Chapter Eleven

 Adira rushed to her bag and took out her phone. Her hands fumbled and she couldn’t remember the pin code she had kept to unlock the phone.

The knocking and doorbell resumed, simultaneously, and she felt the vibrations of fear palpitate in her body. Her fingers trembled as she finally unlocked her phone and started to dial for the police.

“Adira!” she heard a male voice. “Open the door. Now!”

Stunned to hear her name, she had to let out a breath and let her heart beat to its normal rhythm before she could move her feet.

It’s Ramon. What is he doing at this time? Unless...unless he’s the one who has been sending me those messages!

“What do you want?” she cried out and walked over to the door. She wasn’t scared of Ramon and she wasn’t going to be intimidated by him.

“Adira, just open the door,” Ramon said, patiently.

She clutched her phone tight, ready to hit the call button if Ramon did anything, and opened the door.

“What?” Her pretense of courage evaporated when she saw how livid Ramon looked.

“Do you have Sibyl’s phone?” He asked.

Adira couldn’t form the words she wanted to say. Ramon walked inside and looked all around. “Where is it?”

“How did you…?”

Ramon whipped around with so much fury that she backed against the wall, squeezing the phone in her hand. “I was tracking it. I was honest with you, the least you could tell me was that you had it all along.”

“I didn’t think I could trust you,” she said, quietly.

“I’ve been going insane here, trying to find Sibyl and you hid this from me?”

Adira walked over to the desk and handed it to him, blinking back tears. “Fine, take it.”

Ramon snatched it from her and clicked on the buttons. Slowly, she saw his anger dissolve into puzzlement. “There’s nothing in there.”

“There used to be. Then a software update came along and everything got wiped off. There was this person, sending me text messages...” Adira started to blurt out everything, confused and scared by everything that had happened tonight.

Ramon went to her messages folder, and when he read a few of them, he immediately slammed the phone on the floor and smashed it with his foot. “Your phone,” he said, laying out his hand.

“Why?” Adira wanted to know, although she was already handing over the phone to him.

Ramon opened the back cover and took out the battery. “What else? Is your laptop on?” He went over to her desk and she came to stand before him.

“What are you doing?”

“You’ve been hacked. Someone’s been keeping an eye on you.” Ramon started to type something on her computer then used her mouse to click. “I’ve disabled your camera but I’ll have to call my friend to make sure you weren’t being spied on.”

“You broke Sibyl’s phone.” Adira said, stunned.

“It was compromised,” Ramon said. “The camera was on, you were being spied on. Chances are, if you kept your own phone next to it, it got hacked as well.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

Ramon continued to type on her computer and she peeked over his shoulder, but couldn’t make sense of the codes. “I’ll have it checked to make sure it’s clean. Until then, I suggest you also move out. Spend the night at your friend’s. We have no idea what this person knows. He could come after you.”

“I don’t have any friends,” Adira replied, tonelessly.

“What about that guy? Neil.” Ramon opened up another tab and on a blank page, started to type words and symbols.

“My ex?” She went “You just told me to stay away from him.”

“Yes.” He was clearly distracted. He tapped on her keyboard and then stood. “Your laptop has been hacked. You’ll have to get rid of it.”

“I could get it fixed.”

“Get rid of it,” he said and then stared at her for a full minute. “What do you have that he wants.”

Adira played with the sleeve of her shirt. “A flash drive.”

“What is in it?”

“I couldn’t get in. It’s password protected.”

“Let me see if I can access it.” He laid out his hand and she hesitated. “Fine, if you still don’t trust me...”

Adira walked briskly to the kitchen, reached for the coffee tin on the top shelf and opened it. Some of the instant powder was tossed around, but she didn’t care about the mess she was making. Reaching in, she dug out the flash drive with her thumb and forefinger.

“That’s an interesting hiding place,” Ramon remarked, and leaned against the doorway.

She returned the tin to its place and went over to him. “Here.” She pressed the flash drive into his palm.

“Where did you get it?”

She didn’t look away this time. “In Sibyl’s apartment. She hid it in a coffee tin as well.”

“And you didn’t even tell me about it?” Ramon fumed, but kept his tone leveled. “I get it, because you don’t trust me. However, trust does work both ways. I have proved you can count on me. Tonight, I’ve discovered that you cannot be trusted. Now, is there anything else I need to know?”

“Relating to Sibyl? No.” Adira crossed her arms. “This guy wants the flash drive or he will hurt my sister. What is our next step?”

“First things first, I need to get you out of here.” Ramon took her by her elbow and led her out of the kitchen and then toward the front door.

She paused immediately. “I’m not leaving my stuff behind. And where exactly are you taking me?”

