Reckless (36 page)

Sighing.
“But Joel, why didn’t you go to your father and get a loan or something?”

“I can’t go to him, I had to do this on my own, he would have taken too long to decide. I only had a few days Rebecca. Besides, once I start bringing in more than he does, he will be even more impressed with me. It’s the biggest day of my life, don’t ruin it.” He grabs my hands pulling me to him. “In fact, let’s celebrate.”

“Celebrate how?” I asked.

“Our favorite way to celebrate baby,” He smiles perfectly as he takes out his phone.

By the time the sun begins to edge up over the horizon the following day, I lay on top of the bed naked and floating freely, while our celebratory drug still lies out across our table. We fucked everywhere and enjoyed the hell out of our night. I can barely hear that annoying puppy bark and cry anymore from his cage.

I wanted to go all night, but Joel wanted to be ready to go the next morning. He doesn’t want to miss his big moment to show up his adversaries. We didn’t clean up, we didn’t even wipe the white dust off our face, slamming into the bed naked and free of any and all concerns. I slipped away, deep into my own fantasies.

“
Bam! Bam! ... Boom!”
I struggle to open my eyes as the loud noises seem to increase towards me.

“DOWN ON THE GROUND!” Men screamed at me.

“What? I stammer, still struggling to comprehend what is going on. I look around at all the people in my bedroom, and before I can say anything else I am pulled out of my bed and thrown to the ground. Joel lies next to me, handcuffed and nose in the floor. “What’s going on?” I screamed.

“You’re under arrest.”

“For what?” I ask, still in disbelief.

“Possession.”

I am not sure how much time has passed since I arrived to this gray cell. I am dirty, disgusting, and even worse, I have to wear this stiff, oversized jumpsuit. I am so relieved when I am bailed out. I expected Joel or his father to be waiting for me, but there is no one. I wait for whoever it is, but I finally have to beg for some money for a cab home. When I get there, I have to step over the pieces that they left behind.

They went through everything, taking our computers and all of our files, they even took the dog. I assumed Joel would be here waiting, or at least be right behind me, but after several hours there is no sign of him. I take a thorough shower before deciding to go to bed, exhausted. When the phone rings I answer it quickly.

“Rebecca.” Joel said with sigh.

“Joel! What is going on? Where are you?”

“I am still in jail, I need you come down here and bail me out.”

“How am I supposed to do that? They impounded all of our cars, I have …”

“Just shut up and listen, you need to go to my Dad and get the money.”

“Do you think he will give it to me?” I asked him, trying to figure out how I will ever approach him with this.

“He bailed you out didn’t he?”

“I don’t know who bailed me out.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? Fuuucckk, I assumed it was him. Well it doesn’t matter you have to get him to bail me out.”

“Why can’t I just come down there and …”

“No!” He is silent for a second after screaming. “No, I used all of our savings to buy that company and then most of our ready cash on the drugs.”

“Joel, what are we going to do? I need a lawyer and I want a good one. I’m not going to jail over this bullshit.”

“Just get my father!” He yelled, hanging up harshly.

I prepare myself and make a call to his father. It wasn’t easy and far from pleasant, but at least he agrees to go see Joel with me.

When we arrive, it is obvious that his father is not going to bail Joel out for some reason. I wait impatiently, feeling stressed with each passing second until they finally call us in and I see Joel come in on the other side of the glass, like a common criminal. Joel’s increasing anger is obvious as he realizes he isn’t getting bailed out. His father picks up the receiver. “Well Joel, this couldn’t be worse timing.” I can hear Joel screaming on the other end. “You can yell at me all you want, but there is nothing I can do. And I mean there is absolutely nothing I can do. The government has seized all my accounts and has charged me with tax evasion, fraud and list of other things. It’s a fucking mess, Joel.” My eyes widen as I watch his father sweat for the first time since I met him. I look over at Joel’s frozen figure for some kind of solution. “Listen son, I came down here to tell you in person, but I have to get the hell out of dodge. I wish I could help you but I have my own problems. I hope it all works out for you, good luck son.” His father hands me the phone and walks out, while my mouth plummets to the ground.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“Check the files on the computer, see what we have. Maybe there is money somewhere?”

“They took it Joel. They took everything, even the dog!”

He slams his fists down, “Fine, then sell everything.”

“Like what?”

“EVERYTHING!”

I jump back, Okay, I will get right on it.”

“And you better get my puppy back, I don’t care how many of those precious shoes of yours you have to sell to do it.”

“But Joel, I tried, I went with your dad to get him, thinking it would help ease your stress when you got home, but he’s gone already.”

“Gone?”

I nod.

“How is that possible? They can’t give him away in one day. They need my consent to do that.”

“I don’t know. They said someone came in with all the right paperwork and made a sizeable donation …” holding my hands out to my side, I try to defend myself, “and then they left with the puppy.”

“Who came in?”

“I don’t know Joel!”

“They didn’t get his name or what he looked like?” I watch his eyes dart from side to side rapidly as his mind struggles for explanation.

“All they said was that he was a large black man.” Joel’s face freezes. “What?”

His angered expression intensifies suddenly. “That fucking asshole!” I shake my head as he stands up screaming at me from the other side. I am not able to make out what he is saying before the guards take him away.

Long horrible day, the second in a row, and I don’t think I can handle much more of this. I walk into my house throwing my things off to the side, not caring that we don’t have anyone to clean up after me. I head straight for the bar to make myself a drink - a huge drink. Mixing hastily, I guzzle down all that I can at once while gathering more to pour.

