Olivia was all dressed. She had decided to finally go back to the office. She wasn't too enthusiastic about it though.
She heard her doorbell ring. She opened the door to find Mathew at the door. Mathew made his way into the living room without a word.
Olivia didn't know what had gotten over him. She followed him with her hand tight on her handbag.
"Can I help you?"
Mathew turned to face her. He took a deep breath.
"Tell me what you found out about Chris."
Said Mathew
Olivia looked back at the door then at Mathew. She then dropped her handbag on the couch.
Happy Harbour
Rachel pointing the knife at Jack, as though it was a gun. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Tell me why I shouldn't!" Cried Rachel
Jack's couldn't help himself. He too let his tears flow. He though of the life he had dreamt of for himself.
The perfect woman he had always wanted. Rachel was that perfect woman. He betrayed her regardless.
All for what? So that he could help a guy get richer. Jack regretted his career path. But he had no choice.
Jack began to remember the days he was young. He was graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. He had gone through campus like a normal teen. He had friends, he had a girlfriend! Things were normal until his twin showed up.
He hadn't seen Owen in five years. The two were separated during a slew of political violence. They had each gone their separate ways, not knowing when they would reunite.
Jack was happy to see his brother. Little did he know that Owen was no longer the person he knew. He was caught up with some bad people. People he called family.
Jack was unprepared for the life Owen had brought him into. He had to leave his life behind. His friends. His girlfriend.
Even though he had a choice in the matter It was hard for him not to blame Chris/Owen for ruining his life. But being mature as he was he kept his pain inside.
Jack thought of all this as Rachel was still threatening him. Jack knew that he would only be mourned by his brother this time.
The family Chris made for himself cared little for Jack. Jack despised them as well. Probably because, to Jack, they were responsible for corrupting his brother.
He thought of their mission in Old Town. It was supposed to be their last. After which Jack would have a normal life. How could he? Julie had long since moved on. The other woman he had ever loved was holding a knife at him.
There was nothing for him. He accepted his fate.
"Stop!" Shouted Rudolph,"I have a better plan for him."
Rachel dropped the knife and cried her way outside. Rudolph picked up the knife. He walked charismatically to Jack.
He was in a good mood, he was practically skipping his way to Jack. He placed the knife on Jack's chin.
He raised Jack's head to face directly at him.
"There's just one more thing. Then my plan would be complete." Said Rudolph
"You won't get what you want!" Said an exasperated Jack.
Rudolph laughed. He took a step back.
"Look at me! Can't you see? I'm already getting what I want."
"What is it that you want really?" Asked Jack
"I want to turn your world upside down. I want to turn everyone against you. Everyone you love. Everyone who loves you." He continued
Jack felt his strength sap away. He could feel the ropes were a bit loose. Loose enough to break free. But he didn't see why he should.
Rudolph went over to Rachel. He whispered in her ear."I know you still think he is the man you loved. He's not!" He hands her a note.
" What's this?"
"Here you'll find the truth. Of who he really is!"
Paper Mill
Off Old Harbour Road
Mandy's House
Mandy was seated on her couch. She stared at the contact list on her phone. She picked it up and clicked on David's number.
She went back to the list and clicked Mathew's number. She called him. She waited with bated breath.
She wasn't sure what she was going to say. She hoped she wouldn't need to say anything, Mathew would do all the talking.
Mathew picked up. Mandy was tongue tied. She managed to say, "Hello?"
"Mandy! I'm outside!" Replied Mathew.
Mandy quickly scurried to the window and looked outside. There! Mathew stood in all glory outside her door.
She hurried down stairs and opened the door. Before Mathew could say anything Mandy had locked him in an embrace.
It had been a week since she'd seen him. Mandy let him go and ushered him inside.
"I came bearing great news!" Said Mathew
Mandy was confused. What news could he be talking about? Was is about his trip to Kamiti?
"News about what?" Asked Mandy
"About Chris of course. I just came from Olivia's, she had been digging up about Chris's past. I am close to getting Chris out of the picture. "
Mandy tuned out. Mathew had returned the same as when he left. He was still hell-bent on getting Shea.
Mandy felt so stupid. To think she thought he had come to profess his love for her. Her heart began to feel heavy.
She recalled a scenario that took place when she was nineteen. It was the day Mathew broke up with her.
They were both heading home after coming from a restaurant. They were painfully quiet after a good dinner.
Mandy tried to get some conversation going but Mathew was not up to it.
Mandy could feel something was in Mathew's mind. Something was eating her up too.
She felt it was to be the night they took the next step in their relationship. She took him home that night.
They were up in her room. Mandy was ready. She knew what she wanted and she wanted Mathew.
Just when Mandy was heading for the kiss, Mathew stopped her.
"I think we should stop seeing each other." Said Mathew out of nowhere
"What! Why?" Said a confused Mandy
"I like you Mandy but I don't know if I could ever go there with you." There was a pause.
"I'm sorry but it's over."
Mathew got up slowly and left. Mandy was still seated. Still thinking about Mathew's words.
"What did I do wrong?" She said to herself.
"What did I do wrong?" She repeated
"What!" Asked Mathew.
Mandy looked around. She was in her house. Mathew was there. Her eyes were watery.
"What did I do wrong?"
