????ABIGAIL
INOCENCIO????
(The Murderer….)
By, Precious Pinky
CHAPTER 65????66
••••
{ HE CAN’T FORGET THE PAST }
“You?” Abby breathed out.
“Yes, me.”
______
“What are you doing here?” Abigail asked, raising a questioning brow at the uninvited guest.
“We need to talk.” Thelma said.
“Yes, we need to talk but we can do that in the hospital. Why did you come here?”
“We can’t have the conversation in the hospital. It is not safe.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sure you know about the murders happening in the hospital, right?”
“Right.” Abby nodded her head.
“Can I come in?”
Abigail hesitated, contemplating whether it was a good idea to let Thelma into her house or not.
She doesn’t trust the nurse.
What if Thelma turns out to be the murderer and she is here to kill her?
Abby shook her head, shaking off the negative and scary thought.
“Come in,” She ushered, opening the door wide enough for the nurse to walk through and enter the cozy house.
“Thanks.” Thelma muttered and entered inside.
Abby shut the door behind them and led the unexpected guest through the corridor and into the living room.
“Welcome to my house?” She said questioningly.
“You didn’t just say that from your mind. You don’t want me here, do you?”
“Listen, I am surprised to see you here, Thelma. You can’t blame me, can you? Besides, we are not friends for you to drop by my house to pay me a visit.” Abby replied.
“True. However, I am not here to pay you a visit or check up on your health. I am here to have a very important discussion with you.”
“Hmm. Anyway, what can I offer you to drink?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. I didn’t come here to drink but to discuss with you. Last night I left in a hurry after receiving a call from an unknown number.” She stated.
‘Why is she telling me all this? Can I trust her? Or are all these part of their plans to ruin me?’ Abigail thought to herself, giving the nurse a suspicious look.
Thelma could see the distrust in Dr. Abby’s eyes but chose to ignore them.
“Aren’t you going to ask your questions now?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Why are you here?”
“I think I already answered that question countless times a few minutes ago.”
“But you didn’t tell me why you came all the way to my house to have the conversation.”
“No, I did. I said the hospital is not safe for us to talk.”
“What kind of questions do you think I want to ask that makes you think it is not safe for us to have it in the hospital?”
“Your questions aren’t why I’m here, Dr. Abby. Partially, they are but not entirely.”
“So you are saying, you are not here to just answer my questions but also to tell me something?”
Thelma nodded her head as a yes.
“And I think your questions will be somewhat connected to what brought me here in the first place.”
Abby paused for a while before asking.
“Who was the unknown person that called you?”
“I don’t know. The person didn’t say their name or introduced themselves.”
“You are using the third pov pronoun, why?”
“Because the person used a voice changer to communicate with me.” She answered.
“Oh. What did the person say?”
“They threatened me. And I know exactly why.”
Abby pinched her brows together.
“Why?” She asked.
“I saw what happened that night. Someone dropped by the hospital that night. And I know who it was.”
Abby balled her fist and her face hardened as she awaited to hear Sandra’s name.
“Who was it?”
Thelma’s lips stretched into a smile and she tilted her head to the side.
“You will be shocked to hear the name of the person. Although I don’t think she is the killer.”
“Why not? And wait before you answer that. Why are you telling me this now?” Abby queried.
“Because….”
••••
“You are what?” Robert asked for the tenth time, staring between his best friend and unwanted sister.
“We are getting married.” Richard repeated for the same tenth time, holding Tessa’s hand tight as if she would disappear from the surface of the earth if he let go of her.
“What is going on here?” Robert asked no one in particular. “Is this the first day of April? Are you pranking me? Where is the rolling camera?” He asked, surveying the house.
“This is not a prank, Robert. And neither are there cameras rolling.” Richard spoke.
“Are you f**king with me right now?” Robert snapped, pushing his friend back. “You are getting married to her, really?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“What?”
“Are you deaf? How long have you been f**king my enemy behind my back!?”
“Enemy? That is too harsh, man. She is your sister.”
“She stopped being my sister the day she disowned me as her brother.”
“Robert_”
“Don’t. Just answer the damn question.” He cut him off, giving him a stern and angry look.
Richard swallowed nothing.
“We dated for three years and I proposed to her just yesterday. I’m sorry for keeping it away from you all these years. It’s only_”
“Get out.”
“Robert, hear me out first. Please.”
“I said, get out. Get the f**k out of my house!” He growled.
“Robert,” Tessa called softly, tears spilling out of her eyes.
“Do you seriously think that I will be moved by your crocodile tears? You hurt me, Tessa. So what? You decided to beg for mercy because you were f**king my best friend, is that it?”
“Of course not. I am in love with Richard, I swear. And I am not begging for mercy because I want to be with your friend but rather because I am deeply sorry for what I did to you in the past. I hurt you, broke your trust, and ruined your childhood happiness. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t need your apologies, Tessa. I will never be able to forgive you. Never.”
“I am your only family, Robert.”
