CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Astra sat on her bed thinking. What Jared told her was chilling and she was not sure how to take it. She started to feel bad, terrible for dragging him into her mess, she began to feel worried because there was a possibility that Ray might do something to hurt Jared and there was nothing she could do about that.
After began to think about going through the legal route. Stephanie was still in danger and Astra had not figured out a way to bring her out of the dungeon, and now she was finding out that Ray might have done more, much more than she thought. The legal route seemed like a dead end though, as there was no evidence to show that it was actually Ray that did all of that. In the eyes of the law, all these were speculations without base. It was sad.
Astra was still thinking about Ray and was wondering if he was a part of the little issues Astra and Nicholas had faced at the beginning of their marriage. They were both very much in love at the beginning, but they still had a lot of issues. Problems of infidelity were almost always coming in and they both brushed them off because they trusted each other, so it was easy for them in a way. Nicholas even mentioned threats and a bit of damage to his company, but Nicholas was a rich man and so he had plenty of enemies, as with one that has money, so no one actually suspected Ray. Astra felt that since he was with Stephanie that he had given up on her, she thought wrong.
The fact that she was suspecting him for the odd things that occurred at the beginning of her marriage made her wonder if he also had a hand in what happened at the end. Astra could not even wrap her head around it, nothing made sense. Why would Ray go so far as to break them? What would he achieve? Where did all that put Thompson? Astra was not sure of the answers to her question.
She was still trying to think about the entire thing when she received a call from Stephanie which she immediately picked up.
'Hello Steph, how are you?" Astra asked as she picked up, she was worried about her friend.
'I am good Astra, how are you?" Stephanie said. She was sounding happy, too happy for someone who called her a few hours ago to tell her that she could no longer stay with her husband, something was wrong.
'I am fine Stephanie," Astra said. She could not say anything more. She was afraid that Ray would be behind Stephanie and that's why she would be unable to say anything.
'Astra I have thought about leaving Ray, I don't think I want to do it anymore. It is not right by him and I still love, I want a family with him. I am willing to try again. I am sorry for the false alarm I may have raised, I am sorry for burdening you. I guess since I hadn't seen him for long I was scared I guess. It's okay if you don't want anything to do with us again, after everything that is," Stephanie said. Astra tried her very best to be calm as she listened to her friend. Her best didn't seem to be enough though. She was annoyed, angry, pissed. It seemed like Ray had brain washed her friend. He had come back to brainwash her. Astra knew that she had to be careful with Stephanie.
'Just calm down Stephanie, you can always rethink it, we are not in a rush or anything," Astra said. She was half expecting to hear Ray's voice next. He might be close to Stephanie and was threatening her.
'I am sure Astra. I want to be with Ray, it's for better for worse," Stephanie said. Astra sighed. It was really no use trying to argue with her. She still loved Ray, even if he was so terrible to her. Astra knew that there was no way to change her mind.
'I will have to get going. I want to start making lunch for Ray," Stephanie said.
'Okay, then. We will keep in touch," Astra said. She was not totally sure she believed Stephanie and what she said. It seemed fake to her. So different from the girl that had called her just yesterday.
'Alright, then bye," Stephanie said as she disconnected the call. Astra just sat on her bed, wondering how she could get her friend out of the mess she was in, without dragging herself into it too.
~~~~
'This is so frustrating. How can someone just disappear off the face of the earth for an entire month and there is no trace of him?" Sarah asked out loud. She was pacing back and forth the living room of Nicholas' house. Nicholas was also frustrated. It seemed like nothing was going in his favor in the case. Everywhere they seemed to reach a dead end. Nicholas was convinced more than ever that Thompson had an accomplice.
'The fact that no one is even looking for him is even more annoying," Sarah continued. No one was really worried about Thompson's whereabouts. Apparently, he made trips all the time and he notified everyone that was close to him before he basically disappeared into thin air. Everyone they talked to said he was very vague about where he was going to, but it was obvious that they didn't care enough to ask or even look for him. It was actually very sad.
'We badly need to talk to Thompson. We need to find him before whoever is working with him ruins my company again," Nicholas said even though he knew that it was more than that, he wanted revenge too. Revenge on whoever had destroyed all he worked for into nothing.
'It seems like he has backed off though, whoever it is that is trying to ruin you. Everything seemed to have calmed down. No new stakeholder has left, no rumors about you in the press, business is good. Just keep doing what you are doing and you are fine," Sarah said and Nicholas shook his head.
'You of all people know that it's not that simple. I don't even know what I am doing right. For all we may know, he might just be lying low. Or something happened to him. Nothing bad has happened since Thompson disappeared. When I think about these things, I wonder if he truly has an accomplice, if it was just Thompson all these while. But it doesn't just add up. There is the why for one. Why would Thompson go this far to hurt me? It doesn't make sense," Nicholas said. The stress of the past month was getting to him.
'Just relax Nicholas. I have a feeling everything will be clear soon. He can't lay low forever. When he does resurface, we will be here to catch him," Sarah said and Nicholas sighed. She was doing too much for him, he did not like it.
'Theo's birthday is coming up, soon, less than a month now, you should focus more on that. Don't let my problems stop you from being the best mother than you can be, I don't like the fact that you are sacrificing so much time for me," Nicholas said.
'Theo will be fine, and so will I, this phase will not last forever and before you know it, everything will be back to normal," Sarah said, and smiled. Her smile was so infectious that he couldn't help but smile too.
'Theo is walking very well now, it is so cute, he wants to start running already, he is scattering the whole house and though it's frustrating, I just love to watch my child grow," Sarah said and Nicholas smiled.
'It has been long since you brought him here. I miss my nephew, you have to bring him next time you are coming," Nicholas said and Sarah nodded. It seemed like she was about to say more when her phone rang.
'It's our guy from the police. Maybe there is some news," Sarah said before picking the call. Nicholas could feel his heart beating faster than usual as she talked on the phone.
'You found the owner of the car?" Sarah asked with a smile. Nicholas smiled and gave her thumbs up as she continued talking.
'Raymond Emerson? Okay okay, thank you Sir. We will keep in touch. Thank you so much," Sarah said as she disconnected the call.
'I just figured it would be something huge, but it's someone we don't even know. Who the hell is Raymond Emerson?" Sarah asked and Nicholas closed his eyes. He was in denial. Maybe it was a coincidence, but it could not just be.
'Raymond Emerson is one of Astra's closest friends from childhood. The policeman said he owned both of the cars?" Nicholas said and Sarah frowned. It was obvious that the wheels in her head were turning too, she was trying to come to a conclusion.
'Yes, he owns both cars," Sarah replied.
'Well he was always a freak for cars," Nicholas reasoned. He was still trying to wrap his head around all the information he was getting.
'I just knew this would all boil down to Astra," Sarah said. Nicholas was barely listening anymore, several scenarios were flying in his head, before he got married to Astra, while they were still in marriage and even what to lead to their divorce. It didn't make any sense, or maybe it all made sense, Nicholas was not just sure he wanted to accept the sense it made.
'I am going to call Astra," Nicholas said.
'Why? Do you know if she in the league with him? You said he was one of her closest friends, you might be endangering yourself," Sarah said. He knew that she was just worried about him, but he did not have the time to calm her nerves.
'I will explain later," Nicholas said and picked up the phone to call Astra. Sarah was frowning and tapping her leg on the ground as the phone rang. It was obvious she was against the call. He called thrice and she did not pick up the phone.
Nicholas figured it was because of the fact that he hadn't talked to her since they had sex. Nicholas dropped the phone on the sofa, and had already given up on calling her when his phone rang, it was Astra.
'I need your help," she said as she picked up the call.