet, cutie, where are you going?” Gilbert pronounces quietly with a wide smile.
“Let me go!” Alicia demands coldly, pulling her arm sharply to set it free.
“You will not run away from me now. You will pay for all your tricks.”
“For God’s sake, Gilbert, don’t start a scandal here,” Alicia begs quietly. “Everyone will be watching us.”
“M-m-m, I see you decided to run away.” Gilbert glances at the bag in Alicia’s hands. “With a bag in your hands… I wonder where? Maybe, New York? Where a part of your family is living!”
“None of your business!” Alicia throws coldly. “I’ve got the right to go anywhere I want!”
“No, Cheryl, you will go nowhere!”
“I am not Cheryl!”
“I said you would not leave this place.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I can do it!”
“Gilbert…”
“You will go with me. And do everything I will tell you to do.”
“Never!”
“Would you argue with Gilbert Woodham himself?”
“Let me go right now!”
Alicia sharply tries to get her arm out of the strong grip of Gilbert’s bodyguard.
“Let me go, I said!” Alicia demands much ruder.
“Shut up and listen to our sir, bitch,” the bodyguard, who is holding Alicia under an arm tightly, sharply cuts off in a low, rude voice. “Or…”
The bodyguard falls into silence and inclines his head after Gilbert sends him a meaningful look.
“I’m actually late for an airplane!” Alicia says confidently. “I shall not be able to get into that if I don’t come just in time!”
“Relax, baby, there's no meaning in rushing,” Gilbert says with a sly smile.
“I am being late!”
“It’s alright.” Gilbert squeezes Alicia by the cheek. “The airplane will leave without you. Because we have got something to talk about.”
“Please, Gilbert, tell this man to let me go,” Alicia begs with pity in her eyes. “I must leave!”
“I said you would go nowhere.”
“You are nobody to tell me what to do! Not a lover, not a husband, not a father! And I’m no longer a child!”
“No, Cheryl. You are deeply wrong. You are still my property. And will always be the one. Until the day of your death.”
“I’m not your property!” Alicia protests rudely. “You have no right to use me however you want!”
“I do, Cheryl, I do.”
“I’m not Cheryl! I am Alicia! Cheryl has not existed for a long time! She died! More than eleven years ago!”
“Did you forget about your responsibility for me?” Gilbert smiles slyly. “Forgot where I got you from? Forgot how I made everyone say no word about your tricks?”
“Gilbert…”
“If not for me, you, bitch, would have been a dirty whore for everyone that had been fucked by half of London. But I saved your ass.”
“Sorry, but I’m late for a flight. It’s gonna leave in a few minutes.”
Alicia wants to turn around and leave, but now two of Gilbert’s company take her under her arms after another look at them and turn on the man.
“I think I did clearly say that you would go nowhere,” Gilbert says coldly and confidently, coming closer to Alicia.
“We have nothing to talk about!” Alicia throws coldly.
“You, brainless chicken, do not think you could run away from me. Because I shall find you anywhere. I have got very many contacts.”
“I’m not going to run away from you.”
“If you did, I would find you anyway! Even if I had to spend ten or twenty more years. I would be ready to wait. To find one dirty, nasty slut that thought she could resist Gilbert Woodham himself.”
“Leave me alone, Gilbert. I do not want to talk to you.”
“But I DO!”
Gilbert sharply takes a bag from Alicia that she is holding in her hands and gives it to one of his bodyguards.
“My stuff!” Alicia rounds her eyes. “Give me my bag!”
“Quiet, babe. You no longer need this.”
“Gilbert!”
“So, my dear Alicia-Cheryl, you will now close your mouth and go with me and my bodyguards,” Gilbert says rudely and confidently. “We will go to my home, where I will deal with you well and explain something.”
“I will not go with you!”
“Alright, I shall not start any scandals here and scream because I do not need attention on me. But after crossing the doorstep of my house, you will regret it, bitch.”
“If you think I would be performing a private dance for you, you are deeply wrong,” Alicia says quietly. “I stopped doing that a long time ago and no longer work as a stripper.”
“You will never stop doing it. Never make people forget your past.”
“If nobody reminds me of that, nobody will know anything.”
“No, sweetheart, whores that have been fucked by lots of people could pretend to be holy as much as they want. But they would never get off the dirt they got into.”
“Think what you want. I don’t care about your opinion.”
“Stop talking, you, nasty bitch. No matter if you want it or not, you will have to go to my home and explain your disgusting behavior to me.”
“I say again, you are nobody to me to tell me what to do.”
“Do not be rude to me, girl,” Gilbert pronounces quietly. “Or I shall turn your life to hell.”
“Gilbert…”
“One word of mine before everything happens as I want. So, if you don’t want to make it worse, be pleased to listen and obey.”
“My life was hell all the time that you considered yourself my lover and thought you had a right to control me. And I am madly happy I ran away from you and started to live a good life.” Alicia proudly raises her head up. “These eleven years have been just wonderful. Because I have spent them with my family. That I could not speak to because of you. I have already hung out at the wedding of my sister and became an aunt to a little girl.”
“You met your niece for the last time,” Gilbert throws rudely.
“That’s amazing to be surrounded by your close people. Next to them, I’ve never thought of the horrible time I spent with you. When you wanted me to please you all day long and perform a striptease for you. When you thought you’d buy my love for money and high-costed stuff.”
“If you keep pretending to be nobody the fuck knows who, you will never live a quiet life.”
“Nothing connects us anymore.”
“Wrong, babe. You will always be mine. And even if I die, you will be suffering anyway. Because everyone will be calling you a nasty slut.”
“Wishing someone to die is bad, but sometimes I wish you died.”
“Besides, don’t forget that someday your mommy and daddy will know about your tricks.”
“They will never know anything!”
“If I go to their home, I can easily tell them all the truth about who you actually are.”
“You would not dare to do this,” Alicia hisses through her teeth.
“I can do anything, Cheryl.”
“I am Alicia!”
“Remember, I am the only one to be able to make everyone either respect you or contempt you. Decide what I should do. If you want to stay clean and innocent for everyone, do everything I tell you. If you want to stay the stripper Cheryl until the last day of your life, keep pretending to be nobody the fuck knows who.”
“Stop, Gilbert!” Alicia sharply cuts off. “I don’t want to remember what we had. I am still regretting actually standing in your way. Because you’re like a pain in the neck. A hump on my back!”
“No, babe, you will regret something different. Regret leaving me. Running away like a dog that did a bad trick and hiding from me for a few years, thinking I would forget you.”
Gilbert shakes his head.
“No, Alicia,” Gilbert pronounces with a sly smile. “I spent so many years searching and calling all my familiars for the reason. Besides, the result was worth it all. I finally found you and will make you pay for everything you have done.”
“Think of your daughter,” Alicia advises. “While you waste your time on making me have fun with you, she doesn’t almost see you and would probably love to spend as much time with you as possible.”
“Do not worry about my daughter. You better worry about your life, which I shall turn to the real hell.”
“Please, Gilbert…”
“Alright, I am done with talking to you at this place!” Gilbert sharply cuts off and moves his eyes to his bodyguards. “So, guys, bring this gall to the car and do not let her go.”
“What?” Alicia resents and tries to get out of the tight grip of the men, who silently obey Gilbert and take her under her arms. “Hey! Let me go! Now! I shall go nowhere with you! Let me go!”
“C’mon, guys, to the car!”
“Gilbert! Tell them! I shall go nowhere!”
“Sit between her not to let her open the door and jump out of the car.”
“Let me go, now! Let me go! Let me go, I said! Or I shall be screaming! Let me go, I say!”
“Do not make me tear your clothes on you and fuck you right here before the eyes of people at the airport,” Gilbert threatens rudely, tightly grabbing Alicia by the collar.
“I have nothing to talk to you about!”
“Either you, bitch, will go with me at your wish, or the whole airport will come to watch what will be happening here.”
“No! I shall not go!”
“Go, guys!” Gilbert commands sharply. “Go! Follow me!”
Gilbert turns around sharply and goes somewhere, while his bodyguards obediently follow him. Two of them are tightly holding Alicia under her arms while she is resisting so hard, and another is carrying her bag with some stuff.
“Let me go!” Alicia resists so hard. “No! Let me go! I do not want to go anywhere with you! No! Let me go! No!”
“Move the fuck faster, idiots!” Gilbert throws rudely, turning back for a second and looking at his bodyguards following him. “Or this scumbag will bring me to a wish to fuck her here and get ashamed of the whole airport.”
“Please, Gilbert, don’t do it…”
“MOVE FASTER, SCUMBAG! DO NOT MAKE ME MUCH ANGRIER! MOVE YOUR ASS BEFORE I SCREAM AT THE WHOLE AIRPORT!”
Sadly, no matter how hard Alicia tries to resist, the young men are much stronger and easily get her out of the airport, along with Gilbert, who barely contains himself not to give a damn about everything and not to mock the woman crying quietly right here and now. The former lover of Gilbert herself gets horrified by what might happen to her at the nearest time, and what this man would do to her, who somehow showered her with money for an intimate relationship.
Today did not promise anything bad. Alicia was looking forward to meeting her little niece, whom she missed so badly. But a sudden meeting with Gilbert Woodham and his bodyguards ruined all of her plans. And now she has to think not about whether the little Raquelle is going to be happy to get her modest gifts, but about what might happen when she crosses the doorstep of the house that she actually never loved.
***
“So, when he brought me there, he told me he closed my fashion business without notifying me and dismissed all the staff members a long time ago,” Alicia confesses. “He let me know that I was no longer the owner of my own business.”
“So, did Eleanor tell the truth?” Raquelle frowns slightly. “Did you actually finish your career as a designer against your wish?”
“It’s the truth. You always thought my fashion business went bankrupt, and I decided to quit my career. But that wasn’t the truth. Eleanor's father just closed it and voided the documents.”
“Wow…”
“But actually, it never belonged to me… Yes, there were documents, but I had to sleep with that man for that… Besides, I was doing something for some time. And later, other people began to do everything for me. I was just getting money. I mean, Gilbert was getting it, who stopped giving it to me after I refused to get married to him.”
“And didn’t you get upset when he did that?”
“Not at all,” Alicia confidently shakes her head. “I wanted to get out of his control so much. For that, I was literally ready to start working as a stripper at the nightclub again. Do anything just to get off Gilbert once and forever…”
“And what happened then?”
“Then we fought for a long time. Gilbert raised his hand at me, and insulted, and humiliated me many times… I tried to deny it, but that was worthless…”
Alicia sniffs quietly.
“So, then my real nightmare started…” Alicia says in a little shaking voice. “Which was much worse than everything that had happened before…”
“What?” Raquelle rounds her eyes.
“That man began accosting me. But I started defending myself and was trying to get out of arms in any way.”
“Accosting you?”
“He thought I’d take everything silently and let him hurt me because I had never refused to have sex with him. But I didn’t want it and was fighting as hard as possible…”
“Oh, my gosh…” Raquelle shakes her head with horror in her eyes.
“That man literally went insane from a wish to make me belong to him. And he tried to make me please him by force.” Alicia shakes her head. “Besides, Gilbert claimed if I didn’t agree to get married to him and give birth to his baby, he would ruin my whole life and do his best for me to never forget what happened. Never find a good job. Because I would always be the prostitute Cheryl, who was known literally to the whole of London for the past years.”
“So, did he give you another chance?”
“Right, Gilbert gave me another chance to make my life better, as he thought. But I confidently claimed I didn’t want to have a deal with him. So, he got very enraged. And… Gilbert tries to rape me…”
Alicia shakes her head, breathing very heavily, but finds the courage to speak every time she wants to fall into silence and stop feeling everything that was happening to her. Everything that still makes her feel ashamed.
“I quickly realized I must’ve saved myself somehow…” Alicia confesses. “Because I didn’t want to get involved in that again… I didn’t want to depend on Gilbert, always please him, and hide from his people, who were watching me closely.”
Alicia sniffs quietly.
“But running away was a hard thing to do,” Alicia says. “Because Gilbert told the security to make sure that I would not leave. And he caught me every time I tried to come to the door of his office, where we were.”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“Still, I didn’t lose hope and…” Alicia continues. “At some moment, I saw a vase… Decided to take the first thing that would be in my way and hit Gilbert. To play time and try to run away somehow.”
Alicia says nothing for two seconds.
“So, I barely took that crystal vase…” Alicia confesses. “And… I hit him on the head…”
“Oh, my God…” Raquelle rounds her eyes.
“Gilbert immediately let me go and fell to the floor. And… As it turned out… The hit was fateful… I… I didn’t count it and… Gave a mortal hit.”
“Did Gilbert die at once?”
“Yes, he died instantly, and I could do nothing. I tried to reach for him… Wake him up… But alas! Nothing worked!”
“And did you get scared and decided to run?”
“Yeah… When I realized that I had become a killer, I first panicked. I didn’t wanna go to prison. Didn’t wanna kill that man. If some of the servants or bodyguards of Gilbert had seen me murdering him, they would’ve betrayed me to the police.”
“But how did you run away so that nobody noticed you?”
“I could say I was lucky. I decided to run away through a back door that nobody usually watched. Servants usually used it. Well, as the bodyguards distracted and laughed at something, and the servants were busy with their business and were nobody knew where, I decided to take a risk. And I successfully ran away from the house. Leaving Gilbert at the office.”
“Oh, my God…”
“I was terribly afraid of being judged. Afraid of going to prison. I thought I’d forget it all… But… I did not. Since that day, I forgot what peace meant. Gilbert saw everything through when he said I would be suffering even after his death. Because I am really suffering. At the present.”
“And did you surely forget you were going to go to New York?”
“Oh, I didn’t care about the trip to New York.”
“And what did you do after you ran away from Gilbert’s house?”
“On that day, I ran away and hid for nobody to find me.”
“At Grandfather and Grandmother’s home?”
“Nope. I had some money with me, for which I rented a room at one cheap hotel that I found thanks to a piece of advice from someone. I was looking for something like that.”
“Okay…”
“The next day, I saw shows, in which they were telling about the murder of Gilbert. They said the police were investigating the murder, and his family was getting ready for the funeral. Besides, Eleanor and those, who were at his house, charged me for everything and told the police I was the one to kill him.”
“Did nobody betray you?”
“I had to change my look a little. I wore wigs that I had had since the times of my work at the nightclub and glasses.”
“But you were getting a room under your name. Someone could easily betray you if the police went there.”
“I was afraid of that. But I hoped I would be saved. Because nobody could say I was living in that hotel. And I didn’t almost leave my room. If I had gone somewhere outside, I would’ve gotten caught.”
“Did Grandpa and Grandma not find out that you killed the man?”
“At least, I told them nothing. But I don’t exclude that they could find it out thanks to news in newspapers or TV shows.”
“Did you meet them?”
“Nope, I didn’t meet them after Gilbert died. I said goodbye to them before trying to go to New York and knew nothing about them since that.”
“And someone of your familiars?”
“They didn’t know, either. Though, many of them tried to contact me by calling my mobile number. But I talked to nobody and kept being in my hideaway.”
“And didn’t you speak to your parents even after you got free?”
“Alas… About six months later after getting released, I found out about their death from their good friends, who were at the funerals of your grandfather and grandmother. We met someday and talked about everything… That became known… So, I found out my mother died first, and then my father did.”
“And when did you go to the police to make a full confession?”
“I was hiding for less than one month. I killed Gilbert in the middle of May but went to give in at the beginning of June 1998.” Alicia sniffs quietly, feeling how much she is shaking from fear, and tightly embraces herself with her arms. “I didn’t eventually take it. It was a heavy burden on my heart. I suffered from constant nightmares, in which I saw that man with his bloody head. And I started to be worried that one of the hotel staff members would tell the police about me early or late, and they would come for me.”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“In short, someday, I went to the police station,” Alicia confesses. “I found the one to investigate the murder of Gilbert and honestly told him everything.”
***
June 5th, 1998.
A young woman named Alicia Thompson went to one of the police stations in London. She was hiding from everybody after the day she had accidentally killed the all-famous man, Gilbert Woodham, who tried to rape her. Alicia did not want to go to prison and pay for what she did not want to do.
But almost one month later, this dark-haired, terribly white, and skinny enough brunette realized it could not have been happening anymore. She decided to go to the police, give up at her wish, and get the sentence that the law requires, being ready for the dirt and criticism that she is going to hear when everyone knows who became the killer of the famous businessman.
Alicia is now standing in front of the door of the office, where, as she was told, there is an investigator, who is investigating the case of the murder of that man. After looking in it hesitantly, she slightly opens the door and quietly knocks at it, pronouncing hesitantly:
“Excuse me…”
Alicia sees a man at the age of thirty or thirty-five in a gray shirt with short hair and a slight bristle, who is in the spacious, light office, sitting on the working table, examining some papers and writing something. But after hearing the feminine voice, he distracts and moves his eyes to the one to come here.
“Yes, I am listening,” the man says quietly.
“Excuse me…” Alicia pronounces quietly and hesitantly, looking at the man with scared eyes. “I would like to talk to the one to… Investigate… The case of the murder of… Gilbert Woodham…”
“That’s me.”
The man folds all the papers into the same bunch and puts them aside, focusing his attention on Alicia.
“How could I help you with?” the man asks. “Would you like to talk to me?”
“Yes…” Alicia confirms hesitantly. “I… I was told… I should have talked to you… That you were here…”
“That’s correct. Come in, please. Sit down.”
