????ABIGAIL
INOCENCIO????
(The Murderer….)
By, Precious Pinky
Copyright ©️(Don’t copy this story if you don’t want to see madness!)
UNEDITED… EXPECT ERRORS
CHAPTER 73&74
••••
{ CLOSE TO THE TRUTH }
SANDRA: I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. LET’S MEET IN THE COFFEE SHOP BESIDE THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW.
________
There was no response from Abby and neither have she read the text yet.
Sandra released a deep breath and dropped her phone on the coffee table, running her fingers through her thick long black hair.
Margaret stepped close to her and started stroking her back softly, in a consolation manner.
“Should I make you something to eat?” She asked.
Sandra shook her head.
“It’s unhealthy to eat by this time, Margaret.” She sighed. “And why are you still awake?”
“Your pacing back and forth didn’t let me sleep. I was worried about you.”
“You don’t have to be. I’m fine now.”
“You don’t look fine to me, ma’am.” Margaret said.
“Oh, please. Call me Sandra. You don’t need to be so formal around me anymore.”
“I work for you,”
“You are a part of the family.” Sandra corrected. “You’ve been with me right from the moment I got pregnant with David. You are more than an employee.”
“Are you saying this now because I just gave you the best advice ever?” Margaret asked, jokingly.
Sandra laughed at the joke.
“Partially, yes.”
“Ouch.” Margaret held Sandra’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Did you and Marshall had a fight?”
Sandra lowered her gaze, avoiding to look into the woman’s eyes.
Margaret have been like a mother to her after the death of her biological mother and she got pregnant with David. Although she was never really appreciative or nice to the woman.
But right now, she was regretting the things she has done and said to the woman these past years. Margaret deserves better treatment. Good thing she has realized that now.
“You did.” Margaret mumbled as she noticed Sandra’s weird behavior. “If it is not too much to ask, what happened?”
Sandra hesitated, feeling ashamed of herself already.
“He…” She gulped nothing, nervously. “He is married.”
The nanny’s eyes went wide immediately after she heard that.
“What?”
Sandra stepped away from the woman and went to sit down on the bar stool, propping up her elbows on the counter.
“I don’t understand,” Margaret stated as she moved closer to Sandra, curious to hear the full details of the disheartening story. She has always rooted their relationship. She even thought that one day they will get married. How could he get married to someone else? “Why will he marry someone else? I thought he loves you.”
“Love?” Sandra scoffed, shaking her head in disagreement. “He doesn’t love me, Margaret. He never even did.”
“This is unbelievable. So wait, he has been double-dating?”
“You know, I wish that was the case. But it isn’t. He has been married before he started dating me. I was the other woman in his life. I am the mistress. A homewrecker. A woman who has been f**king another woman’s husband. I’m a bad person, Margaret. And do you know what hurts most?” She sniffled. “Nobody is looking at this situation in my own perspective. They all tagged me as the villain. But in reality, I am also a victim. I didn’t know he was married and he promised me the whole world. He made me fall helplessly in love with him. I did crazy things for him, Margaret.” She cried. “And now, he is threatening me for the things I did for him.”
“Oh, my child.” Margaret wrapped her arms around Sandra and pulled her into her arms. “Please don’t cry.”
“It hurts. My heart bleed.”
“Just tell the truth before he does…that way, you will have the upper hand to implicate him as well.”
Sandra stopped crying immediately and she slowly looked up at the nanny.
“Implicate him?”
“Whatever crime you committed, you did it for him. Doesn’t that make him an accomplice? Or didn’t he know about what you did?”
Sandra nodded her head. “He does.”
“You see, he is technically an accomplice. Tell your side of the story first and see how crazy he will get when he finds out what you’ve done.”
••••
Emma entered Abby’s room, but her friend was yet to be back from wherever she went to thirty minutes ago.
Abby got a call from someone and rushed out of the house saying she has something to take care of and now, she is not yet back.
“Should I be worried?” Emma asked herself, creasing her brows together. “I think I should call her and find out where exactly she is right now.” She drew her phone out her pocket and dialed Abby’s number.
