A WORK OF FICTION...

A WOMAN NAMED KITTY..part 2

"What is it?.." I asked Kitty who stood before me, this time looking a bit more distressed..

"I want to talk with you.." she said.

"I thought there is nothing else to talk about..We're finished aren't we?"

After a few seconds of silence, she said.."Yes..but..I just want to say that... I still love you more than ever.."

I stood up, ready to give her a lashing.."You have a funny way of showing your love, don't you?"

"Please, please! " her eyes started to moisten.."I do not have much time left, so please..listen.."

Somehow, I held my temper..It is my frst time to see this emotion on her face.."

"Okay,? What??.."Sarcasm has not completely left my voice...

Her eyes darted swiftly around the room, examining the people in there..Then she turned again to me.." We can't talk here..Let's go somewhere else.."

Now I started feeling some pity for her..She took out a tissue and tried to appear as normal as possible..

"Let us go to your car.. I will pick up mine up later.." she said quietly.

 

So she asked me to drive along 401 West, the highway that would end in Windsor at the Ontario border after maybe four hours drive.. Beyond it would be Detroit, Michigan.

It was rush hour. Workers, blue or white collared are starting to drive their way home anticipating a relaxing time at their homes.. Traffic started to build up. After 10 minutes driving, then she said, "Take the Erin Mills exit..I know a quiet place here where we can talk.."

It was a small but decent looking hotel in a quiet suburban neighbour hood..I drove in silence while she told me the directions..Soon we parked. I went out of the car and opened the door for her..Her face was still sombre. Her eyes became reddish...

"Get us a room please, "

In a few minutes, we were inside a small room with 2 twin sized beds, a fridge and a stove. But I do not think we will be needing any of those..

She was silent for about 2 minutes, then she said in a composed voice..

"My name is not really Kitty..And I am not really separated from my husband. I ran away from him many, many years ago..."This is how she began her story that kept me spellbound, listening and weighing every word....

 

 

Her name was Arabella Dolores.. She was born to a very rich family in Dagupan. . They owned 2 blocks of real estate along Bugallon avenue whichcomprised the main downtown of this busy, throbbing metropolis. They were renting 4 buildings to some rich Chinese merchants who knew how to make money every month. This kept her Father afloat even if he spent quite a fortune on his wife and two kids.Arabella is the eldest of two children. Five years stood between her and a younger sister..

She grew up with love and prosperity. She grew up to be a very refined and educated girl. She had her debut at the Manila Hotel and all the richest and prettiest young girls in Dagupan City comprised her cotillon de honor...

Then storm clouds started to gather in her horizon.Her dad became addicted to gambling.

In the period of a few months ( nights of which were spent in heavy mah jong ) and Sundays were spent in the Cockpit in Mangaldan, he became heavily indebted to several persons in Dagupan.When they started asking for their money, he had to use the papers of his various real estate properties to borrow a very large sum of money from a Chinese businessman Henry Liu.

Her family literally became tenants in their own palatial home. Since the rentals remitted to them at one time have found its way to the bank accounts of the Chinese mogul, they became a bit more than beggars in a big house which was slowly becoming devoid of its rich furnitures and paintings.. Her Moms jewelries slowly were given to the Zuniga's Pawnshop. The prospect of finding a career became dim...

Then one day her dad just told her that Mr. Lu, wanted to marry her..And all their debts would be erased..All documents would be returned to her father.

If her dad wont agree, their house and business buildings would be sold to some prospective buyers..

It was a really brutal choice..She loved her dad above anything..But she does not love the guy, not an iota...She spent several nights crying bitterly.

But in the end, there was this big marriage in Dagupan, the biggest one can remember. Arabella became Mrs. Henry Liu...Her dad's properties went back to her family.

Arabelle suffered in silence. She never worked in the house, because there was a servant for every task. Henry ran his household like a business outfit. Arabella wasnot given any real freedom. Some Chinese men do not trust women, especially their wives with money..He gave her an allowance depending on her basic needs..She felt she was just another fixture in his household.

She delivered 2 children in 2 years..Because she did not go out that often, she started to put on some weight...She ceased to look like the bride Henry married 2 years ago..

And then Henry started to have younger girl friends..With his money he can buy a truckload of them..Arabelle's life became hell...

One day, she decided to break out of hell..But it was not easy..

