Alpha's Thief

Chapter 2

~ Vita ~

“I’ll be on my way.” I sighed.

“We look forward to seeing you, Miss Wiz.” I stood up from my desk after and informed Grant my boss I had a family emergency. After that clocked out before going to my car to drive the hour into the next state to visit my mom.

“Scarlet Wiz here for Lavern Wiz.” The petite honey blond behind the desk looked up from her computer the phone still wedged between her ear and shoulder and looked at me when I walked up to the front desk.

“Hold on ma’am, I’ll be with you in just a moment.” She said looking back down typing on her computer. She remained on the phone as she typed away. I sat down and pick up the book I bring along for such occasions. Not even a page into my book a nurse came bustling through the room and stopped when she saw me.

“Miss Wiz! Why are you sitting out here?”

“I’m waiting for the young lady behind the desk to get to me.” I smile politely.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” She looked horrified like I might eat her.

“No, I haven’t been waiting long.” I shrugged.

“I think she’s done.” She smiled back nervously quickly going over to the desk taking the phone from the girl and hung it up. They fussed for a moment that I pretended not to notice as I closed my book and put it in my bag. I walked over to the desk.

“I’m very sorry Miss Wiz for my behavior I did not realize who you where, forgive me.” The blond said bowing her head.

“It’s fine.” I sighed signing my name on the sheet.

“I’ll take you to your mother Miss Wiz.” The nurse said shifting gears. I followed her to the top floor and into a room that looked more like a five-star hotel room than a room at a Metal Hospital. I walked in the room as the nurse left leaving me with my mother’s pill.

“Lavern!” my mother greeted me happily.

“I’m not Lavern, I’m Vita your daughter, you are Lavern.”

“But you look so much like her!” she gushed.

“Yeah, we’re related.” I said in a clipped toned.

“I know! Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid! You think I don’t remember having my own daughter?” she hissed as I made my way over to the tabled near the window that was bolted down.

“Do you want any tea?”

“I’d love some.” I agreed not wanting to see what she would do if I declined. I sat down at the table as she brought over the plastic tea set I’d bought for her when she went threw a fit when the nurses told her she couldn’t have her porcelain one.

“Who told you you could sit down!” she screamed in outrage. “You’re such a disappointment you know that?” I stood as she placed the tray with the tea set on it on the table. She sat in her chair and looked up at me. “Sit down dear, what are you standing up for?”

“How has you day been?” I asked changing the subject as I sat down again.

“My day? My day has crap thanks to you! I told everyone you did it! And other patients called me crazy! Can you believe that? The nerve! The squirrels and the lap post lickers telling me I’M the one who’s crazy!” She huffed as she poured the tea. “Then, one of them drinks my tea! Rude I tell you! I would not stand for it.”

“Have you taken your medicine today?” I asked when she set the teapot down.

“I did.” She told me calming as she sipped her tea.

“Did you put it in your mouth?”

“The nurse saw me.”

“Did you swallow it?” she loudly slurped her tea as she refused to answer my question. “Did you swallow it?” I repeated.

“I have to use the bathroom. Tea just goes right through me.” She stood and walked to the bathroom.

“Do you want any sugar in your tea?” I called.

“Yes dear, aren’t you sweet?” She called back. I dropped the pill into her tea and used the spoon to mix it into the lukewarm tea. She came out and reclaimed her seat and started drinking her tea again. “SO, how is your day?”

“Nothing to write home about I got up, got dressed, and went to work.”

“Mhm.” She mumbled into her tea. “Did you work last night too?” I nodded and she gave me a judgmental look as she took a long sip of her tea. “Why don’t you find a nice guy to settle down with and stop all that work?”

“Hopefully after this one I won’t have to.”

“You’ve always been like your grandmother, but you know she settled down too you and I are the proof.” She said as she finished her tea.

“Maybe some day.” I told her as my phone buzzed.

Coffee Tomorrow night

Okay.

“Who are you texting?” my mother asked in her disapproving tone.

“No one.” I said finished my tea setting down my cup.

“Mother always knows what you’re doing.” She lectured as I stood “I still say you should settle down.”

“I will, I’ll settle down with my husband we’ll get a house and have nine kids on a tropical island.” I rounded the table and kissed her cheek.

