“It’s funny how things happen, isn’t it? One day, you have everything figured out, then life throws a monkey wrench in all your plans and you think you’re fucked again. But then, it just seems to all come together again in the end,” he says cryptically.
Furrowing my brow and narrowing my eyes in confusion, I ask, “What do you mean, Darren? I’m not following you.”
“Let me tell you a story. Humor an old man,” Darren says as he gets up and closes my office door. I lean back in my chair, sensing I’m not going to like where this story ends.
“My youngest sister, Lex, was one of those‘oops’babies. She was born the year I graduated from high school. She was a complete surprise to my parents, you see, but she quickly became our favorite. As my only sibling, I was more than protective of her–she was more like my own child rather than my sister.
“She got married young and had a baby. My niece, Hope, was more like one of my granddaughters. I doted on her all the time. She was so much like her mom. Full of life, big heart, beautiful soul, and she was gorgeous. She graduated high school at the top of her class and had a bright future ahead of her,” he pauses, overcome with emotion.
Was? Had?I can’t voice the question stuck in my head.Why is everything in the past tense?
“When I first met Sophia, I felt like the breath had been knocked out of me. She reminds me so much of my Hope that it hurts to even be around her. Honestly, that’s the main reason why I sent her back to work with you. It was just more than I could bear.
“Anyway, I digress. Hope went off to college and got mixed up with the wrong boy. You know teenagers, they think they know everything and anyone older than them is just‘out of touch,’so of course she wouldn’t listen to reason when I tried to tell her. He was all hyped up on drugs and into things he shouldn’t be into, but she was in love and defended him.
“She got in the car with him one night and he was too drunk and high to drive. When he wrecked the car that night, he killed our Hope,” he pauses as he reflects on what he just said. “You know, saying that out loud, it resonates even more with me. He killed ourhopein more ways than one.”
“Darren, I had no idea. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me when this happened? If I’d known that it was so hard on you, I would’ve never agreed to have Sophia report to you. I feel like I added to your grief.” I never knew any of this and now I feel like an ass for not realizing he wasn’t acting the same sooner.
“Don’t blame yourself for that, Dominic,” he replies. “I’ve helped support Lex financially for the last seven years since her husband passed, but she always worked and contributed. But, she just hasn’t been able to go back to work after losing Hope going on two years ago. Money has been tight for my own family, and in some rash decisions, I made a few bad investments that has really cost me. My wife, my sister, and I are all about to lose everything we have.
“I came across something interesting while I was researching ways to make my money back. You authorized a life insurance policy on yourself, payable to DPS, upon your death to ensure the company keeps going. Having that money would solve all of my problems at once.”
No, surely not.
“When I realized exactly who Sophia was, the stars just seemed to magically align right over my head. Her brother was involved with the drug cartel in Austin and his best friend was the cartel boss’s son. Her crazy ex-boyfriend had started all kinds of trouble for both of you. Those connections were perfect to take any suspicion off of me,” he says ominously, but his eyes have glassed over and I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or to himself now.
“Suspicions of what, Darren?”
“Your death, Dominic,” he replies, his tone holds a hint of astonishment that I haven’t already figured this out. “Shawn and Ramon tried more than once to make it look like a tragic accident, but you just wouldn’t cooperate. When you survived the car wreck, I wasn’t too surprised. Those two idiots couldn’t pull off something that sophisticated.
“But, when you got out of the burning house after being drugged, I just couldn’t believe it. I thought I’d lose everything I’ve worked my whole life to obtain. Shawn outlived his usefulness when he figured out who I was. He wasn’t going to live anyway. His fate was sealed the day he killed my Hope, he just didn’t know it.
“Imagine my surprise when I found out thatHarrisonwas also part of that same group, but he was a hit man for the cartel. I thought I’d been given another chance at redemption! Harrison and Ramon together would surely be able to take you and Sophia out, right? There was already a clearly documented case between you, Sophia, Shawn, Harrison, and Ramon.
“It was the perfect scenario. All of you would die, the insurance policy would be paid to the company, and I would convince your grieving parents to give me control of DPS. Rich Daltry made an offhand remark about wishing he could acquire a company like DPS during one of our calls, and that gave me the idea of selling DPS for hundreds of millions, and walk away with more than I ever imagined.
“But you killed them both, despite the odds. You and Sophia both lived through it all! How can that be? A lowlife thug took Hope from us. My sister can barely function now. My wife and I are about to lose everything. But, you and your little pregnant whore have it all–even after she betrayed you!
“So, I have to take this into my own hands,” he says calmly. Too calmly. “Your death will look like a cartel retaliation for you killing three of their own, most importantly the boss’s son.”
“Three?” I ask.
“Harrison, Ramon, and Shawn.”
“You killed Shawn?”
“Of course. I just told you–he outlived his usefulness.” He removes a gun from inside his jacket and levels it at me. “Let’s go to the parking garage. I don’t want to answer more questions about how someone got past security here.”
“You helped Ramon get in here,” I say, realization setting in.
“Yes, that was all part of Harrison’s agreement. He wanted you to be publicly shamed for his sister’s death when your office was packed up after your death. He really wasn’t that bright, but he was intent on destroying you in every way possible. Now, move.”
Slowly walking to the door, I ask him, “Why didn’t you just tell me you needed help, Darren? You know I’d help you.”
“I was going to, Dominic, until I realized that you were sleeping with the enemy’s sister. I’ve really been conflicted over Sophia’s fate because her personality reminds me so much of Hope. But, at the end of the day, it all comes down to family. Hope is my family. Besides, if Sophia’s left alive, your parents will want to give the company to her and your baby. That means the cartel will retaliate against her, too.”
“You mean you will kill a defenseless, pregnant woman, who reminds you of your loved one,” I clarify, hoping the bluntness will shake his resolve.
“Family, Dominic. It’s all about family.”
Yes, it is.
When I open my office door, I know we’re not alone.
