Lords of Underworld

Miss Mysterious

He drove the 2017 Buick Cascada on NW 5th Street, passed Wikkie D Ferguson Metro mover station heading straight to Biscayne Boulevard. Destination: Unknown. It was two months and eight days since he met Miss Mysterious and searched for her every day until it became a debacle and turned into a kafkaesque nightmare. He spent hours, going from street to street, public places, looking for her. He did not know her name, or address, and when he tried to open the flash drive to see if he could find anything that could lead him to her, he failed because it was locked. Was that what she meant when she mentioned password on the phone that day? He also went idiosyncratic like going to Google and type 'the most beautiful dame on Earth', ' the one like no other', and expected her picture to pop up. This girl was driving him crazy.

He quickly pushed his leg on the brake pedal as traffic light showed red. After a short wait and the green light showed, a red coloured Ferrari whipped pass him. He felt a bang in his head, his hands tightened round the steering wheel as his palms began to sweat. There was no doubt, it was Miss Mysterious behind the wheel. He pushed his leg on the gas pedal and accelerated to chase the car. She was a fast driver, overtaking cars and slipping through.

He was not ready to give up for any reason. His heartbeat was faster, a jittery feeling erupted, and a fluster of electricity crawled up his spine. He became a cauldron of euphoric feelings, nervousness, befuddlement and excitement. She took a right turn as she got to Walgreen. He  thought she was going to the shops at Mary Brickell Village but she took another turn, driving at a high speed until she arrived Publix Super Market at Miami River. Driving past the super market, she took a bend, drove a few yards then came to a halt before a Vietnamese Restaurant. He moved closer, then brought the car to rest. He took in a deep breath, trying to pacify himself, he needed to calm down. He pulled up the car close to hers. She alighted, closed the car door and stood. From where he sat, he could tell that her Champagne coloured mermaid sweep train sequined prom dress was very expensive, it accentuated her captivating feminism. Her beautiful legs were perfectly placed in a Valentine rockstud mule, then held a Dolce & Gabbana top handle medium Sicily handbag in Dauphine leather. She reeked of money. Her sight was exhilarating. Her red coloured F12 Berlinetta, 2017 Ferrari must have cost not less than four hundred thousand dollars, which was like ten times more expensive than the Buick he was driving.

He alighted, feeling his heart beating faster, he began what he thought was swaggering steps, trying to balance confidence, dignity and humility.

She was still standing, leaning on her car as if waiting for him. She was looking at him, her expression somewhat curious. Maybe she recognized him.

"Stop right there!" A harsh voice emerged and made him skip a heartbeat. He was startled. Was the person referring to him? Before he could say Jack Robinson, two strong arms grabbed him from behind and a metal reflected through his eyes. He saw two  uniformed police officers. His partner held a pistol and their mean expressions perturbed him.

"What the hell is going on?" He demanded, some of his fear converting into rage.

"Calm down, sir." Said the azure eyed cop holding a gun. The cop holding him frisked him, and then said, "he is unarmed."

" What the hell are you guys doing? Why are you guys harassing me?"

The cop holding a gun stood away as if ready to shoot  at the slightest provocation. The young man was released. He glanced at Miss Mysterious and found her watching with keen interest.

"Why were you trailing....no, stalking and chasing this lady? We got a distress call from her."

"I never meant any harm. I had something for her." He said.

"I don't know you." She said, "you started chasing me from the traffic junction at NW 5th."

"Don't you recognise me?"

"I have never seen you before." She said firmly.

He sensed trouble. The cops were overzealous which meant they were not only doing their job but protecting a VIP. She was placed above the proletariat and bourgeoisie and fixed among the crème la crème. Having a lady with connections handle you to cops was not hunky-dory.

"I have something of yours which had made me look for you every single day from the day we met, over two months ago......."

"Stop saying we met!" She vituperated. "You have nothing of mine because we never met! Please, take him out of my sight."

At this point, he did something he felt was dicey and stupid because he could have gotten himself shot. He quickly deepened his hand into his pocket and one of the cops was startled, thinking the young man was trying to get his weapon. The cop raised his gun at him but she saw what was in his hand and shouted, "don't shoot him!"

The cop quickly stood down. Who was this young beauty who drew a lot of water from the well? She looked chastened, somewhat embarrassed.

"I think I know what he is talking about," she said calmly, starring at the flash drive. "I'm sorry. The other day……rainy day under the tent, right?"

The young man nodded, feeling disillusioned. The two cops relaxed, but there was no sign of remorse. He did not expect to see any though.

She ran her hands over her pretty face. "Thank you officers. I think I was wrong about him. I had suspected a subterfuge. You can leave us."

The azure eyed cop raised his shoulder gallantly, "are you sure, ma'am?

"I said you can leave us. Thank you."

Smugly embarrassed, he nodded and they walked to their car, got in and drove off.

He took in a deep breath of relief. "I looked for you every day for hours, every day of the week just to give you what you lost and I almost went to jail for it, or got shot.."

"I am truly, sorry. I never did it on purpose. I- I was scared. You make me feel horrible. Please forgive me."

She looked really sorry and it was at that moment he knew he was in love with her and not infatuated. There was something else that made him crazy over her. It was not just the beauty, or elegance, or personality but there was something, something strong which was palpable but he could not see it. The feeling was strong but he could not identify it. It had the power to elate and deflate him, bring up emotions that run the gamut from agony to ecstasy, it gave him a warm fuzzy feeling inside. It was not just impacting on his heart but it awoken his soul. It burnt like fire yet he felt no pain. It was something words alone could not describe, it was magnetic and had him completely attracted, but all he could say was....it was her.

