Scarlet
“Reid’s losing his shit,” Akilah says as we set the scene up in the bar for Reid’s return. If nothing that’s been happening so far has tipped him over the edge, this will. With handsome payments to people desperately in need of money, I’ve been able to set this up nicely. The couple at the market who Reid thought was me and Stuart. All set up. The woman with the child who prevented him from catching up with them straight away wasn’t. She just happened to be there and halted Reid for a moment. She unwittingly did us a favour.
It’s been a pain, but removal men were hired to switch my office and rent an empty one for a few days, just to set the scene. My receptionist is in on it, too. She’s been paid so handsomely that she won’t need to find work for another year after I’m gone. All these little things that are making Reid think he’s turning cuckoo.
“I’m glad he’s losing his shit,” I say before turning my attention away from Akilah and onto the lady we hired from the marketplace. The one who resembles me. I’ve been a good two hours doing her hair and makeup so that she looks just like me. I’ve even given her some green contact lenses, so when Reid sees her, he’ll think she’s me.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” I sigh, reaching my hand out to touch her arm. “You look great, Sylvie.”
“Thanks,” she smiles.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay with this?”
She nods. “Yep. I’m sure. I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“We’ll be just round the corner if you need us. Hopefully, you won’t. The way Reid keeps losing it lately, I doubt he’ll stick around once he sees you.” I don’t have to see myself to know I have a twinkle in my eye. Fingers crossed, I’ll only have a couple more days left in this hellhole before I get to see my James and David.
“You look radiant,” Akilah observes.
I turn to him with a bright smile. “Wouldn’t you be if you had a chance to get back at your family’s killers?”
Gritting his teeth, Akilah growls. “Nothing would give me more pleasure than giving them a very slow and very painful death.”
Feeling badly for him, I walk up to him and squeeze his arm in sympathy. “I would love that for you, too.”
Akilah sighs, and all the anger disappears from his face. “In the meantime, I can get revenge through others.”
I say my thanks again, and offer Akilah a big hug. I feel the way he hugs me, squeezing himself into me with his big arms. I hear his heart beat frantically as he holds me. I know Akilah has a little thing for me, but he’s never once acted upon it. It kind of makes him all the more endearing. Though I can be a heartless bitch at times, I do—on occasion—care for people. And people like Akilah both need and deserve caring for. I’m not completely heartless. I know that he’s gone through more than anyone should ever have to go through in a single lifetime. And, because of that, I truly hope he finds his path in life.
As I pull away, I remember something I forgot to tell him a few days ago. “Oh, by the way, Lopez shouldn’t be a problem anymore.”
Akilah frowns, looking away. “Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“Good,” I reply, smiling. “And nor should you. If you ever do again, tell me, okay?”
He flashes me his straight white teeth before replying, “Okay.”
Just as he says that, my phone rings. I answer straight away. “It’s Cliff,” the voice says. “I did as asked, and he fell for it like a charm. I’ve sent him on his way with his tail between his legs. Expect his call.”
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy. I wish I had been there to witness Reid getting his arse kicked. “I’ll drop by with the rest of the money later.”
He hangs up straight away, but as soon as I end it myself, my phone rings, and Reid’s number flashes up. I smile, showing the other two his number before answering.
“Dr Mercy, get your arse down to my bar right now. I need to speak with you.”
Without letting me respond, he hangs up. I look at the phone first, thinking how shaky his voice sounded. I look back up to Akilah and Sylvie. “He wants me to meet him here, so he’ll be here very soon. We have everything in place, right?” Akilah nods his head. “Good. Let’s get to work.”
Operation Make Reid Crazy is about to turn up a notch.
Akilah and I make our way to the CCTV room, leaving Sylvie to take her position on one of the couches.
“Are you nervous?” Akilah asks as we wait for Reid’s return. Luckily, we have a camera pointing outside, too, so that makes our life even easier.
“A little, but only because I don’t know how he’ll react.”
“After everything I’ve witnessed lately, I expect he’ll react the same way as always.”
