“Sometimes is better to live in the jungle, than in the modern society”

Edward Anderson Bell’s death was quite unexpected. A healthy man, leaving his house in the morning to visit a sick friend, but who never turned back home, has raised multiple questions about to whom his death was beneficial, but the rumor remained only a gossip because nobody dared to accuse officially on one of the suspects

But not the same Sophie was thinking and she wasn’t afraid to accuse someone and she started her “war” against Brian first, because, in her opinion, he’s the one to whom her father’s death was more convenient because he could be now with his mistress, without any obstacles.

“Do you hear what you say, Sophie? Did I kill him? For what?” and Brian definitely was furious, because he never thought that his wife could be so cruel to him. Yes, they are married only formally, but he thought she’s wise and that she knew him, at least a little bit, but he saw that he had been wrong in his trust in her.

“He was against your affair. He was by my side and because he threatened to bring you to your knees, if you don’t end your “relationship”, you did what you did.”

Sophie’s eyes were now the eyes of a predator. She felt that she was able now to break into pieces all those who would have tried to oppose her or disagree with her, and she was convinced to start her revenge with Brian.

“But it won’t be like you dreamt, Brian. I’ll find your “love” and I’ll make her pay for what she did to our family and then you will see what it means to mess with Anderson Bell's family.”

Brian grabbed her hand, the moment, Sophie passed next to him, and he forced her to stop. “You are not thinking normally, Sophie. This is not you.”

Sophie looked at him, but in her glance was only an empty void, which was filling with hatred only. “I’m not myself since I married you, Brian Beneath. It had been my worst mistake because I thought that we could be partners, but instead we became enemies.”

She retreated her hand and took a few steps, but she stopped, listening to Brian’s words, who was standing with his back to her and was talking to her with reproach. “I never looked for a partner when I married you, Sophie. I needed a companion, but instead, I’ve received only an ice cube that is accusing me now of something I had never been capable of. Yes. I and Edward had our differences, but I respected him and because I respected him, I never could make him suffer, but I understand you too: you are hurt now and you want to find a guilty person on whom to take revenge, but listen to me carefully, Sophie: don’t mess with the one I love or you will see of what Brian Beneath is capable of.”

Brian left and only his footsteps are heard moving away, but Sophie still doesn’t dare to look behind him. In her heart is a complete mess, as is in her head. She’s not thinking properly and she smells the scent of blood when she looks around at all the crows that came into her house, to say goodbye to her father, but she knows that they are here only to find out who killed him.

***

“They say it was a lover who did this to him,” an old lady whispered to the group, in the middle of which she was sitting. “I heard it from my husband. He says that he saw him a few days ago with a young lady, a strange one, but he doesn’t know who she was, but he thinks that she’s one of the “Red Ants.”

The women, who were surrounding her, became even more curious than before and they approached her chair more. A strange blink could be seen in the eyes of many of them because what was happening now was the event of the century and none of them wanted to “lose” any detail, because it could be a huge opportunity for their husbands to break the ranks and to go into Politics.

“And, that Miss, what was she looking like?” a redhead about 40 asked the old lady. “My husband knows many of the “Red Ants,” but he says that they are now involved in other businesses and that not their “hands” were those who touched Mister Anderson Bell’s body in that forest” and not to be heard by others who weren’t involved into their discussion, she first looked around and then she laid over her lap, lowering her voice. “It was more convenient to his son-in-law to get rid of him than to others.”

An ovation of surprise was loudly heard from the group, but right away, they covered their mouths, understanding that isn’t the place and neither the right moment to such “revelations”.

“No. No. Even if mister Beneath had his “reasons” to get rid of his father-in-law, he’s not stupid. He could only ask for the divorce. Why kill a poor man for this? No. As my husband says: this for sure is the “Red Ants” job. Yes. Yes.”

“I’m not so sure that is like you say, Ms. Amiral. Why did the “Red Ants” kill the Prime Minister of England? They won’t get any benefit from it. They are now after the Bishop, and Politics aren’t a major aim for them at that moment.”

The woman, called Ms. Amiral, feeling offended and left aside, stretched her body and, raising her nose, she looked with superiority at the one who “had dared” to talk to her like that, then she whispered unpleasantly. “And why do you think so, Ms. Fitton? Don’t tell me, are you part of the “Red Ants” to defend them so much?”

“Is it absolutely necessary to be part of something to defend it?” and Ms. Fitton’s eyes stared into the eyes of her opponent. “First you need to think about what you are saying or at least to check the veracity of your words, before making such remarks. If not, you can see yourself messed up in something that really stinks, badly.”

Ms. Fitton’s remark made part of the group smile, but when Ms. Amiral looked around, with her eagle eyes, everybody kept silent and waited for what was coming, because it is something well-known, that Ms. Amiral and Ms. Fitton hate each other and not for nothing, since they had exchanged husbands from time to time.

