Page 41 of Detective Daddy Next Door

"Oh my God. Who?"

"I didn't see who it was. It was so quick. I didn't get a good look. I don't even know if it was a man or a woman."

I shake my head. "I think I know who it is. Only one person is capable of this. She's gone too far this time."

"Who?"

"Who else? Sonya, my wife. Ex-wife."

I really don’t understand why Sonya won't just let me be. It makes no sense that when I finally find the slightest semblance of happiness, she rears her head and tries to ruin it. But I won't let her. She's done enough damage in my life. I sent her an email to inform her about Ellie but I got no reply. And she's supposed to be a mother. She’s a mother who doesn’t care about her child. A mother would rather galivant around the world and not speak to her daughter for months on end. If she had custody of Ellie, I imagine she’d leave her to the care of a nanny ninety-five percent of the time. I’m taking responsibility for my daughter. I don’t want anything from her. Why can't she just mind her business? Give me the divorce and leave me be, like I leave her be? I don't even know if she's still in Long Beach, but I know she’s hired people to continue her threats on Bria, and I won't stand for it.

Bria left fifteen minutes ago. As much as I'm glad we finally talked, I'm not happy that all of this is happening to her because of me. I feel guilty for the burden I have placed on her. I told her that it was okay if she wanted to pull away from helping us with the investigation. I'm sure she knows nothing about the fraud. She's helped us enough. I don't want any harm to come her way. But she'd insisted. “I made a promise to help, and I want to see it through,”was what she said to me.

I pick up my phone from a side table next to Ellie’s bed. I’ll try Sonya’s phones since she’s not replying to my emails, hoping one of her numerous numbers will go through. I’m only doing this for Ellie. No matter how horrible Sonya has been to me, I want Ellie to have a relationship with her mother. Ellie is sleeping now, so I go outside so I don’t wake her up, but as soon as I'm out, I realize I don't even need to be out of the room because the call doesn’t connect. I try the several other numbers I have for her. No luck. I rein my irritation and anger in and go back into the room.

Just five minutes later, she breezes in as though she's in a fashion show. Big hat, oversized coat, larger-than-life shoes. She walks noisily toward Ellie’s bed, her heels clacking on the floor.

I don't wait for her to get to the bed. I get up and lead her out by the shoulder.

"Sonya, where the fuck do you think you're going?"

She shrugs my hand off her. "What do you mean? I'm here to see my child. I'm her mother, remember?"

"I've been messaging you for days and never heard back."

"I was indisposed."

I shake my head. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I just told you, I'm here to see Ellie."

"That's not what I mean. What are you doing threatening Bria?"

"Oh, that. I told you the last time I came. Why are you overreacting now?"

"Overreacting? Because you're going overboard now."

"Going overboard? I told her that I wanted her to stay away from you. Is that so hard for her to do? I've not even been in town for a while now. What did that bitch tell you?"

I clench my right palm and squeeze to get the anger out of me. "You're lying and you know it. What about the note you left in her drawer at work? What about the files you deleted from her laptop?"

She laughs out loud and throws her head back to toss pink hair extensions out of her face. "What the hell are you talking about? Note in her drawer? Her laptop?"

"Stop fucking laughing. I know what you're capable of."

She smirks then shakes her head. "You may think I'm this evil mastermind, but I'm not. Maybe your girlfriend has wronged a lot of people."

"And the person watching her from her bedroom window today? That wasn’t you?"

"I just told you I haven’t been in town for a while now. I just got into town."

"You could have hired people."

"And waste precious money on her? Nah, I'd rather buy new Louboutins. Please, can I see my daughter now?" She wafts past me and enters.

I'm left standing here with a realization. Sonya may be vindictive, but she owns up to everything she does. I'm determined to get to the bottom of this. Someone spying on Bria at her home is the last straw.

Before Bria left the hospital, she told me about the case she’s been working on. She told me about how ruthless the opposing lawyers are. Since I now know that Sonya isn’t responsible for the threats Bria has been getting, I wonder if the opposing counsel is just trying to intimidate her so she doesn’t go on with the case. That means they are ready to play dirty. I intend to pay them a visit.

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