Chapter Three

 Adira felt the ground beneath her tremble. She felt cold inside, anticipating news that she wasn’t looking forward to. He was either going to tell her that Sibyl had been found, or that something terrible had happened to her.

She was hearing his words, but distracted by her own rapidly beating heart and the sense that something terrible was happening. That feeling seeped right into her stomach and contracted painfully.

Detective Ramon still had his aviators on, so she couldn’t read his expressions well, but his mouth had hardened and suddenly he was frowning. That brought her back to attention.

“Have you heard a word that I just said?” He asked, in a strained angry tone.

Adira let out a breath and shook her head. “Is she okay?”

His eyebrows furrowed and he seemed annoyed. “I haven’t found her. Yet. I was telling you about how we couldn’t find much in her apartment, although, at her little office up by Ridgeroad Street, her colleagues informed me that she was working on another secret mission that no one else knew. Which is peculiar for them because Sibyl always used a team to help expose firms and fraudulent CEOs.”

He must have seen how stricken she looked, because he looked away from her and then softened his face when he turned back. “I know you haven’t spoke to your sister in ten years,” he said, pityingly. “So I can’t expect you to assist me on learning more about her behavior. But do you have any relatives or family friends nearabout where she could have gone to?”

Adira shook her head. “You said she had an apartment nearby to my college. Can I see it?”

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “Of course not. Your presence may disrupt some important evidence that can lead us to Sibyl. We need to scour the place to look for clues. I haven’t even found her cellphone yet. If I could get my hands on it, maybe it will be possible to track her down.

“My sister wasn’t like this.” Adira felt her chest fill with grief. It was getting colder and the wind swept all around them, but the memories of her sweet loving sister, made her oblivious to anything else. She was talking more to herself than the detective. “She was sweet, meek and did whatever she was told. I was the plucky one, the impudent child who did exactly what she was told not to.”

She bit the inside of her lip hard. “I can’t believe she just took off one night. I had no idea she even had dreams. And now, she’s running off and exposing people and she probably pissed off someone at a high position, someone who had the power to make her disappear.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” Detective Ramon said, a tad rudely. “First of all, it would have been too obvious since there would be a trail leading right up to the perpetrator and secondly, if someone wanted to harm her they would have done so months ago. Sibyl has been working on her website for more than a year now. She was working for a newspaper before and unexpectedly left her job to come here. Now it makes sense why she did that.”

Adira understood what he meant. “Because I’m here? Sibyl knew for a long time that I was here and never once came up to me?”

“That’s what I find hard to believe.” He looked at her with distrust. “If she left her well-paying job to come be near you, why didn’t she contact you?”

“Maybe she thought I would want nothing to do with her. My parents have shunned her.”

“Would you have?”

Adira wrapped her fingers around the brown leather strap of her bag. “I don’t know. Look, if you just let me see her apartment, maybe I can help find some clue. I’m her sister after all. I know what she thinks like.”

He shook his head. “You said it yourself, Sibyl was unpredictable. She surprised you with her erratic behavior. No, it is best you stay away. I thought you could be of some help to find out if you had any relatives. But clearly this has been a waste of time.”

He twisted the side of his lip and made to walk away.

She caught his arm and he reacted so quickly to her touch that she felt her heart stop. Quickly, she moved her hand away. “Sibyl is my sister. She may have disappointed me, but it doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. I have to find out what happened to her.”

“I’ll let you know.” But he said it in such a casual manner, as if he had no intention of putting her worries at ease.

Adira frowned at him, but he was already making his way to his car.

The car looks expensive, his clothes too. Are detectives really paid that much?

He stopped near a grocer and she heard him ask for directions to Hidenborough.  Adira had visited that street, it was a residential area and had some of the most luxurious apartments.

Maybe that is where Sibyl lived. Maybe he’s going back there to investigate. If he won’t tell me where she lived, I’ll find out on my own.

Wasting no more time to figure out whether it was a good idea or not, she hailed down a taxi and kept her eye on the detective who was slowly getting into his car, distracted by something on his phone.

“Where to?” The taxi driver asked her once she got in the backseat. The taxi smelled musty and of cigarettes.

“Follow that car,” she told him, pointing at the detective's car as it made out of the parking space and took a right turn.

