Wild Flower

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Blood, blood everywhere! There is blood everywhere. My hand, my body, my face! There is blood everywhere. My clothes, is all blood!

Scarlet kept repeating the words to herself as she kept scrubbing herself in the shower. No matter how much and the many times she scrubbed herself under the shower she still feels the cold blood against her body. She was still in her clothes as she continued scrubbing and screaming.

Seth walked into the suite and was caught off guard by Scarlet’s screams coming from the shower. His heart thumped against his chest and he fretted what he might find. He ran into the en-suite and opened the shower door. The sight was heartbreaking and he had to fight back his tears from falling to be strong for his boss.

It has been so long since he witnessed her breaking like this. He walked over and put her in a strong embrace before whispering to her, “It’s clean, you’re clean. No more blood.” He kept whispering to her while rubbing her back reassuringly. He wonders what could have happened that her break this way.

As far as he can tell she was over her fear for blood years ago. He figures that what happened was major for her to get like this. He had witnessed her years ago where the sight of blood or even the mention of it triggered her. She has been through a lot at a younger age and she has managed to pull herself through with her own strength. She managed to face her demons all on her own and came out on top. He wanted to know what caused her to break like this but he knows now is not the time.

**********

Scarlet was sitting on the chaise on the suite with Seth next to her. Their eyes were fixed on the screen in front of them. There were about to have their conference meeting with Mr Lancaster who is a multi-billionaire who contacted them for their services.

The conference call was supposed to be held yesterday but with everything that happened, it was rescheduled for today. Whenever they have to meet their client or have a conference call they always book into a hotel. Of cause they change hotels with every client and job. This was the second time that they had booked into the Grayson’s Hotel but last time she came with Seth who always acts as a buffer to every situation so there was no drama.

Scarlet was in her navy blue two-piece pant suit paired up with a blush pink blouse and red stilettos. Whenever she meets or holds conference calls with businessman she always dresses up. She was tapping her fingers impatiently as the clock ticked. She hated waiting especially since the client was the one who needed her services. She doesn’t need the extra income because she is well off and she is only just doing this as an extra, something to pass time.

However next to her Seth was a little restless. Yes she was back to her old self but he was still skeptical. He had asked her to take a day off or at least let him handle this on his own but she refused bluntly. He was worried that she was still in the right state of mind and she has not told him anything about what happened.

The screen flickered on meaning the meeting was in session. A man in his mid-fifties appeared with a smile on his face. “Miss Evans, thank you very much for agreeing to this meeting. I also would love to extend my apology to you as I was a held out in a meeting.” He said with his smile on his face then he leaned closer to the screen, “Is this call protected?” he whispered which made Scarlet chuckle a bit.

“Don’t worry it is protected after all this is my area of expertise.” She reassured him.

He reverted back to his previous position. “I guess it is. I bet you are wondering why I have asked for your services again.”

Scarlet nodded, “Yeah it has been a while hasn’t it?”

“Well yes it has. Anyway let me not keep too much of your time. Are you aware of the Charity events I hold every third month?” he asked and both Seth and Scarlet nodded their heads. She did do her investigation when she was first acquainted with Mr Lancaster but everyone was aware of his charity events because after all he was very charitable. They are very successful and he had helped so many charity organisations.

Scarlet frowned as she could not understand the type of help she could be at a charity event, “We are aware of them but how can I possibly be a help?”

Seth next to her was frowning as well and when Mr Lancaster saw their faces he burst in a chuckle before recollecting himself, “Let me finish my brief first then you will know what help you could offer. At these Charity events I invite the rich and the famous to put up their donation to a charity of their own choice. Of cause I have a list of organisations that the money goes to and those organisations are verified. The cheques that they wrote will then be collected and cashed into those organisations.” As he went on Scarlet was getting impatient and he noticed but decided to continue regardless, “Some of the cash doesn’t reach those organisations as some of the cheques are not cashed and that’s where you come in.”

Can this guy be even more cryptic? Seth thought to himself.

He has always felt that Mr Lancaster was unbearable when it comes to giving his brief. It would be better and less painful if he could just get to the point.

“Are you saying you want me to cash in those cheques? Look Mr Lancaster I may have unorthodox or even legal methods of doing things but I am not about to rob the poor. If that’s your job then I decline it because I do have morals.” She said looking at him skeptically.

He chuckled once again before continuing, “Youngsters always quick to jump to conclusions. I want you to prevent that from happening. We believe that there are people taking advantage of these events in order to steal money under the guise of these organisations. As I have said before I have done thorough investigation on each organisation and I also visit them from time to time so I know it’s not them. We suspect that perhaps they are stealing and cashing in the cheques illegally. The technicians at my work are useless as they trace those cheques. Even the security tapes don’t even show how the cheques got stolen or when so I also deduced that it may be someone I hired.”

Scarlet was nodding at each word uttered by him. She cleared her throat before asking him, “I’m guessing you’re hiring me to trace the cheques and where it leads?”

He nodded. “Yes and I also want you to be part of the crew responsible for those cheques. I believe that way you will have easier access to figure out the who is responsible and also how they do it.” He was surprised when he heard her chuckle sheepishly.

“Look old man do I look like James bond? I’m not spy. If you want me trace which account or accounts belong to those ingrates then I can do that but not the spying. Anyway why do you want me to spy on them if I could easily fish them out wherever their swimming?” She knew however that this will take a lot of time but it was doable without the need to be a spy.

“I’m not asking for you to spy on them I just want you to find them and also inform the police af---” Seth interrupted him

“Are you crazy? Do you want us to go to jail for this? As you know we use unorthodox methods to track and receive those cheques of yours. If we inform the police we’ll also be in question on how we obtained that information.” Mr Lancaster glanced at him before moving her gaze back to Scarlet.

“You are not getting me are you? I don’t want you to risk anything I just want to catch them red-handed. You can block whatever thing they use to confuse the tapes with your gadget then I will call the police myself and show the tape.” He sighed as he felt like these youngsters don’t understand what it is he wanted.

“You want me to jam their signal? That’s very clever of you old man. It will be my pleasure and I’m anxious to thwart their plans after all anyone who dares to prey on the poor doesn’t deceive mercy.” He smirked as she couldn’t wait to get her hands on those bastards and make them pay. First thing to do is trace those organisations. “Will you as kind as to send me the documents on those Organisations. You can fax them right now and again don’t worry this meeting is secured meaning the fax is also secured.”

**********

“We have a problem boss.” Seth entered the basement where Scarlet was seated on her chest seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

“If you’re talking about Villabos I already know.” She sneered not even turning her attention to him. “The i***t I gave him a chance and he goes to the police. Does he know what he has done?” her attention was the monitor in front of her. She kept replaying the moment when Villabos came in contact with detective Jones.

“What should we do?” he asked her carefully choosing his words carefully.

 Even though at times she could be a dynamite ready to explode when you make a wrong step nothing can compare to when she looks calm. He knows that she is brewing something in her mind.

“It is code blue is it not?” she stood up and walked towards the door. She turned once her hands landed on the knob. “He thinks he knows me but she will have a taste of hell.” With that she left the room leaving a petrified Seth.

Her anger has reached its peak and he knows that he is going to lose his head for he has done behind her back. He knows it is what is best for her but she can get a little stubborn sometimes. However he knew now is not the time to be perturbing about this because he had preparations he had to complete. After she called in code blue and also the detective was someone from her not so happy past. He cannot afford to mess this up or she’ll have his head and eat it for breakfast.