Goose bumps rose on her arms as she felt a cold and sickening presence behind her. The moment she turned, she felt her throat being constricted by invisible hands, squeezing the air out of her throat. She felt herself being raised, the pressure increasing, and her survival instinct kicked in. Panicking she struggled desperately, trying to claw the hands away from her throat, black dots danced in her vision, head spinning, lungs burning from lack of oxygen, she tried to scream but made only a raspy noise as she was on the edge of giving up.
She woke up with a start, sweating profusely. It had felt so real that she was still gasping for breathe. she could even still feel those hands around her neck. Good Lord! That was one awful dream, she thought, getting out of bed. It must be a bad omen, having that kind of dream on the day she was traveling, but she soon dismissed it as nothing. Little did she know it was only the beginning.
Watching from a secluded corner of a coffee house, Nathan looked at his watch, 7:45, about time. As if on cue, a beautiful young woman walked in, closely followed by man in shabby clothes. The woman took a sit and the man did the same two tables away from her. Target identified.
No sooner had she got her drink did she get a call and the shabby guy sat at her table. She looked warily at the man infront of her and ended her call. They talked for a minute or two and they both stood up heading for the door. Nathan gave them a few seconds before he followed.
As he was about to open the door, it gave way and he collided into someone, spilling liquid on both their clothes. It was the same woman.
“Hey I think we’ve met before…” She didn’t finish. He dragged her to the bathroom stall.
Her meek expression turned sour and cold as recognition set in.
“How dare you!” She screamed “dragging me all the way here!”
Out of habit he attempted to take off her stained coat, but she brushed his hands away “I can damn well take care of my self”
“What were you thinking!” He demanded.”Talking to a bum! are you crazy!?”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business who I talk to” she said aggressively
“Alexa this is not the time to be difficult”
It had been five years since she’d last seen him. Five years since after he called her vain and immature, and coldly ended their relationship. Five years since she’d left and never looked back. He didn’t even ask what she was doing back there. Old emotions started resurfacing but she suppressed them back.
“Do you mind, I’ve got someone waiting for me”
“Where’s your key card?” he asked out of the blue.
She had no intention of answering him but checked anyway. She felt nothing in her coat pocket, alarmed, she took it off and searched vigorously “huh? I left it here…”
Shit
He grabbed her and out they went but couldn’t find the man.
“Did you tell him your hotel address”
“I didn’t, but he must have heard, when I was making a call”
He cursed
They hailed a taxi and went straight to the hotel.
On getting there, they met her hotel room vandalised. All her documents had been scattered around the room.
She slid down the edge of the door in anguish. She wanted to cry. All her year’s work had being in the room, including an important one her boss had sent her through the mail.
Angrily, Nathan thundered down stairs to the receptionist.
“I need a list of people who’d checked in this morning”
The receptionist looked at him as if he was crazy “I should get the manager…”
He didn’t have time for that. He immediately called Homer and told him Alexa has been attacked and that got the other man into action. Ten minutes later he was walking away with the list.
Mannie Showman. Nathan laughed. He couldn’t have chosen a more conspicuous name. Mannie is as dumb as he is dangerous. He’d been convicted many times, for violent crimes and the last one had landed him a long stretch in jail, only to be pulled out a year later by Anderson, whose money and competent lawyers made sure he never again spent a night in a cell.
Many, including Nathan have been looking for enough evidence to nail Mannie forever. This, Nathan was sure, would be the last straw for Mannie and Anderson’s lawyers wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it.
He went upstairs to a dejected Alexa.
She’d changed a lot since they last saw each other, he thought. He’d been hired by a renowned organization to tail one of their “most precious” employees and he hadn’t believed his eyes when he found out it was her.
“I can’t find it”
“Can’t find what Alexa?”
“The package. Homer said it’s coming in this morning. Oh my God it’s gone! I can’t find it!” She was hysterical
They heard a sound, followed by an aggressive opening of the door. Nathan moved quickly to stop the intruder, but it was too late. Staring at him was the nose of a handgun. Slowly the pistol moved from him to Alexa.
“Where is the goddamned package”
Watch out for part 2 lol
On the 17th of October, this blog clocked one month
I know I should have done this earlier but I only just had the time.
I don’t know what to say about the journey so far, but I’m glad I started this blog. Even though it’s right in the most serious and busy part of my life.
I haven’t really been able to participate actively in the blogsphere (I only come on here when I have a new post) but I appreciate those who take the time to read and comment on my posts. Hope to return the favor someday!
Anjola Writes 