Her breathing almost hitched at the sight of the beautiful man standing across her with his forest green eyes wide open and glued on her thin figure. She pressed her rosy lips together and placed her hands on her lap as her heart beat slowly increased.
"You... You are alive."
He managed to say and she immediately noticed that his voice was now filled up with nervousness and guilt. There was something in his eyes that indicated regret... and she knew exactly what was creating this feeling in first place. He had moved on. But he had no idea that she already knew. His fingers run through his dark covered in wax hair. His throat was dry... and for the first time in forever he felt confused about his choices so far.
Did he really love Annabetha? No, not really. It was complicated, or that's how he made it look. He was a gigolo after all, and fooling older women was what he did best. But there was something special about Rita. It wasn't just her unique appearance that attracted him in first place. It wasn't just her wealthy life style and the fact that she was in place to pay for his bills. There was something about her that actually enchanted him. Maybe it was her kind heart, a side of her that people didn't get to see that often. But she made sure to show him that kind of warmth during all these uncountable nights they spent together, laid down next to each other, naked and connected.
They would talk to each other for hours, and for a moment life would become a little brighter for them both than the usual dark shade it contained. Reality was no longer bittersweet when she was around. She gave everything the proper dose of spice and sweetness. The kind of sweetness that Scooter preferred. But then the first sun rays would intrude into his small apartment for once again reminding them that their time together was borrowed and over for once again.
"Apparently I am."
She replied in a harsh tone. She held no hard feelings for him considering that due to her "case" they didn't share anything special after all. Their bond was temporary and forced considering how much scooter needed the money and how much she needed to feel loved and appreciated in her life. So... no. Scooter wasn't just an orgasm for her. He was her way to escape her own demons and disappear for some time until she would gather all the strength she had left for once again and returned to her life.
"How? I heard what happened... I'm sorry Rita."
He pronounced her name softly, like she was the most vulnerable thing in the world.
"Alma wasn't lucky enough."
She said and looked down feeling unable to show him the new her. She knew that Scooter always felt attracted to her money, but whenever he looked at her she knew that there was something else that made him stay. It wasn't just the pure need for survival. He saw the true her... and he embraced it when she didn't.
When Grace first told her the news about Scooter's new lifestyle with that new milf of his Rita would have never been able to imagine her own lover, gigolo, or however people called him anyway, with a woman that wasn't her. But right now she was in need to witness the obvious. Apparently the very image of Annabetha's thick silhouette sat down in her bedroom while doing her hair and the image of Scooter exiting the penthouse wasn't enough for her to admit to herself that the train of love for her and that man was long gone now. She run her fingers through her dark raven hair while her dark orbs gazed the man's appearance finding him more attractive than ever. Of course, no one could blame a woman like her. All she needed was a dose of passion that would make her feel alive for a moment in her life. After all, she was the kind of woman who wasn't used of receiving the intimacy of any moment. She was a giver by her nature, or maybe I should say, her profession's nature.
Her eyes scanned his well ironed clothes and fancy jewels around his wrist before they finally landed on the glimmering golden metal surrounding his right hand's finger. Her eyes slightly widened open in surprise and her lips formed a straight line that indicated her disapproval. The younger man couldn't help but notice of course. He placed his right hand inside his pocket shyly and pressed his pale lips together. He didn't have to speak for Rita to understand that he felt ashamed. He had moved on... As he should, she thought to herself but decided to let him speak instead. He sighted.
"It wasn't part of the plan Rita..."
He said in a soft but apologetic tone. His greenish eyes glimmered underneath the playful golden sunrays and his forehead wrinkled as soon as the feeling of disappointment was finally pretty obvious on his face.
"What can I say, life is full of surprises my dear..."
She replied huskily and tried to retain her confident composure. She wouldn't allow to herself to beg for his pity. She didn't need him to start over, she was a powerful woman that was finally in place to stand up for herself and acquire the kind of lifestyle she preferred after all. But of course her thoughts weren't strong enough to convince her just yet. It was hard for her to realise how lonely she was after her sudden recovery. From the moment Grace left the apartment this noon she had plenty of time alone with her thoughts. She wasn't sure about how things were gonna evolve from now on... Waking up after a comma, having lost the one person that ever loved her in her life, losing her jewels and house was quite an inconvenient situation for her. She wasn't quite sure yet, were she lucky or unlucky to be alive in the end.
"I thought you were dead... and Annabetha approached me during that dark moment of grief that I was experiencing and somehow she managed to save me. One thing led to another and here we are..."
He swallowed hard and extended his hand to touch her shoulder supportively only for her to pull away in defence and cross her hands under her chest.
