WEB OF MISTAKE

*****WEB OF MISTAKES****

** **** **** **

Dominic sat on the sunlounger below the *sunshade at the front of the conservatory in his garden. Tools lay on the floor scattered all over. The rake was by his left close to a heap of dried leaves which he had been raking, a wheel barrow was around* the corner painted red. Hand fork,

Dominic laid his back on the back of the sunlounger, he put his hand on his forehead. His breathing was hard and deep. It shows he was tired. He took a sip of the drink in his hand and sighed. He peered at the garden, he'd done a lot of work but there was still more and more. The vegetable porch was neatly arranged, they were greener than ever, healthy. The flowers were carefully trimmed and neat. The weeds were gone and some new seeds were planted. The lawn was mowed, it shone. He still had to clear the heap of dry grasses, grease the mower, rake and other tools. Daggers still had to be collected and sent to his shop.

Sighing, he stood up and started to complete his chore. He took hold of the shovel, used it in hurling dry grasses and other dirts into the red wheelbarrow. The wind tossed some back littering the neatly swept garden. Sand got into his eyes, he jerked which sent the shovel out of his hand, the shovel fell on the wheelbarrow. The wheel barrow tumbled upside down, landed on the edge of the rake, the handle of the rake went up and struck the sunshade.

Dominic managed to get the sand out of his eyes, opened them and saw that the place was a mess.

His face went red, hot with anger. He hissed, a long hiss. Stamped his foot, dug his fingers into his hair which were damp from his pespiration. He was getting out of his mind. He'd been up this early to clear his garden and its just a mess. He kicked the shovel, it hurt his foot.

"Ouch!" he screamed, hopping.

At that moment, his cell phone rang, he limped towards it, he saw the caller ID and started calming down. It was an important call from one whom he'd loved and grown up with. He flipped the cell. "My sweet, cousin," he greeted, forcing a smile, though she couldn't see it.

"Hello, Dominic", Jessica replied cheerily.

"How are you, cousin?" he asked.

"I am good, Dominic."Jessica called excitedly. "I want you to come over tonight. I've got friends I want you to meet."

Grinning, he said to the phone, "Anything you want, dear cousin. What time do you want me there?"

"Is 7 all right?"

"Yes, it is. See you." He disconnected the call. Oh, at least the day won't be as bad as I thought. Dinner at Jessica's would be a delight. Meeting new friends. Shirley would be there too, wherever Jessica went, she went too. An inseperable pair, very unlikely. A doctor and a counsellor. Jessica, the carefree type, easy going, optimistic and easily scared. Shirley, the braver of the two, soft hearted, pessimistic and hardly scared.

He'd always had an eye on Shirley, beautiful with big, round grey eyes, brown hair, thin lips....... He came back to his senses before he got hard, day *dreaming of Shirley.

He quickly carried out his work with joy. The anger already vanished, hearing his cousin's voice and thinking of* Shirley. Within 30 minutes, he was through, got into his house, bathed, dressed up in his best tuxedo. Looking himself in the mirror, he was dead handsome. He smiled and said, "Perfect."

Tbc

*****WEB OF MISTAKES****

CHAPTER

ONE (B). continuation

"Mum, mum. I'm scared" said the frightened Jessica.

Giving her a puzzled look, Mrs Beauty replied, "Come with me. You'll sit, while you let me get you a cip of coffee to calm yourself down. Then we can talk about it."

"Ok, mum."

Mrs Beauty helped Jessica into the living room, sat her down and went to get two cups of coffee. She handed one to Jessica, sat beside her and patted her gently.

"Jess, what's wrong, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" asked Mrs Beauty, so concerned.

"I had–" Jessica was about to speak, to narrate her scary dream to her mum, but she knew how badly it would affect her mum. She would also suggest things Jessica didn't like, such as staying away from the hospital and if possible report the last incident to the police. Jessica would buy none of the ideas.

She quickly changed her mind and lied to her mum. "I was dreaming, getting married, having kids but one of my children had died and I screamed and I fell down and hit my back hard on the floor. That's all." Jessica wasn't a good liar.

"Jessica, you are not telling me everything. I want the whole truth." Mrs Beauty demanded.

"Mum, I've told you the truth, that's all."

Mrs Beauty wasn't satisfied.

"Jessica, look into my eyes and say what you just said."

Jessica was caught between crossroads. She couldn't look her mum in the eye and lie to her, yet she was determined not to let her mum know anything. She got up from the sofa, gave her mum a brief hug and said to her, "I'll be fine, I'll take care of myself. I love you."

She hurriedly walked to her room, dialled Shirley's number.

"Shirley, we need to talk." she said impatiently.

"Jess, calm down. Where do we meet?"

"I'm home. Come straight to my room."

"I'll be there."

**** **** **** ****

Taking a deep breath, Shirley collapsed into her chair. Staring at her chamber and the pile of files on her table, she sighed again.

Being a counsellor was not an easy job at all. Visiting clients, listening to their reports, talking about money, preparing cases and going to court almost everyday was tiring and something difficult for just one person to handle. Thanks to her colleagues who helped her out and they stood for one another. At least she could find time for her family and friends.

Without wasting much time, she abandoned the files at her desk, grabbed her car keys and dashed off to see Jessica. The files can wait. Jessica was more important. She was her best friend. A friend rare to find and so precious.

Yes, she was important.

