Intertwined
Episode Two
Finally Sarah thought. Thomas had made the move. She picked up her purse and threw some money on the table. When everyone found Victoria dead she wasn’t going to be anywhere near the scene. She walked past the table Victoria had been sitting at. Only Phyllis and Anna remained there. “Night ladies.” She said sarcastically. She stood outside of the club and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. “Yeah, I need a taxi to come to The Getaway. Thank you.” She hung up the phone and envisioned the thought of life without Victoria around. It was a great thought.
Mia looked at her watch, closing time. She grabbed her things and locked the door of Heaven’s Hideaway. She saw April Moore and Kyle Roberts holding hands walking down the sidewalk, they were gleaming. She approached them, “hey you two.”
“Hi Mia, how are you?” April smiled.
“Tired, actually, I just closed the shop.”
“Busy today?” She inquired.
“Of course.”
“Well I guess that’s kind of good, means you won’t be out of a job anytime soon.”
“Yeah, yeah you’re right. I’m going to go though, you two looked like you were busy.” She nodded and walked past the couple.
“Hey Mia wait a second, where’s your car? I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be walking alone at night.” Kyle said.
“I don’t have a car.”
“How do you get back to the college?”
“I walk.”
“I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to walk two miles by yourself at night.”
“Thanks but no thanks Mr. Roberts, I’ve been doing it for a while and nothing has happened to me yet.”
“I’d just prefer you not to walk at night, especially downtown.”
“I agree Mia, it’s no problem we’ll give you a ride.”
“Guys really it isn’t necessary.”
“I don’t want you to become one of my case files. Come on let us drive you home.”
“I can’t believe Phyllis would allow you to do this.” April said in a concerned tone.
“She doesn’t know.”
“Well, I’m going to let her know. We are serious Mia, come on.” April gently put her hand on Mia’s arm.
“Okay, okay I give up you can give me a ride, jeez.”
“That’s more like it. I’ll buy you ladies a cup of iced coffee and the brewery a block away, best coffee in town and then I’ll drive you to the college.”
Noah and Simone lay next to each other in their bed. “Noah, I want to discuss something with you.”
He turned his head down to look at her, “sure, what is it?”
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way but… I want us to move out.”
“What? Why?”
“I know no one bothers us but I still have the fear of your grandmother walking in on us having sex or something and your sister and I really don’t get along--”
“No one gets along with my sister.”
“Well that is true… Noah, I just want to have a house to ourselves, a home. This isn’t home to me.”
“I don’t know Simone. It is important for us to have our own privacy but you’re right no one ever bothers us. I just don’t feel good about leaving grandmother here by herself though.”
“She has Sarah.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of…”
“I’ve got it, why not hire a nurse or maid or someone to stay here and watch over things? We could interview him or her.”
“Like a live in nanny?”
“I don’t know, I guess, nanny’s are for kids though.”
“We have a cleaning lady.”
“She only comes in once a week and she scares me.”
“Yeah she scares me as well… especially the big hairy mole.”
Simone shuddered, “ew…”
“It’s a good idea Simone, but I don’t feel right about having a stranger live in this house. You just moved in, you might like it…”
“Think about it Noah how many married couples live in one of their parent’s houses…”
“True…”
“I don’t know, I just think it would be a good idea for us to move out, think about it we could run around the house naked all the time and not have to worry about someone seeing us.”
“Now there’s an idea…” He kissed Simone, “I’ll think about it.”
“Do you hear that mother?”
“Hear what? All I hear is that damned loud dance music.”
“It sounds like someone is screaming.”
Anna and Phyllis were quiet for a moment. “I do hear something Phyllis… it’s coming from over there by the restrooms.”
Phyllis got up from her seat, “I’m going to see what’s going on.”
“Wait for me.” Anna and Phyllis walked down the stairs leading to the restrooms.
“My God it’s Victoria!” Phyllis exclaimed. She opened the door and saw Victoria holding what looked like a dead Faye.
