by Unknown
CHAPTER 10
The next morning in the Doherty’s house, Chelsea was still brooding about Michael. She woke up early in the morning thinking of why he did that to her, she wondered why Michael acted that way, to the extent of going out Georgina. Chelsea was thinking about this when she heard a knock on her door, she looked amazed, and she wondered who the person could be. She thought of her Mum, but she knew they have already talked about it yesterday. It was very early in the morning which was why she wondered who was knocking her door so early. She stood up from where she was sitting and moved to the door, before opening the door, she asked with a soft voice, who is that? Cecilia gently replied her with a cool voice, “I am the one, and I know you would have woken up early”. Chelsea was pleased to hear Cecilia’s voice that morning; she quickly opened the door and told her to come in. Cecilia entered and sat down on the chair beside Chelsea’s bed. She said to her, “I just came to check on you if all is well and I hope you had a great night rest?” “Thank you for being so caring, I really appreciate it. To be sincere with you, I was unable to sleep like I used to, everything was just coming to my mind. At this moment, I am confused and I don’t know what to do. I feel weak and it’s just like the world is coming to an end for me” Chelsea explained herself. “No! I don’t want you to think that way, I know everything is going to be alright, but you just need to be patient for now. I know the truth will soon be revealed and I am very sure Michael is an innocent on this” Cecilia replied. “So, do you mean Michael is loyal to me?” Asked, Chelsea “Yes, he is. Whenever I look at his face when he comes here, he doesn’t look like someone who is thinking of something or someone else. He always focuses his attention to you and I am sure he doesn’t have anything to do with Georgina as she had claimed” Cecilia explained Chelsea started chuckling and said. “You have actually been looking at him whenever he comes here, I hope you don’t have a crush on him” Chelsea replied. Cecilia replied with a smile and said, “Michael is an adorable man, he looks matured and he knows how to handle things. Sometimes, I just wish he is mine but I know that is not possible because you deserve to have him and he deserves you too”. “Really! I found it very difficult to believe you. You have actually been admiring him without letting me know” Chelsea replied with an amazing tone. “I know he is a good man and he is fun to be with, I can’t just imagine myself losing him to someone else, particularly, Georgina. That is just my fear about the whole issue” Chelsea continued “We can continue the discussion outside. I will be very glad if you could join me for a bike ride, the day is getting brighter and I think you have other things to do” Cecilia asked her for a bike ride. “Yes, I will join you but we won’t move close to the Olsen’s estate, I don’t want to see him for now” “Alright, I agree with that. Get ready and meet me outside” Cecilia quickly rushed to the roof of the house to get the bike which they will ride; she then went to her room and put on her jogging kit. Before she got outside, Chelsea had already finished dressing up. Cecilia met her outside waiting for the bike. Chelsea looked less worried and Cecilia was happy about that. Cecilia gave her a bike and they started riding from the front of their house. They continued with their discussion as they were riding on the bike as Cecilia as said. They continued talking about Michael while they were riding. They never thought of changing the topic because the two of them enjoyed talking about him. To their greatest surprise, as they were riding along the path they met Michael and Mathew on their way, even though they steer clear of the Olsen’s estate. It was a great surprise to them because they never thought of him jogging in that very morning. Mathew and Michael decided to jog for a while too as Cecilia and Chelsea had done. Michael was down, thinking about Chelsea when Mathew talked him out and asked him to join him on a light jogging. Mathew and Michael were surprised too to see Chelsea and Cecilia. When Chelsea saw Michael and Mathew approaching them, she stopped talking and at the same time she changed her look. She frowned her face all of the sudden. Cecilia, on the other hand, was very glad to see the two of them. Before they got close to them, Cecilia had stopped riding. She came down from her bike and moved closer to Mathew, she greeted her and before Chelsea could stop her, she started talking to Mathew into going for ice cream, leaving Chelsea and Michael alone. Chelsea continued biking away from Michael, but he Michael quickly rushed to her and grabbed her hand as she was riding. Michael begged her to stop the bike and she gently held the break to the bike. Chelsea was looking away from him when she stopped the bike and Michael insisted she should listen to her. Michael started talking to her and said, “I don’t have anything to do with her and I have never done anything with her. I am still so much interested in you and I will like you to please give me the chance to proof the love I have for you” “I don’t really have any problem with you and Georgina; I know she was just trying to Bobby me away from you. But the only question I have been that, why did you leave and never tried to get in touch. I know there is something more to what you told me at the restaurant and I want to hear it from you” Chelsea replied. Michael was very glad to hear that Chelsea was not upset with what Georgina said. He felt reluctant to let her know the truth about his disappearance. When Chelsea noticed Michael doesn’t want to give an answer to the question she asked, she started riding away from him. When Michael saw her leaving, he quickly rushed to her and he blurts out