Vanessa looked through the rearview mirror for the umpteenth time. She was panting convulsively. Her dress was soaked with her sweat. She held the steering wheel tight, placing her head on it hoping to calm her nerves. She prayed silently that this nightmare would just go away.
A ring on her phone made her jump abruptly, bumping her head on the headrest of the driver's seat. She frantically searched her purse for the ringing phone but couldn't find it. Out of frustration, she emptied the whole content of the purse on the passenger's seat but the phone wasn't there.
"Where is this fucking phone?" She cursed underneath her breath.
The last she remembered was calling Annie and telling her of the jeopardy that had befallen her. Where could she have dropped it? The phone rang again and this time she forced herself to patiently listen so she could trace the sound and finally found it under the brake pedal.
"How did it get there?" She mussed, picking up the phone. Annie was the caller. She dialled Annie back and got an answer instantly.
"Where did you drop your phone, girl? For a moment, I thought the police had arrested you!" Annie asked, distressed.
"Please are you there? I've been waiting. Is he dead?" Vanessa asked, placing her right hand on her pounding chest as she awaited the news. Her lips were quivering.
"There is no dead body in your room. I saw the door closed and on opening it, I found some flowers on the floor and the flower vase but no blood and no dead body." Annie replied.
In the said house, Annie knelt down on all fours and took a closer look at the floor of the sitting room. She touched the floor with her finger. "Are you sure you killed him?"
"Yes, Annie. I swear I killed him. He opened my door... everywhere was dark..I heard footsteps and saw him as I entered the sitting room. The room was too dark for him to see me. I grabbed the flower vase and hit him with it and he fell with a thud and was motionless. I was terrified and I picked my car keys and ran" Vanessa replied and sobbed.
"And you are sure it was the stalker?"
"Who else would it be? I told you I noticed him following me as I walked down the street to my house"
There was silence at both ends of the phone. Annie turned off the lights.
"But how did he have the keys to your house?" Annie asked
"That is a mystery even to me. First, murder and now a missing body. What if someone has already called the police? You shouldn't be there, Annie. Please leave the house. It's already a crime scene. I do not want the police arresting you. I think I'll have to turn myself in" Vanessa replied.
"Don't do ....." The call ended stopping Annie abruptly. She wondered if Vanessa is not hallucinating. She has been depressed since she lost her 6 months old pregnancy and she has been acting weird. Could this mean that her mental health is deteriorating?
Annie walked out of the house. She was about to lock the door when Jeff saw her. He had a worried look on his face. Annie wondered if he knew about the dead body. What if Vanessa had really killed someone and Jeff found the body and hid it away so he could blackmail her. What if Jeff is the stalker all these while? Now he's seen her at the murder scene. Annie quickly deleted the thoughts from her mind. She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer as she noticed him walking towards her.
"Hey Annie. I'm glad to find you here" he greeted cheerfully.
Annie heaved a sigh of relief seeing how cheerful he was. It certainly means he is clueless about everything or maybe acting like he is so he can get more information from her.
"Hey Jeff! Wassup?" She asked in a high pitched voice, slapping his right shoulder playfully.
"Have you seen Vanessa? I think someone tried to kill James. I found her door open which is unlike her and when I tried to see if she was okay, I found him lying on the floor of her sitting room. I had to rush him to the hospital. Thankfully, the doctors said he'll be fine. He had only passed out. However, he has been asking to speak to Vanessa" Jeff replied,frowning.
Annie didn't know what to make of this information. Vanessa had almost killed her ex-husband thinking he was a stalker. How does she explain to Jeff that Vanessa was the one who has James in that condition.
"Oh my God! That is very terrible. Someone tried to kill James? She asked feigning ignorance.
Jeff drew closer to Annie making her a little jumpy. He bent down to her ears and whispered, "you know, I think Vanessa is responsible. That's why I didn't call 911 or the police when I found him lying on the floor with the flower vase beside him and the flowers scattered all over. She's been mentally unstable since she lost her baby and I really feel sorry for her."
He raised his head, held her hand and patted it. "He's at St. Peter's hospital. No need to thank me. Get Vanessa there now. He has been asking for her since he gained consciousness. The doctors are keeping him to run some tests before they let him go". He smiled at her and walked away.
Annie felt like someone had lifted a bag of stone hung on her shoulder. She excitedly texted Vanessa telling her of her new discovery. Vanessa couldn't believe it. Few moments ago she thought she was going to jail and now....
She immediately started the ignition and hit the road. She had asked Annie to meet her up at the hospital. She had also called James to inform him that she was on her way and from the way he sounded, it was obvious he didn't even know who hit him. He has been worried that Vanessa could be in danger and that's why he's been trying to reach her.
Vanessa looked at the sky and thanked whoever it was that had turned her fortune around. She turned on her radio blasting "I cry for freedom" by Yvonne Chaka Chaka as she drove down to the hospital.
This is an entry for the writing prompt, jeopardy
