In the Red by Lisa Libby

Author:Lisa Libby [Libby, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lisa Libby
Published: 2020-04-04T22:00:00+00:00

AVA

CHAPTER 19

Plan B

It’s already noon when I make my way to Mr. Alterman’s office to discuss my father’s visit. I don’t know that much about my father, besides what I read on the internet, and I can assume he isn’t looking for his long-lost daughter. My mother didn’t talk much about him, but after her murder I uncovered a box of letters and pictures that answered some of my questions, but not all about their relationship. As innocent as my mother pretended to be, I could see she was living a fake life. When I was young, I would pull the grass from the yard to make sure it was real. We moved into a big house, seemed like the money came out of thin air. I know my mother and Lewis couldn’t afford the home. At first, they both pretended to be renting the house from a family friend. The lie manifested into another lie until suddenly, the home is theirs and we never moved. I sold the house for obvious reasons; I couldn’t live under the same roof where my mother was brutally murdered. Her murder replaced all the good childhood memories.

Alterman’s receptionist is shocked to see me, like she’s seen a ghost. What the hell does she know that I don’t? She normally greets me with eye contact, and now her hands are shaking dialing his extension. Mr. Alterman approaches in the hall, motioning me to his office. I can smell the booze as soon as I walk in his office.

“Whiskey?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Funny, I don’t remember him having liquor in his office on my last visit. He slides a glass of whiskey in front of me. I never turn down a drink. We sit in awkward silence, sipping our whiskey, staring at each other. His eyes are glassy, his face unshaven and his hair—what’s left of it—is disheveled. He looks angry and disappointed in me, for what, I don’t know. I take the last sip and sit the glass on his desk. The alcohol burns my chest going down, but it’s soothing. I get comfortable by leaning back in the brown leather chair, waiting for him to speak.

“Your father broke into my house and threatened my life if I didn’t tell him everything, I know about you,” he says in an angry tone. I go to speak, and he stands up quick. For a second, I think he’s going to throw his glass at me.

“Don’t speak until I say all I want to say to you. I gave you the option to be honest with me, and you lied – everything out of your mouth is a GODDAMN LIE! You know who your father is, and you still let me walk blindly into the devil’s den. I can’t leave my office without being tailed,” he says pacing his office.

Without asking, he refills my glass and leans in to whisper, “You’re a criminal and a fraud.” His words are shocking to me

“Mr. Alterman, I came here for your help and you’re now accusing me of knowing who my father is.

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