With these words, the man points at the chair near his working table, inviting the young woman to sit down. Alicia hesitates for two seconds, slowly crosses the doorstep, closes the door, comes to the table, and sits where this man tells her, who looks quite serious.
“So, do you say you came here for the case of the murder of Gilbert Woodham?” the man specifies thoughtfully.
“Yes…” Alicia pronounces quietly, tightly locking her fingers. “I… I want to tell you something…”
“Alright, I will listen to you, but at first, let me introduce myself. Inspector Martin Barrett. I am investigating the case of the murder of that man.”
“Yeah… I was told.”
“So, what do you want to tell?”
“You see, Mr. Policeman…”
Alicia falls into silence and bites her lip slightly, being hesitant and insecure.
“If you did not know, I want to tell you that anyone, who gives us any information about that murder, will get a good reward,” Martin says. “The family of the late man promised to personally pay anyone to give some information about the killer of the powerful Gilbert Woodham.”
“Is nothing known now?” Alicia rounds her eyes.
“Alas, we have little information yet. We have already questioned the family members of Gilbert and those, who surrounded him over the last days of his life. But sadly, it gives us nothing good. The killer has not been found.”
“Alright…”
“But the police are looking for one woman, who has been called a suspect in the murder by everybody. Sadly, she is hiding somewhere, and we have not found her to invite her to be questioned.”
“And… I want to tell you…” Alicia sighs heavily, nervously fingering over. “Say… About… The killer…”
“Listen, Ms., you should first calm down a little,” Martin says quietly. “I completely understand that it’s also very hard for you to accept the death of that man. But since you showed a wish to tell something to the police, be sure, it might help us find the killer sooner.”
“The case is…”
Alicia sniffs quietly and throws a one-second look at her hands, not paying attention to the voices of people going by and some sounds ringing at one side and another.
“The case is that I want to make a statement…” Alicia says hesitantly. “A statement… About the killer…”
“About the killer?” Martin rounds his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Great, I am listening to you closely. Can you say where the killer is? Do you know something about the one, who did that?”
“I can…” Alicia pronounces hesitantly, moving her half-wet eyes on Martin and feeling that her shaking body is very tense. “I know who killed Gilbert…”
“Speak.”
“I…”
“Or let me give you a glass of water first, and then you will calm down a little and say what you want.”
“No, no, thanks…” Alicia refuses with a heavy breath. “Do not do it…”
“Please, Ms., do not get so excited,” Martin says quietly. “Remember, the more valuable information you give, the higher our chance of catching the killer of Gilbert Woodham is.”
“Think you have already caught the one… Caught the killer.”
“Erm… Excuse me, what?”
“I am the killer…” Alicia confesses in a strongly shaking voice. “I killed Gilbert…”
Alicia’s confession gets Martin a little discouraged and makes him confused for some time. Still, the man braces himself quickly enough, unconsciously feeling sorry for this almost crying and strongly shaking from a fearful woman, at whom he stares surprisingly.
“You?” Martin rounds his eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Policeman,” Alicia nods and sniffs quietly. “I came here to make a full confession. Confession about Gilbert, who died because of me.”
“That’s how…” Martin glances aside for a second, rubbing his hands and leaning back in the office chair while thinking about what he heard. “So, did you decide to take fault for the murder of that man?”
“I swear I am not going to pay for someone,” Alicia says with despair, looking at Martin with her wet eyes. “I did it! I killed him!”
“Listen…”
“And I came here to pay for that. I am ready to be on a trial and go to prison for as long as I have to.”
“So, wait, wait, Ms., let’s discuss everything in order,” Martin says quietly.
“I no longer want to hide from anyone,” Alicia confesses with tears in her eyes. “I do not want to pretend that nothing happened.”
“Listen, first, you should calm down. And do not jab like this because I understand nothing.”
“Gilbert died because of me!” Alicia starts crying quietly. “My fault! I killed him! Me!”
“Did you really kill Gilbert Woodham? Do you not try to take someone’s fault? What if you cover the real killer and do not want that man to be judged?”
“I swear, Inspector Barrett, I cover nobody. I came here to make a statement.”
“That’s how?”
“I can no longer be hiding and living as if nothing happened. That horror will be chasing me until I confess what I did and get the sentence I deserved.”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Martin thinks about something.
“Excuse me, Ms., what’s your name?” Martin asks.
“Alicia,” Alicia makes a quiet sob. “My name is Alicia Thompson.”
“Alicia Thompson?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, so, are you the suspect, whom everybody from the surroundings of Gilbert told us about? Who the police were searching for so long?”
“I am. And I knew the police were searching for me.”
“But why did you not come? Why were you hiding?”
“I was scared. Scared… Scared of what would be waiting for me…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “I thought everything would be fine. Nobody would know Gilbert died because of me… But… I was a stupid idiot… Everything was against me…”
“Hm…” Martin frowns slightly. “So, did you come to give in at your wish?”
“Yes… My conscience torments me… I can no longer hide… And…” Alicia shakes her head. “If I had not gone to the police to confess the murder, I would have gone crazy. And… I would have killed myself… I can't… I felt terrible…”
Alicia closes her face with both hands and keeps crying quietly. Martin looks at her with pity in his eyes and understands that his heart is squeezing, looking at this young woman, who is strongly shaking from fear and excitement.
“Wait, I shall give you some water,” Martin says thoughtfully.
Saying nothing more, Martin gets up from the table, comes to the little water cooler, takes a plastic glass from a bunch placed near the one, fills it with water, and gives it to Alicia crying quietly. The woman takes it with shaking hands and drinks a little, sniffing quietly.
“I swear, Mr. Policeman, I shall no longer be hiding,” Alicia promises with tears in her eyes. “I shall tell all the truth as many times as I need. Tell me why and how I killed him. And…”
Alicia makes a quiet sob.
“I am ready for…” Alicia pronounces in a little shaking voice. “Being judged by Gilbert’s family members… I know they would not forgive me for that… And they would curse me…”
“Alright, as you have decided to give in at your wish, let’s do something…” Martin says thoughtfully and takes a few clicks of a mouse, setting his eyes on the screen of a monitor, which looks like those that are being released at the moment. “You will tell everything in order, and I shall record your testimony. I will also ask you some questions to specify everything.”
“I agree… Ask me anything. Shall tell everything…”
“Let’s discuss it in order.” Martin takes a few more clicks of the mouse and places his hands on the keyboard, on which he starts typing text. “First, tell me why you killed Gilbert Woodham and then hid from the police.”
“I killed Gilbert because he tried to rape me,” Alicia says in a shaking voice with tears in her eyes.
“Rape?”
“Yes…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “About one month ago, I was going to leave London and go to New York. But I met Gilbert and his company by chance… Bodyguards… They saw me and brought me to his house by force… Gilbert told his servants and bodyguards not to let me go out of the house… And then he brought me to his office, where everything happened.”
“More details, please,” Martin says quietly. “Tell me as much as possible. Who were you for the late man? How did you meet? What connected you?”
“Gilbert was my lover for some time.” Alicia tightly locks her fingers. “We met at a club where I worked as a dancer. He became one of my permanent clients for who I… Was dancing… For money. Gilbert was always very generous and paid good money to me for pleasing him…”
“Alright…” Martin frowns slightly, typing text on the keyboard.
“Later, he started to invite me to his home, where I was performing private dances for him while Caroline Robinson, his wife at that time, was left.”
“Did someone know it?”
“Everybody working at the house knew it, but Gilbert told them to say nothing to his wife and Eleanor Woodham, his daughter.”
“Alright… Keep speaking.”
“So…”
Alicia sighs heavily, nervously fingering over and understanding how unpleasant it is for her to confess who she worked as.
“Some time later, our relationship started,” Alicia confesses. “I became his lover… Gilbert provided for me and bought everything I asked for. He got divorced from Caroline to marry me. But when he proposed to me, I rejected him.”
“So, did you kill Gilbert when he was a lover of yours?”
“We had broken up before. Because I refused to get married to him and give birth to a child. Gilbert went wild and became a demon.”
“Alright…”
“Since that moment, he started to keep me under close control. He watched everything I did, who I spoke to… Told his bodyguards to follow me and tell everything and let me give him no reason to make him mad.” Alicia sighs heavily. “That was just unbearable. So unbearable that I wanted to refuse all of his gifts.”
“But why did you break up?” Martin specifies.
“Because he beat me strongly during one of our fights. Gilbert went wild because I was talking to a man. But there was nothing between him and me. I was talking to him about a business. But Gilbert got mad because of that.” Alicia shakes her head. “He actually considered me his property. He thought I should’ve looked into his mouth. As well as everybody that was working with him. And he always reminded me of where he got me from. He threatened to bring me back if I kept making him mad. But his total control and a ban on speaking to my family and friends made me realize it couldn’t be happening anymore.”
Alicia says nothing for two seconds and sniffs quietly, wiping tears under her eyes.
“So…” Alicia pronounces thoughtfully. “As I’ve said, almost one month ago, Gilbert and his bodyguards caught me at the airport and brought me to his home. That man started screaming at me and beating me, being furious because of my escape and the fact that I did not love him.”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“I begged him to let me go, but he refused,” Alicia confesses. “And instead of that, he started harassing me… Kissing on everything… Hugging… Undressing… It was happening against my wish. He decided to do this after I refused to come back to him and get married to him.”
“Alright…” Martin nods, still typing something on the keyboard.
“No shouts and prays helped me… Gilbert didn’t want to let go.” Alicia sighs heavily. “I thought that was my funeral… I thought that woman would do something to me.”
Alicia moves her eyes to the fingers of her hands that are locked tightly.
“But I was lucky because…” Alicia says thoughtfully. “I had a vase near me… With which… I… Hit Gilbert on the head… He fell down almost shortly… He did not lose consciousness… He died… I tried to wake him up, but… It was too late.”
“And did you decide to run away?” Martin specifies.
“Yes. After getting horrified by realizing that the man was dead, I… I got so terrified and… Ran away from the house… Ran almost naked… Through a back door that nobody watched… I was running very fast…”
“Where did you hide?”
“I hid at a cheap hotel and… I didn’t leave my room… I lived with fear about my life… I was afraid Gilbert’s family would destroy me and put me in prison literally for a whole life. But…” Alicia shakes her head.
“Now I realized I would no longer be able to be silent. So, I came here. Being absolutely ready to pay for what I did…”
“Alright…” Martin pronounces confidently. “Say, did you actually not love that man? Eleanor Woodham, the daughter of the late Gilbert, says you never loved her father and always used his money. She blames you for him getting divorced from Caroline Robinson and being blind because of his love for you.”
“I really never loved Gilbert. But I never needed his money. I was happy he was paying me for my work. He was the one to wish to provide for me and give me expensive gifts, which that man literally made me accept.”
“Alright… Why did you actually go to work at the nightclub?”
“To pay for my studies at the university.”
“Did you have no possibility of paying for it?”
“Sadly, my family had no money for that. And I went to work as a dancer at a nightclub thanks to the advice of one friend of mine. They paid good money, thanks to which I solved this problem a little later. Not completely, but I did.” Alicia sighs heavily. “But when I became a lover of the late one, I had to leave the nightclub and the university. At his wish.”
“Alright…” Martin pronounces thoughtfully.
“But now I’m regretting standing in the way of that man.” Alicia sniffs quietly. “I would have better stayed poor and gotten no education. I don’t know what I was thinking about when going to work where a decent girl would not come.”
“So, did you really not kill Gilbert on purpose, as his daughter says?”
“Come on, no!” Alicia exclaims with her widely open eyes. “I swear on anything that I didn’t want to kill him! I was just protecting myself! I did not want to let him rape me! I thought I would just knock Gilbert out and use a moment to run away from the house. But everything didn't happen in the way I wanted.”
“As she said, you dreamed of getting his money and business.”
“I did not even think about it. Vice versa, sometimes I felt uncomfortable accepting such expensive gifts from him. I even tried to reject the fashion business that he opened specially for me. But Gilbert was persistent and put documents for a right to own them in my hands literally by force. He gifted me high-costed clothes and jewelry, took me to restaurants, and went abroad with me several times.”
“What did your family think about it?”
“My parents didn’t know who he actually was. He seemed to be a caring and kind man to them. Since that man was very rich, my father and mother got much happier. Because… Any parent would love their daughter to live with a provided man.”
“Alright…”
“Gilbert was always pretending. He always seemed like a light and kind man to everyone, but that man was actually very cruel. So cruel that I regretted standing in his way because of a wish to get money in a very easy way.”
“As I understand, did your parents approve of your relationship with the late man?”
“Yes, they did, and they even started to talk about a wedding.”
“Do they know you killed Gilbert?”
“I told them nothing. And I haven’t met them since that man brought me to his home and tried to rape me. Maybe, they will find it out from magazines early or late, but I will not say it. Because I’m afraid… To disappoint them… I don’t want them to get ashamed of me… Don’t want my friends and familiars to think bad things about me…” Alicia swallows up nervously. “And how ashamed my niece would be if she knew what her aunt did! I don’t know what I would do if she found it out somehow.”
“Alright…” Martin pronounces thoughtfully. “I got it…”
Martin keeps asking Alicia something for some time and types text on the keyboard, at heart being truly sorry for this young woman, who is strongly shaking from fear and telling everything that happened to her with horror in her wet eyes and completely understanding she is about to get handcuffs on her hands and be put to prison where she would be waiting for a trial. And some time later, the man asks her the last question, types her detailed answer to the computer, and finishes the questioning.
“Alright, Ms. Thompson, I understood everything of it and recorded your testimony,” Martin says quietly, takes a couple of clicks, and hears a printer placed behind him begins making loud sounds. “I shall give you a piece of paper that you should sign. It would be an agreement about you confirming everything you have said.”
“Alright,” Alicia nods.
One minute or two later, Martin gets three pieces of paper out of the printer with some information, quickly runs his eyes over the content, signs one of them, and turns the papers on Alicia, saying:
“Read, please, this document and sign it if you agree with everything.”
Alicia briefly runs her eyes over the papers, leaves her signature at the end of one of them, and gives them and the pen to Martin. The man nods and glances at the area where the woman should have left her signature.
“I am letting you know, Ms. Thompson, that you are under arrest from this minute,” Martin says confidently.
“Alright,” Alicia nods. “I am… Ready…”
“If you are not able to find a lawyer, we will give you ours. That one will examine the materials of this case and protect you when it’s time for a hearing of your case.”
“I got it.”
“Remember that a full confession could either help you be found non-guilty or make your sentence much shorter.”
“Yes, I understand it,” Alicia pronounces quietly. “I’m ready to be sentenced.”
Martin looks at Alicia for two seconds with sadness in his eyes but then sighs quietly, takes a wired phone placed on the table in front of him, types a number, and waits for some time until he gets a response.
“It’s Martin Barrett,” Martin pronounces quietly. “Come to my office, please.”
Martin puts the phone aside and says nothing for some time until someone knocks at the door, and a young man in a policeman's suit shows up at the doorstep.
“Did you call me, Inspector Barrett?” the man asks.
“Yes,” Martin confirms and points at Alicia with her hand. “Please, put this girl in prison. She has been arrested on the charge of the murder of Gilbert Woodham.”
The policeman nods confidently and comes to Alicia quietly.
“Get up, Ms.,” the policeman says confidently. “You are coming with me.”
The policeman takes Alicia under an arm and takes her away from the office, while she obediently follows him, barely holding down her tears and thinking she might get a little better after she has finally confessed what had tortured her for a long time. Martin watches her with a sad look, not understanding how this woman could come to that.
“Oh, God, she is so silly…” Martin sighs heavily. “The young and beautiful woman got involved in this story. She could have studied and worked somewhere. But instead of that, she worked as a prostitute and killed the man…”
Martin shakes his head.
“I’m sorry she ruined her whole life…” Martin says thoughtfully. “Very sorry…”
Martin reflects on the situation of Alicia for a few seconds, but then takes the papers signed by Alicia and runs his eyes over them, reading all the testimony she gave and getting much more horrified by what she sees. Nevertheless, despite this, the man feels truly sorry for the young woman, who has been arrested and brought to a prison cell by the policeman.
***
“So, after I told everything, I got immediately arrested,” Alicia says quietly. “I was ready for that and showed no resistance when the inspector called someone and asked to put me in a cell.”
Alicia sniffs quietly.
“Since that, I didn't come back at the hotel anymore,” Alicia confesses. “I paid for the last day of living and then actually left it.”
Alicia keeps crying bitterly, starting to shake much stronger from excitement, and looking white enough while she is getting through everything that happened to her somehow.
“I was in a prison and waiting for the judicial proceedings for a long three months that seemed like forever,” Alicia says. “Lots of questions, meetings with my lawyer, who, thank God, was a wonderful man, not a cad that wanted to put me in prison for a lifetime…”
Alicia exhales slowly.
“Gilbert’s family members visited me many times to curse me…” Alicia confesses. “My cellmates disliked me and were very rude to me… Besides, I got a strong cold and was in the hospital multiple times. My organism got much weaker, even if I did not almost have a cold.”
Alicia carefully wipes off tears under her eyes.
“However, the trial was also the real hell…” Alicia says thoughtfully. “I heard very much criticism and many insults about me. My nerves were on edge. I thought I would go crazy… It was just unbearable.”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“But fortunately, after two months of a hard trial between me and the family of the dead man, the judge made a decision,” Alicia says. “She decided that I defended myself and did that for self-defense, – but it’s a clean truth. And she returned a verdict of me being non-guilty. I was finally able to leave prison and do my best to try to come back to a normal life and… Reunite with you. Meet my niece, whom I had not met for many years.”
