7 The final confrontation!

Whoa! But what am I supposed to do now? Should I explain the matter of the alleged evidence of Victor's crimes? Why don't I call him and tell him everything?

On the other hand, I have to think about how to sneak into Henry's office to install the voice recorder there first. I hear that the next fuss with Miriam has just started...

I go to my desk and take out the bills form the envelope. The bills have several different dates on them and noted amounts of money, each one of them has Victor's signature. Everything looks fine at first glance, but my intuition tells me that something is wrong – but what?! I look carefully at each document separately, then I arrange them by date. Well, yes: the signatures! The former is uncertain, blurry and done with a trembling hand, as if the author had just taught himself his own signature. Only in the final documents they are clear and written confidently.

First, I can't believe my own sudden thought... Does that mean... Does that mean that these documents were falsified?! But who did that and what for did he do that ?! Does Miram and Henry's informant mislead them and wrongly convince them about Oaker's alleged criminal machinations? Or maybe they prepared these clumsy false bills by themselves to take Victor down?!

I need to record a conversation between Henry and Miriam somehow – and I need to do it quickly! They had begun to argue before I closed the door behind me, and I have the feeling that this conversation can be crucial for clearing Victor of accusation... or it may be his takedown. Well, it's just easy to say and it's harder to do. I can't just get inside and put the recorder on Henry's desk asking them both to be so polite to speak directly into the microphone...

I desperately look around the hallway in search for any idea, at last I see the ladder standing in the corner – it upper end disappears in a ventilation shaft-mounted just above the low, suspended ceiling. It's a crazy idea, but in that way I could sneak up to Henry's office and I could hear the entire conversation unnoticed. Well, yes, but certainly there are tons of dust and debris, it'll be hard to breathe in there. And all of this dirt will destroy my elegant suit. And what if there are…rats in there, too?!

I look discreetly behind me, fortunately there is no one around – it looks like I have a chance to do this crazy plan! I go up the ladder and go up hastily. The ventilation is essentially a square tube, it extends over all the spaces around the floor. A few meters on the right and I see the beams of light at the bottom of the vent on the left – these are the vents to the editorial rooms. I'm sure that one of them is over Henry's office...

The tube is narrow and I walk on all fours. Piles of dust are everywhere and I almost sneeze a few times, but I manage to stop myself somehow – it could be as loud as a pistol shot in this metal pipe and people all over the floor would realize that there is someone over their heads. I move slowly towards the vent and try to do it silently. I try not to think about how I look right now. I'm exhausted, covered in dirty dust and cobwebs. When I'm near the vent, I realize that something is wrong – instead of Miriam and Henry arguing I hear quiet moans...

I see Henrietta with spread legs on the desk. This view is just under the part of vent I'm in. Her legs are covered with a pleated skirt, I easily perceive a guy under the skirt. He is half-submerged under an extensive material. The girl has half-closed eyes and moans softly while he conscientiously continues to please her. I can only see his back from under the skirt and I can't recognize him even though there aren't so many guys in our office. I'm just interested what kind of a desperate guy was tempted by Henrietta's dubious charms?!

Girl opens her eyes and looks up at me, our gazes meet... We both are dismayed, but Henrietta smiles at me slyly and puts a finger on her lips.

I withdraw discreetly allowing the lovers to enjoy the moment...

I quietly retreat towards the entrance and then I move to another vent. I move slowly on all fours along the wall of a thin metal tube and try to breathe. Clouds of dust whirl around and I'm about to sneeze properly balancing on the edge. Even from a distance of several meters I hear raised voices of Miriam and Henry – it seems that I have chosen the right direction. I move slowly to the vent and then carefully look down. Two meters below me I see Miriam sitting at the desk. She nervously touches a pack of cigarettes. Henry stands close to her with some papers in his hand. He is carefully reviewing each page.

OK, I've already done half of the job, but the hardest part is just about to begin. I reach into my pocket for the recorder, when... Damn, my phone! I've silenced it before, but I feel the vibration of an incoming call. Is that Victor?!

Damn, it's Igor, my ex-boyfriend! Well, as always he finds the worst possible time and place to start drama! I know him well, he will talk gibberish for a good hour or so. And he will be begging me to come back to him to this dull, lazy life next to him. I decline his call, but a moment later I feel another phone signal, this time it's a new text message.

I turn the recorder on and slowly slide it between the vent grilles – I hope that it will be enough to record all voices. Miriam and Henry look at each other for a moment, then Henry moves closer to Miriam. He gently removes a pack of cigarettes from her hand and then he kisses her on the forehead in a fatherly way.

– Honey, I know it is hard for you – he says looking her straight in the eyes. – You were strongly associated with Victor, maybe even in love. This guy didn't know how to appreciate and reward you. You deserve better.

– Yeah, but I didn't want to make it this way – Miriam sighs heavily. She looks sad and gloomy. There is nothing left from the flaming fury I bumped into on my first day here. She is no longer hissing and cussing. Damn, I even feel sorry for her for a while...

–Falsifying Oaker's signatures is simply a criminal case. We both can go to jail for a long time for that, you know it... – she instinctively lowers her voice.

There you go! It gets interesting – what if Victor is really innocent, and all the stories of his alleged crimes are only the newspaper intrigued?!