“Only family?” He scoffed. “I lived my life without you in it and guess what? It felt like I never had a sister.”
“You don’t mean that.” She mumbled, fresh tears rolling down her face. “Please tell me you don’t_”
“Have you suddenly forgotten what you said to me that morning after I returned home with Richard and his mother and found out that our parents were dead?” He asked.
Tessa bite her bottom lip and lowered her gaze and that was an indication that she remembered.
“Stay away from me. Stop coming here, I beg you.” He snarled.
“Man, can’t you just forget about the past and forgive her? She is deeply sorry.” Richard stated.
“I am disappointed in you, Richard. To think that you will stand by me and support me…” He shook his head. “I was a fool to believe that you meant well for me.”
“It’s not that deep, man. Why are you talking like this?”
“Why am I talking like this? Have you forgotten what I went through? Because of her,” He pointed at Tessa who was feeling so ashamed of herself already. “I had no friends. Every kid in my class called me a murderer and they didn’t want to have anything to do with me. My sister made life hell for me! Each day, she would blame me for the death of our parents. I almost committed suicide because of her. Tell me,” He faced her now. “Would you have come to my grave to ask for forgiveness if I had succeeded in killing myself?”
Tessa could not say anything.
“Get out.” He strode to the door and pulled it open for them. “Leave right now. I don’t have a sister and neither do I have a best friend.”
“Are you serious?” Richard questioned, refusing to believe that his childhood friend would break their friendship because of the hate he has for his sister.
Yes, Robert has every right to be mad at Tessa but it would take nothing from him to just forgive her.
What makes him different from her now?
“If you want to keep being my best friend then end your engagement with her.” He said.
Richard shook his head in disagreement.
“I can’t… I love Tessa with my life.”
“Then get out.”
“No.” Tessa stared at Richard. “You can’t end your friendship with my brother because of me, babe.”
“I am not your brother,” Robert said through clenched teeth.
“I can’t break off our engagement either, Tessa. And if being with you means ending my friendship with your brother then fine! If that’s what he wants, of course.”
“What are you doing here then? Get out of my house, or else I’m going to arrest you and your fiancee for trespassing.”
“You are going to regret this, Robert. Trust me.” Richard and Tessa walked out of the house while Robert jammed the door closed, releasing a loud groan of anger.
••••
“Are you going to keep ignoring me?” Mr. Hart asked, sitting down beside his wife.
“I am not in the mood to talk.” She retorted.
“We have to talk. What happened between you and Jersey?”
She did not answer.
“You can’t keep ignoring me like this, hun. Talk to me, please.”
She stayed quiet for a few seconds, sniffling every now and then.
“Didn’t you notice the changes in our son?”
Mr. Hart let out a deep breath as he nodded his head in agreement.
“He is like a stranger I don’t know anything about. He is keeping secrets from us and no matter how much he says he isn’t, I don’t believe him.” She said.
“Is this about his suspicion of Marshall?” Her husband asked.
“No. It isn’t just about that. Did you see the bruise on his hand? And how pale his face was?”
“What kind of bruise because I didn’t see anything.” Mr. Hart noted.
“It is not really a bruise like a cut or a stab or something. But more like, he inflicted the injury on himself.” She explained.
“Are you sure of what you are saying, dear?” He questioned.
“I’m not hundred percent sure.” She answered. “I’m really worried about him, you know.”
“I know. I’m likewise worried.” He slung his arms around her shoulder. “I will talk to him.”
“Please do. Although there is no guarantee that he would listen to you but still try.”
“I will.”
There was a knock on the bedroom door, grabbing their attention.
“Yes?” Mr. Hart answered.
The door was pushed open and Felicia walked in.
“Hi mom, Hi dad.” She greeted and kissed them both on the cheek before taking a step back.
“How are you?” Mr. Hart asked.
“I’m fine.” Felicia observed her mother. “Mom, have you been crying?”
Mrs. Hart shook her head. “No. Something got into my eyes. I’m fine. How are my grandkids?”
“They are both doing fine. You look like someone crying, though. Are you sure there is nothing going on?”
“There is nothing happening, Felicia. Stop worrying yourself over nothing.”
“Hmm. If you say so.”
“What are you doing here?” Mr. Hart asked.
“I came to check up on both of you. And ask about…” She hesitated. “Jersey. How is he?”
“This is weird.” Mrs. Hart furrowed her brows, giving her child a pointed look. “You don’t ask after your brother whenever you stop by the house. What changed?”
Felicia shrugged her shoulders and replied, “My husband told me about Jersey’s weird behavior at the hospital yesterday.”
“Weird behavior?” Mrs. Hart jumped up from the bed and rushed to stand in front of her daughter. “Did he elucidate?”
“Well, he said, Jersey was in the men’s restroom scrubbing his hands repeatedly to the point of bleeding.”
“I said it!” Mrs. Hart almost screamed, glancing at her husband. “Remember what I told you a few minutes ago?”
“Yeah,” Mr. Hart also rose to his feet. “However, why will Jersey hurt himself?”
