Chapter 7
"I can't go out with you, Ed. I already have plans for tonight", said Angela. He sounded really angry this time thought Angela, she had turned him down far too many times. "Look, I said I'll see if I'm free. Well it turned out I'm not….I'm not leading you on." The receiver on the other end hung up.
Angela sighed and took off her glasses and shook her head from left to right, her soft blond curls cascading over her oval face. "Miss Bower, a package for you" said her petite Marketing staff as she handed Angela a powder blue package, a size of a shoe box with a bow. "Thank you, Marlene", said Angela before the staff stepped out of the office.
Angela looked for the card but there was none. Before she could ask her staff who the package was from, she decided to open it… Angela let out a loud scream.
Mona and the other employees came rushing to the room. Angela was pointing to the floor on the far side of the room where she had thrown the box in panic. Mona took Angela in her arms to calm her down. Stan searched for the box and grimaced there seem to be a bloody headless infant on the floor right next to the box. He came closer and touched the infant's body in disgust. It was only a doll but from afar, it looked like a butchered baby.
The police were called in to take Angela's statement. "I found it right outside the office door when I came in this morning. It had no card but a taped piece of paper bearing my boss' name so I took it, thinking of handing it to Angela when she comes in but I forgot all about the package and just remembered it shortly before lunch," explained Marlene. "Who would send my daughter such a horrible thing?" asked Mona in a tone mixed with anger and worry.
Angela was seated on the couch of her private office trying to calm herself while two policemen were talking to the employees and a detective was bagging the evidence.
"This wasn't the first time someone sent me such a package," she said looking up at the policeman talking to her. "Three days ago someone sent me a box of wilted roses with a card. I dismissed it, thinking it was just a prank."
"Where are the wilted roses?" asked the police. "I threw them." "How about the card?" asked the police. "I'm not sure if I still have it," said Angela. She stood and went to her desk and ransacked her top left drawer where paper clips and knick knacks were stored. She found the card and handed it to the police. Written in red pentel pen was a threatening note.
"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue
Before you know it, I'm coming after you"
"Good morning gorgeous! Good morning gorgeous!" tweet the parrot Tony gave Angela as a present after they have somewhat regained their old closeness back after their dinner at the Mexican fastfood. Tony wanted to show Angela how much she meant to him so he gave her the parrot a few days later.
"I can't believe that after those threats you've been receiving you still want to go out with that stranger", pointed Tony. Angela smiled at her parrot inside the cage by the foot of the stairs and blew him a kiss before she studied herself in the mirror by the coat stand in the living room. She smoothed her curly hair that fell on her bare upper back, her red tube top barely reaching below the low waistband of her flared blue wash denim jeans, a jade dolphin necklace hanging around her neck.
"Tony, Christopher is not a stranger. We've known each other for almost a month and he's a perfect gentleman. He's taking me horse-back riding at the Polo Club. How do I look?" asked Angela with a big smile. Tony glanced at her. She rarely wears denims but when she does, she was a knockout. "So…so…" replied Tony. Angela gave him a wry smile.
"I just think you shouldn't dismiss those threats," said Tony. "I'm not dismissing them. The detectives are already investigating the matter. I can't lock myself in my room and put my life on hold because of those threats. It's what that stalker wants… to ruin my life and frighten me but I won't let him," declared Angela.
"Angela… listen, I don't trust that guy. It disgusts me how hot he stares at you I'm surprise your clothes don't burn up!" "Tony!" scolded Angela. "He always travels on business, and for days I've been reading news about a Don Juan serial killer prowling about New York, Washington and Boston. He looks attractive and harmless that's why unsuspecting women fall into his hands," warned Tony. "Tony, Christopher is not a serial killer. Stop the paranoia. Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean he is a murderer", said Angela.
Samantha burst into the living room with Kathleen. "Look what I found", said Sam. Tony kissed Kathleen. "Hello, Sweetheart. I didn't know you were dropping by." "I decided to hang out here so we can watch some videos while having popcorn. Angela, wouldn't mind, would she?" asked Kathleen. "No, not at all", said Angela with a straight face.
Sam went straight to the parrot that didn't talk upon seeing her. "Say, hello gorgeous!" instructed Sam but the parrot remained silent. "Hello gorgeous!" repeated Sam but the parrot refused to comply.
"Come on, Tony, you worry too much. I won't be home for dinner. See you, Sam…Kathleen…" said Angela as she headed out the door when she heard the Bentley pull over the front gate.
"Angela…." called Tony as she ran out of the house. "Goodbye gorgeous!" tweet the parrot. "Let her be, dad. She's a big girl. She can take of herself", said Sam then turning to the parrot. "Hey you… you've got some favouritism here", she scolded. "Give the parrot a break. Angela's his mistress," said Tony.
"Are you sure you didn't train him to say that…" teased Sam. Tony laughed and went to the kitchen to make some popcorn with Kathleen.
Angela was about to open the car door when she heard her name called. She looked up and found Ed Hartwell approaching her. "Where are you headed?" he asked. Angela felt uncomfortable but she couldn't think of a lie. "I…I'm going to the Polo Club." Ed's eyes narrowed. "I invited you to go to the Polo Club but you said you were afraid of horses, now you are going with someone else!" he said between gritted teeth. Before Angela could reply, Christopher stepped out of the car. "Hey, what's going on?" he said.
Angela regained her composure. "Uhm...Ed, this is Christopher. Christopher...Ed Hartwell, my neighbour." Christopher extended his hand but Ed didn't take it. "So, this is the guy you've been hanging out with that's why you don't return my calls... What does he have that I don't? You think he is a better man." he glared at Angela, his hand tightening on her wrist. Angela flinched. Christopher intervened, moving to the other side of the car, "take your hands off her" he commanded, loosening Ed's grip on Angela while he met Ed's gaze with equal tenacity.
Jonathan was shooting hoops when he noticed her mother caught between two hostile men glaring at each other. He had to stop them before a full pledge fight develop. He purposefully strode towards them. "Hey, break it up you two", he said sternly. "My mother is not some merchandise in a Penney's White Sale. Look, Mr. Hartwell, my mother is indeed afraid of horses I just convinced her to get over it and go out with Christopher. You can take her next time", said Jonathan. Angela looked at her son and saw him winked at her. She knew he was just trying to cover up for her.
"You'll regret this Angela Bower", he said before angrily walking away.
