“I never got the text, but thankfully Jared called me.” Davis explained.
“Thank you for telling me, Mandy. I understand you couldn’t blow your cover. Please tell us what you found out.”
"You remember how you asked me to find what Idris had on the judge?" Davis nodded, allowing her to continue. "Well, I found it and it's bad." Her head waved from side to side as if trying to shake the memory from her mind.
"Don't make me wait any longer, Mandy. Spit it out already."
"It turned out the judge has a son, and not a good one. The son was out partying on some yacht with rich friends from his boarding school. A girl died on this trip. According to the police report, what happened was an accident. According to the video Idris had, it's anything but. They tortured that girl, did unspeakable things that resulted in her death. The judge paid off the coroner and they cremated the body before the parents could see it, blaming it on some paperwork mistake. None of the boys or the judge's son were punished. They got away with murder, and that's what Idris was holding over him."
I shuddered, understanding why Mandy was being so secretive. It sounded like something out of a horror movie. My stomach churned, curdling the food I'd just eaten. My mind came up with the most horrific images, thinking of what Mandy just told us.
"Do you have the video?" Davis asked, swallowing down whatever anger was plaguing him at the news. I was sure he thought of what happened to Grace. Probably even imagined what he would have done if it was Izzy that had been on that boat.
"Yeah, I got it. Who do you think you're talking to?" Mandy asked, digging through her desk drawer. She tossed a USB drive to Davis, who caught it with one hand easily.
"No offense meant, Mandy."
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Get justice for the girl, of course. I'm giving it to Derek. He'll get it to the right people. That guy won't be a judge for much longer. Now tell me the dark secret you got on Idris. I know there's more," Davis said, surprising me, as I thought this was the only news.
I had stayed silent this whole time, just watching and observing. My mind was still reeling from the story of the judge's son, unsure of how people could get away with such monstrosities. Mandy came around her desk with a sigh as she plopped onto her small leather couch.
"There's a few things actually," she eyed me as she spoke, pressing the side of her finger over her lips horizontally as she held her chin. "Are you sure you really want to hear this? It's a bit dark."
"I'm sure," I said, but in reality I wasn't. There's a deep-seated need to take down my father and finally be free of him. The problem is, I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know what evils he had hidden behind closed doors. I still couldn't believe he was fucking the maid.
"Alright, so let's start with the affairs. He had two affairs while married to your mother. One was with your maid and the other with his secretary at the time. The secretary got too attached and your father had her resign and kicked out. The maid, well, you may want to sit for this." I felt scared as she waved to the large love seat to the left of her.
What was she about to tell me I have to sit for?
"Tell me what you remember about your maid leaving? Was it abrupt? Did she quit or get fired?"
I thought back to it, remembering her sweet smile and youthful face. She was beautiful and kind, and I was sure Dad was taking advantage of her. Still, her image was forever ruined, knowing she was sleeping with Dad under Mom's nose.
"She said she had to go back home and take care of her mom. Dad offered to get a nurse for her, but she was insistent that she had to go."
"Sounds about right." Mandy sat back, looking exceedingly tired. "She got pregnant by your father and ran away to hide it. Your father has a whole file of pictures of the maid and a young girl. You have a half-sister, Lisa."
I think my mind forgot how to work.
The news shocked me to my core. I couldn't speak as all the words had left me. My mind scrambled, trying to figure out what I should do with this news. Was I supposed to reach out to them? Do I meet her? Would she even know about us? Our maid did the right thing by running away. She'd seen how dad treated us all, and she did what was needed to keep her child safe. Good on her.
"Your father hasn't made contact. He sends money to them anonymously. Now that we got the shocking news out, let's move on to the illegal stuff."
At this point, I should ask what Dad hasn't done?
"One, he's embezzled money from the company many times throughout the years. Two, he helps launder money through the company for a cut for a man named Giovanni. He is the head of one of the larger mobs here. Three, he visits an illegal sex house every Friday night. He gambles and then ends the night with a woman of his choosing. Lisa, your father is a vile man, and I don't understand how he has avoided the law for so long. It's insane!"
"Did you get the evidence for all of it?" Davis asked, because again I found myself unable to speak.
I knew Dad was an evil man, but I guess I never knew the depths of it. He was vile, cruel, abusive, and selfish. My head was spinning with the news, making me feel like I could hurl at any moment. It wasn’t until Davis took my hand that I came to my senses. His touch alone could drive away my panic, my fear, my darkness. I looked up at him appreciatively as he caressed my hand with his thumb.
“Of course. It’s on the same drive. I say give it to Derek and Frank and let them do what they do best.”
“Thanks for this, Mandy. You should put in your notice tomorrow,” Davis told her, letting me know our plans were moving up.
Your time is up, Dad.