I offer Akilah a light smile when I see Reid’s car appear in the camera. He’s driving erratically towards his spot and seems to park in it haphazardly before emerging from his car.
When we see him appear inside the bar area, we watch as he looks around, looking to see if anyone’s there.
Leaning over the microphone Akilah had secretly installed for us, I whisper, “Reid” into it. I see the moment he looks around—his head zapping from one end of the room to the other. I press the button again. “Why did you kill me, Reid?” I whisper again, smiling at Akilah when I see his reaction.
Reid seems to jerk one way and then the other—his movements frantic as he searches for the source of the voice. Just as I am beginning to think all is lost, I see the moment his eyes land on the back of Sylvie’s head. I notice his eyes widen as he halts for a moment. I can tell he’s wondering what to do. His breathing is heavy and his fear palpable.
“I could seriously have sex right now.” I’m so turned on just by watching him.
“I don’t know how to answer that.”
I turn to Akilah with a frown. “Did I actually say that out loud?”
He smirks before replying, “Yes. You actually did.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Conversation soon halts when we see Reid make the decision to investigate further. He virtually takes pigeon steps towards Sylvie as she sits motionless on the couch. All he can see is the back of her head popping up from behind the couch.
He walks closer, stops, and then walks a little closer. I watch as his eyes close and he swallows a huge lump in his throat. I wait for the moment he goes around the couch to see Sylvie before I lean over with my finger poised above the button—ready to strike.
His eyes land on Sylvie. I know she’s lying there, head back, eyes wide open, and blood around her neck. I know Reid didn’t kill me by slitting my throat, but the added effect of blood I thought was a must. Otherwise, he could just think she’s a random woman sitting on his couch. I watch the moment he gasps, and that’s when I lean over. “Reid,” I whisper again.
That’s all it takes. With a sprint, he’s off, racing out of the bar and into his car. I watch as he drives away, and pretty soon—just as I had expected—Reid calls me. I answer it.
“She’s in my bar. She’s fucking out to get me, Mercy. Where the fuck are you? I need to see you right now. ”
I smile before replying, “Calm down, Reece. Where are you?”
“I’m driving. I’m … I’m going to head for that place you met me at last time when I fell asleep. You have to come. I can’t go back to the bar. I can’t—”
“Okay, Reece,” I say, interrupting him. “Deep breaths. Calm down. I’m almost there, okay? I just had to deal with an emergency, but I’m coming. And I’m here for you. Just hang in there. Ten minutes.”
“Hurry,” he says before hanging up. I swear I could hear trembling in his voice like he was crying.
I bite my lip as I turn to Akilah. “He fell for it!” I screech, hugging him.
He hugs me back, but soon pulls away. “Come. We have work to do before he comes back.”
In haste, we make our way down the stairs to a smiling Sylvie. I can tell she gets a kick out of this. “Thank you,” I say to her, pulling out a wad of cash just for her. “This is for you.”
“Thanks,” she squeaks. “That was so much fun. Let me know if you ever need me again.”
“Hopefully not, but I will let you know if I ever do. Thanks.”
She soon walks out of the bar, leaving Akilah and me alone. “I best run and get the car.” I had hidden it down the road out of sight. It’ll take a five-minute run to get there, but I’ll make it.
“Go,” he says, urging me forward. “I’ll clean up here and make sure it’s ready for your return.”
“Thanks.”
With a turn on my heels, I rush out the door and run the five minutes to my car. I’m all hot and sweaty once I reach it and click it open. I get in, start it up, and put the air con on full blast to help cool me down. Wiping my brow, I shift into first gear and start moving off the dead-end track I’d parked in. As I get onto the main road, I shift into second, and then third as I accelerate, racing past the entrance into Reid’s bar.
Another five minutes later, I’m at the desolate location I remember finding Reid at a few days ago when he’d had an episode similar to this. I pull up next to him, and he’s soon out of the car. Sweat is dripping from his forehead, his breathing has become erratic, and his muscles are tense.
“You told me ten fucking minutes,” he seethes before starting to pace.
