Heart Matters (29 page)

Ida peered at his inert form sprawled out on
the floor and smiled at the man who had attacked him. “Thank you,
Jake. Now we prepare to wait for the Senator.”

***

Jessica rose out of bed quietly, not wanting
to disturb her friends. It was only six but the day outside had
already begun. She showered quickly then dressed into a casual pair
of cream colored cotton pants that she wore with a short blue tank
top. With her feet clad in comfortable tennis shoes, she swung her
purse over her shoulder and left the room.

She passed through the quiet house meeting
no one. It was Sunday and most of the help had the day off. She
peeked into the garage, her eyes sweeping the place for a practical
means of transport. When she spotted the sports bicycle in one
corner, her eyes positively lit up. She checked the tires and
satisfied with their condition, she wheeled out of the villa’s
grounds.

She had no particular plans as to what she
intended to do. But one thing was for sure. She wanted to stop at
Ida’s hotel and see if Steven was with her. She knew for a surety
that he was but she still needed to satisfy her hopeful heart one
last time.

The open roads welcomed her with enchanting
sights as she rode on purposefully. Her disturbed mind had no space
for sightseeing. Even her fear of her unknown assailant had
disappeared. She
had
to see Steven, even if only for the
last time.

***

Ida opened the door clad in a flimsy
nightgown. She smirked ruthlessly, tapping the ash off her
cigarette with a careless gesture. “Why, Jessi, darling. This is a
surprise. What can I do for you?”

Jessica squared her shoulders bravely. “I
saw Steven’s vehicle in the car park. I’d like to see him.”

Ida stepped aside with a theatrical sweep of
her arm. “Be my guest.”

Jessica entered the cottage tentatively,
suddenly unsure of herself. What did she expect to say to him?
I
hate you for making me love you? You two-timer!
Or maybe just,
I’ve come to say goodbye.
She drew in a deep breath and
faced Ida. “Where is he?”

“In the bedroom, where else?” the other
woman mocked painfully, “Door’s on your left.”

A wave of nausea washed over Jessica but she
struggled hard to control herself. She wasn’t about to show her
weakness to Steven or Ida for them to gloat on. She opened the
bedroom door and stepped in.

He was lying naked on his stomach in the
middle of the bed. A sheet was drawn over his waist and his even
breathing clearly told her he was sleeping peacefully. A sob rose
in her throat. She stepped back, unchecked tears flowing down her
cheeks. She closed her eyes praying desperately.
Oh, Lord, let
this be a nightmare! Let this not be true!
She opened her eyes
but she found herself facing a triumphant Ida.
So, it was
finally over.

She turned without a word and stumbled out.
She had to leave the island
now!
She had to get as far away
as she could from Steven. His betrayal had torn her life apart. She
had nothing to say to him now.

Hard green eyes watched her leave with pure
hatred and triumph. As far as Ida was concerned, the matter was far
from over. A woman defeated in love could easily fling herself off
a mountain. A very high mountain. She stepped aside, giggling
abruptly like a small child. “Be gentle with her Jake. I want to
make sure Steve darling recognizes all her precious bones.”

She watched him leave slowly with unhurried
steps. Finally, it was going to be all over. If Steven didn’t want
her, he wouldn’t have the woman he loved either. He would pay
dearly, as they said.

It was nearing eight, she realized. Senator
Devon hadn’t turned up last night. He was sure to be in soon. It
was his turn to be shocked. She would of course return to him. But
she would make sure he used all his personal connections to ruin
Steven Hart and his grand empire.

***

Haleakala or House of the Sun loomed high
above dwarfing the people who scrambled about its treacherous
sides. The route that led to the summit was full of twists and
turns with breathtaking sights of deep gorges. The sunlight hit the
crater with full intensity as the clear atmosphere held no
disturbances. At full length, Haleakala soared to a height of ten
thousand feet, posing an imposing challenge for those who tried to
scale it.

Jessica craned her neck to look up at
whatever part of Haleakala that she could, breathing deeply. She
had no idea why she was trekking around a very popular tourist
destination when she should actually be on her way to the airport.
Maybe it had something to do with Jake prodding her back with a
gun. She glanced around nervously and noted the tourist buses,
private cars and cyclists that passed by at regular intervals. Most
were probably descending from their view of a spectacular
sunrise.