that he did it for Mathew’s sake. He explained further and said, “The night of Emily’s death, Mathew was there and he got drunk. He did drugs and he has no memory of where he was or what he was doing. He had bruises and scratches all over him like he had been in a fight. He doesn’t even recognize anyone again; we had to carry him home that night before people start being suspicious of what was going on. That was what I was battling with when you were looking for me that night. I was devastated that very night. When we heard of Emily’s death the next day, we were shocked. We have to go into cover-up mode, my Dad then decided to make me bear the brunt of suspicion because Mathew has already had several run-ins with the police. I never wanted to take up the decision, but I just have to do it because of the love I have for Mathew. That was why I left without letting you know about it, I am very sorry once again” Michael explained the full detail to Chelsea. Chelsea was stunned by the revelation; she was shivering on the spot she was standing. She couldn’t believe all that happened at the night on the clambake. She wondered out loud if Mathew could have killed Emily. She replied and said,
CHAPTER 11
“Hmm! I find it very difficult to believe that all this happened and I was unaware of it. I still can’t believe my ears at this moment. So, do you mean Mathew was responsible for Emily’s death?” “No!! I don’t mean it that way. Mathew was not responsible for Emily’s death; on that very day he was too strung out to harm anyone but himself. I just wish you really understand what I mean. I just told you this in order to let you know that I have you in mind, but I can’t tell no one about it, I really want us to forget about all this and move on with our relationship. Please!” Michael replied “Michael! It is very difficult for me to understand. I really you for taking you time to explain the whole story but I feel indifferent about it. I have to go” Chelsea replied The look on Chelsea’s face doesn’t look like she had been convinced with what she heard from Michael. She told Michael she needs to go and she biked away looking for Cecilia so that they will go back home together. Michael regretted his action having explained his absence to Chelsea since it didn’t look like she believed him and she didn’t even give him the second chance he wanted. He was very sad at that moment, his look changed and he felt guilty for betraying his family by letting their secret out. They have actually been trying to keep the secret since all this while, but unfortunately for them Michael just let the secret out. Michael thought of family and he knows they will be furious at him for letting the secret out. Most especially, Lawrence and his Dad will be mad at him for that action because of governorship-post Lawrence was aspiring for. Michael was still ominous when Mathew found him standing nea
r a well-trimmed flower. Mathew moved closer to him and he could sense that something has happened to him. Michael looked worried and it was very obvious on his face. Mathew asked, “I hope you are good?” “Yeah! Anything you want to say” Michael replied “You looked worried and I hope she has not said anything provoking to you,” said, Mathew “No! Not at all! She is not the type. I am just feeling guilty of what I just did” Michael replied “Really! Feeling guilty? Let me know about it, I hope you have not told her the secret?” Mathew asked. “What secret?” Michael asked “Stop acting like you don’t know, I mean the secret behind your absence after Emily’s death” Mathew answered “Oh! It seems you are right, I just told her now and she doesn’t look convinced. For real, I don’t know what came on me, I just explained all to her and you can’t even believe she left me here. Damn! I just fucked up” Michael blame himself “No man, you don’t have to blame yourself for that. After all, I know you want to reconcile with her and that is why you told her. To be sincere with you, I hope the two of you reconcile and continue with your relationship” Mathew replied Michael was stunned to hear that from Mathew, his thought was that Mathew will be mad at him when he comes back and finds out that the secret has been told. But to his greatest surprise, Mathew was supportive. Michael looked at Mathew in the face and asked him if he really mean what he just said; Mathew replied him and said, “Yes! Why won’t I mean it, you did that all because of me. I have no reason to be angry with you on this, you have your life to live and I have mine too. You even went ahead and be part of my life, I should be thanking you for that” Mathew replied with a sincere heart. Michael couldn’t believe his ears; he moved closer to Mathew and hugged him for being supportive. They held themselves for minutes before they separated. The two of them started laughing at each other and they started jogging back home. As they were jogging, they were discussing some other things. Chelsea on the hand was still looking for Cecilia while she was riding her bike, she was looking around if she will see her, but she didn’t see her at all. She stopped the bike and started trekking while moving the bike with her. There were many people moving around, some were jogging and others were riding on their bike as she did. Cecilia had stopped in a coffee shop after getting an ice cream with Mathew. She doesn’t take the ice cream, but she informed Mathew she will get coffee in place. The two of them separated and they were unable to see each other again because of the population at the place. As Cecilia was looking around maybe she will see Mathew in the midst of the people, she suddenly saw Chelsea looking around. She moved closer to where she was standing and tapped her on her shoulder. Chelsea was first shocked when Cecilia tapped her but when she finds out that Cecilia was the one, she said to her.
