Chapter 22: Dash

Lila's home was immaculate to say the least. It was a gorgeous loft apartment in the upper part of downtown. It sat on the top of a hill with a full wall of windows. The furniture was all white and clean. Even the carpet was pristine and perfectly clean. It was like walking into a bowl of milk. Lila certainly matched her gorgeous home. Her long red hair was bone straight and she was clad in a long, purple maxi dress. When she opened the door it was hard to not be taken back by her natural beauty, but he remembered he came here for a reason.

"Lila, hey." He greeted her as they both had a seat on her white leather couch.

"Hello Arnold. It's ever so nice of you to be here."

"Thanks. When you talked about lunch I thought you meant going out. Although your place is probably better looking than any restaurant I've ever been to."

In the back of Arnold's head he worried how she could afford a place like this without some sort of help. She was only an assistant to Eugene, it wasn't like she had an actual position in the company. This place had to cost big money, especially with the convenient location in the middle of downtown. How was she paying for all of this?

"I thought we'd want to talk in private Arnold. I was ever so shocked when you called me so late at night. It seemed quite urgent. You went to my boss about our personal relationship. I feel like that was inappropriate. If you had a problem we can talk about it now."

"You were the one that brought up Eugene in the first place and your special relationship. You didn't honestly think I wouldn't think it was weird or even inquire about it. Speaking of Eugene is one of the perks of your relationship this place? There's no way you can pay for this for just being an assistant Lila. Be honest."

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped being ever so rude. I have a friend helping me pay for it. Eugene has nothing to do with my finances besides writing me a check every month."

"What friend Lila? You'd think if we were ever in a real relationship you would've told me you had another person paying for your apartment."

That confirmed all of his suspicions. She was seeing someone else and that someone wasn't Eugene. She was shadier than Brainy's breath. She was shadier than his grandfather's cooking. How could he have been so blind? He knew the answer: It was his hormones.

"Just a friend Arnold. You don't have to worry about him."

"No I don't because we aren't together anymore. All I ask is you tell me the truth but you can't even answer my questions." Arnold got up to promptly leave but Lila was quick to catch him before he got up.

"He's an ex, okay. He was my boyfriend but we're over. I'm serious about you."

"Then why is he still paying for your apartment Lila? If you two aren't together. None of this makes sense."

"H-he's a very dangerous man, Arnold," Lila whimpered. She began speaking in a low voice and began to shake a bit.

"Lila, what's wrong? How is he dangerous? Has he hurt you?"

"Arnold, you need to go now. I'm ever so sorry but I have some work to get done today." Lila pushed him out of her house. She slammed the door urgently.

What was she planning on telling him? He could tell by the way her usual happy demeanor had changed she was in some sort of trouble. He needed to find out what it was or who it was rather that had her so shaken up.

~/~

Helga was bored out of mind at home alone. She wanted entertainment or Sid around to mess with her. Much to her surprise he still wasn't answering her texts, so she decided to call. That immediately went to voicemail. She sighed, she actually kind of missed him. She starting to think there had been an accident or something. Being a police officer was dangerous, especially with the crime rate rising. She was becoming worried. Suddenly the house phone rang. Don't ask why they have a house phone still. Arnold was so old fashioned. No one ever called but bill collectors.

"Hello."

A deep voice was on the other line of the phone, "Hello. Is Arnold Shortman there?"

"Um no. Who's calling?"

"Nevermind. I'll call back later. Tell him the Shark is coming for him. Thanks Toots." The dial tone came on the phone. Whoever that strange guy was boy did he should threatening, even to her. What did Arnold do that had anything to do with a shark? Helga WAS the card shark around here. She shrugged and planned on relaying the message to him eventually. What was he doing anyway? Probably prancing around, picking out wall paper with his stepford wife. She could just gag at the thought of that scene.

The house phone rang again. She rolled her eyes and answered it.

Helga yelled into the reciever, "I don't know who this is but stop playing on my phone Shark Boy!"

"Ms. Pataki? OR should I say Celine?"

Fuck, it was Franke G. What did he want to personally deliver a verbal assault after she embarrassed herself at Pembroke's.

"Frankie G. What are you calling me for? How'd you get my number?"

"Your friend Phoebe is pretty loyal. I should've known considering what a great employee she's been. She swore she didn't know you. I went to the police and pressed charges. They gave me your real name, but to my surprise one of the cops stuck up for you. Sidney was his name, I believe. He said good things about so I dropped the charges."

Sid. Even when she wasn't talking to him he always had her best interest at heart. He deserved better than her.

"Why are you calling me? Thanks for dropping the charges too."

"Well Helga, I realised anybody that is that passionate to rudely barge into someone else's place of business for answers must be a true friend to Rhonda."

"So you DO know Rhonda?"

"Yea, I did. I knew her very well and seems like you know a bit about me already. Seems like you've been misinformed Helga. I had nothing to do with Rhonda's murder because I wasn't allowed within 50 feet of her at the time."

"Why is that?" That's right the restraining order.

"I'm only calling you to clear my name. You can't drag my name through the mud before I lose clients. I'm not sure about the restraining order but I'm pretty sure Rhonda didn't issue it herself. She had people around her who were what she described as snakes. She came to me for legal help. Rhonda was in a little deep and people could've easily taken her out."

"Wait who was the snake? Was it Eugene or Lila? Did she ever mention anything about a shark or something?"

"Horowitz Inc and all its 3000 employees are sketchy, according to Rhonda, so to pinpoint the exact snake would be difficult. My opinion is that a fish always rots from the head down but I can't be sure. What I can say is their engagement wasn't something Rhonda wanted."

If she knew the company did some sort of dirty business she was definitely making a lot of noise and sticking her pretty head out in the wrong way. The question was which one of the employees at the company did the dirt. It could be anyone

"Why?"

"Her and Eugene were nonexistent. He never touched Rhonda, at least not in the way I did. It seems I'm saying too much now. Listen, I appreciate you trying to track down who killed her but there's dangerous people involved. You can get hurt. I'd hate to see another young woman murdered. If you ever need legal assistance give the office a call Helga. I have a meeting so this will have to be good bye."

"Hey wait so you and-"

Before she could finish her question Frankie G. hung up the phone. This made things even more confusing. If Frankie didn't kill her who did? Were Frankie and Rhonda… lovers? Oh this girl had more drama dead than she ever could have stirred up alive. Thank God for Sid putting in a good word for her. Now she had more leads to follow.

Before she jumped on her laptop the television lit up with shocking news running across the screen: BREAKING NEWS: Four unnamed cops shot in a firefight on patrol late last night. Last night a black Escalade rolled up on the police car and fired upon the car. Two of the cops have been hospitalized for fatal gun shot wounds and the other two were dead on arrival to Hillwood Mercy Medical Center. Mafia involvement speculated. More updates on this story later.

Her heart was beating out of her chest. He couldn't be...hurt or dead? He just couldn't be. She dialed his number again and once again the call was sent straight to voicemail. Criminy, he has to be okay. He just has to be.

Author's Note: Who do you think Lila's ex is? Who do you think the shark is? So many animal references this chapter so also who do you think is the snake in Horowitz Inc? Lila or Eugene or someone we haven't met yet? And do they have connections to Rhonda's murder?