Beyond shocked
Jake.
Although my father and I lived in the same city, we never spent a lot of time together. We did not have a lot in common. He was not very business savvy and had little interest in running the family business which was why he couldn’t wait for me to become old enough to handle everything. As soon as I took over, he decided to move to a quiet area in New Jersey and continue with his scientific research. I liked to think of him as a mad scientist. One of the reasons I didn’t like being around him was that he was always talking about science.
After separating from my mother, he met some science teacher of his age and they started living together. They were both crazy about science since they even had a lab at home.
Since my mother was driving me crazy, I had decided to go and see him because he was the only one who could understand what I was going through. He was the man who had married the devil, so he had idea what being a son of the devil was like.
“I don’t understand why you would even bring her back. You could have called for me for advice. You know that every action has equal but opposite reaction. You’re smart, son. You could have avoided this.”
“I know, dad. But now I’m stuck.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“What is it you did that you’re scared of? Did you kill someone, son?”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
“I don’t see why you’re so worried. Nothing is worse than murder. People will forgive you with time. And I don’t think your mother will release that stuff anyway. She knows that when it comes out, she will have nothing over you. She won’t be able to control you. Let it be.”
“How can you say that when you know her? You’ve seen all the things she has done to me. She nearly drove you crazy. She has no boundaries.”
“I’m telling you. Your mother craves control. Without secrets, she will not be able to manipulate you. Show her that you’re not scared.”
My phone started ringing. It was Jared.
“I have to get this,” I said and stood up. When I was outside the library, I took a deep breath enjoying the fresh air. That lab reeked of chemicals. I didn’t understand how he did not have chest problems.
“What’s up, J?”
“I found something,” he said. “You will not believe what your mother. I’m a hundred percent sure this will shut her up for good. Trust me on this one.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“You are finally free, my friend. Where are you? The matter is very sensitive.”
“I’m in NJ but ill drive back right now.”
“Okay, get here as soon as possible.”
I returned to the laboratory and said goodbye to my father before getting back into the car. “Drive as fast as you can,” I told Cory.
“Got it,” Cory said.
When I got to my office, I called Jared and he arrived thirty minutes later.
“What do you have for me?”
Jared pulled out pictures from an envelope, placed them on the table and pushed them towards me. I picked them and looked through. Most of them were from CCTV footage in black and white. It was my mother and a younger man.
“Who is he?”
“John Miller.”
“What about him?”
“Your mother killed him?”
I believed it instantly. “Is there evidence that proves so? I don’t think these pictures give way too much.”
“John Miller went missing on 12th September last year. Those photos are from footage that has never been seen by the police. They were taken an hour before John’s phone went dead. Your mother was one of the last people to see but the police don’t know that because someone deleted the footage.”
“Okay, that’s good.”
“There’s a flowerbed in your mother’s backyard that was started just around that time as well. Your mother didn’t like flowers until then. John miller and your mother used to date secretly, but he started blackmailing her for money after meeting a woman of his age. I believe your mother may have killed him because of that.
Now most of that is circumstantial evidence, but I spoke to your mother’s housekeeper, there’s a locked room inside there that no one ever goes into. She also said your mother was a bit disturbed during the time that John Miller disappeared, she sent the day workers away for a while. Upon return, they found that she had developed a new passion gardening, apparently to help her relieve stress. That’s not all we have. I have proof of money paid to John at certain points. I think he was in it for the money and your mother didn’t mind until he started to get too greedy.”
“Wow, this is a lot. This can actually shut her up.”
“If we can pay the housekeeper enough money run away to another country, she can actually let someone check under that flowerbed. She has sworn not to tell your mother. We have to find out if there’s something before we go all out on this one. What you have to do is keep your mother distracted here in New York.”
“I think I can do that,” I said. “I just have to agree to her crazy engagement and wedding plans. She loves organising parties. She would do anything to make her son’s wedding the most talked about in New York. Jared, this is wonderful. You’ve done a really good job. At this point, I’m willing to give you whatever you ask for.”
“Even this company?”
I chuckled. “Let’s not get greedy. We were just talking about someone whose greed led to his downfall. Wouldn’t want that to happen to you, you know.”
Jared laughed. “Right.”
Jared collected the evidence, placing everything back in the envelope. “Do you want to keep this or I should?”
There was a knock on the door.
“It’s me.” Jenny said.
“Come in.”
“Sir, the police are here to see you.”
Wide eyed, I stared at Jared.
“I know nothing about that. I think it’s best for me to keep the papers.” He stood up after putting them into his briefcase. “I’ll leave now.”
“Tell them to come in,” I told Jenny.
A few seconds later, two gentlemen in police attire walked in.
“How may I help you, officers?”
The taller one stepped forwards. “Mr. Rylland, you’re under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Carrie Rylland.”
“What? Is this a joke?”
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You…”
“Stop it with the speech. My mother is dead?”
The man stepped forward. “Yes, now come with us before we do this with force.”
I was beyond shocked.