chapter 10

Rita’s story

I don’t know for how many hours I was passed out. I sensed a strong blow at the back of my head and everything went black. Now I am kept captive, blindfolded and scared God knows where. My hands are tied behind my back and I was sitting on a chair I was also tied to. The rope had hurt my hands and my feet as I was trying to free myself.

All I remember was my charity event and the huge and meaningless fight I had with Miron. The kind of questions he asked me and the way he was looking at me, with pain, got me into this mess. I have to stay focused and alert so I could figure out who my kidnapper is. Because one thing I know for sure in this awkward situation is that I have been kidnapped.

I could smell some mold so I must be in a warehouse or something. The air is so thick and I have problems breathing. For a few hours I was alone but suddenly some footsteps alerted my already scared senses. The sound of some high heels shoes came closer and closer. It is like I heard that sound somewhere before in my life.

-          Well, well, well! Who do we have here? If it isn’t Miss Rita Sinclair!

-          I know you!

Her voice! It sounds so familiar. Bur where have I heard that voice before?

-          I bet you do! I spend a life time trying to make you disappear from fashion world. I almost succeed, but this man, Miron Hauser interfered. How inopportune.

-          What do you mean you almost succeeded?

-          Let me refresh your mine Miss knows it all! Remember that night and that highway? Even that car coming towards you with no brakes.

-          Oh my God, it was you! You murdered my sister you crazy lunatic!

-          Me who? Say my name you little brat!

A cold hand grabbed my chin holding it up and with one move she removed my blind fold from my eyes. It took me some time to adjust to that almost dark place. A few rays of sun were trying to break through the wooden wall. As my sight got used to the environment I was shocked to realize the one who kept me captive.

-          Sarah Johnson?

-          In the flesh, honey!

-          But why? Why this hatred against me?

-          Just business, nothing personal. But first I need to call your Miron and worry him a little. What do you say?

-          I say you are crazy you…

I never got the chance to finish what I had to say that she slapped me right in the face leaving a pain so hard to endure. I fell on my back and injured my ribs. A scream left my throat for the amusement of this mean woman. I never thought that she had such resent towards me. Maybe if we could talk, in the past, we could have got to an agreement.

-          Don’t call me names or I will finish you on the spot!

-          Then do it and get over with!

-          Oh, not so fast my little white dove. First I have to take some advantage of you. How about, 5 million dollars.

-          You are nuts! Who is going to give you all that money?

-          Well, if he knows what is best for you, your knight in his shining armor, if he claims he loves you

-          I will never allow that!

-          If you want to die, suit yourself.

Dying, now that is a feeling way to scary; if I could just convince her that we should make some kind of a pact. I don’t remember that much from my previous life at the company. To be honest I thought Sarah and I were friends. How wrong I was. Now I am in danger who knows where. I am sure Miron, Peter and Sam are looking for me.

I heard the door slam so I closed my eyes trying to relax and don’t lose my head. If I could just find a way to warn Miron where I was, but I couldn’t communicate with anyone outside. It was getting a little chilly and I started to shiver uncontrollably. Images of what might happen to me were unfolding in my mind. I don’t have to panic if I want to get out of this alive.

Miron’s story

Two days have passed and still no sign of Rita. I was going crazy with worry. All my concerts were canceled for the next couple of months. God forbid it lasts that long. Maybe I should announce the police. The 72 hours have not yet passed but I need to call them and tell them what happened and if I can do that without the press interfering, the better.

I was still in my house but I am about to leave, not until I fix an appointment with Peter at the studio.

-          Hello, Peter this is Miron.

-          Hi Miron, you are coming?

-          I am, wait for me, we need to talk.

In approximately ten minutes I was at the recording studio. There Peter greeted me with a worried face.

-          Tell me you do have some news, anything about her.

-          I am sorry Pete, she is still missing.

I motioned for him to take a seat.

-          So what would be your next step?

-          Involve the police!

-          Now that is great news.