“Why?” He asked in a thick accent.

Adira looked at him in wonder. She wasn’t expecting to be be questioned.

“He’s showing me directions to uh...a friend’s place.” She kept her eyes in front, getting desperate that the taxi wasn’t moving and by now the detective had probably taken another turn she hadn’t seen.

“Give me the address, I’ll know where to go.” He put out his hand.

Adira stared at his thick grubby hands. “I don’t know that is why. Just follow that car. She banged her hands behind his seat. “Come on.”

“Well, call him and tell him to wait until you catch up.” The cab driver had apparently decided that he wanted to argue today.

“He’s a stranger. He’s helping me. Now, come on.”

The taxi driver shook his head. “You shouldn’t follow strangers. He’s probably a predator. He will-”

Adira reached into her purse and took out a few notes. “This is yours if you move now.”

The driver no longer had any arguments to make. He started at a fast pace and Adira was worried she would be found out by the detective.

“Slow down,” she told him. When they turned the corner, the driver did comply and she was filled with relief when she saw the traffic light was on red and the detective’s car had not moved.

She sat back on her seat, suddenly anxious. She was going to see Sibyl’s apartment. Sibyl- the sister who had abandoned her and now felt like a complete stranger. Going to her house, seeing her things, she would only feel like an intruder.

Her sister must have changed so much and today, she was going to learn all about it.

The signal turned green and the cars started to move again. It was a ten minute ride to Hidenborough and when the detective stopped his car in front of two tower buildings, Adira had to plead with the driver to apply brakes right near the beginning of the street where there was a florist.

“You promised extra.” the driver seemed to extort.

Adira kept her eye on the detective as he moved to the entrance where he flashed his badge and was allowed in by the security guards. Removing a few extra notes, she tossed it into the passenger seat and exited the cab.

Would they allow me in?

Adira found she had no time to ponder, because the detective was moving quickly and she had yet to find which apartment belonged to Sibyl. She sprinted to the entrance where the security officer curtly asked, “Who are you here to meet?”

“My...” she had almost said sister. Then she would have to give the name and no doubt they would know that her sister’s apartment was vacant and closed up by the police. “There’s an apartment for rent that I want to check.”

“We are only selling.” The security officer was a lanky and had a wiry mustache. A gentle breeze could have pushed him back, but he stood arrogant and proud, talking to her in a commanding voice that made her wonder if she was underestimating him.

It’s all about confidence. Just sound confident.

“Then I am buying one. Are you rude to all the residents?” She must have spoken flagrantly, because the security officer just opened the door and right before he closed it behind her, she heard him mumble that he hoped she wouldn’t get to live here.

Adira didn’t have to look to hard for the detective who was on the phone, but simultaneously speaking to the man sitting at the reception desk as well.

“Hope you haven’t let anyone enter 2201. I want no trespassers, no nosey neighbors prying into the investigation.” Detective Ramon was saying.

 

The man in the reception was wearing a white shirt and black tie. He nodded and took the call when his phone rang.

Adira looked about her, at the brown texture marble tiles combined with cream ones. There were pillars in the lobby as well, all of them with golden trims. The floors were almost a golden yellow marble and there was a red carpet that led to the elevators. Overheard was a large chandelier that looked like a cluster of glittering stars.

 

How did Sibyl afford to live here? She must be doing really well.

Hiding behind the pillar, she waited until the detective put up a hand at the receptionist and then headed towards the main glass doors, still speaking to someone on the phone.

This was her chance.

She didn’t wait to see the receptionist, now that she had the apartment number, she didn’t need him. Rushing to the elevators, she stayed closer to the large vase of decorative flowers near the buttons.

The elevator took its time coming down and she could hear the detective’s voice still at the entrance.

“No, there hasn’t been any leads. Yes, I did speak to Armando.” He paced back and forth, looking especially restless.

The elevator pinged and she got in quickly inside, almost bumping into the young couple that were getting off.

“Watch it!” the man said gruffly. His girlfriend, who was clinging to him, giggled at her man for being so tough.

Adira made a face and got in, feeling her heart thump as she pressed the twenty-second floor. Once it started to ride up, she let out a loud breath, feeling her stomach churn.

She had no idea why she had so impulsively decided to go to Sibyl’s apartment.