“I am going over to the hospital.” Mrs. Hart announced.
“What? No. You are not going.” Her husband refused.
“You can’t stop me, Hart. I need to check up on my son. Something is certainly going on with him. I’ve found the confirmation that I needed.”
“Wait,” Felicia cleared her throat. “What’s happening?”
“Felicia, your brother has been acting really strange lately. He doesn’t eat breakfast before going to work or join us for dinner after returning home. He rarely talks to anybody in the house. His face is pale and his lips always quiver. Your brother looks nervous all the time. It worries me.”
“Mother, I don’t think you should worry yourself like this. I’m sure it’s because of the situation in the hospital.” Felicia stated, trying to calm her mother’s nerves down.
“Felicia is right, dear. You worry too much and that’s not good for your health.” Mr. Hart told his wife, holding her hand.
“Fine, let’s say it’s the hospital condition that’s making him act like a shadow of himself. I still can’t stay calm and not bothered. He didn’t even eat breakfast before going to work.”
“I will take some food to him.” Felicia blurted out before she could stop herself and her parents were beyond shock.
“You… you will?” They asked her at the same time.
“Ye…yes.” She stammered, scolding herself for volunteering to take food to her brother. He won’t appreciate her effort instead, he would say something hurtful to her and make her regret showing kindness to him. And come to think of it, she wasn’t doing this for him but for her mother who is worried sick about him. “If that will calm you down, I will do it.”
“You don’t have to do that, Felicia.” Mrs. Hart mumbled. “I can take it to him by myself.”
“No, I will do it. You need to rest. Besides, I also want to take some food to Marshall.” She said.
“Thank you, my child.” Her mother appreciated, smiling.
••••
Richard was boiling in anger but he was doing everything possible not to show it.
Tessa took a sip of the steaming cup of coffee before glancing up at her fiance.
“Babe,” She called out but he didn’t answer. “Richard.” She called once again, a little bit louder this time around.
He looked at her, a deep frown plastered on his face.
“What are you thinking about?” She asked in a calm tone.
Richard let out a deep breath, ruffling his hair. “Nothing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that shit for an answer. I know you are thinking about Robert. Do you really have to do that?”
“Do what?”
“End your friendship with him, of course. Am I worth it?” She asked.
“I love you, Tessa.” He said.
“I love you too. But what about Robert? I know you love him just as much.”
He sighed.
“Robert was selfish. He should have been happy for me. His best friend told him about his engagement and instead of him congratulating him, he flared up and then cut ties with him. Does that make any sense?”
“You can’t blame him.” She mumbled. “He would have been happy for you and congratulated you if you had introduced another girl as your fiance.”
“I chose you over every other girl out there and I don’t regret it.” He stated, grabbing the cup of coffee he ordered for himself.
“I feel so bad, you know. Robert has always been so fond of you and he would hate me more for ruining his friendship with his best friend.”
“You didn’t do anything.” He dropped the cup of coffee on the table without touching it and rounded the table to sit beside her. “Robert ended our friendship, not you. He chose his hatred for you over his love for me. I want to be with you and if Robert truly values our friendship then he should be happy for me and forgive you.”
“It is not that easy, Babe. I hurt him in the past. I… I…” She shook her head, sniffling.v“I wasn’t a good sister to him. It is not his fault that he hates me. I hated him in the past, remember?”
Richard wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his arms.
“The past is in the past, my love. Robert should learn how to let go.”
••••
“Honey!” Sandra barged into the office with an excited smile on her face.
Marshall who was with a patient was shocked at her unprofessionalism.
“Oops, did I interrupt something?” She asked.
“What does it look like?” He hissed.
“I’m so sorry. I will leave now,” She attempted to walk away when the patient said.
“Don’t worry. I was about to leave.” She stood up and left the office.
“Are you serious? Why would you barge in like that? What if I was with_”
“Your wife.” She completed with a bored look on her face. “Does it look like I care?”
“You will have to care, Sandra. Because if you want this shit to continue between the both of us then you must respect my wife and make sure she doesn’t find out anything about us.”
She rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“You don’t get to decide anything, Marshall. I am not begging for your love or attention.”
“Technically, you are.” He deadpanned.
She chuckled and shook her head.
“You have no choice but to be with me. You don’t want to lose your wife or ruin your marriage so I am using that obsessiveness to get what I want. And what I want is you.” She instantly slammed her lips on his, kissing him hungrily.
••••
Felicia was heading to her husband’s office, holding a bag of food for both him and Jersey.
Although, she plans on giving her husband food first before going to her brother’s office.
It would have made much sense if she gives food to Jersey first but she knows by the time she steps out of his office, she will not be in a good mood because he will certainly do or say something that makes her angry and she doesn’t want to go to her husband’s office, looking pissed.
Felicia was humming to a tone, almost getting close to her husband’s office.
On getting there, she pushed the door open without even knocking.
“Surprise, hon_”
The rest of her words got stuck in her throat when she saw the scene in front of her.
TBC.