I reach my hands out to him in a calming manner. “Reece, calm down. Please. Take deep breaths, and tell me what happened.”
He stops his pacing a moment, snapping his head to me. “None of this probably would have happened if you’d switched your phone on. Where have you been?”
“I told you. I had an emergency with a patient.”
He jabs his finger at his chest. “I’m a fucking emergency.”
Shit. He really is going crazy. I’m enjoying the hell out of this show. Wonderful.
“I know, and I’m sorry. But I’m here now, okay?” I still have my arms out in front of me, trying to calm him. Little by little, his breathing becomes shallower. “That’s it. Breathe, Reece. Breathe for me. I’m here. You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you. Okay?”
He fixes me with his eyes as he starts biting his fingernails. His focus seems off. I must be mad to be out here in the middle of nowhere with a man whose sanity’s slipping through the cracks. He looks maniacal.
That’s why it surprises me when he suddenly starts crying. I mean he is completely bawling his eyes out. At first, I don’t know what to do, but then my brain soon kicks into gear, making me rush towards him. I offer him a cuddle, and he accepts it straight away, squeezing me into him like I’m the only person he can hold onto.
“I don’t know how to move on. She’s haunting me day and night. I still dream of her. She’s like the ghost that won’t fucking let go. She won’t let me go, Dr Mercy. She won’t let me go.”
“Shh,” I say with a smile on my lips. “It’s okay. I still truly think this is more of a case of you not letting her go. As long as you keep whatever guilt you’re holding inside, she will always be there. Always.”
“I killed her,” he says, surprising me. He feels the moment I stiffen in his arms and tightens his hold on me. “Don’t leave me. You can’t fucking leave me. I didn’t mean to do it. I swear. I just got so fucking angry with her. She belonged to me. To me, goddammit.” He jerks me forward, pinning me to him.
“Okay, Reece. I’m not leaving, but you have to let me go, so I can see you … talk with you.”
Slowly, but surely, he loosens his grip on me, allowing me to breathe a little. Once I have him at arm’s length, I sigh, looking into his lost eyes. Eyes that I made look lost.
This is so poetic.
“Are you ready to tell me what happened?”
“With Scarlet?”
I nod. “Yes… And what happened to make you run again.”
He winces, looking away. He looks so broken right now. Man, this is better than sex!
There’s one sentence I never thought I would ever say!
“I … I can’t. Not yet.”
“You told me you killed her.”
He starts shaking his head. “I didn’t. I’m just … my head is … fuck!” He screams, running his hands through his hair.
“Okay, Reece. Calm down. We’ll not talk about Scarlet then. Can you at least tell me what happened at the bar?” He tells me everything he saw—everything that I had watched him see—and afterwards, he lands his eyes on me, awaiting some sort of an answer.
“Follow me,” I say, opening my car door.
He frowns. “What?”
“If there’s a dead body in your bar, then it’ll still be there. Let’s go and have a look.”
“I can’t go back there,” he says, vehemently shaking his head.
I leave the car door open as I walk towards him, placing my hand on his arm. “I’m with you, Reece. Every step of the way. Okay? You have to go back there at some point. It’s better now than later. Otherwise, the feeling of not wanting to go back will only get stronger. Best to face your demons head-on. It’s the only way.”
I see doubt in his eyes, but eventually he nods his head, getting into his car. I follow suit driving out and back onto the main road that heads back to his bar. I watch in the rear-view mirror as Reid follows. His expression is blank. He looks like a zombie.
A laugh threatens to leave my body, but I hold it in, refraining from showing even a smile—just in case he can see me through the mirror. I choose to look forward, concentrating on just driving to his bar for now.
I reach the entrance, driving in before parking up. Once I do, I’m out like a shot and by Reid’s side in support. He looks frazzled. His normally perfectly styled hair is haphazardly splayed upon his head. His eyes are sullen and swollen from all the crying. He also has bags under his eyes.
“Are you sleeping okay?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “She’s always there.” That’s all he offers me, but of course I already know who he’s talking about without having to ask.
