3 C.R.I.M.E.S

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Jacqueline POV

I stormed into the hotel room, my heart beating a fast pattern against my ribs and my breaths coming out in short pants.

Out of anger, I let out a loud scream and cussed aloud as I wrenched off my heels and tossed them into oblivion. I screamed at the top of my lungs as I swiped at everything within my reach.

Heaving, I made my way into the kitchen, made a beeline for the fridge and pulled out a beer. It was something that I would never have done before.

I chugged it down, attempting to calm my nerves and my racing heart. I knew he was coming. Matter of fact I knew that he was probably here at this moment.

I laughed at the realisation that he was most probably watching me right now, or at least his little henchmen were.

I lifted up my middle finger, shouting as I stormed around to every window and every corner there was, pointing it in every direction, not giving a f**k, “f**k you all!".

After a grueling hour, give or take, I finally found the strength to calm down, not because I was finally relaxed instead it was due to realisation. The realisation that came with Joseph not going to jail; our marriage still lived on...for now. Knowing Joseph it would stay that way for a very verylong time.

I fell to my knees as I tossed the empty bottle of beer at a wall. A gut wrenching sob escaped my lips the minute my face was nestled between my palms. I finally let go.

I knew that the chances of us winning were slim. I knew it the moment I walked into the courtroom, I mean we’re talking about Joseph Hutcherson here. That man never loses, no matter the cost. There was not one witness to any of his deeds. The one person who did know, decided against exposing his crimes.

I didn't breathe a word to anyone and every lawyer against him were basing their s**t on the barely existent evidence they could work on.

I knew that whoever was against Joseph in the courtroom today was going to get killed no matter what and he would undoubtedly make it seem like it was all an accident, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he started with my lawyer.

The familiar ringtone of my iPhone snapped me out of my thoughts and I felt my heart stop as I listened closely. I looked around, seeing my purse thrown across the room in the corner. I froze as the familiar ringtone registered in my head.

It was hispersonalised ringtone.

I knew he would be livid if I didn't answer within the first few rings, but I wouldn't...not this time. He could take his anger and go to hell.

It rang once again.

I didn't dare move.

After what felt like forever I heard a chime indicating that I got a text message.

I looked around the wrecked hotel room, it was expensive and luxurious, not that I expected anything less, but I knew that everything I wrecked probably cost more than an average persons car. It was what I had become accustomed to during my marriage with Joseph, being spoiled endlessly along with our daughter.

He always made sure that we were given nothing less than the best.

I got up to my feet, barely feeling the broken shards of glass cutting away as I walked towards my purse. I took it into my hands and made my way to the bedroom, undressing along the way. Discarding the purse on the bed, I took my phone out as I made my way to the bathroom. I closed the door behind me, filled the tub up to the brim with hot water and made myself a bubble bath.

I stood limp in front of the large mirror. Taking the wipes I had placed in the corner of the basin I started to rub off the light make up I had on. As I ran the wipes across my face, I thought about my next move. About where I should go from here on out.

Lost in my thoughts I stripped out of my underwear and went to dim the lights. I waded into the warm tub trying to clear my mind of its raging thoughts.

I let out a deep breath as my body relaxed against the semi warm surface of the large tub whilst enjoying the hot water against my body.

It reminded me of the times when Joseph would run baths for me whenever I'd had a long day with our daughter, Natalya.

My thoughts went from him to Natalya in a split second and I quickly reached for my phone. I unlocked it, watching it immediately notify me that Joseph had called... multiple times and that I had gotten a text message.

I ignored that, quickly holding the phone to my ear as I called my sister, Wendy.

"Hey, are you ok?" Was the first thing she said to me.

I sighed and I heard her groan.

"I'm so sorry, Jacky," she said sincerely.

And I nodded even though can't see me, "how was she?"

I heard her laugh, "Oh she's been a little ball of energy. I took her out today and we went out exploring, which is basically us going to get some ice cream and watching some lame cartoon movie of these yellow things. I don't know what they are but they are creepy...funny but creepy."

I giggled at that, "May I please speak with her?"

I heard her call for Natalya over the phone and saying her Mama was on the line.

"Mama!" I heard her excited voice cry out.

"Hello, my angel, how's spending time with your aunty going?" I asked her, a wide smile on my face.

"It's so much fun," she managed to say through small giggles in her cute little 3 year old voice, "we went out and aunty bought me many sweets and chocolates."

"Oh no, oh god, your aunty spoils you too much," I said through the phone already thinking about the sugar rush she's on, "I miss you, my little angel." I whispered.

"I miss you too, mama," she said back to me and I heard movement on the other side, "mummy, daddy's coming to take me tomorrow."

