Mystery: Missing Rita: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery) (13 page)

“So tell me,” he probed on. “What has been going on with you?”

“What else?”

“Gina?” Sam asked.

“Yes.”

He watched as Lohan let out a slight heave and walked to where he was. He placed a hand on his shoulder and looked straight into his eyes.

“You know you can always talk to me.”

“I know,” Lohan answered. “But I don’t think you would understand.”

“Why not?”

“You are not married, kid,” Lohan pointed out.

“So what?”

“So that means you cannot really understand what I am going through.”

“But I can empathize,” Sam answered. “And I know it will make you feel much better once you talk about it.”

Lohan simmered on his partner’s words for a few more minutes and reflected on the scene he had just walked into when he got home earlier on. He shook his head in disbelief before looking Sam in the eye.

“Do not get offended, kid but I am not that kind of guy.”

“I understand,” Sam said after seeing the stubborn look on his face. “Will you find your solace with Ginger in your lap?”

“Yes, I just might,” he said excitedly.

“I take it you didn’t call me here for work then.”

“No I did not, I needed the company. I was bored as hell.”

“Okay, I can buy you one more beer before I head back to bed,” Sam said and started walking towards the bar.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

“But you have to promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Fix your mess with Gina.”

“I will.”

They both walked into the bar in a jovial mood.
Sam’s mind however kept on racing back to Ted’s last words and he slowly started to succumb to his fear. He had known Ted for only a few months and there was no telling what he was capable of. He decided to push the thought to the back of his mind and concentrate on the night at hand. He however would look over his shoulder from time to time in search of him. He felt slightly rattled but nevertheless kept a straight face. The future held its fears and the thought of it made him uncomfortable.

****

“How many people do you expect to show up, Mr. Sutter?” she asked. She waited for him to respond but he remained silent. That was the third time that day he had drifted off into his own world. She let him have his own moment and remembered she had another meeting to get to and could not afford to wait on him.

“Mr. Sutter,” she called out.

“Yes, sorry,” he apologized. “What was the question again?’

“I was asking how many people you think will show up for the memorial.”

Ryan was lost in his world again and stared at her before saying, “I honestly do not know.”

“Can you give me a rough estimate?”

“To be honest with you Rita was not really a people’s person,” Ryan answered. “I am actually afraid they will show up to dance at her grave rather than to mourn and celebrate her.”

She listened to him and knew it would take longer than she had expected. She closed the files spread in front of her before looking Ryan in the eye.

“Mr. Sutter,” she called out. “I know this is very hard for you to do but you have to pull yourself together. Can I come back later? Or is there perhaps a friend who would be willing to take care of this for you instead?”

Ryan’s mind thought of the two likely candidates who would be willing to help out. He thought of Tracy before thinking of Yvonne and looked at the mortician who had paid him a personal visit to his home.

“I will keep in touch,” he said. “I think I have someone who will be willing to help me out.”

“Ok, please have him or her call me in due time,” she said before getting to her feet and placing the folders underneath her arm. “We need to get this ball rolling if you want the memorial to take place on the date set.”

“Ok, thank you,” Ryan said and watched as she made her way to the front door. She was a short curvaceous woman who would have turned him on any other day but not today. He relaxed more in his seat once he was sure she had left the room and heard her start her car from a distance.

He looked around the room and wondered if what he was about to do was the right thing. The police had not found any leads to the missing body and the kid s needed closure. They were still away with his mother which gave him time to plan events and invite people to the memorial. He was lost in his own world for the thousandth time that day but was slightly startled by the ring of the doorbell.

“Come in,” he shouted reluctantly. He was not in the mood for any guests and hoped he or she would not take much of his time.

The doorbell rung a second time and he had to get on his feet to go answer it. He wished it was a girl scout selling cookies or an insurance salesman, that way he would easily be able to send them away.

He swung the door open and was disappointed when his expectations were not met.

