Obsession (7 page)

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

She had taken the bait.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Chapter 11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Monica, Rick is not a dress you can wear and dispose of whenever you want to.  He is a human being, who can make his own decisions and mistakes.  He chose to be with you and then, when things did not work out; he continued his life without you.  This is how life is, Monica.  You have to accept it.”

“I would never let you have him...” she shouted angrily.

“I do not know what our future would be, but if Rick and I end up together, there is nothing you can do to change that.  I am leaving now, but I want you to know that I am sorry for what is going to happen with you.”

“I do not need your pity... I can take care of myself... I lost my parents when I was very young, and I did all alone after that.  All I have I have because I fought and struggled for it.  Rick would be mine again...”

“No, Monica he would not.  Even if things between us do not work out, Rick would never go back to be with you.”

“You are wrong!  Rick will be my husband.  I have already planned out our entire wedding.  I have bought the most beautiful dress, and made the seating arrangements.  All my friends know about it, and are happy to come.  What do you have?  Did you think of anything at all...?”

Monica continued to speak, long after Allison was out of the room and into the elevator.  She was really starting to freak out, while feeling sorry for the woman in the hospital bed.  She had genuinely lost it, and needed some professional help.

“Rick, where are you?” she called him, as soon as she was out of the hospital.  “I need to see you.”

“They are letting me go,” the man answered.  “Can you come and get me at the precinct?”

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Chapter 12

“We are what our past made us...” 
Monica’s Diary
.

Monica watched the other woman go out of her hospital room, and shook with rage.  At first, she had been happy to see her close and personal, but now... now she was experiencing the full force of the jealousy.  Allison looked too confident and calm for Monica’s liking, and she even dared to tell her that she would never have Rick again.

There were a few things in life that Monica was never going to accept – the first was that success in life was not important, and the second one was that Rick and she were not meant to be together.

Back in the days when her parents died, she was happy to get rid of them and their oppressing presence.  Her father had never shown Monica any kindness or respect, and had always insisted that success was all that mattered in life.  That was how Monica’s first obsession started.

From the tender age of sixteen, she had struggled to be the first in everything she did. School, college, apprenticeship – everything she took as a challenge, and worked hard to be on top.  Friends and other small pleasures meant nothing to her and all her attention was focused on the big goal of becoming the best.

No one was surprised when Monica chose to become a lawyer, and started pursuing her career like everything else in her life.  At that point in Monica’s life, she had started to realize that the image of success required more than A’s in school and a fast rising career.  She already had the looks, however, so all she needed was the perfect candidate.

That was when it had all started.  Man after man came and went from her life.  They were all handsome and successful people, with great perspectives and matching desires for success.  Monica chose them carefully, and even thought that she loved one or two of them.  Unfortunately, it all ended in the same way – the man would quickly become bored of her and her behavior, and leave her shortly after that.

It killed Monica to watch them go, and from those first years she felt the strong desire to keep them at all costs.  The stalking usually started shortly after the separation, and continued in two of the cases for almost a year.  But then Monica still had some control over her emotions, and the men usually had no idea that she was stalking them.

When she met Rick, however, things changed drastically.  There was something unique in him that made Monica act out of character.  The first two, three dates, she was the sweet and gentle woman that was about to fall in love.  She really liked him and Rick, being Rick, liked her back.

They were both successful young lawyers with very promising careers in front of them, and in a way they spoke the same language.  Things only became worse after a while, and only because Monica saw Rick talking to another woman.

The mere thought of him seeing someone else awakened in her the fear of being left alone and forced her to act out.  Monica changed drastically.  She became demanding, oppressive, and very much a constant presence in Rick’s everyday life.  He could see her at every meeting, in every restaurant, in every coffee shop he visited.  At first he found it amusing, but the woman was not laughing.  She demanded explanations, and refused to listen to them.

All other women in Rick’s life were carefully examined, and she even dared to tell him to stop seeing the ones she considered dangerous.  Somewhere at that point, Rick decided that Monica was not the woman for him, and started keeping his distance.  The actual separation, however, took a bit of time, as Monica would choose not to listen when he spoke about it.