I bit my bottom lip, "that's wonderful, angel."

"Mama..." She paused, "I have to go watch Spongebob, bye!”

I just smiled sadly.

"Ok, angel, bye, mama loves you," I said quickly.

I could almost feel her smile, "I love you too, mwah."

My smile remained as I heard the line go flat and I sighed taking my phone away from my ear.

I locked the phone then sighed before unlocking it again to see what Joseph had said to me.

Call me.

Shit.

Hesitantly I went to the call log, and held my phone to my ear as I listened to it ring, 3 rings. It always took 3 rings and he'd answer.

And he did.

"Jacqueline," his voice said. Rough, hoarse and demanding.

"Josephina," I replied back, pissing him off.

I heard him let out a chuckle, it was dry though, "do you know what I'm doing right now?"

His voice deep and accentuated by a thick Russian accent. One word from him had my body going into an uncontrolled frenzy.

"No...what?" I bit out.

He took exactly 5 seconds to respond, and it felt like forever, "I'm shining my guns...ask me why, Jacqueline."

My breathing picked up, "why...why are you shining your guns?"

"I was disrespected today," he stated.

"How were you disrespected today?" I asked.

"First of all, they had the f*****g audacity to take meto court," I could almost see his clenched fists and jaw as he said this.

"Second of all?" I asked, knowing this was what he expected me to say and also, I needed to know what exactly it was that had him in a mood.

"Second of all, they had the f*****g audacity to say your name, Jacqueline."

"I told them to call me that-" I was cut off.

"You told them a lot of things, Jacqueline."

I kept quiet.

"Third of all, Jacqueline, you know what else they did...do you know?" He spoke slowly, softly, yet deadly.

I paused but not for long, "no I don't know, what did they do?"

"All those men in there were looking at you like you were Angelina Jolie in a classroom filled with horny fuckers."

"...that doesn't mean you should hurt them..."

He chuckled, "I'm not just going to hurt them, no no, matter of fact, I'm going to killand tortureeach and every single one of them. Starting with that inquisitive lawyer of yours."

"Joseph-"

"Jacqueline." He silenced.

And I did.

"You're smart, baby," he began, "very smart. Did you forget what happened two months ago? Did you forget how exactlyyou got those scratches?"

I swallowed hard. He was livid yet calm...too calm.

"Because if I remember correctly...yes I did grab you but you managed to get out of my grip. What did you do to get out of my grip, detka (baby)?"

I closed my eyes, my heart beating on fear, "I kicked you..."

"Kicked me where?"

"In the dick..."

"Oh... yes, yes you did and I even let go after you did, like I said you're smart, baby," I heard movement on the other end, "but I still caught you, you were trying to escape from the back but I caught you. Our house is huge darling, you could've at least took a car, that way would've had at least a 0.001% chance of making it even 20 feet to the gate. Where was I?...oh yes I caught you, and yes I did tell you that if you ever tried to leave me I'd cut off your legs so you couldn't leave me. But you know I'd never do that baby, I love your legs...especially when I open them wide just for you to wrap them tightly around my waist..."

He paused, "oh but wait then there'd be no stress of having to open them when I want you...so maybe cutting your legs will help with that. Should I do that?"

"No, Joseph...don't do that..."

"Ok detka, whatever you say, I always do whatever you say. I said that to you baby, then what did you do, you spat in my face and told me what, 'f**k you!' ," he said making his voice sound like mine, "and what did I do after that, darling?"

I was quiet.

"I turned you around and f****d you...and if I remember clearly, you loved it. Told me to keep going. That's how you got the scratches on your hands and knees baby. We were going at it on the pavement, outside...on the floor. The only time I hit you was when I was spanking you...and if I remember clearly, that too you loved that...am I wrong?"

"f**k you, Joseph," I snapped ready to cut the call.

"Language, Jacqueline," he warned, "and don't even think of cutting the call."

"What do you want, Joseph," I demanded, my voice colder that it had ever been.

"I want my wife and my daughter back home, in my house. In our house.”

"I'm not setting foot in there," I snapped, "not until you sign those papers."

"I'll never sign those papers."

"I'll never set foot in that house."

"Jacqueline," he chuckled, "you underestimate me."

The line cut and I brought my phone to see that he did indeed cut the call.

After breathing and going through the conversation we just had I thought about what he said.

Immediately I got out of the tub, and ran straight to the hotel phone, but I put it back down just as fast, not wanting police to be able to trace anything. I ran to my drawer and snatched a disposable phone quickly typing in the lawyers number praying that at least someone answered.

It rang and rang and that damned woman's voice came through.

I called again and same result, I felt my stomach churn.

He probably got to them long before calling me.

They're dead by now.

That, is something I have no doubt about.