Mystery: Missing Rita: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery) (6 page)

Sam felt an inner smile form and wished he could display it but bit his tongue. He had completely taken over the kitchen and was now beating some eggs in a bowl for the omelet he had promised Ryan.

“A neighbor of Rita told us that she heard the two of you arguing about something a few weeks back. Care to tell me what the argument was about?” Sam asked.

“Rita and I fought all the time,” he began.

“What about?”

“Everything, simply everything,” Ryan replied and Sam could detect the tone of contempt in his voice.

“Can you remember the last time the two of you fought?”

“Of course,” Ryan answered. “It was about two weeks back. I thought that she was displaying very inappropriate behavior in front of my son.”

“What kind of inappropriate behavior?” Sam asked.

“She had started dating this young man who would come around whenever the kids were over at her place.”

“Wait a minute,” Sam interrupted. “I am sorry for cutting you short, but when you say ‘whenever the kids were at her place’ does that mean you had full custody?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Please go on,” Sam pleaded. The case was taking a different turn that he’d never suspected.

“They would sometimes make out intensely in front of the kids and that made the kids uncomfortable,” he went on. “Sometimes they would have very loud sex without considering the kids’ presence in the room.”

Sam could not hide his shock as Ryan went on to narrate a few more inappropriate details of Rita’s behavior in the presence of his children.

“On that note,” Sam asked, “do you know anyone else who would have a problem with Rita?”

“I know of a lot of people who had a grudge against Rita,” he answered. “I could write you a list if you want.”

“That would be very helpful,” Sam answered. “Please start with the boyfriend’s name if you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” he said and got to his feet.

He looked a bit more revived now that he had some food in his system. He led the way back to the living room and took a seat on one of the living room sofas. He had carried his plate from the kitchen to the living room and started looking for a notepad.

“Let’s see.” He began to scribble while gobbling down his omelets. “There is Anita from the salon.”

“Are these the people she had feuds with before she died?” Sam asked.

“Right before she died,” he answered.

“Alright, scribble on.”

Ryan returned his full attention back to the notepad before looking up at him momentarily and saying, “These are pretty good omelets, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

He went on to scribble down a few other names as Sam walked around the living room and took another closer look at the layout. He noticed there was no picture of Rita on the walls and only one photo with the kids perched on the living room wall.

“I take it that Rita was not a likeable person.”

“You think?” Ryan muttered before he went on to scribble a few more names on his notepad and looked up at Sam. “People say not to talk bad about the dead but that woman was wicked.”

The outburst caught him off guard and he looked back at his notepad and went on to scribble more names. Sam marveled at how the list only seemed to be getting longer.

“Why was she so…” he asked before stammering out the last few words from his mouth, “…wicked?”

“If I had a dollar for the number of times I have asked myself that question,” Ryan replied, “Bill Gates would have nothing on me.”

Sam went on to walk around the room and let his mind drift a little as he keenly took in his surroundings. He could feel the pain in his behind stir up again but it was not as concentrated as it had been that morning. He hadn’t had any time to apply the cream he’d bought that morning and remembered the painkillers in his pocket.

“I’ll be back,” he said and excused himself. “Please, if you don’t mind, write down the addresses you know as well.”

Ryan nodded and went on scribbling. He watched Sam walk out and wondered where he had gotten the sudden noticeable limp.

Sam went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of cold water before taking out the small white pills from his pocket and popping two of them in his mouth. He then reconsidered his decision before taking two more.

He was on his way back to the living room when he was distracted by a text message that made his cell phone vibrate.

“I am coming over tonight.”

He felt a fear cripple his heart at the thought that the previous night’s events would be repeated that night. He was just about to send back a text to decline but got one more immediately.

“I am already in your apartment waiting on you, do not keep me waiting.”

He tried to shake off what he felt and decided to walk into the living room where Ryan was now staring at a few of his children’s pictures on the living room wall.

“Are you alright, Sam? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I am fine,” Ryan said and easily shrugged him away. He took a seat on one of the living room sofas and again stared at Ryan.

“Let me see what you’ve come up with so far,” he said and stretched out his hand to accept the notepad from him.

“This is a lot of people,” he said as he looked at the list. “If you don’t mind me asking, why did the two of you get a divorce?”

“Irreconcilable differences.”

“Not that I am a marriage counselor or anything but I’ve always thought there is nothing in this world that cannot be solved,” Sam said.

“Clearly you have never been married, Sam,” he said and let out a slight chuckle. Sam automatically noticed that was the only time he had laughed since his arrival at his place. He did a quick scan through the list of people he’d given him and liked that most of them already had addresses.

“This was very helpful,” he said before thinking a moment and wondering what else he was supposed to ask him.

“Another thing, Mr. Sutter,” he began on a more serious note. “I hope this is not too much but I am yet again forced to ask…”

“Ask away,” Ryan said.

“There may be a possibility that her body will not be recovered. Have you prepared yourself and your kids for that possibility?” Sam asked.

Ryan shifted his glance to the floor before trying to hold back his tears and slumping even more in his seat. He looked straight into Sam’s eyes and wiped away the stray tears that had escaped from the corners of his eyes.

“I hope we will get the body; as wicked as she was she deserves a proper burial,” he started to say. “If that doesn’t happen, I will hold a memorial for her and move on with life.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Sam agreed and took another deep breath and braced himself to ask more questions about his case.

After another half an hour of hard questions and very honest answers, Sam got to his feet and walked towards the door. Ryan was right behind him and he got the door for him.

“Again Mr. Sutter, I am very sorry for your loss,” Sam said.

“Thank you.”

Sam walked out on the porch and headed over to where he had parked his car. He opened the back door and placed his files and notebook there before opening the driver’s door and sliding in. He was just about to drive off when a large envelope caught his eye on the passenger’s seat and he immediately looked through its contents.

