Obsession (6 page)

“Monica, I like you very much, but I do not love you,” he said firmly, looking right into her eyes.

“Liar!  Liar!  You are a liar...”Monica started yelling, and Rick saw the neighborhood houses starting to come to life.  Many lights went on, and Rick was forced to open the door, and let Monica in.

What happened next Rick had no control over.  It’s like his body had become possessed because even as his mind was screaming at him to stop, he was moving forward.  His fingers brushed over Monica’s lips, and he watched how she parted them slightly with a light gasp.  Monica’s eyes widened, as she stood, frozen, staring into Rick’s eyes.   Slowly, tentatively, her tongue slid out, touching Rick’s fingertip, drawing them into her mouth, sucking gently.

Rick let loose a strangled moan, and Monica let Rick’s fingers slide out with a light pop.

“Rick…” she breathed, as if afraid that if she spokes any louder, the bubble that was surrounding them would burst.

“Monica,” Rick suddenly choked, and was moving back.  Running away from her.  Running away from this.  But before he could get far enough, Monica’s hand was wrapped around Rick’s wrist, and he was being spun around effortlessly.  Her eyes were burning with anger, frustration, and need.  “Don’t even think about running away from me, Rick.”

Rick felt the fear return, but he was helpless to resist her.  Then Monica was kissing him, and Rick cannot think anymore.  All the air inside his lungs was being sucked out, and he suddenly realized that he had embraced her.  When did it happen?  When did he go from getting away from Monica to needing to be closer?  Monica was pulling his shirt up, and her hand was burning his skin.  Rick tried to push her away, but only ended up pulling her closer.  He tried to stop kissing her, but only kissed her deeper.  And then Rick realized that he could not stop, and with that realization he nearly collapsed.  

While Rick was busy wondering how all this was even possible, Monica had been busy getting off his shirt.  A moment later, she pushed Rick’s black against the nearest wall.

“Stop,” he said, and Monica hesitated, looking wildly at Rick, uncertain if stopping now would mean stopping forever.  Rick just licked his lips and whispered. “I was serious when I said that our relationship is over.”

“This does not look over to me,” she mocked him.

“I am sorry, but it is over...”

*********************************

Chapter 8

“I would never leave him in the hands of another woman...” 
Monica’s Diary
.

Allison woke up in Rick’s arms, and it was both shocking and familiar, when Rick braced himself with a hand next to her head and kissed her.  The kiss was delicate as a snowflake, and as wild as the storm that came last night over the city.

Allison did not remember ever wanting this, and she did not remember ever not wanting it.  She knew that they were already too close, but there was nothing on the earth that could make her stop.  She knew that whatever else happened, by the time it all ended, they would be closer than ever.  The physical act would only cement the connection that already existed between them, coloring everything in bright and beautiful hues.  Monica and whatever her plans were would never understand what real love was.

Rick finally pulled away, resting his forehead against Allison’s.  They stood like that for a long time, too shattered to move.  He wrapped a hand around the back of Allison’s neck and squeezes gently, until she opened her eyes and looked at him.  They were naked, sweaty, and still exhausted, but Allison did not care. 

She relaxed against Rick’s embrace, but remained wide awake, senses on alert, wanting to remember this moment forever.  That lasted long enough, at least until Rick felt Allison’s lips mouthing his neck.  His eyes went wide, and suddenly all his focus zeroed on the warm point of contact between their bodies.

“Allison? What are you doing?”  Allison’s lips left his skin long enough to whisper, “Can’t sleep,” and then they went back to mouthing and kissing Rick’s flesh.

“Don’t you think we should get some more rest?”

“Why?”

“Today will be a long and hard day.”  Rick tried to disentangle their limbs, but only succeeded in sliding lower on the bed, dragging Allison with him.

“We would have enough time to rest later,” Allison’s voice was entirely too persuasive for anyone’s good, and she moved her lips to Rick’s jaw, and started edging towards his mouth.

Rick’s voice wavered as his body responded to Allison’s touch instinctively, as if it were wired to come alive beneath her hands and lips. 

“I know you want it,” Allison whispered, voice made of sin, moist breath against Rick’s ear.

“I am not denying it...”he responded in the same hushed voice.

The next hour went on unnoticed, as they kissed, licked, and touched each other with all those feelings they still refused to speak about.  It was still too early for them to get up, but there was no way that they were going back to sleep.

“Do you think that they will find Monica?” Allison asked out of the blue, once their breathing was back to normal.

“I hope so...,” was all Rick said.

“I want this to be over... I cannot imagine my life this way anymore.  I think Monica is dangerous,” Allison expressed her fears.  She had thought about that long and hard in the last few hours, and had determined that Monica’s actions were part of some kind of sick plan.

The woman was obviously crazy, but there was some order in all that craziness.  She had started with phone calls and messages, making sure that there was no doubt who was sending them, and then had attempted to deal with Allison in person, but this time privately.  Monica knew the risks she was taking, but her goal was worth taking them.

Allison recognized her behavior as that of a confused woman, who searched for love, but was mistaking the feelings inside her.  It was impossible for her still to think that Rick was in love with her, but her own obsession was blinding her.

“I know you want that, I want it to... but, it is out of our control.  I am sure the police will find her and put everything in place.”  Rick caressed her cheek and gently kissed her lips, as if the physical contact would put more weight on his words.

“She is intelligent and very determined person, Rick.  I think that the police will find difficulty in dealing with her.  Do not underestimate a woman in love,” Allison insisted, although she wanted him to be right.

“Love?!  Do you really call her feelings love?  Whatever Monica is feeling towards me it is not love, that is for sure.”  Rick spoke softly, but the anger was evident in his words.