Ramon rubbed his temples with one finger. “You’re sure you don’t have anyone else in the city?” When Adira shook her head, he muttered under his breath. “Fine, you can stay with me.”

She immediately took another step back. “And you’re sure this guy won’t have surveillance at your home? Sibyl used to live in the same building? And don’t criminals always return to the scene of crime?”

“Not always. And yes, he could be keeping a watch on me, but I’ve been careful. And I have a gun.” He unlocked the front door.

“Why do you have a gun? You work for a company.”

“It’s licensed.” Ramon opened the door. “Now come on. Tomorrow we’ll think about what to do.”

Adira excused herself and ran into her bedroom, she snatched random clothes from her wardrobe and stuffed it into a duffel bag. Before heading out, she stared ta her laptop and frowned. It had been an expensive model and her parents had given it to her right before she head to college. She hated that she had to leave it behind, but what choice did she have?

“Let’s go,” Ramon said and pulled her out. Closing the door behind her, he took the bag from her hands and called the elevator.

 

***

 

Adira had been in Ramon's apartment before, but tonight, she felt jittery as she stepped over the threshold. So much had happened today and  she felt completely defenseless and at the mercy of someone she barely knew.

She didn't have a friend to go over to.

The worst was, she didn't have technology to assist her. Ramon had her phone in his pocket and even though he had removed the battery, he still hadn't given it to her.

"Make yourself comfortable," he said without looking at her. His attention was focused on his phone.

"Where should I--?" But he had already disappeared into his passageway. She saw him enter a room and speak on his phone.

She looked all around her and rubbed her arm. It was chilly and the plain white interior of the room made her feel like she was in an asylum.

I should have just gone to a hotel, she thought. Maybe I should go back home. But what about Sibyl?

She knew she was in a quandary. Her father didn't want to hear her sister's name and what if, his hatred for her actions ran so deep that he wouldn't care what happened to Sibyl. Her safety was somewhat guaranteed only by the flash drive... That Ramon had, too.

She turned around and picked up her duffel bag that Ramon had set down near the entrance.

At least she had something that belonged to her. Even if it was her favorite hoodie.

"Why would he do that?"

The bag dropped with a thud and she felt a shiver when she saw Ramon leaning against the arched doorway of the passageway.

She exhaled and shrugged. "Am I supposed to understand what you're talking about?"

Ramon ignored her curt reply and she saw he had removed his jacket. Walking into the living room, he turned on the corner lamp and walked over to his balcony, deep in thought.

"It isn't only about Sibyl. This guy, whoever he is, wants to destroy you both."

Adira shook off her reservations about being in an unfamiliar place and forced herself to trust Ramon.

It's not like I have a choice anymore.

"Neil told me he received messages from me. Pictures, actually. Really risqué ones." She stepped toward him, her hands shaking. "I never sent him those. It wasn't even me in them. My face was photoshopped on someone else's body. He said that was why he broke up with me."

Ramon winced and a deep furrow appeared between his brows.

"He's been after you. Using you to blackmail Sibyl. Then he kidnaps her and is still keeping an eye on you. It's all about the flash drive. There's something in it that could get him in trouble. The question is, how did Sibyl get to it? And is that really why he is out to get you both or does he know you both for a long time?"

Adira shook her head. "We live in a very quiet town. Ever since we were kids, we've been home schooled. Our parents kept to themselves and there was never any known animosity with anyone. That couldn't be it." She sat down on the couch and put her hands in her hair. "We were fine. We were safe. I don't think we should have ever left. The day Sibyl left, she got this in my head that I too, needed to leave and see the world. Look what and where  that notion got us? Sibyl took up a perilous job, I am basically an outcast in my college. She's kidnapped and I don't even have a safe place to sleep anymore. We should have just never left. The world is a freaking dangerous place. "

 

 

“I’m not about to tell you that it’s not,” He said and took out his phone again when it beeped. “I’m clear for now. My phone has no trackers.”

Adira felt a little dispirited. The truth was blatant and cruel, and right in front of her. But still, she wanted someone to tell her to keep up the light of hope. And that things would work out even if it wasn’t right now.

If Sibyl was here, she would have given her some comfort, much like she used to on stormy nights and Adira would be sobbing as the thunder boomed outside.  Now, she had no one to shelter her from the storm.

“Get some sleep,” Ramon said and she saw him calling someone. He disappeared once again into the dark passageway and she saw a narrow slit of light as he opened one of the doors again and went in.

She heard him talk, and she looked around the living room, considering the white couch to lie down. Her muscles ached and her head felt hot. But it was her heart that felt heavy and scared.

She picked up her duffel bag, and then sat down on the couch, hugging it and thinking whether or not she would be able to sleep in a strange place and with so many terrible thoughts pouring into her brain.

