Chapter Thirty-Six

"Did you get the papers signed?"

"Look, I need more time." Kara told him.

"Much to your dismay, there isn't any left. I need the papers signed and brought to me as agreed Kara." With that, he hung up.

She sighed heavily. At first, he demanded a huge sum and now he wants something even bigger. Things weren't going as planned and she hated every bit of the moment. What was she going to do now? The greatest mistake she will make is to make her son to sign some papers when he was already devastated. At least, she couldn't let Jack know if she had the papers signed just yet. She had to make sure that he was willing to reach a compromise.

"Mom," the voice called out and she could froze.

Oh, shit!

She shouldn't have put the call on speak out.

***

Daniel combed his hair in frustration for the nth time. Holding tight in his hands the necklace that he would have given her if they hadn't fought.

The necklace was beautiful, she was going to love it.

He thought about her and how she was doing. He had gotten used to her perfume that he derived a tiny bit of comfort from it.

(Flashback)

"I love you Rissa."

"I Love you too," she replied, hugging him ever so tightly like she desired no gap in between them.

(End of Flashback)

"Come back to me Rissa." He murmured to himself hoping she could hear the whispers of his voice.

***

Audora asked, "Who was on the phone? Why do you need more time? Is there something the family should know about?"

Her mother's grip tightened on the table she had unknowingly leaned on. She had no idea where to start. There was no way she would say Clarissa's kidnapping was her fault. The whole family would hate her for it. All she wanted was her son's happiness but it all back fired on her and now, things had gone out of her control.

"It's nothing you should stress yourself about, I have it under control."

"But—"

"Is there any news on my daughter-in-law?" Audora's features changed to that of relief.

"That's what I came to tell you about mom. Darius seemed to have found her phone somehow. I think they have something, he refused to tell me yet."

"Oh, that's a relief. I hope she gets found soon." She sighed before sitting on the bed thinking of her next move. The sooner she settles Jack, the better it was for her or rather, for everyone.

Audora eyes stayed glued to her mother. Her mom wasn't one to love her daughter-in-law before and now she acts so worried. Though, situations can make someone develop weird feelings they never knew they had.

This could be a start of positive things, Audora thought, a smile climbing onto her face before turning to leave.

***

Clara remembered the first time she had read Nick's journal. Nick was obsessed with her cousin. And she very well knew what obsession was like. There was no way Nick was going to let go at all.

She remembered Nick telling her that her relationship with him was just a mistake. She totally understood why he said that now. There was no way you can love another when you can't get over one person.

She sighed and got up to get a glass of water. She had no idea why Nick wasn't looking for his dairy yet. Maybe he really was extra busy to notice.

She had taken her time to go over the written secrets over again reminding herself how foolish she had been. All this while, it had been her cousin and not her. When he suggested they took off, she was expecting a happy ending. An ending in which she had the love of her life by her side. She wanted them to get married and then move far away but that wasn't the case at all.

She threw away everything she ever asked off. Money, popularity, and the perfect guy, for stupid infatuation.

It was high time she stopped sobbing and get down to business anyways.

She didn't plan to go anywhere till she puts an end to this madness she created.

She knew what to do and for whatever reason, she planned to do it fast.

***

"Daniel identify this phone for me, is it hers?" Daniel nodded in affirmation. Looking at the phone, he could tell of it was his wife's anywhere. She loved pink phone pouches a lot. He remembered her manicured hand typing on her phone most times. Inspecting the phone's broken screen, he sighed.

"He had a black hoodie over his head." Daniel's attention was again taken from the phone to the middle-aged man who now spoke.

According to what he had picked up before, the man claimed to have seen her in the cemetery when he was paying a visit to his dead 8-year-old son. He saw her leave the cemetery, strolled out himself only to gape from afar as a young man held her from behind, and the only thing she left behind was what he was holding towards them right now: her phone.

"The phone was switched off so I didn't have a chance to call anyone."

"But this was supposed to be a police case, why didn't you report it sooner?" Darius asked.

"I...erm...I found it laying on the floor, so I thought I might be accused of theft if I brought it immediately after it was all over the news."

'Theft? Definitely ridiculous.'

"So why now? Why decide to report the case of a missing phone now? Wouldn't it have been the same thing." Daniel asked.

"Let it be Daniel. Do you think you can pick out any features that can help us?" Darius asked.

"I could make out a dark hair. It wasn't definitely blonde." Darius and Daniel shared a look. "And they sped off in that direction." Darius found himself looking towards the direction.

Nick was surely doing an amateur job at kidnapping after all.

"Is Something wrong?" That caught Daniel's attention for sure. Darius moved further away from Gabriel, who was speaking with the middle-aged man.

"It just doesn't add up," Daniel pointed out. "There should be more to his story Darius."

"Exactly Daniel. I know for sure that he's lying about something. We just need to find out what." Darius said looking back at the man as he gave his statement to lieutenant Gabriel.

Something was definitely off.

***

Nick placed the cup to her lips and she drank from it.

"Now that's a good girl." He placed the remains of the food in the bin.

"Did you like it? I'm sorry I couldn't get you more. Maybe if you make me happy for the rest of the day I would consider." He said to her and still, she made no attempt to reply. His smile dropped.

"Enough with the silent treatment already. My love you're pissing me off."

"Well then," he said when he couldn't get her to say anything. "You should know that you'll starve for the rest of the day. Don't think I didn't notice that you were a little too over famished, trust me to make you beg for food David." With that he walked out on her. She held her stomach tight before sobbing silently.

Till how long?

***

"He wasn't home all day." Kara told him and Jack frowned.

"Is that supposed to be my problem, Kara? If I recall correctly, you were not to tolerate tardiness. Why do I have to put up with it then?!" Jack groaned in frustration tossing a cup to the wall.

"I want the papers signed, all the property mine and then I can let you run along like a free woman Kara." He leaned into her.

"You have the girl?" The man only smiled and when she wouldn't back down from their staring contest, he chuckled and whistled away from her.

"Now, now, why would you think that? We shouldn't be rushing into presumptions, should we?" He smirked.

"What has she got to do with this?"

"Everything!" He plastered a sly smile on his face immediately before adding. "Get my documents ready, I will be generous enough to give you space. You've managed to purchase the time so use it very wisely."

***

"Did you manage to get any lead on her?" Audora spoke right after giving her husband a tight hug.

"We aren't certain but we're still trying. We'll get something surely." He looked down at her and noticed an iota of worry that has managed to slip pass her walls so easily.

"What's wrong?" He raised her chin to meet his gaze and she sighed. "Tell me,"

"I need someone to tell me if I'm misreading things D."

"What do you mean?" He had a frown over his features now.

"I think Mom is unto something. I'm not sure but I think I heard her conversation. I think she has something to do with Clarissa's kidnapping. I mean, I'm not trying to accuse her of anything but the first time I wasn't sure of what I heard. Then when I heard this conversation, I thought that she surely knows something, something that we don't know." Her eyes searched her husband's own looking an emotion she should be familiar with.

Doubt? Anger?

But he was definitely not surprised.