She glanced at her watch surreptitiously and
noted nearly three hours had passed by from the time she had gained
consciousness in a car with Jake who had kidnapped her from outside
Ida’s hotel. She remembered heading for her bicycle before an arm
came around and held a napkin over her mouth before she could
scream. Then everything went blank.

That Jake was her assailant somehow didn’t
surprise her. He had made her get out of the car at what seemed
like the park headquarters and then they started hiking. From what
she could gauge they seemed to be going downhill via various twists
and turns. At one point she pretended to stumble and he pulled her
up roughly. A passing group of cyclists saw them and paused
briefly.

“You guys ok?” A young man in his twenties
queried.

“Yea, we’re cool,” Jake answered gruffly;
pressing his gun in Jessica’s back causing her to shudder. “Aren’t
we darlin’?”

The young man watched Jessica questioningly
and she regarded him with a silent plea in her tumultuous eyes. She
knew she had to escape but she also knew Jake wouldn’t think twice
in using his weapon either on her or the innocent people who had
paused out of concern. “I’m fine.” She managed to breathe with a
smile and waved them on half heartedly. Her heart sank as she
watched them disappear.

A less trodden road turned to their left and
Jake forced her on it. Jessica felt close to panic and knew she had
to act now or she would never make it out alive.

***

“Just what the hell is going on here?”
Senator David Devon demanded, his sophisticated face dark as
thunder. He watched his wife sit up groggily in bed before gasping
with fright.

Ida drew a sheet hastily over her naked
breasts. “Davie! What are you doing here?”

David scowled furiously, his eyes shifting
to the man who lay sleeping next to her. “Didn’t he tell you I was
coming to get you?”

Slow tears filled her eyes as she shook her
head. “I...had no idea…” She sniffed pitifully raising her large
eyes to him. “You…you came for me?”

His head hung in shame. “Ida, we have a lot
of differences but I love you. You know that!”

She began weeping openly. “I’m sorry, I’m so
sorry, Davie. I was feeling neglected. I thought you didn’t care
for me anymore.” She hid her face in her palms and shook with loud
sobs.

David’s heart went out to her pathetic
state. He loved Ida to the point of madness but never realized the
increasing distance between them over the years. That’s what he had
explained to her old boyfriend when he had found out she had come
out here for him.

Steven Hart had assured him over the phone
that he had no feelings for Ida and that he was a happily married
man. When David had pleaded with him to humor Ida till he got there
to personally take her back, Steven had assured him to set his
anxiety aside. David was delayed in his arrival because of some
urgent matter but he had not expected Steven to break his trust.
Yet here he was, in bed with his wife.

“Come here sweetheart,” David opened his
arms for Ida. She rose readily pulling the sheet along with her and
went into his arms. She sobbed against his shoulder while he
stroked her hair gently.

“He tricked me into sleeping with him
Davie,” Ida wept pathetically. “He wanted to ruin our
marriage.”

“I’ll destroy him so fast, he won’t know
what hit him!” David swore viciously, his eyes once again resting
on Steven’s inert form. They saw his clothing dumped carelessly on
the floor with the shoes next to them. His watch lay on side table
next to the phone. David looked away in disgust before his eyes
once again rested on the side table. He frowned noticing a small,
labeled bottle and a neatly folded handkerchief next to it. Before
he could figure out the contents of the bottle, he saw Steven stir
abruptly. He scowled.
So, the bastard was getting up? Good! They
could have a confrontation right away!

***

Jake gave her a rough push and Jessica went
sprawling on the dusty surface of the mountain. She screamed and
turned around to see him point the gun at her.

***

He could hear voices in his sleep. Someone
was crying softly. Elsewhere, a few birds screeched restlessly.
Jessica was crying, tears streaming down her satin cheeks. She was
in trouble and needed him. He began running desperately. I’m
coming, my love, I’m coming!

