Mystery: Missing Rita: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery) (12 page)

“Funny, don’t you think?”

“What is funny?”

“It all boils down to one thing at the end of the day – most feuds, disputes and, God forbid, even wars all have the same underlying cliché story.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I am talking about love, infatuation, vengeance,” Peter started before sipping from his glass again and moving closer to her. “I know why you want to know about Rita.”

“Why?”

“You want to win your beloved Ryan back.”

Tracy felt like she had been stabbed by a sharp sword in her heart a thousand times. She sipped from her glass and gave Peter a murderous look.

“How do you know about that?”

“Child please, you forget I was your sister’s therapist? I know everything.”

“Everything.”

“Oh yes, everything.” He downed the contents of his glass in one swift motion before moving closer to her and went on to say,
“I know how you were the first to fall in love with Ryan, how you were once a successful model but threw your career away because of a man
.”

“I did not throw it away for a man.”

“What would you call wasting away on drugs and alcohol, after your beloved boyfriend had dumped you for your sister?”

Tracy let out an ear-splitting scream and let her body slump down on the floor. The memories Peter was making her deal with brought too much pain to her and she could feel tears of regret and despair rush down her cheeks. She wished he would stop talking but he did not; instead he moved closer to where she was and went on to pierce her with his words.

“I know how much he meant to you, I know how much you wanted to have kids with him and get married to him. You wanted the perfect life with him but your sister got it instead and you can say she actually ruined your life.”

“She did and I hate her for it.”

Tracy sat on the floor and went on to let out soft sobs before looking up at Peter and hating the smug look on his face. She got to her feet and resumed her seat before wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

“I can see why you have stayed in your profession for all these years,” Tracy said. “And here I thought it was all owed to that heifer of an old woman you call a mistress.”

Peter looked at her stunned and had nothing else to say to her. He thought he had broken her and did not expect her to be talking so casually and calmly to him.

“Christine is it?” she went on to say. “I know you are surprised, doc, but I didn’t break so easily.Granted you may have hit a nerve or two but that was just on the surface.”

“My God, I can see the resemblance already,” Peter remarked and got to his feet again. He walked to the liquor cabinet and turned his attention to Tracy. “You want another one?”

“Yes, please.”

Peter poured a drink for them both. He then walked over to where she was and handed her the glass of scotch before making his way back to where he’d been sitting.

“So let’s stop playing games with each other,” Dr. Mathews said and settled well in his seat. “Why don’t you tell me what you want from me?”

“I want money.”

“Excuse me?”

“Rita and I opened a joint bank account when we were still on talking terms and thick as thieves,” she started to explain. “We saved a good amount from my modeling money and we never bothered to withdraw any.”

“What has that got to do with me?”

“You were Rita’s therapist. You know all her secrets and I am sure you know where she kept all the account details.”

“But you have just said it was a joint account. Doesn’t that mean you have access to it?”

“When we opened the account I was only 17 years of age and Rita got full control of it. I was supposed to also have access once I reached 18 but I totally forgot about it.”

“So you think I know something about the account.”

“I think you do,” Tracy said and leaned closer to him. “I think you either have all the information I want or you know someone who has the information I want.”

“What is in it for me?”

“Does that mean you have the information I want?”

“Maybe,” Pieter said and sipped from his glass again. “I may have some information on the bank account.”

“What do you want?”

“To split of course,” he answered. “Fifty-fifty.”

“80- 20,” Tracy said.

“Okay, fair enough,” Peter chuckled. “God knows you need the money more than I.”

“So when will I get the information?”

“Patience, my love. I need to handle this discretely.”
      

“Okay and I need a date.”

“Next week, same time as this.”

Tracy looked around the room before making a mental calculation.

“Next week, Wednesday at 10:00pm?” she confirmed. “Where will we meet?”

“Here.You can let yourself in the same way you did today.”
      

Tracy got to her feet after getting the information she wanted and downed the contents of her glass. She then threw a dirty look Peter’s way and moved closer to him.

“If you try to screw me up, I’m going to cut you,” she said. “I’m not as wicked as Rita, I am worse.”

“I would totally find that hot if I were the least bit attracted to you,” Peter replied with an equally wicked look on his face but could feel the fear in him make his heart race faster. He watched as she walked out of the room and noticed her well-rounded behind. He listened carefully as she walked out the back door and waited a good fifteen minutes before he took out his cell phone and made a call.

“What?” a voice on the other end of the receiver answered his call. “You had better have a good reason to call me this late in the night.”

“She knows.”

“She knows?”

“Yes, she does.”

“What do we do? Should we change the plan?”

“No,” Peter answered. “We stick to the plan but solidify plan B.”

He hung up the phone and went on to sip his scotch by himself in the living room. He got to his feet again and poured himself a second and third glass. The liquor finally got to his very tired body and he fell asleep in his seat.
      

Sam sat in his bed that night watching a movie on his laptop while sipping a beer. He did not feel like working that night and decided to focus all his attention on himself that day. He had had an eventful day of moving from one courtroom to another with the state attorney and could feel the fatigue getting to him. He had switched off his cell phone but knew he would eventually need to switch it on and loved the idea of peace and quiet. The doorbell rang and he let out an angry curse underneath his breath before getting reluctantly to his feet and walking over to open it.

He did not like who his eyes landed on when the door flew open. He wished he hadn’t opened up.

“Hey, sweetie,” Ted said from the other side of the door before walking right past him and into the living room.

“Hey,” he answered.

“You do not look so happy to see me.”

“Long day,” Sam replied before stretching his arms and letting out a loud yawn. He however knew Ted was right – he was not so happy to see him. He was feeling tired and was not in the mood for a demanding midnight romp.

“That is a bummer,” he said before having a seat on the living room sofa. “I had the night planned out with very exciting games.”

