"You knew all about this, bitch," I growled, glaring in her direction, "So please kindly shut the fuck up."
"I'm your mother! You will not..."
I glared at her again as I pushed John back into the chair. "No, you're not. You might have given birth to me, but that's where your motherhood ended. You're no better than this piece of shit. The only reason I don't slap the shit out of you is that you're a woman, and I do have some sort of moral fibre within." I put my hand to his throat. "The only reason I don't squeeze harder, John, is that I will see my daughter again one day, but it won't be from behind bars. And you're not worth the prison sentence." I let him go as he gasped for air, turning around to look over the party. "You," I said, pointing at Brian, "Are not better than this cunt here. I ever see you again, it'll be too fucking soon. You want to go toe to toe, though, be my guest. I'll put you in the fucking ground. And you, Kelly... Well, less said about you, the better. Worthless fucking whore is the one phrase that springs to mind though." I sighed with relief. "Well, I'm not sure about you, but this has been grand. Now, don't mind me, I've got a daughter to find. So, I'll give you this as a parting gift," I flipped them the bird, "And let us hope we'll never meet again."
"I'm going to have the book thrown at you," John threatened.
I leaned over him, glaring into his eyes, amused that he shrunk back in the chair. "Honestly, John, I really don't care right now. Do what you want. But I promise you this. The day I get out of prison, the next day I will kill you." I patted his cheek, his eyes wide with fear. He knew the hate I held for him, now come to fruition. "You took my daughter from me. The one thing in my life I cherished above all else. The fact you did that to me speaks volumes of you as a man. Not as a father, you lost that title a long fucking time ago. And I have no doubt the bitch behind you was as involved, and those two worthless shits over there probably knew all about. So, you really think I'll be concerned about taking your life in return? I'll probably have a fucking hard on while I do it."
I hit him again, knocking him unconscious. Without a backwards glance, I strode out of the house, vowing to never return in my lifetime. Getting into my ute, I was ravenous so stopped off for a takeaway on the way home. By the time I pulled into the car park outside my apartment, it was dark and I noticed the police car waiting for me. I wasn't going to go on the run so I hopped out and strolled to my front door. They were busy knocking so I introduced myself. "Mark Samuels, officers. Is there a problem?"
"We've been notified of an incident occurring at the residence of John and Cheryl Samuels. We were hoping to ask you a few questions."
"Here or at the station? Am I under arrest?"
"If you come to the station with us now, we won't cuff you, at least."
"Very well, lead the way."
I'd never been in the back of a police car before so that was an experience. I didn't make chit-chat with them, glancing out the window. In the silence, I knew everything I recognised had collapsed. No partner. No daughter. No family. Hell, no friends if they'd all known about it and not told me. It was while riding along that I felt completely and utterly alone. Once at the cop shop, they escorted me in, took my details, then led me to a cell, stating I'd be interviewed in the morning. I felt rather drained after everything, but I found sleep hard to find. My mind whirled as I wondered where my daughter was. Was she safe? Who else was she with? And the overriding question was... Why? I'd been fed bullshit about 'a better life', but Katie had been nothing but happy. I doted on that child like nothing else. Apple of my fucking eye. I'd have moved heaven and earth for her, just to hear one of her giggles.
That's when the tears came. Because I knew they hadn't been lying. And I knew the chances were simply slim to none if she was beyond the borders.
She was gone.
The interview the next morning, after being given a brew, was when reality had set in. I felt... empty. I went over in detail everything that happened since arriving back home the previous evening, all the conversations I'd had, the letter I'd found, then the confrontation with John and the others. They knew I'd logged my daughter as a missing person, but apparently that was already settled. John and Cheryl had already been in, stating they had left the country and were not missing. No missing people. No kidnapping, insinuating, well, I could understand considering I'd knocked the fucker out.
"Surely it's illegal to take my child out of the country without my permission?" I wondered.
"It is but... let's say guards are more eagle eyed upon those entering rather than leaving the country," one of the cops said, "If your child was with a man and woman who looked like her parents, particularly if she's with her mother, it wouldn't raise many eyebrows."
I sat in the cell most of the day before it opened, I assumed late afternoon. "You're free to go," the cop said.
"I am?" I asked, surprised to hear those four words. I was expecting to face a day in court, charges read, a bail hearing... A massive fine or at least a few weeks in the slammer.
"John Samuels isn't going to press any charges. Good thing for you that's how it is here."
"Huh. Wonder why?" I muttered, but I didn't care. They were no longer my problem. I grabbed my things, signed a few forms, and after a rather stern talking to about staying out of trouble, I headed outside.
Walking into my empty, quiet apartment, I knew I couldn't stay there. Far too memories of my daughter. As for Sally, I just burned with anger regarding her. When I'd met her, she'd been a sweet, young thing, and we'd fallen in love quickly. We'd been planning to get married, but she knew my work kept me occupied, and she was apparently meant to be studying while working part time. I was left thinking it was all a charade. Checking my phone, there were plenty of missed calls and messages. I just deleted everything. I no longer cared what people thought.
Monday morning, I handed in my notice into work. My boss was surprised, but after explaining what happened, he understood why. I thought about hiring some sort of PI, but this isn't the movies, and I don't think John had lied. Katie had been taken far away. Where? It would take searching data at the airport and... I didn't even know where they could have possibly headed. I spoke to an estate agent and put the apartment up for a quick sale. I was on eBay ready to sell anything not bolted down after that. Over the next month, I emptied the apartment of everything until I only had a sleeping bag, my phone, a bag of clothes and a small box of mementoes left. Photos of my child, photos of me and my child. Anything with Sally was cut up. She was persona non grata with me now. I changed my surname as I wanted nothing to do with the so-called family I once had. People had come to view the apartment and the estate agent was confident of a quick sale, and that she'd keep in contract regarding it.
Handing in my stuff at work, my boss admitted he was sad to see me go. I said goodbye to some of my colleagues, made a post on social media about the fact I was leaving, never to return, then I headed west.
It wasn't going to be an exciting adventure. Numbness had set in during the month. More than one so-called 'friend' called, tried visiting, but if I did answer, I gave them short shrift. They were all full of excuses that I was tired of hearing. I eventually cancelled the contract and picked up a new number. At least it stopped the calls. Didn't stop one last visit.
Opening the door, it was my former best friend, Mick. Next to him was his fiancée, Simone. He stepped back at the look in my eyes before he loosened up, ready to defend himself. "We need to talk," he said.
"No, we don't," I said, unable to summon the rage any longer, the only remaining feeling being one of emptiness, "Instead, you're going to listen to a simple tale, then you're going to turn around and fuck out of my life forever. Willing to listen or you just want to put your tail between your legs and go now? Either way suits me just fine."
He shared a glance with his fiancée. To my surprise, she nodded. "We'll hear whatever you have to say, Mark."
"Some would believe my life should have been easy. I know I was born with a potential silver spoon. But I learned very quickly what my parents were like, what the people around me were like. I knew early on I wanted nothing to do with it. The sort of wankers that peer down their noses at the 'lesser beings'.
I've earned every cent to my name through hard work and dedication. I thought I had a woman who appreciated that fact and loved me for it. More fool fucking me there. Lesson learned. But I did have a daughter who I doted on, loved more than life itself. Just coming home to her made each day worthwhile, each day of backbreaking work and struggle. To walk in, hear her cute voice shout 'Daddy!' before she'd raise her arms so I could pick her up and cuddle her. And I worked all day just to tickle her and hear that giggle.