He felt agitated when he saw the photo they’d found at the crime scene and he remembered Lohan had specifically asked him to ask Ryan about it. He started to play with different apologetic words in his mind and felt very guilty about asking him more questions but was again distracted by a text message that made his phone vibrate.

“I hope you are on your way, I am hot and ready for you.”

Sam felt the familiar chill run up his back and this time did not bother to hold back the tears that swelled up in his eyes. He let his head rest carelessly on the steering wheel and succumbed to the pain he felt.

“How did I get myself into this?” he asked himself and let out more soft sobs before wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to collect himself. He got out of his car and began walking back to Ryan’s house with as much courage as he could muster.

He stood on the front porch and pondered whether or not he should take the time to ring the doorbell before going ahead and pressing it. He knew that Ryan would take a while to get downstairs and decided not to rush him.

He looked up into the night sky and loved how the stars were evenly distributed and scattered. He remembered when he was an innocent boy and used to believe in wishing on the first star he saw every night.

He decided to indulge in the familiar song as he waited for Ryan to get the door.

Star of wonder

Star so bright

Star with all your beauty and might

I wish I may I wish I might

Make the first wish I wish tonight

I wish he will not show up tonight

He sung this song inwardly to himself as he waited for Ryan to open the door.

“Hi again,” Ryan said from the other side. “Did you forget something?”

“As a matter of fact, I did, Ryan. Would you mind opening the door, please? Sam pleaded.

Ryan had not bothered to open the door after seeing it was Sam on the other side of his peephole.

Sam listened to Ryan play with the different locks and chains on the other side of the door and stood his ground patiently.

“What is it, Sam?” he asked once he swung the door open. He had a worried look on his face.

Sam took out the picture from the envelope and handed it to Ryan. He watched as his facial expression changed and he looked at Ryan curiously.

“Do you know who the woman in the picture is?”

Ryan looked at the picture again before returning his gaze back to Sam and worriedly returned it to him.

“Yes, I do.”

“You do?”

“Yes,” he answered simply.

“Who is it?” he asked.

“That my friend,” he answered slowly, almost in a whisper. “It’s a lady who goes by the name of Tracy Evans, she is my late ex-wife’s sister.”

The doorbell got Ryan’s attention as he sat on the living room sofa late that night. He’d had no sleep and was trying to find something to watch; he threw a glance at the wall clock and wondered who it could be at that time of the night. He got to his feet and walked over to the front door. He peeped through the peephole and wondered whether she had heard his footsteps walk to the door to see who it was.

“Ryan,” she called out from the other side. “I know you’re there!”

Ryan now knew he had to open the door and he reluctantly fumbled with the chains and locks of his front door. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her until his eyes landed on her ever-gorgeous, angelic body.

“Hello, Yvonne,” he said and locked her gaze with his.

“Ryan.”

He then stepped aside and ushered her into his apartment. He watched as she walked past him and caught a whiff of her familiar scent. His eyes followed her as she walked into the room and sat on the living room sofa. He locked the door behind him and walked over to where she was.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked her politely.

“Yes, anything to calm my nerves.”

“O.k.”

Ryan walked out of the living room and returned momentarily with two glasses of whisky in his hands. He handed her one and took a long sip of his before having a seat next to her.

They sat in an awkward silence, both staring at the television set but neither really watching what was on it.

“How are you holding up?”

“Best way I know how,” Ryan answered and took a sip from his glass again.

“You have lost weight.”

“Don’t be dramatic, Yvonne. You have not seen me for only two weeks.”

“My point exactly – you have lost a noticeable amount of weight in only two weeks,” she answered.

Ryan had no words for her and went on to sip his whisky. He was too proud to admit to himself that he loved the fact that she was there.

“Ryan.”

“Yes, Yvonne.”

“I hope this does not come off as selfish in any way but…” Yvonne hesitated before continuing. “Tell me how to be there for you in this situation.”

She paused to wait for his reaction and then kept going when she instead received a blank stare.

“You are grieving for another woman who you shared a life with and I do not know how to comfort you.”

Ryan noticed the discomfort and possible uncomfortable position that Yvonne was in and felt an ounce of guilt. He knew she loved her so much but couldn’t possibly understand what he was going through.

“This is what will happen,” he answered and took Yvonne’s hand in his. “You will have to learn how to listen to me during this time.”

“Finally found a way to nip my headstrong and stubborn attitude?” Yvonne asked back.

“I should thank Rita for that,” he chuckled slightly before resuming his serious tone. “There will be times when I will really want you to let me be by myself and you will have to respect that.”

“O.k.”

Yvonne threw a glance at her feet before placing a hand on Ryan’s thigh.

“So how can I help you today?”

Ryan did not answer her; he simply let his head rest on her chest before letting out soft sobs and crying his heart out. His body slowly succumbed to the different convulsions that were overwhelming his body and leaned into the grief. He took solace in the soft beating of her heart audible in her chest and finally succumbed to a deep slumber.

*****

Sam was parked at his apartment building and looked up at the fourth floor. His lights were out and he wondered whether to leave his car or not. He had not gotten any other text message from him and hoped he had gotten tired of waiting and opted to leave. He popped more tablets into his mouth and slowly opened the car door. His foot touched the ground and a sudden fear slowly overcame him. The place was quiet and deserted as it always was at this time of night. He had left Ryan Sutter’s residence and reported back to the station where he had buried himself in his work. He had totally ignored the phone calls and the texts that had come flooding in. He then left the office many hours after Lohan had and drove around town in circles as he tried to kill time. The texts had stopped coming and he hoped his silence had been taken for unavailability. He started walking towards his home and exchanged a few polite greetings with the different people who were still up at that time.