“I am sure you did, but look, I have had such a long day,” Sam started explaining but was interrupted by Ted’s angry tone.

“You are so ungrateful, Ted.”

“Here we go with all the drama,” Sam said and started walking away from the living room.

“Don’t you walk away from me!”

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want.”

“Is that so?”

“Damn right it is,” Sam said and stopped in his tracks. He turned his attention to Ted and looked him straight in the eye challengingly.

Ted did not look offended. His anger slowly turned into laughter and he started making his way towards Sam. He had an evil look in his eye – the look that Sam loathed more than anything in his life.

“Look who finally got his voice,” he said. “Sam.”

“Yes, Ted.”

“Yes, Ted?” Ted asked disgustedly. “Is that what we have now come to? You call me by my first name?”

“But that’s what I’ve been calling you for quite some time now.”

A sharp pain seared through his tummy and he took a few steps back from the blow that Ted had plunged into his stomach without warning. He placed both hands on his stomach and contemplated his next action before moving forward and returning the same blow in Ted’s stomach.

Ted stumbled back too and had a look of disbelief on his face. He had not expected Sam to retaliate and he felt confused. The two looked at each other with pure hate in their eyes before Ted straightened up and gave Sam an equally murderous look. He then turned on his heel and said nothing before making his way slowly to the door. He could feel Sam’s gaze dig into his back as he turned the doorknob. He turned round and locked his gaze with him before letting out a deep breath and shaking his head.

“You are going to regret this,” he said and walked out the door.

Sam was left to revel in the hollow silence he had left him in and wondered what he could possibly do to him. He looked at the door and walked towards it before turning the lock and heading back to his bedroom. He remembered his phone was off and switched it on before letting his body slump on his bed. He let his thoughts wander around to nothing in particular as he waited for the phone to switch on.

As expected, he had a few voicemails and missed calls. Most were social calls but two were from his partner Lohan. Out of mere curiosity and worry, he dialed back and listened to it ring.

“Finally,” Lohan’s voice echoed from the other side of the receiver. “I have been looking for you.”

“Sorry, my handset had issues,” Sam lied.

“Is it fixed now?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I need to see you right now.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes yes, I am fine,” Lohan answered. “It’s a work thing.”

“Where are you?”

“Club Whiskers.”

“The strip club where your wife forbids you to go?”

“One and only,” Lohan replied. “You coming?”

“On my way,” Sam answered before hanging up the phone and sitting up on is bed. He had a feeling Lohan was not calling him for any work-related business but needed a night out anyway. He walked over to his mirror and took a look at his reflection in the mirror. He liked the faded blue jeans he had on and thought of matching it with a red T-shirt. He rummaged through his closet for the T-shirt in question and threw it on. He then walked out of his apartment and headed to his car, Ted’s last words echoing in his mind and making him slightly tense. He got into the driver’s seat and drove off into the night after pushing Ted’s words to the back of his head.

Sam knew where the strip club was but had never gone in. He drove cautiously to it all the while adjusting his rear view mirror for fear of Ted or any other car trailing him. He got to the club and the energy that greeted him at the door was unbelievable. There were half-naked women dancing all over the place and he spotted his partner in a corner receiving a lap dance from one of the skimpily dressed strippers.

Lohan also spotted him walking over and gave him a wave, he seemed to be having a great time and he had a wide smile spread across his face.

“Sam my man,” he greeted as Sam walked over and sat opposite him. “Sam, I would like you to meet Ginger.”

“Hi,” the blonde lady on Lohan’s lap said and gave Sam a wink. She then turned her attention to Lohan and asked, “will your friend want a lap dance too?”

“Let's give him a beginner’s pass, love,” he said and slightly gave Ginger a tap on her behind. “Why don’t you take a break?”

Ginger got out of Lohan’s lap with a pleased smile on her face and skidded away. Lohan then turned his attention to Sam and continued smiling.

“You look happy today,” Sam commented after observing the constant wide grin on Lohan’s face.

“I am.”

“Can I ask why?”

“Long story,” Lohan said and brushed off his question. “Where are we with the case so far?”

Sam looked at him confused and took in his surroundings before turning all his attention to Lohan.

“Do you really want to discuss the case in a place like this?”

“You are right,” Lohan said before getting to his feet. “Let’s step out.”

They both walked out of the strip club with Lohan saying ‘hi’ to most of the waitresses and assuring them he would be back. They got to the parking lot and Lohan looked at Sam expectantly.

“So?” he asked. “What is the latest update?”

Sam looked at Lohan for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and shaking his head in disapproval.

“First of all, I would like to know what is going on with you.”

“What do you mean what is going on with me?” Lohan instantly became defensive and took a few steps back. “I am great, never been better.”

“No, you’re not!”

“What have you heard, Sam? Who have you been talking to?”

“I have heard nothing and I have been talking to no-one,” Sam answered. “I have simply observed.”

“What have you observed then, smart guy?”

“Your disinterest in everything.”

“What do you mean, Sam?”

“There is something going on with you that is affecting your lifestyle,” Sam started to explain and hoped his partner would not feel he was overstepping his boundary. “I cannot really put a finger on it but I can tell it is eating you up inside.”

Lohan took a few minutes to ponder the words that had come his way before taking a few steps back and combing his hand through his few hairs.

“Has anyone ever told you, you chose the right profession?”

“No,” Sam answered. “But I know of a grumpy old man who keeps complaining about my youth and determined young mind.”

“That old man is jealous.”

Sam was shocked by these words and looked at Lohan in utter bewilderment.

“You do know the old man I am mentioning is a reference to you, right?”

“Of course I know that. I am old, Sam, not slow.”

Sam let out a slight chuckle as his mind raced back to the many facts he could give Lohan about old age and memory loss but decided not to.