“You again,” he said and left the door open before walking away from it.

“Is that how you welcome your ex-lover?” Tracy asked and walked in after him. He headed to the living sofa and she was right behind him.

“What do you want?”

Ryan asked from the living room sofa and took a sip from his usual glass of everyday scotch.

“I wanted to check up on you,” she answered. “See how you are faring.”

“I ask again,” Ryan replied.“What do you want?”

“Come on, do not be like that, is it wrong to check up on you?” Tracy asked and moved closer to him. She placed a hand on his thigh and Ryan for the first time had a close look at her. She had made a great effort to look pretty that day. She had on a tight-fitting black dress that showed off curves Ryan had doubted she still had. She wore a light shade of makeup, had neatly pulled-back hair and stud earrings.

Tracy moved closer to him when she was sure she’d gotten his full attention and rubbed his thigh gently. The much-expected reaction could not be missed as Ryan got a visible erection right in front of her. She took advantage of this and moved closer to him, her lips met his before both indulged in a passionate kiss. Ryan did not know how much his flesh had been craving sexual attention until Tracy made her advances. He wanted to resist her but could not and before he knew it he had stripped off her clothes.

The starved animal in him came alive and he made her lie on her back before parting her legs apart and thrusting deep and hard into her.

“I missed you, Ryan,” Tracy moaned.

Ryan wanted to reply but was not sure if he’d missed her too. He could tell by the tightness of her vaginal lining that she had not had sex in a long time. He tightened his grip on her thigh as he was about to climax and exploded inside her. The familiar convulsions that made his body vibrate made him feel he was in Heaven. He let his body collapse on her after the session and could not bring himself to look into her eyes.

Tracy sensed the fear and shame that suddenly overwhelmed him and she cupped his cheeks in her hands.

“I still love you, Ryan, I always have,” Tracy said. “You do not have to say anything right now.”

“Thank you,” Ryan said. “I have so much going on.”

“It's okay,” Tracy said and placed a hand on his lips. “It's okay, I understand.”

Tracy got to her feet and started heading for the kitchen. She did not bother to dress as she walked and Ryan liked how her naked body gyrated across the room.

“I know you have not had a decent meal in ages,” she said. Ryan could hear a few pots and pans clanging in the kitchen and knew she was about to make him something to eat.

He relaxed in his seat and reached for his glass of scotch. He sipped from it and thought of what he had just done. A knock on the door got his attention and he decided not to answer it this time. He was still stark naked on the living room sofa and both his clothes and Tracy’s were on the living room floor.

It rang again for the second time and he again did not bother. He settled in his seat and a turn in the doorknob caught his attention. He sat up quickly and wondered who else other than his children and Yvonne had the key to his apartment.

It was not until Yvonne walked in with her handbag swung under her arm that Ryan remembered Yvonne had promised to check in earlier in the day.

“Ryan,” she called as her soft footsteps walked towards the living room.

“Ryan, are you still in bed? I tried ringing the bell and decided to let myself in,” she went on to announce. “Ryan…”

Ryan was perched in his seat not knowing what to do; he wanted to move his position but knew there was nothing he could possibly do. He instead took a long gulp of his drink and prepared himself for the worst.

“Ryan, why on earth are you naked?” Yvonne walked in and looked at him before looking at his surroundings. Her gaze landed on the heap of clothes on the floor but mostly concentrated on the bra and panties that lay on top of Tracy’s dress.

She turned her attention to the kitchen but did not have to ask any questions with Tracy emerging from there stark naked.

“Ryan, I heard someone ring the bell,” she started but was interrupted by the look of disgust Yvonne threw her way.

“I see we have company today,” she said and offered Yvonne a hand. “I am Tracy.”

“Yvonne,” she replied but did not bother to shake her hand. “Ryan, who is this?”

“I thought I just introduced myself,” Tracy butted in.

“I was not talking to you.”

