Page 14 of Beautiful Envy

“Stanley Driscoll and your father.”

The air left the room at the mention of those two men. Putting my father away alone was enough to make me break out in a sweat. If he was ever released or found a loophole to avoid jail time, I’d be a dead man. The same could be said for the Agonizer. Both men were killers, willing to do literally anything to stay out from behind bars.

I swallowed, my hands beginning to shake under the table. Sweat dripped down my back as I thought over his words.

“What are you offering, and what would I have to do?”

He smiled smugly like he believed he already had me. But I knew the danger and the risks. I could be out in a year on parole for good behavior if I kept things going as they were. It would be hard to leverage that for something full of risk.

“You give me Stanley Driscoll, then all the charges against you will be dropped, and your record will be expunged. If you take out your father in the same wave, we’ll set you up with a new identity.”

“That’s a lot for me to risk. Neither of those men will be easy to charge. I know how this game works. They’ll get someone lower on the ladder,” I pointed at myself, “to take the fall. Nothing ever sticks to them. You’re asking me to walk into my own murder.”

He watched me again, that calculating look on his face. “You are clever. Fine, we’ll ensure no fallback comes on you. If you fail, you’ll return and finish your sentence in a cushy white-collar prison. Without any time added. It will be like you never left. How does that sound?”

It was the best offer I could hope for, but something about it still felt off. He was willing to give me a clean slate for turning over two of the deadliest men in the country. It wouldn’t be easy, but it could mean I’d be back in Darcie’s life quicker with all my baggage forgotten.

There might be a trap somewhere, but if the worst-case scenario meant I could return to a better prison to finish my sentence, there wasn’t anything else they could do to me. It was the safety net I needed.

“What do I have to do?”

His clinical smile returned as he went over the things they knew and what they’d want from me. I was able to fill in some of the gaps from my time with both men. But there was still a lot I needed.

“I’ll have the papers ready for you to sign tomorrow,” he said, putting his file back in his briefcase.

“We start with my father first. Otherwise, there’s no way I’ll make it out of the state.”

“Agreed. We only need a few more items to take him down. Your assistance will increase our odds of making it happen. It’s been nice working with you, Mr. King.”

He shook my hand, and I realized I still didn’t know his name.

“You never did tell me who you were?” I hedged, hoping to finally know the man I was dealing with.

“It’s better that you don’t know. For our purposes, you can call me Agent Bones.” He smiled like he’d just told the punchline of a joke no one else knew.

McDaniels was waiting for me when I stepped out, walking with me back to my cell. He asked me if he was the ally I’d thought, but I shook my head, not sure what to call Agent Bones.

I didn’t feel like he was against me at the moment, but with a man like him, it felt like that could change quickly if I stepped out of line. So, no, he wasn’t an ally. But he wasn’t exactly an enemy, either. At least not yet.

For now, I’d call him Agent Bones and pray that I hadn’t just signed my own death certificate.

Diary #5

Dear Dad,

I thought about you today. I was driving this manual truck, and it brought back memories of you teaching me how to drive. You were a terrible teacher, by the way, when it came to four-wheeled vehicles. I still have to count my blessings each time I make it anywhere safely.

I was born to ride. That’s not something I can change just because I’m no longer part of the Mavericks.

For a long time, I was furious at you. I understood what you did but not why you cut me out of your life. Especially when I saw you still talked with Maddox. Why wasn’t I special enough to check in on?

But I think I get it now. It hurts. It hurts to wait around for a letter or words from someone to know how they’re doing. Perhaps a clean break was easier. I don’t know. I haven’t managed to do that yet.

Maybe I’m stronger than you in that sense. I can’t seem to let Maddox go, no matter how long it’s been or how much it hurts.

He’s a part of me, and I’m part of him.

But I miss you. So, maybe if I write to you this way, I can finally resolve all the feelings I’ve been carrying around with me, and one day, I can forgive you.

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