44. Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
H igh heels and Italian loafers clack against the stark white tile of the hallway as Eliza and Judas round the final corner and approach Paul's hospital room. Judas' eyes cut slightly in her direction only to find fierce determination on his lover's face. Their strides slow and Judas raises a chin to the bodyguard stationed outside the door.
"Good morning, sir," Travis nodded back.
"Last night?" Judas asked.
The guard's shoulders raise then fall, "All quiet. No visitors all night…and Mr. Arthur seemed to sleep well."
"Is he awake?" Eliza's sharp tone cut across them.
"Yes ma'am. For a while now, I believe he is getting dressed and preparing for the press conference," he reported confidently. "Bobby should be back from his break soon, as well."
Judas patted the man on the shoulder in gratitude, "Travis, good job. Why don't you go to the cafeteria and get yourself a cup of coffee." His eyes cut quickly to Eliza, "I've got it from here."
As the former defensive lineman strode away, Eliza pushed the door to Paul's room open without preamble. The time for niceties was coming to an end and she wasn't going to play the game much longer. But, she had to be patient and that was something she was lacking.
The door of the private room swung wide and Paul startled as Eliza and Judas appeared. Her father continued to shrug on his suit jacket, "Well, good morning Darlin'. How are we doing out there? Big crowd?"
"It's starting to build," Eliza mused.
Paul turned to Judas, "And security…we're all good? The whole team is here, right? I'm pulling ahead fast in the polls, and we're going to ride this wave all the way to the capital."
His glee made Eliza's stomach churn.
"Yes, sir," Judas glanced quickly in her direction. No matter what was going on in her mind, he noticed she was doing an excellent job keeping her emotions in check. "Everyone is here and accounted for."
The enormous smile encompassed Paul's entire face. Clapping his hands together, gregarious laughter erupted from his chest, "Wonderful! Jude, my boy, tell Bobby to grab my bag. I think the people of Texas are ready for my return."
Stifling a chuckle, Judas waved the bodyguard into the room. Eliza's eyes darted nervously and fell on him as he handed Bobby the leather duffle bag and Travis reentered the room. She needed to give her dad one more chance. The small voice in her head reminded her he was her father and he would tell her the truth.
"Dad," she blurted. "Before we go out, we really need to talk about what happened that night. The police say Uncle Chet shot you. Why would he do that?"
Paul spun on his heel, his face ruddy and she thought her father's head might explode at such an invasive question. But, as quick as he was to anger, his demeanor shifted back just as fast. "Honey, I don't have any idea why they would say that. They're wrong…I mean," he stuttered, "I…I have no idea what kind of wild story is being told."
She stared at him for a long time, hoping her long pause would bring about the truth. 'Just say it, Dad! This is your last chance!' Her inner voice screamed inside her mind. But she was met with more silence and Paul's shadowy blue eyes.
He took her gently by the shoulder's and Eliza struggled not to recoil, "Sweetheart. Everything is fine, we're gonna win this election…and your daddy is going to bring you with him to the top!"
"Mr. Arthur?" a middle-aged man with a head full of salt-and-pepper hair and a white lab coat said as he strode confidently into the room.
"Doc Fayden, good to see you, sir!" Paul shook the man's hand. "I hope those are my walking papers…I've got a hoard of press outside waiting for my return."
Doctor Fayden smiled, "I know, Paul…and a state senate to wrangle." He turned to Eliza, "Make sure he takes it easy out there…even though he may not believe it, he needs lots of rest. Those stitches still need a little healing… just as much as that knock to the head."
"I'll do my best," she nodded curtly.
"Enough of all of that," Paul waved his hand at the pair, before shaking the doctor's hand again. "Don't forget to vote for decency, come November." He turned to Judas, "Let's go Jude."
Judas nodded and Bobby held the door until everyone exited the room. They walked in a single file line through the unit's hallways with Judas taking point and the large linebacker bringing up the rear. In the elevator, the large pair of men blocked the inside of the car like a barricade until they arrived on the ground floor. Just outside the large doors, reporters and a small crowd of onlookers are gathered in an adjoining courtyard.
"This is it! Look alive people," a charismatic smile spread on Paul's face as the doors swished open and a cacophony of shouted questions and flashing bulbs assaulted the group. Judas held his arm out to keep the reporters closing in at a minute's distance until he guided Paul to a small podium.
Once Paul was in front of the spectators Judas stepped away, pulling Eliza with him. He pointed at Bobby to follow and the man's eyebrow raised in concern, "Shouldn't someone—"
Judas cut him short, "Mr. Arthur needs space."
Eliza watched her father wave at the cameras, point to people in the crowd he pretended to know, and blow kisses to babies. She knew it was all a show and the curtain was getting ready to fall. Part of her didn't want to watch him do this again. She hated the falsity of this election at every step and didn't think she could handle one more second of it. But, the other part of her knew she needed closure. She needed to know that one more bad guy was gone and wouldn't hurt anyone ever again.
"Good morning my fine friends!" Paul's amplified voice hushed the crowd. "I appreciate you all coming out today. You know, there have been a lot of times in my life when I've questioned my path…my duty in this life. When I lost my sweet wife, Catherine, God rest her soul, I didn't know what I was going to do with myself. Here I was, a single father, to the most beautiful child God has granted." He smiled at Eliza. "I tell you, if it wasn't for that wonderful girl, I know I would have lost hope. That's what I want to talk to you all about today. Hope. We have an opportunity to bring back our good old days! Remember when you played stickball in the streets? Back when your neighborhoods were clean and safe? No drugs. No riff-raff. When police were respected?"
The crowd erupted in applause.
His voice grew stronger, "I tell you we have hope! We can make our family safe again! We can bring back decency and good old Texas values. Ryan Marquez and his leftist gang can't do that!"
