Psychotic Break-out
Hey guys! Finally another chapter posted, thank god for the October Holiday! Anyway, thanks for all your reviews! And on with the story!
All Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 8: Hit and Run
Chloe Marsden set down her binoculars and rubbed her eyes. She'd been watching his apartment for hours now and she hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of him. His kitchen window stood directly in her observation, but she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. Obviously he doesn't eat much, Chloe thought absent-mindedly.
A shuffling sound coming from the corner of her borrowed living room caught her attention. She swivelled her head round, and saw that the noise was coming from the widowed middle-aged woman she'd tied to a dining chair and gagged. She smiled at the woman said softly in her best comforting voice – which sounded more like a chilling taunt – "Don't fret Mrs Shaw, its not time for your dinner yet"
She faced the window again, checked her watch – the time was 3.00pm - and doggedly put the binoculars back to her eyes. Hello! What's this! She thought excitedly as the little Japanese woman from the night before appeared outside Jesse's apartment building. She has to be going to see him! She remembered seeing the two of them huddling close through the window of Barbecue Bob's and shuddered. The thought of him enjoying a relationship with this woman when he had ruined her life was too much to bear. Something must be done!
* * * *
Jesse sat waiting for the impending knock on his door with baited breath. Ever since Yoshe's cryptic message last night he had been racking his brains as to what she could possibly have to tell him. Was it about Chloe? Did she know something? But how could she? She didn't even know about Chloe, unless…Steve could have told her!
He leapt off the seat when he heard the sound of rapping knuckles. Opening the door with forced calmness he fought the urge to demand to know what was going on.
She smiled, as he greeted her and invited her inside quickly. He offered her a seat on his couch and she nervously accepted, jerkily perching herself on the edge of the sofa. Everything about her looked awkward, her short sharp breaths, her twitching fingers.
Jesse himself sat across from her on his single armchair. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" he came right out with it, he figured she wouldn't mind, given her directness with him the previous night.
It seemed she hadn't wanted to waste time with small talk either. "I'm glad you asked that Jesse. I was trying to figure out how best to phrase this, I'm kinda new at this sort of thing"
Jesse gave her a questioning glance. He was getting rapidly impatient.
"I wanna marry Steve!" She blurted out, her lips curving into a wide grin.
Jesse was lost for words. Instead he let out a gasp of relief, mixed with shock at the same time.
"You sound relieved! What did you think I was going to say?" Yoshe giggled.
"Best if I don't answer that question!" Jesse laughed, "So you wanna marry Steve! I-wow! This is so cool! But why did you come to me? What can I do?"
"Well this is going to sound a little silly but, well, I wanted your help in choosing a ring" Yoshe admitted, a little embarrassed.
"No problem!" Jesse assured her, he was certainly glad to help. " I don't have a shift for a few hours, you wanna go have a look now?"
"Uh, no time like the present I guess!" Yoshe was overjoyed. "Thanks Jesse!"
* * * *
Chloe sat at the wheel of her darkened sedan, waiting for the mystery woman to appear from inside the apartment. She felt empowered by a jealous rage she couldn't explain. The only thing she felt certain of was that this woman needed to be removed.
Just then she saw the two of them heading out to the woman's car, huddled in deep conversation, both smiling. That's it! She thought angrily, Enough waiting! Her veins seethed with poisonous venom.
Her knuckles turned white as they gripped the steering wheel, and for a moment she stared at them, fascinated by their loss of colour. She was struck by the image of the woman dead and cold on an examination table. Her lips curled into an evil smile as she pressed down on the accelerator.
* * * *
Downtown LA was bustling with the early afternoon shopping crowd. Some, glamorous mothers carting about with them children dressed head-to-toe in designer gear. Some, middle-aged women wearing sweatpants and t-shirts dragging bored husbands after them and some, teenage girls going for an after-school stroll round Abercrombie and Fitch.
But there were only two people Chloe Marsden was concerned with.
Chloe stood across the street, opposite the jewellery shop she had seen them go into, Diamonds are Forever. She chuckled at the irony of the name, as far as Jesse was concerned, whatever diamonds he was buying for this woman would certainly not last forever.
After half an hour of waiting, she decided to cross over and take a look through the shop window. Slipping her sunglasses on she stepped off the curb and walked briskly across the street.
Keeping her head down so that her face was hidden, she pretended to be browsing at the diamond rings through the window, sneaking glances at the man and woman examining the wares of the plump, greying man behind the counter. They seemed to be finalising a transaction, with Jesse handing over his credit card and the Japanese woman practically jumping up and down with happiness. Just wait till I wipe the smile off your face! Literally! She snarled inwardly. She turned and made her way back to her parked car.
* * * *
"Thank you so much Jesse!" Yoshe squealed as Jesse handed over his credit card. She hadn't really expected him to pay for the ring, but when he'd seen how much she liked it and found out how little money she had, he'd been unstoppable.
"I told you it's okay!" He reassured her for the umpteenth time, "You can take as much time as you want to pay the money back, and anyway, this is for Steve!" He smiled warmly at her as Mr. Kane handed over the ring in its velvet box, and the receipt.
They exited the shop and strolled along the sidewalk in amiable silence. Both pondering Steve's reaction when he was given the ring – a 24-carat gold band with a square cut diamond set low down in the gold. Masculine, yet classy. Jesse had been sure that Steve would love it.
"Steve getting married, I never thought I'd see the day!" Jesse joked softly as they returned to his mustang convertible.
"I'm sure Steve would be glad to know that!" Yoshe laughed back as she slid into the comfortable leather seat. "Listen," she said turning serious, "You won't tell Steve that I couldn't pay for it will you?" Her eyes were wide and anxious as she looked at him.
"No, not if you don't want me to" Jesse assured her, "I promise"
* * * *
Chloe was back at the apartment complex before Jesse and Yoshe, and so she was in perfect position.
Jesse got out of his mustang and waited for Yoshe to join him before he carefully locked it.
"I'd better be going" Yoshe said, looking at Jesse with the utmost admiration. "I'll let you know what he says" She smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
"Oh I'm sure I'll here it from him before you ever get the chance!" Jesse smiled back.
"Thanks again!" she hugged him gratefully and stepped out into the street to walk to her car.
The roar of a powerful engine and the screech of hard tyres hugging the asphalt interrupted their goodbye.
A dark sedan careered around the corner and sped straight towards Yoshe, who had reached the middle of the road.
"Yoshe!" Jesse shouted as he began to run, heart pounding, mind working overtime.
He had to reach her in time, he just had to.
He sprinted out into the middle of the road and made a flying leap in Yoshe's direction and could only hope his aim was true. He hit the ground hard, his head cracking against the asphalt and he heard the smack of impact as metal hit flesh.
The last thing he heard was the sound of the car speeding away as he blacked out.
To Be Continued…
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