Page 98 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“Shame you won’t see the truth, girl. But I’ve had you. You’re used up. You’re useless to me.” He was speaking quietly and menacingly, his face inches from mine.

“But the fucking deal still stands. If you say a word, I’ll hurt you. Bad. I’m back in town now, taking back what’s mine. I’ll have some of my boys watching you. You so much as think about going to the cops, I’ll know!”

I winced as he slapped me hard across the face with the back of his rough hand. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of screaming. My eyes watered tears of pain. I grimaced at him in defiance.

“I haven’t been to the cops since you left. I promise. And I’m not gonna suddenly become a snitch. I just want peace and quiet, a simple life.” I paused. “You’re hurting me, Conall.”

He shook my head, still gripping my hair.

“Good! Maybe you’ll learn not be such a stuck-up bitch!”

His grip on my hair softened. “I mean it. Say a word and you won’t be able to work. You won’t be able to leave the house. You’ll be eating through a damn straw.”

He let go of my hair and poked me hard in the ribs. “You change your mind right, come to your senses? Come see me. I'll be able to help you out… if you help me out first, that is…” He was looking me up and down, his eyes taking in every curve. Disgusting.

He pushed me away and walked out the door, slamming it behind him. My eyes watered with tears of anger, frustration and fear.

I collapsed to my knees, holding my head in my hands.

Shit. I thought… no hoped, that he’d died. What sort of life will I have with Conall back here in town? He’ll be watching my every move.

I briefly considered fleeing town, but I didn’t have enough money saved to make a good go of it. I could go to the police, but all the info I had on Conall was old. The case was probably closed a long time ago. I doubt they even knew Conall was back in town yet.

Just gotta stay strong, Eden. Don’t let him get to you.

I picked myself up, straightening my clothes out. I wiped the tears from my face as my expression hardened. I wasn’t going to let Conall O’Rourke ruin my day.

Without thinking I picked up the bag of meth and headed for the bathroom. I flushed the bag down the toilet, turning my anger and fear into strength as I watched it disappear.

The roll of bills Conall had was still in the hall. I picked it up.

A few hundred dollars. Maybe a thousand. For all the shit you’ve put me through, for the years of abandonment without a cent, without a phone call. Screw you, Conall.

I quickly brushed my hair back and applied some makeup to hide the bruise that was forming on my cheek.

I tucked the dollar bills into my purse as I left the house. Conall didn’t know it, but he was soon to make a generous and sizeable donation to the Wounded Warriors Project. Money that would go to heroes; veterans and their families. Not the scum that heConall dealt with.

I haven't needed anything from himConall since he left. And I’m not going to start taking his drug money now.

I walked down the street, head held high. Thinking of a way to get Conall locked up or killed.

I didn’t formulate anything feasible, but it made me feel better anyway.

THREE

Jack

I sat casually at my desk, left elbow resting on the corner of the wooden surface, leaning forward with my chin on my left palm. I was drumming the fingers of my right hand steadily on the desk. My eyes were half closed, and to most I probably looked tired or hungover.

But my mind was racing. It was 09:00am, the day after Lucas had brought in the sample of meth for me. I’d spent the rest of the afternoon brainstorming ideas, where the meth was coming from, who the key players could be.

I’d even built a little case wall next to my desk, which had brought laughter from some of my fellow Detectives. They had scoffed at the idea of the O’Rourkes resurfacing and had taken great pleasure of mocking me as I went about pinning scraps of paper to the board.

Yeah, the idea probably does seem stupid to you. Probably because you haven’t been approached with a bribe yet. You slimy asshole.

After getting bored of the old deadbeats, I had told them precisely where to shove their criticism and carried on with my theorizing.

This is what actual Detectives do. Look and learn. You won’t be the ones laughing if this theory actually turns out to be something. Nah, you’ll be wishing you were the ones to crack the case and save the citizens.

---