Linda was long gone. Raymond paid her a thousand dollars for her “cheap” services and let her go. She thanked him profusely and said I was going to cover a lot for her. Good riddance, but at least, she was good in bed. And she was also without a job.
He rolled out of his king-sized bed and slipped into the bathroom. Room service got him the softest, cotton towel he had always used.
He got to the roof and waited, thinking of what to do next. He needed to be strategic to know what next to do and how to tackle with the so-called people who slapped him behind his back. He would take care of Roselle in due course. All he needed was to focus on the people who broke his nose and designed his face with bruises.
And his so-called best friend, Pete.
He searched through his contact and searched for his father’s contact—Mr. Kane. It was still like a dream hat the richest man in the city with the highest connection was his father. He needed to find out what happened to him at the forest, and why. All those, he thought, would come along the way.
His phone was still cracked at the edge and he hadn’t still changed it. He would probably order on A****n to do rather than going into the shop because he had a lot of things to take care of.
“Hello, son,” his father said into the phone. His voice was rich, filled with emotion as he spoke to his long-lost son.
“Hi, Father.” Saying “Father” was weird in his mouth. He had yearned for a connection to someone. A family member or a friend. For a long time, he had no one but a best friend that stabbed him behind his back.
“How are you doing? When are you going to come back home? I really do need to see you. It’s been a long time.” His father’s voice was rushed, expectant.
Raymond still had a vague memory of everything that happened before he was found in the forest, but he needed to treat the present, and later, he would focus on the past.
“Father, I will be back soon. I have a lot of things to handle here.” Raymond peered across his roof, enjoying the scenery.
“Typical Raymond,” his father snorted. “Why did you call?”
“I need a private investigator. There are some people I need to check out. Do you have one?”
His father chuckled. “Of course. Every rich man has one to track down their rivals and be at the top of their rivalry. I will send him a message that my son needs him and I will send you his contact. Pease come home soon, we have a lot to talk about.”
Raymond nodded. “Thank you. I will see you as soon as I finish with business.”
“No problem. Your brother is so expectant.”
Raymond’s eyes twitched, shocking hitting him square in the face. “A brother? I have one? You know what? Just forget it. We will talk more when I return.”
“Sure.”
Then, the line went dead. Few minutes later, his phone pinged with a number and a note that stated “PI”.
He didn’t hesitate to dial the number, making a mental note to order a new phone. The line rang once and when the receiver picked, the man’s raspy voice rang in his ears. “Glenn Jacobs on the line. What do you want done? I am not a hired assassin, so I don’t carry death threat plots.”
“Raymond Kane on the line. And what is that about hired assassins?”
Glenn exhaled. “Oh, that. Some people call me asking me to kill a particular person like they didn’t search ‘private investigator’ on G****e before placing a call. That’s by the way. Your father called me and said you need me. Truth is, he has been on the lookout for you since the past two years. Was one of the people who he assigned to find you, I’m glad he found you anyway. What do you want?”
“I need you to track down someone—or a group of people—for me. Can you come down to that hotel that’s secluded for the rich. I kind of have forgotten the name, but you know which I’m talking about. I want us to have a proper discussion.”
Glenn Jacobs laughed. “I also do not know the name but know what you’re talking about. Meet you in five minutes.”
Five minutes later, the landline in his room rang. He picked it up and a woman’s cheery voice rang in the background. “Mr. Kane, there is—”
“Let him in,” he cut her up. Not only was she trying to flirt with him, she was also taking up his time.
His doorbell rang and he opened the door. A man in his fortes with an awesome body—nice abs, protruding biceps, and a straight jawline—stood at the door. He looked like a weatherman as his salt and pepper hair grew down to his shoulder. He wore a pair of jeans and T-shirt, and a matching beanie. Not the PI Raymond was expecting.
“Glenn Jacobs,” he said in his New Yorker accent. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Raymond Kane,” Raymond returned warmly. “Please come in.”
Glenn Jacobs walked into the luxurious room that had its own bar and king-sized bed, and a roof. They climbed up to the roof where the evening breeze took them over.
“Great view,” Glenn said, peering down at nature and moving cars.
“I can’t agree more.” Raymond toppled Glenn’s drink and passed it to him. “Back to work.”
“Yes, that,” Glenn snorted. “Who are you trying to find?”
Raymond sighed. “I don’t know a name.”
“Maybe a picture could help? Everyone is active on social media now, even sixty-year-old grandpas. So, maybe, a picture could help.”