“Did the family of Gilbert get undoubtedly wild?” Raquelle assumes.
“Right. They all went crazy after the announcement of the sentence. Eleanor almost killed me right in the courtroom… Her mother almost pulled my hair out… And the lawyers of us, who were literally rivals, attacked each other with fists.”
***
November 13th, 1998.
After lunchtime, the judge should announce the sentence for the case of the murder of Gilbert Woodham, in which Alicia Thompson is a defendant. The girl was hiding from the police for some time because of a fear of going to jail, but remorse tortured her so much that she gave up on the police later and went to jail at her wish, explaining why she did such a terrible thing. And then the first hearing started, in which all the family members of the dead Gilbert came with the hope that the real killer would be sitting in prison for years.
The poor Alicia had to hear very many bad things from them and hear how the members of the Woodham family called her a prostitute, a kept woman, and also a killer of the man, whom they loved so much. It goes without saying, none of them believed the defendant when she explained to the judge how everything happened, hiding nothing and telling all the truth.
The lawyer that she got him to protect her was doing his best to excuse his client and prove that the murder was an accident, protesting against the lawyer of the family, Woodham-Robinson. That one felt no sorry for Alicia and openly charged her with planning the murder. All the family members of the dead Gilbert were questioned. They described Gilbert’s relationship with Alicia in all detail and told how she used him and broke the family that seemed so strong. The defendant denied much of what was said and insisted on her version.
Violations of rules also took place in the court. The family members of Gilbert provoked a scandal. However, the lawyers of the two sides also attacked each other, who have been enemies for many years. Alicia was trying to keep calm and not to react to the aggression that those people showed her. Because she knew it would be a plus for her. The judge would see that she did not look like the evil criminal that they wanted to make her. And she had no strength to fight with someone…
The defendant was doing her everything her lawyer told her, who was a very good man and truly believed this girl killed Gilbert accidentally. He used his knowledge and some proof to confirm that the dead man really was not quite holy. However, even seeing the real proof, the family Woodham-Robinson did not believe Gilbert could really be such a scumbag that Alicia and her lawyer wanted to make him and wanted to tear her apart right in the courtroom.
So, after a few trials, the day the judge would give the sentence that would decide Alicia’s destiny was chosen. She was quiet outside, but when she is brought to the court, taken to the room, and seated in front of the place for the judge, the woman gets terribly nervous and prays silently that everything is alright. Besides, the few months that she spent in jail impacted her appearance a lot. Now Alicia has red, puffy eyes, under which it’s easy to see big circles, and nothing left from a former gloss of hair that now looks like straw. Her skin looks terribly white, and her arms and legs are similar to thin sticks because she lost too much weight.
Alicia looks so exhausted and unhappy that it seems like she has been worried about the fact that her destiny will be decided now and also the fact that she could barely live in a jail where the condition is not always excellent. Nothing is left of the former Alicia, who had a gloss in her eyes, a wide smile, a fresh look, and a normal skin color. All these trials and talks with her lawyer suck all her energy out of her.
Because of all of this, Alicia was driven to the last trial, being in terrible enough condition. She, having handcuffs on her hands, looks at everything she sees around with her empty eyes while a policeman, who always stood next to her on every single trial not to let her run away, comes to her. Even if she was not going to do this…
Later, the first guests come to the room. Among whom there are only those, who hope that Alicia will go to prison for ages. Her middle-aged lawyer, who comes here a little later and sits down next to his client, is the only person, who supports her and comforts the woman, who cannot stop shaking with a feeling that her heart is beating like crazy.
“Don’t worry, Alicia,” Alicia’s lawyer says softly, caressing her hand and shoulder while she wipes tears off her white face that has no makeup. “Everything will be over now. You will leave this place very soon.”
“What if I shall not?” Alicia pronounces quietly with sadness in her eyes. “What if the judge gives me a long sentence, and I shall leave prison probably when I’m of adult age after sitting in jail when I was young? Or what if I actually get a life sentence?”
“No, my sweetie, I do not doubt the win will be ours.”
“If only I didn't have to deal with such a powerful family…”
“It’s going to be okay. Calm down, please.”
“I’m so scared…”
“You have nothing to be afraid of. You told everything quite honestly and have been behaving very well and not succumbing to the provocations of the family of the dead Gilbert. The judge will surely take a note of it when making a decision.”
“Only if the Woodhams did not bribe that judge before the trial,” Alicia sighs heavily. “They could easily do that…”
“Everything is going to be fine, my darling,” the lawyer insists. “You will be excused and set free today. When the judge tells the police to let you go, you can go home.”
“But where do I go? I have no home!”
“You said you had parents.”
“I can’t show up on the doorstep of their home after what I did. They probably know everything and rejected me as their daughter.”
“I am sure they completely understand everything.”
“Hardly, Mr. Clemens…”
“Listen, let’s think about it later. Now the most important thing is to listen to the judge and hope that she will find you non-guilty. And then you would forget this nightmare and live a quiet life.”
“I will never forget everything that’s happened to me…” Alicia sighs heavily. “I will not stop blaming myself, even if the judge finds me non-guilty. I would hardly tell someone that I killed the man.”
“I completely understand you,” the lawyer says confidently. “But I’m asking you, hope only for the best. And be sure that you will be set free from jail.”
“I wish I did…”
“You will do! You and I did our best and used all the benefits we had.”
“Oh, if the judge finds me non-guilty or gives me a short sentence, that family will eat me…”
Alicia throws a look at the family members of the late Gilbert, who just come to the courtroom, and among whom there is his daughter, Eleanor Woodham, her mother, Caroline Robinson, her grandmother and grandfather on the mother, Cecilia and Randolph Robinson, two aunts of her, Eveline and Yolanda Woodham, her cousin, Stephan Robinson and her great-aunt, Yasmin Robinson, who is expecting a child, and her boyfriend, Gabriel Everett.
There are a couple of his servants, one of whom is Nina, who found the dead body of Gilbert. Besides, four men, who were Gilbert’s bodyguards and are now protecting his daughter, and a few more people that are working at the house of the late one also arrived at this place.
Seeing Alicia being in the courtroom, they all look at her with a contemptuous, icy look, go to their places with their heads proudly raised, and sit down as if they do not doubt luck will be by their side.
“They are behaving as if they’ve won,” Alicia’s lawyer noticed with a quiet grin. “But they are happy too early because we will get a victory.”
“Sometimes I think I’m going to turn to ash just because of their looks…” Alicia confesses excitedly. “And Eleanor is ready to tear me apart.”
“The most important thing is not to succumb to any provocations. To pretend that it does not have to do with you.”
“I know…”
“Besides, it’s possible to understand them. They lost their close person.”
“Right.”
“But talking about a wish to kill and revenge is a very bad thing they are doing.”
“Ah, if I could protest…” Alicia sighs heavily. “Of course, they lied to the judge about much, and I denied what was a lie. But I’ve got no reason to blame them. I have no right to attack them with charges and curse them.”
“That’s right,” Alicia’s lawyer says confidently. “Be calm and wait for the judge to give the sentence.”
Alicia just sighs heavily and inclines her head, and her lawyer looks at her with pity in the eyes and softly caresses her hand to comfort her. Meanwhile, the lawyer of the family, Woodham-Robinson, enters the room and sits down next to them with his head proudly raised, welcoming and hugging every one of them.
“Today, that killer will finally go to jail,” the lawyer for the family, Woodham-Robinson, says confidently.
“We cannot wait for the announcement of the sentence for that nasty bitch,” Cecelia replies with her head proudly raised.
“Be sure, the judge will not excuse the killer of such a good man as Gilbert.”
“Having such a wonderful lawyer like you, that scumbag will be defeated.”
“I did everything I could do.”
“Yes, Adrian, thank you so much for agreeing to help us,” Randolph thanks amicably. “You’re experienced in this business and know what to do.”
“Yes, Mr. Washington, I will owe you my whole life if that bitch goes to prison,” Eleanor says in a little shaking voice. “For killing my dad…”
“Don’t worry, my sweet Eleanor,” Adrian says confidently, softly caressing Eleanor’s shoulder. “Alicia Thompson will go to the maximum-security prison today and serve her sentence.”
“If only that bitch got a life sentence.”
“Anything is possible. Besides, I heard that the judge has always been fair and punished people as they deserved.”
“With God’s help, my friend!” Randolph exclaims.
“Be sure, Randolph, the killer of Gilbert will pay much for daring to deprive us of such a wonderful and light man and trying to make him bad for us.”
“She did not do this anyway!” Caroline says with her head proudly raised. “We thought Gilbert was a wonderful man and will think so.”
“Oh, God, we did tell Gilbert not to get in touch with that whore,” Eveline sighs heavily. “No! He knew well she was in the bed of a dozen men living in the city, but he showered her with money and jewelry at his wish. And he even opened a fashion business for her. He made her the owner of it. He bought all the possible awards for her.”
“As if he was doing it at his wish,” Yolanda throws gloomily. “That whore just seduced him, started to get money out of him, and also ruined his marriage with Caroline.”
“Besides, it’s hurting that he wasted so much time searching for that wench.”
“I agree, my darling. Gilbert shouldn't have done that. He should’ve pissed her off and kept living his life. No, instead of that, he was searching for that scumbag.”
“Anyway, he’s guilty of nothing,” Eleanor says with sadness in her eyes. “Only that chicken, Alicia, is the one to blame for everything. If not for her, everything was fine, and he would be with us now.”
“Yeah, Alicia ruined her whole life,” Adrian notices thoughtfully. “Why did she actually decide to go work as a prostitute? She would’ve better gone to study! Well, or at least gotten married and educated her children.”
“It’s clear her mother and father educated their daughter like that,” Caroline says confidently. “Her younger sister is probably the same dirty whore.”
“She has a sister?” Randolph wonders.
“She does,” Eleanor confirms. “She talked to my dad about her. I believe that woman even has a daughter.”
“Oh, they’re raising another wench,” Caroline throws gloomily.
“Did Alicia really like spending time with a new man every day?” Adrian wonders. “I don’t get it!”
“Believe me, she was delighted,” Cecilia says confidently. “She was making a lot of money and would have hardly agreed to leave the job of a prostitute and find a job in a shop where she would either be scanning purchases or washing floors.”
“Exactly!” Yolanda agrees. “When you get so much money, you go insane and can’t get less, your claims get higher and higher.”
“Yeah, and when Gilbert did a stupid thing and started to provide for her and give her expensive gifts, she actually went out of her mind,” Caroline adds gloomily.
“You’re right, Mom…” Eleanor agrees quietly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Dad did a stupid thing by deciding to stand in the way of that wench. But I don’t judge him. He was guilty of nothing…”
“Oh, I would pull the hair of this wench out… For stealing my husband and depriving my daughter of her father.”
“Trust me, her cellmates will do it instead of you,” Adrian says confidently.
“I wish they did!”
“Don’t think she will feel good there. Alicia’s cellmates will make her life much worse. Someday, everything will be over when she punishes herself by killing herself.”
“I would be very glad if this bitch died,” Eleanor throws rudely. “It would be what I’m calling justify. She killed the good man and must die next.”
“C’mon, Alicia might not even take the announcement of the sentence. You just look at her!” Adrian glances at Alicia. “She looks terrible now. It’s clear that much energy has been sucked out of her in a cell because she looks like an alive walking skeleton.”
“Aha, but she’s still got the energy to seduce her lawyer,” Caroline notices coldly.
At this moment, Alicia is talking with her lawyer, who is softly caressing her hands and trying to comfort this girl with a slight smile.
“Yeah, she loves old men,” Cecelia throws gloomily. “Sebastian is more than fifty, but she does not care about it.”
“She should make him sure that she is an innocent lamb, and all of us are scumbags that want to put her in prison,” Randolph says confidently.
“Damn, how much I want to gouge the eyes of that wench out!” Eveline clenches her hands into fists. “If I were a judge, I would give her a life sentence. So, she dies right in a prison cell.”
“Well, she would hardly get a life sentence,” Caroline says thoughtfully. “But she will be in prison for twenty or thirty years.”
“Ar-r-r-r… Nasty gal! Whore! Killer! Curse you, cad! I wish you had died in prison! Your cellmates strangled you with their own hands.”
“But I want to beat the face of her lawyer,” Adrian confesses gloomily. “That scumbag Sebastian, who makes me terribly enraged.”
“Are you still enemies?” Randolph asks.
“I am not going to reconcile with him! Clemens let himself insult and humiliate me during trials, on which we met many times.”
“Yeah, he’s a non-educated old man!” Caroline agrees gloomily. “How could he be a lawyer when he lets himself insult someone? Dares to slander Gilbert! The innocent man, who was always very kind and generous towards his close people.”
“I wonder, was this slut in his bed if he is taking care of her and comforting her like a child?” Eleanor asks herself coldly.
“Most likely,” Yolanda throws.
“You just look at how he’s taking care of her. Comforting her like a little baby!”
“She does not actually need a lawyer because he would not save her from a sentence she will get.”
“If the judge excuses her, I will be absolutely sure that she managed to fuck her sonny, who is working as a judge's secretary,” Randolph says confidently. “There would be only one explanation for this injustice.”
“But it will happen, honey,” Cecilia replies with her head proudly raised, taking Randolph under an arm tighter. “This scumbag will have to stay in prison all her life. Or leave it when she is a flabby old woman, whose body nobody would need.”
“You’re right, Cecilia,” Adrian smiles slightly. “It will happen. Just believe in me and my success.”
“We believe, Mr. Washington,” Eleanor sniffs quietly. “We don’t doubt the judge would not dare to go against the Woodham family and excuse that bitch.”
While these people continue to talk and dream about Alicia going to prison, Stephan, Yasmin, and her boyfriend Gabriel are sitting on chairs and talking with each other while waiting for the judge, being absolutely confident and not doubting that the Woodham-Robinson will get a victory.
“Finally, this is the last day of the trial,” Stephan exhales with relief. “This fallen woman will get a sentence, and the case of the murder of Uncle Gilbert will be closed.”
“Of course, I don’t defend her, but I feel sorry for that woman…” Gabriel confesses hesitantly, hugging Yasmine around the shoulders tenderly and sometimes putting his hand on her belly, which seems quite noticeable.
“What?” Stephan rounds his eyes.
“What if she didn’t wanna kill Mr. Woodham? What if everything really happened accidentally?”
“Gabriel, what are you talking about?” Yasmin gets horrified, hitting Gabriel slightly on the hand.
“Anything is possible!”
“You don’t know that woman at all! She has always been a bitch, who we will never forgive for what she did to Mr. Woodham.”
“But notice that she was speaking quite truly… Alicia didn’t look like she lied.”
“Ask anyone! Uncle Randolph, Aunt Cecelia, Eleanor… They would confirm everything and tell you who Alicia is!”
“Yeah, I agree, of course, that’s bad she was a prostitute and has slept with a half of London, but still…”
“Holy shit, Everett, are you outta your mind?” Stephan gets horrified, knocking at his temple with a finger. “How could you defend the killer and excuse her?”
“I don’t excuse her, Stephan!”
“That woman must pay for everything she did. My uncle died because of her! The wonderful man, who was always very kind to those he knew.”
“I don’t know much about the story of that woman and know only what I was told.”
“So, we will somehow tell you everything we know.”
“Or did you get saliva and get a crush on her, as well?” Yasmin resents gloomily.
“What?” Gabriel rounds his eyes. “Me?”
“No, me!” Yasmin strongly pushes Gabriel. “Answer now! Or I shall kill you right here!”
“Hey, hey, Yasmin, c’mon!” Gabriel jabs, softly taking Yasmin’s hands. “Calm down. It’s okay.”
“Then why do you the fuck defend that prostitute that killed Mr. Woodham?”
“I defend nobody. I don’t like that woman at all. She is older than me! But I prefer younger girls.”
“Then close your mouth and stop defending her!”
“You know well that I love only you and our future baby.”
“Be careful!” Yasmin throws gloomily. “If I hear something like this again, I will immediately leave you.”
“What?”
“And you will never meet your baby.”
“But, Yasmin…”
“I said everything, Gabriel!”
“C’mon, sweetie, what you’re talking about…”
Gabriel kisses Yasmin cutely on the cheek.
“You wouldn’t make amends with just one kiss,” Yasmin throws gloomily.
“Remember, Gabriel, I am watching you!” Stephan threatens with a finger and hugs Yasmin around the shoulders. “Don’t even dare to hurt your girlfriend and defend that dirty whore, who has been fucked literally by all the adult men in London.”
“Okay, okay, I am silent!” Gabriel raises his hands up. “I understood it and will no longer say a word.”
“I repeat, we will somehow tell you everything about that allegedly innocent lamb.”
“You better know what actually happened. I judge her only by what I heard on the trial.”
“Trust us, you will be overwhelmed when we tell you about all the sins of that woman. We will see what you will say about that scumbag.”
“If we weren’t in the courtroom, and I wasn’t pregnant, I would pull her hair out,” Yasmin confesses gloomily. “I’d have the pleasure to help Eleanor deal with that scumbag, who deprived us of Mr. Woodham. That kind and light man, whom we loved so much. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
“I still can't believe my uncle is gone,” Stephan says with sadness in his eyes. “It would be okay if he died from natural causes. But he was killed! Killed by a fucking wench, who seduced him and almost stole everything he had.”
