Cherry Lipps - S01 E30

Story 2 years ago

Cherry Lipps - S01 E30

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 30

{Semi-final episode}

Craig stepped fully into the room, walking passed Daisy who sat up on the floor gaping at him.

He stopped before Garrett’s body, letting the gun drop by his side as he regarded the snarling fixed deathly look on Garrett’s face.

Garrett was as dead as a log of wood. That one bullet had socked the life out of him rendering him dead.

Wrinkling his nose at Garrett, Craig dropped the gun on his chest and turned to face Scarlett.

Scarlett was backed against the wall, eyes searching him in fear. She never knew Craig to be Soo cold blooded. Looking at him now, it felt blood chilling to know he had murdered a man.

She remembered he mentioned something about not being human. He was the most inhuman person she’d ever seen.

Craig regarded her for a while then turned and went to the bed where he sat down quietly with his hands placed on his knees.

His eyes moved restlessly from side to side and his legs shook. Staring at the two women in the room, he opened his mouth and began speaking.

” I know y’all are thinking terrible stuffs about me.”

Neither Scarlett nor Daisy replied him. They were soo scared of him they dare not to say a word.

Craig continued, rubbing his knees. ” The police would be here any minute,” he paused to stare at Scarlett. ” Before they barge in and put me in cuffs, I’d like you to listen to what I have to say.”

Scarlett’s heart was pounding against her ribs at his words but she kept her cool inorder to listen to him.

Craig looked pale and washed out but his eyes were bright with life.

” Garrett wasn’t gonna spare you after taking Daisy with him,” he explained. ” He was gonna shoot you dead later once keeping Daisy locked in the car. He had his friend stationed in the car. You don’t have to bother about him. I made sure he’s dead before coming right up the stairs for you.”

There was silence in the room when he paused.

Passing a tongue over his lips, Craig sighed. ” This would be my fourth murder, Scarlett. First it’s my father, then Henri, then Garrett’s friend and now Garrett himself. I’ve informed the cops I’d here in your room. Once they arrive, I’ll be out in cuffs and taken out to jail.”

Pausing, Craig managed to look steadily at Garrett’s corpse. ” It’s kinda weird being who I am today. I was only out for revenge. I never meant for things to turn out this way. Garrett and I had a deal. Killing my dad was part of the deal, taking off and never stepping his foot in my life was also part of the deal. I ensured I paid him well. Six years of my life was okay cause I thought I’d never set eyes on him. Somehow, I knew he’d be back for more money and I was prepared to pay him any amount as long as he stayed away. I hadn’t reckoned he’d want to take Daisy. Daisy was the last straw. I couldn’t bear to let him take her away from you.

Considering you sacrificed a whole lot for your daughter, it just seemed soo selfish of Garrett to just pop out of the blue all of a sudden and claim her. I knew Garrett would come after you so I followed you. I kept watch while you did your runs for your flight ticket. Garrett was also trailing you from behind. I saw him following you all the way to your hotel. When he went into your hotel with a gun, I knew instantly he was gonna kill you. It wasn’t hard to get a gun in time and come save you. But before that, I placed a call to the cops and told them what I was gonna do.”

Craig stopped talking as he shifted his weight from the bed. ” I don’t suppose we’d be able the see again, Scarlett. Might as well take my chances and have a few words with you.”

Further away in the distance, blaring noises of police sirens blasted the air as they raced towards the hotel’s direction.

Craig went on. ” When I first nursed the idea of Killing my father, I went against it. I hadn’t the guts to raise a gun and pull a bullet into his head. I began searching for someone, anyone to push my thirst for revenge. When I met you, I got the drill I needed to go ahead with my plans and have the vengeance I so wanted. Killing my dad with my hands would prove fatal. I’m gonna lose everything he’s ever worked for. So I had you take the rap not because I couldn’t take it but because I wanted to make it up to you. While you served your sentence, I was with my lawyer. I splited my inheritance into two. A half goes to my son, Marcel. The other half goes to Daisy.”

Scarlett’s reaction showed her shock and surprise.

