AUTHOR'S NOTE -- This story is partly fantasy, partly true. For best effect, read parts 1-3 before this part. The main character, Sethy, is based upon a real woman and much of this character reflects the true woman, who has given her permission for this story and actively supports it. All characters are over 21 years of age. This story is the property of the author and cannot be copied or used in part or in entirety without express written consent of the author.
Sethy -- Part Four -- The Snare
All I wanted to do tonight was get Sethy calmed down after her terrible encounter with Linda. Make the anger and pain go away and get her to sleep. It's interesting how sleep can be the remedy for so many things. After she had stopped sobbing and crying, I got her up, washed her hair and gave her a nice hot shower. She needed to feel clean again and the hot water would help relax her. After her shower and towel drying her hair, I laid her face down on the bed and began massaging her. Her back, shoulders, arms, legs and feet. I thought it would be a good way to get her to relax and should help her sleep. I was right. Within 20 minutes, she was out. I covered her up, turned out the light, and hoped that she would sleep through the night. Before sleep came to me, I was pondering what I could do to help Sethy get out of this messy situation she was in. I often think about problems I have encountered before sleeping; sometimes inspiration comes when my unconscious mind has time to wrestle with the conumdrum.
She slept late, which was a blessing. We got dressed and went down to breakfast. "Sethy, I want to help you with this situation with Linda. Tell me everything that you know about her. The more I know about her the better the chance that I can figure out a solution for your situation".
Over orange juice, Sethy said,"Well, Linda and I are not friends, especially now. I just know her from work and on occasion going out after work with her and others sometimes."
I asked, "How old is she? Do you have a photo of her?"
Sethy pulled out her phone and pulled up a photo of her and her colleagues at the office. "Here she is, on the far left. I'm not sure of her age- she never said -- but I'd say she is in her mid to late 30's"
"Is she married? Single? Divorced?" I asked.
"She's single and she does not have a steady boyfriend", Sethy replied. "She likes foreigners, especially older white guys. She told me she usually goes to the PCR Nantehlik restaurant down on the water front on Wednesday or Thursday nights. She said those are the best nights to meet foreign businessmen. She said they usually leave their home on Monday morning their time, arrive here sometime on Tuesday and then have business meetings on Wednesday and Thursday before departing Friday so they can be back home for the weekend."
Sethy continued, "She dresses well. She likes expensive clothes. I don't see how she can afford what she wears because she makes less money than I do. She will go on shopping trips to Manila, Singapore and sometimes Tokyo."
"Is she Micronesian?" I asked.
Sethy replied, "She may be a citizen now, but she emigrated from Fuzhou in China about 10 years ago. Every year she goes back there to visit her parents."
Over breakfast Sethy told me everything she knew about Linda. Linda had been working at the company for almost 4 years now. Sethy said her work quality was good but not great. She was known in the office as a brownnoser, always sucking up to the general manager and trying to curry favor with him. She is not too popular with the staff and people were usually careful with how they deal with her. Sethy said after yesterday, she really understood why.
I wanted to keep Sethy busy today so she would not be thinking about the events of yesterday. I suggested, "Sethy, let's take a hike up to the Sahwartik waterfall. I heard it's beautiful there. What do you think?"
"Oh Rod, that's a good idea. It is nice there but we cannot walk from here. It is inland and to the south and west of here. Better to take a taxi to the trailhead and hike in from there. Even so it is a fairly strenuous hike. I think we gain about 250 meters in elevation over about 5 kilometers. Are you up to it old man?" she said smiling at me.
"Sethy, I hope you can keep up with the old man" I smiled and winked at her.
I packed a backpack with a bottle of Spumanti (I knew this was one of Sethy's favorite wines), a couple of paper cups, a blanket, some water, some oranges and grapes and a few granola bars. Sethy was dressed in a gray tee shirt and a pair of short short cutoff jeans. She looked fabulous.