“Yeah… She wanted to live in luxury but forgot that everything would come with a price. And…”
Then Yasmin winces slightly from a slight pain in her belly, doubling over.
“Ugh…” Yasmin moans quietly.
“Quiet, quiet, sweetie, don’t get nervous,” Gabriel says softly, caresses Yasmin’s belly tenderly, and kisses her on the temple. “It’s bad for the child. It’s okay, it’s okay… Calm down…”
“Quiet, baby, quiet, it’s okay,” Yasmin calms herself and her child down, tenderly caressing her belly and trying to breathe quietly.
“Breathe deeper, darling,” Stephan says quietly and calmly, holding Yasmin’s hand. “It’s okay… Don’t be nervous…”
“Oh, my God, this pregnancy is gonna drive me crazy…”
“If you want, let’s go outside to breathe in some air before the judge comes?”
“No, no, Stephan, don’t need…” Yasmin refuses, exhaling slowly and leaning back in the chair.
“Maybe, you better go home?” Gabriel suggests. “Let me drive you?”
“No… I wanna hear the announcement.”
“I will call you later and tell you what the sentence is.”
“I shall stay.”
“You can’t get nervous. If only nothing happened to the child.”
“Don’t worry, sweetie…” Yasmin cracks a slight smile. “I feel better. My baby calmed down…”
“Do I quickly go to buy a bottle of water?” Gabriel suggests. “Or something yet?”
“A bottle of water would be great.”
“Bottle of water?”
“Yes. And when the judge tells us the sentence, we will go to eat something tasty.”
“Okay, I’ll be back now…”
“Wait!” Stephan exclaims, glancing aside. “You won’t have to do it!”
“Huh?”
“It seems like the judge is coming.”
“Coming?”
“Okay, Gabriel, you will buy later,” Yasmin says softly and takes the hand of Gabriel, who has already gotten up, making him sit down again. “Sit down.”
Everyone has to save all the talks for later because the young man wearing a suit with a confident and harsh look comes into the courtroom. He sits in his place near the one that is for the judge and is placed so that everyone in the room sees him or her. And after putting a bunch of papers on the table, he throws a look at the door and quickly gets up, saying something loudly for everyone to hear him:
“Get up, everyone, the judge is coming!”
All the people get up to welcome the judge, who comes into the room a few seconds later. A middle-aged woman with short, dark, and slightly wavy hair, who is wearing a judicial robe and holding a little bunch of papers, quietly comes to her place.
“Her Highness Vanessa Walter is presiding over,” the man says confidently.
“Sit down, everyone!” Vanessa pronounces confidently.
The people sit in their places, and the judge named Vanessa opens the folder, quickly runs her eyes over the papers, and hits the special block with a gavel. And then the woman starts to speak confidently, clearly, and loudly. Thanks to a small microphone that is pointed at her, everyone can hear what she is going to say.
“The judge has made a decision about the case of Alicia Irene Thompson, who is charged with the planned murder of the citizen, Gilbert Reynold Woodham,” Vanessa says confidently. “Before I announce the one, I want to ask. The lawyers of the two sides, do you have something to say and add some materials to this case?”
“No, Your Honor!” Adrian pronounces first, and then Sebastian does it.
“The defendant, Alicia Irene Thompson, please, get up and listen to the sentence.”
Alicia slowly gets up and starts to look at Vanessa with pity in her eyes. And then her lawyer Sebastian also stands up while the people, who want her to be guilty, are literally killing her with their cold looks and silently begging that the killer of Gilbert gets a severe sentence.
“So, the judge and the jury examined the evidence of the defendant, the witnesses, and the lawyers of the two sides as well as the report on the death of the murdered, the results of the expertise and other documents we have got,” Vanessa says confidently, holding the paper in her hands, reading everything that is written in it. “And using all the materials we received, we have made a decision.”
Alicia’s heart starts beating like crazy from fear and excitement. She understands she is shaking strongly because of the panic that is getting stronger and feeling her hands get sweaty, and it’s quite hard for her to stand on her feet. The woman does not stop looking at Vanessa with her widely open eyes full of pity and despair, begging her to drop all the charges and set her free right now. And her lawyer, Sebastian, looks quite confident and quiet. As if he knows the win will go to his client.
The members of the Woodham-Robinson family are also worried and afraid that the woman might be excused. They are praying that Alicia is found guilty and put in prison for a long time. And their lawyer, Adrian, looks absolutely quiet and literally celebrates his win under the hateful Sebastian, who throws a sly smile at him at some moment.
“The judge and the jury took into account all the materials in this case…” Vanessa continues to speak confidently. “And made the same decision – to find the defendant, Alicia Irene Thompson…”
Alicia literally stops breathing and, literally begging about being excused, looks at Vanessa with pity in her eyes, who remains cold and does not show almost any emotions. The woman sniffs quietly and wipes tears off, which are slowly rolling down her cheeks, while Sebastian softly caresses her shoulder and looks at her with a look full of hope. The family members of the dead Gilbert do not also stop looking at the judge, truly hoping that Vanessa would not dare to go against such a powerful family and would give the killer of their close person a harsh sentence.
The silence that settles in the air for a few seconds makes Alicia nervous and shake much stronger. Sometimes she thinks she is about to lose the ground and sees how everything would go black before her eyes as she is fighting with a dizzy, which she has had literally since the morning. From excitement or worrying too much and having not the best condition.
After taking a long pause, Vanessa quickly looks at everybody and says loudly and clearly:
“Not guilty of committing the murder!”
Everybody in the courtroom gets instantly shocked. Alicia opens her eyes widely and closes her mouth with both hands, Sebastian cracks a slight smile, and Gilbert’s family members and those, who support them, look at each other questioningly and stare at Vanessa with horror in their eyes.
“The defendant, Alicia Irene Thompson, has been found not guilty of the murder of Gilbert Reynold Woodham,” Vanessa confirms. “The judge and the jury have examined all the materials in this case and decided that the defendant killed the dead man accidentally when she was trying to protect herself from his harassment.”
Vanessa quickly clears her throat.
“The defendant was not going to kill Gilbert Woodham, and she did that to protect herself,” Vanessa adds. “As she said, it happened many times, and sometimes the murdered man raised his hand on her and threatened her in all possible ways. The lawyer of the defendant, Thompson, gave proof of the fact that she did not plan the murder, and it was added to the case.”
Vanessa falls into silence to swallow up.
“When making this decision, we took a few notes,” Vanessa says. “The fact that the defendant recognized her fault and gave up on the police at her wish. And the fact that it was the first crime record she committed.”
All the members of the Woodham-Robinson family are ready to fret and fume because of what they hear from Vanessa, not hiding their anger caused by the fact that Alicia was found non-guilty. They did not doubt they would win until the end, and they were sure the killer of Gilbert would go to prison for a long time.
“What?” Eleanor resents in a whisper. “That scumbag was excused? Will she not go to prison?”
“She has been excused!” Yasmin exclaims with her widely open eyes.
“What a twist…” Stephan shakes his head.
“The judge also blamed my brother for harassing that wench,” Eveline whispers gloomily.
“Fine!” Caroline resents. “That bitch killed my ex-husband, and she will not pay for that!”
“No, I don’t believe it…” Eleanor says in a little shaking voice. “I don’t believe the killer of my dad will not pay for what she did.”
“Fucking whore! I wish she was cursed! I wish the day she met Gilbert was cursed.”
“But how?” Adrian wonders. “We did give that old woman all the proofs. But she has found that bitch not guilty!”
“I can’t believe it…” Eveline shakes her head.
“It’s amazing!” Yolanda resents.
“Why did the judge the fuck make a decision about that bitch’s innocence?” Adrian resents. “How could she find her non-guilty? How?”
“She really fucked up that secretary, who is sitting and typing something on a computer,” Eleanor assumes gloomily, glancing at the judge's secretary, who is typing text on a computer while Vanessa loudly reads the sentence on the paper.
Vanessa falls into silence for two seconds to clear her throat and then continues to read the sentence to Alicia, who is crying quietly and not believing a miracle happened, and she has been found not guilty, after all.
“Thus, the judge has decided to drop the charges against the citizen, Alicia Irene Thompson, for the murder of the citizen, Gilbert Raymond Woodham,” Vanessa says loudly and confidently. “And the judge is letting you know that she must be released immediately.”
The policeman standing next to Alicia quickly takes the handcuffs off her, and Sebastian caresses her shoulder with a slight smile.
“Alicia Thompson, did you understand the decision of the judge?” Vanessa asks.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Alicia replies in a little shaking voice.
“The respectful lawyers, did you understand the decision of the judge?”
“Yes, Your Honor!” Sebastian and Adrian pronounce at the same time.
“The respectful witnesses and the other people that are here, did you understand?”
Everybody says immediately, “Yes, Your Honor!”
“The judge has made a decision for the case of the murder of Mr. Gilbert Woodham, announced it to everyone, and is thanking the witnesses and lawyers for being a part of this case,” Vanessa concludes confidently. “I am pronouncing this case closed!”
Vanessa takes the gavel and hits a special block, confirming the judge’s decision. After this, she is going to get up and leave. At this moment, the judge's secretary quickly gets up and says:
“Stand up, everyone!”
Everyone in the room gets up, and Vanessa leaves this place with the folder she was carrying with her when she came here.
When the judge leaves the room, Alicia lets her emotions go out and starts to cry bitterly, closing her face with both hands. When she heard the decision, she felt like a heavy burden just fell off her shoulders. She cannot believe luck was by her side this time, and the judge believed her words about not wishing to kill and doing that accidentally.
And while the people that are here and the lawyers of the family Woodham-Robinson wonder and resent how it could actually happen, Sebastian tightly hugs his client Alicia, trying to comfort the woman, who is crying quietly from happiness and still shaking from strong tension.
“I did say we would do it!” Sebastian says happily with a wide smile. “But you didn’t believe me!”
“My God, is this really true?” Alicia wonders in a shaking voice with tears, stepping back from Sebastian.
“True!”
“Tell me it’s true again!” Alicia sniffs quietly. “I’m begging you, Mr. Clemens… Tell me the judge has found me non-guilty.”
“She has done it, my girl, has done. You will not go to prison!” Sebastian grabs Alicia’s face and tenderly caresses her cheeks. “Be happy, Alicia, you are not guilty of the murder. The judge believed you did it accidentally.”
“I’m probably sleeping…” Alicia shakes her head. “Yes, it’s just a dream… Dream…”
“It is not a dream, sweetie. Not a dream! You have just been released! You will get a document about your release soon and be able to leave the court and be free.”
“Unbelievable…” Alicia closes her mouth with both hands. “Mr. Clemens, you are an angel! Just a wonderful man! May God bless you!”
Alicia tightly hugs Sebastian with tears of happiness in her eyes, and he caresses her head with a slight smile and asks his client to calm down because everything is over.
At the bottom of their hearts, the policemen, who are being in the room, are also glad for the young woman, who looks too unhappy and depressed because of what’s happening in her life. Although they do not show it, their slight smiles could clearly say they totally support the judge’s decision and find it fair.
But Gilbert’s family and their lawyer, Adrian, get enraged. They are literally ready to destroy the court in anger. None of them can understand how the judge could believe Alicia and stand by her side, knowing well that she killed the man and did not deny it. They do not care that it happened accidentally, and she did not think about it. They do not care about the things she blamed the late one for. For them, Gilbert was a good and kind man, who could not hurt a fly. These people are resentful of the sentence and are not ready to accept the fact that the killer of their close person will be free.
“It’s unfair!” Eveline shouts with evil in her eyes. “You cannot find the killer not guilty!”
“How did you actually dare to do that?” Yolanda resents. “My brother never raped or harassed anyone! He was a decent man! DECENT!”
“You are heartless scumbags!” Caroline exclaims with tears in her eyes. “You bring innocent people for ages, but killers walk free!”
Caroline sniffs quietly.
“So, how do we believe in justice and fair?” Caroline wonders. “HOW?”
“We are asking everyone to keep the order!” one of the policemen says loudly.
“Order?” Randolph resents loudly. “What kind of order do you mean if the judge finds the killer not guilty, while she must get at least twenty years of prison for that?”
“Ha, this bitch had no proof for her innocence,” Cecilia says confidently. “She could not give the judge REAL proof! She was just playing on pity and slandering the innocent angel, who had ALLEGEDLY raped her! But this wench lied in his bed at her wish! She used everything he was giving her!”
“How did you actually dare to charge such a good man for a rape attempt?” Nina wonders with evil in her eyes. “Mr. Woodham was doing good things for people, who meant much to him. But instead of standing by his side, you did make the dirty wench, who was fucked by literally all the men in London!”
“Everything is paid here!” Stephan says loudly. “There is the killer in front of you, who committed the murder, but you let her go so easily and blame my late uncle for everything! He never harassed anyone and was always a good and wonderful man with a pure heart!”
“So, calm down now, everyone!” another policeman demands, coming to the family members of Gilbert and trying to calm them down. “Keep the order!”
“You must have put her in prison for at least twenty years!” one of Gilbert's bodyguards says confidently.
“Or you better give her a life sentence!” the second bodyguard of Gilbert adds. “So, she never leaves the prison!”
“Killer, killer!” the third bodyguard of Gilbert shouts.
“Curse you, Cheryl!” the fourth bodyguard throws rudely.
“Order!” one of the policemen pronounces loudly. “We are telling you to keep the order!”
While her relatives and Gilbert’s friends and familiars scream for injustice and do not hide that they are unhappy with the sentence, Eleanor gets tenser and more enraged every news second. She is making every single muscle of her strong, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to another and clenching her hands into fists so that her chuckles get kind of white. She is breathing like a furious bull that is ready to attack anyone that stands in its way. The anger for the crying from happiness Alicia is getting much stronger. The girl is literally obsessed with a wish to do something to the killer of her beloved father, for which she will not pay.
At some moment, Eleanor does not eventually take it, runs to Alicia understanding nothing as quickly as a bullet, and grabs her hair strongly with both hands while the woman shouts in pain.
“SCUMBAG!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs, being furious. “WHORE! FUCKING BITCH!”
“Help me!” Alicia cries with despair.
The policemen instantly run to the furious Eleanor and try to pull her far from the crying Alicia, who sharply gets white from fearing the enraged daughter of the late Gilbert.
“FUCKING WENCH!” Eleanor shouts, trying to get out of the grip of the strong policemen, who are pulling her away from Alicia. “KILLER!”
“Help me, for God’s sake!” Alicia begs loudly.
At this moment, Sebastian comes to Alicia crying quietly, hugs her tightly, and presses her close to himself.
“WHO DID YOU SLEEP WITH IF YOU DID NOT GO TO PRISON?” Eleanor screams, as her nostrils inflate from anger. “WHO? THE SONNY OF THAT JUDGE?”
“No, don’t do this!” Alicia begs with horror in her eyes.
“SLUT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!”
“Eleanor!” Randolph rounds his eyes.
“KILLER! I SHALL BREAK YOUR NECK! I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS!”
“Eleanor, sweetie…” Adrian pronounces quietly, also trying to hold and calm Eleanor down.
“YOU MUST HAVE DIED, NOT DAD! YOU! YOU! YOU! WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER WHILE SCUMBAGS LIKE YOU EASILY GET OFF IT AND KEEP LIVING?”
“Eleanor, calm down, please.”
“Calm down? CALM THE FUCK DOWN? ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
“It would be worse for you if you kept acting like this.”
“HOW CAN I CALM DOWN IF THIS PROSTITUTE WILL BE QUIETLY WALKING IN THE CITY AND PRETENDING THAT MY FATHER DID NOT DIE BECAUSE OF HER?”
“Eleanor, I’m begging you!”
“I SHALL NOT GET MUCH WORSE THAN I FEEL NOW! BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS KILLED, AND HIS KILLER HAS BEEN FOUND NON-GUILTY! EVEN IF THIS BITCH MUST HAVE GOTTEN A LIFE SENTENCE! FOR EVERYTHING SHE HAS DONE!”
“Ms., we completely understand your feelings, but please, keep calm,” one of the policemen asks politely. “Or we will have to get you arrested for violating the rules.”
“YOU WILL NOT DARE!”
“Ms., keep the order!”
“How did you actually dare to go against the Woodhams themselves?” Eleanor resents. “The most respected family in England! How did you dare? One word from my late father before everything happened as he wanted! And nobody dared to go against him! NOBODY!”
“Daughter, please, don’t make it worse,” Caroline begs with pity in her eyes.
“LET ME GO RIGHT NOW, DOGS!” Eleanor starts to fight with the strong policemen furiously, who are holding her so hard. “LET ME GO! LET ME GO!”
“Ms., calm down right now,” one of the policemen demands.
“AS THE JUDGE WAS A CORRUPTED SCUMBAG, I SHALL GIVE THIS WHORE CHERYL WHAT SHE DESERVES!”
“We will have to get you arrested if you keep behaving like this.”
“WHAT? GET ME ARRESTED?”
“Ms., keep the order!”
“DO YOU THE FUCK KNOW WHO I AM? I AM ELEANOR GEORGINA WOODHAM, THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE GILBERT REYNOLD WOODHAM, WHO WAS RESPECTED AND LOVED BY EVERYONE!”
“Eleanor, stop it now!” Adrian demands.
