26

I waited for Angel to return. It didn’t take long before my beloved father came storming into the room.

“What the hell do you want?” He screamed at me.

“Sit father, for we have a lot to discuss.” I said pointing to the chair I had pulled in front of me while waiting for him.

“We have nothing to discuss.” He spat.

“Oh, but that is where you are wrong. You see my dearest father; I am legally Mrs. Damon Hannon. Both Damon and I said our vows to each other in front of God and man, so I am his devoted widow. So in all terms of legality I now own everything thing that was his.” I paused for a moment so he could take in what I was saying. “So I would assume that Damon has not turned over all legal rights to your coveted stock. Am I correct in this assumption?

Hearing the air being pushed through his nostrils, I knew I was on the right path.  I recognized the wheels were turning, so I had to be a few moves ahead of him if I wanted to make it out of here and to freedom. He wasn’t stupid. My father knew I had him by the balls and I was just about ready to twist them off. I could read it in his eyes, that he was fully aware of this fact.  

“What do you want girl.” He finally asked.

“The thing is I want nothing. Not a damn thing from you. You know, I know you killed my mother, and because of your deal with the devil Damon is dead. It is a fact that everything you touch turns to shit. I refuse to allow you to do that same to me old man. You see I’m not blind. I know what you want. Everything you always wanted, the only things that ever mattered to you; power, money, prestige, and your precious social standing. You also know one word from me and they’re all gone.” I lifted my hand to allow the diamond ring on my finger to flicker in the light. “You see old man; I now hold everything you ever wanted in my little ring finger. So I will tell you how it is and when we are done you will walk away and never search for me again. You father have crossed the line. Selling your own daughter for profit is not only immoral, but utterly repulsive.”

“I only did what was best for you.” He interrupted.

“Best for me? You thought only of yourself.” I spat at him. “It was yours and Damon’s greed that caused his death.” I got up and started walking around my father slowly. “So this is how it is going to go down. I will pretend that I am the grieving widow. I will tell the truth, that I have no idea who has it out for Damon or who could do such a thing to my dear husband.  You will pretend that you care about my welfare and I will keep my mouth shut about you selling me into marriage, to a man that repulsed me.  I will also keep the fact that you and Damon kidnapped me and Angel. I will in all aspects continue to hide your secrets.  I’m sure you are well aware that kidnapping and human trafficking is illegal. ”

“If you tell them anything child, I will tell them you shot me. I have the proof here in my shoulder.” He interjected, as he started to baby his injured shoulder.  “You know it cost me a pretty penny to hush those porters to keep their mouth shut.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You are something else father. The fact that you had to cover up the shooting shows that you’re guilty as sin. Any jury of your peers would see that. Either way, all I have to do is say I shot you in self-defense. It’s bad enough that I have these finger size bruises on my arms, where your goons held onto me a little too tightly. I’m sure I can point your men out in a line-up. Let alone with all the forensic shows I’ve watched lately I’m sure they have some amazing advancements now where they can measure their fingers prints to my bruising.” I snickered. “Let alone the other bruises on my back and legs I have from being thrown around. You know those bruises that show that I’ve been physically abused.”  I stated as I lifted my arm for him to see the finger bruises.

I watched as his face went pure white. “You could have had those bruises before you got here?” He injected.

“Really, well that is easy enough to prove since I dance naked in front of a hundred people every night. I’m sure many of them would know exactly what my body looks like, bruises and all.”

I heard him snort in disgust.  “What drove you to become such a whore? My daughter the upper curst stripper.”

I knew I could let him distract me from the point of this conversation. I could tell he was goating me, trying to piss me off. Once he could get under my skin, my father could gain the control he once had. Something I would never allow.

 “So let’s get back to the point. I will pretend and save your ass. After I do this I walk away from you for the rest of your natural life. You will not follow me, look for me, or have any fucked up ideas of selling me to the next bidder is that clear.” I hissed.

“What about Damon’s money and the stocks?” He asked.

“Oh yes, how can I forget. Here is the deal. You get nothing.” I laughed.

“You little cunt, you can’t do that. The deal was done. You marry him and I get the stocks.” He shrieked.

“Now father, you must not see the big picture. I never made that deal. So you can go along with my plan or I can turn you in. That is your choice.” I stated.

“Those stocks are mine.” He bellowed.

“I have no proof of that, just your slimy word. You must be aware your word is shit to me.”

“You owe me, you must give me something.”

“Father, I owe you nothing. You’re lucky I am willing to do this much for you. You know damn well that if I was to tell those officers that you were involved in a kidnapping plot, in hopes of marrying me off for profit, they would open an investigation in all your business practices. So are you the upstanding business man you pretend to be?” I questioned.

“Damn you Vivian.”

“Yes, damn me. Damn me to hell. It won’t make a fucking difference. You have two choices. Go along with me or I’ll let the courts decide your fate.”

I watched my father sit there. All the life that was just in his face was drained out. He was coming to the realization that I did hold the winning hand.