Thomas walked quickly out of the club, that was close he thought. He should have shot Victoria when he had the chance and shot that other woman too. “Dammit!” He shouted. He turned and headed down the street, the scene replayed in his mind. He had screwed, big time. He told Victoria about Sarah hiring him and everything. “How could I have run my mouth like that?” Back in the old days it was just “shut up” and he did what he had to do. When did he start running his mouth? After two years in jail he had forgotten how great it felt to be back in action again. That old flame had sparked up again. The power trip he got from causing pain had come back. He knew the only way to satisfy his craving he made another turn and headed towards downtown Heaven Beach.
“Dammit, it’s about time someone came!”
“W-What happened to her Victoria?”
“I don’t have time to explain, call an ambulance! Hurry!”
“Oh my God… Oh my God…”
“Mother, stop, calm down and make the phone call.”
Phyllis cupped her hand over her mouth. Tears began streaming down her face. “I… I can’t…”
Anna snatched the phone from Phyllis. “Hello? I need an ambulance sent to The Hideaway immediately.”
“Thank you Grandmother. I’m afraid to move her, will you please go tell a worker that an ambulance is coming and that a woman has been attacked in the bathroom and is unconscious.”
Anna walked out of the restroom without saying a word, when it came down to moments of crisis Victoria and Anna always kept cool and did what had to be done. She had no idea where her mother got her flakiness.
Phyllis kneeled down next to Victoria and Faye. “Oh my God. Who did this to her Victoria?”
“A man attacked her. He was going to attack me but Faye walked in and I guess startled him and he hit her with the butt of his pistol and ran out.”
“Oh Faye…” Phyllis reached out to touch Faye’s head.
“Don’t, that’s where he hit her.”
Phyllis was still crying, “why her?”
Austin and Laurie sat on her bed. “So it’s pretty cool you have a job now. I have a class with Mia, she’s seems pretty nice.”
“Yeah I’m excited.”
“When do you start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Cool.” She walked over to the refrigerator. “Let’s celebrate.”
“Huh?”
Laurie took a bottle of eighty proof bourbon whiskey out of the freeze. “Let’s have a shot.” She handed Austin a shot glass.
“Laurie, you know if they find that…”
“They won’t. Do you want it or not?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
She poured herself a shot and handed the whiskey to Austin.
He poured the whiskey into his shot glass and threw it back. “Oh shit…” He coughed a bit.
She patted him on the back, “you okay?”
“Sure, I’m cool.”
“Let’s have another.” She took the whiskey bottle from his hand and poured her second shot. She drank it and handed Austin the bottle.
He poured it, threw back another shot and handed her the bottle.
“Yeah…”
“Uh huh…”
“Good times.”
“You bet.”
“One more shot?”
“Why not?”
She drank her third shot and handed Austin the whiskey.
He poured it and chugged the shot.
“One more?”
“No… I think I’m drunk.”
“Ah shit… One more for Laurie.” She drank another shot, this time from the bottle. She stumbled over to the freezer and put the whiskey back. “Yeah…” Laurie sat right next to Austin on her bed. She leaned towards Austin.
“L-Laurie…”
She began to kiss him.
He pulled back, “whoa… whoa… what was that all about?”
“I was kissing you…”
“Laurie, I don’t mean to sound insulting or anything but I thought we were just friends…”
She stood up again, “yeah, we’re just friends. Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Look I’ve got to study for an exam I’ll talk to you later.”
“Laurie…”
“No. It’s fine, you’re right we are just friends.”
He stood outside of her door, which was still open. “I… um…”
“Austin, it’s okay. I’m fine with the fact that you don’t see me in that way. I made a mistake. It’s on me. I hope this won’t affect our friendship though.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Okay then. I’ll talk to you later then.” She closed the door.
