Fragrance of Revenge

by Dick C. Waters

  I was tired and turned off the light.

  I don’t know whether I just drifted off to sleep, or I was asleep for hours. I heard a ring, then another, and another. It was the phone. I fumbled for the receiver. “Hello.”

  Chapter 12

  “Scott, I’m sorry to wake you. It’s me.”

  “Mercedes…it’s almost two in the morning. Are you okay?”

  “Scott, I’ve been calling every hour for about four hours. Where have you been? I was worried about you.”

  “I’m surprised you’re calling.”

  “I know I woke you. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not about you waking me…I know what happened.”

  “Scott, what are you talking about? You’re not making much sense. I’m sorry I called at this hour.”

  “I saw you leaving with Ralph.”

  “That’s why I’m calling. We were—“

  “You don’t have to explain. I know these things happen.”

  “Scott, listen to me...maybe I better call later. We were called out on the missing tourist case. We’re in Venezuela. They found one of the missing women, and she was murdered. I thought you should know where I was.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  “I can tell by your tone you’re not happy with me…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left for the office without saying goodbye, but I was still upset with you about our conversation the previous night. I’m sorry.”

  “Is that all you’re sorry for?”

  “Scott, have you been drinking, and where have you been all night?”

  “Maybe we’re even now.”

  “I was hoping you went to the apartment and got my note.”

  Scott didn’t immediately respond. “I didn’t see any note, but I got your message loud and clear.”

  “This is certainly not my Scott talking. Maybe I dialed the wrong number.”

  Neither said anything for an extended period.

  “Scott, I’m sorry I had to go out of town, but it couldn’t be helped.”

  “There are many things we have no control over. I’m sure what happened yesterday is one of them.”

  “It’s very late. I know I caught you at a bad time. You must be having another of your nightmares, as I’ve never heard you talk to me this way.”

  “I really thought we had a future together…but now I’m not sure.”

  “What? Scott, you’re making no sense at all. I’ll call later and we can have a more sensible conversation.”

  “You can call, but I probably won’t be here. I hope Ralph is going to take special care of you.”

  “Are you jealous? He’s just a work associate.”

  “Is that what you call it these days? I’m sure he appreciates the extra work benefits.”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. Now she was the one having nightmares. She started to cry, but tried not to let him hear. She was losing control and hung up the phone.

  *.*.*

  Her heart was beating a mile a minute. She never anticipated Scott’s reaction to her leaving. She was confused and replayed the call in her head. She left him a note, but he never saw it. He said he got my message loud and clear.

  Scott never talked to her this way. Yes, she was short with him about his doing further investigations, and yes, she did leave without talking to him. It was obvious he was jealous about Ralph, but why? He said he saw me leaving with Ralph. So, why didn’t he say hello?

  The whole conversation was a total disconnect. I left him a message, didn’t I? Yeah, I put it on the dresser. How could he have missed it?

  So, if Scott saw me with Ralph it had to be either in my apartment because we arrived separately, or, it had to be when we were leaving in the cab. She played back their departure. She was waiting at the curb for Ralph to bring down her luggage. The elevator was busy so he said he would wait for the next available one.

  He came down no more than five minutes later. He came over to the curb, gave back her keys, helped her into the cab, and the driver put her two suitcases in the trunk. So, if Scott saw her with Ralph, that’s what he saw.

  She thought about her short skirt which Ralph paid special attention to when she got into the back seat. Well, she knew he wasn’t actually paying attention to the skirt but was checking out her legs. Is that what Scott is upset about? Ralph got a peek at my legs. That reminded her of the night he saw more than that part of her body. However, Scott knows nothing about that.

  Think Mercy, what could Scott be so upset about? Maybe he thought we were going away for the weekend together. However, she just told him where they were and why. He wouldn’t continue to be upset, and would have been glad to hear they were on FBI business.

  Scott didn’t see my note. Ralph locked the door to my apartment when we left and had the key with him, which he gave me when we met on the sidewalk. No, Ralph wouldn’t have done anything while he waited for the next elevator.

  I’m going to kill him.

  *.*.*

  The next morning they had planned to have an early breakfast in the main hotel dining room. She wore one of Scott’s yellow shirts with her black lace bra and another short black skirt. That should give the local police something to focus on.

  Ralph came in the dining room and spotted her. He had a newspaper under his arm and slid into the booth.

  “Good morning Mercy,” Ralph said, but his eyes were focused on her chest.

  She held two fingers by her right ear. “Good morning Ralph. How many fingers did I just hold up?” she asked.

  “What? I didn’t see you holding up any fingers.”

  “I thought so. I want to ask you—“

  “Would you like to order now?” the waitress asked.

  They both ordered, but Ralph was interested in the waitress’s motion away from the table.

  “As I was saying, I want to ask you about our leaving my apartment.”

