I Thirst for You — Chapter 7 - Enigmatic Eyes

The hardwood fell uncontrolled on the earth, creating a loud, rumbling sound in their ears. Birds of different species flew away from the affected site, some of which flew directly past the climbers.

Amanda, watching with eyes rounded, knew the tree as not only the largest but also as the one that that illusion of a man appeared. She felt her blood chill as Macayla’s question lingered on her head.

Yes, how did the tree split into two?

“The van!” Kenneth shouted. He hopped in one of the lower areas of the rock formation and waved his hand. “Guys, let’s go! We need to check if the van was hit!”

“Cait, ” Matteo interlaced his fingers on her and kissed her forehead.

She pressed her lips together, but other than that, she didn’t show any other response to his intimate actions.

“Come, we should go down too, ” she stated, making sure to be as neutral as she could be.

“Yes, we should, ” Matteo answered.

On their way down, Amanda stole a few glances of the destroyed tree. It actually got split to the roots which looked weird and scary. Many smaller trees got hit during the process; their trunks and branches severed and strewn across the forest floor.

Some of the climbers commented about it being too old to hold its weight. Some commented it was because of its height.

But to Amanda, it was neither. Although it sounded crazy, she believed what had recently occurred wasn’t a natural phenomenon. She had this nagging feeling that the man from earlier caused it.

The answer as to how though remain a mystery.

***

Luckily, the van was spared from the brutal destruction. The club leader, being a hardcore believer of superstitions, decided to cancel the whole camp activity and return instead to the city.

While on travel, many climbers talked about the tree, Noman included. Amanda remained silent, listening to the active conversations and so did Matteo, but he had his hand on her lap acting like a possessive boyfriend.

Amanda, still feeling the effects of their kiss, refused to look at him in the eye and that went on for an hour of travel.

When they arrived in the city, it was already two in the afternoon. Matteo invited the two of them for a late lunch at a famous Italian restaurant. Noman was happy to accept. Amanda just nodded and ghosted a smile.

In the restaurant, they ate and drank merrily with Noman the main leader of the discussion. It wasn’t until Amanda’s cellphone rang that he paused from talking.

“I need to get this, ” informed she, looking at the unknown number on her cellphone screen.

Matteo and Noman simultaneously bobbed their heads.

“Go ahead Cait, we will be fine here, ” said Noman.

Amanda pressed the answer button after she had fully exited the restaurant.

“Hello?” she said, pressing the cellphone against her ear.

The caller answered and thereafter informed her of a certain important issue.

Amanda just nodded the whole time, her mouth a thin line, and by the time their discussion finished, she was partly sad and partly disappointed with it.

“Who called?” was Matteo’s immediate question right after Amanda returned to their table.

“It is Chief Moretti, ” Amanda supplied. She placed the phone in the pocket of her sports capri pants and drank her lemon juice straight.

“The Chief? Why did she call?”

“She said I needed to be under the witness protection program.”

“What?” Both Matteo and Noman spoke in unison with their brows completely furrowed.

Amanda sighed and gave them a shrug. “She says that since the man who died was an important board member of NASCAR, I needed to be protected. I am the only one who saw the murder and who the man looked like. The security cameras didn’t yield good results since the spot was too dim.”

“I thought you didn’t see the man’s face because of that same reason, ” Matteo questioned.

Amanda nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, but still she said the department won’t take any chances. The dead man’s got bad issues going on around him. Swindling and gambling cheats to mention some. It’s possible that he angered some mafia or a loan shark.”

“Oh, that’s bad news Cait. Totally.” Noman looked worried.

“I guess so. I’ll just have to do what they tell me to for now, ” she answered, her eyes looking distant.

Not that she didn’t want to cooperate, but this was her supposed vacation. Being placed in a witness protection program and sent to a safe house wasn’t included in her list. No. Not at all.

“Won’t that affect the grand race next week?” Matteo inquired.

Amanda was silent for a moment. She looked at her empty plate and then smiled confidently. “I don’t think it would. I’m certain the three Formula Ones are in perfect condition. You won’t need me in the grand race at all.”

“I’m relieved to hear that, ” he remarked, sounding like every worried Vice President in a large company.

At four in the afternoon, the group left the restaurant. Since no one brought a car, Noman and Amanda took a cab to the apartment. Matteo, giving Amanda some space to think about their growing relationship, kissed her in the cheek as a goodbye. Noman waved a hand, but with a definite mischievous smirk on his face.

By the time the duo arrived in the apartment, to their surprise, there were already two police officers stationed in the front door of Noman’s unit. One informed about having to relocate Amanda ASAP to which she of course vehemently refused.

“I thought I’ll be given until tomorrow to pack Chief Moretti?” was her fuming question over the phone.

The other end of the line explained the necessity of transferring her into the safehouse stat.

Amanda, in the end, surrendered.

“I can’t believe this is happening, ” she complained as she packed her clothes back in her luggage.

Noman helped. He gave her a sad face and pulled her in an embrace.

“I know. Did the Chief say where you will stay? Because I will certainly visit you every day.”

Amanda calmed for a moment and leaned on his shoulder. “She didn’t divulge it saying it is confidential, but she says a car will pick me up an hour from now.” She checked on the wall clock and frowned. “Or more like ten minutes from now.”

“I hope this witness protection program ends before you return to New Zealand, ” Noman released a sigh.

“Yeah, I do hope so too. We still have one hell of shopping to do before we return.” Amanda giggled.

When it was time to leave, they exchanged goodbyes in the street. The two policemen flanked them on each side as normal bodyguards would do.

“Well, where is that car the Chief said anyway?” Noman pointed, standing and looking ahead on the road. By this time, the sun had some early hints of setting. Violet and orange painted the sky. The air was cold, but both he and Amanda wore thick coats for it.

“It’ll be here, ” she answered, holding her personal bag in one hand. Her luggage was next to her feet, all stocked with her vacation belongings.

“Yeah, I don’t doubt it at all, ” he replied.

Without anything to do, they stared at the passing cars. One vehicle in particular caught their attention. It was a limousine and it was driving towards them.

“Whew, ” Noman whistled, “Look at that shine.”

The limousine was ebony black, smooth, and slick enough to have undergone constant polishing. The tires looked brand new and damn, it screamed fancy and pricey.

Amanda, being an automobile lover, relished the sight too, momentarily forgetting about her situation until the limousine stopped directly in front of them and out came the Chief of Spa Police, Chief Moretti, all clad in police uniform.

“Ms. O’Malley, ” she bent her head and proceeded, “this is your ride to the safe house.”

The woman must be joking if she meant the limousine as her ride but she looked serious enough for Amanda to believe.

“Where’s the destination to, Chief Moretti?” she asked, hoping she would divulge but still she didn’t.

“I’m sorry, but it is confidential. Just go inside the car. You will know soon enough, ” the Chief answered.

Amanda and Noman looked at each other and sighed.

“Text me when you arrive okay?” Noman stated, hugging her once again.

“Yeah, you know I will. Do tell Matteo of this too. He’ll be angry that I didn’t inform him.”

Noman nodded.

“Yes, I will. Stay safe.” He released her and gave her a fly-away kiss.

Amanda smiled and slipped into the car without really checking on the passengers inside, thinking that she was alone, but as soon as she turned her attention on the left side of the car, her mouth dropped.

Apparently, the one sitting there was the Master of Vitalis, Cord, and he looked as dangerous and strikingly enigmatic as he was two days ago.