“I could tell but I was only saving him the time.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was actually making something to eat. Should I make something for you too, will you be joining us?”

“The nerve of you!” Yvonne said and took a few steps towards her. She had a murderous look on her face that forced Ryan to get on his feet and stand between the two women.

“Now ladies, there is no need to fight,” he said.

“Look who finally got his tongue,” Yvonne turned to him with the same look on her face, and she stared at both Tracy and Ryan with disgust as they stood in front of her naked.

“Yvonne, please.”

“Please what?” she barked back.

“Oooh, Ryan, you always get the feisty ones,” Tracy said sarcastically from a distance.

“Shut up, whore.”

“Careful there, ma’am, you do not paint the street corner I stand on,” Tracy answered. “If you do, then you can call me a whore.”

“Ryan, for God’s sake, your wife just died!”

“What the hell has that got to do with anything?” Tracy went on to say. “If you ask me that gives him more reason to screw around.”

“Ex wife Yvonne,” Ryan corrected.

“But that still does not give you the right,” Yvonne added. “We were together, didn’t that mean something to you?”

“Come on!Please don’t tell me you are one of those whining little bitches. Really Ryan, you used to screw that?”

“Bitch, say one more word,” Yvonne said and started charging in Tracy’s direction. “Say one more word and I will cut your tongue.”

“I would like to see you try,” Tracy roared sarcastically.

Ryan was now in between the two women trying to stop a cat fight between naked Tracy and angry Yvonne.

Yvonne then took an unexpected step back and threw a dirty look at both Tracy and Ryan before turning on her heel and heading for the door. Ryan thought of going after her but knew it would be futile. He watched her walk away and tried to feel remorse towards the whole situation but could not. He turned his attention to Tracy who was still naked and let out a smile.

“Did that turn you on or what?” he asked and moved closer to her.

“Like hell it did,” she answered and pulled him closer. They were lost in a heated session on the living room sofa with Tracy knowing she had him right where she wanted.

*****

“Where are we on the case, Sam?” Lohan walked in the office and straight to his desk without giving Sam as much of a glance.

“And good morning to you to,” Sam answered. “Someone is fired up today.”

“I am,” Lohan agreed as he settled well in his seat before letting out a slight heave.

“We have made a lot of progress on the case.”

“Any news on the body?” Lohan asked.

“None.”

“Okay, so where were you planning on going to investigate today?”

“I was actually working on a court order that will give me access to Rita’s files from therapy,” Sam answered.

“How far are you with that?”

“I am waiting on a phone call from the court clerk. He said he would keep me updated.”

Lohan took out his cell phone and immediately made a call to the court room. He talked to someone on the phone in a friendly manner and hung up after a few minutes.

“You can go pick it up at 2:00 today.”

“That was fast.”

“It comes with experience and knowing people in the town for a long time,” Lohan answered and could not help but gloat.

“So where do we go before heading over to the court at 2:00?”

“I was thinking the morgue perhaps.”

“No,” Lohan shook his head with disapproval. “Rodney would have given us an update if there was anything worth looking into.”

Lohan sat up in his seat and looked into Sam’s direction. “Did you get any feedback from the rookies you had asked to look into disappearances of bodies from morgues?”

“They will hand me the research this afternoon.”

“Good.”

Lohan then got to his feet without warning and started walking out of the door.

“Where are you headed?”

“Let's go, Sam,” he said once he was out of the door. “Try and keep up with an old man will you.”

Sam was both impressed and amused with the fire Lohan had walked into the office with that day. He wondered what had brought it up and how long it would last. He walked right behind him and watched as he headed for the car. He took his usual passenger side and waited on Sam to take the driver’s side.

“How come you never want to drive?”

“Old age,” Lohan answered. “Something about my blood circulation.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute.”

“Ask your grandma.”

Sam took the driver’s seat and chose not to ask any more questions until they were both securely strapped in and staring at the road ahead.