JON...AND ALL THAT 'JAZ'

 

A text message beeps with a familiar greeting. 

Shazam !

Ha! Look who's here! Remembered me after a lifetime…?

 Jaz, lifetime is right! I was unable to attend your wedding. Heard you were back in town, so texted you. 

Where were you all this while, Rachel? I had called you several times in the past few months…

I was buried deep in work, Jaz. Shall we meet? I can't talk right now.

Of course,tell me where.

Bring along your Jon and all our pals too. Let's all meet together.

How exciting! Say when.

Tomorrow at noon. 'Cottage By The Lake, No.33. Don't tell him just yet, let it be a surprise.

Of course! Let his eyes pop out when he sees my stunning bestie. 

Let's have some fun too like the good old times and play treasure hunt. Bring a couple of shovels along. 

That's my girl!

The first task is to find the clue buried under the Oak tree right outside the cottage.

****

The next day dawns bright and clear with a group of old timer friends piling into a mini van along with their camping and fishing gear. Jasmine throws a few shovels into the boot without fail. Good ol’ Rachel had planned a treasure hunt for them! She always knew of the most exciting activities to plan a weekend getaway or a vacation spot. 

As she got into the driver's seat her eagerness to meet Rachel doubled by the minute. Rachel was simply off the radar for the past couple of months. Such was her demanding job to be swamped with overwhelming workload. Poor girl is always so accommodating, the bubbling bundle of energy and good cheer.

Jon in the passenger seat seemed to have dozed off as he usually did on long car rides. Neither did the music, nor the incessant chatter and wild singing in the back seemed to disturb him. 

Winding through lush woods and serene hillsides, they finally arrived at the destination around noon. Jon stretched himself and looked around at the wilderness.

“Isn't this the Cottage By The Lake”, he asks in surprise. Jasmine nods at him and they all walk with a bounce in their step towards the row of cottages.

Rachel had yet to arrive and they all freshened themselves up before heading down to the buffet for a hearty lunch. They needed all the stamina for this vigorous treasure hunt.

Jasmine’s phone beeped again with a text message from Rachel asking them to carry on with the first clue and that she would meet them all in just a while.

Jon watched from the sidelines while the group enthusiastically went on a digging spree under the Oak Tree. 

“Jon! You look pale!...Is everything alright?”

“ Yes Jaz, it must be the sun or the seafood…”

A shrill scream from one of the girls made  Jasmine's heart stop for a split second before everyone retreated back in horror…

A skeleton was unearthed under the Oak Tree. From between its bony fingertips peeked out a mud covered phone with its customized cover embossed with Jon's first and last name!

Jon tries to flee but he is apprehended by Rachel's furious pals who would have killed him with their bare hands on cue. 

The crime scene is cordoned off and Jon handcuffed and escorted away. 

The post mortem reports claim that the skeleton is indeed that of Rachel. Death by a  brutal blow to the back of her head. Records too prove that the number previously belonged to Jon . 

Hysterical sobs rack Jasmine uncontrollably at this shocking turn of events. Poor Rachel! How much she would have suffered and how undeserving she was of this inhumane act…

But Rachel had eventually reached out to her for justice from the other side. That's my girl...

©️ Sangeetha Kamath 

Pic Courtesy: Image by rafiz fera from Pixabay