RUFUS
She’s getting so annoying every minute. She won’t stop telling me her theories about Kathy’s death. I just want to tell her that her theories are all wrong.
“What if Old man killed Kathy, and he’s just pretending that he cares because he’s smart enough to think that sooner or later, the police are going to trace all this—“ she circles her hand above her written papers about Kathy’s death. “—back to him. That man of yours is so smart to dodge it all before it evens hits him.” She places her other hand on her hip, and the other one on her chin.
“Man of yours?” I feel offended and disgusted.
“Yeah. You two seems two close. Man of yours.” She said. It’s obvious that she’s trying to piss me off.
I wiped every paper off the table. “Stop this, okay? You are insane.”
Her mouth is wide open and she’s staring at me offended. “I’m insane? Well, you are fill of sh*t. If you think I’m insane—“ she pick up a paper then threw it right at me. “— then why the hell are you still here!?”
“Because it is my job to guard you.” I’ve been saying this to her since Thursday, it’s Sunday now. “Do you have any plan to go home?”
“Why? Am I boring you?” She aligned the paper above the table again then examines it. Even her hair blocking the paper annoys her so much that she aggressively threw it on the other side of her head.
“Not at all.” I said sarcastically then went to take a seat on my spot in front of the window. I’m tired of debating with Jess because he wants me out of the room.
But I think she gave of on continuous debating because she’s been telling me everything that is going on in her investigation. I couldn’t care less now that I know who did it.
I look at her, then I whispered “Poor girl.” She doesn’t even have the slightest Idea that Archer killed Kathy, and it is because of her.
Pity. Pity for you Jess. Truth will break something inside you and I’m certain of that.
“Quit looking, weirdo.” She threw a paper on me then she jumped in to the bed, her body is facing down while her head is facing the wall on my side. “I want to go home, but I know I can’t.”
Oh yeah, she’s been telling me her feelings about her murderer ex-friend/side chick. I want to laugh at her for suffering the consequences of her actions, but I don’t want to do that because I don’t want her to possibly murder me.
“Just let things cool down, and I will drive you back in the City.” I threw a grape in my mouth, and threw one at her.
“Thanks.” She ate the grapes, but her eyes are not moving at all. She’s just staring on the wall. “Are you just driving me or can you guard me until she’s behind the bars?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I guess. I can ask old man. Positive, he will let me be with you.”
She chuckles. “No. I’m just kidding.” Her eyes were tired of the wall, she now looks at me. “I don’t want to drag you into my mess.”
This is the first time I can fully describe someone’s feelings by just looking at them. Her eyes are sad, but it has already accepted that she can’t do anything but to stay where she is right now. She blames herself for the bad things that is going on in her life right now. Her heart is empty because it has already suffocated from pain that terrorized her, she couldn’t even shed a tear.
“My life is all about mess. One more mess would not hurt me.” I gave her a smile, hoping for a chance to touch her hand without actually touching it. I just want her to know that she still got someone real with her.
She gave me a smile. It’s not genuine yet, but we will get there.
“All right. I will give you sometime alone since it looks like you badly need it.” Mr. Bartley just notified that she needs me down the secret passage. We’re meeting with someone. “Just promise me that you’re not going to leave the room, okay? Don’t get me in trouble.”
“I swear I’m not going to get you into any trouble.” She threw a grape in her mouth and chews it as she wave goodbye to me.
My heart almost exploded when I saw Pol standing in front of the door. “What the hell are you doing up here?”
“Looks like you’re enjoying something inside, eh?” He bumps my shoulder into his. His smirk is indicating something, and he wants me to admit it.
“Shut up, Pol. It’s just my job.” We walk down the stairs. “What are you doing in front of her room, by the way?”
“Old man’s impatience’s running again. He said that you’re taking too long.” He made sure to empathize the last sentence. He still hoping that I will admit something.
I gave my phone to show him that old man just notified me a minute ago. “He just notified me.”
He gave me back the phone. “Yeah well, you know him. He seems so hype with whatever’s going on.” He stopped outside the library. “Got to go back to gate duties, my man.” We bumped. “Good luck with the messy job.”
After Pol left, I went inside the secret passage before the tunnel. “Sir?”
On the table, I recognized the file about Kathy’s murder. There is a though looking guys sitting on the other side of the table.
“There he is. Sit down, Rufus.” I sat beside Mr. Bartley.
“What is this about, sir?” I ask formally. Never in my life I called him Mr. Bartley in front of people from outside who’s working with us. He said that he want to establish a line where people will know that we respect him.
“This is about Kathy’s murder. I just discussed it with this man.” He pointed at the guy who’s looking at me. “Leo, that man who owns the delivering business, referred him to me.” Leo, as in the guy who delivered his Illegal products?
“Referred for what?” I scrolled through the file again.