Craig returned his eyes to Daisy. ” You’re now part of my family, Daisy. That’s why I couldn’t let Garrett take you. Garrett doesn’t know shít about my death will. If he took you away and I eventually die, you’ll come into a lot of money. Garrett would have it all. That’s another reason why I had to kill him.” Pausing, he turned to Scarlett. ” I know I’m gonna die, Scarlett. I murdered four men. It’s only right I go to the electric chair. Moreover, I felt guilty since you got locked away. What manner of a man would make his woman locked away in jail for a crime she never commited? Truth is, I really do care about you. You might not think of it this way but you’re my world; the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You painted my blank void world with colours, causing all my fantasies to come true. Remember what you said about your magic losing its effect on me? That’s not true. Your magic never lost it’s touch. You’re all I could think of while you served your sentence. Sometimes, I felt like going over to Benton and confessing just to get you out. But there was a lot to be done. I had to make up for putting you in such a dangerous position. Listen Scarlett, everything I ever had is yours. Take them. You’ve been the best personal pórnstar ever. I had an affair because I thought I was gonna die quick. I needed a heir. Well, I got one now. And yet, I still wished I had a baby with you. I still wished we’d wind up married and have our honeymoon in Paris. It’s just too bad it’d never happen. I made your life miserable and I’m sure you hate me now. You don’t love me anymore but that’s okay. I’m not fit to be loved. I’m a monster, a vilian in my story. That’s who I chose to be and I ain’t blame anyone. Still, I want you to see the real me. I ain’t just some pórn addicted rich kid who’s got some perverted fantasies over a pórnstar. I’m a man with a good heart. You may find that hard to believe but that’s the bloody truth. No one notice my sadness, no one notice my pains but they all notice my mistakes.”

Outside the hotel, the blaring noise of police sirens surrounded the area. Screeching of car tires rented the air as they pulled up before the hotel.

Scarlett could hear the sound of many cops jumping out of their cars and rushing into the hotel.

Craig gently rose to his feet, facing Scarlett fully. ” Well, this is it, Scarlett. I do pray you find it in your heart to forgive me someday. You don’t need to come to the hospital for my surgery tonight. There’s no need. I’ll be in jail. When you eventually get to meet my son, Marcel, Don’t let him know of his father’s sins.”

Scarlett couldn’t speak. She had said the exact same words to him when she was about to get locked away in jail.

She was about saying something when the room suddenly burst opened with men in police uniform.

” Freeze!” The cops yelled, guns pointed at Craig. ” Drop your weapon, now!”

Craig gently dropped the gun to the ground and turned around with his hands to the back of his head.

Before Scarlett could say Jack Robinson, Craig was put in handcuffs and led out of the room.

Scarlett stood up, her voice a whisper. ” Don’t leave.”

But Craig didn’t hear her. He walked steady on, his face in the air, eyes closed and a calm determined set expression that told her nothing.

She stared after him, feeling her heart heavy and breaking to bits.

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Nothing was rushed. The cops took their time, attending to her and Daisy.

A cop was leaned towards her, putting the last touches to her wound on her crown and the side of her head where Garrett had smashed her with his gun butt.

” How’s the head, Scarlett?” Benton asked, appearing from nowhere.

Scarlett stiffened when she saw him. She had thought perhaps by now he had retired from the force.

But Benton had been promoted from captain to superintendent. He looked a bit older with strands of grey hairs, bushy moustache and an unmistakable height that was a head taller than Scarlett’s.

” Captain Benton?” Scarlett seemed surprised to see him.

Benton stood before her, nodding at the cop. ” Leave us, Rick.”

The cop obeyed, taking his first aid kit and leaving quietly.

Once they were alone, Benton began. ” A fine mess you got yourself into, haven’t you?”

Scarlett’s eyes glittered at him. ” Where’s Craig.”

” He’s locked up,” Benton answered. ” You don’t have to bother about him.”

Scarlett passed a tongue over her dry lips. ” Is he… What’s gonna happen to him?”

Benton regarded her for a long time. ” I don’t know, Scarlett. I don’t know. He’s gonna have to face trial and see what comes to him.”

When Scarlett was silent again, he went on. ” Your boyfriend is kinda a strong character, isn’t he? Who would’ve thought he was the mastermind of all those shít you’ve been through?”