**** **** ****

"Hi, Mrs Beauty," Shirley smiled, in a warm tone, greeting Jess's mum.

"Hello, how are you?" replied Mrs Beauty while giving Shirley a side hug and placed kisses on her cheeks.

"I'm doing good, as you can see."

"Your friend isn't doing good." her mood changed. "Hope you're not over working yourself." She suddenly brightened up.

Great! Jessica's mum had started again. She was a sweet, caring and compassionate person who loved to take care of everyone who was nice to her. She hate seeing young girls overwork themselves. She always wanted to help them out in a way or two.

Shirley knew what would come next. Mrs Jack would lecture her up to an hour, telling her things she didn't want to hear and what she'd heard over and over again. She could even complete Mrs Jack's statements. Realizing she was taking much time and Jessica was waiting-she knew it was something important and something had to be done, she hurriedly ended the conversation with Mrs Jack.

"I'm not over working, ma'am. I really have to see Jess, take care." She ran off.

Getting to Jessica's door, she knocked lightly and whispered her name. She waited for some seconds which rolled into minutes and she had no reply. She tapped the door again, the same thing. Without waiting any longer, she flung the door wide open, revealing Jessica on the foam, a white silk bed spread which was rumpled and damp with her tears.

Jessica's head buried to a pillow and also buried in her thoughts. She'd been thinking about her life, her present life. Things had changed so much. She wanted to get back to her old life, being carefree, partying, having fun. That was only a mere wish and she knew that. What if she dies? What if he comes again and attack her? Would she be able to save herself again? Her mother, brother, friends-Shirley and Richmond, and cousin-Dominic. They were her only family. How would they cope without her? What if . . .

"Jessica, you alright?" asked Shirley, a frown on her face showing deep concern for Jessica.

"What!" screamed Jessica. She regained her balance and relaxed though her hands were still trembling. "You startled me. Why didn't you knock?"

"I did knock, Jess. I was out there for about 20minutes, you didn't reply. I couldn't wait and I came in, I've been watching you since, you didn't even twitch. I thought you were unconcious."

Realizing that she was at fault, she quickly apologised.

......to be continued.

***WEB OF MISTAKES**

CHAPTER ONE (C)

"I'm sorry. I never heard you knock and I didn't know you walked in."

"What's up with you, Jess," Shirley asked, sitting on the bed. She held her hand. "Talk to me. Your mum is sick worried about you and your brother is. We all are. Why don't you say what's wrong and together, we'll help you out?"

"I want to. But I don't want to tell mum. She'll want me to do things I don't want to do. She'll die of worry. I don't want that."

"Then tell me, speak to me. What happened to you."

Jessica opened up. "That same night. The night I was almost killed. I dream about it almost everyday. I am scared, I feel like I'll soon die. I dreamt about it today. Just some few minutes back. I don't feel safe anymore."

This time, tears were clouded in Jessica's eyes, she let them fall, washing her eyes. She choked several times while speaking.

Drawing nearer to Jessica, Shirley gave her hand a light squeeze and gave a big hug. She tried the best possible way to console her friend. Jessica was hurting and she knew it, she was hurting too. She couldn't bear to see her that way, she had to do something and do it fast. Jessica's life was in danger and she needed to help her. If anything happened to Jess, she would never forgive herself.

"Jess, calm down. I'm with you now. Come one, no need to cry, you're safe with me." She dried her tears.

"I know."

"I suggest we investigate this matter, I know you have no enemies but you have one now. We have to get to the bottom of this."

"No, Shirley. I don't want to have anything to do with the police, I don't want to involve them. I don't just want to."

"We'll investigate privately, no one will have to know."

Jessica pressed. "Guns and the rest will be used, the same police."

"You're not helping matters. Its your life we're talking about here! Listen. If you don't think about yourself, think about us-me, your mum and your brother. Your only family. Don't you think you're being selfish?"

Jessica saw sense in Shirley's statement. She still refused to comply. She refused to believe someone would wanna harm her. That still frightened her. She was strong willed. ."I understand. Shirley, its my life. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. If the attempt on my life repeats itself, I will heed your advice."

Damn it! She'd be dead then. Shirley was sure her friend had gone nuts. Didn't she love her life?

"Then think about the /real/ person in question if you think its not you. You could help save her life."

"I'm a doctor, I save lives."

"Jessica!" Shirley tried sounding cool. Inside, she was burning with rage. "At least, let the cops know and they'll do their job. I'm a lawyer, I'll help."

"I insist. They promised to help my dad, didn't they? They failed. The case is closed now. I don't have faith in them." Jessica was being unreasonable and she knew it. Her dad had died quite alright, but he was killed, poisoned, by who? No one knew, not even the so-called cops, she'd given them everything just to save her dad, yet they failed. She vowed they were all useless and didn't want to have anything to do with them.

Shirley should know, but her friend still had faith in them. Mistakes do happen, don't they? And she was sure they person behind it was all smart, very smart. He covered all his tracks.

She would help herself and she would do so without the cops only if the second attempt comes again. Was she even sure what to do? She didn't know were that strong will came from, but she was going to heed to that. Damn the police for now!

Shirley gave up. She percieved Jessica spoke all that cuz of her dad's sad death. They'd all forgotten about it. "If you don't want to contact the police, what should we do? That's only what I have in mind."

"I don't know yet, I'm confused." She knew Shirley was hurt.

"Come here," said Shirley opening her arms.

Tbc