Opposites Attract.

Chapter 15 - The Chase.

Before I could think logically I had dialled Daniel's number and the answering machine picked up. "The number you've dialled is currently unavailable" said the women's robotic voice on the other side. Despite dying to hear his reassuring and cheerful voice I sighed with relief.

I didn't even know what to say to him anyway.

Then, my hand once again wavered over my phone. Beep, beep the phone rang this time. I need to know he's okay, I thought reassuring myself. Another voice in my head said "Yeah, right." and laughed at my weakness and stupidity.

"Hello?" A female girly voice answered.

I wanted to hang up there and felt sick that he had already moved on.

After thinking of something relatively smart to say and coming up with nothing, I decided to hang up and call Amira.

"Hey sis!" She said excitedly from the other side and her voice felt miles away which made me feel homesick.

We spoke about all sorts of things including her upcoming wedding in 2 weeks, Jamal, College and anything else under the sun.

"Listen..." I said in a serious tone "I need you to go over to Daniel's house and check he's okay. I'll text you the address." And my sister remained before saying "Mariam!" She practically screamed "I am not going over to that idiot's house after how he treated you."

Clearly this rant was going to go on forever. "Amira please." I pleaded "I am begging you. Something isn't right. I can feel it."

She chuckled "Well, you've always had that psychic side to you sis." She said sarcastly and then sighed dramatically "I'll go over tomorrow but only for you. If he ever becomes my brother in law then he sure as hell will get a piece of my mind." She threatened.

"Remain a low profile. Conrad James is a dangerous man. Just camp outside the house."

"Got it." she confirmed already bored with the topic.

"I'm counting on you Nancy Drew." I warned and she laughed "More like Sherlock Holmes babe."

After speaking to my sister I felt better and more reassured.

The next day as I stepped out of the shower and my brushing my hair my phone began ringing. "Hello?" I asked completely forgetting my conversation with Amira the night before. "

I"m calling with news!" She squealed,

"Turns out Mr James has got himself a new and pretty blonde girlfriend. Daniel's gone completely AWOL and he's nowhere in sight and I was literally here all day. And get this, Conrad was paying off some Asian Muslim guy and was all like don't you dare come to my door again or you'll expose everything - weird huh?"

I sucked in my breath and confirmed "Very weird. I wonder who he is. Probably one of Conrad's dodgy clients."

Amira began whispering "But he asked for Patricia isn't that Daniel's mum?" She inquired suspiciously and gasped "What if she's having an affair?"

"No." I said in a sure tone and ran the brush through my long hair. "She doesn't strike me as as the type."

"Never say never" Amira said mysteriously. I begged Amira to tell me how my mother was doing but she replied "I'm sorry babe but her hair is falling out.'

My heart felt as though it had been ripped out of my chest. My mum was really ill, my mind was becoming unfocused in class and who was this mysterious Muslim guy? And more importantly, where was Daniel?

Let the chase begin.