Author's note:
This chapter ended up being quite long. I was going to split it in two, but then it didn't seem quite long enough to split. So an extra long chapter. Sorry it took a while, I got distracted writing two other stories.
I woke.
My muscles ached, the soreness in my body reminding me of just how rough last night had been. But at the same time, I felt oddly refreshed. David had said he'd be back in a few hours, but it felt like it had been more than a few.
Wait, I could see the time. I sat up and found Lilly's phone. Though I couldn't get to the emergency screen, her home screen showed the time:
14:12.
Yes, that was more than a few hours. Had David lied? Had he just left me locked in here? No. I had the key, provided the key worked. And the gun, provided the gun was real.
I started gathering up everything I could find. Lilly's handbag, the gun, her phone, even the small amnesia pill I found on the floor. Lilly's handbag was rather sparse. The only useful thing I found in there was what looked like the eye spray she'd used on David that time she'd confronted him in his office.
There was a knock on the door.
"Love, it's David. Can I come in?" He sure had a lot to answer for. His voice was calm, but I wasn't ready to let him control the situation.
"Not yet. Wait." I dashed into my en suite and splashed some water on my face, brushed my hair and pulled on some clothes. Bike shorts and a crop top were as covered as I could get, but it was better than naked. I went back to the bedroom. "Stand back from the door," I called out to him.
"I'm standing back." His voice did sound a little further away. I pulled the bed away from the door just a smidge, and then with the eye spray in one hand I unlocked the door. It only opened a few inches and I peered out. Sure enough, David was standing further back from the door.
"Good," I said. I took the key out of the lock and tucked it into my top. I then dragged the bed further away from the door. Once it was far enough away to open the door I picked up the gun and eye spray again. "You can come in. But slowly."
"Sure," He entered slowly and once inside he shut the door behind him but didn't come closer. He looked tired. There was a plaster on his forehead, his clothes were rumpled like he hadn't bothered to change and it looked like he hadn't showered.
"You get much sleep?" I asked after we'd stood there looking at each other for a moment.
"Not yet."
"None?"
"From yesterday to today, no sleep yet." Well, at least I was better rested than he was. I was so tired last night that it had really addled my senses and my wits. Now he would be in that position. "But I can go a while with no sleep. I used to it. Battle needs long hours sometimes."
"Yeah, in your video games?" I shot back.
"True," he admitted with a faint smile. "But this battle in real life. I think you slept through it. Some of the guards have been secretly working for Lilly still. I knew it, but wasn't sure I knew all. Didn't want to make a move on any until I knew I had them all. But then events last night hastened the need."
"Why am I important? And don't give me that 'everyone's important' crap. You told Geoff to guard me because I was important."
"Aye. I did." He paused. "There are things I need to tell you," he said.
"Yeah. No shit."
"I haven't been entirely honest with you about some things."
"Yeah? Really?" My voice was laced with sarcasm.
"As to why I said you were important... I think it best I start from the beginning. I've known you longer than you think."
"Oh?" While I had the photos, there was no knowing what Lilly had told him. If she'd told him what she'd told me, he'd have no reason to keep it a secret that he'd been stalking me.
"You see, I knew your father." What?
"No you didn't!"
"Aye. Did. We got on quite well."
"Fuck off!" Like instinct, I took a few steps forward, raised the eye spray, and sprayed him right in the eyes. He cried out and fell to his knees, clawing at his eyes. "You and Daddy were never friends!" I shouted.
"Business associates!" David gasped, trying to wipe his eyes while blinking furiously.
"He never would have done business with you!" I sprayed him again.
"Love, you can't just torture people when they don't say what you want."
"Why not? You do!"
"If you've chosen me to make a moral compass of, you've chosen poorly." He squinted up at me, still grimacing in pain. "Give me a chance. I can tell you everything now. But no, your father didn't know about this place. It was other business." He rubbed at his eyes some more.
"Rubbing makes it worse," I reminded him.
"Aye." He stood up and stumbled out of the room.
"Hey!" I called after him. But he only went as far as the hallway outside my door. I followed him to see the guard, Geoff, giving him what looked like a bottle of blue stuff. David splashed it in his eyes, sighing with relief. "You're hangry," He said.
"No! You--" Actually, I was pretty hungry. I hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday evening. "I am legitimately angry. I have good reason to be. But I wouldn't say no to some food."
"Sure," David said with a chuckle. "Follow me!" he turned down the corridor and I followed him, with Geoff following at a distance. I was still holding the gun and eye spray but I felt the balance of power tipping towards David. I'd have to fix that somehow. Downstairs the corridors were deserted.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"Locked in their rooms. Battle, remember?"
"And I suppose no one else has had breakfast or lunch either?"
"Oh, no. We fed them. But you were asleep. Didn't want to wake you." Well, that was annoyingly reasonable.
We went down another set of stairs and soon we were in the kitchen.
"What you want?" He asked, "I'm hungry too. I'll make something for both of us."
"I'll get my own food, thanks. I don't want you slipping anything in mine again. I'm sure you understand." I looked at him with narrow eyes.
"Sure. I don't like eating food other people make either. Too easy to poison someone. Accidental or on purpose."
"So I'll cook for both of us," I said brightly.
"Sure. If you wanted to kill me you'd do better shooting me than trying to poison me. Also, you don't have poison." He paused. "Unless there was some in Lilly's purse." I glanced at him sharply. How much did he know? There hadn't been poison, except for the amnesia pill. And that's assuming it was an amnesia pill and not cyanide or something.
"Didn't you ask Lilly what was in her handbag? I assume you questioned her."
"Questioned? Yes. Received answers? No. Her lips were tighter than a nun's cunt."
"Delightful," I said sarcastically. "You could, of course, have checked the cameras."
"Ah, she disabled them. It's what tipped me off something was wrong."
"I see." Maybe she had, maybe she hadn't. I'd have to assume David
did
know everything that had transpired. I couldn't assume Lilly had been telling the truth, but I couldn't assume she was lying either. "So what sort of business do you claim my father had with you?" I tucked the eye spray into my top to free up a hand and opened one of the fridges to look for food-inspiration.
"Ah... well. Perhaps I better show you." He pulled out his phone and started scrolling. "I don't want you to spray me in the eyes again if I say 'Property,' but look, see!" He turned his phone towards me. I shut the fridge and went and looked. David had opened up an email exchange between himself and brianXmarshventuresdotcom. Brian Marsh. Daddy.
I read the exchange.
Subject:
Re: Apartment Block at East 54th St, New York
From:
Brian Marsh brianXmarshventuresdotcom
To:
David Sòng davidXsongenterprisesdotcom
Date:
July 10, 2014
Dear Mr. Sòng,
Thank you for your interest in the property at East 54th Street. I must say, I'm pleased to hear that it's caught your eye. It's a unique asset with plenty of potential, and with the right touch, it could yield substantial returns.
Have you already begun the process of applying for financing, or do you plan to do so during due diligence? In my experience, getting things squared away in advance often smooths negotiations.
Looking forward to discussing this further.
Best regards,
Brian Marsh.
Subject:
Re: Apartment Block at East 54th St, New York
From:
David Sòng davidXsongenterprisesdotcom
To:
Brian Marsh brianXmarshventuresdotcom
Date:
July 10, 2014
Dear Mr. Marsh,
Thank you for your prompt response. I've run my own projections, and the potential aligns with what I'm aiming for in this market.
I intend to pay in cash. If acceptable, I would propose that we finalise details and proceed to arranging the due diligence and inspection. Can you arrange for an inspection as early as next week?
Please advise on the next steps.
Sincerely,
David Sòng