“HE HAD VERY MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILIARS, WHO COULD CONFIRM THIS DIRTY SLUT DECEIVED HIM AND DESECRATE THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER!”
“Eleanor, please…” Alicia pronounces in a shaking voice, barely standing on her feet and not stopping wiping tears off her white, exhausting face.
“WHORE!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs with evil in her eyes. “FUCKING WENCH! YOU RUINED OUR WHOLE LIFE!”
“Stop it… I’m begging you…”
“KILLER! YOU WILL PAY ME FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY FATHER!”
“Eleanor…”
“I WILL BURY YOU, BITCH! ALIVE! I WILL BURN YOU DOWN! I WILL KILL YOU! KILL YOU!”
A miracle helps Eleanor get out of the grip of the policemen, push them aside and attack the poor Alicia with fists, easily striking her down and starting to beat her strongly and give hits in the most vulnerable areas. While the justifiable one is either too weak to resist or does not want to get more problems and lets the daughter of the late Gilbert do anything to her.
“Eleanor, leave her alone now!” Adrian demands loudly.
“Ms. Woodham, stop it right now!” Sebastian demands confidently. “Let her go! Let her go, I said!”
“WHORE!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs and strongly slaps Alicia in the face. “SCUMBAG! GET IT, WITCH, GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! WENCH!”
Eleanor generously gives Alicia slaps in the face, hits her in the stomach with fists, and beats her whole body, which hurt because of an uncomfortable bed in a cell and now because of hits that this girl with her legs.
“YES, BITCH, GET IT!” Eleanor screams, as her nostrils inflate from anger. “GET IT, KILLER! YOU MUST BE BURNING IN THE HELL, CAD!”
Eleanor grabs Alicia painfully by the hair and hits the back of her head against the floor two or three times.
“THIS IS FOR MY FATHER, WHO YOU KILLED!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs. “FOR MILKING HIM LIKE A COW FOR MANY YEARS AND THEN DECIDING TO DESTROY HIM WITH NO SHAME!”
“Eleanor, for God’s sake, stop!” Caroline begs with pity in her eyes.
“WHORE!” Eleanor gives a couple of strong slaps on the face of Alicia, while the woman literally chokes from her own tears. “I HATE YOU! HATE YOU! I HATE THE DAY MY FATHER MET YOU! IF NOT FOR YOU, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE AND LIVING HAPPILY WITH MY MOTHER!”
Eleanor smashes a strong hit into Alicia’s stomach with a fist, after which the woman screams loudly.
“BUT YOU, BITCH, RUINED OUR FAMILY!” Eleanor screams. “RUINED MY LIFE!”
“Eleanor, please!” Eveline begs with tears in her eyes. “Stop!”
“SNAKE! BITCH! WITCH! I WISH YOU DIED!”
“Why are you standing?” Sebastian resents, asking the policemen. “Take this hysterical girl as far as possible before she kills my client!”
The policemen quickly run to Eleanor, take her under arms, and pull her away from Alicia against her wish. But the furious daughter of Gilbert is so enraged that she is not afraid to fight with the police staff members, hitting every one of them in the most vulnerable areas.
“Eleanor, what are you doing?” Yolanda gets horrified, closing her mouth with both hands. “You’ve attacked the policemen!”
But Eleanor does not hear her aunt and attacks the poor Alicia again and starts to strangle her with two hands as strongly as possible. While the woman tries to catch at least some air that she lacks.
“I shall kill you, scumbag!” Eleanor says rudely. “I WILL KILL YOU, HEAR ME! You will die with the same tortures that my beloved daddy was dying.”
“L-let me g-go…” Alicia barely pronounces.
“I will not leave you unpunished, dirty whore. You will have to pay for all your sins. YOU WILL! HEAR ME! I WILL NOT LET YOU LIVE QUIETLY! I WILL NOT DO!”
First, the family members of Gilbert were doing nothing when Eleanor just attacked Alicia, but now they start to be worried because the girl might be put in prison, at least for a few days for the bad behavior in the courtroom and resisting the policemen.
“Eleanor, please, calm down!” Yasmin begs with pity in her wet eyes, holding her hand on her belly. “You would make it much worse if you kept behaving like this towards the police.”
“I DO GIVE A FUCK ABOUT EVERYTHING!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs, still strangling Alicia so strongly that the woman gets much whiter from fear and lack of air.
“Please, sweetie…”
“I WOULD PREFER DYING THAN LETTING THIS SLUT GET OUT OF HERE SO EASILY!”
“Eleanor, don’t make everything worse, I’m begging you,” Adrian says quietly. “You’ve attacked the policemen. You might get great problems because of this.”
“I SHALL KILL THIS BITCH RIGHT HERE, I SHALL! AND NOBODY WILL STOP ME FROM DOING THIS! AS SHE KILLED MY DAD, SHE WILL GO TO ANOTHER WORLD AFTER HIM!”
“Eleanor, daughter, stop, for God’s sake!” Caroline begs with despair and tears in her eyes.
“NEVER!”
“I don’t want you to go to prison because you got your hands dirty after dealing with this dirty slut.”
“I am not a slut!” Alicia says loudly, bracing all the energy she has when she gets out of Eleanor’s grip. “NOT A SLUT!”
“Close your fucking mouth, killer!” Cecelia resents. “You must be silent! Incline your head for the members of the most respected family in London.”
“As it turned out, it’s not quite respected if the judge went against you.”
“Look, this insolent gal dares to snap at us,” Randolph resents. “A dirty slut that has been fucked by the whole city dares to talk to the family members of the all-favorite and respected Gilbert Woodham like THIS.”
“Your beloved Gilbert was a liar!” Alicia says confidently. “The old, filthy scumbag that was obsessed only with sex!”
“What did you, bitch, say?” Yolanda resents.
“The truth. Just the truth. Which you do not want to confess. You all probably know what kind of bastard the all-favorite and respected Gilbert was, but you are pretending it’s not the truth. He is holy! Innocent!”
“Close your dirty mouth, wench!” Eveline demands rudely.
“He always thought he would make everyone incline their heads with money. Only banknotes would make people shut up, look into his mouth, and silently tolerate any insults and humiliations of him.”
“Stop trying to humiliate him!” Stephan resents. “My uncle was loved and respected by everybody he worked with. Nobody rejected our invitation to come to the funeral and say farewell to him. It means very much!”
“And money! It was not earned honestly enough. Your beloved Gilbert cheated much to get much more than he should’ve gotten. If not for his tricks, he would’ve had much less money.”
“He worked much!” Nina exclaims. “He gave himself to his work and came back home very late.”
“Keep defending that old bastard, keep doing this. Keep washing the brains of people and saying he was so wonderful and innocent! Kind of holy! A monument must be dedicated to him! Everyone must pray to the holy Gilbert as if he’s God! Pray to that horny scumbag that was obsessed only with sex with young girls.”
Alicia gets a few strong slaps in the face from Eleanor, whom the policemen get up and pull her as far as possible, despite her resistance. While Sebastian helps the woman get up and hugs her tightly, the family members and friends of Gilbert shout out something at the same time, and the police try to calm them down somehow.
“DO NOT DARE TO SAY THESE THINGS ABOUT MY EX-HUSBAND!” Caroline screams at the top of her lungs, threatening Alicia with a finger, as her nostrils inflate from anger.
“Are you defending him even after he left you at his wish?” Alicia wonders.
“I blame Gilbert for nothing. You, nasty whore, are the only one to blame. YOU were the one to ruin our family. YOU were the one to kill the wonderful man. Who was not as terrible as you wanted to make us think.”
“Yeah, did he tell you that he had gone to some bars when you were married a long time before he met me?”
“What?”
“That man had slept with many girls before he met me. Gilbert told me how he fucked them for money, which they really needed.”
“Well, you did really care about it!” Cecilia shouts with evil in her eyes. “Since you were accepting his expensive gifts and living in his house.”
“Not true! That man imposed on me and spent money on gifts without notifying me. I never asked anything from him.”
“Of course!” Randolph smirks evilly. “But you have not brought all the stuff he bought for you.”
“I can give everything personally to you if you want!”
“Come on!” Eveline winces strongly. “To touch something after it has been touched by the dirty whore.”
“I need nothing from the one that started to often beat me after I told him I would never leave him and refused to get married to him.”
“If you had gotten married to my dad, I would’ve turned your life into the real hell,” Eleanor says rudely.
“It was the real hell!” Alicia exclaims. “The real hell that I will not forget for a long time. That man always told his people to follow me and not to let me talk to my familiars and close people. Because of him, I stopped speaking to my family.”
“Are you blaming us?” Yasmin wonders. “Are we guilty of you ruining your whole life?”
“Yeah!” Cecelia agrees. “You would’ve better gone to study or work instead of shaking your ass for men and fucking them for money.”
“You should’ve said it to Gilbert,” Alicia says confidently. “Instead of hanging out with young girls, he would’ve better done his work and given attention to his wife and daughter. Instead of that, your beloved Gilbert just gave them a lot of money and told them to go to a shop or a hair salon.”
“My God, I am imagining how much your parents are ashamed because their daughter is a fucking prostitute,” Randolph shakes his head. “And you are a killer!”
“Probably, your younger sister also shook her ass for a man, got pregnant from him, and eventually gave birth to another future whore, who would be getting money in the same way you two did,” Caroline assumes confidently.
“Do not dare to insult my sister!” Alicia gets wild, threatening Caroline with a finger. “DO NOT DARE! AND DO NOT DARE TO INSULT MY NIECE! I WILL CUT YOUR THROAT IF I HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN.”
“We would not be surprised if your niece went on the way of the fallen woman,” Stephan says confidently. “Not surprised!”
“CLOSE YOUR MOUTHS! DO NOT DARE TO HURT MY SISTER, MY NIECE, AND MY PARENTS!”
“So, is the truth hurting you?” Caroline smirks evilly.
“I would look at you if you heard the truth about you. The truth about you is that you are an old and ugly woman, who could spend millions of pounds but would never become beautiful. Who was five years older than her former hubby.”
While everybody opens their mouths and gets shocked by what they hear, Caroline attacks Alicia with slaps as fast as a bullet and wants to pull her hair out, while two policemen are holding Eleanor and not letting her join her mother.
“WENCH!” Caroline screams at the top of her lungs, shamelessly giving Alicia hits on the face. “YOU ARE DARING TO INSULT ME!”
“Come on, Mother, beat this prostitute!” Eleanor encourages. “Take revenge on her for stealing Father from you!”
“I doubt that your father needed your mother, so much,” Alicia says confidently and shouts because Caroline tries to pull her hair out. “UGH! LET ME GO!”
“Everything had been fine before YOU came into our life. AND STOLE MY HUSBAND FROM ME!”
“As he loved going to striptease clubs and giving stolen money to some madams, he stopped being interested in you. Gilbert just wanted a younger and more beautiful girl.”
“CLOSE YOUR MOUTH, CHICKEN!” Caroline smashes Alicia strongly in the face. “OR I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS!”
“You would be surprised if Gilbert had told you everything he thought about you,” Alicia smirks evilly.
“I SAID, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!”
“He told me he was going to get divorced from you but took you just because of his daughter. He called you an old, ugly lady, who would never become attractive, many times.”
“Close your mouth, prostitute!” Cecelia gets wild. “DO NOT DARE TO SAY IT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER!”
“Gilbert confessed that he was getting busy with work or going to a club with his friends not to see his wife, whom he considered a stupid and non-educated lady.”
The resentful Cecilia runs to the furious Caroline, and they start to beat Alicia strongly and strangle her as strongly as possible, while the others watch it with their mouths wide open.
At some moment, Yasmin gets so nervous that she feels pain in her belly again. But this time, it’s much stronger. The girl doubles over with a quiet squeak, grabbing her belly.
“Yasmin!” Gabriel exclaims with horror in his eyes, taking Yasmin under an arm.
“It hurts…” Yasmin moans painfully. “It's so painful…”
“Sit down, sweetie, sit down…” Stephan jabs excitedly.
The anxious Gabriel and Stephan take Yasmin under her arms and seat her on the nearest chair.
“Breathe deeper, breathe,” Gabriel advises, holding Yasmin’s hands. “Try to relax.”
“My baby…” Yasmin pronounces in a little shaking voice. “My baby… Ugh!”
“It’s okay, Yasmin, it’s okay,” Stephan calms down. “We’re here. We’re here.”
“What’s wrong?” Randolph shows anxiety, coming closer to Yasmin, Stephan, and Gabriel. “Yasmin?”
“I feel bad, Uncle,” Yasmin pronounces with wet eyes, holding her belly. “Very hurt…”
“My girl…”
Randolph sits down next to Yasmin and hugs her around the shoulders.
“Calm down, my darling, calm down,” Randolph pronounces softly, tenderly caressing Yasmin’s head. “Breathe deeper.”
“Why did you actually come here?” Stephan moans tiredly.
“Yes, I did suggest I drive you home,” Gabriel recalls. “Why did you stay and decide to watch this hell?”
At this moment, a few men in blue are trying to take the furious Caroline and Cecelia off Alicia, who barely can stand on her feet, looks terribly white and is getting weaker due to strong stress and a cruel beating by the family members of Gilbert.
“Ar-r-r, I wish that bitch was cursed,” Randolph growls quietly.
“If Yasmin loses her child because of you, I swear I shall strangle you,” Stephan says loudly, looking at Alicia with evil in her eyes. “Her pregnancy is going on hard, but you are making her worse.”
“I swear I shall break your neck if my girlfriend loses my child,” Gabriel swears confidently. “You will have two murders committed: the uncle of Stephan and the unborn baby, whose father is me.”
“You will be guilty of the murder of TWO innocent people!” Eleanor throws rudely. “TWO! You must get a life sentence for that. LIFE SENTENCE!”
“It’s hurt, oh, my God…” Yasmin moans quietly, doubling over much more. “Ugh… It’s much more painful than before… Ugh… Ugh…”
“Stephan, Gabriel, take Yasmin away from here,” Randolph says quietly. “And do not stop watching her.”
“Yes, Mr. Robinson!” Stephan exclaims.
“Buy something in a cafeteria and try to calm her down. We will come to you soon.”
“Do not worry, Mr. Robinson, we will do everything,” Gabriel nods confidently.
“If my niece gets worse, drive her to the hospital immediately and call me. I will come to you as soon as possible.”
“As you wish.”
Gabriel softly caresses Yasmin’s head and belly.
“Come on, sweetie, let’s go,” Gabriel says softly. “You shouldn’t stay here.”
“Yes, my darling, let’s go,” Stephan pronounces confidently. “Let’s drink something and calm down.”
Yasmin crying quietly does not resist when Gabriel and Stephan help her get up and start to hold her under their arms when they carefully bring her to the exit from the courtroom and leave it, closing the door after them.
Meanwhile, the poor Alicia does not know where to hide from the furious women of the Woodham-Robinson family, who are screaming at the whole room, beating her with both hands and legs, and strangling her so strongly that she is choking. Eleanor, Caroline, Eveline, Cecelia, and Yolanda are resisting the men in blue, who are pulling them from the woman, who is tightly hugged by Sebastian at this moment.
“CAD!” Eveline screams. “Your tongue must be cut off for all your words about our family!”
“About my brother!” Yolanda exclaims.
“About my father!” Eleanor adds.
“About my former husband!” Caroline screams.
“About the kindest and most wonderful man we have ever known,” Cecelia adds confidently.
“How did you actually dare to say these things about Mr. Woodham himself?” Nina resents.
“Calm down, already!” Sebastian demands coldly. “Leave the poor woman alone! How long are you going to mock her?”
“Oh, Clemens, tell us, how much did this whore pay you if you are defending her so hard?” Adrian smirks evilly.
“How much did this family pay to you as you’re licking their ass so hard? How much money did Gilbert decide to give you?”
“He did not surely suggest lying in the same bed with him.”
“What did you say?”
“Confess that this chicken paid for her freedom by her body when she lied in bed with you or your sons or bros?”
“Close your dirty month, dirty piece of shit!” Sebastian cuts off sharply. “I will not let you insult this woman and slander her and especially me.”
“Yeah? So, can you insult me and my clients?”
“I insulted nobody and told the clear truth!”
“What kind of lawyer are you if you don’t know how to behave?”
“I am a wonderful wonder with many years of work, who has helped very many people,” Sebastian says confidently.
“Aha, you have helped many crimes stay unpunished.”
“The one, who covers criminals, is you.”
“Close your dirty mouth, cad,” Adrian tightly clenches his hands into fists. “Or you will regret it much.”
“No, Washington, you will regret much! I swear, I will sue you! And I will get all the money you have ever earned out of you as moral damage!”
“Don’t try to sue me! I will sue you back and take everything from you! Or I will actually do my best for you not to get cases anymore. So, you have to quit the career of a lawyer and go to wash floors or become a cashier. Or retire and stop hurting my eyes every time we meet at the courtroom.”
“I do have a right to sue you for insulting me,” Sebastian says confidently. “I do know the British laws much better than you.”
“I know them, too! And I know this whore must have gone to prison at least for twenty years for the murder of the man.”
“She killed him accidentally!”
“Lie! She was planning the murder! She wanted to own everything the late Gilbert owned.”
“How much money did you, scumbag, manage to insult my client like this?”
“This scumbag will get off us easily! I will submit apparel! Appeal against the sentence! I will make the judge closely review this case and put the whore in prison for the murder for twenty years.”
