Missing Jackson's instructions, Diana made no further attempt to free herself from the slimy depths of the dumpster. Rather, they could hear howls bouncing off the inner walls of the dumpster that kept increasing in volume. Grimacing, the younger men exchanged looks as they silently wondered what was taking Josh so long to return. Jackson’s expression didn’t change throughout their wait. With Josh’s arrival, Jackson took the stool from his youngest son and approached the side of the dumpster. Once she stood beside it he lowered his voice.
“Diana, I know you can hear me, so listen carefully. I have a stool here that will help you get out; also a taxi has been called to take you wherever you want to go. Both are at your disposal, my only stipulation, you answer one question with total honesty.”
Diana’s hands were the first thing to appear, followed closely by the top of her head. Handing her the stool, Jackson waited as she cautiously took possession of it and lowered it into the dumpster. He heard movement as she positioned the stool; slowly her face, shoulders and torso emerged from within he dumpster.
Turning, Jackson stood face to face with the woman who had once been his wife, the mother of his children. Taking shallow breaths, the stench emanating from the filth covered woman almost more than he could stand. Looking directly into her eyes, Jackson familiarized himself with her current expression and what it meant. Satisfied, he asked Diana the question that, as a father he wanted to know. The answer would make no difference to how he ultimately felt about his children, not the ones he had nurtured to maturity or the one he had just discovered. “The taxi is waiting for you, as I promised. Now I would like for you to answer my question. Which of the twins were born first?” Jackson knew Diana well, so he watched her face unblinkingly, ready to detect any semblance of a lie.
“The one who never shuts up was born first.” There it was, the tell tail pulse, just one small spasm by the side of her left eye that denoted a lie. Jackson had discovered this anomaly the first time he had caught her in a lie, he had always kept its knowledge to himself, his safeguard, fully aware of the depths this woman would sink to in order to get her way, to hurt others. Jacob was his first born.
“You just can’t help yourself can you Diana. Even covered in God knows what, standing on a stool in a dumpster, you still feel the need to lie. So be it.” Walking towards the parked car, Jackson bent as he spoke to the driver. Returning to his sons, he inclined his chin towards the gate that would lead them back inside the property. Walking past the dumpster he never once broke stride or glanced in Diana’s direction – she no longer mattered, those who mattered, kept pace with him. They left behind the woman who should be the center of their world, standing on a stool in a dumpster covered in muck.
Epilogue
Jumping to his feet for the umpteenth time, Jason tried to outpace a feeling of dread threatening to overtake him. Something wasn’t right. He knew it, he could feel it, he just didn’t know where this feeling of disquiet came from. Aviva had called him after she had had her hair braided for their vacation and had told him she was on her way to do some more shopping, courtesy of his credit card. He had also checked in with Steve who, low and behold had answered his phone. Steve was fine and dealing with the whole Cox fiasco. All the people he gave a damn about were accounted for – so what was this feeling.
In mid stride, Jason felt the vibration of his cell phone which was stuffed in the pocket of his trousers. Reaching inside he grabbed the phone and looked at the display. Aviva’s name flashed on the screen and he subconsciously blew out a breath of relief at seeing her name. “Hi Angel, are you on your way back?”
“Oh, how precious, Angel is it? Well my dear Jason, I now have your angel and you are both about to enter hell.”
“Who is this? What are you talking about? Where’s Aviva – I’m warning you if you hurt a single hair on her head – you – are – a – dead – man!” Jason shouted, fear the likes of which he had never known constricted his gut. As the first question left his mouth his brothers and father sprung to their feet, converging around him; silently demanding he put the phone on speaker. With the touch of a button he complied.
“So many questions, my dear Jason, um, I wonder where I should begin. Oh, I know – you are in no position to demand or threaten me. I have what you want ergo; you do as I say, when I say. I hope I’ve made myself clear? No need to answer, of course you understand, no-one could ever call the great Jason King a fool, now could they. That was just another rhetorical question, my dear Jason, there is no need to reply.”
“Let me speak to Aviva!”
“Maybe I was wrong in my estimation of you and you are a fool. To show you I mean business, please listen carefully…”
“Let me talk to her, now!”
Jason waited as the caller lapsed into silence following his demand. The silence was broken by a woman’s screams; Aviva’s pain induced cries filled the room as the men listened helpless.
“What do you want?” Jason asked in a calm, quiet voice, combined with the deadly look of his cold eye. Eyes so cold they sent shivers of dread along Jackson’s spine.
“Good, very good, I see I finally have your full attention. I want you to await my next call. Oh, and feel free to fill in the family, I know they’re listening; I never did much like those Kingdoms, they always thought they were so much better than us…Ah, enough said for the moment I think.” Abruptly the room was filled with the drone of the disconnected call.
Jackson was horrified at what he had just heard. Even more disturbing was the change that visibly seeped into the faces and posture of his sons. Gone were the trappings of sophistication that ordinarily surrounded these men of wealth. In the blink of an eye they were transformed into hardened warriors that would not have looked out of place awaiting opponents in the gladiatorial arena.
Jason broke the silence, looking down at his phone as he spoke with a deadly whisper as though the mysterious caller could still hear his words. “I told you if you hurt her you were a dead man, and I always keep my word.”
The End…For Now
About the Author
Theresa L Henry
I am a new author who lives in London, England. I would love to hear from you with any comments you might have about the book you have just read. Please feel free to drop me a line at: [email protected].
I look forward to hearing from you.
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