Adira lay down on her side, kicking the cushions away and then got up. No, she couldn’t sleep just yet. Not until she knew what their next plan of action would be. The guy wanted the flash drive in exchange for Sibyl. So, that was exactly what they should do.

Pushing her bag away, she went down the dark passageway, shivering to find it was cold and too quiet. She paused near the door she saw Ramon enter, and then pushed it open, when she heard whispers.

“I--” She stopped. Ramon was by his window, talking in low tones, but in his hand was a digital frame, and she saw pictures of a woman being played on it. A step closer, and Adira saw that they were pictures of Sibyl.

“No, she didn’t leave behind anything,” Ramon was saying, still oblivious to her presence. “Just a flash drive I’ll bring to you tomorrow.” There was a pause as someone must be saying something to him on the other line, but Adira was looking at the way, his thumb grazed against one of the pictures of Sibyl.

Her sister was smiling and dressed in a woolly red jacket, her hair loose and her eyes twinkling with excitement. In the background, she saw snow. Adira felt herself catching her breath. Sibyl looked so much like her, down to the long hair, except she had a fringe.

“Nothing changes the way I feel about her. I just want to find her first,” Ramon continued, and put down the frame. “I think--” He stopped, and she saw he him looking at her reflection in the window glass. Turning, he frowned at her and cut the call. “What are you doing here?”

Adira gathered herself and fixed her eyes on the frame that was still playing Sibyl’s pictures. The one on now, had Sibyl lying on the beach in an olive green sundress. She was holding her sunhat out and wearing sunglasses. “Why do you have so many pictures of her?”

Ramon followed her gaze and then stood before the frame, looking guilty. “Why are you in my room?” When she didn’t reply, and simply stared, he dropped his hardened gaze. “Sibyl and I were friends. I told you that.” He started to walk past her, but she stepped before him, slightly surprised by her own assertiveness.

“Did you love her? Were you guys having an affair?” Ramon looked away and she saw him struggling to speak. His silence irked her. “You were? Unbelievable. You told me to trust you. And you hid this from me?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Then please, do explain.” She crossed her arms.

Ramon’s jaw moved and she imagined he was grinding his teeth. “Okay, fine.” Finally, he looked at her. “I liked her. Okay? She didn’t. She was all about work and thought of me as a friend. Nothing else.”

“And you didn’t tell me this because?”

“This has nothing to do with Sibyl disappearing,” Ramon shouted.

“Maybe it has. Maybe it has everything to do with it. Maybe she ran away because you were stalking her and got kidnapped in the process!” Adira screamed in return.

“That’s ridiculous!”

“I can’ believe I decided to trust you.” She turned around and walked back to the loving room to get her bag. “I’m leaving.”

“Where else do you have to go?” Ramon scoffed. “You don’t have friends remember? And from what I’ve seen of you, it doesn’t really surprise me that you’re all by yourself.”

Without thinking, Adira picked up a cushion and flung it at him. He ducked and it flew over his head to hit the wall. “Well if I’m so insufferable, then I should just leave.”

“And where will you go?” He looked smug as he leaned against the doorway.

“To Sibyl’s apartment.” She unzipped her bag and dug around, knowing that she hadn’t brought the key with her, but still needed to do something rather than throw something else at him. All men were liars! First Neil, now Ramon!

“Are you crazy? Whoever has Sibyl, is bound to return there.”

She walked over to him and held out her palm. “I want your key. I don’t want you touching my sister’s belongings.”

Ramon glared at her and his nostrils flared. He went to his room, opened the drawers and removed a key.

“Give it,” she said as he exited.

He walked past her and headed to the front door.

“Give it to me!”

“You’re staying here,” He told her, his tone strained. “I’ll stay in her apartment for tonight. Tomorrow, you’re going back to your home to your parents.”

“You don’t get to decide--”

He slammed the door close behind him, and she opened it to see him walking to the elevators.

“I want the flash drive back.”

Ramon punched the elevator button and waited two seconds, before heading for the staircases.

Adira went back in and slammed the door shut. She huffed when she saw the quiet, neat and clean apartment. She had half a mind to destroy it. That would teach him a lesson!

“That liar! He was probably stalking my sister! Sibyl was such an idiot to trust him! That deceitful little--” She picked up an ornate pen stand and was about to throw it against the wall, when she stopped and sank onto the couch, feeling defeated.

The realization of being completely alone, in a strange city, took over and a shudder ran down her spine.

“I have no one. I can’t trust anyone. Everyone in this city is a liar.”

She didn’t want to, but tears welled up in her eyes and she picked up her bag again, using it as support to lean over and cry in.