CHAPTER 3
1160 Words
Rachel Evana Louis had a beautiful mind.
She had everything a girl of her age would want. She lived in a mansion had clothes, footwear, money, cosmetics, food and everything. But all this splendour and grandeur never got into her.
She was alive and yet dead.
She was walking and yet felt like she was buried somewhere deep inside the earth.
Many a times, she had looked at herself in the mirror. She was a beautiful girl. Fairly tall, had slushy black hair, pointed lips and melting eyes. Yet, all these were soulless.
Rachel had asked herself a thousand times as to why she felt like that. But, it was complicated. It's been there ever since she were a kid. Ever since, she remembered herself.
Her only happiness was Angela Carter, her paternal cousin. Angela's parents had died when she was a year old and then it was Mr. David Louis who adopted her. A year later Rachel's mother had also died in a tragic car accident.
Ever since, Angela and Rachel had become real close. They were of the same age and had no secrets. They knew everything about each other, loved each other and cared for each other.
Angela was like a mother to Rachel. She was bold, strong and confident while Rachel was the opposite. She was sensitive, soft spoken and reserved. If someone did something wrong to Rachel, Angela would be the first to go fight for her. They shared a special bond.
Rachel's father spent all his time in the automobile business. He was the owner of the Louis cars and motors and hence one among the top 20 richest people in the world.
That Sunday morning wasn't different from any other Sunday morning. Rachel got up late, refreshed herself and came down for breakfast. Her father and Angela were already half finished.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
It was the maid.
She greeted them and walked over to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Meanwhile, Rachel initiated a conversation with her father.
"So how long will you be here?" she asked.
"Hmmm perhaps a week or so" he replied, gulping in some water.
Mr. David Downey Louis comes to see his daughter very, very rarely.
The maid in the kitchen washed the vegetables and searched for a knife to cut them.
It was missing.
She rummaged through the drawers and trays but didn't find it. Confused, she took out the substitute knife from one of the drawers and began chopping.
Just then, there was another knock.
Rachel opened the door to find two uniformed men.
"I'am Chief Ronald Jones and this is my secretary, Patrick. You must be Miss. Louis?"
"Yes...yes...I'am" she said and looked back to shoot a confounded look at Angela and David.
Ronny was scrutinising every move.
"Can we come in?" He asked.
"Oh yeah please" Rachel said and opened the door wider.
She was still confused. And so was David and Angela.
Ronny cleared his throat before asking, "Miss. Louis, do you know anyone called Richard?"
Rachel thought for a moment. "Yeah, he is my classmate. Why are you asking?" She queried reluctantly.
"Were you in some kind of a relationship with him?" interrogated Patrick.
Rachel opened her mouth to answer but Angela intervened.
"Sir, why are you asking these questions?"
Their eyes met for a second.
Bold, thought Patrick.
"Because, Richard was murdered last night and Miss Louis was the last one to text him. And who are you?" Retorted Patrick.
The maid came out of the kitchen to watch the drama.
Ronny didn't speak a word, he scrutinised the reaction on every face.
Their eyes popped out of their sockets and jaws dropped to the ground.
"What the hell is happening here?" Said David.
"Richard was murdered?!!" Cried Angela.
Rachel was shocked. She sat down on a sofa and held her head.
No, Richard can't be dead!
And, wait no, she never texted him.
"Your daughter was the last person to text Richard asking him to come to the great oak tree near Ashfield park. And he was murdered right there. Besides, we've gathered information that your daughter was in a relationship with him and Richard had broken up with her recently"
"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked, perplexed.
"Do you blatantly deny the fact that you were in a relationship with him, madam?"
"No, no that. I loved him and I love him. But, I did not text him last night"
"We have proof" said Patrick and handed over the sheet of paper.
David and Angela were stunned. Patrick shot a wicked look at Angela.
"I swear on god”, I did not do that! I did not text him! I can prove!" She said running up to her room to fetch her mobile.
"She could have deleted the message" said Patrick.
"Excuse me, sir. I know my daughter. She will never do such a thing." Said David, his voice as stern as his eyes.
Rachel came down and handed over the phone to Ronny. "You can check it for yourself."
Ronny knew this was crazy. She could have deleted it. But, to his sheer astonishment, the message was still there. The exact words, sent at twelve thirty.
He handed the phone back to Rachel who stared at it transfixed.
"Mr. Whoever-you -are- I swear on god I didn't do this. I will never do such a horrible thing to Richard. He was a wonderful person”, tears ceaselessly poured down her eyes.
"Mr. Jones, there's some mistake in this. Rachel is basically a very soft person. She would never have the nerve to do such a thing. I didn't bring her up like that"
Angela boiled with rage when she heard that. Bring her up? Oh please, he doesn't even know her eye colour.
The maid could only overhear the words, murder and relationship. She sensed the seriousness in all their voices.
Wooing herself to stay put, she hurried back to the kitchen to finish her work and head back home as soon as possible.
She lit the burner and placed a pan on top of it. Then, she took out the jar of oil.
She was too preoccupied to notice that the oil was in a different colour.
She poured the oil in the pan and splash! Something slimy fell from the jar.
The next minute people in the hall, heard a deafening scream.
Ronny ran to the kitchen taking out his gun and everyone followed him.
The maid was sat crouched in a corner, her hands trembling.
There was blood all over the slab. Ronny peeped into the cooking pan.
"Jesus!" He exclaimed.
There was a bloody tongue.
Before anyone could even fathom how it had come there, Patrick found something red behind the kitchen door.
He slammed it shut. And, there at the back of the door were written three words in blood.
HE'LL BURN IN HELL
- Writer