“I know, but she thinks that it is love, and at the moment that is all that matters.”

“Okay, that is enough talk about Monica.  Let’s now talk about us.  What do you want to do during the upcoming holiday?  Do you have something in mind or...?”  Rick asked cheerfully.

“You are out of your mind, but okay...  I would like to go back to the ski resort.  I had a lot of fun the last time there...”  Allison played along, happy to forget at least for a moment about all their problems.

“Did you?  Tell me, why is that?”

“I met a very special person there.  Do you want me to tell you about him?”

And just when Rick was going to ask her more about that special person, the doorbell rang and their sweet intimate morning ended abruptly.

*********************************

Chapter 9

“This is a quote from Goethe:
Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate
.” 
Monica’s Diary
.

“Who can it be so early in the morning?” Rick wondered, while rising from the bed and dressing in a pair of sweatpants.

When he opened the door, two police officers were standing at his porch, looking very serious and alarmed at him.

“Mr. Hamilton, you need to come with us to the station,” the older policeman said politely.

“Why?” was all Rick could say.

“There has been a development with Mr. Mike Smith’s case.  The detectives found some new evidence on his body that points at you, sir,” the officer explained.

“Am I arrested?”  Rick asked, feeling the panic rising inside him.

“No, sir.  We were sent to bring you back to the station for some questioning.”

“Can I dress first, then?” Rick looked down at his pants, and the officer shook his head in agreement.  “Okay then, please come inside.”

Both policemen thanked him, and walked behind Rick inside the house, where Allison was waiting for an explanation.

“What is going on?  Did they find her?” she asked.

“No, but the police found some evidence that obviously points at me.  They are taking me back to the station to question me.”  Rick tried to stay calm, to give her the strength he was not feeling.  Allison had gone through enough, and he did not want her to worry about him.  “I am sure it is nothing and once I answer their questions, I will come home.”

“God, Rick, I am so sorry.”  She threw herself at him, and embraced him tightly.  “I will straighten everything out.  I promise you, everything will be okay,” she murmured frantically near his ear.

“I know, Allison, I know.  Now I need to get ready, please offer something to drink to the officers.”

After half an hour, she watched him climb into the police car and drive towards the police station.  She waited for the car to disappear, and then run inside the house.  Monica had finally managed to make her angry.  Now it was one woman against the other – no more half-truths and hidden emotions.  Allison was determined to end this story now, and bring Monica to justice.

At the other part of the town, Rick entered the police station still feeling a little insecure and afraid.  His mind was telling him that whatever it was the police found, he would be able to explain it to them.  But, on the other hand, his emotions were taking the better of him, and making him sweat and fear the unknown.

“Mr. Hamilton,” the officer, assigned to the Mike’s case greeted him once he stepped into the interrogation room.  “Sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, but we have a few important questions for you.”

Detective Martinez watched the young man sit down, looking nervous and worried.  He understood him, and once again wondered if he had something to do with the death of Mike Smith.  The evidence they found might be there per pure chance, or it could even be planted, but he still did not know the facts. 

This case has been confusing from the very beginning, and he had to start from the very beginning.  This man had come to the precinct to give a statement even before the evidence against him was found, something that few criminals do.  But he looked highly intelligent, so that might have been part of his plan.

“Mr. Hamilton, we found your business card inside Mr. Smith’s pocket. How would you explain that?”  The detective asked calmly, looking at the other man carefully.

“I have no idea,” Rick answered immediately, looking confused.  “Sunday night was the first time I saw Mike after we graduated from college, and even then, we only say
hi
to each other.  I have no idea how he had come into possession of my business card.”

“What would you say your relationship with the victim was?” the detective continued.

“I would not call it a relationship,” Rick said.  “We were rivals in college, and after that our paths separated for good.”

“Where were you Sunday night and Monday morning?”

“I was home with my girlfriend, Allison.  After the wedding, we went straight home, and never left again, until late into the morning.”

“I understand that Mr. Smith left the wedding with your ex-girlfriend, right?”

“Yes, she came uninvited to the party, and made a show of seducing him and leaving with him.  As I already said in my statement, she has been stalking me and my girlfriend for a few weeks now.  I am sure she went for Mike just to make me jealous, as she was aware of our past rivalry.”

“And was she successful in making you jealous?” the detective insisted.

“No, I filed for a restraining order against the woman; all I wanted was for her to leave me alone.”

“Was she in possession of your business card?”

“I do not know for sure, but it is probable that she had some.  We worked together on a legal case, and went out for a while.  I suppose she could have easily taken as many of my business cards as she wanted.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hamilton, this is it for now.  But if you remember something more about this matter, please contact me immediately.”  Detective Martinez stood up, and opened the door for the man to exit.  He still had his doubts, but there was no solid evidence against him, and a card would not hold up in court.

The case was going nowhere, and the only solid lead they had was this Monica, who seemed to have disappeared.  The whole precinct was under pressure, and his captain was asking for quick results.  He needed something solid, and he needed it now.

*********************************

Chapter 10

“To show someone how much you love him, you need to take action and make him see, even if he prefers to stay blind.” 
Monica’s Diary
.

Allison waited for Rick’s call, and listened carefully to his story about the business card and his probable involvement in the murder.  She felt anger and fear mix inside her at the thought of what could happen now.  She was sure that Monica stood behind all this, but the police would act only on real evidence.

The only way for Rick to be cleared of all suspicions was for Monica to take responsibility for her action.  And that could happen only if she was arrested and questioned by the police.  She needed to make Monica come out of her hiding place, and there was only one way to do so – Allison had to become the bait.