Chapter 142 - I Will Protect You

One week later. Early afternoon.

Caroline arrived in Allison's mansion. She was immediately brought to Allison's minibar room by one of the housekeepers.

Allison was grinning, looking at her protege from head to toe. "You look normal after killing a person. You look much better compared to me after I killed my adoptive father. Should I ask you, what is your secret, dear? Can you share to me your effective way how to become a normal person after killing someone?" she asked and smiled humorously.

Caroline sighed and sat on the sofa facing the older woman. "Honestly, I'm not feeling well at all. I'm dying inside. I've been eaten by my guilt and conscience every f.u.c.k.i.n.g day!" she grumbled.

"Oh? You are very good at pretending because you look okay to me. You didn't lose your appetite? Can you still sleep well during the night? Are you feeling nervous all the time?" asked Allison.

"Yes, I'm experiencing everything you have mentioned. But I was able to get a doctor prescribed me a sleeping pill, so yeah, I can sleep better now compared to the previous days," Caroline answered.

"I just hope you won't end in a mental institution just like what happened to me," Allison warned her with a smile.

Caroline took a deep breath. "Yeah, I will try my best not to go insane," she said with fierce determination in her voice.

"Well, killing another human being is awful especially that we are not psychopath, we are not serial killers, we just killed others because we have to protect our lives and the lives of the people we care about," Allison winked conspiratorially at her.

She rose to her feet and took a bottle of wine and poured it into Caroline's glass. "Have a drink," she offered.

Caroline took a sip of the wine. She put the glass back in the center table and opened her shoulder bag and grabbed her phone.

"I have a big problem," she told her.

A line appeared between Allison's brows. "Huh? What is it?" she asked, alarmed.

Caroline showed her the text messages. "An unknown person was texting me, asking me where is Brenda and where did I hide her," she brought the issue in the open. "It's giving me a problem lately," she said in a troubled voice.

Allison read the unknown sender's messages. Her brows knitted together trying to scan her brain if she knows any of Brenda's contacts and friends. She can't think of any, because she and Brenda are not even close, to begin with.

"Do you have any idea who is that person?"

Caroline bit her lips. "I have a suspicion who is sending me those text messages..."

"Then who is it—?"

Caroline raked her fingers through her hair. "A woman visited my home pretending to be a social worker from the city health. She asked water and wanting to rest a bit, out of my kindness, I opened the gate of my house for her. She sits on the chair on the veranda while I filled her bottle with drinking water in the kitchen, then the next time I saw her she was already sitting on the sofa in the living room, that's when she pressed a handkerchief on my nose and mouth and I passed out. That woman is Brenda's accomplice and she knows about me," she elaborated.

Allison's eyes widened. They had a big problem indeed!

"Can you still remember how that woman looks like? Her hair, her facial feature, everything about her?" she asked anxiously.

Caroline nods her head. "I think I can still remember a few of her facial features. But, the more I think about it — she could be wearing a wig, contact lenses, and everything to disguise her real face. But If I'll see her again, face to face, I will be able to identify her."

Allison massaged the back of her neck. "This is not good. That person might be suspecting you already because Brenda has been missing. If that phone stalker was indeed Brenda's accomplice then you are in danger," she said with a grim expression on her face.

Caroline stiffened. "What I'm gonna do?" she began chewing on her nails in agitation.

Allison sighed and stared at the younger woman's frightened face for a long time.

"That's why I'm telling you, you have to leave your house now and disappear. You can start serving my brother Greg. This way I can protect you better, day in a day out," she suggested.

Caroline's shoulder sagged, she was feeling terrified now. She rubbed her forehead due to extreme nervousness.

Allison saw the distraught look on the younger woman's face. "But don't worry much, as long they can't find Brenda's dead body, you are safe. No one can file a murder case against you," she explained wanting to assure her and make her feel better.

"Are you sure?" Caroline's face brightened instantly.

