Derailed (46 page)

“We’re here!” I say as I pull up in the hotel parking lot.

Again, he rubs his hands together. “Now, make me scream like you promised.” He pauses to push up his glasses before he continues rubbing his hands together.

I turn my head away to indulge in an eye roll. Once in the hotel, I do my bit and hurry to make him scream so I can be on my way. By the time we leave the hotel, I am confident of Norman’s eternal loyalty to me.

SCARLETT

My Facebook petition has worked. Rival has been arrested. Finally. That also means that Ritchie’s video is worth diddly squat after all. That’s probably the only reason he hasn’t gone to the cops. Maybe he realizes that if he submits the tapes to the cops and I am arrested, he faces extortion, aiding and abetting, obstruction of justice, and all the other charges that come when you conceal a crime and blackmail someone. (If he is convicted, he loses his license to run his security business.) 

Or maybe…just maybe he plans to swindle Rival out of all her money. I smile at the thought of him taking her to the cleaners.

My attention is drawn back to Rival’s appearance on TV. How the fuck does she manage to look so good during this terrible time? Her hair is straight and shiny, she’s wearing a burgundy velour sweatpants, a matching jacket, and a pink singlet. She has little makeup, but I have to admit, grudgingly at that, she looks nothing like a murdering psychopath. Pity.

I switch channels and nod. Just about every station is covering her arrest. Good.

So far everything has gone according to plan, except for Ritchie – he had to poke around and mug me. God! I feel like screaming at the injustice of it all. Didn’t he realize that he and I could have had a lot of fun with all the money I received?

Now how the hell do I explain my move into a tiny apartment? I have to think of something. After a while I log onto Facebook.

Scarlett:
Tomorrow I move into a tiny apartment and start my life alone and without my husband.
I add a photo of my apartment block.

Scarlett:
A far cry from the mansion I once lived in, but I’m sure Bradley is smiling at my generosity toward his kids. It’s the kids who matter most to me.

I then email this snippet to several newspapers and television stations. Hopefully my munificence is newsworthy.

I spend the next few minutes in front of a mirror rehearsing what I’m going to say about my big-heartedness in my
60 Minutes
interview.  

Yes, of course, I was a suspect in the case; the spouse always is. But I didn’t mind. I just wanted the detectives to do their job, clear me, and go after the real murderer who committed this terrible atrocity and robbed me of my life, my dreams, my future, my prince.

I loved him so much. We were so happy. He…
At this stage, I would lower my eyes and sniff loudly. Never once would I badmouth Rival. Instead, I will lead others in such a way that
they
point fingers at Rival. Let others do my dirty work for me.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Random Seduction Tip

People yearn to be seduced by someone who is confident and who can take them to a higher level. Hence you have to exude confidence at all times. The more powerful the man, the more he yearns to be dominated and controlled. Finally there is someone daring, unafraid and fascinating that he can be in awe of. It is an exhilarating experience for someone like him to be whisked up and away, into a feminine, sensual world where his every need is catered to.

Beware though, your sexual prowess will be challenged by one who is that powerful – can you deliver what you promised, what you hinted at all along? If you can, any qualms about you will be immediately dispersed. If you have gained his confidence, he may allow you to explore his dark desires and his fantasies, even the forbidden. (Believe me when I tell you that every single man has a dark desire. He may not be aware of it, or he may be too embarrassed and scared to mention it to you.) Since he will be venturing into uncharted territory, expect him to grow emotional, to feel vulnerable and afraid. But, knowing that you are his bivouac, confident and in control, his delirium will soon turn out to be a pleasure-filled experience.

SCARLETT

I want to scream. Every time I turn on the TV I see Rival’s face. Not a single picture of me.

Every time I open a newspaper, I see her ugly mug smiling like an angel she pretends to be. 

It’s a struggle not to hurl my glass of twice-purified water at the screen. They’re calling her a best-selling author. That really gets me. What the fuck does a mental patient know about writing a book? She’s so full of shit, I’ll bet she’d be superb at scatology.

