Chapter 35

GEORGIA

Rhy's new surprise was a car. A black brand new Rolls-Royce. The gift came as a shock, as I would never have expected it, and then came the problem of the reaction. I was supposed to act surprised, Excited or just casual. Well, Rhys didn't wait for any of that. He grabbed me by the waist and led me closer to the vehicle which had been covered.

"Here is the key, open it."

"Uhm," I stepped back a little. "Why don't you open it?"

He shook his head.

"No, it's your car Georgie, do the honours of opening it first."

There's something I've had good things, luxuries and gifts. I usually considered them too good to be true. This might sound pessimistic but it runs deeper than that.

Yes, the luxurious car was right there in front of me, but a part of me failed to grasp its reality or the warmth behind Rhys's gesture. I just stood there, staring into space. But then, he suddenly leaned towards me, his breath warm on my neck.

"Gifts are words from the heart my sweet." He whispered. "They are not objects of vanity or self-gratification. Listen to them, let them absorb you."

I didn't say anything more and I was grateful that he didn't press me further. I only got inside and with Tiana, whom we picked up on the next street, we took the car for a spin.

"Kathleen and the other bitches are so going to be jelly. We're gonna take this car to work, and crush their shopping carts at the parking lot."

"Shopping carts?" I burst into laughter. "No, Helen has a Benz."

"That's not a benz," Tiana laughed again. "It's a whack, low-budget imitation, no wait, the car must have been wrapped and designed to look like a Benz. Don't you hear the sound it makes? It sounds like a murderous rhino."

I had never seen Tiana this bubbly and giggly. I was nearly tempted to think she'd started abusing substances. Tiana appeared to be headstrong and daring on the outside, but no one knew she had been nursing a heartbreak for more than two years now. I remembered the night we'd stayed up, drying her tears. Then her eventual trip to the therapist which had so far yielded no results. Tiana refused to leave that shell, and it sucks her deeper as the days go by.

" You girls should set up a picnic in the garden." Rhys suddenly said motioning for me to stop the car. " Order some food and join the other women in the games. In case I don't return on time, get movie tickets, and text me the address of the cinema, I'll join you."

"But where are you going?"

"I want to visit the casino downtown," he said, pointing ahead, and I craned my neck to gaze at the ugly signboard bearing directions to the hotel. "It belongs to Sergio Diaz. He is the Capo of one of the small Syndicates in my control. I need to talk to him."

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, you're practically wanted right now, what if he gives you away?"

"Diaz is loyal. He's taken bullets for me countless times in battle. He is one of the few people who believe me."

" And the media?" I asked again. " We've already been seen together at the restaurant. There's bound to be headlines. People are still linking Vanya's death to you. I think you should play it safe, stay out of trouble."

"And what do you mean?"

I shook my head and reached for his face.

"Stay with us. Join us at the garden. You could partake in a couple of games." He rolled his eyes at that. "Or maybe I should come along. Who doesn't mind having your..."

"You girls should have a great time," he pushed the door open and stepped out. " Call me if you need anything, or get in trouble, or forget how to drive the car."

"But, wait."

But Rhys was gone, disappeared down the long winding path. There was a short moment of silence, after which Tiana spoke.

"We need to work harder. The police are yet to uncover anything relating to Vanya's death. I don't know what to make of this."

"Me neither. It's like some force is trying to keep us from getting the truth, just so Rhys can be framed for the murder and punished."

"Look, the garden workers are waving at us." She gathered her stuff and opened the door. "Let's park the car and get somewhere comfortable to sit."

In less than 30 minutes, Tiana and I were sitting comfortably, gazing directly at a lake inhabited by pink flamingos and swans. Nice scenery, I said to myself. But Rhys wouldn't leave my mind.

" I have been out of the hospital, particularly at the crime scene, trying to look for evidence that might lead us to the killer, but there has been nothing. It's kike someone wiped the evidence clean, not even bullets could be found."

" I have been making plans to interview Dimitri, who is the Prime suspect, but something darker happened this week."

"And what is it?"

" I learnt that Janette, Vanya's mother, is in charge of the twins' company. I went there to interview her, but Rhys intercepted me before I could do anything."

"What the hell is that?! Doesn't that company belong to the twins?"

"I'm just as shocked as you are. Apparently, Rhys put her in charge because he thinks the twins are too traumatised to monitor the affairs of the company."

"But Janette is an enemy."

"I don't understand what Rhys was trying to do."

"But why did you want to interview Janette. For all I know, she's lost a child."

"But she could have a motive." I butted in. "Since there is no evidence at the crime scene, we might as well look into the people who stand to benefit from Vanya's demise. And the first person is Dimitri. Vanya was gaining popularity among the syndicates, and he was being sidelined. Now that Vanya is dead, Dimitri will take over his cartel and rule as its capo."

"But didn't Vanya have children by Shaniah?"

I shuddered at the question—children conceived by sexual abuse. Vanya deserved a hundred horrible deaths.

"Shania is not in a position to raise children properly or care about any of the properties or money. I think Janet has always wanted to be in control. And perhaps she orchestrated the death of her son because of this."

We're both silent for more seconds. This case was heading nowhere, and the confusion was bound to do a lot of harm.

"I will meet with Dimitri tomorrow and question him. I'm very positive. If he doesn't prove to be the killer, he will lead me to him and you, don't give up on the crime scene. And speaking of the hospital, how are things with Calvin?"

I saw Tiana's cheeks turn red, but she turned away and lowered her head.

"I have been checking on him, and that is because he wasn't doing well throughout last week. His surgeries had to be redone, the bullet re-extracted and he even needed blood at some point."

"Oh really?"

She blushed red again, and then she smiled. "None of his family members have come to check on him. I'm only being a good Samaritan, nothing serious here."

"But you've been talking. I learnt he's conscious. So, what do y'all discuss? Tiana darling." I scooted closer and winked at her.

"Shut up!" She swatted my hand and sprang off the grass. "I still don't like him. "

"But you've been spending time." I laughed.

"No! I was only looking for evidence and that was it."

"And where is this evidence located? His pants or..."

"Okay, that's it. I'm going home." She bent down to pick up her purse, and that was when something weird happened.

A gunshot suddenly sounded from nowhere. I wasn't sure where it was aimed, but three more followed. At the first shot, Tiana ducked, falling face-first onto the ground. I had done the same slowly crouching towards my phone, but I was interrupted.

Footsteps approaching, the smell of gunpowder thickening. Before I could blink, we were surrounded.

Men in dark suits and hats covering their faces. Vanya's men!

"Well, well, Rhys left his treasure by the ocean, or is it a pond?"

"Get out of here," I said harshly. "We don't have any business with you and neither does my husband!"

"But you both have scores to settle with Vanya. Your darling husband killed him, and you've been covering for him in the news. Mikhaliov has taken something belonging to us and we crave the only ultimate thing— revenge. A pound of flesh paid in full. Get them boys, let's make Rhys pay."

They started moving towards us. They held white handkerchiefs, but I knew they contained a lethal amount of valium. An alarm blared in my head.