“Uhh!” he grunted in pain as he turned onto
his back. Bright light hit his eyes and he winced. He tried to sit
up but his head swam alarmingly making him fall back. He cursed
loudly, his hand reaching out to knead his throbbing head.

Ida spun around in panic. Steven was
regaining consciousness! Hadn’t she administered enough chloroform?
David’s comforting arm came about her cold shoulders. “Don’t worry
darling, I’m here.” He moved her aside and went to stand at the
foot of the bed.

Behind his closed eyes, Steven once again
saw Jessica. She seemed to be floating in mid-air, her arms
reaching out to him.
Help me! Please help me!
she beseeched
before fading away abruptly.

“Jessica!” He sat up with a jolt, his eyes
flying wide open. He couldn’t immediately focus his eyes but slowly
the foggy shapes turned into wholesome people. His eyes narrowed
over Ida’s near naked form before settling on the middle aged
man.

Gray haired with a clean, shaven square chin
and immaculately dressed, he knew this was Senator Devon. Memory of
the attack on him came back clear as the day. He realized he was
naked and shook his head in disgust. So, this is what they were up
to. Blackmail. But what did they expect to gain from it? He stared
directly at the senator. “Well, Senator, I wish I could say I’m
pleased to finally meet you but,” he looked past him at Ida, “I
want to know what game you two are up to?”

David’s light, gray eyes widened in
surprise. “You, my friend, are hardly in a position to ask that
question.”

“Just what the hell is that supposed to
mean?”

“Why don’t you explain what you’re doing in
my wife’s bed?”

A perplexed frown played between Steven’s
brows. What was the man playing at? “I…,” he began and stopped as
an ominous click sounded loudly. Both men looked at the direction
of the sound to find Ida holding a gun in her outstretched arms. A
neat silencer was attached at the end to obviously curb the sound.
She had drawn on a nightgown and her eyes seemed hollow in her pale
face.

David stared at her in shock taking a step
towards her. The gun was a professional weapon. How had she
possibly come across it? “Ida? What are you doing?”

The wild, green eyes didn’t leave Steven’s
furious face. “He..he tried to separate us. He tricked me!”

“Darling, put down the gun. There’s no need
to get hysterical,” David spoke softly, holding out his palm. “Come
on, give the gun to me.”

“No!” she screamed, stepping back from him.
“Get aside, Davie!”

David saw her finger squeeze the trigger and
lunged for her. The gun went off with a muted sound and he fell on
the floor with Ida, knocking the weapon from her hand. She
struggled violently against him, clawing and kicking frantically.
He landed a sound slap on her face and she suddenly stilled. When
David was sure the hysteria had passed over her, he turned in panic
to see if Steven was all right.

The bullet had clearly missed Steven for he
sat up in bed looking a bit dazed. He stared at David’s pale face
in astonishment. “She’s crazy!”

David stood up helping Ida to her feet. She
was whimpering pitifully as he drew her in his arms. “You drove her
to it!”

“Me?” The deep blue eyes dilated in
disbelief. “You two clumped me last night and
I’m
the one
who drove her to it?”

“Don’t listen to him, Davie!” Ida cried out
but David was frowning thickly.

“Hart if you think you’re going to make this
look any better by giving pathetic excuses…”

Steven abruptly rose out of bed, unabashed
of his nudity. He drew on his clothes then glanced around. He saw
his watch on the side table and reached for it. When he slid it on,
his eyes fell on the bottle that rested next the phone. He sucked
in his breath when he read the label. Chloroform! Jesus Christ!
What else had they laid on him? He glanced at David then his eyes
shifted to Ida’s pale face. Was it possible that the Senator was
not a part of this little game? He calmly dabbed some of the
contents of the on the handkerchief next to it and slowly rose to
his feet.

“Ida, you wouldn’t happen to know what’s on
this piece of cloth, would you?” he queried politely, moving
towards her with slow, determined steps.

“N..no,” she mumbled, moving behind David
for protection. “Davie please, please make him stay away from
me!”

David held out a warning hand to Steven.
“You better not come any further, Hart.”

“I won’t, Senator.” Steven stopped, smiling
easily. “But I’d like you to take a whiff from this piece of
cloth.”