CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kerry glanced at her watch again, her frown deepening. It wasn't like Simone to be late. She hadn't seen her friend for some time and she was looking forward to a nice long lunch with her. She had so much to tell her.
Simone had called to ask about Tia, but Kerry simply told her that Tia would have to take a few more doses of the drug before any conclusive results could be seen. She just couldn't bring herself to accept the fact that the drug had failed.
But Kerry knew that she had to face the truth for her sister's sake. Tia had put on a brave front and remained cheerful and upbeat, but Kerry knew that her sister was crushed inside. Nathan was encouraging and supportive, and he even brought Tia to see the best doctors and specialists but no one could come up with any revolutionary new treatment that would get rid of her cancer once and for all.
Kerry had been so busy and worried about Tia that she hadn't made time for her friend. She hadn't seen Simone in a while, and she wanted to tell Simone everything. She wanted to break the news of her pregnancy to Simone face-to-face.
Kerry placed a hand over her tummy and sighed. Her slightly rounding tummy wasn't obvious under her flowing dress but her breasts felt heavy and tender all the time. Nathan had ordered her to stop working and stay home to rest, but Kerry insisted on coming in to the office. In the end, they managed to reach a compromise. She would work half-day every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
It was Wednesday today, and Kerry was off work now. Tia was in good hands so she didn't have to rush home. Her full-time nurse, Nelly, was great. Nelly had taught Tia how to paint, and the two of them had done quite a few beautiful paintings together. Nathan had the artwork framed up and displayed them proudly in their penthouse and in Tia's apartment.
Kerry planned to have a leisurely lunch with Simone, then go grocery shopping so she could prepare something special for Tia and Nathan tonight. Tia used to come up to the penthouse but now she seemed to tire easily, so they would be going down to Tia's apartment for dinner tonight.
The three of them always had dinner together without fail.
Kerry looked out the window of the cafe and shook her head at the shiny Jaguar parked at the side of the curb. Nathan had wanted to drive her here but he had an important lunch meeting. When she told him that she would just hop into a cab, he had pressed the car keys into her hand and snapped, “Take the Jaguar. It's parked beside the Porsche. If you don't take the car, I'll drive you myself!”
Kerry had never driven such a big, posh car before but the Jaguar was surprisingly easy to maneuver. The powerful engine was silent and it felt like the car was simply gliding on air.
She looked up when the door of the cafe opened. But it was an elderly lady who walked in. There was no sign of Simone, and no message or call from her either. Kerry sent another message and waited, drumming her fingers on the table. After half a minute, she dialed Simone's number but Simone wasn't picking up her phone.
Grabbing her bag, Kerry paid for her drink and left the cafe quickly. She drove straight to the restaurant and asked for Simone. But the manager said that Simone hadn't come in today.
“No, she didn't call in sick. She just didn't show up today,” the manager said.
Kerry knew that Simone would never miss a day of work without good reason. Something wasn't right.
She ran back to the car and sped straight to Simone's house. Her imagination went into overdrive, conjuring up all sorts of horrific but not entirely impossible scenarios.
Could Simone have had a nasty fall in the bathroom and knocked herself unconscious? Did she electrocute herself by accident? Maybe she'd cut herself and was bleeding to death...
A million accidents could happen around the house. Simone didn't have any health problems, but you never know. She'd heard too many stories of young, active individuals just dropping dead from a sudden heart attack. Life was just so unpredictable, and so unfair.
Kerry pulled the car to a screeching stop in front of Simone's little house. She got out of the car and rushed up the front steps. “Simone!” she cried, pounding on the door. She jabbed the doorbell repeatedly and continued hammering the door with her fist. “Simone! It's me, Kerry!”
She jiggled the handle but the door was locked. Panting, Kerry pressed her ear to the door and tried to listen for any sounds in the house.
She thought she heard something. Her eyes widened and she kicked frantically at the door. “Simone! Simone! Are you in there?”
Stumbling down the steps, Kerry ran to the window and tried to peer in. But the curtains were drawn and she couldn't see anything. She scrambled towards the back, hoping to find an open window. One of the side windows was slightly open and Kerry tried to push it further open but it was stuck. “Shit! Come on, dammit!” Kerry strained and cursed but the window just wouldn't budge.
It was Simone's bedroom window and Kerry saw Simone's phone lying on the floor. The screen was cracked, as if someone had stomped on it.
“Simone!” Kerry shouted through the window. “Simone, are you okay?”
Kerry froze when she heard what sounded like footsteps. They were muted, like someone was trying to move about quietly in the house. She gulped and pricked her ears.
There was a muffled, shuffling sound. Kerry looked around desperately. The street was quiet and deserted, the houses sitting silent and sullen in the hazy afternoon heat. Her neighbors didn't seem to be home. Kerry fumbled for her phone. Nathan would be able to get into the house and find out what was going on. He would know what to do.
Kerry froze when she heard a soft cry. It was Simone's voice.
Something crashed to the floor and she heard Simone's broken voice again before it was abruptly cut off. The sounds seemed to be coming from the kitchen.
As Kerry scrambled frantically to the back of the house, her phone slipped from her hands and thudded soundlessly into the grass.