Grabbing his arm, I lead the way to the entrance of his bar. “Come on. Let’s get this over and done with. Do you want me to go in first?”
At first he nods, but then he takes in a deep breath. He looks angry. “No. I’ll come in with you.” He looks determined as I lead the way. No doubt, he’s gearing himself up for this.
Once at the door, Reid hesitates, so I nudge him forward. He takes in a deep breath again, and it’s he who finally pushes the door open.
Akilah’s at the bar, cleaning and getting everything ready for when all the night-time customers arrive, which should be really soon. He looks up when he sees us, a big smile on his face.
“Hey, brother, Dr Mercy. Do you feel better now?” He asks with his attention on Reid.
Reid, ignoring him, looks around, his eyes focusing on the couch. He stalks forward, his eyes never wavering from his goal. Once he reaches the couch and finds it empty, he looks up. “She’s not here.”
“Who?” Akilah asks.
Reid’s head snaps to Akilah. “The lady … who was there,” he shouts, pointing at the couch. “She was right there.”
Akilah frowns in confusion. He’s a fucking cracking actor when he wants to be. Even I nearly believe him when he says, “There was no one here when I arrived ten minutes ago.”
“No, no, no, no, no,” Reid repeats over and over again as he paces before finally slumping on one of the stools. He puts his head into his hands and shakes his head back and forth.
I look to Akilah with a smile as I approach the bar and place my hand on his back. “Reece, you need a rest. All this lack of sleep can’t be helping.”
“No,” he groans out, closing his eyes. “I’ll only dream of her.”
As soothingly as I can, I run my hand back and forth over his back. “If you want, I can give you something that will help you sleep. Something that will put you out and finally give you the peaceful night sleep which you are so sorely in need of.”
He sighs, and I think he’s going to tell me no and that he doesn’t want to take more drugs, so I’m surprised when he lifts his head up, nodding. “Yes. Please. I think I need something. I can’t think straight right now.”
I smile. “Lack of sleep will do that to you.”
He looks up to Akilah. “But I can’t leave you in the lurch.”
He shakes his head. “You won’t, brother. I’ll call Benji if I need help. You go get some sleep. You’ve been running yourself into the ground lately.”
“Only if you’re sure?”
Oh my God, he looks so defeated! It’s seriously like watching my favourite porn clip.
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve run this bar a thousand times without you.”
“Okay,” he finally says, stepping down from the bar and looking towards me. “Give me what you’ve got.”
I nod, pointing towards the door. “I have to go to the car and get my bag. I’ll be back in a bit. Go upstairs to your room, and I’ll meet you there.”
I leave without looking back. At the moment, I can’t because I’m too busy smiling from ear to ear. I reach the car with a spring in my step and pull my bag out from the car. I dig around searching for the vial and syringe I managed to obtain with the aid of a lot of money. A vial that will give Reid the most peaceful sleep he’s had in ages. I’ll give him that. Just for tonight. A reprieve so that when his paranoia kicks in again, it’ll send him spiralling.
I take the vial and syringe and head back with a little skip towards the bar. Once through the doors, Akilah points upstairs with a smile. “He’s in his room.”
“Thanks,” I reply, walking towards the back of the bar.
Once I reach Reid’s door, I knock, hearing him immediately ask for me to come in. He’s lying on the bed, looking smaller than I’ve ever seen him.
It makes my heart swell.
“I have just the thing to help you. In the morning you’ll feel right as rain. I promise.”
“Just give it to me,” he says with a defeated sigh.
I waste no time. Sticking the needle in the vial, I set the amount I was advised and walk towards him. He doesn’t even flinch when I stick the needle in his arm.
Once out, I set the needle down on his side table and watch as he stares at the ceiling. “Thanks, Dr Mercy,” he says without taking his gaze away from the ceiling.
“You’re welcome, Reece. I just want you better.”
I sit and wait as I watch his eyes droop and his breathing evens out as he falls into a peaceful sleep. I pinch him and get no reaction. That’s when I lean forward—a sneer on my face—and whisper, “I lied, Reid. I hope you fucking suffer, you crazy motherfucker.”