CHAPTER TWENTY

Once Nicholas heard Sarah's plan he knew that it was going to work out well. Astra took her job very seriously and so she would take this case very seriously. It would be so easy for her to fall into his trap.
'All you have to do is point her in that direction, she will follow. You will just bring the evidence to her and she will follow that route to get the criminal. The problem is that, it will end in a dead end, nothing will come out of it," Sarah said and Nicholas nodded. He liked the plan.
'I don't even have to be the one to point her in that direction right? I can always hire someone to bring fake evidence to her, that will be very easy," Nicholas added, all the while bouncing Theo on his knee. It seemed like the little man was hungry, he was already putting the button in his mouth, playing with it.
'Yes, you can do that. It will be much more easier that way," Sarah agreed.
'How fast can we get the evidence? This night maybe? Something to keep the moving from tomorrow morning," Nicholas said and Sarah laughed.
'That might just be over the top. I will see what I can do. I will let you know how it goes later on," Sarah said.
'Bring Theo here, he is probably hungry," Sarah said, extending her hands for her son. Nicholas placed the baby in her arms carefully.
'I should probably get you something to eat too. You must be hungry," he said and then called for the cook to start lunch.
They all sat down together to have lunch of spaghetti.
'What do you want to do about Thompson? We can't have him threatening you like that," Sarah said and Nicholas rolled his eyes.
'No talking about unsavory matters over food," he said.
'We have to talk about it sometime. He can be dangerous you know. He did scam you of thousands of dollars, and now he is threatening you because he feels you have evidence," she all but shouted. One would think Sarah was the one being threatened instead of Nicholas.
'I don't know why I feel that someone else is controlling Thompson. I mean there is no way he could have done all these on his own. He needs help, and it's his helper we have to target. We should just follow him for now and see if he is doing anything suspicious. In good home we would know. I can deal with Thompson on my own after it all," Nicholas said. Sarah seemed convinced and so she nodded her head.
Nicholas had been friends with Thompson for years and years and so when the betrayal came, it hurt like a bitch. It was only after the incident that he started thinking of why Thompson would do that. Somethings did not just add up, like Thompson could have not stolen that much from him on his own. For one, his standard of living had not changed even if he stole so much from Nicholas.
Thompson also did not have any family, no wife, no children, no parents, so what exactly did he need so much money for?
Thompson may have been his friend but Nicholas knew that he was not nearly smart enough to pull that off.
The more Nicholas thought about the entire ordeal, the more he was convinced that someone was either backing Thompson up, or blackmailing him into fraud. Either way, the person needed to be caught as soon as possible.
'I better start going so that I can put our plans in motion," Sarah said, standing up from the dining table. Theo had fallen asleep before the lunch table was set, so she went to pick him up from the nursery before she went home.
'Thank you for all you do, Sarah," Nicholas said as she was on her way out of the house.
Sarah let a small smile, it looked very sincere though.
'It is nothing, Nicky. You were there for me during my own time of need, it will be betrayal for me not to help you now. Besides, blood is thicker than water," Sarah said as she got into her car.
Nicholas smiled as Sarah left. He felt like he could trust her, she had become his closest friend and confidant over the years. Even if he never married or had any children, Theo would inherit all that he had left.
~~~
'You said what?" Astra asked the gruff voice that was talking to her.
'I have evidence in support of Nicholas Trenton against Thompson Richards," the voice said again.
Astra was all but vibrating in excitement. The earlier she finished with the case, the faster she could run away from Nicholas.
There was not much evidence against Thompson, it was not really enough to create a case. Over time, they had been looking out for ways to trick him into a confession, areas in which he would be weak, things like that. If there was actual evidence, there would not be any need for all of these. It would make her case much more easier and generally her life too.
'Can I see you tomorrow?" Astra asked the voice. All thoughts of caution fled her. In that moment, it didn't matter if he was a scammer or not.
'What about this night ma?" The person on the phone asked. Astra looked at her side and her eyes locked with Jared's. There was no how she would do that to him. He already put in so much effort to make the day perfect, it would be terrible if she just cancelled, just like that.
'I can't make it this night. Tomorrow please," she pleaded with the man. There was a long silence on the other end, it seemed like the man was contemplating what to do.
