Cassandra had fallen asleep. She had cried herself to sleep after narrating her experience with Frederick. He had tried to stab her. She kept trying to pacify him until he wounded her. She said his eyes had glistened at the sight of her blood. She said he had looked blood hungry.
She had smacked his head with a frying pan before she had been able to escape. She had been running ever since. She had to give up everything. She could no longer use a cell phone.
How could she still love that kind of person? There were three reasons. It was either she was in the wrong state of mind, maybe she was coo coo like him, or, she was too afraid to admit that she no longer loved him, or, theirs was a very toxic love.
She mumbled softly in her sleep. Her face was beginning to have some colour.
Did the Frederick ever love her? Not that he cared, but if they had been together for five years and she had no clue about his dark past, it was either he never loved her, or the fact that she cheated on him made him snap.
He knew people that had overcome past traumas but had lapsed back into it because something triggered it. That could be the case.
The man was a threat to the society. He needed to dig deeper into Frederick's past. He needed to find out why he was sent to the psychiatric home in the first place. Maybe even speak to one of his former foster parents.
Tarson called.
"Mr. Pole. I have the information you requested". Tarson said.
"Send it to my email". Jack said.
"I have already done that, Sir".
"Thank you. I'll call you if I have any questions". He said and hung up.
He got his laptop and opened it. He opened the email. Her name was Camila Harrison. She worked at several strip clubs. Presently, she was working in Carlifornia. She also offered private services to clients.
They had been right. The woman was a whore. She made a lot of money, though. She lived in an apartment building downtown. Her phone number and educational achievements were listed there. She had attended a community college and was rusticated for gross misconduct. She had a very low class attendance in high school. Her mother had been in and out of mental homes after her father died when she was seven. Her mother had been a caterer. Her mother was dead now. There was no mention of any siblings.
Maybe, she and Cassandra were not related at all.
He looked at the photos again. Their faces were the same.
Then, he wondered, how was Frederick able to get those pictures? They were taken from outside the building. They must have been on a high floor. That would mean that the photographs had been taken from a nearby building. He probably zoomed in.
How did he even know the fake Cassandra would be at the hotel?
Had he been following her?
His phone rang. It was Katherine.
"Mr. Pole, we have a problem".
He roamed his mind for possible problems. He had not missed any important meetings, there were no pending contracts to be signed. There was no possible problem he could think of.
"What is it, Katherine?" He asked.
"A package was delivered to your office this afternoon. Your decoy opened it and it contained a dead woman's head. There was a note inside. I'll snap it and send to you". She said.
He received it immediately.
The note read;
'This is the only peace cheats are allowed to have. I have prepared a present for your sister's birthday. If you don't want her to receive the present, come to the party with Cassandra. I will be there to take her. No tricks'.
"What do you think it means?" Katherine aaked .
"Send me a photo of the face he sent to me". He said.
"Mr. Pole, I'm not sure you should see it. You could get sick. It's very unsightly". She said, her voice full of disgust and irritation.
"Send it, Katherine". He repeated.
She sent it. There were maggots everywhere. The flesh was rotting. He could only imagine the stench that must have been emanating from the package.
"How do we dispose of it, Mr. Pole?" She asked.
He thought for a moment. He had to get law enforcement involved.
"Call the detctive and tell him everything you know. Let him handle it. Go home and rest, Katherine". He instructed.
"Okay, Mr. Pole".
"I hope it didn't scare you too much, Katherine?" He asked.
"I was freaking out, Mr. Pole. I am freaking out". Katherine said.
"I know. It's an upsetting sight. You should take the rest of the day off. Did anybody else see it?" He asked.
"No. Just me and the acting Mr. Pole". She replied.
"That's good. Keep it contained without raising any eyebrows. When the detective shows up, inform him to be as discreet as possible". He said.
"That can be done. Thank you". She said.
He hung up.
What the hell!
How had his family been dragged into this? Why was Frederick playing the long game?
Worst of all, he was going to ruin his sister's party.
Bring Cassandra? She was still recuperating.
Was there anyway he could walk around the issue?
What gift was he talking about. What if it was a bomb? There was no guarantee that the man could be held to his word even if he brought Cassandra.
What was he to do? What could he even do?
He could ask them to postpone the party. But that would not solve the problem. Frederick is using them to get to Cassandra so he could still operate without a party. What if he kidnapped Amanda? Or he planned to poison everyone.
At least the guy had not figured out the decoy yet.
He thought deeply. Was there any way around the problem.
Hell no.