The Phonies : SpaceNeeded

 Chapter 1. SpaceNeeded

 

 

"What did you text him?"

 

Saddie asked as she sipped hot chocolate at the coldest hour of the season. In spite of that, and the fact that hot chocolate was her all time favorite, she wasn't enjoying it at that moment. Nor had she been consciously aware of it's presence. After she spilled about half of the cup accidentally, that was clear. That wasn't like her at all. 

 

So what was going on in that big head of hers? 

 

"Just a 'where are you' to which he replied with 'together' " reported the confused Jess as she seemed to be only as lost as Saddie.

Saddie then threw herself on a bean bag opposite to the television and began scrolling the control keys mindlessly.

 

"Doesn't make sense. He has been MIA for what? Seven hours straight!" she exclaimed with all disbelief possible. 

Jess let out a loud resigned sigh. 

"Hoo Lee would've known better but she isn't reachable at the moment either"

 

Saddie's furrowed brow relaxed at that.

 

"In that case they might've just gotten drunk and would be-"

 

 Jess choked on her tea and sat up straighter. 

 

"So you are telling me, Adam and Hoo Lee have both passed out on some couch at eight in the morning on a weekday? Sure, I believe that. I don't even doubt Adam and Hoo Lee being together given that they discovered being half-siblings last fall." 

Saddie wished she had passed away before having to face that stern look Jess gave. 

"I-I was-umm-just trying-no, not trying-I just-uhh" she stammered for a while until she eventually lost her words. 

"I hate your paranoid nature. And the way you've suspected me for either Hoo Lee or Adam's sudden disappearance hit a nerve in me." admitted Jess, truthfully. 

Although Saddie hated to present herself as the sentimental kind, Jess's words had an earthquake-like effect on her. She couldn't stop shedding tears. Largely because, she had to agree with Jess on this. 

"No, I never thought that about you" Saddie lied sheepishly. 

"I know you didn't. You thought I had done something to both of them, not just one." 

"No I-"

"Drop the act"

That was enough. It solved the purpose. If you thought the purpose here was to stop Saddie from lying, you are looking at this exactly the way Jess wants you to. Not that Jess is a liar though. She is, however, the kind of liar you won't believe ever lied in her life.

Before Saddie could react, Jess's niece had entered her room with Jess's phone in her hand.

Before she handed over the phone to it's owner, the three year old read the last word that appeared on the chat window. 

"Togeter!" she said with a toothy smile. 

"Darling, it is 'together' not togeter' " corrected Saddie.

As she turned to face Jess, the latter was already on her way to the parking lot. 

"Hey wait! Where are you-"

"To get her. Not together" Jess muttered the words almost to herself then added,

"They could be in real danger, hop in the car quick! We're heading to the police station. Also, call Mr Known and explain him the case." then, she quickly asked with a skeptical look,

"Did I ever mention Mr Known? The guy I was dating?"

Saddie was too quick to reply, "oh! Of course you did! It had slipped from my mind earlier. Silly me. Yeah, he was your boyfriend- the handsome one"

 

 ***

Jess immediately held her gun against Saddie's neck and locked the latter's hands behind. 

 

"Boyfriend, my foot! Mr Known is working as a policeman and was supposed to be your colleague. You bloody imposter."  

***

"Jess! Jess?" Saddie shook her back to the present. 

"Are we leaving? for the police station? or you wanna think more about that guy you dated?" she teased. 

 

Little had she known, Jess was already thinking on the same lines as she was...

 

To be continued...