POL: Chapter 8
I found it hard not to think about my father and this terrible crime. I had gone two weeks now trying to finish up high school and getting use to my new role as Mark's fiancé. When I was with him, it seemed like I didn't have a care in the world, but when I was away from him, my father always invaded my mind. Things finally started to look better when the chief contacted me again. By then, it was the day before my graduation and I was slowly making plans for a summer trip with Mark before we had to go to college.
"What do you want?" I asked as I stepped out onto the porch to talk to him.
He sighed, "We had to let your father go. Although the evidence points to him, we have a witness that confirmed him being home taking care of you during the time your mom was missing."
I sighed with relief. "So he's coming home?"
"Yes, we dropped him off this morning." He said. "He's been asking about you so…you might want to get home and check on him."
I nodded, "ok, thanks officer."
"No problem," he said before putting on his hat and leaving. I smiled and ran back into the house and told Mark the news. Soon after he let me take his truck to go and check on him. I guess I was a little too excited because I ended up pulling over and throwing up on the side of the road.
"Strange…I didn't have anything to eat today…" I said as I got back in the truck and left.
When I pulled up in front of the house, my dad was sitting on the porch. A smile formed on his face as I parked the truck and then hopped out of it.
"Carmen!" he said as he stood up and opened his arms. "How are you sweetie?"
I ran into his arms and hugged him tight, suddenly feeling the need to cry. "Oh dad I missed you so much."
"I know, I missed you too." He said as he pulled me away and then looked at my hand. "I see you said yes."
I smiled and nodded, "Yeah…I was going to tell you but they took you away so fast."
He smiled, "Well at least I'm out now and I can see you graduate tomorrow."
I nodded and hugged him again, happy to have him back in my life again. "Oh yeah…there's something else I need to talk to you about dad."
"Come inside, we'll talk in there." He said.
I nodded and followed him into the house. When we got inside, I followed him to the living room where we sat side by side on the couch. I took a deep breath as he looked at me blankly.
"Ok…I got accepted into the University of Texas." I said. "And, Mark and I are planning on taking a summer trip to Paris…is that ok?"
He sighed for a moment and then took my hand into his own, "Carmen, as fun as that sounds…I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because this investigation isn't over. I'm not off the hook yet and the man that may be responsible could be anywhere. I don't want to see you get hurt."
I sighed, "But dad I'm leaving the country. It's not like this guy will know where I'm going."
"If it's who I think it is…then he'll be closer than you think." He said.
I shook my head, "I'm not following you…"
He glanced away from me and then got up and walked towards the fireplace. "Listen sweetie…there is something I never told you about your mother."
I sat up straight, waiting to hear the news.
"She cheated on me with Jeff Jarrett…and Mark's father William." He said.
I gasped, "Mark's father….but I thought mom hated him?"
"She only pretended to just to throw me off. Anyways, Jeff had no idea she was married to me, but William knew all too well since you use to hang out at Mark's all the time."
"So…do you think one of them had something to do with mom's death?" I asked.
He nodded, "I think they both killed her and then framed me."
I sighed and ran my hand threw my hair, "I still don't think his father will hurt me though. If he wanted to hurt me he would have by now."
He sighed and turned away from me, "Carmen, I don't think Mark's father will hurt you…I think Mark will."
I blinked a few times, completely appalled by what he said. "Excuse me?"
"Listen sweetie, hear me out on this." He said. "Don't you think it's real odd that Mark wanted to marry you out of the blue and now he's planning on taking you away to another country right when I get arrested?"
I shook my head and stood up, "Dad you don't know what you're saying. Mark would never hurt me. You know that."
"No I don't Carmen. Look I did trust Mark at one point until I realized who his father was. I bet he didn't want you to look into this case to help me either."
I froze knowing what he was saying was true but it didn't make sense. Why would Mark hurt me because of something his dad went through? I mean, I'm the one who lost a parent in the end…not him.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." I said. "Mark loves me dad. I know he does."
He sighed, "Alright, well I still don't want you to go to Paris with him. Please stay here."
I sighed and grabbed my car keys, "I'll think about it."
"Good…where are you going now?" he asked.
"Back to Mark's apartment." I said as I went to leave the room.
With lightening speed, my father walked over to me and grabbed my arm, "No you're not."
I looked into his eyes seeing something there that sort of scared me. "Dad let me go…"
"No Carmen! You're not leaving this house." He said before snatching the keys from me.
"Dad this isn't my car! Let me go!" I screamed as his grip tightened on me. Now he was scaring me, he had never grabbed me like this before.
"Carmen I lost your mother, I refuse to lose you too!" he yelled as he started pulling me towards the basement door.
"Stop dad! You're hurting me!" I yelled as he opened the basement door. I didn't have time to react to what he did next. He looked at me with these soulless eyes and then pushed me down the three steps that led to the basement. My head hit the ground hard, knocking me unconscious almost instantly. I wasn't sure what had gotten into my father, but I knew he wasn't acting like himself…