As for the media – what is wrong with them? Don’t they realize that all that publicity they’re heaping on a murderess is only driving up her book sales? Because of them she’s made The New York Times Best Selling Author’s list! It’s what I have always dreamed off, and she has just reached out and stolen it from me. Stolen my dream. A travesty if you ask me.

As for her photos – they’re only using nice Instagram-filtered ones. What about the ones from Dunhill? The ones where her eyes are glazed and her hair stands up in all directions? I am so livid, I can hardly concentrate on anything.

Most hurtful – why has the media forgotten about me? I am the victim here. I lost my husband and I almost got killed in the process, remember?  Where is my pity? Where is the outpouring of sympathy toward me? Society has lost its way. They laud the villains and forget about the real victims. 

Our derelict society has two standards: one for women and one for men. That arsehole Simon Cowell, the jerk from Idol with moobs – he stole his best friend’s wife, didn’t he? Got her knocked up while she was still
married
. How is it that society isn’t going after him with an Ak-47? Yet they constantly remind us that Leanne Rimes stole Eddie from Brandy? It’s fucked up, I tell you. Society hates women.
Women
hate women. (Does Merriam-Webster have a term for
women
who hate women?)

Society is doomed if they clamor for the autograph of a murderess. If they choose to put the photo of a criminal in the
front
pages of the newspapers. If every television news bulletin has the photo of a psychotic killer in news headlines. We should collectively pray for an apocalypse. Now.

Well, all that’s about to change. I have some photos in my possession of my rival looking like the whacko she is, taken during her stay at Dunhill. It’s time the world got to see that side of her. If those photos don’t make people view her differently and change their minds about her, then I don’t know what will.

RITCHIE

I race over to Rival’s kids, totally gutted by her arrest. The detectives were so quiet, I assumed it would be a while before she was arrested. Truth be told, I even hoped they had insufficient proof for an indictment. At Arena’s house, I am greeted by two highly distraught kids. Holly seems more affected by Rival’s public arrest, even though her relationship with Rival has been strained. I pick up both girls and sit down with them, trying my best to comfort them.

“They t…took Mum away, Uncle Ritchie,” Holly says, burying her tear-stained face in my chest.

“Is she gone to a better place too?” little Phoebe asks.

“Mum’s coming home soon,” I say in a determined voice. “I promise you both that. Soon.”

For the next hour or so, I comfort and distract them. Once they are settled, I go over to Vlad’s to discuss the video.

“Ritchie, you’re going to face charges when we hand the video over to the cops, you realize that?” Vlad says.

I shrug.

“What you did was extortion. Plain and simple.”

“Yeah, but she’ll have to prove that I extorted her.”

“Aiding and abetting, Ritchie?”

“Mm.”

“Obstruction of justice?”

Silently, I stare at Vlad.

“What do we do?” I say, feeling the heat. “I wanted Rival to get what belongs to her before Scarlett disposes of all her assets or signs it over to her father. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

He nods. “Scarlett’s not going to let you get off scott-free.”

I nod.

“If you hadn’t used that
crucial
bit of info to get Scarlett to sign over the house and insurance policy, it may be a different ball game, but now…Ritchie, they may throw the book at you.”

“What are we looking at?” I ask. “Jail time?”

He exhales before he answers, “Four, five years for the extortion bit. The obstruction of justice is usually a misdemeanor.”

Four or five years without my kids. How will I manage that? My shoulders sag, and for a few moments I sit in silence. “But …Rival will be home, Vlad,” I finally says. “She will be cleared of the murder charge. Isn’t that the most important thing?”

“If you are convicted, you stand to lose your security license and –”

“That’s all right.” 

Vlad stares at me for a few moments. “You must really love this woman, Ritchie.”

I nod. “With all my heart.”

“Well, she’d better appreciate you, Ritchie.”

Again I shrug.

RITCHIE

It’s 7 a.m., and Vlad and I are at the police station, seated across the two detectives handling Bradley’s murder investigation, Detective Stern and Guild. After seeing how easily manipulated these detectives were with Scarlett, I know this interview is going to be easy.