She planned everything carefully..She had lots of time to do it....She was able to find how to cream some money from her husband's so many petty cash boxes.. She hid her money in a box behind a secret wall which she asked a carpenter to build for her. She made him to swear not to reveal it, esp. to her husband. She paid a thousand pesos for his secrecy...She saved and coverted her money into 100 peso denominations so it is easier to store.Her husband had so much money that he hardly noticed anything was amissed...

 

"The hardest thing I did was to leave my two kids behind," she continued. "But I have to leave my prison, I am too young to be confined within its walls. And Henry is so cold, so unromantic..All he cared for is money and any young woman he can go to bed with. In fact I heard he even go to a certain country in Asia just to have sex with a virgin..for ten thousand dollars!!...He is stuck with the stupid belief that making love with virgins would prolong his virility!"

She stopped, blew her nose..then she continued. " But I know that my kids will be cared for..He has a staff of servants in that big house of his and they will be raised comfortably.With the belief their mother is already dead. Anyways, one time, he went back to China for a big business meeting and told me he will be away for 2 weeks.

"The next day after his departure, I also lef for my flight for freedom..The money I had saved were used to purchase some papers, visas, passports and all..Under a new name. Coming to Canada illegally was still easy at that time.. "

"As Katherine Versoza?" I commented..She nodded slightly.."Yes. I found a job I was good at. And I was quite happy and lived in peace for 5 years..Until yesterday..." She paused a bit then continued as if her time was diminishing slowly..

"Yesterday, I received a text. It came from Henry..He found me here in Toronto. Mark, that man is powerful. He has contacts everywhere. He told me to be at the Airport, that's all. He has all the necessary travel papers.He wants me to go back to the Philippines with him...All I have to do is to show up at the Cathay Pacific counter..or else..That was at 5:00 pm a while ago.."

My mind again started running in circles. "How about the Police?"

"What can we tell them? " she said smiling but sarcastic..Whatever we tell them should be presented with a kind of evidence..We got nothing but a fantastic story which no police man would buy!! We won't have any case, Mark.."

What a mess. I wanted to clear my head. My heart melted when I saw her weep silently lying down on her side, facing the wall..

I looked out. Everything was peaceful and quiet. There was only my car there and two others which were there when we arrived.

"Mark,"she said.."can you get me some water fom the restaurant?"

"Sure," I said.."Why don't you come with me?.."

"I do not feel like it. Besides, my face is a mess.."

I felt it was safe. The whole place was silent as a graveyard..I locked the door on my out and headed for the the restaurant which was just in the next building. I hastily took the bottle from the waiter and headed back in a rush..

I found the door open...

I rushed in. Switched on the lights. The place seemd to be okay, but the table lamp was on the floor... I looked out..My car was still there, and so with the other two ones..I again locked the door, which did not show any forced entry. I looked for some object, ANY clue that could explain what REALLY happened in the room....

I looked under the bed. I saw her purse. I opened it..It had some credit cards under the name of Katherine Versoza.. Some money..And her cel phone and charger...

More questions..Was she abducted? Did she ran away by herself? Did she go peacefully with her abductors. But where? How?...

Then near the post of the headboard I noticed a very small spot. Still moist.Checked it.It was blood. My heart started to reverberate.. I took the purse with me and rushed out. Anyway, the room was already paid for. As I went to my car. I had the feeling of being watched..through a gunscope..But nothing happened. When I started my car, still nothing happened. Then like hell, I drove away from the place...

Thanks God, Highway 401 East was already clear..Very little traffic. I didntknow how fast I drove. But no policeman followed me.

 

I reached my apartment. It was 3:00 in the morning. I pushed the couch on front of my apartment door. Then poured myself some brandy.

I threw myself on the bed. But who could sleep after an incident like that one?. The morning came as an orange eastern horizon. I called in sick. It was Friday anyway. Somehow, I was able to sleep through the afternoon. I dreamt I saw Arabella floating down a river, waving frantically her hands, asking for help. I shouted at her. Then I woke up.

It was already Friday night. I felt relieve to find myself safe and sound in my own room. . I sat up, gathered my thoughts. Can't think straight. Switched on a portable stereo by pressing its remote. It was Toronto's 96.3 FM..Nice soothing classical music..

Then all of a sudden, Arabella's cel phone rang.---#