"Saving you from what? Starvation? I can obviously notice that you're not the type of man who fights for a better future my dear. You always needed a woman by your side to mother you and look after you when you're clearly unable of doing so by yourself."
She poured in a soft but bitter tone. She felt deprived, and fooled to even think that a man so young and carefree would ever lay his eyes on her with no other motive than love. She knew that her body and impressively divine appearance were in place to make a hundred of heads turn for her. But Scooter hadn't reached the age where having a seductive trophy wife was considered as an attribute yet. He liked to hunt where the money were at.
"Rita we've been through this talk before! I never agreed to be with you for your money... well... your money only. You had a special place in my heart and you will always do. But I am a married man now, and a father... This time I am afraid that I can not run away from these responsibilities any time soon. And honestly being a father changed me... I am not the same man anymore. I am motivated to improve myself and advance my position into this rotten society in order to become a better role model for my son."
Her heart almost skipped a beat. She had almost forgotten. She had almost forgotten about her conversation with Dee that noon. From the moment she had laid her eyes on the younger woman she knew. She could recognise a panicked mother in an instant. After all she used to be in those shoes once upon a time ago... and she would have wished to have the support Dee does by her side. Her Scooter was now a father. She wanted to laugh out of despair. It never felt so real until she actually heard him say it.
"A child... What's his name?"
She asked hesitantly.
"It's a boy. Vern and Dee allow me to see him whenever I want to. I usually spend my weekends with him and you have to just meet him Rita. He is my creation, my own flesh and blood and finally for the first time in forever there is actually something that I created that I feel proud of. It all started from a silly affair and now... he's the best gift a woman ever gave me. And the best thing is that this is forever! His name is Bertram Daniel Filcot. Dee thought that she should thank her dead father for everything he did for her somehow. We couldn't come up with a better way than this one."
His lips formed a broad and proud smile instinctively and she couldn't help but feel her body tense up and her stomach twist in disgust and agony. It wasn't because of the child. It was because of Dee. That woman was in place to give Scooter something that money could never buy... and Rita Castillo was in no place to give him. The clock was ticking for her. Days, months and years were passing by and she was slowly losing her chance to find happiness again. Her worst nightmare became a reality and now... she would have to relive it. She was gonna die alone... His eyes sparkled as he spoke. He was happy, she slowly came to that realisation and interwined her fingers awkwardly with each other.
"Good for you... And how is your mistress dealing with that detail?"
His eyes widened open like he had just seen a ghost. He made one rapid movement with his head and turned around glancing over the penthouse across the street. As soon as he looked back at Rita his face was paled and he seemed small. He was scared.
"She doesn't know, does she?"
The brunette woman narrowed her eyes and scanned her former lover's appearance as she spoke and finally glued her eyes on his which seemed to be softening and finally turn into a pleading look. It was unbelievable that she didn't know. How could a man get married to a woman and skip the part to tell her that he's a father? He slowly nodded his head in a negative way and his lips pressed together as he made the sound of a shhh to hush her.
"Keep your voice down... No. No she doesn't know Rita, are you satisfied now? Annabetha was very specific in first place. No kids from former marriages and no party time for Scooter!"
"Is that supposed to be a healthy marriage dear? Excuse me for saying this, but considering that I have a little more experience than you on the marriage kind of lifestyle allow me to assume that the bond you are sharing with that woman is obviously based on that fat ass of hers and her uncountable jewelry collection! Let me guess, is her former husband dead?"
She couldn't help but smirk evilly and mockingly at his innocence.
"Poor Annabetha... She was so young when she was left as a widow. He died at the age of 80 from a sudden heart attack! And after all these years she managed to find love again at the exact same moment that I needed someone to raise me up."
He exclaimed and the only response he received from Rita was a sardonic smile.
"Oh please do not tell me that you believed her Scooter!"
"Why shouldn't I trust her word?" He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes as he looked at her and prepared to protest against her word.
"She is a rich housewife married to her gigolo and you think that her husband was that unlucky? Rich people are untouchable in case you haven't taken a look around you yet. They have enough money to define their health and buy themselves some extra time, when a simple mortal or should I say peasant like you would never afford to do so without your lady's wealthy pocket."
"Ouch... Come on Rita, things ain't that bad."
He spelled with his full lips and run his thin long fingers through his dark hair. She raised her eyes to look at him and narrowed them in confusion. How could a man so alluring like him force himself to be with a woman that he wasn't really into? Where was his self esteem and pride after all? The problem is that same thing applied to her case as well. She waisted most of her youthful years by fooling older men and chasing after their bloated pockets.