Raymond sighed again, sipping his Whiskey. “That’s the problem. I don’t have any link to them. Am only in search of them because of how reckless and insulting they became. Let me tell you the full story.”
Glenn leaned in while Raymond narrated everything that had transpired between him and the creditors of ten thousand dollars. Ten, few minutes later, that same money was robbed.
“They are the same people,” Glenn lectured. “I’ve heard cases where creditors give out money only to come behind the debtors back to steal it.”
“Yes,” Raymond blew out.
“How can we track these people if you don’t know what they are?” Glenn grunted.
“I know what they look like. Can you sketch them out?”
“Yes.” Glenn unzipped his backpack and brought out a pencil and a notepad. “I can do that.”
Raymond remembered vaguely the features of the man that lent him the money. He remembered the lots of tattoos that designed his hands and the gold premolar of the thinner man. Glenn sketched as he described, then they came up with a full picture of two men.
Glenn turned the picture to Raymond. “Do they look like this?”
Raymond glanced at the picture, remembering a week ago when he owned nothing but his wife. He remembered wanting to please someone whose needs were not satiated. That was what led him to those two demeaning men even though the second, thin man looked like a skinny model.
“I want you to find out. They’ll pay for what they did to me.” Raymond cracked his knuckle and the steam from him fury could burn the papers into ashes.
“Okay, Mr. Kane. You re just like your father. I will do as you say.” Glenn folded the paper into four squares and dipped it into his pocket. “I’ll give you updates on what I find. I’ll send their home address to you in case you need it.”
Raymond chuckled. “That’s good.”
Glenn stood up to go, but he turned back. “Who did you say connected you to these guys?”
“Pete,” Raymond answered.
Glenn stroked his chin. “Pete has a hand in this too, I suppose.”
Raymond spoke through gritted teeth. “He’d better not because he has enough sins to pay for already.”
Glenn nodded and left the suite. Raymond took the last swig from his glass. Everything was piecing by itself. He had one thing to face: Roselle.
Then, Pete.
And he had the perfect plan for it.
He had just come up with the right plan. Raymond held the rails of the roof and thought of how he was going to handle things. Everyone deserved second chances and so did Roselle. Maybe, she hadn’t planned on divorcing him and was probably drunk. Pete may have gotten into her head.It was morning, her birthday. He took him bath and tried on one of his old clothes. He had gotten a change of wardrobe so he wasn’t going to activate it, yet. He pulled out a fading pair of tuxedo and threw on his body. He slid his old, cracking phone into his pocket and called a driver.His father sent a Lamborghini to come pick him, but he returned it and requested for a Honda Civic. So, he waited till he saw a blue car pulling up at the driveway.“Mr. Kane,” the man greeted. “Where do you want to go?”“Take me to any jewel shop you know.” Raymond said.From the driver’s face at the rearview mirror, he was stunned at how Raymond dressed regardless of his wealth. “Got a girl?” he asked.“I’m trying to win he
Chapter 8As he walked out of the ceremony, he could feel a rush of pride swelling in his chest. Finally, people knew who he was. This was only the beginning of his rise to fame, and yes the genesis of mental tormenting for Roselle. As he got into the car, he noticed people on the street taking pictures of him. He could barely believe what he was seeing. It didn't take long for the pictures to start circulating online, accompanied by captions like "Missing billionaire's son found!" and "Finally, a clue in the mystery."His ride pulled up to the hotel, and as he stepped out, he was met with the curious stares of people on the street. He could tell they were wondering why a man dressed in what some might call "rags" was walking into such a luxurious hotel. Some of the staff recognized him and gave him a warm smile, while others looked at him with suspicion. None of their stares seemed to bother him as he made his way into the elevator, where he found himself sharing the space with a m
Chapter 9As the car sped through the city streets, the ride was bumpy and the driver expertly weaved through the traffic. Suddenly, the car came to a stop at a traffic jam."Sir, there's a traffic jam," the driver said, looking over his shoulder at Raymond, who was deep in thought. "We might be here for a while."But Raymond didn't respond. He was lost in his own world, replaying the events of the past few weeks in his mind. He couldn't believe that Roselle had actually begged for his attention. It seemed like something out of a dream. The memory of Roselle weeping played over and over in his mind. He had never seen her so broken before. But the memory of her calling him classless was even more painful. "You're more of a shame than a husband to me," she had said. "This ring is like a handcuff to me."And now, she was blaming Pete and her parents for her actions. How could she blame anyone but herself? He knew the truth - that she had made her own choices, and they had led to this mo