"What are you talking about Mandy? You didn't do anything wrong." Said a confused Mathew
Mandy had her back to Mathew. Mathew placed his hand on her shoulder. Mandy turned to him.
"Then why did you want to break up?"
Mathew's face frowned,"Ooh Mandy!"
Chris's Apartment
Chris reclined on his old couch. He hadn't been there in a while; since he moved to Shea's.
"So what is really wrong with her?" Asked Patrick
Chris sat upright to receive the cold beer Patrick got for him. Patrick sat back. He was all ears.
"She witnessed the death of her father. She hid in the closet as her father was shot in the head." Said Chris
"Holy Shit. How old was she?" Asked Patrick
"Twenty two. It pained her that she couldn't do anything to help her father."
"So she became more involved in her father's company? How come she didn't have trauma?"
"She did. Her psychiatrist helped her get over it. That's when she got involved in the company."
"So why are the memories resurfacing now?" Patrick's face straightened up.
A child appeared from another room. She was three years old. She had just woken up. She wobbled to Patrick.
"Daddy!"
Patrick picked her up and placed her on her laps. The child put her arms around her father.
Patrick's mouth was open. Chris could see the gap between his lower incisors.
"Was it because of what we did?" Asked Patrick genuinely concerned
Chris sighed and made a face. Patrick needed no answer.
"Oh My God. What did we do?" Patrick whispered frantically.
"We did nothing. The mugging was necessary. It served its purpose. We couldn't have known there would be lingering effects."
"Jack's the one who studied this psychology crap!" Shouted Patrick in a hushed voice," He should have known! "
" It wasn't Jack's idea." Chris paused," It was mine. "
Happy Harbour
"How does it feel, Jacob? How does it feel to know that your life has surmounted to nothing?"
Jack knew the question was rhetorical but he still answered in his heart."Not good". He was ready for whatever came.
Rachel came back inside.
"Feeling better?" Asked Rudolph
"I'm OK. What do you plan on doing with him?" Asked Rachel
"Make him pay for what he did to us."
There was a loud bang. Rudolph looked towards the exit to see his men on the ground.
One of them had fallen on a metal sheet causing the noise.
"Roy! Rodgers!"
Three men appeared with guns.
"Release him!" One of them declared
Jack fiddled with the ropes. Rachel was trembling. She wasn't sure what was happening. Rudolph was angry. He took out his gun.
No sooner had he pointed the gun at them than he dropped dead. Jack got free he pounced on Rachel and brought her down.
"Stay down!" He whispered to her as he eyed Rudolph's gun.
Jack got up. The trio were before him.
"You got yourself in quite a mess Jack!" Said the bulky one, his name was Kaniki.
"Your brother was worried about you!" Said Babu the scrawny one
"The bitch is still alive!" Declared Edwin, completing the unholy trifecta.
They all aimed at her. Jack stepped in front of her.
"Leave her alone. She doesn't have anything to do with this." Said Jack
"We're the clean up. We are here to clean up your shit." Edwin spat venomously, he clearly had anger issues
Jack could see there was no reasoning with those three. They came to do one job and one job only. Kill everyone; the rescue part would work itself out after.
Jack knew this from the start. He was prepared. He knew even if they would let her go then, they would just follow up and killer her elsewhere. There was only one way the scenario could play out with Rachel coming out alive in the end. He thought of what that would mean for him. He thought of the consequences that would befall him. But this was Rachel's life!
Bang! Bang! Bang! The three stooges were dead. Jack dropped the gun on the ground.
"What have you done?" Retorted Rachel as she got up. She didn't think he was capable of taking a life.
"Saved your life?"
"Do you expect a thank you!"
Mandy's House
"It was almost ten years ago." Mathew said," Why does it matter now?"
Mandy had control of herself now. She had stopped tearing up but her voice still had a hint of crying in it.
"Because I never truly got over it. We were so perfect together, at least to me. Now tell me why you broke up with me"
Mathew sighed heavily. He knew Mandy wouldn't settle for anything less than the truth. He didn't even know if he had it.
"I broke it off because you were an experiment. " Revealed Mathew
"What do you mean, experiment?"
"I wanted to test my capabilities. I was just that guy who had big dreams but was always afraid to ask out a girl. When I asked you to be my girlfriend I didn't think you would accept. But you did. I used that scenario coupled with what I knew you liked and what you didn't and made myself a good boyfriend. For that time, I had confidence. I wasn't afraid anymore."
"And so you didn't have use for me anymore" interjected Mandy
"I didn't say that!"
"You didn't have to!"
Mandy got up. She walked to the window and faced outside. She actually felt a bit better.
"You should go!"
"Mandy?" Mathew rose, he looked really sad
"Just go Mathew. I need to be alone now."
Mathew dragged himself out. He didn't want to leave but he didn't want Mandy to make a scene.
He knew things weren't going to be the same again.
Shea's House
Shea walked into a room at the furthest end of the hallway. It was her father's room. She had never gone in since that night.
She had tried to call her psychiatrist but she had moved out of town. She couldn't reach her with her old number.
Shea opened the door slowly and and entered. She switched on the lights. She made her way to the closet.
She opened it and crouched on the floor. She closed the closet doors and peeped through the facets.