  “Yes, what about it?”

  “When I left on the crowded elevator, and left you for the next elevator…did you go back into my apartment?”

  “Yes, I did. Why?”

  “What did you do that for?”

  “I left our itinerary on the coffee table, and had to go back for it.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you went back into the apartment?”

  “What does that matter? I didn’t give it another thought.”

  She looked at him, and even though he didn’t look guilty, she thought he was concealing something. “Did you do anything else in there?”

  The waitress brought their coffee and juice drinks.

  “Before you answer me, you better not lie to me.”

  “As a matter of fact I did do something else.” He paused. “I used the bathroom one last time.”

  She studied him while he prepared his coffee. “Ralph, you wanted to be a friend. If I find out you did more than what you just said…you can forget being a friend. Do you understand me?”

  “Wow, you can really be a hellcat in the morning when you haven’t had your coffee.”

  She now knew he was hiding something. “Do you remember what kept you from being written up for sexual harassment in Bermuda?” She pointed at him. “Answer me!”

  “Okay Agent Strong, it was you not putting things in writing.”

  She was about to warn him again when their boss arrived at the table.

  “Aren’t we formal this morning? So, what didn’t she put in writing?”

  She started to prepare her coffee. “She told me what time to meet this morning, but I forgot. I guess I needed it in writing. We did get in pretty late last night,” Ralph offered.

  “Good morning Agent Strong, you look like you need more than coffee this morning. Didn’t you get a good night’s sleep?”

  She looked at him. “As a matter of fact I was awake most of the night.” Then she gave Ralph the evil eye.

  “Is there a problem here?”

  “No sir, nothing that I can’t handle.”

  Chapter
13

  I was tired, and needed a coffee. It was warm in the apartment and all I had on was my sweat pants. I retrieved the newspapers, made my coffee and sat down on the couch. The news came on the TV.

  ‘Investigators have reported the discovery of a body, believed to be one of the missing women from Bermuda. Officials from the FBI are now in Venezuela where the body was found. Although still speculation, authorities believe the three missing women may have been kept against their will as part of a high-end-slave-trade rumored to be operating in the Caribbean area.’

  That’s why Mercedes was called away so quickly. Well, at least she’s not spending the weekend with Ralph as part of a holiday weekend getaway.

  What I don’t understand is why she didn’t seem to understand why I was so upset. She left me the message about what happened at the apartment…no note, messed up bed, boxers between the sheets, and showered together.

  I played back what I witnessed at her apartment. I saw Mercedes standing on the sidewalk looking at her watch. Ralph was coming out the doors with her two suitcases. He handed her keys and helped her into the cab. The cab driver added her luggage into the cab. His luggage was already in the cab.

  He came to pick her up and had access to her apartment. Maybe Ralph left me the message and not Mercedes. It fits, and that is why Mercedes was so confused with my responses.

  If his suitcase was already in the cab, they didn’t have time to go to bed, and take a shower together.

  You son of a bitch Ralph. You still want her to yourself don’t you? I hope I didn’t screw myself with her.

  The phone’s loud ring made me jump.

  *.*.*

  “Hello.”

  “Hi Scott, it’s me. Good morning.”

  “Good morning Mercedes.”

  In concert we both said, “I’m sorry.”

  We laughed, and then we both said, “I figured it out.” And, we laughed again.

  “You first,” I said.

  “No, you better go.”

  “Okay, let me tell you what I found when I got to the apartment yesterday.” I went through spotting them on the sidewalk and getting into the cab. Then I told her about the condition of the apartment.

  “I’m going to kill him,” she responded.

  “I thought you were going away with him for the holiday weekend. The fact that you didn’t clean up what happened, I mean what looked like what happened in the apartment, made me think you were really upset with me and running off with him.”

  “Now I know why you were so short with me on the phone. I suspected something when I talked with Ralph this morning, but this goes beyond what I ever thought he would do. I’m still going to kill him…or worse.”

  “Mercedes, calm down a minute. If he went through that much trouble to split us up, can’t you imagine how much he likes you and wants you?”

  “I guess you’re right, but I’m still going to find a way to get even. I love you Scott.”

  “I love you too.”

  “So, where were you last night that I couldn’t reach you?”

  “Do you want the bad news, or the bad news?”

  “I’m not sure. What is the first bad news?”

  “Remember Maggie from the Harvard Pub?”

  “Yes, and you better not have spent time with her.”

  “Define ‘time’?” She didn’t respond. “Given what I thought happened with you two, I went to see her dance.”

  “And?”

  “And she was good.”

  “How good?”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “Are you talking about her dancing, or something else?”

  I didn’t immediately answer.

  “So, what is the other bad news?”

  “I can’t say.”

  “What do you mean you can’t say?”

  “You’ll only get mad at me.”

  “Oh Scott, tell me you didn’t.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Then why can’t you tell me?”