“Try to do it! But you can do nothing. You would not prove that this woman killed the man on purpose.”
“I will PROVE her fault and MAKE the judge change the sentence. Even if I have to bribe someone and go against the law, I will put the one, who killed the innocent man, in prison anyway.”
“A holy person would never dare to harass a young girl and turn her into his slave.”
“You say what this wench told you.”
“Your allegedly holy Gilbert was a scumbag that ruined Alicia’s life and made her do something to save herself from him.”
“She is guilty of everything! If she’d gone to study or work, nothing would’ve happened!”
“Nobody also made Gilbert go to clubs and fuck young girls.”
“That was the planned murder! Everybody in his house could confirm how much she despised this man. She had a wonderful motive to kill – money. She wanted to get everything he had. But this idiot forgot that she should’ve become the wife of someone to inherit something. Who was your beloved Alicia? A lover! A fucking lover that could easily get kicked out at any time.”
“If every one of you knew the truth and understood Alicia did not lie, you would have to get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness of this poor woman for slandering her and all the insults we heard during the full trial.”
“Nobody must beg whores for forgiveness!” Adrian says rudely. “They must be standing on their knees, looking into the eyes of their clients, and doing what they want silently.”
“Do not dare to call Alicia a whore, nasty bastard!”
“Do not dare to insult me!”
“You are the same corrupt scumbag that believed this crazy family.”
“Do not dare to insult us!” Eleanor demands rudely. “Or we will really sue you and tell them to suspend you from working once and forever. You will know what the powerful family Woodham could do.”
“The judge already let you know what the Woodham family meant to her. And she announced the fair sentence.”
“It is not fair! IT IS NOT FAIR!”
“You are all trying to pretend to be important people, who everyone literally must bow at. But you are actually nasty, rude scumbags that do not know how real English people behave.”
“Do not dare to insult us!” Eveline throws rudely.
“You are just a rabble! The rabble that pretended to be kings and queens.”
The resentful Adrian instantly runs to Sebastian and attacks him with fists. But the man does not stay quiet and starts protecting himself as hard as possible, not wishing to be something to beat. Some members of the jury, who are still here and watching what’s happening, have to break up two lawyers, take them aside and hold them down not to let them deal with each other.
“You just look at the lawyer of this whore,” Yolanda throws gloomily. “Look at what’s he doing.”
“He must be banned from working as a lawyer,” Cecelia adds. “He is behaving like a non-educated scumbag.”
“So, Clemens, can you bark only from the corner?” Adrian smirks evilly while two members of the jury are holding him.
“Come here, Washington!” Sebastian exclaims. “C’mon, coward, come here!”
“I will ruin your career, bastard!”
“We will see who will win!”
“Hey, if you do not stop this show and keep violating the rules and resisting the police, we will get all of you arrested and bring you to a cell for a few days,” one of the policemen threatens loudly.
“Yes, yes, get this whore Alicia arrested as well as her lawyer, who dared to show disrespect for the respectful members of the Woodham family,” Nina demands coldly.
“Everyone forgot you a long time ago,” Sebastian says loudly. “And ten or twenty years later, only the old generation that lived in the 80s will be the only one to remember you.”
“How do you dare to talk to us in this way?” Randolph resents.
“Calm down, everyone!” one of the policemen demands loudly. “CALM DOWN! Or we will really get everything arrested for violating the rules!”
“WHORE!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs. “I WISH YOU DIED! CURSE YOU!”
Eleanor tries to sharply get out, but the policemen are tightly holding her under her arms and not letting her come to Alicia crying quietly.
“I wish you suffered your whole life from what you did!” Eleanor wishes with a heavy breath. “I wish you NEVER forgot the day you killed the innocent man!”
“I wish everyone ignored and hated you!” Caroline wishes with evil in her eyes. “I wish you NEVER found a good job. I wish you NEVER got married and gave birth to children!”
“Bitch, burn in hell!” Eveline shouts. “We will NEVER forgive you for what you did!”
“If you get closer to someone from my family and kill that one, you will surely die in prison,” Yolanda threatens loudly. “I swear we will bribe everyone you, scumbag, to get a LIFE SENTENCE!”
“So sorry that you did not die in prison for the three months you were sitting in jail!” Eleanor screams at the top of her lungs. “VERY SORRY! I hope you will be suffering from nightmares all your life, in which my father dies because of your fucking fault! Curse you, wench! Die! DIE!”
While the women of the family Woodham-Robinson continue to scream and resist the police, who are trying to lead them away from the room out of harm’s way, the members of the jury are barely breaking up Adrian and Sebastian breathing heavily, being furious and screaming out insults and threats to each other.
Alicia is standing aside and silently watching what’s happening. Tears are slowly running down her white face, and her heart is beating like crazy. She is terribly afraid someone from the family of the late Gilbert might get off her right now. That’s why she feels like a little, unprotected girl, who is somewhere in the middle all alone and does not know where to go or what to do.
At some moment, Alicia suddenly feels a little dizzy and can barely stand on her feet because of the weakness she gets obsessed with. She starts to think she cannot breathe, everything gets blurred before her eyes, and her ears get kind of plugged. She can barely hear all the curses that she gets from those, who really wanted her to get a harsh sentence.
So, a few seconds later after fighting with her condition, the woman, feeling like the ground gets out from her feet, grabs her head, and then falls to the floor with a very quiet moan, closing her eyes and falling into absolute darkness. Fortunately, Sebastian comes to her after seeing Alicia looks literally much worse than some time ago and manages to catch her body, which suddenly becomes limp.
“Alicia!” Sebastian exclaims excitedly. “Alicia!”
While Sebastian softly lowers the body of Alicia, who lost consciousness, a few policemen run to him as well as a member of the jury.
“Alicia, Alicia, can you hear me?” Sebastian pronounces, trying to wake up Alicia, who is unconscious and looks deathly white, by clapping her cheeks slightly. “Alicia! Answer me!”
“Did she faint?” the woman, who is a member of the jury, shows anxiety.
“It seems like,” one of the policemen nods.
“Someone, call an ambulance now!” Sebastian exclaims loudly. “She must go to the hospital as soon as possible!”
“Yes, call an ambulance right now!” one of the policemen orders, who gets down on a knee beside the unconscious Alicia and checks her pulse on the neck and wrist. “She has a weak pulse! I can barely feel it.”
“And bring her some water!” another policeman exclaims.
“Put something under her head,” one more policeman says. “And give us a folder to wave at her.”
“My God, what they have brought the poor woman to…” one of the members of the jury gets horrified. “She is so white, cold, and skinny… Just like a walking skeleton.”
“I knew these people would bring her to this condition,” Sebastian says confidently, slightly clapping the unconscious Alicia being terribly white on the cheek and holding her body suspended. “She got through such a great stress after being in prison, and these snakes added fuel to the fire.”
“If only she didn’t die right here…” one of the policemen exhales sharply, checking Alicia’s pulse again and her pupils. “This woman really looks like a skeleton covered with skin.”
“God shall not let!”
“Gosh, will someone call an ambulance or not?” the second policeman asks loudly. “The woman is dying, but you are doing nothing!”
“Alright, alright, we did!” the woman, one of the members of the jury, says confidently. “Doctors will come here soon.”
The member of the jury comes to the unconscious Alicia, whose appearance gets her horrified.
“My God, the way this poor woman looks gets me horrified…” the woman puts her hand on her heart.
“Why wasn’t she brought to more adequate cellmates?” Sebastian wonders. “She was always beaten and exhausted when going to meetings with me. And how many times she has gotten a cold! I can’t even remember!”
“My God, I’m getting more worried about her… The poor woman looks too bad… God shall not let her die right here…”
“Going to be honest, at the bottom of my heart, I was always by the side of this woman,” the man, a member of the jury, confesses. “I believed that she killed him accidentally.”
“And that family shows off too much,” the second man adds. “As if they are members of a royal family.”
“You are right!” one of the women, a member of the jury, agrees and grins quietly. “It’s alright that they opened a few cloth shops! And what? Everyone must bow at the Woodhams? I’ve been in one of them! Common clothes made from terrible material!”
“I would not be surprised if Gilbert had to do with some crimes. His face never caused trust.”
“That stinker had many sins,” Sebastian says gloomily. “Gilbert Woodham was never holy and innocent, as his family and that bastard Washington say.”
“I agree.”
Sebastian, the policemen, and the members of the jury are still trying to wake Alicia up, waiting for doctors and talking about Gilbert and his family, and one of them puts his cost under her head. The late one’s family members calm down a little, standing aside and silently watching what’s happening with evil in their eyes.
“I hope she dies right here and never wakes up,” Eleanor throws in a low, rude voice, tightly clenching her hands into fists.
“Yeah, I also hope she will die right in their arms,” Caroline says confidently. “I would not feel sorry for her. I do not feel sorry for some fucking whores. Especially, the one that stole my husband from me and deprived you of your father. I shall never forgive her for that. NE-VER!”
“My God, why do they care about her as much as a chicken cares about an egg?” Eveline wonders, crossing her arms over her chest. “This slut just fainted – and what? Everyone should be running around her?”
“If she really did…” Yolanda smirks evilly. “What if she wants to pretend that she feels bad and make everyone feel sorry for the poor, unhappy woman.”
“Yeah, and these people are stupid!” Cecelia throws gloomily. “It’s just a faint, even if it’s not real, but the people are worried so much as if she is about to die.”
“If she dies, the world would be cleaner!” Eleanor says coldly.
“If only she took her lawyer with her,” Adrian says with evil in his eyes. “That nasty bastard, who I would surely bury somewhere one beautiful day.”
“Would be great…”
Eleanor throws a look at Sebastian, who is talking with policemen, one of whom waves a folder at Alicia’s face and pours some water that was brought here on the woman’s face.
“You just look at her lawyer!” Eleanor exclaims. “How much he is worried about that stinker and is trying to help her so hard.”
“Stop caring about that wench,” Cecelia moans tiredly. “If she dies, everyone will feel no sorry. There would be at least some kind of justice.”
“Oh, Mrs. Robinson, what kind of justice do you mean?” Eveline moans tiredly.
“The killer of the brother of Eveline and me has been excused,” Yolanda adds.
“I agree, we can trust nobody in this world,” Randolph sighs sharply. “They are all corrupt scumbags – even judges… Who are allegedly fair…”
“I did tell you – let’s give the judge money so she gives her a life sentence,” Caroline says gloomily. “But nobody listened to me! You all listened to the lawyer, Washington, who was sure the judge was fair and would punish her enough.”
“But I didn’t think she would really let her go!” Adrian throws his hands up. “My familiars, who know Vanessa personally, made me sure that woman always punished criminals.”
“Yeah, but this time, she excused the killer. She did!”
“I am assuring you, if one familiar judge of mine had examined this case, you would have agreed with him. For some money, he would sentence anyone to death. And he would not care if there was some proof of his fault.”
“Oh, there is no need to say it!” Randolph waves his hand. “It’s too late… This wench has been found not guilty, and the killer of Gilbert will get no punishment. She and her pathetic lawyer got what they wanted…”
“We can try to appeal the sentence. If you want, I will immediately do this and do my best for that whore to be put to prison.”
“Would it make sense?” Cecelia pronounces without emotions. “We could try to appeal as much as we want, but it wouldn’t bring our beloved Gilbert back to life.”
“But we should try.”
“Honestly, I don’t care anymore,” Caroline sighs heavily. “Since that scumbag has been found non-guilty, we will have to take it. If she doesn’t meddle in our life, we will not bother her, too. Let her live as she wants.”
“You’re right, Caroline,” Eveline nods. “It’s unpleasant for me to say it, but we better take it.”
“Yeah, let’s keep living,” Yolanda adds. “Without Gilbert. I know it’s gonna be very hard. But we should do.”
“Besides, Yasmin’s child is going to be born in a few months,” Randolph notices. “We should surround that one with love and care.”
“Oh, if only that girl is able to carry the child…” Cecelia sighs heavily. “I’m starting to worry about her more and more. Her pregnancy is going very badly.”
“Yeah, she’s too young now,” Caroline says thoughtfully. “She is supposed to have a good pregnancy.”
“Yasmin has always had bad health,” Randolph confesses with sadness in his eyes. “In childhood, she got sick with everything possible. My brother was the same. He got a cold literally after getting well.”
“Let’s pray that her child is born healthy,” Eveline suggests.
“Yeah, let the child become our comfort,” Yolanda adds with sadness in her eyes. “The reason to forget everything that happened and keep moving on.”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which everybody says nothing.
“Oh, no!” Eleanor pronounces in a rude, low voice. “I am not going to forget it all so easily.”
All the members of her family move a questioning look to Eleanor.
“If the judge excused this bitch, I shall never forgive her,” Eleanor says with evil in her eyes, strongly clenching her hands into fists. “I swear I shall not let that whore live quietly. She will pay much for daring to deprive me of my father.”
“Don’t do it, Eleanor,” Caroline pronounces softly, caressing Eleanor’s shoulder. “Your revenge would not bring your father to life.”
“I will take revenge on her, Mother! I will take revenge on that wench for the death of Dad. She will be suffering for her whole life and getting tortured by the remorse and tortures I’m going to give her. Alicia Thompson will have no peace in this life and will never be forgiven. NEVER!”
“Eleanor, please…” Adrian pronounces quietly.
“She will be hated, humiliated, and found the prostitute from the club where Daddy met her.”
“If she no longer bothers us, we will forget her, too,” Cecelia says confidently.
“No, Grandma, I will never forget it. If that bitch does not want to die and give us pleasure, I will do my best to bring her to that. I swear, my dears, I will crush that cad like a pea no matter what the cost.”
Eleanor proudly raises her head up.
“Alicia Thompson will know who Eleanor Georgina Woodham is,” Eleanor says confidently with a heavy breath caused by excitement. “She will know! KNOW!”
None of Gilbert’s family tries to stop Eleanor, who is tightly hugged by her mother Caroline, and let her know this revenge would not lead to anything good. They all say nothing and just have hatred in their eyes when watching the policemen trying to wake the unconscious Alicia up, who looks terribly white and skinny. Besides, they are mad because her lawyer Sebastian is truly worried about her and does not leave the exhausted woman alone, silently praying that doctors come here as soon as possible and help her wake up.
***
“After getting a verdict, I was taken to the hospital with a very strong exhaust right from the court,” Alicia says.
“Hospital?” Raquelle gets horrified.
“I got weak in a physical and moral sense for those five months… It was too cold to be in jail. Besides, I even had to sleep on the floor several times… I often got ill… But I was treated badly. Nobody rushed to give me good aid.”
“I can’t believe it…”
“As I’ve said, my life in there was the real hell… But the trial was a much harder test. And after barely taking the last session of the trial, after which Eleanor’s family and she were ready to kill me, I just collapsed on the floor unconscious. I woke up in a hospital, where I spent a few weeks. They took care of me very well. And I’m grateful to my lawyer, who kept supporting me even after the trial was over.”
“Oh, my gosh…” Raquelle pronounces with horror in her eyes, shaking her head. “I can’t believe it…”
“It’s the truth, my girl.” Alicia sniffs quietly. “I got through very much during that time. And I almost went to another world. But I was lucky to survive in that hell. And when I got much better, I was released from the hospital. And I started getting used to living on freedom again… Because I forgot what that meant for almost six months… My lawyer drove me to his apartment because I didn’t have a home, and he took care of me like a daughter for a long time. He bought me food and everything, gave me money, and always asked me about my life and my health…”
Alicia cracks a slight smile.
“He became like a father to me,” Alicia confesses. “Who I needed so badly. Because I didn’t meet my parents, Sebastian’s help was very good for me. And he didn’t leave me when I stayed alone, without a home, without a family, without money, without a job. The only thing that belonged to me was my bag with my stuff. Which was taken from me after I got arrested. But which I got back after being released.”
Alicia glances aside.
“And when I found out about my parents’ deaths, I came back to their apartment and started to live there,” Alicia confesses. “For the time being… And I lived. Tried to come back to a normal life.”
Alicia sighs heavily, rubbing her little cold hands.
“It seems like I was supposed to get better because I was released,” Alicia says thoughtfully. “But I did not… Even being found non-guilty, I kept suffering… Thinking of the curses Eleanor and her family told me…”
Alicia swallows up nervously.
“It was very hard for some time…” Alicia confesses. “Moreover, I was all alone… I had no parents, no sister… Nobody from my close people… Only my lawyer. But I stopped speaking to him some time later. I can’t remember when it happened. But… Honestly, I didn’t notice it. Even if I still think of that man with great warmth, and I am grateful to him for the care he gave me.”
“Aunt Alicia…” Raquelle pronounces in a little shaking voice.
“Still, I thought everything would’ve been over, and I would start living a good life later. I believed nothing would last forever…”
“So, did you get better?”
“I really forgot everything and slowly got used to living on freedom. I found a job, sold the apartment, in which my parents lived before their death, bought my own… The one where I’m living now… And started living like a common person. Who never told anyone about her real past and thought up some stories when someone asked me that.” Alicia shakes her head. “Yes, of course, somehow the truth was coming to light. And I had to prove that people shouldn't have rejected me. Many people looked at me badly after finding out I was in prison. But that’s good I had those, who understood me. Who believed me.”
“Excuse me, when you were talking about Eleanor, you didn’t specify when she showed up for the first time,” Raquelle notices. “Were you chased by her for a long time?”
“Nope…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “Eleanor had shown up for the first time in sixteen years some time before you came.”