“When will that be?”

“I’ll let you know.” I started to walk out. “Oh, and when the nurse gives you your medicine put it in your mouth and swallow the pill. I’ll be back to visit soon.”

“Bye.” She called as I buzzed out the door.

I drove back to work I thought about my mom and how our lives had been normal once… Well as close to normal as anyone in our family can get. We’d lived on the countryside me, mom, grandma, and my dad. Grandma and dad had changed careers when I was born so they could help raise me. It was the one thing they’d ever agreed on. I think they never got along because they were so alike in many ways. I loved them more than words could say. They taught me everything they knew: philosophy, money, finances, and their careers. They’re probably the reason I’m so good at my career now. They pushed me to go to college and graduate school they wanted me to be a well-rounded person.

But the day I graduated high school is the day the explosion happened. I’ll never forget when I looked over at my mom as I stood in the middle of the stage having just accepted my diploma, she was on the phone. Her body language said something was wrong and the look on her face spoke of complete and utter devastation. She jumped up and ran out, but I couldn’t follow so I stayed at the ceremony wondering what had happened.

I got a ride home after the ceremony but when we pulled up there wasn’t a home just ruble. Firetrucks and police cars blocked the streets. I abandoned the car and ran toward the house only to be grabbed by an officer.

“Mom! Mom!” I screamed seeing her standing frozen in front of the ruble as firefighters and police rushed around her. I pushed away from the officer and ran to her. I touched her arm she just looked at me with this blank stare it was like her insides had been carved out. My heart shattered into a billion little pieces as she looked away from me and at two black body bags. I cried for a week and then the tears just stopped like I ran out. As the years passed it got a little better for me day by day. I couldn’t say the same for my mother she switched back and forth between major extremes and for a long time I tried to deny how bad she really was. It wasn’t till I came home for summer my third year of college and she’d tied up the neighbor and was feeding her burnt cookies and hot tea.

I used the will money to check her into the very best mental hospital I could find and paid for her stay there until she got better or indefinitely.

I finished college and graduate school majoring in Business. While in school I took up my grandma’s career and became phenomenal at it. When I graduated, I took a job in the city and there I stayed.

I was brought back to reality when the announcer came over the radio.

“Two more bodies of suspected robbers have been found. Still no evidence on who is committing the murders all that is known at this time is that the subject owns a dog. In other news…”

I switched stations and continued my drive. When I made it back to the office Ace was nowhere to be found and Anastasia was being jumpy.

“Where’s Ace?” I asked.

“I think he said he was taking the rest of the day off. I forget for what.” Anastasia told me as she fumbled with a folder.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah! Why would you ask such a thing?” she said defensively.

“You just seem out of sorts today.”

“With all the killings going of who wouldn’t be?” she jumped out of her chair. “I need a smoke break.”

“Anastasia, you don’t smoke.” I pointed out as she grabbed her purse.

“Oh yeah,” she laughed humorlessly, “I guess I meant fresh air break. See you later!” she ran off.

“What a weird morning.” I sighed, going to my desk to fill out my paperwork.

After 6 coffees, nature called, so I shuffled to the restroom. As I finished flushing the toilet and was fixing my clothes the door to the restroom opened.

“Hello?” it was Anastasia's voice. “Yeah, I got it. Yeah, it is as beautiful as you said.” She paused “How much are you willing to pay?” she paused. “Hmm. Sounds fair I guess… When are you going to get it?... Tonight?... Okay. Meet me Downtown at nine o’clock sharp. Bye.”

I opened the stall door, making her jump.

“Malini!” she gasped “Uhm, hi.” She smiled.

“Hi.” I said as I walked over to the sink and started washing my hands.

“So… Uh, how much of that did you hear?”

“All of it.”

“You really shouldn’t eavesdrop!” she fussed.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping, I was in the stall fixing my clothes. You’re the one who rushed in here with you ‘secret call’” I made air quotes dripping some water on the floor.

“You still should have warned me!” she exclaimed as I dried my hands.

“I was preoccupied.” I rolled my eyes, throwing away the lump of paper towel before turning to her. “What is with you today?”

“Malini,” she checked around “If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone.”

“I swear.” I made an X over my heart.