Mr. Bartley chuckles as he taps my back. “Oh, looks like you forgot something. He used this man to eliminate possible threats.”
I slammed the file on accident. “Eliminate?”
He pointed at Jax’ photo. “We’re eliminating the threat. I will not sleep in peace if this man is still breathing to walk around after he killed Kathy.”
I don’t care about Archer at all. I care about his girlfriend. “What about Jess, sir? I though that—“
He cuts me off. “Think of her future pain as a collateral damage. She’s lost her father and mother, but she established a life for herself. That means that she is though, and she will survive the pain.” He flipped the page on Jess’. “We are doing her a favor by eliminating her boyfriend. Who knows? Maybe what he did to Kathy, he will do to her.” He pats my back again.
The though guy speaks. “Are we still on?” He ask.
“Of course. I will send the payment after you confirm your job.” They sealed the deal, but didn’t say anything about the date.
It’s been four days since the meeting, and I’m waiting for Old man to get back from the Island to tell him about Jess. Jess is so scared to ask him personally if she can borrow me for days.
The muffled screeching sound from her teeth is making my ears irritated. She’s gritting it because of fear.
“Your teeth is so dry to cause a screeching sound.” I threw her a bottled water. She drink it fast then threw the empty bottle right at me.
“You know your line? What you’re going to say?” She’s wearing one of my black shirts that I use for my job. She just ran out of clean shirts to use. Her hair is tied up using a shoelace I don’t know where she’s got it from.
When I told her that Old man is in the Island, she ranted for ten straight minutes about it. She’s very worried about the kids and gave me about five theories on what Old man’s doing on the Island. She asked me for my theories too, but before I even say no, she cuts me off to present me her two other theories. She almost cried presenting me her last theory, that the kids are being killed inside the Island.
“I will handle it.” I stand up. “They are here.” Then went to wait outside the tunnel. I lied when I said that they are here. I just want to get out that room.
I’ve been listening to her rants and theories for a week now and I can’t handle it all mentally.
Five minutes later, I saw their boat. I helped them step out of it because it’s wavy today. Heard that there will be a storm coming in today.
“Sir, may I talk to you? I will only take five minutes.” I said as I help Old man step out of the boat.
“Of course. What do you need?” We walk through the tunnel. Then he commanded Pol and the other guys to leave the room. “Spill.”
“Jess wants to go home today—“
He cuts me off. “Is it still dangerous, am I right? Because of that crazy celebrity who killed that man who played villain in this one movie?” He’s referring to Ocean.
“Yes, sir. About that, he wants to borrow me from you for a few days so she will have someone to—“
He cuts me off again. He’s giving me a smile, indicating something like what Pol wanted me to admit. “Of course, of course.” He giggles, then teasingly taps my hip with his walking cane. “That’s right. Save her.” Then he walk away while laughing.
I don’t know what he meant by that, but I know he’s thinking the same thing as Pol about Jess and I.
I don’t want to be her other man because I don’t want to end up like Kathy. Six feet under.
When I opened the door, she’s staring right at me. “How’d it go?” I shrug my shoulder, she shrug hers to mock me. “Shrug— why are you shrugging?” She repeatedly shrugs her shoulder. “What is that? I’m asking you!”
Tired of arguing, I grabbed her bags. “He said okay.” Then walk out of the room.
I can see her from here. She’s panicking to collect her remaining things and pack it inside the bag that she borrowed from me. I can sense that someone is staring at me, trying to get my attention.
He’s smirking while moving his eyebrows up and down. He walk towards me. “Nice. What are you going to do in the city with her?”
“Quit it, Pol.” I stole the candy bar he’s holding.
“Okay, okay. I just want you to enjoy your little getaway.” He bumped my shoulder before walking away.
Finally, she’s out of the mansion. She’s walking towards the car with Old man.
Old man looks at me. Jess is squeezing her bag in the compartment. “I want you to do everything necessary for her to stay away from that Detective. You as well.”
“Yes sir.” I answered normally.
“Mr. Bartley. Thank you for everything that you’ve done for me. I hope I can repay you but I don’t have any cash in me right now.” They both laugh.
“It’s nothing, Jess. I want you to contact me anytime if you are having trouble.”
“Thank you so much.” Jess smiled. “We need to go.” She taps me.
As we leave the mansion, Old man wave goodbye to us. Pol even saluted at me and made sure that I will see his smirk before he close the gate.
“Jess.” I called for her attention. She’s enjoying waving her hand outside the window to enjoy the wind.
“Yes?”
“You know we can’t go to your apartment, eh?”
She looks at me. “I’ve thought about that. I have somewhere for us to go, but we need to meet someone first.”
“Okay. Where are we meeting this someone?”
“The parking lot of my office building.” She said.
We just passed the sign that said that we just exited west.
“Who are we meeting? Since I’m now slightly involved in your mess.” I heard her scoff.
“Just an office mate.”