Allison nods her head. "Of course, I study law online!" she lied. Well, she did some research online, but her knowledge about murder cases is limited. But if there are three certain things she knows about the law when it comes to murder case...No body — No Evidence — No Case.

Caroline breathed deeply. She can not disclose to Allison that she was going to marry Mike in a civil wedding ceremony. She was afraid that Allison might do something stupid and oppose it, then the wedding will not push through.

Allison sipped on her wineglass while observing Caroline's face. "If that unknown sender will try to see you again, do not ever meet that person in a secluded place. It's better to meet her in public," she said. But then she realized that it's better to avoid that unknown person as much as possible.

"That's what I been doing, I meet her in the mall last week but she didn't show up on our meeting," Caroline said.

"Oh—really? If you see that person face to face, what will you tell her if she asked you again where is Brenda?" asked Allison.

"I will tell her that I do not know anyone named Brenda. I'd never seen the woman she was asking me about," Caroline answered.

Allison smiled brightly and clapped her hands, very much pleased and satisfied with the younger woman's brilliant answer. "You're smart and wise! As long you deny everything and that woman has no evidence linking you to the crime scene, then you will be fine. That woman might be trying to get you to confess that you know of Brenda's whereabouts while recording it on her video."

Caroline's brows snapped together. "E-evidence?"

Allison shrugged. "Yeah. Like photos or videos taken from a camera or mobile phone. As long that woman didn't have a photo of you with Brenda, then, she can't do anything to you, legally speaking, that's it."

Caroline breathed in relief.

Allison addressed Caroline. "Starting today, ignore that person. Don't entertain her anymore. Don't listen to her bullshit! As long you don't make any contact with her then there's nothing she can do to you. She will only have suspicion against you but she can't do anything to prove it. If she has strong evidence against you then she won't troll you and spam your inbox. She will go directly to the police authority and report you."

She's making sense, Caroline agreed with Allison's statement. She feels better now that she had someone to talk to without fearing that she will get insulted. For once, Allison understood her completely because they had shared the same horrible experience of being a murderer.

She can't discuss her madness with anybody else.

She can't reveal what she had done to Brenda with Mike, with her sister, nor even to her mother. They wouldn't understand what she's going through right now. Only Allison knows her deepest secret, her dilemma, and her nightmares.

Allison did not condemn her, the woman even opens up her life to her. Sharing her inner sufferings and gave her pieces of advice. But she can't depend on her protection forever.

Sooner or later she must distance herself from Allison. But not right now, she still needs her. It's comforting to know that she's not alone in this world who suffered the same situation. It's nice to just have someone to talk to who undergoes the same difficulties as her.

Allison was about to pour another wine on Caroline's glass.

"No, thanks. I have enough already, or else I will get tipsy and it's dangerous to drive when I'm drunk," she politely refused another drink.

"Okay, as you say so," Allison put back the bottle of wine in the center table and looked at Caroline.

"My brother Greg is yearning to see you. I would appreciate it if you could visit him one of these days," she said.

Caroline was taken off guard for a moment. She has a lot of problems lately and visiting Greg is the farthest thing in her mind right now. But she can't say no to Allison.

"Okay, fine. I will schedule a visit to him a few days from now. I will give you a call if I'm ready," she assured her.

Allison smiled, pleased with the younger woman's positive reply with her request. "Good. My dying brother is looking forward to your visit, he would be forever grateful to you." She rose to her feet. "You may leave now, Caroline. Call me anytime if you have any concerns regarding the unknown sender. I will try to find a way to uncover that person so that she will stop harassing you."

"Thank you, Allison," Caroline responded, feeling grateful for her protection.

"Common, I will accompany you outside," Allison said.

The two women left the room.

Allison and Caroline walked into the car that was parked outside the house.

Caroline slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. She waved goodbye to Allison.

Allison watched as the vehicle was moving out of her property and disappeared behind the gate.

Time to see her brother and tell him the good news.