The cheers from the audience grew and Paul's name was chanted over and over. He was almost giddy when he saw Lydia and a group of paralegals from his office standing near Eliza. His star had risen, and he knew it. The more his supporters encouraged him, the brighter he smiled. Not even when he looked out into the small sea of people and his eyes landed on Chet, Reba, and Dave, did his smile fade. Eliza watched her father swallow hard, the only indication of his worry before he cut his eyes in her direction, but her plain expression never changed.
"I can tell you're all good people here…including my longest friend, right there!" Paul motioned to Chet who stood stoically next to his wife. "Chet Branson everyone…we've known each other for a lot of years. Been through a lot together. It's the kind of friendship that you just know they've got your back. And I want to do the same for you all! I'm going to have your back in Austin!"
The whoops and yells of approval were deafening. Two men in dark suits stepped behind Paul and three of his guards made a defensive move to intercept.
Judas spoke into his microphone running through his sleeve, "Stand down and observe. There's no threat."
The three men's heads whipped in Judas' direction and he nodded at them. Taking a step back they maintained their positions. With all of the commotion the gathered crowd made, Paul failed to notice either of the two men, the directive of his guards or that he now was surrounded with four uniformed Dallas police officers. One of the suited men, a tall Latin gentleman in his mid-thirties, lay a hand on Paul's shoulder.
"Mr. Arthur?" he said as Paul spun on him in surprise.
He covered the microphone, "Son, can this wait? These people aren't a threat."
"Mr. Arthur, I'm Detective Reyes with the Dallas Special Victims Unit," Reyes announced.
Paul nodded aggressively, "That's all fine and good, but as you can see we're in the middle of something right now." He turned to find Eliza. She stood just a few feet from him with Judas' arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "Betsy! Come here, handle this."
A hush began to build throughout the crowd as people craned their necks around the press to see what was happening. Eliza and Judas stepped forward as Reyes cleared his throat.
"Mr. Arthur, I have a warrant for your arrest. Please put your hands behind your back," he ordered.
"What are you talking about?! I demand to speak with Chief Buccio! Better yet, Betsy! Get Mr. Castile on the phone! That's right, boy…I have the City Manager on speed dial," Paul's fury was palpable as he bellowed at the detective. "Betsy! Do as I said!"
Eliza shook her head.
Keeping his calm demeanor, Reyes' eyes narrowed on the older man, "Sir, the chief and Mr. Castile have already been made aware of this warrant. Now, I need you to put your hands behind your back."
The crowd was absolutely silent.
"What are the charges?!" Paul demanded.
"Sexual assault of a person under the age of eighteen," Reyes stated as a matter of fact before spinning Paul on his heel. He locked the handcuffs on Paul's wrists with seemingly little effort and the clutch of onlookers burst into yells of bewilderment and anger.
Paul screamed wildly, "I did no such thing!! Betsy! Betsy! You meet me wherever these so-called police are taking me! We won't stand for this!"
"No. I won't, Dad ," angry tears welled in her eyes. "I know what you've done. All these years—"
"Betsy! Listen to me!" Paul struggled against the restraints and two of the uniformed police.
She shook her head, "No! You'll listen to me! You raped Nevaeh and you forced her to have an abortion! And you've been doing this for years! I'm done with you. You can rot in hell!" She turned away, but changed her mind, "And don't call me when you're looking for a lawyer…I'll be too busy representing Uncle Chet."
Eliza stepped away from her father and made her way to the Branson's. Chet wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her there.
Desperate, Paul screamed like an animal, "Jude! Jude! Are you going to let them do this to me?? Don't they know who I am?? Bring Betsy back here!"
"Sir," a wicked grin spreading across his lips, he leaned in close to Paul's ear. "I want you to know a few things before they take you away. One…Eliza, who is the love of my life, by the way, is the one that made all of this happen…she is quite amazing, you know? Using her contacts to take a dangerous man off the streets. Two, it's too bad Mr. Branson wasn't a better shot. Had you assaulted my child…” He leaned back to see the look of utter astonishment and horror fall over his former boss' face, pausing for a moment to savor every satisfying drop of the reaction. "And three…My name is Judas, but you’ll always be the traitor Eliza remembers.”
He turned away, returning to Eliza's side as Paul's howls of protest faded into the distance and a mob of reporters surrounded them. She slid her hand into his as Judas and his men pushed her and the Branson’s through the throngs of people demanding information. Eliza understood this wasn’t the end of the fight, but just the beginning. She would do everything in her power to save Chet and work just as hard to see her father serve time.
After escaping, Judas sent his team to follow Chet and his family home. Eliza had worked out a plan to keep the security staff on the payroll for another couple of weeks until the initial shock wore off and the press moved on to something else. She wouldn’t have her aunt and uncle worry about someone sneaking into their neighborhood just to get a soundbite.
The coast was clear in the far corner of the hospital parking garage where Judas’ car sat and the chirp of the unlocking vehicle echoed loudly in the concrete cave. Sliding in front of Eliza, Judas opened the passenger door. He hesitated for a moment to look her over in the dim, artificial light.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head, “I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you…at peace.”
“I am,” she nodded. “It’s not over. Not for a long shot and my father may not even spend a day in jail… I know that. He’s been exposed… and for today, that has to be good enough. But I promised Nevaeh he would pay and I’ll keep that promise.”
Leaning into her, Judas’ body caged her against the car and he smirked, “You’re a dangerous creature, Eliza. The world doesn’t know who it’s messing with.”
His kiss was light on her lips.
Warmth traveled through her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She stared into his honeyed eyes only to lose herself in their comfort.
“Let’s go home, Judas.”