CHAPTER 12
“Where have you been?” Chelsea asked Cecilia in a furious tone. “Calm down girl! I thought you were going to spend more time with Michael”. “No, not anymore... I will rather be home in my bed” Chelsea replied. Chelsea and Cecilia biked home and though Cecilia presses her for details, Chelsea remained silent about what she and Michael talked about. You know you can always talk to me about anything, Cecilia said. Yeah, I know Cecil. It was dark now by the time they got home. Chelsea got down from the bike while Cecilia drove into the garage. When Chelsea entered the house, she went straight into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of cold juice. As she sipped the juice, she heard her sister's voice calling out to her. Immediately, she ran out of the kitchen following the voice of her sister. She found Cecilia in Antonia's room. Antonia was found pale and shaken. Chelsea asked, what happened to Mum? I really don't know. I found her this way, Cecilia said in a concerned tone. Chelsea turned to her mother now, asking why she was in that state. She was hesitant to speak so Chelsea asked her sister to get her a glass of water to help calm her nerves. Mum, please sit up and have this, Chelsea insisted!! After a while, she narrated what she encountered to her daughters, she told them she just heard from Wendy that Georgina Yardley had been found dead in the park. It seems to be a case of suspected drug overdose. It was around 6 pm in the evening when I received a telephone call from Wendy this afternoon, she sounded angry and devastated when she told me to meet her at the park. I left the house hurriedly to see what had happened. There was already a crowd when I drove into the park. Thank God, the police were there on time to control the adverse reaction of the crowd. I was able to spot out Wendy in an instant because of her distinct glasses and curly hair. We exchanged greetings and she quickly took me to the spot where Georgy's body was found. I felt terrified at the sight of her body which prompts me to leave the place hurriedly. I could not help but think of the crowd and all the side talks. Some people were even worried it might be the killer again; they said they were no longer safe in Hatton. Chelsea was shaken by the news; she's got an eerie feeling that there’s more to the death than a drug overdose. She was somehow convinced that it was connected to Emily’s murder. Colin and Bobby got in few minutes after Antonia was calm. Cecilia explained all that's happened to them and they were also taken aback by the news. To Chelsea's surprise, she couldn't help but notice that Bobby seems especially broken up about the news and wonders why, since she doesn’t think he knew Georgina that well. Bobby panicked and ran to his room. When he got to his room, he couldn't stop thinking about the last time he had met with Georgina. She was really confident about leaving the job at the foundation soon, as she had plans on starting up her own business. He remembered asking where she was going to get such huge amounts from, but she dispersed the conversation by starting another. They met at one of the functions held by the foundation. They got along and they've been intimate since then. Bobby never told anyone about them. I just hope no one will find out about us because this might complicate matters for me. Colin was still with his girls in the room, the atmosphere was calmer now. He decided he was going to see the manager of the foundation tomorrow. He was one of their major contributors. He needed to understand fully the reason for the murder of one of their staffs. Also, he wanted to meet with the detective in charge of the case. They all agreed with the decision before leaving for their rooms. The next morning, Colin was out like he said he would. He got to the foundation and met with Sadie, the lady in charge. They discussed for a while before he stood up to take his leave. I give you my word that such won't occur again. We would love to maintain the long built prestige of this honourable foundation, Sadie said. I will love it no other way, thanks for your time. Colin extended his hands, they shook and he said "Goodbye".