Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Meanwhile in Washington...
The residents of the city next to Lake Washington enjoyed the subtle soothing sound of gentle waves washing the shores of Medina Beach Park. The sun was nowhere by the horizon as darkness loomed at dusk, causing a twilight.
In their mansion in Medina, Courtney Richardson sat with a seamless expression on a dark blue cushion with her gaze fixated on the vulgarity being played in the forefront of the TV before her. Courtney gently shook the glass of Brandy in her hand as she made a call on the phone that was held to her ear by one of the attendants who tried as much as they could to avert their gazes from the erroneous view on the TV.
On the TV screen, A masked lady dressed in black leather playfully brandished a black whip in hand as she slowly tortured a line of men bound to a pole in a sort of abandoned warehouse. The lady had an expression of pain and pleasure. The masked lady was giggling and laughing at the pathetic men as she whipped them to convulsion, while the latter contrarily drooled in excitement and pleasure. They seemed in a primal state of subconsciousness, as they were certainly without radical thoughts at that moment...
' Why would anyone in their right mind watch such a devious thing? Moreso what was wrong with those involved in the filming of this vulgarity? Surely they must be deluded, right? ' The attendant wondered with a bitter face.
“I see…” Courtney said in a loud mutter and smirked. “ Well, I guess it's a wrap then?” She said to the phone as she slowly bent to pick a berry on the foot table in front of her.
“ Indeed, we've done our best. However, we should hope he is convicted” A thick hoarse voice resounded from the phone's speaker, the person at the other end of the call had just spoken. Their voice suggested that they're a man.
“ Do not worry my dear Donny, he shouldn’t be escaping this...” Courtney chuckled as she said with a small smile. She bit the cherry and held it out between her thumb and index finger to observe the half-bitten cherry.
“ I call checkmate”. She flashed a grin as she swallowed the rest of the cherry.
“ Haha! If you say so,” The man cackled.
“ I’ll send you the rest of your pay right after the final verdict” Courtney cut in coldly, slowly taking a sip of her red wine.
“ Do not worry, lady. My reputation is at stake here as well,” Sensing Courtney's tone, the man stated professionally.
Courtney thought about it for a second before saying “Right. Then make certain that all loose ends are tightened!"
“ But of course... Hehe”
Courtney placed her ear away from the phone and returned her focus to the screen before her. She sipped on her drink as she savored her moment of relaxation, both the drink and what she was watching.
She’d seen the clip plenty of times, and it was nothing to her. However, it helped her relax. After all, she'd experienced this herself.
" Leave, go check on Charlotte,” Courtney said to the attendant who was more than happy to do her bidding. The attendant hastily rushed out of the room before she would suffer intolerable torture at the hands of her crazy master.
With her attention still focused on the TV, Courtney's thoughts roamed freely.
The lady in black leather reminded her a lot of her past. The mere reminiscence of it made her shiver in fright. It used to be the worst part of her whole existence. She could vividly remember that person... The maniacal face of the person that she so much wanted dead... How they would look at her like some lifeless toy before they got put away.
But not even after that did they stop haunting her. Courtney thought she could finally lead a noble life.
Only to receive those letters right after…
" I heard you’re doing pretty well for yourself these days. How does it feel knowing all of that is a lie? ..."
Courtney could visualize that detestable face hidden in a leather mask saying those words through the purple lipstick-besmirched lips that flashed an evil grin she knew very well.
She couldn't help but shudder.
" I'm coming for you once I'm out of here, little pig! "
As the words of the letter flashed in her mind, Courtney shuddered and dropped the wine glass she was holding, her hands trembling.
Clang!
The glass broke in a loud shatter and red wine spilled on the foot rug.
" No... no!" As if the mess she'd made was of no concern to her, Courtney muttered in a craze as she hurriedly stood and rushed towards the cabinet in the corner. With her hands still trembling, she picked a white plastic bottle from the first drawer and hastily poured some pills into her hands before tossing them down her throat.
Gulp!
Awaiting an improvement in her condition, Courtney held the cabinet for support and let out haggard breaths.
Her knees gave in at some point and she slumped on the floor. Courtney stayed like that for a long while as she slowly regained composure.
She dragged back to the cushion afterward, picked up the remote controller, and turned off the TV.
" Haah! Ha! Ha!" sighs escaped her lips as she shook her head tiredly, her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily.
' Stay calm, Courtney. It's all but a thought. None of this is real... None of this is real' She repeated like a broken tape as she comforted herself.
' It's all fine now. Everything will soon be mine, and then nothing will be capable of harming me. Not anymore...' Courtney thought in resolution. She held a palm to her chest to calm her perturbed heart.
After the call she'd received just now, Courtney had reasons to believe that Bob was likely to be convicted for the murder of Adam Mash. With that, she would rise above to the top, to the point that even that 'person' wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on her, not ever again!
On the contrary, Courtney wanted revenge in every way possible. And she would get it... whatever it takes!
' I'll get there!... I surely will' Courtney lay on the sofa and wrapped an arm around herself as she thought in a lost daze with a melancholic expression on her face. Her whole body was drenched in cold sweat...