The phone started ringing inside the room, making Emma a little bit confused.
“Wait, don’t tell me…” She looked around and sighted the phone on the cosmetic table. “Oh, shit. She left her phone at home. How will I be able to communicate with her now?” She groaned and snatched Abby’s phone from the table and that was when she saw the text from Sandra.
SANDRA: I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. LET’S MEET AT THE COFFEE SHOP BESIDE THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW.
“She has a confession to make?” Emma muttered under her breath.
••••
Abby and Jersey were eating cup noodles by the window side.
They’ve gone to different places to eat and now here they are, eating again.
“Mm.” Abby moaned. “This is really delicious.”
“I know, right?”
“How did you know about this place?” She asked him.
“Well, I’m a street food lover. Don’t judge me.” He said.
“What will I judge you? I’m regretting not being a street food lover right now. I mean, this is delicious and I have been missing out on it.”
“Eat as much as you want. My treat.” He stated.
“Nah. I will pay for it,”
“What? Why will I let you do that? I will pay for the food, don’t bother yourself.”
“Every places we ate from, you paid. Please let me pay for the food this time around.” She said, pleadingly.
“Ugh. Fine. I can’t win this fight with you, can I?”
“Nope.”
They quietly ate their food until they finished.
“Let’s go and pay for the food now,” Abby stated as she trash the empty cup of noodles in the dustbin while Jersey did the same and they both walked towards the cashier who stood behind the counter. “How much for the food?”
“100bucks.” The cashier replied. “Cash or card?”
“Uhm,” Abby patted her pocket for her purse but she couldn’t find it. “Oh, f**k. I forgot my purse at home. Even my damn phone.” She mentally scolded herself and turned to face Jersey who was staring at her with a smirk on his face.
“Should I pay for the food now?” He raised a questioning brow at her.
“Just borrow me the money. I will repay you.” She said.
“Are you_” He groaned and gave her his black credit card.
“Thank you.” She gave the card to the cashier.
The cashier collected the card and swipe it on the machine before giving Abby back the card.
“Thank you for stopping by.” She said to them.
“Thank you too for the delicious cup noodles.” Abby replied and left the store alongside Jersey.
••••
“Argh! I’m so full.” Abby groaned, holding her stomach as they walked along the road sideline.
Jersey chuckled. “That’s the reward of coming out here when I called without hesitating or refusing.”
She smiled.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed, right?”
“A friend? Wait, are you saying I am your friend?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Well, I…”
“I can take back the title if you don’t like it.” She told him with a serious expression on her face.
Jersey quickly shook his head. “No, please. I want to be your friend.”
“So why were you being hesitant as if you didn’t liked the idea of being my friend?” She cocked a questioning brow at him.
“I was surprised, that’s all. I never thought you had considered me a friend.” He responded.
“Oh.” She smiled. “Hope it is not too much to ask for?”
“I want to be your friend, Abby.”
“Wow. This is the first time you are mentioning my name without the ‘Dr’ title.” She giggled.
“We are not in the hospital and just as you’ve said, we are friends.”
She simply nodded her head without saying anything else.
They silently walked the distance to Abby’s house until they reached in front of the gate.
“Do you want to come inside?” She offered, watching him closely.
“Is it not inappropriate?” He queried.
“Hey, we are friends. And I am inviting inside for a cup of coffee. Feel free to refuse the invitation.” She said.
“I don’t know… I just find it strange to go to a lady’s house by this time of the night.”
“Nothing is going to happen, Jersey. And besides, I have a detective friend in there so you technically can’t do anything to me.”
“You have a friend who is a detective?” He was more than shock to hear that from her.
“Yup. You’ve even met her before.”
He frowned. “I have?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think so because I can’t remember meeting any of your friends, Abby. I didn’t even know you could keep friends.”
“Whaaaat?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “I can’t believe my friend thinks I don’t have a friend. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“As you said it like that, I think it does sound ironic from my part. We are friends and here I am doubting that you have friends.” He smiled. “Anyway, I don’t think I should go inside with you.”
“Okay. If that’s what you want,” She slightly shrugged her shoulders.