'If you don't want this, I know some other people who would definitely want it, in thirty minutes people will come from all over for it," the man said and Astra sighed. This was not the time for all of this.
'Please Sir, just wait for four hours, I will be with you when I can," Astra said. That seemed to catch Jared's attention as his eyes moved to her, and she caught his gaze. This was the best she could do, she would go after this date.
'Fine. I am just giving you four hours, nothing more than that," he said and Astra sat more comfortably.
'Please send your address, I will be with you in a while," she said and then hung up. They already arrived at the restaurant. The state of mind in which Astra left the house was not the state of mind that she was presently in. Astra took long and deep breaths. She should not allow Nicholas to ruin her date indirectly. She should enjoy her time there. Astra said to herself.
'Shall we go in?" Jared asked, when he opened the door for her, and she nodded. Astra took calming breaths trying not to think of what the man who called her was doing with his so called information at the moment.
'I think you should relax," Jared said, he was still smiling clueless at her, but he was definitely right, she needed to relax.
'I will be fine."
'Waiter," Jared called, and then their orders were taken. Astra ordered pasta for her main dish and chocolate cake for dessert.
'I can barely believe that you are sitting across me," Jared said again. Astra was happy that he liked her that much, but it was a bit unnerving to be put on such a high pedestal.
'I know so much about you already, you can tell me what I don't know, a random story or something," Jared said. Astra was still searching for calm and so it did not seem like a good idea for her, she was not stable enough.
'You already know so much about me Jared, but I don't know a lot about you. You should tell me more about yourself," Astra said. It was not a lie, she barely knew anything about Jared. He was such a good listener, it was so easy to forget that you were telling him all of your life secrets, and you had none of his.
'Well, you are actually right. I don't talk a lot," Jared said and chuckled. Astra found herself yet again comparing Nicholas and Jared. While Nicholas emitted confidence, it seemed to evaporate from his skin, Jared was lacking. It was funny though that he refused to let go of her even knowing that someone like Nicholas was her ex husband. He did have some form of courage.
'I grew up in Michigan with my parents and too older siblings, sisters. Both my sisters are married with children in Michigan. My parents are both still alive and they love taking care of their grandchildren, so much so that the eight they already have is not enough. They have started to badger me too," Jared said and chuckled. Astra could relate to that at least, her parents wanted grandchildren, but Astra was not very comfortable with the thought of having children. She hoped that with time she would heal from it all.
'I studied law here in New York, and I decided to stay here after school. It is in my plans to open my own practice with time," Jared said and calmed down. It seemed that he was done talking about himself, the wine had come and the waiter had poured the both of them a glass.
'Tell me more. I don't know much about your hobbies," she prodded.
Jared let out a long sigh that showed that he did not like talking about himself, before finally continuing.
'I like law in general. I am in love with the practice. I like the idea of being able to bring justice to people. The power behind it fascinates me. I hope that with time I will not go out of the good side of the law," Jared said and Astra nodded.
'It's the same with me too. I like the idea of being able to bring justice to people. The idea of helping the oppressed and all. I cannot help this fear I have though, the fear that at the end, I may just end up at the wrong side. Meeting so many people that are represented in court, I realize how many grey areas they are in life and crime. I hope that I can at least make people happy in my little way."
'Yes, I agree with you. Our own sacrifices is all in ensuring that people are safe and happy in the society," Jared said.
'What other things apart from law do you like?" Astra asked. Jared took a deep breath as though it took a lot from him to talk out loud.
'I like drawing," he said. Astra raised an eyebrow.
'Drawing?"
'Yes," he nodded. 'Little sketches here and there, nothing special," he continued. Astra rolled her eyes at him. Leave it to Jared to underestimate himself.
'I am pretty sure your drawings look phenomenal. You have to let me take a look at them some day, and perhaps draw me too," Astra said.
Jared smiled, a quirky smile with undertones making a squirm a little. It made her wonder a little, why would he be like that just because of a little sketch? He didn't draw people in the nude did he?
Astra opened her mouth to ask him, but shook her head. Not the time. She just smiled at Jared as their date continued. It was going to be one long night.