"Apology accepted." He handed the flash to her.

She collected it, sighed and he guessed she was glad to have it back.

"I don't know how to express my gratitude. I searched for this thoroughly. When I suspected that it may have fallen under the tent, I went back but could not find it." She opened her bag, counted some notes and said , "no monetary evaluation for your kindness. This is just ten grands, I feel appreciative."

"Must you reward me?"

She glanced at the Buick, then smiled at him. "I am not saying you are impecunious. I can see that you are   rich but just accept this from me, it will make me happy after the way I treated you."

He smiled, "if you insist on rewarding me, then you will have dinner with me.....a date, I mean dinner not that I am your date. What do you say?"

She seemed to think about it.

"I really owe it to myself to appreciate you but I am sorry, I can't have dinner with you."

"Why?"

"I don't want to disappoint you. I am going to have dinner at my grandmother's house. How about lunch? Hmmm..like now, its just afternoon.”

"Perfect. Have any special place you love?

" It depends.Who is the host?"

"I am the host."

"No. I am the host. I am the one who is saying thank you.”

"So, we go for lunch and you pay the bill? I think the man should do that."

"Don't be old fashioned. You can't get my stuff back, I harass you with the police and you pay for lunch. That is the only condition that will make me have lunch with you...and I mean it."

"I give up. So ?"

"Do you trust me enough to just drive after me?"

"Yes, of course" He replied, "it's okay with me....I am Jeff. Jeff Simon."

"Melly Grant."

He shook the most succulent hand he had ever touched.

"Shall we?" She said with a ravishing smile. She opened her car, and slid. He walked to the Buick, got under the wheel then drove after her.

Whoa! That Ferrari was posh, he observed. While he drove after her, his heart kept dancing. He was going to have lunch with his dream girl, the one he had been searching for.

She led him to Giubani Restaurant around Miami Beach, one of the most expensive and exclusive restaurants in Florida. As he guessed, everything about her was exclusive. They were led to a table-for-two cubicle. He learnt that eating there cost one thousand dollars for each person, apart from the bill for food. This was a place for those who wanted privacy and class. Did she want to be alone with him? That was a sign though. It seemed she was also attracted to him.

They sat down facing each other .

"Do you like it here?" She asked.

"It is wonderful ." He said.

The waiter came and they ordered. Within a jiffy, the table was filled with a variety of cuisines: chicken pizzaiola cooked with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic; oysters Rockefeller, vichyssoise, chicken parmigiana made with chicken breast, tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan served with French fries, red wines and natural fruit juice.

She studied his expression then smiled.

"We don't have to eat up everything." She said, "but it has to look festive .We are celebrating."

"Is it our first anniversary already?" He said and she giggled.

They started eating. The food was not just expensive but delicious.

" The old man said you bought his raincoat for three grand." He said, breaking the silence.

"He told you that? I thought he needed it and I also needed the raincoat."

"I went to get cuppucino for you and me only to come back and find you gone."

"Oh, that was nice of you. I had to leave at that moment."

"He did not see it that way. He thought you were high to buy it for three."

"Like high on drugs?"

"Yep."

"Crazy. I have never done drugs. I don't think my brain can withstand such things."

"Same here but I tried it in my first year in college. Every time I smoked pot and had beer, I would go to my room and knock for like forty minutes waiting for my wife to open the door."

"You are married? I mean in your first year?"

"So I thought but my neighbour, an elderly woman would always come to remind me that I had no wife, I lived alone and the key was in my pocket."

She laughed and he joined her. When she laughed, her halo white teeth flashed and mesmerized him. He was having the best moment of his life.

"That was crazy and hilarious !”

" Yeah, so I knew this was not a life for me. I quit smoking pot which was the only drug I ever tried. "

" So, you divorced your wife"

He giggled. " Yeah, she left and I stopped knocking at my door."

"Then you found the flash."

" And went after you."

" Under the rain?"

"Yup. I ran down the streets....before I finally found you."

She quickly raised her face and starred at him, the smile gone, and an askance expression displayed for a fraction of second before she took it off. He felt a cold frigid feeling crawling up his spine. Did she know about the murder? That was why he brought up the issue. Was he suspecting her? Was this beautiful damsel a femme fatale?

" You saw me? Why did you not give it to me then?"

" A car picked you up before I could reach you."

"Hmm....I could have saved you all the trouble."

" And I saw someone get killed immediately after you left."

" Was it you? I mean it was in the news and I was like, 'I just left that place'. Were you the unanimous person who called the police?"

" Yes. I begged for my identity to be kept hidden. I saw the gangster and would not like to have anything to do with him or any one like him. Don't get me wrong, I am a man but my name is Jeff Simon, not Sylvester Stallone."

She forced a smile. " So you saw him die."

" Yes."

"What a pity." She said and changed the topic. He became convinced that she knew nothing about it. After the lunch, and watching her pay six thousand dollars for lunch, he asked for her number.

" I am sorry, Jeff," She said politely, " the lunch was just to show appreciation and it was fun. There is no need to have my contact. But you can give me yours, I promise to keep it. I hope you don't feel bad about it."

He felt worse. " Not at all. Thank you for the lunch."

He gave her his number and address. He guessed she was going to dump it like she is dumping him now.

Before she entered her car, he said, "there is one detail I forgot to tell the cops."  She looked at him expectantly.

He said, " before he died, he mentioned a name.