Chapter 62 Chapter 61:
Barbara:
The next day,
I stand in front of the TV, staring with widened eyes at the news that’s being displayed. I don’t think I realized I stopped breathing until the words ‘Julian Ford confirmed to be dead.’ Echoes from the television.
The screen flickers for a brief moment, showing the once majestic villa now reduced to charred bones and smoke. Fire trucks line the driveway, yellow tape dancing everywhere. People- officers, paramedics, the med all moving like ants around the crime scene, trying to fish out whatever information they can get.
My heart is thumping loudly as I stare at the screen.
Julian’s villa. Gone.
The newscaster stands solemnly in front of what used to be the grand entrance of the villa, her coat flapping in the wind. “We’re standing outside in the villa of multi-billionaire Julian Ford, who was found dead early this morning following a massive fire. Authorities suspect arson, though the investigation remains ongoing. Our condolences to the Ford family during this devastating time.”
I barely hear what she says next. The camera cuts to a clip of his family in front of the villa. I see Catherine, her face streaked with tears, mascara running down her perfect makeup layer face, and there’s Alisha and her husband, he’s trying to comfort her, squeezing her hand with affection.
I sit motionless on the couch, one hand clenched around the mug. I had thought a morning coffee might help me relax but now, I can’t even bring myself to have a single sip. My pulse thuds dully in my ears. Julian...dead?
My phone buzzes on the table and I almost jump it in fright, approaching it gently. I see it’s a private number, slowly; I bring it up to my ears.
“Hello?” My voice sounds like that of a meek child and I hate that Julian’s death has this kind of effect on me.
“Hello, mother.” The voice sounds really familiar. “How do you find the news? Quite interesting, huh?”
“Anna,” I grip the coffee mug hard, gritting my teeth. “You killed your own fucking father?!”
“Don’t yell at me, mommy.” She says softly on the other end but then bursts into laughter. “Of course, I learnt from the best. Didn’t you kill your own husband? I guess, we are both even now.”
“It’s not the same thing. You told me you wanted to bond with him. You lied to me!” I say shakily.
“Oh, bullshit.” She hisses, “Everyone lies so spare me the crap.”
“Where are you right now?” I ask, looking around. “You are calling from a private number.” How can she kill her own father? Julian is a kind man, a cheater alright but he’s a good man. So she went to the villa and just killed him? Damn it.
“Let’s cut the crap right now. You’re next, Barbara. I’m coming for you, don’t think I am going to stop at Julian. I am coming for every single one of you.” Her voice is dark and fear starts looming around me.
“You are a deranged psychopath.” I spit out, the whole house feels like it’s closing on me or something.
“I prefer the term creative.” Anna laughs and then there’s silence. Silence that makes my skin crawl. “I like your dress, unfortunately, red isn’t quite your colour, I think we both agree with that.”
I stare down at my red dress and suddenly, I can’t breathe. My eyes skim the room hurriedly.
She’s here. She is somewhere watching me; I bet she is taking in so much joy seeing me like this.
“You should be scared of me, Barbara Brookes. Your death will shock the world.” And then, without waiting for me to say anything. The line goes dead. I look at the screen, heart thumping loudly. My own bitchy daughter is planning to kill me and for the first time, I’m scared as hell.
\--
Clara:
Axel is kissing me everywhere.
Who knew kissing was so much fun? His hands are everything, his lips everywhere. Pleasure blooms from every corner. We are pressed together in the velvet couch, Axel’s hands tangled in my hair while I clutch tightly to the back of his shirt. I came to Axel’s house just to have lunch but one thing led to another.
“We should probably stop now and eat.” I say in between kisses but then. His hand slides beneath my top, his fingertips grazing my bare skin until I gasp. “Goodness!”
“What did you just say?” He groans against my lips, before moving his mouth down my throat, stopping at the dip of my collarbone, then lower. I pull him closer, moaning.
His lips close around my breast through the thin fabric of my bra, kissing, sucking, teasing until my back arches into him.
“Say my name.” He whispers against my skin.
“Axel...”
He looks up through hooded eyes like he can’t wait to consume me. My whole body feels like it’s on fire, is this what desire really feels like? Damn it, I like the way he looks at me.
His hands start to slide up my thigh, under my skirt and then...
The doorbell rings.
I pull away slowly, arranging my skirt. “Are you expecting someone?” I guess it’s just my anxiety clawing at me again.
“I will get it, you stay here.” Axel jumps out of the couch, rubbing at his temples. He’s clearly annoyed that our make out session is interrupted and to be honest, I am disappointed. It was getting good, for goodness sake!
Axel comes back with three men dressed in officer's clothes, I take a look at them with a question mark, what is going on?
“Miss. Clara Hilton, right?” The officer, a woman, with a stoned-cold expression asks.
I look around, “Yes,”
“You’re under arrest for the murder of Kevin Lere.”