As we were talking my phone rang. No caller id. With a little reluctance I answered. The voice at the other end spoke before I did.

-          Hello, man of money!

-          Who is this?

-          You are in no conditions to ask questions, now shut up and listen. We have your beloved Rita and if you wish to ever see her sweet face again you would better cooperate. Do I make myself clear?

-          Who are you, you creep and what have you done to Rita?

Hearing her name Peter got up from his chair and started pacing the studio. He was making all sorts of sign about who was it on the phone or if Rita is safe and alive?

-          For now she is unharmed. But if you want to keep her that way you need to follow instructions, like in a game. Do you like games Mr Hauser?

-          What has this got to do with Rita?

-          Oh, but it does. You see, your Rita always played me in the past. She always thought to be better in everything. She never asked for my advice and if I had an idea she would question that idea until proven was no good. So your Rita knows how to play. Do you?

-          What kind of sick game is this?

-          If you think is a sick game then we can make it…game over…what do you say?

All I could hear was how the kidnapper loaded a gun and then Rita’s frightened voice.

-          Please, don’t hurt me!

She was alive, nice work Miron!

-          Wait, wait, I will play your stupid game.

-          I knew you would, just wait for my instructions. And no police involved!

Saying that the he or she interrupted the conversation

-          So, what happened? How is she? A game?

-          Slow down. The good part is that Rita is alive and I intend to keep her that way. This lunatic wants to play a game. I don’t know to whom I spoke, the voice was distorted.

-          I see…what kind of game?

-          I don’t know yet. I am trying to figure out who might this be. From what I was told Rita knows this person. It is someone from her past. He or she mentioned something about Rita played a nasty role in the love of this person.

-          What do you mean nasty?

-          Let me think…from what I know the only period that she remembers well was the time when she worked at Fashion Event Agency. Give me the laptop!

Peter handed me the laptop and I quickly opened it. Two clicks and I were on the company’s web page at their organizational chart. It was a long shot but still worth the try. I was very surprised when I realized that I was right. This is a major breakthrough.

-          Here, see?

-          What exactly am I looking at?

-          All the employees from the genitor to the CEO of Fashion Event are women. You know what that means?

-          Our kidnapper is a woman…

-          Most likely, Peter, most likely.

I took a step back wondering what kind of game I will be subjected to. It is hard to imagine but is harder to know how Rita is handling all this.

-          Still want to go to the police?

-          No, I was warned not to. I will do everything in my power not to endanger her life. I am waiting for the instructions.

We parted our ways after I gave Peter a ride home. He was just as worried as I was. We have a mad woman holding Rita against her will. I keep seeing in my mind images of her, how frightened she must be. Maybe she is hungry or cold.

All the way to my house was filled with such terrible thoughts. I wish I could just have a power to save her and leave all this behind us. It is like I am leaving a bad dream. As soon as I got home, I took my phone out and call Samantha.

-          Hi Sam…

-          Miron, friend, how are you?

-          Imagine Sam, I am torn apart. I would have never thought something like that could happen to her. Why her?

-          Maybe someone hates her so much to hurt her and by doing that takes revenge on you.

-          I don’t have enemies Sam I think it is someone from the fashion agency where she used to work.

-          Are you sure? Like one hundred percent sure?

-          Not that sure. All I know is that in that company work only women and it appears after the talk I had today with the kidnapper that she used to work there as well.

-          The kidnapper called you?

-          Yes…

-          Why didn’t you start with that? So what do you have to do?

-          A game…

-          What do you mean a game?

-          Apparently because Rita played some company games with the one who took her, that one person wants revenge.

-          Oh my God! So what are you going to do?

-          Nothing, I will play the game.

My voice echoed in my entire house, that how angry I was. How can it be possible that you can kidnap someone and you get to play with their life? I have been scared the first time I meet Rita at the accident when she was close to dying. Now history repeats itself in the worst kind of way. I have to act in the most calculated way. I won’t let anything happen to Rita if it is the last thing I will do.