“So, did you hear nothing about her for sixteen years?” Raquelle wonders.
“No. And to be honest, I already forgot her.”
“Did she really find you thanks to her acquaintance, who told her about how you hit that girl?”
“Right, I didn’t lie to you. And when Eleanor realized who I was, she started to threaten me. In all possible ways… She was threatening to destroy me for the death of Gilbert. For the death that Ines avoided magically.”
“And all the talks about the money were placed in the last place.”
“Yes. Her main goal was not the money. It was me.”
“She was looking for you for a long time…” Raquelle says thoughtfully.
“I know…” Alicia sighs heavily. “And you already know what happened later. Because you were literally an eyewitness to all those events.”
“I got it…” Raquelle nods.
“So…” Alicia, looking at Raquelle with pity in her eyes, shaking her head. “Here’s the truth that you didn’t know when I told you about the money that Eleanor wanted to get from me. I really hid a bigger part of the information, naively believing you would never find it out.”
Alicia shakes her head.
“But now I see no meaning in hiding it from you…” Alicia adds thoughtfully and sniffs quietly. “Eleanor told you everything… So, I decided to tell you absolutely everything. Everything I’m still terribly ashamed of.”
“I completely understand you, Aunt,” Raquelle says confidently and softly, taking Alicia’s hands. “And I don’t judge you for killing the man when trying to protect yourself. Yes, murdering is terrible, but I believe that you didn’t want it.”
“Please, sweetie, believe me… For God’s sake…”
Alicia makes a quiet sob and closes her face with both hands, burning with shame for her niece.
“I don’t want you to turn your back on me because of the mistakes of my youth,” Alicia says in a little shaking voice. “I swear, I’m sorry about everything I did. But alas, I can't go back to the past and fix it. I can’t erase everything I got through from my memory.”
“Don’t worry, I believe you,” Raquelle says confidently.
“I’m sorry, my girl…”
“It’s okay, Auntie…” Raquelle tightly hugs Alicia with tears in her eyes, kisses her on the cheek cutely, and caresses her head. “Please, don’t think I’d start to judge and hate you. It will never happen.”
“You’ve thought that I've been innocent and holy all your life,” Alicia says in a little shaking voice. “A religious woman… But I’ve never been an angel… I worked as a prostitute, killed the man, and hit the little girl with a car…”
“You say nobody is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes.”
“I know, but that’s horrible.”
“The sins of your past will not be the reason to turn my back on you. I loved you and will love you anyway. You are my aunt. My close person.”
“So, do you now believe that everything Eleanor said is the clean truth?” Alicia asks quietly and hesitantly, looking at Raquelle scarily as she steps back from her. “Now you should understand the motives of her revenge and everything she’s done.”
“I completely understand it… Yes, I could understand Eleanor as she lost her father, whom she loved very much. No matter how horrible he was. But I would never do my best to bring a person to another world. If he or she was on trial, it would already be enough.”
“But unfortunately, Eleanor didn’t understand it and was obsessed with a wish to send me to hell, wishing to have lynch after she got unsatisfied with the judge’s verdict.”
“Now it doesn’t make sense. Eleanor will no longer try to take revenge on you for the murder of her father and dare to defeat you again. Now the police will deal with her. And she will not avoid what’s waiting for her. That woman has also committed many sins and should pay for them.”
“Gosh, how I’m ashamed…”
Alicia shakes her head with tears in her eyes.
“Ashamed of you…” Alicia pronounces in a little shaking voice. “How can I be your role model after everything I did?”
“Aunt Alicia…” Raquelle pronounces softly.
“If my parents and sister had known I lived that life, they would’ve rejected me once and forever. Besides, I’m more than sure your grandfather and grandmother found out I was in prison from newspapers and TV shows. And they didn’t forgive me until the last day of their lives.”
“And I think they forgave you. You’re their daughter, whom they loved very much. And they had only you after the death of my mother.”
“I'm so sorry, my sweet girl,” Alicia apologizes with pity in her eyes, fighting with a fear of looking at Raquelle. “Forgive me for making you get through all of this… I'm so guilty for you…”
“Auntie, honey…”
“Please, don’t get mad at me.” Alicia sniffs quietly. “Don’t turn your back on your aunt… You’re the only one from my family that I’ve got. I don’t want to lose you because of my stupidity.”
“I already said that…” Raquelle wants to say.
“I know I’m a stupid idiot, who framed you and almost destroyed you with my own hands. But I’m begging you, my sunshine, forgive me.”
“Aunt Alicia…”
“I swear, if I’d gotten a chance to save you from Eleanor, I would’ve surely done my best to do it. I mean, I tried to save you from the worst by hiding the truth. But it was really worthless… That woman reached you anyway.”
“It’s okay, I know you were doing it for my better and blame you for nothing.”
“I’m so sorry, Raquelle…” Alicia sniffs quietly. “I will never make amends. God hasn’t forgiven me for that terrible sin and is still punishing me.”
“Don’t say that…”
“I guess Eleanor and her family were right when they said I would never forget all of that. It’s like they knew I’d suffer forever. Because it really happened.”
“Please, Aunt, don't think about it,” Raquelle says softly and quietly. “It’s all in the past.”
“I’m sorry, Raquelle… Don’t be mad at me. Somehow, I made God angry, but I don’t want to make you angry.”
“You’ve got no reason to ask me for forgiveness. I’m not mad at you at all.”
“I’m so sorry…” Alicia shakes her head. “I didn’t want everything to be over like this.”
“I know… And I was doing all of this just for you. I couldn’t be indifferent when you had problems, and I wanted to help you with everything I could.”
“And you did very much for that. Yes, you risked much, but you did the right thing.”
“But now you’ve got no reason to worry.”
“I know… And I can’t imagine how I could thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I ask nothing from you. I was doing it for my love. Because I love you with all my heart.”
“Aw, Raquelle, my girl…”
Alicia hugs Raquelle tightly with tears in her eyes, while the girl answers her back with pleasure, sometimes giving quiet sobs. And a few seconds later, they step away from each other, and the girl looks at her aunt better, who looks exhausted.
“Okay, I think we should better go home,” Raquelle says thoughtfully. “You need to calm down and put yourself in order. You look terribly exhausted.”
“Yeah, sweetie, let’s go home,” Alicia agrees tiredly, running her hand over her white face. “I’m so exhausted and wanna have some rest… I’ve been dreaming of changing my clothes, taking a warm bath, and eating well.”
“It seems like they didn’t feed you at all.”
“They did, but they gave me a little. Eleanor literally threw a little bone to me like a dog and said that I must have thanked her at least for that.”
“Oh, my God…” Raquelle shakes her head and cracks a slight smile. “It’s okay! We will go home now, and you will eat enough.”
“I wish…”
“I think we’ve got nothing to do here. We don’t have to do with what the police are gonna do to Eleanor.”
“You’re right… Let’s go home now…”
“Yeah… But at first, I shall just call Lexi and warn her that everything is over. I gave her a promise…”
“Lexi? Does she know what happened to me?”
“Yes, I told her everything on the day Eleanor sent me a message about you being taken hostage. And all this time, she’s been supporting me well. Not letting me go crazy from worrying.”
“That’s how…” Alicia smiles slightly.
“Oh, yeah… I need to talk to the policemen and find out what happened to the money I gave Eleanor.”
“I guess Eleanor took it with her.”
“I don’t know. But I should get it back. I need to give something to Lexi and Jacqueline.”
“Lexi and Jacqueline?”
“Yes. They lent me money that I didn’t have. I only had some money with me. For life and a ticket to the USA.”
“Wait, does Jacqueline know about me, too?”
“She went to Lexi’s home, but Valeria said her daughter was at your home and supporting me as you were kidnapped.”
“Did Jacqueline go to Lexi’s home? But they did fight!”
“They’ve reconciled,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“Really?”
“Yes. Yesterday, she asked for forgiveness. Apologized to me for behaving rudely on the day Lexi took me with her to her home.”
“You were at her home?”
“Yup, we wanted to find out something about Eleanor’s other victims, whom she robbed. Lexi said Jacqueline’s father had some contacts in the police and thought he could find out something.”
“So, he did?”
“Erm… Nope… We kinda… Forgot about it…”
“Alright… So, did she apologize to Lexi, too?”
“Yes, the girls also asked each other for forgiveness. But at first, Lexi doubted if she wanted to be Jacqueline’s friend again because she used her but gave nothing. However, Jacqueline admitted it and promised to get better.”
“Thank God, everything has been solved!” Alicia exhales sharply.
“I’m happy, too,” Raquelle says with a shy smile. “Their fight was a burden on my chest. They literally fought because of me. Because Lexi supported me and took me to Jacqueline’s home without warning.”
“You say, did Jacqueline lend you some money?”
“Yes, she suggested it. I didn’t wanna agree, but I already had no choice,”
“Wow… What a twist…”
“Okay, let me quickly call Alexis. She’s probably worried about us.”
“Tell her that I’m okay.”
“Good.”
Raquelle quickly finds her smartphone in a pocket of her denim jacket, types Alexis’s number, and puts it to her ear. And a few seconds later, she gets an answer when hearing the familiar, excited voice that belongs to her young neighbor of Alicia:
“Hello.”
“Hi, Alexis,” Raquelle pronounces quietly. “It’s me, Raquelle!”
“My God, Raquelle!” Alexis exhales sharply with relief. “Finally! Thank God, you’ve shown up! I’ve been so restless! You haven’t told me news for ages.”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“So, how was everything?”
“It’s all over. Aunt Alicia and I will be back home soon.”
“Are you going home?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God!” Alexis exclaims happily. “I’m so happy!”
“I’m happy everything is over, too.”
“So, how’s Alicia? Is she fine? Did Eleanor do something to her?”
“Don’t worry, Lexi, Aunt is fortunately fine.”
“Really?”
“Really. She’s standing next to me.”
“Next to you?”
“It’s true, Lexi,” Alicia meddles when Raquelle brings the phone closer to her to let her say a word.
“Alicia!” Alexis pronounces excitedly. “Thank God! You’re fine!”
“I’m alright, don’t worry.”
“Oh, Mother and I were so worried about you. She was praying that you came back home safe and sound as soon as possible.”
“I will come back soon.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I got exhausted. And weakness lets me know about it.”
“Oh, my God…”
“It’s okay. I just need to sleep well, take a shower, and sleep. I think I would be fine tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s okay, sweetie, don’t worry. I shall be back home soon and tell you everything.”
“And what about Raquelle? Did Eleanor do something to her?”
“No, no, thank god, Raquelle is fine, too,” Alicia says confidently.
“It’s the truth,” Raquelle confirms confidently and turns on the speakerphone, so Alicia can hear Alexis.
“I hope Eleanor Woodham will no longer bother Alicia?”
“No, Lexi, Eleanor will no longer hurt anyone. The police will deal with her now.”
“So, has she been caught? Is Alicia able to live quietly?”
“I could say so.”
“Wow! And how did everything happen?”
“It’s a long enough story. But I promise, when Aunt Alicia and I are back home, we will tell you everything.”
“Okay, I'll be waiting for you then,” Alexis says quietly. “Maybe, I go to your home and cook something to eat?”
“Yes, sweetie, cook something, please,” Alicia says softly. “Take anything in the kitchen and cook anything you want.”
“Anything I want?”
“Yes. I’m so hungry now that I would eat anything.”
“Okay, I shall think about what to cook. But come back home soon, please. I really wanna know everything that happened and calm down, seeing that you two are safe and sound.”
“Don’t worry, Lexi, we'll come soon,” Raquelle replies confidently with a slight smile.
“Okay.”
“And I shall give you the money I borrowed from you and Jacqueline.”
“Didn’t you need it?”
“No, that was just an excuse. Eleanor didn’t actually need it.”
“As we thought.”
“Yeah… So, I shall give you everything to the last pence, and you’ll give Jacqueline what she gave me.”
“Great! I will go to her home tomorrow and give her everything she gave you.”
“Okay, wait for us. We’ll come soon.”
“Come as soon as possible.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Raquelle turns off the call and puts her mobile phone in the pocket of her denim jacket. And when she and Alicia get up from the sofa and, embracing each other, are going to leave this place, finally go home, and forget everything that happened, Alexander comes to them, holding the black bag with money that the girl took with her and gave Eleanor.
“Are you okay?” Alexander shows anxiety.
“Yes, yes, we are fine, do not worry,” Raquelle nods.
“Are you not too frightened after what happened?”
“We are, but not so much.”
“Do you need any help? Medical? Psychological?”
“No, no, thanks, we need nothing.”
“Alright then… As you want.”
“Anyway, we are very happy everything ended well. I am madly grateful to you for your help.”
“By the way, I brought something to you.”
Alexander gives the black bad to Raquelle and says:
“Here's your bag of money.”
“Erm, yeah, thanks…” Raquelle hesitantly takes the bag from Alexander. “I hope there is the full amount here?”
“We have counted the money to make it clear,” Alexander says. “There are two thousand pounds.”
“Yeah, that’s correct.”
“No problem, then. Nothing is gone.”
“Yeah… Thank you so much, Alexander. I shall give the money to the girls, from whom I had to borrow it.”
“Of course, now you can pay your debts. As you have understood, Eleanor didn’t need it. It was just an excuse to meet you.”
“I know…”
Raquelle falls into silence for two seconds and moves her eyes down, but then little hesitantly moves her eyes to Alexander.
“By the way, Alexander, how is Eleanor doing?” Raquelle asks hesitantly. “Is something known about her?”
“It’s known,” Alexander nods with sadness in his eyes.
“Is everything so bad?”
“Unfortunately, Eleanor Woodham has passed away due to a massive loss of blood.”
“What?” Raquelle and Alicia pronounce hesitantly, opening their eyes wider.
“Eleanor died?” Alicia wonders.
“An ambulance came here too late and did not manage to help that woman in time,” Alexander says with sadness. “But they would have saved her if they had come here a little before. However, I cannot be absolutely sure about it.”
“Oh, my God…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully.
“The doctors did everything they could. But sadly, they had just to state the fact of her death, not being able to bring Eleanor back to life. At some moment, she lost consciousness due to the massive blood loss and no longer woke up. Sadly, the bullet wounded her heart during the shot. So, she had a very little chance to survive.”
Alicia and Raquelle look at each other and sigh quietly, being upset by the news they have just received.
“My gosh…” Alicia pronounces with sadness in her eyes. “I didn’t think everything would be over like this.”
“Yes, that's terrible,” Raquelle agrees thoughtfully. “Despite everything that woman did, I didn’t want her to die. I just wanted to restore justice and fairness. I wanted Eleanor to go to prison and leave my aunt alone.”
“Nobody wanted it,” Alexander shrugs. “The police were not going to kill her. An attempt to shoot Eleanor down was forced.”
“I think if the doctors had come earlier, she could’ve really been saved. But Eleanor was losing blood so fast that nobody could do anything.”
“It’s life. Unfortunately, it happens.”
“You’re right.”
“Anyway, the body of that woman has been taken to a morgue where they will find out the right reason for death, based on which there will be an official document.”
“Alright…” Alicia pronounces quietly. “Anyway, I’m sorry for her… And I am sorry for her family, which is going to find out about Eleanor’s death.”
“I know…” Alexander nods. “But we will tell Eleanor's family members about her death at the nearest time. They will have a funeral ceremony after they are able to take her body from the morgue.”
“And what about her wealth?” Raquelle asks. “This house? The things that she stole?”
“Her family will decide on the future of the house. And there will surely be another check of the shops. If there are much more violations, all of them will be closed. The problem with a salary of the workers will also be solved. Everybody will get everything that woman should have given. Every single report from the victims will be examined. And we will solve the problems with migrants. We will check out if they really live here illegally.”
“So, can we think that this case is closed?” Alicia frowns slightly.
“Yes, no matter what, Eleanor Woodham’s case is closed due to her death from now on,” Alexander says confidently. “When the police finish working on all of it, the material of the case will be archived.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Bradford,” Raquelle thanks with a tired smile. “Thank you for helping us. I have no words to thank you enough.”
“No, thank you, Raquelle. You gave us great help in getting that woman caught. We are very glad everything ended well, at least for you and your relative.”
“I’m also madly glad everything ended well. But I am going to be honest, I’m a little upset because of Eleanor’s death.”
“I get it.”
“Anyway, thank you, Mr. Policeman for helping my niece and me,” Alicia replies with a slight smile and sadness in her eyes, hugging Raquelle around the shoulders. “We would not have done that without you.”
“And thank you, Alicia,” Alexander moves his eyes to Alicia. “I’m glad you are fine.”
“I think I can relax now because that woman will no longer hurt anyone.”
“Of course, you can. And actually, if not for you, Eleanor Woodham would have kept being free and making her plans come true. Who knows… Maybe, she would have deceived some people. Or decided to do different types of crime.”
“Maybe.”
“I repeat, the police did not want to kill Eleanor Woodham. But if it happened that she died, we can do nothing now.”
“Anyway, thank you so much for helping get that woman arrested.”
“I was glad to help you,” Alexander says amicably. “Moreover, it’s my job. Which I try to do brilliantly.”
“Thanks, Alexander,” Raquelle thanks with a slight smile. “We will never forget it.”
Alexander shakes Alicia and later Raquelle by the hand with a shy smile to say goodbye to them. And then the man hears someone from the policemen loudly calling him and asks to come.
“Ah, excuse me, my colleague is calling me,” Alexander says thoughtfully.