“What?” I blink. No, this can’t be real. Somehow, this is all wrong, I didn’t kill him, Anna did and now she is framing me.
Before I can say something else, the officer steps in between and slaps the cold cuffs on my wrist. “You have to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney.” Axel and I stare at each other and I mutter ‘I didn’t do it’ . He says he believes me by crossing his chest with his hands.
“You don’t even have a warrant. You can’t just storm in here-” Axel is explaining, going into professional mode while I am being cuffed.
“She’s wanted for questioning in connection with a homicide,” one officer snaps. “Now step aside, sir.”
“No, you aren’t taking her like this.” Axel explains.
I turn to him, eyes glassy with panic. “It’s okay,” I try to reassure him even though I am falling apart. “Don’t make things worse.”
Axel jaw clenches and I can see anger beneath. “I’ll be right behind you, okay?”
They lead me to the station that smells of old coffee and something metallic. I sit in a small gray room that looks like it hasn’t seen sunlight for so many years. My wrists ache from the cuff. I am still imagining the look on Axel’s face as the officers led me out.
He looks like he wanted to burn the world just for me. Damn it, am I getting emotional right now out of all places?
I have been sitting here for like what? Thirty minutes now just staring at the walls, Anna framed me, how did she even do that? What is the fuck is wrong with her?
The door of the tiny room opens and I jerk my head up to see Nicole Hart, wearing a Tom Ford jumpsuit, her black hair is tied into a long ponytail and she’s wearing her no-nonsense expression. In high school, she was always feared and now, she has become one of New York’s most notorious defense attorneys and family attorneys.
“Nicole?” I ask in fear. “What are you doing here?”
She sighs, taking a seat opposite me, now we are facing each other. “Arya sent me here, she told me everything you told her.” She sighs.
“I am innocent.” I say, outstretching my cuffed wrists on the table.
“I know. I know. But these people have evidence against you, evidence that you killed Kevin.” She brings out the report file. “He was found dumped behind a motel, just like that. His body was already decomposing, your fingerprints and even a strand of your hair was found at the crime scene. That’s enough evidence to take you to court.” She explains, but it does nothing to calm my nerves.
“Now, you don’t have to say a word to anybody. I am going to do the talking, okay? Arya and the rest are worried about you; she made me promise to treat you well.” She looks around. “Damn, this place is really a shithole; I have been in here too many times while defending my client’s cases.”
“Please help me.” I freeze, tears building in my eyes.
“I will.” She assures me, “but here is the funny thing. The body had marks on it, meaning it was moved behind the motel, that means someone deliberately moved the body from the original position to the motel. And your fingerprints are fresh, so we have reasons to believe that you moved the body. But the question the officers will rile you about is why you moved the body to a place where it can be seen.”
“I didn’t do it.” I sigh, my wrist itches but I can’t because it’s fucking cuffed.
“I know. Now, I want you to tell me everything that happened that night when Anna called you. Okay? Don’t miss any single details.”
And then I recount every single thing, not missing any detail. By the time I am done, Nicole stares at me, tapping the end of her pen on the table. “Do you think Anna did it all alone?”
I think about Anna and everything she could do, even when she killed Kevin, she wanted me there. She has always been the kind of person to sit back and watch someone else do her work, so no, I don’t think she covered it up alone.
“I think she had someone helping her. Has, even. Like she still has someone helping her.” My face is blank, my stomach growls and Nicole looks at me in pity.
“Guess we have to do something about that. I will have an officer bring you something to eat.” Nicole pushes the chair and stands up. “For now, I want you to lay low.”
“Am I going to sleep in jail?” I ask, eyes widened.
“Well...” She squeezes her face. “Yes. Actually, just for a few days, I promise jail isn’t as bad as people make it out to be.”
“Jail isn’t as bad?” Well, it’s not like I have any more options. “Alright, I’ll see you whenever.”
She nods her head, before heading for the door.
I remain in the gray room for another ten minutes now, Axel will see me later and right now, I badly want to see his face. The door opens and Anna enters, smiling.
“Hey, darling.” She flops to the seat opposite me without permission, my eyes drain of colour as I look around, damn it. We’re the only ones here.
“How did you get in?” I ask fearfully.
“All it took was bribing an officer, told him I was your relative. Just some pity story I gave him.” She waves her hand, “You betrayed me, Clara. So now, you’re working with the good guys, huh? I thought you were my best-friend.”
“Our relationship has always been toxic and you know that. In Fact, a twisted part of you liked that.” I speak up and it feels good speaking up. All my life, when Anna spoke, it was like the president was speaking, she has always made me feel small, but not anymore.
“Oh, bullshit.” She laughs. “Anyways, I just came to warn you. You’re next, Clara. I don’t take too well with people that betray me; you better watch your back. Your death will be brutal.”
And then, she stands up, blows me a kiss and walks out.
I just sit there, completely and utterly shocked.