“It’s from Olivia, even if we can’t prove that,” Char said as she sniffled through her tears.“I imagine it is from a burner phone because I don’t recognize the number.”
Kelly gripped Char’s hands and told her, “You and Rosie aren’t going anywhere.”
“We can’t stay here either.That old witch will hang you herself if we don’t go back to her.”Char sobbed.“I won’t be able to stand it if you suffer anymore because I got you involved in this.”
“You know damn well what will happen to both of you if you do go back.”Shay growled.“She’ll end both of you for ruining her plans.”
Char nodded.“We know.Maybe we’ve known all along that she would end up killing us.She sure as hell never loved us.She could barely tolerate us being in her home.But what else can we do?If we don’t return, she’ll have Kelly convicted of a murder she didn’t commit.How will that fix anything?”
Kelly growled.“We fight back.We find all her dirty little secrets.We expose her and Victor to the whole world.We bring out her secret deals and destroy her empire.Leave her begging in the streets.”
“No, not in the streets,” Shay cut in.“We send her straight to prison with no chance of parole and we put Victor in the cell right next to her.We tear down their whole world and leave them with nothing but an 8 by 10 cell.”
Rosie looked up and stared at him then she asked in the smallest of voices, “Can you really do that?All of it?”
Shay nodded at her and his expression gentled.“Yeah sweetheart, we can do all that and I promise we will.”
Rosie looked at Char and nodded.
Char looked up at Shay and said, “Then we can help you do it.”Looking at Kelly, she explained it, “Olivia doesn’t know this but I’ve been collecting evidence over the years.Just little bits and pieces I was able to find but it might give you guys a string or two to pull on.But then again, it might not be anything at all.”She got up and went over to her suitcase by the table and opened it.She reached inside and brought out a manilla envelope then she turned and handed it to Shay.
He glanced down at it.
She spoke again, “I left that house five years ago.So it's probably old news but I hope it helps.”She shrugged.“I’d rather die than go back and suffer like that and I don’t want that for Rosie either.”She looked over at Kelly.“But I won’t put you on the line either.I just hope your man can find something to bring them both down.They are just so evil they need to be stopped.”Char sat down again and grabbed Kelly’s hands.“I never meant to drag you into this.I was so glad when you answered the phone.God, I have missed you.”Char leaned closer and wrapped her arms around Kelly’s neck.“I love you, sweet girlfriend.I have missed you for so long and I dumped you in the middle of a hell fire, I am so sorry.”
Kelly hugged her tightly.“There’s nothing for you to feel sorry about.I’m glad we got Rosie out of that house.She didn’t belong there, she never did.And you might be surprised at what Shay and his connections can do.”
Just then, a knock came on the front door.
Shay went over to answer it.
Outside stood Pappy, Dewey and Trudy.
Trudy had papers in her hand as she stepped inside.
From behind her, Pappy and Dewey came in as well.
Trudy looked around the room for Char and Rosie.When she found them she walked over and stood in front of Char.Then handed her the papers.“Does any of this ring a bell with you?”
Char dropped her gaze down to the papers in her hand.Taking them from her, she began reading.By the third page, she gasped and paled.She looked up at them all as she trembled.“Oh, my God.Is this true?”she whispered.
Trudy looked at the girls then at Kelly.She cleared her throat and said, “Did you know Detective Burrios is related to Olivia Barron?”
Kelly’s head shot up as she stared at Trudy.“Are you sure?”
Trudy nodded.“Yeah, I’m sure.She’s his aunt by marriage.He and her niece were married just recently.I found it in the county’s records.”
“I never heard of that name before,” Char spoke up now.Then she looked over at Rosie.
Rosie simply shook her head as she didn’t seem to know anything about this either.
Char gritted her teeth.“And did this Barrios guy pay for her niece?I bet Olivia sold her off just like she did to us.”
Kelly shook her head sadly.“No wonder he acted like he’d already made up his mind that I was guilty.He just glared at me all night and he sure as hell didn’t want me walking out of that courthouse the next day.”
Shay shook his head.“I’m glad you found this out, Trudy.Tomas will get him kicked off the case entirely.”He turned and handed Pappy the papers Char had given him.“You might want to take a look at what Char took from Olivia’s house over the years.Some of this is years old but it could lead to everything that bitch has been up to.”
Pappy looked down at the papers.He growled several times as he read them.