  “I’ll tell you later, when we’re together.”

  “You’re right Scott, it will be later…much later.”

  I heard the click and the dial tone.

  I don’t know what is worse…her thinking I spent time with Maggie, or my keeping the secret of doing her father’s investigation? I guess the good news is that she didn’t have sex with Ralph. Oh shit, she thinks I did with Maggie, and now things are reversed. Will she now spend time with him to make things even in her mind?

  *.*.*

  I pulled into Stephen’s parking lot. It was a Friday, but it was the day after the 4th, so it was a long weekend for most people. The only car in the parking lot was Stephen’s.

  As I went up the stairs I could smell the freshly brewed coffee. I entered Stephen Strong’s office.

  “Well, what is slowing you down this morning?” Stephen asked turning in his chair from the window to face me.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Well Scott, since I’ve known you, you take those stairs two at a time. So, what has got you down today?”

  I knew I couldn’t share what had happened with Mercedes. “I got to bed late last night.”

  “Yeah, I hoped you were able to spend enough time to see who’s behind this scenario. Coffee?”

  I started to get up, but Stephen held up his hand. “I’ll get it, while you think about last night, or this morning.”

  A minute later Stephen handed me the cup and I tried to take a sip, but the cup was shaking too much.

  “Would you like something a little stronger?”

  “I could use it, but no thanks.”

  “I got a good look at the blackmailer. He came out of the station and spotted three men coming in his direction from across the street…he was motionless while his brain kicked in.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  I took a deep breath, but my mind was going back to my last conversation with Mercedes. “I would say he’s in his mid-thirties, about six feet tall, slender build with brown hair and good looking. He wasn’t what I had pictured. I thought I would see an ugly creep with a beard. I could id him again if I saw him. I didn’t get a look at his vehicle as he went around the building on foot followed closely by the men.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, the area he picked is like asking for trouble. I think he might reconsider his choice after last night.”

  “So, you think he might continue this blackmail scenario?”

  “Is there anything that would make him want to stop?”

  “I guess you could be right, given the fact he hasn’t stopped already.”

  “Where do we go from here?”

  “Well, if he doesn’t ask for any more money, this might be the end of it. However, if he asks for more money, that’s a different story.”

  “Stephen, maybe if you gave me a clue as to why you are being blackmailed I could figure out who might be behind it.”

  I watched him get up and go to the window. Maybe he’s going to share something.

  “Scott, the only thing I’m going to share with you is that it is a family issue, which if it got out, would not put me in good light with the public and my family.”

  “Stephen, did you have an affair?”

  He took a deep breath and turned. “Yes, but this is not what this blackmail is about. That was for your ears only.”

  “Now you’ve only got me more interested in what someone could have over you. At some point if I’m going to really help you find out who’s behind this, you’ve got to give me a little more information. I think I can help, but not given the situation as it currently exists.”

  “I appreciate what you’re saying, but my wife is in no condition to have another scandal come to life. I will promise you this—if this continues I will give you a little more to go on, or I will take this into my own hands and end it once and for all.”

  “How’s my firecracker of a daughter treating you?”

  Chapter 14r />
  He managed to take another roll of Polaroid pictures, but he had exhausted the poses he could put her in.

  Alexis wanted so much to reach the pinnacle of beauty that she willingly posed for his picture taking. His ability to hypnotize her and create this other world for both of them was something he wished he could write a paper on.

  However, it was his secret. If he could write it, he would title it ‘Climb the Heights.’ Those were his magic words to open her up for this amazing world of endless sex. He realized he was now lost forever, he could never relinquish her back to the normal world. They would grow old together, but he also realized he had fallen in love with her.

  Soon he would say the words to bring her out of this fantasy land. She might question the strange marks on her body, but he had all the answers.

  She had so much beauty and talent he wished he could share it with the world. However it was his prize and his prize alone.

  He wondered how he could get her to conduct the other fantasies he so desired. Currently she was the object of the many scenarios he could conjure up. She played her role so wonderfully, with never a hesitation. He was going to find a way for her to put him as the object. He had to in order to fulfill those other fantasies. One in particular was to have the roles reversed and to have him tied to the bed.

  He opened the door to their special room. She was still tied to the bed, but asleep. She should be after their hours together. This was the first time he wanted to shower alone.

  He closed the door and went to the bathroom which was down the hall from the bedroom. The cool air felt good on his still naked body, and he was surprised he was getting excited again. He turned on the light, and then the shower but left it turned to the cold side. The shower was a walk-in shower and large enough for a wheel chair to maneuver. He moved the sliding shower door and entered.

  The spray hit his body like ice picks and he recoiled until he became accustomed to the cold and the sensation. He quickly washed his hair and was tempted to rinse with warm water, but resisted it. He thought he heard something and paused, but then resumed his washing.