"It is true that stupid people are the happiest then."
Her mouth snapped shut as she finished her phrase and remained still, with her tanned legs crossed underneath her long skirt, and both hands rested on top of her lap. The brunette man remained skeptical and furrowed. He was in loss of words... once upon a time ago he had to mourn over this woman's death. He somehow managed to force himself to forget her after sleepless nights over the town's pub.
He spent hours and days thinking about her until he came to the realisation that it was never about her money. It had been always her, since the very beginning. She would leave his apartment every night, after a night full of passion and intimacy and he would lay on his bed half naked, staring at the fusty ceiling above him thinking of her and how badly he wished to have her by his side for an eternity. Just like then, he wanted to smell her intoxicating aroma for one more time, even though he knew that there was never gonna be an actual last night.
"Anyway, it is superb that you have the life that you always wanted my dear. I should better get going, wouldn't want your mistress to tighten the leash around your neck even more."
She finally announced after a couple of moments of utter silence and awkwardness.
"Not cool Rita! Don't forget that you hired a detective to stalk me just because you thought that I was having an affair... Don't judge Annabetha when you kept tightening the leash around my neck every single day!"
He couldn't help but bring it up. He had never realised back then how serious things were between him and Rita. He felt like screwing a woman like her was just a coincidental but lucky aspect of life that he'd like to call survival. He had to make a living somehow, and seducing older women just like Rita was the easiest option he could choose. For a man like Scooter, it wouldn't be hard to pursue such a career.
"And turns out that I was correct all along. You were cheating on me with that..."
Her voice faded away smoothly and her lips parted. She couldn't... she couldn't judge the mother of his son. But she couldn't help but feel jealous, jealous that he had something that she didn't. The last 8 years of her life were supposed to be easy and fulfilling considering her ability to have power and money but she skipped the most important part that she always craved. Family.
"What? Say it!"
He challenged her and suddenly the look on his face was no longer that calm and naive like usual. Scooter was angry. She stood up and placed a dollar bill on top of the wooden table before she grabbed her purse and tried to shut her mouth and ignore the aching pain she had been experiencing down her spine. It started as a bad itch as soon as she got out of the hospital bed, but it was considered normal. After all she spent all this time laid down on a bed, unconscious and completely unaware of the tool her life took as soon as she almost came face to face with death.
The doctors had informed her in first place. It would take some time till she regained her strength and stability again. She needed lots of physiotherapy and personal effort but she had decided to ignore the first option. She was a regal woman. She had always been. She wouldn't allow herself to show any signs of weakness. She was better than that. She was very much capable of keeping her head high and her posture firm and alluring.
"Hopefully I won't see you around again."
She exclaimed as she gave him one last glance, with her dark orbs roaming the face that taught her what affection meant.
"Ow where are you going?"
"What do you mean where am I going?"
She turned around and lifted a brow. Her head was slightly spinning and her fingers were trembling. A muscle in her jaw twitched as she looked at him.
"Catherine... Catherine took over her father's house. Where are you supposed to live now?"
His eyes softened and his brows snapped together.
"Someone made sure to look after me I can assure you about that. But you didn't for example."
She replied calmly and placed her hands inside her pockets in an effort to hide her stress.
"How was I supposed to know?! There's nothing I can do Rita! I explained to you that with Annabetha
living with me I can't socialise with people that much anymore, and especially you! I can't lose her!"
He tried to explain but the disturbed grimace on her face stopped him.
"Didn't expect anything better from you."
She breathed out. It was true. He proved to her multiple times that she was nothing but a beautiful face and a pile of money that she no longer had. It wasn't as painful as she thought though... it wasn't the first time someone had disappointed her in her life. She ended the conversation and walked away, making her way towards the bus stop.
Vern stood outside the police station inhaling the last bang of his camel cigarette. The grey smoke entered his lungs and warmed them up, as his throat went dry and his lips pressed with each other. After his conversation with Alma Filcot he couldn't help but feel like he was once again on level zero with her case. She had admitted everything, there were indisputable evidence that only pointed towards her face. But again, before he sentenced her to death, as she deserved, and as the USA government predicted for people of her case he wanted to know the truth. He wanted to discover how her brain worked.
The constant desire for vengeance has turned her into an unconscious creature that didn't even have the ability to master itself. She was blinded by her fury and pain and got into a dark place where she preferred to watch her dear husband die in front of her eyes than surrender and end her mastermind plan. She hadn't talked to her daughter since then. She couldn't blame Dee for refusing to pay her a visit after all, and she was hurt that she had to fail her daughter now. Once upon a time ago they used to be a peaceful urban family. They loved each other and they were a team. The first time Vern visited her after her arrest she begged him to call Dee and invite her over, but no matter how hard she insisted he didn't want to get his pregnant wife involved into this mess.