He was still stunned by the incident, he had never thought of Laurie that way and he hoped that he didn’t offend her. He shrugged, when did life become so complicated? And damn was he drunk. He hoped that no one would realize he was as he staggered back to his room
The paramedics had already put Faye on a stretcher and set her in the ambulance. “Someone needs to ride with her.” Victoria said to Phyllis and Anna.
“I will.” Anna said matter-of-factly. She walked into the ambulance.
“I’ll drive mother to the hospital, we’ll follow. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Are you going to be all right?”
“Of course I will. I’ll wait in the lobby for you two and let you know what room she was put in.”
“Okay. You sure you’ll be okay?”
“Victoria stop worrying, Faye is the one we need to worry about. I will be fine.” With that Anna closed the backdoors. “Come on boys let’s get to the hospital.”
She watched as the ambulance drove away. “Let’s go mother.” She grabbed Phyllis’ hand.
“N-Nicholas needs to know.”
“I know. I’m going to go over to the house and get him while you and grandmother stay with Faye.”
They walked to Victoria’s car, got in, and began to follow the ambulance to the hospital.
Sarah opened the door to her house. She walked into the living room and plopped down on the sofa. “Phew. I’m beat.”
Charlotte sat beside her granddaughter. “Have fun?”
“Not really. But hey I got out”
“Well it’s good you got out.”
“Grandmother I wanted to talk to you about earlier today. I apologize, I know you miss granddaddy as much as I do and I know you took his portrait down trying to help me. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have talked to you like that.”
She placed her hand on her granddaughter’s knee. “It’s okay Sarah. I know you didn’t mean it. You’re just upset.”
Simone and Noah came into the living room giggling. Both dressed in his silk pajamas.
Charlotte rose from the sofa. “Good night everyone. I’m tired. I’ll be in my room if you all need me. Don’t forget to lock the house and turn on the alarm.”
“We won’t.” Noah assured his grandmother.
She nodded and left the living room.
Sarah turned and looked at Simone and Noah. “Hey you two.”
“Hi.” Simone said.
She walked over to Simone and held on to her hands. “Simone, I want to apologize to you. I have been less than pleasant towards you. You’re a really good person and I’m so happy that you are the person my brother has chosen to marry, he couldn’t have found a better woman.”
“Don’t worry about it Sarah. Everything’s fine between us. I didn’t blame you. You have had a lot of stress on you lately.”
“Thank you.” Sarah hugged Simone. “Thanks for being understanding.”
After the embrace Noah spoke, “Simone, honey, will you get me a glass of water from the kitchen?”
“Sure.” She smiled at Sarah and left the two siblings together.
“Noah I…”
“Save it.”
“What?”
“You pull this stunt every month. Apologizing for how you’ve been horrible to everyone and I’m sick of hearing it. If you were truly sorry you would stop being such a bitch to everyone around here. This nice spell will last a week, if that, and then you’ll go back to the grumpy, ill, son of bitch I’ve gotten so used to.”
“I know why you’re mad Noah…”
“I said save it. I don’t want to hear it.” He turned and walked out of the living room.
“Noah…”
Simone and Noah bumped into each other in the hallway. “Something wrong?”
“No, everything’s fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I promise. Come on, let’s go back to bed.”
“Okay.” They walked up the stairs. “That was nice of your sister, apologizing and all.”
“Yeah…”
Sarah walked over to the bar in the living room. “Bastard.” She opened the vodka canister and poured herself a shot. “Can’t even apologize to anyone around here.” She downed the shot. “I can’t stand him!” She looked at the empty shot glass and threw it across the room. It shattered on the opposing wall.
Thomas walked past the police station and looked into city hall. A light still shined from the hallway. “There’s no way someone’s still in there.” He opened the door and walked down the hallway nearing the light.
Martha packed her things for the night. She had pulled a late one tonight her husband would be upset. She shut off the computer, grabbed her travel mug and purse and began to walk out of the office. She bumped into a man standing in front of the door. She jumped back. “Oh my God…” She laughed nervously. “I’m sorry, your frightened me. I’m afraid office hours are over, actually have been for the past three hours. How did you get it? Was the front door opened? Janitor must have not locked it yet.” The man had not said a word. He walked into the office, closed the door and locked it. “W-What are you doing?”
