One Way Or Another You Will Pay by Eve Rabi Read Free Book Online Page B

Bear, after passing a polygraph among other things, returns home.
    Thank God for my brother; he handles everything.
    When he enters Ritchie’s house, Bear gives me a one-arm hug, which tells me he is mad with me.
    If Bear is bitter and angry at the finger of blame pointing his way, at the travesty of justice, he doesn’t show it. Probably because he doesn’t have time to show it. We have a press conference to attend.
    At the conference, when I see all the photos of Savannah, I fall to pieces and am unable to talk, so Bear does, while he holds my hand.
    But he’s overcome with emotion as he talks about Savannah missing her favorite bunny rabbit called Wabbit and he trips over words, mumbles and shakes his head like a Labrador.
    Eventually, he drops my hand and steps back before he can finish what he was supposed to say.
    Luckily, Fatima steps in, puts her arm around my shoulder, and takes over.
    After the press conference, Bear doesn’t rest. “Come,” he says to Ritchie, heading out the door again, “let’s hit the streets.”
    He leaves the house without saying goodbye.
     
    ****
     
    When Bear returns home later that night, after cruising the streets looking for his daughter, he withdraws, refuses a drink, doesn’t look at anyone, and barely speaks. Won’t eat, just has coffee.
    Each time I am offered coffee, I accept it, only to let it go cold and untouched.
    The day blurs into night and we jump each time the phone rings. Anyone’s phone for that matter, we all just freeze at the sound of a ringing telephone. Ransom call? They found her? They found her body? A new lead (we’ll take anything,) has come in?
    But nothing.
    Then Debbie, Amy’s mother and Bear’s ex-wife, drops in.
    To our utter surprise, instead of being there to offer her sympathy and support, she turns to Bear and says, “I’ve come to take Amy.”
    “What?!” Bear looks at her in disbelief. “What for?”
    “When all this is cleared up,” she says, circling her finger in the air, “we can talk .”
    Bear stands really tall and glares at Debbie. “No, Debbie, you aren’t taking her.”
    “Back down, Bear,” Debbie warns, taking Amy’s hand. “Don’t make me call the cops.
    “Debbie, don’t be a bitch,” Bear says, moving toward Debbie, his eyes hooded.
    I jump in front of Bear. “Stop!”
    He stops.
    I turn to Debbie. “Bear did not hurt our daughter. He would never …”
    She sticks her palm in front of my face. “I have custody of Amy. Back off!”
    “Mummy, I don’t wanna go,” Amy whines.
    Debbie ignores her cry and pulls her toward the door.
    “Daddy!” Amy cries and latches onto Bear’s hand.
    Debbie pulls Amy, Bear pulls back.
    “Debbie!” Bear shouts. “Leave her alone!”
    “You leave her alone! I have custody of her, just you remember that!”
    Debbie’s boyfriend, JT, who is ten years younger than her and a Justin Timberlake wannabe, was in the car waiting for her. He races inside after hearing the commotion.
    “What the hell are you doing?” he says to Bear.
    “You stay out of it, or I’ll kick your head in,” Bear growls.
    “Daddy! Don’t let them take me. I wanna stay with you, Daddy!”
    Ritchie quickly steps in. “Debbie, Debbie, Debbie! Lemme talk to you.” He turns his whole body to look at Debbie and chats to her in hushed tones. As he talks, I notice him touching her arm and looking deep into her eyes.
    Debbie cocks her head when he talks, her eyes flitting between his eyes and his lips.
    When Toy Boy JT tries to intervene, Ritchie turns to him and says, “This could become a permanent thing. Is that what you really want? No more gigs, no more nightclubs, no more parties?”
    JT, who is supposedly a musician, has a penchant for nightclubs, concerts, and spur-of-the-moment-parties, all of which are paid for by Debbie.
    Having Amy around on a permanent basis would definitely cramp his style.
    JT lifts his hand high in the air and brings it slowly down to the back of his neck, a