“Maybe some other day?”
“Sure.” She turned to leave when he said something from behind, bringing her movement to a halt.
“Why aren’t you asking?”
Abby faced him once again and gave him a confused look.
“Ask you what?”
“I called you out late to spend some time with me. And you are not asking me why or what happened.”
“I was just giving you privacy, Jersey. I thought that if you wanted me to know anything, you would have simply talked about it without waiting for me to ask you first.” She explained.
“To be sincere, I wanted you to ask me first.” He mumbled. “But you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry if I disappointed you but I’m not sorry for giving you privacy.”
He reached out to hold her by the shoulder -they were standing a few miles away from each other now.
“I’m in deep shit, Abby. There are some decisions and choices I’ve made that will surely ruin me.” He paused. “I know they were wrong. My head keeps screaming at me to do what’s right but my heart is telling me to do otherwise and guess what? I am foolishly following my heart.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked in a whisper, looking deeply into his eyes to see if she could find an answer or at least a clue to her question.
He has said something like this on the rooftop the day they both shared that heated and hot kiss.
And now that he is repeating those same words, it makes her more confused.
“You don’t have to know, Abby.” He told her after staying quiet for a long time. “I just want you to promise me that you will always be by my side no matter what happens.”
She batted her eyelashes, her legs becoming weak.
“What wants to happen? I want to know why you are talking like this. What decisions did you take that you are so scared of the repercussion? Please talk to me.”
“Abby,” He cleared his throat. “There are some certain things better off not knowing.” He leaned his face closer to hers. “But always stay by my side and I will also stay by your side.”
“Stay by your side as what? Your friend?”
He shook his head. “No. But as something more than a friend.” He crashed his lips on hers afterward and Abby reciprocated the kiss immediately.
••••
Emma’s phone ringing brought her out of the deep slumber.
She groaned as she peeled her eyes open and looked around for her phone.
She sighted it on the table beside the bed and stretched her hand to collect it.
It was Robert.
She answered the call and placed the phone over her ear.
“What!?” She snapped.
“Whoa. Chill, will ya?” He chuckled. “Are you still sleeping?”
“Mm.” She hummed, her eyes closing.
“Rise and shine, Emma. We have work to do this morning.” He said.
“Yeah…” She dragged the word.
“The test result is out. Didn’t your friend tell you already?”
“Test result? What are you talking abou_” Her eyes snapped open and she quickly sat upright on the bed. “The autopsy result is out?”
“Finally, I’ve gotten your attention.” He sighed. “Yes, it is out.”
“F**k. I’m coming over to the station right now but wait,” She remembered the text Sandra sent to Abby.
“What?”
“I think I will have to stop by a coffee shop before coming over to work.”
“Why do you want to stop by a coffee shop? Do you want to drink coffee? I could brew it for you.”
“No. I need to meet up someone there.” She replied.
“Oh. Okay.”
“Yeah.”
“See you later?”
“Sure.” She hung up the call and dashed to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
••••
Emma rushed downstairs and went into the kitchen when she heard voices from over there.
She was already dressed to go out.
“Good morning,” She greeted, taking in the scene in front of her.
Abby was seated on the countertop while a man stood in between her legs, his arms around around her slender waist while she has her arms encircled around his neck.
As soon as Emma greeted them, they both pulled away from each other while Abby jumped down from the counter and started arranging her messy blonde hair.
“Good… good morning.” Abby replied.
“How was your night?” Emma asked, giving them the ‘I know what you did’ look.
“It was good. Not good like I mean, we had a good night. I’m not talking about what you are thinking but we slept all through the night without_” Abby blabbed until Emma cut her off.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, darling.” She winked and Abby blushed, looking away from her friend. Emma faced the man and she frowned. “Wait, I think I’ve seen your face somewhere. I know you, right?”
“Right. I am Jersey Hart.” He stretched out his hand and she quickly shook him.
“Emma.” She introduced. “I wasn’t expecting to see the director of Santos Hospital in my humble abode.”
“Shut up, Emma.” Abby muttered.
“I’m off to work.” Emma threw her hands up in the air in surrender. “Abby, can you see me off to the door?”