“Bad day?” Startled, I look up at the figure resting on my sofa.

“Who’s that?” I turn on the light and my mouth drops.

“Nice house, Rebecca.”

“Get out of my house, Ethan!”

“Oh, don’t be like that. After all, my brother had you as a guest for some time, surely you can give me a few minutes.”

“What do you want?”

“Nothing much,” he comes towards me and makes himself a drink, making me even more nervous. “You know, I was shocked to see your place in such disarray. I would have thought you would have at least cleaned it up by now.” He laughs as he sips his drink. “I guess it is a little overwhelming. You have to give those guys credit, they sure are thorough.”

“Get to the point, Ethan, and get out!”

“Okay, calm down. I’m here to make you an offer.” He sits back down, stretching out confidently.

“What kind of offer?”

“I guess you could say a get out of jail free card offer.”

I straighten instantly, “And how is that?”

“It’s easy. You confess everything you know about Joel and I will help you stay out of jail.”

“What about Joel?”

“No. No, I can’t help Joel, he’s done for, trust me.” His confidence sends chills up my spine.

“So why should I believe that you can help me?”

“Good question. Well, I don’t know if Sean ever told you much about our father but he handled money for some fairly powerful people. People who would do anything for my father and his family.” Ethan smiles as he relaxes, waiting to see if I will respond, but I stand frozen, unsure of how deep the water is I am swimming in. “You see Rebecca, I, or even Sean for that matter, can find out just about anything we want to know. Legally, of course.”

“Oh, I am sure,” I snarled as he laughs at me.

“For instance, let’s say if I wanted to find out how much money you made and if you paid the right amount of taxes on it,” he smiles at me as he watches me carefully. “Or, if money was being made that was never getting reported, money being made fraudulently. With one phone call, I could find all that out and then share it with some well placed friends in the government.”

My eyes widen instantly, “You are a fucking asshole Ethan!” I throw my glass at him, missing him entirely.

He laughs, “Wow, and Sean said I would need to explain it to you. I guess you’re not as stupid as he thinks you are. You should be happy. I know how much you like proving him wrong.” I glare at him as I make myself another drink.

“So tell me, did Joel mess with Sean’s brakes?” His smile immediately disappears.

“I … I don’t know.”

“Oh come on Rebecca, you do too. Now don’t screw with me, tell me what you know and I will do what I can to keep you out of jail for this horrible drug charge you’re facing.”

I close my eyes hard, “No, Joel just bought a huge company, and we will be bringing in plenty of money soon. I don’t need your help.”

“You mean HT Acquisitions?”

“That’s the one. You know, the one you and Sean were so desperate to get yourselves.” I cock my head at him in defiance.

“Neither Sean nor I ever had any interest in HT. We bought one of their acquisitions, which they had to sell since they are going under.”

“No, your mother said …”

“My Mother?” Ethan laughed. “Wow, I’m not sure what my mother said, but Sean and I purchased what we wanted days ago, one of the last remaining parts. All that’s left now of HT Acquisitions is … a name. The employees took what they could and the owners cut their losses and moved to Miami.” I eye him, trying to decide if he is telling me the truth. “Basically, all you and Joel own is a name and some old computer equipment, maybe, if the employees didn’t steal them on their way out,” he chuckles.

I shake my head, hoping it is all a dream, a bad dream. “That can’t be right, they would have told Joel that …”

“Tell him what? That they weren’t worth what he was offering them? Not likely. Hell, I would have taken what he paid, for the small part Sean and I bought. I still can’t believe he didn’t go to his father first, but I guess Sean was right on that one.” Ethan said, stirring his drink methodically.

“This was all a setup?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He smiles wide. “Never would I have imagined you guys would have such a victory party. What, the other hundred people couldn’t make it?” His amusement sours my mood even more. Ethan suddenly gets up looking at his watch, “Well it’s getting late and I have an early flight tomorrow. Nice seeing you again Rebecca, I guess we won’t see each other again for what, at least ten years?” He nods at me before making his way towards the door.

“Ethan wait!” He pauses, sliding his hands causally into his pockets as he seemingly waits to see if he is interested in what I have to say. “Joel did mess with Sean’s brakes.”

“Why?”

“Because he hates him, he is so overly jealous of him. He wanted to get rid of him or at least ruin his career. He didn’t care what happened really, as long as he lost everything, including his wife. That’s why he tried to get Ava to sleep with him, anything to hurt Sean.”

“But Ava didn’t sleep with him.” Ethan asked.

“No, he even tried to force her … a few times.”

“What else?” I look up at him, confused. “Did he drug Ava too?”

I laugh, “Oh yeah, I forgot about that – no, he didn’t do that.”

“You did, didn’t you?” Ethan asked, shaking his head at me.

“Yes, but it was harmless, I only wanted to get her out of the way for awhile.”

“And the hospital?”

I huff at him, “I didn’t do anything there.”

Ethan approaches me angrily, grabbing my arm and looking me dead in the eyes, “The hell you didn’t!”

“You’re hurting me, Ethan.”

“Tell me what you said.”

“I said that no one wanted her anymore, that everyone blamed her and that you were planning on making her pay by taking her home and her child and anything else that mattered to her.”

“Blamed her for what?”

“Sean’s death and losing his baby. She had no idea and it was easy to convince her since she was in that horrible room and none of you were anywhere in sight. Pretty pathetic really, how easily she fell apart.”

Ethan lets go of me and promptly walks towards the door, “Have a nice life Rebecca.”