“Do you need us?” Raquelle specifies.
“No, we’ve solved everything about you.”
“Great! We will go home then. To have a rest…”
“And put ourselves in order,” Alicia adds.
“Good,” Alexander nods. “Good luck in all your business. And take care of you.”
Alexander turns around slowly and takes a few steps before he calls the memories of something and moves his eyes to Raquelle.
“Ah, yeah, it's not easy to go to your home from this place on your own,” Alexander notices thoughtfully, stroking his chin. “There are no bus stops around. You can only reach this place in your own car or in a taxi.”
“Right…” Raquelle pronounces thoughtfully.
“If you want, I can drive you home or any other place you want.”
Alicia and Raquelle look at each other, shrug, and move their eyes to Alexander.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Raquelle nods.
“Yeah, we would be grateful to you if you drove us,” Alicia adds. “At least to the city. And then we would reach home on a bus.”
“I shall drive you home,” Alexander promises confidently.
“Good, we agree.”
“In this case, go to my car, and I will come to you now. I need to talk to my colleague about something and say goodbye to him.”
“Alright, we are waiting for you,” Raquelle nods.
“Raquelle, spend your aunt. You know where my car is.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Alexander nods, turns around, and comes to his colleagues, who start saying something to him. Raquelle and Alicia stand in the same place for a few seconds, watching the man. And they quickly look at everything that is happening around them, not feeling a little better from realizing that nobody will love to hurt them anymore. Meanwhile, Lucas and Aidan, the helpers of Mr. Bradford, are already in one of the police cars as well as the people, who are working at Eleanor’s house and are about to be taken to ask them some questions. The doctors have already left this place alongside the dead woman, and the other men in blue are finishing their business and going to come back to the police station to keep working there.
“Okay, Aunt, let's come to the car,” Raquelle sighs quietly with sadness in her eyes. “Now Alexander will drive us home.”
“Yeah, let’s go…” Alicia agrees tiredly, embracing herself with her arms. “I don’t like this place at all.”
“Me too…”
“I wanna go home as soon as possible, have a good rest, and forget this nightmare.”
“I get it…”
“But I’m happy that I will never come back to this house.”
“Of course, you will not. The future of it is now in the hands of the relatives of that woman. As well as the future of those, who are working here.”
“Agree…”
“However, it’s none of our problem. But now you and I will go home, warm up, change our clothes, and eat well.”
“Okay, let’s go to the car.”
Raquelle sighs with sadness in her eyes again, takes Alicia carefully under an arm, and goes slowly to the car of Alexander, embracing her relative at some moment, while the woman can barely stand on her feet due to weakness. In the living room, they notice several women and girls in a uniform of a servant, who are holding each other in a tight hug and crying bitterly over Eleanor’s death, as they assume. After looking at them with sympathy, the girl and her aunt go through the hall door and leave the house, breathing in the fresh air and immediately feeling how the skin gets squeezed by the icy chains. Not caring about the cars and the policemen, who are doing their business, they come slowly to the place where Inspector Bradford’s car is parked and stand near the one, embracing, calming down, and warming up each other in this cold weather, while the strong enough wind is blowing their hair and clothes, and the gray, thick clouds do not let the sun show up and light up the whole city with its shoots.
Some time later, Alexander finally comes to them after saying goodbye to his colleagues and giving them some commands. The man opens the car with a key, so the women can sit in the backseat, and sits in the driver’s seat after he says something to his workmate, who comes to him at the last moment. After this, the inspector starts the motor of the car, presses the gas pedal, and goes on the straight, one-sided road. Despite being deeply shocked, Raquelle and Alicia are very happy that the worst things are over. They are happy that the woman will no longer get threats from anyone, and she will finally be able to sleep quietly. This case helped her understand that she should not hide any secrets from her niece. Alicia understands that Raquelle is adult enough to be able to accept some things. And the girl is madly happy that she helped her aunt solve this problem and feels proud to some extent. Besides, she got a little better at the thought that Eleanor Woodham will no longer hurt anyone from this moment on because she has died.
***
In the late evening, Raquelle, Alicia, and Alexis are sitting at the table and actively discussing the events of today and the last few days that they all want to forget about as soon as possible. The woman looks much better after putting herself in order and putting on clean, comfortable clothes, even if she still feels tired and needs a long, deep sleep. And her niece came to herself more or less after she got through and found out much from what got her really shocked.
They are now sitting at the table alongside Alicia’s neighbor and drinking tea slowly with vanilla cookies, which they sometimes take from the plate placed in front of her.
“I'm still shaking ‘cause I was at the gun's point,” Raquelle confesses, holding a piece of chocolate and drinking a cup of tea without sugar. “That woman almost killed me… I was so scared…”
“Yeah, I would also be terrified…” Alexis replies thoughtfully, mixing what is in her cup with a spoon. “But thank God, there were the policemen with you, and they didn’t let anything bad happen.”
“I thought I would’ve died from fear earlier than Eleanor would have decided to kill me. Seriously… I had never felt as terrified as I did today. When I was under the charged gun.”
“Nothing amazing,” Alicia pronounces confidently, glancing at Raquelle. “I completely understand your feelings. I’ve also been under a gun many times. And Eleanor’s people put a knife in my throat many times. My heart was beating like crazy when I had to get through it.”
“I was scared because the policemen could do nothing. Because when someone moved, Eleanor started to threaten anyone. She didn’t care about getting problems with the law after trying to kill the policeman.”
“Probably, that woman thought that just because she belonged to the Woodhams and was the daughter of Gilbert Woodham, everyone must have fallen at her foot and dared not to touch her with a finger,” Alexis assumes.
“Oh, yeah, that woman said it constantly,” Alicia confesses. “In every case, she said she was Eleanor Georgina Woodham, the daughter of the all-favorite and deeply respected Gilbert Woodham.”
“But it didn’t help her anyway,” Raquelle notices and drinks some tea from her cup. “And the judge that excused you let them know who the Woodhams were and what they meant to her.”
“They thought people would be afraid of them until the last breath. Yes, maybe, people were afraid of them when Gilbert was alive and could shut anyone up with just one look. But after his death, the Woodhams lost their former power.”
“I think they lost it when Gilbert was alive. When she became the owner of the shops, Eleanor was trying to bring the former fame back and become the new version of her father. But alas, it didn’t happen. Moreover, her shops were also known for the bad-quality clothes, which were sold for a high cost as something luxury.”
“Right. Her greed is the reason why she didn’t bring the popularity that the shops had for some time after they were opened.”
“Yeah… You’re right.”
“I do always say nothing lasts forever. Everything would end early or late.”
“Anyway, the important thing is that Eleanor Woodham will never bother us.” Raquelle starts to wrap around her cup of tea with a finger, looking thoughtful and looking into the distance. “There is not a threat that the woman will want to take revenge again.”
“Agree…” Alicia exhales with relief. “And thank God, I got a chance to start to live a quiet life. Because of Eleanor’s revenge, I forgot what it meant to fall asleep at night without problems and not to wake up with a cold sweat.”
“Don’t worry, Aunt, nobody will take revenge on you and try to destroy you,” Raquelle says confidently, caressing Alicia’s hand. “The story of Eleanor Woodham is over once and forever.”
“Yeah, my sweetheart, I know…”
Alicia takes a few sips of tea from her cup.
“By the way, I haven't gotten…” Alexis says thoughtfully and drinks some tea. “What happened to Eleanor? Has she gotten arrested? You told me almost nothing about it!”
“Oh, Lexi…” Raquelle sighs with sadness in her eyes and runs her hand through her hair, slightly clicking on her cup of tea with her fingers. “Everything was much worse…”
“Worse? What do you mean? What happened to Eleanor?”
“She…” Raquelle falls into silence for two seconds and exhales sharply. “Unfortunately, she died.”
“What?” Alexis rounds her eyes immediately. “What do you mean she died?”
“Eleanor Woodham is dead. She died and will no longer hurt anyone.”
“But how? Eleanor was young enough! She was thirty-seven, if I’m not mistaken.”
“It’s easy…” Alicia pronounces quietly and takes a couple sips of tea with sadness in her eyes. “Eleanor died from the gun wound.”
“Wound?”
“To be clear, a massive blood loss.”
“Was she killed?”
“One of the policemen shot at her.”
“Oh, my God…”
“Eleanor refused to give up and let Raquelle go, threatening to kill her when the police had come. Well, at some moment, one of them just took a shoot…”
“It’s true, Lexi,” Raquelle nods. “Sadly, an ambulance came there too late. Doctors could do nothing. Eleanor lost very much blood, even if the policemen did their best before the doctors’ arrival. But alas… Resuscitation didn’t bring her to life, and the doctors only had to confirm the death time and let the police know that the criminal was dead.”
“Oh, gosh…” Alexis gets horrified and shakes her head, moving her eyes at a cup of tea and looking at her reflection in the tea. “That's so terrible…”
“I think she already understood that she would die. She knew it would happen. She knew she would not survive.”
“Was the wound so serious?”
“She got her chest wounded. It was very close to her heart. The strong bleeding began, and nobody could stop it.”
“I can’t believe it…”
“But even being close to death, Eleanor kept cursing my aunt and saying she must’ve killed her. She didn’t wanna die without keeping the promise that she gave to her father.”
“My gosh… I didn’t expect that turn… I didn't think everything would be over with the death of that woman.”
“We didn’t expect it, either,” Alicia sighs heavily. “But Inspector Bradford confirmed it personally and said Eleanor was brought to a morgue. And soon, her family will know about Eleanor’s death and bury her. To be clear, they've probably already found it out.”
“No matter how bad she was, I’m sorry it happened. I didn’t wish her to die and just wanted her to get arrested.”
“Us too, Lexi,” Raquelle replies thoughtfully and quietly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Us too…”
“I actually never wish anyone to die.”
“Believe me, I didn’t also want Eleanor’s death, despite disliking her for what she did to my aunt. I wanted to see that woman in prison, not in a grave.”
“C’mon, there’s no meaning to talk about it…” Alicia sighs tiredly. “Probably, someone in heaven thought she crossed all the lines and went too far. And they decided to take her life.”
“Maybe,” Alexis shrugs. “That woman was really by far not innocent.”
“Oh…” Alicia leans on her chin with her hand and sighs quietly with sadness in her eyes. “I hope God will forgive all her sins… May she rest in peace…”
“Amen,” Raquelle pronounces quietly. “Now God is her judge. The trial of her will take place not at the courtroom but somewhere in heaven.”
“And that woman will meet her father, whose death made her do such horrible things.”
“Yeah… They’ll be together… In another world…”
Raquelle sighs heavily with sadness on her face and moves her eyes at her cup of tea. Then a short pause settles in the air, after which Alicia decides to close this topic not to get much more upset, looking at the sad faces of her niece and her neighbor, Alexis.
“Okay, girls, let's not make our mood worse and talk about bad things,” Alicia suggests in a more cheerful voice. “Everything stayed in the past. We’ve gotta move on and think positively.”
“Hey, how are you feeling?” Alexis asks.
“Much better. Close walls, a warm shower, clean clothes, and tasty home food did incredible things.”
“I prefer believing you,” Raquelle notices with a slight smile. “If you were doing something in the kitchen for almost two hours. Instead of lying and sleeping.”
“I shall have time to sleep! But now I wanna spend time with my close people. And try to forget what happened to me as soon as possible.”
“We’re always at your service, Auntie. We would do anything you want with pleasure.”
“I’ve got only one plea for you.”
“What?”
“Don’t talk about Eleanor, about Gilbert, or something like that.”
“Okay, we won’t do it,” Raquelle promises confidently.
“Forget it. Thank God, everything has ended well, and everybody’s safe and sound. So, let’s try to keep living. Living a quiet life.”
“Yeah, you’re absolutely right, Alicia…” Alexis agrees thoughtfully. “Since the problem is solved, and your offender has died, there’s no meaning in talking about it and thinking of the bad past.”
“The most important thing is to survive tonight,” Raquelle says with a slight smile. “And tomorrow, when we wake up in the morning, we’ll get a little better. At least, I hope we’ll be thinking about that nightmare much less in the morning…”
“We’ll surely forget it,” Alicia says confidently. “Of course, we need time to come to ourselves. And it doesn’t mean we’d surely forget all of that. But trying not to torture ourselves and not to think about it is quite possible.”
“With pleasure,” Alexis shrugs with a shy smile.
“Me too,” Raquelle says softly.
“Wonderful then!” Alicia exclaims.
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, after which Alicia smiles mysteriously.
“So, in honor of having a chance to exhale with relief, I cooked something special for you,” Alicia says confidently.
“Special?” Raquelle frowns slightly.
“Yes. I will show you now.”
While Raquelle and Alexis questioningly look at each other, Alicia stands up from the table with a mysterious smile, comes to the refrigerator, opens it, and takes a big, incredibly appetizing at first sight cake covered with chocolate cacao.
“M-m-m, I wondered why something smelled so incredible two hours ago…” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“I guess it’s chocolate,” Alexis assumes thoughtfully. “Bitter chocolate.”
“And you’re not wrong,” Alicia says confidently, places the cake on the table with a slight smile on her face, and puts her hands aside. “Voilà! Here’s my surprise!”
“Wow!” Raquelle exclaims and first opens her mouth slightly in surprise, but then she smiles shyly, looking at the cake, the incredible smell of which instantly gets into her nose. “Aunt Alicia! You’ve cooked a cake!”
“Something like that! What do you think, girls?”
“Oh, gosh! It looks incredible!”
“And how it smells!” Alexis smiles widely, breathing in the smell of the chocolate cake. “Just magnificent!”
“I wanted to cook it a long time ago,” Alicia confesses shyly. “But I forgot how to make it… I checked lots of cooking books but found nothing. And then I accidentally found a piece of paper with a recipe in a drawer on the writing table! So, I thought I could make my girls happy.”
“So, were you looking for that one when I went to your room, where the books were lying everywhere?” Raquelle concludes.
“That’s it,” Alicia nods confidently.
“My God, were you cooking it, despite tiredness?”
“What’s wrong? Besides, to cook it, you should spend only one hour or one and a half hours. I cooked a mix, filled a mold, put it in the oven, and went to do my business. I just checked it not to let it burn.”
“Wow…”
“Wow, how delicious it is!” Alexis pronounces with delight. “I’m starting to drool, looking at this beauty.”
“So what, girls, would you like to taste it?” Alicia asks.
“Yes, yes, I do want to taste it!” Raquelle says happily. “Right now!”
“Me too!” Alexis pronounces with a wide smile, being happy like a little child, who is happy with a toy that he or she wanted to get for a long time but later got it. “I want, too!”
“I think it’s time to forget about diets and thoughts of a gorgeous body.”
“C'mon, sweetie, what kind of diet?” Alicia moans tiredly. “You’re as slim as a stick, but you’re thinking about losing much more weight.”
“Indeed, Raquelle!” Alexis exclaims. “You don’t need to lose much more weight.”
“Besides, the cake is not very calorific.”
“As if I’ve ever kept diets,” Raquelle smiles shyly.
“Don’t do!” Alicia says confidently. “Men love beautiful bodies, not skeletons covered with the skin.”
“Oh, Aunt Alicia…”
“Okay, girls, let me cut the cake.” Alicia quickly cuts the cake into a few equal pieces. “If you want, take more. Don’t be shy…”
After cutting the cake quickly enough, Alicia puts pieces of the cake on small dessert plates, places them in front of Raquelle and Alexis, and does not forget to get a little piece for herself.
“My God, it’s so delicious!” Raquelle pronounces with a wide smile, tasting the first piece of the cake. “And it’s so soft!”
“Gosh, it's unbelievably tasty!” Alexis exclaims, eating her piece of cake with pleasure. “I’ve got nothing to say!”
“You see what a delicious thing you can cook from cacao and sour cream,” Alicia says confidently.
“M-m-m, delicious dessert!” Raquelle pronounces with enjoyment. “I’m delighted!”
“I must get a recipe for this masterpiece for my mother to cook the same for me,” Alexis says confidently. “Or learn how to cook it by myself.”
“I’ll surely get it and then be cooking this at home and making my grandpa happy,” Raquelle replies with her head proudly raised. “I’m sure he’ll be delighted by this masterpiece.”
“I will write how to cook it on a piece of paper,” Alicia promises. “There’s nothing hard about it.”
“Great!”
“And I wanna say the longer you keep it in a refrigerator, the more delicious it will be.”
“I hope my mother will not get hurt if I start openly praising your food that I’m delighted by,” Alexis expresses hope.
“My grandpa already quietly accepts the fact that I talk about my great love for Aunt Alicia’s cooking masterpieces,” Raquelle confesses with a quiet grin.
“He just understands that he can’t compete with me,” Alicia replies funnily. “So, he admits I’m much more successful at cooking.”
“Maybe…”
Alicia, Alexis, and Raquelle laugh shyly and keep eating the cake cooked by the woman with great pleasure and drinking tasty tea at times. They decide to talk about something good and distract from the bad things that they had to get through today and over the past few weeks. It happens that they are sitting at the table and talking about what makes them feel a nice warmth in their soul for about an hour. It helps them relax a little and start to smile and laugh at some jokes. Every one of them cannot still believe the terrible story is finally over, and they are sure it’s just a dream that will be forgotten very soon and hardly become reality. Nevertheless, Raquelle, Alicia, and Alexis think they just need some time to try to forget everything that has happened in the past few days.
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