– I'm sorry, but this whole action was your idea – Henry responses indignantly. – Of course, I know that you had lost control over your emotions, but we moved too far! I went through your referral, and yes, we bribed several important people who concocted evidence of Oaker's alleged crimes. Then I pulled all the strings to spin the campaign against him in mass media... But now, these bills with falsified signatures - why did you do that?!

– What?! What?! – Miriam hisses and looks at him with mad eyes. – Who moped around my desk and whined that we need to hit, that we need to strike hard?! We needed something that would increase sales of our... rag, didn't we? Yes, I had had some things with Viktor, but you showed up such a big enthusiasm to that idea when I referred it to you during our first night…You really don't remember how it all began? Or maybe you just persuaded yourself – and it's more comfortable to you! – that it would be better if I took the blame for everything?! – Miriam almost screams walking around the room. – Unfortunately, the truth is that although I had given you the idea, whole the plan was perfectly executed by you!

So that's it! All these accusations were only lies! My poor Victor...

This recording will be enough to interest the police about Miriam and Henry's vices. I suppose I should contact Victor immediately, he'll know what to do now. Hmm, or maybe I can wait a while? I'm sure they will say some more revelations…

I push the recorder deeper into the vent to not miss even a single word. But I feel that a small, plastic box slips out of my sweaty fingers. It falls almost in slow motion, tumbles in the air, and lands directly on the knees of startled Miriam. The girl carefully puts it on the desk, then looks up. I'm going back reflexively – has she seen me?!

– This is a recorder! – I hear her scream. – Why are you standing there?! Catch the bastard before he flees!

This recording should be enough – Henry and Miriam are over! I do not feel satisfaction, it's rather regret that these two turned out to be so petty people…I slowly withdraw on all fours and then go down the ladder. I can only guess how I look, I'm covered in dust and garbage. I can't show myself publicly like this. Everyone would guess right away that I was in a very bad place... The bathroom is right behind Henry's room. I pass by it, I'm anxious that the door would open and Miriam would go out! And that's what happens! Her gaze stops at my dirty, dusty clothes, and then on the recorder, which I still hold in my hand.

– So this is the rat that we heard walking above us – she says with hatred and throws me an angry look. – A big, fat, traitorous rat!!!

Miriam runs to me and grabs me by my hair. She tries to pull me into Henry's room.

– You will pay for this, you filthy bitch! – she hisses into my ear.

I'm trying to break free with all my strength, but this bitch grabbed me tight at the base of my hair and she bends me hard to the ground and pulls me toward the open door. What does she want me to do?! I'm trying to catch the door frame, but Henry helps her. They throw me onto the chair...

What now?! I feel a cold lump in my throat, I start to panic and I almost can't breathe. It's probably the first time in my life I understand what a real fear is. I'm sure that this couple will do even the worst thing to reach their goals or just get rid of an unnecessary witness...

Unexpectedly, the door opens with a bang and my oppressors turn away from me. They are completely surprised.

– Enough of that! – I hear his voice. – Inspector, you heard enough to arrest these two, so please do so!

It's Victor!!!

Several police officers enter the room and without any delay they handcuff Miriam and Henry. They are still completely dazed when the police take them out… I get up from the chair and jump to Victor. I throw my hands around his neck and he kisses me tenderly ignoring my tousled hair and wrinkled, dirty clothes.

– Honey, are you okay? – he asks with care stroking me over messed up hair. – Did these bastards do you any harm?

I can't say anything and just burst out crying. I hug him desperately. All the pain, fear and excitement of the last few hours are gone and they are replaced with unstoppable streams of tears! Finally, after a long, a very long, the time I calm down enough to give Victor a trembling, snotty kiss. At last, I feel I find real peace, tranquility, and blessed assurance in his arms. All these things can be only given to you by the right man who loves you truly.

– But how... you... here ..? – I'm quite surprised by his unexpected appearance. – But...

Viktor lets me sit on the chair as if I were made of glass. Frankly, this is how I feel now...

– I owe you an explanation – he says looking gently in my eyes. – The recorder that I gave you has an additional radio transmitter installed in it, so I was able along with the police to listen to the things they admitted to. These confessions were quite enough to arrest them, charge them of several criminal offenses and eventually sentence them. The proceedings went on for a long time, the police waited for the final proof only – and you caught it today...

Before I have a chance to say anything, Victor kneels in front of me and takes out from his pocket a small box. The box opens up in front of my eyes. There is a golden ring with a large diamond in the middle of the box on a small satin pillow...

– Will you… Will you be my wife? I promise to be a good, faithful husband... – Victor's voice breaks down a little.

Every time I recall this moment, I can imagine how it could look through the eyes of a casual observer – there is a disheveled girl in dirty, grimy clothes before an elegantly dressed man. She sits down, he kneels in front of her. The man awaits her answer, he looks into her eyes expectantly. The girl leans towards him and whispers into his ear...

– Yes, I will, Mr. Oaker! I want to be your wife! – I smile at him through tears and the remnants of my makeup.

– Then I have another task for you, but this time we'll do it together: you have to plan our wedding! – Victor takes me by my hand. We ignore puzzled glances of observers and leave the office straight into a joyful, sunny afternoon...

********

Will Martha and Victor happily get married? Will Igor, a former Marta's boyfriend, allow her to begin a new life with another man? Or maybe Miriam and Henry are planning tricky revenge behind the bars?! You will read all of this in the second part of the story, entitled "Love in Paradise", which comes soon!

END OF PART ONE