It was hard for him to walk himself back home and sit his beautiful Dee down and explain to her that her sweet mother had gone entirely nuts. She hadn't reacted well, and who would have after all? And now, he had promised to himself that he would be the perfect father, husband and detective even though he had to deal with a case that frightened him.
He wasn't afraid of Alma, after all Vern would never make it to her black list. He just wished that he hadn't had to deal with such a private and delicate matter. He put out his cigarette on the sole of his new leather boots and opened the door. His partner Rowbin was standing there, his shoulders shrugged and his eyes filled up with curiosity and anticipation. He couldn't help but smile as soon as he noticed Vern walk in.
"Are you ready for the night shift already?"
He croaked into a smokey voice that escaped his lips instinctively.
"I am not working today actually. I took the day off, but I decided that it would be better if I came over to check up on her. Her state is getting worse, she actually thinks that she's gonna get out of here."
Vern admitted and decided to light up another cigarette, after he decided to ignore the disapproving glances from the rest of his coworkers. He handed the pack over Rowbin who instantly accepted the kind offer.
"I doubt she's getting out of here into one piece. The senior investigator has already decided in cooperation with the local court house that she's gonna receive the death penalty. They are just keeping her in here because our scientists wanted to give her a try to explain her case in first place, this is why they hired that new psychiatrist after all."
"Did he arrive already? Is he here?"
Vern lifted a brow and scratched his thin moustache with the tips of his fingers. His dark eyes were glued on his partner's.
"He arrived an hour ago. Detective Earl insisted on speaking with him before he started. They are in his office for an hour now. I bet they are just disgusting about their political views with a bottle of Bourbon in their hands."
Rowbin formed a silly smile on his lips and spoke in a mocking tone.
"That sounds like Earl. He always pretends that he's part of the high society."
Vern returned the grin. He placed the cigarette on top of the tin ashtray and hang his hat on the back of the chair.
"Where are you going?"
"I think that I'm gonna pay them a visit."
Rowbin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Are you looking for some trouble man?"
"Not at all. I know how Earl is with new workers into our unit. It could take hours until he decided if we want the new guy or not. I think that I should fasten up the procedure."
Vern winked at his friend only for Rowbin to pat his shoulder in reply.
"Good luck with that."
The tall dusky skinned guy removed his long brown trench coat and allowed his new police budge to shine on top of his well ironed white buttoned up shirt. He knocked on the door of Earl's office and before the man had the time to deny any entrance he pushed the door open and walked inside. He placed both hands inside the pocket of his brown pants and leaned his body on the door frame.
"Can I help you out with anything detective Loomis?"
The tall masculine officer asked and sipped his black coffee slowly as he raised his eyes to take a hold of Vern's appearance. The man who was sat down on the chair across him made it difficult for Vern to look at his face considering that he was only able to look at his back.
"Thought that I should give our new guy a proper welcoming. Vern Loomis."
He approached them and extended his hand towards a tall masculine brunette. His eyes were dark as the darkest shade of black, and his lips full. A thick pair of black eyebrows rested above his eyes and his chin looked like the prominent chin that was usually used to describe the appearance of super heroes. The new psychiatrist smiled broadly only to reveal a straight row of blinding white teeth. He returned the strong hand shake.
"Harry Jaworski! It's a pleasure to meet you detective Vern. I've seen your name on multiple headlines, you look indeed like the wonder kid everyone is describing you as."
Vern narrowed his eyes and retreated his hand.
"I'm not really fond of that term."
"Of course."
Harry replied in an apologetic tone and fiddled his fingers with each other as he spoke. No matter how sweet and kind Vern looked in Dee's eyes he always managed to seem intimidating towards the others without even moving a muscle or making a hand gesture.
"Hope that detective Earl made sure to inform you about Alma's state. I'm pretty sure that you read all the spicy details on the newspapers but if you have any questions feel free to ask."
Vern reassured him and fixed his tie.
"I have to admit that I'm fully aware of her case and I feel very intrigued by it."
"Intrigued? How?"
Vern furrowed.
"I want to know her story and discover that twisted brain of hers."
Harry admitted and run his long fingers through his dark well combed hair. Vern shook his head in agreement.
"Alright then."
"Why don't you escort mister Jaworski over Alma's cell Vern? He could use a small tour."
