Chapter 2 The News

The driver of the car came out and looked around to see if anyone saw what happened. When he was satisfied that nobody was around he then walked towards the unconscious body of Ella. He touched her body and shook her but there was no response from her, then he put one of his fingers under her nose to check if she still breathing but he was relieved to find out that she was not breathing.

He looked around one more time to be sure that he was not seen by anyone before he picked her lifeless body up and carried her in a bridal style to his car. He put her in the back seat of the car and he put her in a sitting position in case he had to pass through any form of supervision from anyone.

The driver entered the car and started driving. He kept driving until he came to a river. He opened the door and came and then she carried her body out of the car and did a last check of the environment. He walked to the river and without thinking twice, he threw her body into the river.

"I'm sorry, but I am following instructions, so just rest in peace." The driver said.

He quickly walked back to the car, and taking out a piece of clothing, he wiped everywhere she might have touched in his car to erase any form of evidence that would lead to her death whenever her body was found.

When he was done he entered the car and drove away. He kept driving till he came to a safe place and he brought out his phone and stopped the car. He dialed a number and the person picked up the first ring.

'Hello.' The voice at the other end said.

'The job is done.' The man informed.

'Good but are you sure she will not survive it?' The voice asked.

'She was already unconscious when I hit her, there is no way she should be able to swim out of the river.' The man assured.

'Good, you will get your balance immediately.'

The voice said.

'Thank you, boss, in a few days you will hear the good news of her body being found.' The man said confidentially.

'I trust you.' The voice said and ended the call.

Two minutes after the call ended, the man's phone beeped and when he checked it, he saw his balance payment had been sent. With a smile on his face, he drove off.

***

Ethan came back from work and opened the door to the house in excitement. His wife Ella had texted him that she had good news that she wanted to share with him. He had left work early to come home but one of his high-profile clients had called him to let him know that he wanted to have an urgent meeting with him. He had to put a hold on his coming early and went to see the man.

"Strange," Ethan said to himself as he met the house dark.

He turned on the light and saw the house in complete silence. Usually, by this time, Ella would have already been at home and making dinner for the both of them.

"Honey." He called out but he was only created by silence.

He walked to the kitchen to check if she was there but she was not. Then he went to the bedroom to check but she was still not there. It wasn't until he checked the bathroom and the balcony and still did not find her that he began to feel uneasy.

He brought out his phone from his pocket and called her number and her phone started ringing. He heard the phone ringing in the apartment and then he followed the sound until he came back to the sitting room and found the phone lying on the couch. She was not with her phone. He decided to call her sister.

'Hello, brother-in-law.' The voice on the other end said sweetly.

'Hello Tania.' Ethan replied.

'You are calling me this late at night, hope all is well.' Tania said.

'It's Ella, I can't find her.' Ethan said with worry in his voice.

'I don't understand, what do you mean you can't find her?' Tania asked with confusion written in her voice.

'I came back him from work this night, I could not find her anywhere in the house and when I called her phone, I discovered that it was in the house.' Ethan said.

'That's strange, Ella is not someone who would leave the house without her phone and also without telling anyone about where she was going.' Tania said.

'Exactly my point! That's exactly why I'm scared. This is strange, she has never behaved this way before since I knew her.' Ethan told Tania.

'Wait, did you guys have any misunderstanding that would have made her act in this manner?' Tania asked.

'No, in fact, she texted me that she had good news to tell me at home, but I was delayed by a client and came back late only for me to find the house empty and her phone in the living room.' Ethan answered.

'In that case, I think you have to call the police and file for missing person report.' Tania advised.

'Alright, thank you for the idea, I will do just want.' Ethan said and ended the call.

Ethan found it strange that Tania was not as bothered about her missing sister like the way he was. He knew Ella was very close to her sister and it was even through Tania whom he had been friends that he met Ella. Ethan did not want to dwell much on Tania's less concerned attitude, so he put the thoughts out of his mind and called the police.

'Hello, how can we be of help to you?' The officer who picked up the call asked.

'I want to file a missing person report.' Ethan said.

'How long have the person been missing?' The officer asked Ethan.

'A few hours ago.' Ethan answered.

'I'm sorry, but you can only file a missing person report after the person has been confirmed missing for more more 24 hours.' The officer said and Ethan ended the call frustrated.

***

It had been three days since Ella's sudden disappearance and Ethan had not stopped looking for her with the help of Tania. Tania had been a source of strength and comfort to him and he was grateful for her help. He had reported again to the police and he told them the clothes she had worn that fateful day and the police had assured him that they were putting in their best effort to make sure that she was found.

The dreaded news came three days after her disappearance. Ethan had become a shadow of his former self since Ella's mysterious disappearance and he was also refusing to go to work.

He had just gotten out of the bathroom that morning when he heard his phone ringing. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was Tania.

'Hello Tania.' He said with forced cheerfulness in his voice because he did not want Tania to be worried that he was being depressed.

'Oh, Ethan, you have to come now.' Tania said and the way her voice sounded made Ethan freeze in fear.

'What's going on Ella?' He asked fearfully.

'It's Ella.' She repeated and her voice broke.

'What is it about Ella, has she been found?' Ethan asked.

'Her clothes were found floating on the river by some fishermen this morning and they called the cops who called me.' Tania revealed and broke into tears.

'What?!' Ethan exclaimed.

***