“Fine, fine you little bitch. I’ll play your game, but what are you doing to do with all Damon’s money and stocks?” He asked.

“I’m sure that would make Damon happy, knowing that his loving wife is well taken care of.” My tone full of spite and ice.   

I heard Angel snicker behind me, as my father’s face turned red in fire and furry.

The three of us sat there working out the final details of the events that had occurred. Whenever my father questioned me about the stocks, I diverted his questions. I’d be damned if he’d get his hands on enough of those stocks to gain military contracts and power. All I knew was those stocks held the key to my freedom.

I felt Angel nudge me when she noticed an officer enter the room.

“Mrs. Hannon I presume. I’m Detective Sean Newman” He said as he held out his hand as he walked up to me.

“Detective Newman thank you.”  Wiping my hand on my dresses I looked down at the blood that was still dried and caked around my fingers. “I’d rather not shake hands at this time sir.” I said as I lifted my hands for him to see the dried blood.

“That’s quite alright Mrs. Hannon. I assure you I’ve seen worse.” He said with a crooked smile.

“I’m sure you have. Still, do you have any clue who killed my husband?” I asked.

“Please, sit.” He gestured to the chairs we had just occupied. “Here is the thing; we have no clues at this time. There are no witnesses but you. Can you explain what happened in your own words?”

“There isn’t much to say. Damon had whisked me up into his arms and carried me out the doors once the ceremony was over.” I told the detective.

“Then what happened” He asked, all the while writing down in his little pad.

“I really don’t know. I was kind of in LaLa land. The next thing I knew we had been shot and I was on the floor.” I stated, which was the truth.

“What do you mean by WE have been shot?” He asked. 

“Well, he had me in his arms, carrying me down the aisle; the entry wound was just inches from where my body rested against his. I could have easily been hit as well?” I explained, tears filling my eyes. The realization that one wrong move, I could have been the one dead on the floor next to him.

“I know this is hard Mrs. Hannon. Did he have any final words?” He continued in his questioning.

“Only that he loved me and wanted to make me happy.” I told him as I heard Angel gag a little at my words.  

“Do you have any clue who could have done this Mrs. Hannon?” I watched the change in Detective Newman’s demeanor.

“Sir, I have no clue who could have done this. To be honest, I was only reacquainted with Damon a few days ago. You can say this is a whirlwind wedding.”

“Well from what I understand your husband had a long list of enemies. So the only thing we have to go on is the ballistics test from the bullet, once it’s removed from your husband’s body.” He stated.

“Fuck! I can believe this is happening.” I began to work up tears, playing my part of this sham.

“Now Mr. Morrow, tell me about your business with Mr. Hannon?” The detective started questioning my father.

“Damon and I have known each other for years. He’s was in my employ then made a fortune on his own. He was a very bright boy. Someone any father could be proud of.” My father actually beamed, making me sick to my stomach.

“I understand that there was going to be a change in company stocks once the marriage was executed.” Detective Newman questioned.

I could feel the tension in the room change. I held my breath as my heart rate elevated waiting to see what my father was going to say. Of course his reply was condescending and snide.  

“Well detective, it is not uncommon practice when people of wealth and stature exchange a dowry when their children are married. Basically that is all it was. Damon was going to bequeath stocks in a company I am interested in.”

“What was Mr. Hannon to gain for giving you these so called stocks?” Detective Newman asked.

“Yes, father. What was my late husband going to get in exchange?” I asked. Trying to keep my tone pleasant.

“Umh, well to be honest we never got around to it. Damon and I were going to talk after the honeymoon. I swear to you Detective Newman, there was nothing sinister in regard to any transactions between Damon and I. He was going to be my son-in-law after all.”

“Hmm I see.” Detective Newman continued to write in his pad.

We sat there for a little over an hour as Detective Newman continued to drill us with questions. I knew he was trying to trip us up. He asked me about how Damon and I met. Why we rushed into marriage. How long I had been a stripper, including my relationship with Angel. He continued to endure his probing into every aspect of our lives. Nothing seemed to be off limits.  

“Now Mrs. Hannon, where will you be staying if we need to contact you?” Detective Newman asked.

“She’ll be staying with me.” My father interjected.

I covered my face with my hands to mask my distaste of the idea of staying with my father.

“Detective, I think I will be going home.” I replied.

“Well than, here is my card. If you can think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to give me to call.”

“I will thank you.” I said, taking the card from his hands.

“I’ll have someone give you a ride home.” Detective Newman offered.

“Thank you, I fear I need to get some rest. This has been the worst day of my life.” I sighed.

With that, Detective Newman left the room. Turning to my father, “This is it old man. We’re done. Don’t look for me, don’t even think of me. Today you are dead to me.” With that I turned away and started to walk away.

“We still have the matter of the stocks?” My father called out.

“If you contact me, I’ll give the stocks to the first bum on the street I see.” I called out as I exited the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please remember to vote and comment.  Thanks again for reading.