The corners of Earl's thin lips quirked up into a smug grin. He hated it when Vern took over. All these years they were used to competing each other in the unit and after Alma's case in which Vern was seriously involved, the dusky skinned man had finally the opportunity to shine through his career and Earl would do anything he could to show him who had the upper hand in this unit.
"Shall we?"
Vern stood next to the closed door and with one rapid movement of his hand he held it open for Harry to walk outside with him.
"Totally."
Harry replied firmly and followed the other man outside.
They walked down a long aisle of forgotten offices that were now turned into small storage rooms and labs and turned left in order to come across a vast ferrous door that stood still to protect that officers from any sudden escapes. Vern hated it down here. He had been always against the idea of treating prisoners as slaves or scum suckings. He insisted that treating them in a good way would make the prisoners repent their actions and feel the need to rehabilitate into society in a proper way.
The system didn't work as he pleased. He was a man that stood up against violence. This is what you get when you're forced to take part into a nasty war. As soon as it ends, you're left with nightmares at night, high levels of anxiety and the very need to create peace and avoid the very fact that history can repeat itself.
He grabbed an assortment of multiple different keys that had a special place for plentiful doors in the building and unlocked the big door. He moved aside and allowed Henry to walk inside another long aisle that led towards the alienation cage. The only source of light enlivening the room was coming from a small skylight placed above their heads. It was night time so the light was dim but efficient enough to allow their visions to function and roam the territory.
"I think I can take it from here."
Harry admitted while his dark orbs were still glued on the corner of a long red dress laying down on the floor behind the bars. He couldn't see her figure just yet, but he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
"Are you sure?"
The taller man tilted his head to the side to take a better look of Harry's beefy figure.
"Sure I'm sure. I've been working in this field for age detective Loomis. There's nothing for me to hesitate."
Harry admitted confidently.
"I'll be outside the main door if you need me! Do not approach the bars of the cage and do not hand her over any objects. We'd like to be thorough with certain injunctions."
Harry shook his head for once again and sat down on the stool across the dark cell. He placed his notebook on his lap, and grabbed a pair of horn rimmed black glasses. Vern Loomis had walked away by now and it was about time for Harry to meet the lovely woman that almost finished his creation.
The brunette woman was sat on her unmade bed, her legs crossed firmly, her hands placed on her lap and her posture confident and playful. A wide evil smile appeared on her pale lips as soon as the new physiognomy sat down across her. Her blue eyes roamed his appearance before she decided to speak.
"Let me guess. Are you psychiatrist my dear?"
She asked with a smooth lisp.
"You are quite observant Miss Filcot. I'm Harry Jaworski, and I will be spending some time with you from now on."
His tone was light and and his eyes lit up with enthusiasm. It became a struggle to hide his excitement already.
"It would be silly of me to introduce myself considering that you must have already gotten all the info that you needed about me right into this little notebook, but I am a lady and I have manners mister Jaworski. I'm Alma. Alma Filcot."
Her whole face lit up at her own words. It almost sounded like she was bragging, and technically she was. She never considered herself as a monster for a second. She had her reasons, and even though pure madness conquered and lived rent free inside her head she couldn't help but justify every single action.
"I know exactly who you are Alma. I've read about you, I've made my research, I finally regained my motive and here I am."
He admitted and finally he felt like after all these years in rehab and all those uncountable efforts of releasing his hatred, he was finally walking down the right path.
The brunette grinned. Every single person coming across her inside this building, or even outside, was never letting loose around her. Everyone pretended to be tough and intimidating but there was something different about that man. They shared the same need for vengeance and indemnification. She just couldn't tell why just yet.
"You look different than the others. Don't you have a mastermind plan to trick me and get me even more evolved into this case? Aren't you planning to threaten me and beg me to focus on reality? Most of them did... As for the others, they quit. Because they were weak... and if there's something that I learned from my journey here is that society does not tolerate the small people. The bigger ones always stand up tall and succeed."
"What if I told you that I don't have a plan? I am not here to impart your secrets, I'm here to protect mine. And you my dear, you're my only chance to get what I want."
He smirked evilly and shut the notebook only to place it between his thighs. He hadn't felt all these highs levels of excitement and anticipation flooding his blood for years. He finally felt alive and stronger than before.
"And what would that be? In case you haven't noticed I'm locked up behind these rusty bars with no way out and no reason to help out a stranger."
Her fingers roamed the coarse surface of the rusty material as she approached the mullion to take a closer look of the man.
"That would be Rita. My dear Rita Castillo!"
-To be continued. I am sorry for the delay, I hope that you get to enjoy this part as well! Love ya guys.