Consumed, Chapter 3.

I wiped whatever prints of mine that I might have left on the gun away and placed it back into David’s hand. I made it look as if he was gripping it, as if he shot himself. I made sure I didn’t leave any remanence of myself in that car. I was very methodical in my actions. You would’ve thought that I’d done this before. Never in my life, would I, of all people, kill someone. But I had to save you Jason. Anything for you.

It didn’t take much for the police to rule David’s death as a suicide. Can you believe it? It was just that easy. I was shaken up about it though. All the blood. The thought of watching someone’s life end before my eyes. Knowing that I took someone’s life from them. I was overwhelmed for a few days, a complete mess. But when you called, I had to answer and I was myself again.

“Dr. Grace?”

“This is her,” I said.

“Something’s wrong with Joy, she was doing so much better and now she’s not talking again and crying uncontrollably. I don’t know what to do,” Jason proclaimed.

“I’ll be over shortly, Jason. Try to keep her calm until I get there.”

I knew exactly what was wrong.

Joy had finally been released from the hospital after regaining the ability to move her arms due to intense physical training. It’s so tragic that as soon as she gets to come home her lover dies. So sad, but too bad. That’s what the bitch gets. This is the karma that she deserves. It kind of warms my heart that I got to play a role in it. I mean, what better way to get back at the bitch Jason? She plays with your emotions and breaks your heart, so I do the same to her. I think I like this little arrangement Jason. I can’t wait until you can finally see for yourself. What do you even see in her anyway? She literally almost got you killed. You should be glad that I was there to prevent that Jason. What would you even do without me? When are you going to realize all that I do for you? When will you appreciate me?

My cab just arrived at your place.

“Thanks for coming at such a short notice, Dr. Grace. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Are you realizing?

“No, no, Jason. It’s my pleasure.”

“No seriously, Dr. Grace. I can’t even begin to explain how much I truly appreciate you.”

Do you really mean it?

Jason leads me into the living room where Joy is sitting in her wheelchair with her hands over her face and a lap full of Kleenex. I sit down on the couch in front of her. Jason exits the room.

“Joy, would you care to talk?” I ask in a more nurturing tone.

She doesn’t say a word.

“Jason’s really worried about you.”

She sniffles a little, still no words. This ungrateful bitch.

I was right about to ask another question when there was very loud, abrupt knock at the door. As soon as Jason opens the door there’s loud but inaudible screaming. Joy takes her hand away from her face and both of our attentions have been shifted towards the chaos.

“Why the fuck would my husband kill himself right in front of your doorstep? What did you do to him?” this woman screams while pounding at Jason’s chest with her balled fist.

He’s so confused while also trying to restrain her. I stand, automatically shifting into defense mode. I look over at Joy, her eyes are wide with shock. It was like she saw a ghost. Then I knew.

“What husband? Who are you?” Jason yells back at the woman.

I walk over to them and separate her from him.

“What the fuck did you do to my husband?” she screams back.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Jason says more calmly.

I love his ability to instantly switch back into his calm, cool demeanor.

“David,” she says in a muffled cry as she falls to her knees.

I think at that moment, we all realized she was pregnant. Her small baby bump was very apparent now.

Jason kneels down, “Ma’am, I honestly don’t know that man or why he would have done such a thing outside of my home but you should calm down. You don’t want to stress your baby.”

She lets out the saddest, loudest cry that I’ve ever witnessed. I couldn’t resist dropping to the floor to comfort this poor woman.

A very sinister laugh comes from Joy. I almost thought I was hearing things. How could she be laughing at a moment like this. We were all looking at her in silence at this point.

“Maya, please, what are you even crying for? David didn’t love you anymore and you know it. You knew he was cheating.”

My heart dropped. Is Joy really saying this right now?

 “Excuse me?” Maya stands.

“You heard me.”

“It was you?” Maya launches at her, but Jason intervenes.

I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing.

“You’re the bitch that David’s been fucking,” Maya screams while still trying to get to Joy.

Joy laughs, “I’m the bitch that David was in love with.”

The situation finally resonated with Jason. He finally knew what was going on. He was stuck at a standstill, completely stunned. You could see it all over his face. Maya started hyperventilating and had to step outside. Jason’s gaze was stuck on Joy but she had the most nonchalant look on her face.

“I can’t believe this shit,” Jason mumbled as he turned and left the brownstone.

I didn’t know what else to do so I began gathering my things and said, “I guess this is the end of our session.”

“See you later, Dr. Grace,” Joy muttered as I took my exit, closing the door behind me.

 

Two long weeks have gone by, and I haven’t had any communication with Joy or Jason. But I’ve been keeping up with them via Joy’s text messages and it turns out that Jason still hasn’t been home.

Message from Joy to Jason: we have so much to talk about, please come home.

Message from Joy to Jason: Jason please

Message from Joy to Jason: I know you don’t want to talk, I just want to make sure you’re okay

 

I, myself, wanted to know where Jason was and if he was okay. I was extremely concerned about him and it was starting to eat at me that I couldn’t make sure he was safe. How the fuck am I supposed to protect you if I don’t know where you are Jason? I understand you ignoring Joy but you could at least reach out to me Jason. But since you want to be difficult I’ll just have to find you. I’ll make it my mission Jason.

During my next session with Joy I began subliminally questioning her about Jason. I really made it seem like I was helping her to think of places he would be to re-ensure her that he was safe but I was really making a list of places to look for him. So far, all I had was his job (a financial building on wall street) and his favorite little coffee shop (the one he stopped at when I first noticed him). I knew it would be nearly impossible to get into the building that he worked at so I decided to scope out the coffee shop. I’d go there every day until he finally showed up.

That’s exactly what I did. I stopped by that coffee shop around Jason’s lunch time every day for three days straight, and he finally showed up on the third day. I was super excited to see him when he walked through the door, so excited that I stood up immediately to greet him. But I quickly reclaimed my seat when I saw a woman following behind him. That woman was Maya. What the fuck was she doing here with Jason? What’s going on Jason? It was the most perplexing sight. They were smiling and having such casual conversation that you would have thought they were a couple. The perfect couple. What the hell is this?

I thought I was going to be sick. I left as soon as I thought they wouldn’t notice me. I couldn’t to stand to sit there and witness whatever the hell it was that I was witnessing. I was so furious as I was walking away. What are you doing now Jason? Why do you keep adding these bitches to our equation? It’s supposed to just be me and you Jason, why are you not getting this? What part do you not understand? I was in such a frenzy that I walked all the way back to Jason’s brownstone without even noticing. But you’re not here Jason, just Joy. Actually, that’s perfect.

Joy lets me in and is a little surprised to see me.

“I wasn’t aware that we had a session today, Dr. Grace.”

“I found Jason.”

She was hooked like a fish at the mention of those words. I used this as the perfect way to play into her jealousy of Maya so that I could get her away from Jason. I was going to need Joy’s help after all. We had work to do.

“How do I get rid of her Dr. Grace?”