“Of course. I will be right back.” She told Jersey and left the kitchen with Emma.
••••
“What is going on?”
“Going on where?” Abby asked.
“Why is your director in our house by this time? Why did he spend the night here?”
“Calm down,”
“I am calm. But I just don’t understand what’s going on.” She said in all sincerity.
“I will cut to the chase,” Abby hesitated for a few seconds. “Jersey and I are officially dating.”
Emma’s eyes went wide.
“What?”
“I know it’s surprising and a lot to take in. I was once adamant and determined not to date or have anything to do with him but things changed.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” Emma joked, a smile playing on her face.
“Your friend is still here, honey.”
“But honestly, what made you change your mind?” Emma asked.
Abigail shrugged her shoulders and said,
“I deserve to be happy. Even if it might for a short period. For once, I want to be happy and being with Jersey makes me happy.”
“I’m glad you are finally able to admit your feelings for him. It was long overdue.”
“You know, I could say the same about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s stopping you from being with Robert? Are you guys just going to keep building the tension, huh?”
Emma rolled her eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed. She could feel the acceleration of her heartbeat.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Robert and I are just friends and colleagues. Nothing more.”
“Of course.” Abby replied, sarcastically.
“Anyway, I’m off to work. That reminds me, did you read any text from your phone?” Emma asked.
“Text? I haven’t even hold my phone talk more of reading a text. Why do you ask? Did you send me a text?”
“Uhm… yeah. No. Not really. Wait, I_”
“Are you okay?”
‘Should I tell her about Sandra’s text? No, I shouldn’t. She will see it herself.’
“I’m okay. I should get going now. Have fun with your boo. But hey, don’t you dare have s3x on my kitchen counter, on the couch or in my room. Or else, I will skin you alive. Love you!” She hurriedly left the house.
“Love you too!” Abby responded and went back into the kitchen to meet her new boyfriend, Jersey.
••••
Sandra has been waiting for over thirty minutes.
She groaned in frustration, checking the time on her wristwatch for the umpteenth time.
She heard the sound of the door opening and quickly looked up to see if it was Abby and not another customer.
Surprisingly, she saw a very familiar face and instantly she became scared and started reconsidering her decision.
Emma approached her and sat down opposite her.
“Dr. Sandra, right?”
“What are you doing here? Did Dr. Abby called the cops on me?” She looked around to see if there are any cops around aside from Emma.
“Abby didn’t call anybody on you. I’m sure you don’t know this but Dr. Abby is my best friend. She is like a family to me.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. I happened to see the text you sent to her by chance.” She said. “You don’t need to feel uncomfortable around me, Dr. Sandra. And don’t be scared as well. I am not here to arrest you.”
“You might change your mind when you hear what I am about to say,”
“I know you were present the night the murder happened.” Emma told her.
“You know? How come?”
“Abby overheard you having the conversation with your accomplices.”
Sandra scratched the nape of her neck, frightened.
“Why didn’t you arrest me then?” She asked.
“Because there is a possibility that you are not the killer. However, you need to tell me why you dropped by the hospital that night. I’m sure that’s why you arranged this meeting with Abby, right?”
“Yes,” She whispered.
“Speak,”
“Before I start talking, why do you think I am not the killer?” She asked.
Emma shrugged. “Because there is a slight chance that Tara was already dead before you arrived to do whatever you did.”
“I injected a substance in her IV drip.” Sandra blurted out. “The substance is to make her unconscious for a few hours and not to kill her, I swear.”
“Why did you inject her with such substance?”
“To punish Abby for speaking down on Marshall. I regret it now because Marshall isn’t worth what I did for him at all.”
“Why did you decide to confess?”
“Marshall is threatening me with it and a wise woman advice me to tell the truth because no secret last forever.”
“You abused your power as a doctor. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“I am. Are you going to arrest me now?”
“There is no proof that you killed Tara. But you are a suspect and moreover, we are close to the truth.”
“How so?”
“You don’t need to know. Thanks for your time, Dr. Sandra. Always stick around because you can be called to the station for questioning at any time.”
TBC