Scarlett frowned at him. ” You don’t believe his story do you?”

Benton shook his head gravely. ” No my dear, I believe his story. As a matter of fact, I’ve always been suspicious of that guy having a hand in Larry Cage’s death. It was the perfect set-up. A son who’s gonna inherit an enormous amount of money after his father’s death could do anything to hasten things up. Craig’s a pretty smart guy. He knew he needed a cast iron alibi to protect his face when the murder gets done. That way, no one notices his shadows. They only focus on you. And yet, he went out of his way to get you a good lawyer, furnished you a house and have a Bugatti Veyron bought in your name. Sounds all fishy but I turned the other cheeks cause it wasn’t really my business. We got wired about an hour ago by Craig and then the truth started spilling. He told us everything and then concluded with his intending murder to kill Garrett. It’s fúcking sick but all these killings were all rooted to one specific purpose, vengenance.”

Scarlett eyed him. ” Craig’s got a surgery tonight. He’s dying. Are you guys gonna….”

Benton interrupted her. ” We spoke to his doctor. Yes, Craig’s going for the surgery. We do hope it’s a successful one though. He’s got to appear in court and take his sentence.”

But what was the point of it all? She asked herself. It’s still the same thing. She was certain if Craig survived the surgery, he still wouldn’t survive the electric chair.

Murder cases were deadly. You either get a death sentence or a life sentence.

In Craig’s case, his fate was unknown. He was already dying.

” I wanna see him,” Scarlett said sharply, rising up from the bed.

Benton shook his head. ” I’m sorry, Scarlett. I really can’t allow that. Maybe after the surgery,” he paused, drawing out a packet of cigarettes. There was only one cigarette left so he took it and lit it. ” Say, where you gonna go from here, Scarlett? From what Craig told me, your daughter Daisy is gonna come into a whole lot of money when he’s dead.”

Scarlett looked outside the door of her room. It was just she and Benton. Daisy was downstairs getting attended to.

” I don’t know where else to go,” she answered, unsure of herself. ” Where I want to be is with Craig. No where else.”

Benton blew smoke in the air. ” Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you still love him. Big deal. This guy’s ruined your life. Don’t you think he doesn’t deserve anything better?”

Scarlett shook her head, settling back on her bed. ” He deserves my forgiveness. Now that I understand what he’s been through, I couldn’t hold any grudge against him. He made me suffer but then his love for me is true. He gave himself away for my sake. That’s something that’d forever stick with me to my grave.”

Benton regarded her closely, cigarette burning at the end of his lips.

” Seeing young people in love is beautiful, Scarlett,” he paused, pulling out the cigarette. ” And that’s why it always ends in tears. I don’t see Craig as some hero. What I see is a dangerous criminal who’d kill anyone for revenge. It’s about time you grow up and leave love out of this, Scarlett. In times to come, you’ll meet men like Craig again. Take my tip, don’t get lost loving someone Soo much that you fail to watch their shadows. Love’s cool and all but it’s stupid. Remember the shít Craig’s put you through. Always watch your back.”

He let the cigarette drop to the ground and placed a foot on it. ” Well, so long, Scarlett. Sorry you had to be dragged into this mess. I do hope you have a better life out there. Good luck.”

Scarlett remained on the bed as Benton left the room. The hotel was gradually becoming quiet with more cops leaving one by one.

But Scarlett didn’t move an edge away from the bed. She kept her head bent over, her thoughts on Craig.

Then she noticed a familiar presence before her. looking up, she met Daisy’s eyes staring intently at her from the doorway.

Scarlett didn’t know what to do. She stared directly at her daughter for a long time, not sure if she should cry or go for over there and embrace her.

Taking a deep breath, Daisy took one step after another and another until she was walking towards the bed where her mother sat.

To Scarlett’s surprise, Daisy wrapped her arms around her neck and leaned in for a warm embrace.

Scarlett let out a deep breath, tightening their hug. She was Soo silent, Daisy was scared she might’ve gone dumb.

” Don’t worry, mama,” Daisy said softly. ” I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here with you.”

Scarlett couldn’t have felt more glad.

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To be Continued….

Author’s Note ✍️:

Epilogue dropping soon??