'Stop your riddles and say clearly Rose', I spat the words.
'Erica...Erica...Erica, you always had a problem with power. First, Raphael when he made you a workhorse, now, me for not spilling my guts faster. It's ok though, as this will be your last conversation... I will tell you. You know, as a friend', she said sarcastically before continuing replying to my questions, 'so, where was I? Oh, yes, children. Me and my brother. Where does Sophie fit into this?', she tapped her finger on the Chin and said, 'right in the middle of it. We are... the three musketeers'
'I won't believe you', I said, not wanting to see the image she is projecting.
'Whatever! Believe it or not. Just because you closed your eyes doesn't mean it's dark outside. However, I agree she was not part of the plan in the beginning. It all started four years ago. My mother's bedtime story on her deathbed, made us realize what we are missing. Money. The power that comes with money. But we couldn't just barge in and take their money. We needed a plan...a well-organized plan. I started working in the company. To get intel. And from there, we acquired the knowledge of Raphael Sinclair's Achilles heel, Charlotte. So, I befriended her. It wasn't easy, let me tell you... that girl is more twisted than me. But once I got her hooked to some drugs, it was a cakewalk'
My sharp intake made her turn her face towards me. 'Ya... pretty scary, isn't it? Playing with someone's life. If the motive was this good, then you too would do it'
'I would never do such a thing', I scoffed at the idea.
'Everyone says that. But when the time comes... you too would sing a different tune. And my brother... poor guy, my brother had to take upon himself to sleep with Diana. I don't know how he does it, but I feel a body crawling sensation just thinking about it', she shivered, imagining it.
That means... her brother was the lover I stalked that night. I knew it... I knew when something didn't add up to their conversation that night. If only I investigated it more. Instead, I let Raphael lead away.
'That's sick. How can someone sleep with a woman their mother's age for the money?'
This got her riled up. 'Look who is speaking. Weren't you the one who is sleeping with the boss? Money, darling, make you do many things', she ranted. I didn't correct her assumption. Let her believe it.
'So... where was I? Yes, we got a mother and a daughter in our hands. But the males... are a different story. We don't know how to trap them. Then came our saving grace...Sophie. We approached her... we gave her the opportunity to meet and trap Nathaniel. And she did just that, with flying colors if I say so myself. But she was of no use to us if she is just a passing fling. We needed something more permanent. So, what another way other than the age-old trick even my mother used. Baby! Oh yes, don't look so shocked. Your sister was all in. Nothing was forced upon her. All was going well, Nathaniel was at the stage of almost proposing her, and then your sister has to muddle everything'.
'What did you guys do to her?', I asked for the first time realizing that Sophie may have helped these people. I tried to think from her angle. She was just a woman in her early 20's who suffered sexual abuse. The safety of that much money may have allured her. I guess ... she made the choices depending on her situation. Unlike me, she doesn't know how to fight. She had no proper education, no kind man to offer a job, nothing. I don't have the right to question her. Oh, Sophie! What have you gone through to choose this path?
'What did I say about patience? Anyway, Sophie eavesdropped on Diana and my brother's conversation. You see, she didn't know the plans. All she was aware of is that we are helping her in return for the money she would bring to us. And she fell for it. Stupid cow. As if we would let her pull our strings. But you sisters, are so alike in eavesdropping. Anyways, she started doubting us after that. She cornered us with what she found out. We had to straighten her ruffled feathers', she sighed as if it was a dreaded core.
'Yet Sophie was not convinced. She started paying attention. She finally found out about the drugs... and this time she couldn't be controlled. Suddenly, she found her morals. She wanted to tell the family and police. We asked for a week to come clean. Sophie being...well, her, she agreed. Two years' worth hard work we put in place for Sinclair's demise... and this slip of a girl was threatening everything. And that was the time we decided... we had enough of her. It was time to stop her nagging before she made us dance to her tunes'.
'And so, you killed her. So brutally. Why so much violence? Why not just a gunshot? It would have been easy. Why go to all that trouble?'