What can I possibly find that the police didn't? Do I want to really do this?

She did.

Ten years ago, she had hated her sister. Her eleventh birthday was coming up and Sibyl had chosen that very moment to disappear and remove all attention from any celebrations that were about to happen. Depressed and angry at what their eldest had done, her parents had decided they were too lenient and pampering to their children. Because of Sibyl, the family no longer celebrated any events.

Adira rubbed her eyes. Sibyl had been a terrible daughter, a disappointing sister, but…

But Sibyl was still her blood. She couldn’t hate her as much as she wanted to.

The doors slid open and Adira was suddenly taken aback. If the lobby had been like an entrance to a palace, the passageway leading to the apartments was even more gorgeous.

The red carpet had a golden border and design, there were more flowers, and small glass bowls filled with potpourri as well. These were set atop dark wood pedestals. The wall sconces provided an exquisite feel to the surroundings and there was a smaller chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling.

She walked slowly, looking at the artwork hung on the walls. It didn’t only have scenery, but portraits of women and men as well. In one, there was a family of four, picnicking on a grassy knoll on a summer day.

Adira almost tripped over her own feet when she came to a large polished black wood door that had swirly designs carved into it.

2201- Sibyl’s apartment.

For some reason, she had imagined the door to be covered with yellow tape, warning people of police investigation going on. However, she found no signs of any tape, nor too many footprints on the maroon welcome mat.

Adira put her hands on the door handle, realizing at the last second that it must be locked. But when the handle pushed down easily, she felt her breath caught in her throat.

Slowly, her hands pushed open the door and she readied herself to find it in complete disarray. Perhaps, there might even be blood.

She took one step in and thought she would faint straight away. The house was large- white walls, large glass windows, high ceiling and white furniture.

Adira had to blink several times to convince herself she was seeing what she was seeing.

The curtains were white as well. The only color that was added to the room, came from the emerald green brocade rug.

Not a single piece of furniture looked moved. It seemed as if no one had entered the apartment in a long time, going by the small layer of dust on everything, though she remembered that the door was unlocked.

She crept slowly along the white marble tiles, hearing the echo of her own footsteps. There was a large painting over the white sofas, that of a peacock dancing in the rain. There was a white leather chair by the sofa, and that had a small dent on it, as if someone had sat on it.

Behind it, was the balcony which was wide open. The white curtains were swaying in the breeze and she moved toward it, cautiously. Something felt wrong.

This can’t be Sibyl’s apartment. It’s too tidy. It was supposed to be lock. There’s a strange sensation here. As if something terrible has occurred here.

Her hands gripped the glass door and she slid it shut. Once the balcony was closed, the apartment felt even quieter. She swallowed and saw the small passageway that would lead to the rooms.

She stuck her head to the side and saw two white wooden doors, shut, and a small kitchen on the right. Moving forward, she let her hand search for the light switch. Outside, the skies had become grayer and the sudden stillness warned her of an imminent storm.

She found a switch and turned on both buttons. One turned up the lights overhead, the other turned on a lamp behind her. Beneath her feet was a royal purple carpet, again, looking very expensive. Her hands closed over one of the door handles and she pushed it open. It was the bathroom and all fixtures were ivory white. The tub looked like  it had gold faucets.

Adira shut the door again, but not before noticing the large shelf of bottles filled with bath salts, shampoos and shower gels. She went to the next door and opened it.

It was Sibyl’s bedroom and unlike the immaculate living room, the room was messy. The bed looked like someone had slept in it, the quilt was draped on the edge of the queen-sized bed, the pillows were pushed to one side and the printed zigzag pattern of white and gold bed-sheet, was crumpled. The drawers of the bedside table were open and there were blank sheets of paper, scattered about the floor.

Adira swallowed the lump in her throat. Her first reaction to seeing Sibyl’s apartment had been relief, only because it wasn’t in complete clutter, and therefore showing signs of someone breaking in and harming her sister. Now, seeing the room in this state, the terror in her heart intensified.

Her mouth was dry, as she stood by the door, looking all around at the mess and then at the small wooden desk that had a laptop upon it.

Slowly, she stepped toward it, narrowing her eyes. The laptop was on and on the screen, were several closed browsers. Her hands shaking, she tapped on the mousepad of the laptop and brought them all up.