Chapter 10The scorching sun was high up inside bathing the pedestrians in its harsh rays. My ride pulled up at the hospital, there I came down. I paid for a bouquet of flowers, that was the least I could do.I headed into the hospital, the cold breeze Washing me.“Am I late? ” I asked the receptionist, a warm smile plastering on my face.“6 minutes late, sir. ” she said, fixing her gaze on the laptop." But, I'll let it slide. ”" Thank you. ” I replied, rushing into the elevator.The elevator door closed, sealing me in its metallic box. I pressed the button to the third floor and the elevator ascended slowly.I stepped out of the elevator, the air was damp with the smell of antiseptics and the cloying odor of the hospital food. Nurses and doctors moved in the hallway, each busy to notice the other.I opened the door, my eyes darted round the corner of the room in search of him. The room was quite a spacious one, silence dreading in. The silence of the room was occasionally punctu
Chapter 11Of course, that was the plan. She was playing right into my trap. " I'll do whatever you wish for. Just spit it out. ” she leaned close, eagerly waiting for me to speak." I don't think you can fulfill my wish.” I replied, rolling my eyeballs." Try me, Raymond. You want money? How many millions? Spit it out, Raymond. ” she said, tears strolling down her cheek. A sly smile played on my lips. I looked into her eyes, my voice barely a whisper.I snapped my fingers and in a few seconds the driver came rushing in with some files.He kept it on the table and excused himself into the car." Sign those, will you? ” I commanded, the venom in my voice making the request look like a threat.“ What are these? ” she asked, pointing at the files. She picked it up and threw a glance at it. Her gaze captured some words, she looked at me and for a moment, she drifted from her sober mode into a puzzled state. Her facial expression said it all. “ You can't do this Raymond. At Least not to m
I was thrown into a state of confusion after I heard someone speaking behind me. I turned to the direction the voice came from, only to see a lady staring at me. Her face was pale, void of any emotion. She wore a long dark gown, her hands covered by dark gloves. One could mistake her as the grim reaper." What do you mean he's dead? And, of whom are you referring to? ” I coughed out.“ I assume you're Raymond, the bastard lost son. I'm Stacy, you're sister. ” she said, rolling her eyes and moving away from me. Her hills clicking on the floor.That was the least thing I expected— to be welcomed with cold hands.“ Don't let her bother you my dear. She has always been like that.” an old lady said, coming down from the stairs. " She misses you. She's just too proud to admit.” " Who are you, Ma'am? ” I rudely asked, " And what does she mean by he's dead? Is my father dead? ” Obviously, the whole drama left me puzzled. "Mind your manners, young man," the old lady chided gently. "I'm your
My office was quite a spacious one. The ancient golden clock is hanging and staring at me, he could hear it scream his name, begging to be released and thrown into the wild. ” How long has this been here?” Raymond asked the curvy dark lady. "Before I was employed, sir, probably 20 years ago. Beautiful, innit?” she smiled, trying to stir up a conversation.” Beautiful? Do you have a sight problem, honey? I ain't notice any beauty in this archaic building. Jeez!” He muttered, shaking his head in disgust. ” People from the nineties could brag about this, certainly not our generation. For fuck sake, this is the twenty-first century. We were meant to evolve. Contact the engineer and yes, the architect. I can't have my honor dented by this image. ” He snapped, walking out of the office.Well, if there was something to notice about Raymond's recent character, that'd be pride. He exuded pride at its utmost.He got into his car, and slammed the door, his heart racing as he pulled
Chapter 14Raymond's POVThe plane rides through the clouds, finally it lands on the run way and comes to a stop. Exhaustion washed over Me. I staggers down the stairs, the air hostess his support. The cloud was dark, the moon hung up above the horizon. Its soft rays brushing on the floor. I went into one of the rooms in the hotel and collapsed on the sofa.The cool breeze from the Ac washed me,I and I felt refreshed. I moved to the television and tuned to my favorite program. I lay there, eyes heavy, watching the television as my mind slowly drifted into slumber. I felt myself sinking into the cozy warmth of sleep, my body relaxing as my eyelids grew heavy. The television played in the background, but my mind was already drifting off to dreamland.A loud, shrill bell pierced through the silence, jolting me awake from my slumber."Who the heck is that?" I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes."Sir, your ride is ready," a tiny female voice said from outside the door. "Don't you