February
The change in prison was always evident between a mug shot and the Christmas photo kept on an end table. Chase had studied the few in Alice’s room- on a basketball court, with her in a leaf pile, and wearing his best Easter suit. Her room was a shrine to her hero.
And I’m here to take that away. Chase sat tensely in the hard, plastic chair. He looked down at the two envelopes he’d brought with him; and replayed Sydney’s words. “I don’t want him having any right to her.”
He let that echo in his mind as Connor Welk slid into the chair on his side of the glass. He was a paler, skinner version of himself, with longer hair revealing its natural wave. And he wore glasses. Chase didn’t know why that surprised him.
“Chase Hornick,” Connor smiled his surprise. “New man on campus. Had to look up the announcement when it all went down. See who Syd was throwing herself at.”
This was setting up to be a rough meeting. Chase had abandoned hope of that coming in though. He flipped the first envelope into clear view. Connor instantly knew what it was. His brow went up. “Those are private. An intimate communication between father and daughter.”
“Where does the money go?” Chase asked outright. To which Connor laughed. “We’re talking a federal crime here. You know to be a better example then that… officer.”
The letter had been on Alice’s bed and Chase had twenty-twenty vision. But he wasn’t justifying himself to this guy. He had finally figured out why he was so consistent in writing Alice back. Most kids kept a piggy bank, Alice kept a mason jar. In it she put her earnings from chores, housesitting for the neighbors, walking the dogs… she was a hard worker. And she was giving it to Connor! For how long?
“You come to scold me.” Connor had folded his arms, craning to see in the waiting room behind him. “And Sydney didn’t?”
It’d been a hassle convincing her not to.
Connor continued to prod, confidence oozing off him like a bad perfume. “Syd couldn’t risk any old feelings coming up.”
Chase’s chest puffed out, keeping his jaw from locking. “Sydney is done with you, Connor.”
“But Alice isn’t.”
“You see nothing wrong about shaking your daughter down for an extra buck?” Chase seethed.
Connor ran a thumb over his teeth, still smiling. “Most of its yours, I’m sure. Bribe money so my kid’ll like you.”
“Alice does seem to think that love can be bought.” Chase folded his own arms. “Enough quarters and five dollar bills, and Daddy will finally come home.”
He shrugged. “You never know.”
“You have six years before you’re eligible for parole.” Chase reminded him flatly. “Then what, Connor? Because I don’t see you as a homemaker.”
“You don’t know me, cop.” Connor’s eyes narrowed.
“I know you left a woman so shattered, she’s still picking up the pieces.” Chase stared him down now. “And you’re exploiting a little girl who thinks the world of you; when really you could care less.”
Connor’s lips were drawn in. “Guess you win the Double Jeopardy.”
Regardless of the attitude, he’d hit a nerve. Chase lingered with his second envelope, pouring his prayers into it. “You’re here to reflect on your poor decisions, Connor. But you can also have the chance to make good ones.”
He pushed the papers under the glass as he said this. He watched Connor read them, doors buzzing and voices hollering from down the barren hall. Connor let the papers fall from his hands, unimpressed. “You gonna deny me my kid?”
“This’ll be Alice’s choice,” Chase told him, holding up a pen. “But we’d like to know where you stand, regardless.”
Connor turned the last page over, shaking his head like a concerned teacher. “Courts are so high and mighty. The things they say can or can’t exist… just by signing a dotted line.”
He realized the ball was in his court and was showing off his dribbling. Chase gathered his breath slowly. “We’re extending you a common courtesy, Connor. That’s more then you get in here.”
A smirk grew on Connor’s face. “You and I both know there’s no erasing my blood out of Alice. Or my time with Syd.”
Chase continued watching him. He had sat across from dozens of lowlifes- in booking, and during interrogation. He kept his cool there and he’d do it here. Leaning in, Chase turned his voice low. “You know that I’m a cop; and any smart friends you have in here will figure that out.”
Connor still smirked. “We’re not as stupid as you’d like to think.”
“So they’ll figure out that I’m testifying against the Leavy family.”
Connor’s expression popped like a balloon. Chase shrugged. “And me in here, talking with you before that testimony-“
Connor’s fingers grasped under the glass then, practically ripping Chase’s pen from him. He scribbled his name twice, folded the papers over, and slid them back under. Chase hesitated then moved to grab them. Only Connor held on, connecting them. The wicked grin was back in place. “Pretend all you want, Hornick. End of the day, I’m still her father.”
Chase held his words back. Because any said would’ve been out of spite.
~To Be Continued~
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