The pages that popped up, were all about her.

Adira stepped back, startled by her own pictures on the screen. Someone had emailed Sibyl the pictures and she saw at least twenty of her pictures in a zipped file. They were labeled as a date from a week ago.

Adira minimized the window, and saw another email, dated a day ago from the last one. She saw more pictures of her, all by her college and some by her apartment.

Sibyl knew where I lived? Why didn’t she come to me?

In the next email, she saw pictures of her at the grocery store, picking up a bag of tomatoes.

I was being watched? Photographed...Sibyl was having me followed?

She scrolled down her email and saw that they all had her name in the subject line. All of the emails had only attachments. Neither the sender nor Sibyl had written anything.

Adira closed the lid of the laptop, unable to look at her pictures anymore. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then turned back to the room.

Sibyl’s room. She’s never been so untidy and careless before.

“Unless...” she spoke out loud. “Someone came into the room and ransacked it.”

The wardrobe open as well, and she opened the door wider, looking at the dresses hanging inside as well as shelves filled with t-shirts and jeans, all of them moved out of place.

Inside one of the drawers under the shelf that had skirts, she found passport sized photographs of her sister.

Adira’s thumb, stroked her sister’s pale face, her blue eyes looking haunted. Blinking back tears, she returned the photo back into the drawer and then reached inside to search for what else was there. The drawer was large, enough to carry boxes of jewelry and watches. Sibyl must have had a collection of them.

However, her search yielded not even a thin ring.

Sibyl loved jewelry. Now that she could afford it, how did she never buy any? Maybe she was robbed.

Adira closed the wardrobe doors and decided that she wanted to leave. Staying one second longer in which a crime had been committed and taken away her sister, seemed like such a terrible idea. Somewhere, in a magazine or newspaper or blog, she had read that criminals often returned to the scene of the crime.

That thought was enough to get her moving and she had almost reached the door, when she stopped. She couldn’t fathom why she had, but she had an inkling that she had missed something.

My sister. I miss my sister.

She turned back to the room, this time ignoring the mess and the dreading sensation that something was exorbitantly off about this room. She had a sudden rush of memories flooding into her mind, reminding her of Sibyl and what a sweet elder sister she had been.

Had been…

Not long before she had run away from home, Adira had gotten into trouble with her parents over hoarding junk food. It had been her classmate’s birthday and she had distributed chocolates. Knowing that her parents forbade their daughters from  consuming any junk foods, she had hidden the chocolates in her shoes.

In retrospect, that had been a terrible idea because her father would polish her shoes before she went to school everyday. But she had been cavalier even at such a young age and thought she could get away with it.

Sibyl had protected her, promised their parents that Adira would never misbehave or eat unhealthy foods again. After that, when they were in their room and Adira had been pouting and whining, Sibyl had smirked and reached under her bed to pull at a loose floorboard. Inside, she had hidden two packets of chips and three bars of chocolates.

“My hiding spot.” She had winked. “You can have one.”

Now, remembering that particular incident, Adira realized that Sibyl had become reticent. She had hiding spots and that could mean…

Adira knelt beside the bed and pulled on the corner of the rug that was slightly under Sibyl’s bed. When she saw floorboards, she bit her lip and then started to knock on them.

When she heard a solid thump, she frowned, then reached in further to tap on the boards.

She had to lie down flat to reach inside and tap, by the time she knocked on the fifth one. This time, she heard a rewarding hollow sound that made her feel excited all of a sudden. Turning her head sideways so she could stretch further, she grimaced when she pulled on the loose board which came out surprisingly easy. Then when her hand closed around a fat packet, she could feel her heart in her mouth.

She brought it out quickly and stood up, ignoring the balls of dust clinging to her sleeve. Staring at the brown fat packet in her hands, she felt a ball of excitement build within her. Sibyl had wanted to hide something so badly.

This little packet, that looked like it contained seven birthday cards, was going to give her some insight into her sister’s covert life. She looked at the envelope, saw small holes in it and the tears at the edges. It was rather old and the gum had almost come off.

Adira had started to open the packet, when all of a sudden, it was snatched out of her hands.

In the second it took for her to turn around, she was certain that the intruder who had harmed her sister, had come back and intended to take another victim.