Chapter Three-Cloudy Days
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"I'm going on a business trip," Rinoa's father told them over breakfast.
"When, daddy?" Rinoa asked as she picked at her scrambled eggs.
"Today. I got a phone call last night. Don't worry, I've already packed."
"How long will you be gone?" Julia asked meekly. A purple bruise still manifested itself on her face.
"A few days, a week at most," Jake said, "I'm going to miss my train if I don't leave now."
The small dysfunctional family said their goodbyes. Jake left quickly out the door.
Ominous clouds were seen in the window and foretold of rain. It was a week since Jake Caraway had left, yet he still hadn't returned.
Julia had been playing the piano (something that was forbidden to her while her husband was in the house) when she heard the doorbell ring.
She opened the door, and there stood two police officers.
"C-can I help you?" she stuttered.
"We hope so," an officer said, as they flashed their badges. "We're with the Deling City police. Your husband has been accused of planning to assassinate the president. Can we ask you a few questions?"
Numbly, Julia allowed them to come into her home. "Rinoa, dear, why don't you go watch some TV?"
"Do I have to?" Rinoa asked.
"Yes, dear. Mommy has to talk to the policemen now. Go on." Rinoa skipped out of the room, but stayed near the doorway to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Mrs. Caraway, have you seen your husband doing anything suspicious lately?" the officer asked.
"I don't know what you mean," Julia replied, a little confused.
"Has he been doing anything out of the ordinary lately, like arriving home later than usual, or anything like that?"
"Umâno, not that I can remember." Why was she lying to the police? She had no love for Jake, was it because she wanted Rinoa to still have a father, or was she just afraid of him?
The questions kept coming, one after another, and Julia tried to answer them honestly, without incriminating her husband.
Finally the officers were done. On their way out the door, one said, "Just one more question, Mrs. Caraway. Where did you get that bruise on your cheek?"
Startled, Julia responded shakily, "I-I fell."
The officer scribbled something on his notepad, then they thanked her and left.
A few hours later, Julia recalled the manila envelop Jake had locked in his safe. Was that what the police were looking for? She wasn't sure, but she was going to find out.
Julia headed up the stairs towards their bedroom. She didn't notice, but Rinoa was following her like a lost puppy.
She threw open the closet door and knelt down in front of the safe. There was a keypad on it instead of a lock. As quickly as she could, Julia punched in all the possible codes: his PIN number, his birthday, his birthyear, anything she could think of. All of a sudden, she had a flash of inspiration. She quickly typed in Rinoa's birthday, and the safe door opened.
"That bastard!" Julia muttered under her breath. Inside was a great deal of cash, and the manila envelope. Julia tore it open, and inside were plans for the death of the president. It showed everything. How a few of them would trap the president's float inside the gate, then a sniper would rise out of the clock when it stuck nine and shoot him.
Spinning around, Julia saw Rinoa standing there in the doorframe, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Mommy, what's going on?" she asked.
"We're going Rinoa. Come on, get in the car, and I'll be down there in a minute." Like the good girl she was, Rinoa did as her mother said.
Julia gathered up the papers and stuffed them into the envelop, then shut the safe, and scribbled a note to Jake if he arrived home while they were gone. She dashed after Rinoa and started the car.