It was like a “family business”, but to “exchange” was more in the case of Ms. Fitton, who was younger than her rival and could pass easily from one bed to another, and without any remorse, because she wasn’t afraid of nothing, while her husband was aware of everything and was “supporting” her hobbies, as it helped him to advance in his business.

And not for nothing Ms. Fitton was so popular among many. Even if she’s 40, she’s still very beautiful and her dark-green eyes, that could look into the depth of many of those who declared their love to her, had been wished by many, but only a few were those who had her, because she’s not a woman that spends her time with someone, if it doesn’t bring benefits to her and her husband.

Her curled-black hair, always caught in a simple, but elegant hairstyle, is the envy of many wives because it is something that not only men loved, but there were also women who were dreaming about having such “friends” next to them. However, it wasn’t something allowed into society and they didn’t dare to pass the threshold of common sense and their desire remained only a dream and nothing more.

Nonetheless, her beauty had been always blamed, because it wasn’t something allowed for a woman, to be beautiful enough, as it could drive men crazy and it could made them leave their homes, and to stain her reputation, Ms. Fitton saw herself involved, unwillingly, into “Red Ants” business, that wasn’t always a “clean” one.

But she preferred to pretend that she’s not aware of the gossip around her and when some stupid wife was passing the limits of common sense, Ms. Fitton quickly made her step back, only by starting to flirt with the “intruder’s” husband and this way she gave the other more concerns than ever: “if you attack me, I’ll become the predator” was the sent message by her gestures and only if the opponent didn’t understand the message, she entered the bed with the other’s husband and this way for sure a family was destroyed and forever.

There were many families who suffered because of Ms. Fitton’s levity. She wasn’t a woman that had remorse and she could spend the same night with more than one man, but to act as if nothing happened, but not the same happened to the wives, who seeing themselves betrayed, were dreaming to kill the rival and to get revenge for their trampling on honor.

“Wow, I forgot that you smell such things easily, Ms. Fitton,” Ms. Almont’s remark was thrown like a boomerang. “Like the hunting dogs: you saw the prey only by watching it and you dream about it for many nights till you have it. Don’t tell me: have you entered mister Anderson Bell’s bed too and because of this you know with whom he used to spend his nights?”

“No. Just spending the nights in your husband’s arms is enough for me. This way I always hear how stupid you are.”

Bum-bum. A bomb was thrown into the middle of the group and Ms. Almont’s cheeks were red like the tomato. “This … this is already too much, even for a shameless like you,” Ms. Almont stuttered and she stood up, intending to leave the place, but when she turned her back to the group, she saw in amazement, standing behind her, Ms. Anderson Bell, who didn’t hesitate to slap her twice, right in front of the others.

“Better watch after your husband, then blame mine for what he did in life, Ms. Almont. Even if he had many mistresses, Edward at least respected me and I never heard any offensive word to me, said by a shameless mistress, that dares to stand in front of my eyes and to blame me for what I am.”

“It’s better to know,” Ms. Fitton’s answer was heard, while she was standing up and staring at the window, and her shameless glance dared to pierce the other’s eyes. “What a shame that mister Anderson is dead. I wish I would have tried to “taste” him. This way, who knows, who would have been now the respectable widow and who the mistress, and…” but she couldn’t finish her speech, when a woman’s hand grabbed tightly her hair and pulling her head down, so hard that she was forced to bend back, and looking up she saw Sophie’s killing glance, staring at her from above.

“Raven!” Sophie whizzed through the teeth and still grabbing the other’s hair, she forced her to crawl toward the exit door, and being outside she pushed her hand toward a carriage. “Get lost from my glance or I swear I’m capable of killing you right now,” Sophie’s words had been heard by all those present, and a lot of curious glances looked at it, with their nose stuck on the windows.

Bardain, who was just returning from diligence, saw the scene and right away approached Brian, who was talking to other gentlemen in the backyard. “Ms. Beneath is having one of her crises, sir,” the teamster whispered and Brian followed him with no question because he knew of what his wife was capable of.

Coming in front of the house, both men saw how Ms and Mister Fitton were leaving off the property and a lot of threats were heard to Sophie’s address, but being bothered at all because of it, Sophie turned her back to them and she entered the house.

“She definitely lost her mind if she dared to do such a show at her father’s funeral,” Brian whispered, disappointed by his wife's behavior because it puts him in an unfavorable position too. “Did you find out what I asked you?”

“No, mister Beneath. At Miss Christine’s house, I found nobody. I think that she left somewhere till the rumors that involve her in the crime will calm down.”

“Then it can be true. “Red Ants” have something to do with it.”

But Bardain didn’t know the answer. He just nodded and shrugging, he left.

“This isn’t good at all,” Brian mumbled, and, looking around, he saw the piercing glances of those there, who were wondering if Brian had something to do with the crime. “Only this was missing,” he whispered and entered the house, looking for his wife and being convinced to ask her for an explanation.