'Well, we don't want people to find us now, do we? And at that time, that psycho killer was the craze. It was easy to make it look like one of his victims rather than a pre-planned murder. Your sister was just...collateral damage. Sorry', she said not at all sorry from her tone.
'How could you be so cruel? Don't you guys have any conscience? She trusted you when she opened that door', I nearly shouted.
'We all had to do what we must Erica. Don't give me that look. She was becoming a thorn on our side. She was settled for life in her apartment. She too was selfish in all this. She only chooses to reveal our involvement in the plan, but not hers. Good old Sophie tried to race for martyrdom, so we made her a martyr.'
'How could you think the police would never catch you? You murdered her!', this time a shout came out of me.
'Well, I'm sitting here, aren't I? You still have to learn so much about rich people Erica. You see, rich people tend to cover their hide whenever they could from the spotlight. They don't want the public to find out the skeletons in their closet. We used that loophole', she preened about their intelligence.
Never deterred, I asked, 'yet you both were back to the starting line. Charlotte went to rehab, Diana broke her affair, and Sophie', I swallowed the lump and continued, 'Sophie didn't trap Nathaniel, because you killed her', I grunted the last sentence.
'It was all because of you and your sister. You have to ruin everything. Her with her sudden conscience and you with your digging.', she started screeching by now. Good, just a few more strokes and she will be riled enough to attack me.
'How will you cover up my murder? One murder you covered successfully by blaming the psycho... but two? Do you think police won't question the timing and technique? Not to mention my absence of five days! By now police will be searching for me', I boasted with a bravado that lacked the truth.
'Oh...that, I already have a plan for that. You see, we will frame the bikers for it. Revenge- for those five bikers your lover killed. An eye for an eye and all. Pretty genius, don't you think?'
'Either you think those bikers are really stupid or yourself super clever. How would you frame a bunch of bikers without their knowledge in their turf and go unscathed?'
My fact was like placing a hot poker on her stomach. 'We still didn't iron out the details. We are working on it', thinking on the loophole I just pointed out.
'That's what I'm saying... stupid. Dumb, stupid, and pathetic. Because your plan was so screwed from the beginning. What would you guys have done once you trap them? Because you forget one main figure here- Raphael Sinclair. That guy can chomp someone to pieces if they threaten his family. And you thought you could just blackmail them for money? He is a fucking billionaire. Entire New York's police department is in his grip. If he wants, he could eat you guys for breakfast without batting an eyelash. You learned about him in the office, yet you tried to play with his family. Don't you think he would know?', I started playing with her insecurities.
Doubt flickered on her face from what I said. 'He is a busy guy. He wouldn't find out.'
'If that makes you sleep better, think like that. I just don't understand... why all this planning and plotting? Why couldn't you guys just go to him and reveal your relationship? You know Raphael Sinclair and his importance on family. He would have helped. Hell, he would have paid just for you guys to maintain the contact. Yet, you choose this path.'
Rose looked taken aback with my glimpse of Raphael Sinclair. Of course, they wouldn't have known any of that because he never shared this side of him with anyone but me. She became unsure about my murder now. Good.
'I don't think... we can spare you. You heard too much. You learned too much', she sighed and pointed her gun, this time with a correct aim. 'It was not nice meeting you', with that she fired, but I was ready for this.
With a speed that could only come from my training, I leaped through the chair rolling on the floor, and pushed her hand holding the gun upward with one hand while my other hand gripped her neck.
'How?', she croaked.
'Oh HONEY, do you think I'm sleeping beauty to listen to your bedtime story? I was just buying my time', with that I threw the gun far away from both of us. She tried to scratch me with her other hand. I blocked and gave a few solid punches but I'm weak from my captivity. I need to finish this before my energy is drained completely.
Unbeknownst to both of us, a guy slipped in the room. Watching our fight, he quickly took out his gun. He aimed at us and fired without preamble. But unlike the previous firing, this time the aim found its spot. I could see blood trickling.
'No!!' I shouted.