He pulled the gun from his pocket. “Shh…”
“Oh dear God… w-what are you doing? Put that away!”
“Shut up.”
“Hank! Hank! Someone’s in here! Hank!” She screamed.
He pointed the gun at her, “I said shut up.”
“Hank! Hank! Help!”
“Shut up!” He demanded.
She stepped back and bumped into her desk. “Oh my God… What are you going to do to me?”
He stepped up to the frightened woman and rubbed her hair.
“Don’t touch me!”
He lifted her on the desk and began to tear at her outfit.
“Stop that! I would rather die than have you do that! Help! Hank!”
“Shut up!” He slapped her across the face.
She was cornered, there was no way out. She prayed Hank the janitor could hear her. “Hank!”
“I swear I’ll shoot you!”
She began to scream at the top of her lungs.
Bang.
Kyle, April, and Mia walked towards city hall with cups of iced coffee in their hands. “I’ll just get my car keys from the office and then we can leave.”
“He has keys, one to the house, his office, and city hall but he refuses to put his car keys on with them. Brilliant man eh?” April joked.
“That’s funny…”
“What’s funny?”
“The main door isn’t locked, I’m sure Hank or Martha would have locked by now.” He pushed the door open.
“That is strange, maybe Martha forgot to lock it when she left.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it.”
The trio walked towards Kyle’s office. The light was still on and shining from the hallway. “There’s no way she’s still here.”
“You haven’t met Martha have you Mia?”
“Nope.”
“Very nice lady but a workaholic.” She chuckled.
Kyle opened the door. “Oh shit…” He whispered.
April smiled, “what is it Kyle?”
He stepped over to let April see, she gasped.
“What’s going on guys?” Mia asked curiously.
“Mia, trust me honey just stay out there.” April ran over to Martha who was lying on her desk, dead. She began to exam Martha. Blood was everywhere. She had been shot in the chest. She put her finger on Martha’s neck. “She’s dead…”
“What?” Kyle managed to muster.
“She’s dead. There’s no pulse.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. “I need an ambulance sent to city hall.” She hung up the phone.
Mia screamed out in the hallway.
Kyle ran out to her. “What’s wrong!?” A body had fallen out of the broom closet in the hallway. It was Hank.
April saw the sight now. “Oh my God…”
Inspector Kate Weiss walked down the hallway. “What’s going on here? I’ve heard a lot of screams come from over here and I decided to check it out.” She had her gun in her hand. She noticed a dead body in the hallway. “Who did this?”
“We have no idea…” Kyle said, bewildered.
“Anyone else?”
“My secretary was killed also. She’s in her office. April called an ambulance.”
Kate picked up her walkie-talkie, “I need officers sent to city hall we have two dead bodies.” She put the walkie-talkie away. “None of you saw anything?”
“No. We just walked in and found Martha dead on her desk and then Mia was out here in the hallway and he fell out of the broom closet.” April said to Kate.
Four officers entered City Hall. “Inspector are you all right?” One of them called out to her.
“Yes. I’m fine. An ambulance is on its way. We’ve got two dead bodies you boys know what to do.”
They nodded and began their work.
“Kyle, April, Mia I think it’ll be best if you three leave now. Kyle just stop by tomorrow and I’ll ask you some questions, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure that’s fine. Come on, let’s go.” Kyle touched the backs of April and Mia and escorted them out of the building.
“I want you all to secure the area and check for clues.” Kate instructed the officers as she called for more to come.
Victoria pulled up in the driveway and walked across the yard to the Robinsons. She rang the doorbell and prayed Sarah would answer.
“Who the hell could that be?” Sarah said as she opened the door and stepped out on the porch.
Victoria slapped Sarah. “You bitch.”