THE SILENT KILLER

THE SILENT KILLER

CHAPTER 33

It's the third day in a row since Ruby's phone became unreachable.
I've been trying her number but I always get the same response.
I'm beginning to have a bad feeling about everything.
What if something bad happened to her?
I shove those thoughts out of my mind.
I realise that I've never asked for her address, nor her parents' address.
All I remember is that she told me she stays in an apartment away from her parents.

I ask Don when he comes back that evening whether he knows anything about her other her parents' where about.
His reply is cold.
"If she doesn't want to be found, you don't have to look for her. I warned you against her, now see! She has left you high and dry, when your friendship was blossoming...."
He looks at me one last time, a wicked smile registered on his face.
"Damn it Don! You can't even help me trace her!"
He's nowhere in sight.

After dinner, I'm still busy trying her phone to no avail.
"What if she doesn't want to be found?"  I ask myself severally.

I settle on the couch, ignoring Don who's eyes are pleading with me to follow him upstairs.

It's long since I watched news and I'm far much behind in the happenings in my country.
I pick the remote and flip though the channels, then settle on the most loved broadcasting channel.
The anchors are busy reading their news when suddenly there's an heading for BREAKING NEWS in bold capital letters.
"What has happened now?"
I ask myself....
"THE BODY OF A YOUNG LADY AROUND TWENTY YEARS HAS BEEN FOUND DANGLING ON A ROPE IN HER APARTMENT. THE BODY OF THE LADY WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS RUBY THOMAS WAS FOUND MINUTES AGO AND IT'S PERCEIVED THAT  SHE COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER BEING DUMPED BY HER BOYFRIEND. THIS IS THE NOTE SHE HAD LEFT BEHIND...."

My mouth is agape. The pictures on the screen can't be a mistake. It's the same Ruby my darling friend. Why did this have to happen. But she had told me she isn't dating leave alone having a boyfriend!
To say I am shocked, will be an understatement. I'm beyond myself with grief.
The scream I let out sends Don running down the stairs.
"What's it Donna?  What happened?"
I'm unable  to speak. I just point at the TV screen, sobbing louder than before.
"Ladies and their drama. This small issue is making you to cry like someone has beaten you?"
His words hit me like a tornado.
I dry my eyes and look at him.
His gaze shifts back to the TV screen.
He's avoiding my eyes.
Guilt is written all over his face.
Did this man kill my friend?
"Don!"
I call out his name.
He springs up from the couch as if he has been stung by a bee.
"You startled me love!"
"Why are you acting all guilty? Don't tell me you killed this young girl!"
" No.... Yes.... I mean how can you accuse me of such a crime? I wasn't even interested in her?"
He defends himself.
"You don't have to be interested in someone for you to murder them! Don! Don! Let what I'm thinking be untrue!"
He looks at me then heads back to the bedroom.
I'm so pissed if right now such that I feel like spitting his skull.
He better be innocent because if he isn't, I will leave his ass and give him out to the authorities.
I pass out on the couch after helping myself with a bottle of tequilla.
Pam is the one who brings me back to life, waking me up to have my breakfast.
The events of last night comes flowing back and I burst out in tears when I remember my dear Ruby.
If Don happens to be behind her killing, then I have to stop Emy the tutor from coming because she might face the same predicament.
Why is Don so overprotective?
I rush upstairs to refresh then come back to have breakfast.
Don is not in bed.
I hear him speaking over the phone in the study.
I tiptoe to the door and I can hear him clearly.
"Hope you didn't leave any evidence behind Fox!"
Fox is one of his hooligans whom he uses for his dirty jobs.
I can't hear the other side of the conversation.
"My wife has started suspecting me. The girl was a bad influence to her
She was putting ideas into her illiterate skull. If she ain't careful, I shall do away with the tutor as well.... "
I push the study door and  cut him amid sentence...
" I knew it Don! I knew you are the murderer here. Why? Why did you do it?"
The tears are flowing freely from my eyes.
I'm seething with rage.
"Look here Donna, that girl was bad influence to you. She's better dead than living!"

" Listen to yourself Don! Why are you this heartless? I'm so leaving your ass. I'm leaving this God forsaken bungalow.
I won't stay here waiting for my death."
" You're going nowhere Donna!"
"Try stopping me asshole and I will kill myself here in your bedroom!"
I bang the door behind me and rush to the bedroom.
I throw a few clothes in my suitcase and when I turn to leave, Don is standing on the door, hands crossed over his chest.
"I know I've messed up big time Donna. What can I do to redeem myself?"
" Turn yourself to the police and rot in jail fool. You disgust me you murderer!"
I don't give a damn whether he's dangerous or not.
I'm determined to leave and he won't stop me. If he does, I will harm myself before he gets the pleasure to do so.
I push him out of the door and while at the stairs, I shout;
"You can give out the rest of my clothes to the children home murderer!"

Getting out of the house is easier than I thought.
Drake tries to stop me but Don who is behind me tells them to let me go.
I'm still crying and I wasn't able to bid goodbye to Pam.
I promise myself that I will call her once I settle somewhere.
At first, I thought Don will make an effort to stop me but he knew better than doing so because I'd have shown him pepper.
I throw a last glance at what has been my home for the last one year and I can't help but feel remorse for leaving.
Pam is at the door,  waving at me. I wave back and as the gate closes behind me, I give out a heavy sigh of relief.
Gabriel can come and kidnap me for all I care....