You can feel their excitement as they watch the tapes. I’ve also told them about the part where the figure in stripes hides the gun and sweater in the shrubs. I deliberately didn’t talk about the part where Norman returns to fetch his loot and we get a clear view of his face.

After an hour and a half of watching, they leave the room. “Stay put!” Stern says to me in a…
stern
voice.

“Yes, Officer,” I say, surprised I’m not being treated the way Scarlett was treated when she was interviewed. They seem really suspicious of me.

“Detective,” he corrects.

“Yes,
Detective
.”

From the corner of my eye I see Vlad suppress a laugh.

“I’m starving,” I say to Vlad, when they leave the room. “Let’s grab a McMuffin on our way home.”

“Sounds good,” Vlad says.

“I’m gonna need
two
, I’m that hungry.”

Vlad chuckles. “Two it is then.”

The detectives return, mad and mean. “So why didn’t you bring it to our attention right away?” Stern snaps.

“Well, it’s doesn’t show a face, the quality is bad…I didn’t think it would amount to anything,” I intone.

“So why bring it to us now?” Guild snaps. Okay, so
both
of them are playing bad cop here.

“Well, I showed it to my attorney and he immediately suggested we contact you guys. And…here I am.”

The snort I hear is from Guild.

“You are an ex-cop, MacMillan,” Stern says. “You know better than that.” He sits forward and locks eyes with me. “You know what I think?”

I don’t give a shit what he thinks, but…

“What?” I ask in a facetious tone amidst growls from my hungry stomach.

“I think you used the tape to blackmail Scarlett Murdoch.”

These two Bad Cops aren’t that dumb. “What! How is Scarlett involved in all of this?” I ask, trying to sound shocked. “Scarlett’s not –”

“They’re friends. And she’s handing the property over to Rival. It’s all over Facebook.”

Damn you Scarlett for blabbing.

“Listen, Scarlett has
nothing
to do with Bradley Murdoch’s murder. Of that I am certain. She is my friend.” Somehow, I pull off sounding indignant.

“You’re sleeping with Bradley Murdoch’s ex,” Stern says. “You get her the house and
you’re
set for life.”

That comment hurts me. “Me? I have my own money. I don’t need my fiancé’s money.” No need to mention that Rival is no longer my fiancé.

Another snort from Guild.

Well, I promised Scarlett I wouldn’t rat on her, and I didn’t. I ratted on Norman. Let the cops figure out the rest.

The fuckers are giving me a hard time even though I helped solve Bradley Murdoch’s murder. Even though I did their job for them.

Another hour passes before they say what I longed to hear. “We’ve got Norman Goldstein in custody, and he’s being questioned in the murder of Bradley Murdoch.”

Yes!

Vlad stands up and buttons his coat. “Good. Now without further delay, I need to arrange for the release of my client Rival Murdoch.”

The detective nods.

I nod with satisfaction. Rival is going to be free. I freed her. I’m going to be the hero in her life once again. I can’t wait to hold her and hug her and kiss all her tears away. The nightmare is over and I think we should celebrate.

I look at Vlad. “We’re all going to dinner and it’s on me.”

“Of course it’s on you,” Vlad says.

“But first, I need my bacon and egg McMuffin.”

Vlad chuckles.

“With a hash brown and coffee. Maybe an apple pie with that. Maybe a sausage and egg McMuffin. Hey, maybe I’ll have one of each? Why limit myself.”

“When are you going to grow up and eat
real
food, Ritchie?” Vlad says with a laugh.

“Hey, McDonalds has been with me through thick and thin. I’m an emotional eater, and they’ve always stood by me. Even though they go straight to my thighs.”

Vlad laughs and we start to walk out of the precinct. 

“They’re always a stone-throw –”

“Ritchie MacMillan…”

I turn to look at the Detective Stern.

“You’re under arrest for obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting –”

“You can’t be serious! I haven’t even had breakfast.”

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything –”

“C’mon, gimme a break here, man.”

Their response is to slap handcuffs on me.