Deception (Chapter 10)
Rick looks around incredulously, fighting the urge to tear down every single photo and rip them to shreds. He approaches one wall on wooden legs, allowing his eyes to travel upwards and then down, flexing his hands before clenching them into tight fists. He drops his head, exhaling soundly knowing he has to leave everything intact for the police department to complete their investigation.
One of the detectives calls his name and he walks down the hall to meet her.
"We'll confiscate his computer, cell phone, and any other electronics but I was able to pull up some emails and he's been conversing with the victim for months. I understand they were good friends so looks like he used that to his advantage to keep up with her whereabouts," the detective relays.
The anger Rick was trying to suppress only grows to a boiling point with that information so he asks to be contacted immediately with any new developments. He finds himself in the truck and driving to Michonne's parents' house in record time.
He finds her in the kitchen with her mother. With the sight of her, his anger lessens but he needs to talk with her right away. "Hey. I need to speak with you…..in private please."
Once they are in her room behind closed doors, he rounds on her with, "I just came from Mike's house and I have every reason to believe he's the stalker. Not only that, I found out you've been talking with that asshole the entire time. Do you realize that's how he was keeping tabs on you?"
Michonne frowns as she recognizes the anger in his voice. "What are you talking about?"
"Mike! You've been emailing him! That's how he knew where you were. He's the fucking stalker!"
"Of course I've been emailing him. He was one of the only links to my parents. We've been friends since grade school." She rubs her head anxiously. "He….he wouldn't do this to me….."
"You really believe that after what just happened? You know what….never mind. I want you to see it all for yourself." He grabs her purse from the dresser. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?" Her question goes unanswered as Rick takes her hand in his and leads her downstairs.
He asks Ms. Mae if she and Walter can meet them at the police department.
An hour later, Michonne and her parents have been apprised of the findings at Mike's house, complete with photographs of the room where he had pictures of Michonne plastered from floor to ceiling. It was also revealed that he was using church funds to purchase airline tickets to California.
Rick was puzzled that they didn't have any travel information for New York. He believes Mike was behind the bomb and the photos there as well. Several folders were retrieved that included notes that looked exactly like the ones Michonne had received previously. There was no doubt in Rick's mind that they had found the stalker.
The disbelief and hurt on Michonne's and her parents' faces is enough to make him wish none of it was true but it was all there for them to see. There was no denying it. The three of them remain silent trying to wrap their minds around the fact that someone they trusted had betrayed them.
Walter and Mae could not believe what their daughter had endured and now they have to face the fact that Mike, someone they thought of like a son, is the culprit behind it all. They follow behind Rick and Michonne woodenly but are quickly jolted into awareness as lights are flashed in their eyes followed by shouts of questions regarding their daughter.
The paparazzi had arrived in Columbus much to Michonne's and Rick's surprise. He tries his best to guard her but the cameras are in his face as much as hers. Luckily the police chief and several of his officers come to their aid and escort them to their vehicles.
They arrive at the house only to see that more photographers and the local news affiliates have gathered on the street and front lawn. Michonne realizes that she and Rick are going to have to be on the first plane back to California. Her parents' privacy was invaded years ago when she first became popular but never on this scale. She also can't believe the news of the stalker would be revealed so quickly. She keeps her head down, secure in Rick's arms as they make their way inside.
Walter's frustration is evident as he looks from Rick to his daughter. "This….this is an embarrassment I cannot tolerate. Mike has brought nothing but shame to the church, to me….and now we've got all these reporters at our house." His eyes bore into his daughter. "You may have let go of that life but it hasn't let go of you."
"Walter please….haven't we been through enough already?" Mae implores.
"How….." Michonne clears her throat, the anger and frustration rising to almost choke her. "How can you blame me?! I'm the victim! Mike is the one who deceived you, who stole from the church, who assaulted me and yet you still want to point the finger at me and my career choices!"
Rick tries to hold on to her but she pushes him away. She moves closer to her father, looking up at him defiantly.
"I'm hurt too, Daddy. I trusted Mike just like you did but you are not going to blame this on me. It wasn't me or my lifestyle that did this. It was all Mike." She takes a deep shuddering breath. "I'm sorry that I've been such a disappointment to you but I do not deserve this treatment and I'm not going to tolerate it any more. Rick and I will leave as soon as we can arrange it."
"No, baby you can't go now," Mae begs.
"I'm sorry Mommy." She leaves the room as the tears stream down her face.
Rick watches her walk away then looks to Walter. "I didn't want to bud in but you're hurting your daughter and I don't like seeing her that way….."
"Don't you try to tell me anything about my daughter. Who are….." Walter is quickly interrupted by Mae, telling him to allow Rick to speak.
"I don't care what you believe or what you think is appropriate, she's a good person. One of the best I've ever known and what you have assumed about Hollywood and its corruption is all wrong. Michonne hasn't allowed anything to change her. She's still the girl you raised, the one you had such high hopes for. She may not have chosen what you wanted for her but she has taken this path and made it work for her. She's successful and from what I've seen, she hasn't lost herself. I can't tell you what to do but I really hope you don't allow this to continue to come between you. She needs her family, people she can trust. Now more than ever. You shouldn't keep disappointing her." Rick is anxious as he awaits Walter's response but he won't back down no matter what.
Walter only glares at him before turning his eyes to his wife and storming from the room. All Ms. Mae can do is offer an apology as she follows her husband.
Rick makes his way upstairs, entering Michonne's room quietly. He can tell by the movement of her shoulders as she lies on her side that she is crying. He doesn't offer any words, he doesn't make a sound. He just crawls onto the bed next to her, gathers her into his arms and holds her tightly.
XXXXXXXXXX
The house is quiet as Michonne makes her way down the stairs. She and Rick had fallen asleep, foregoing dinner, and she was practically starving. She left him sleeping, hoping to surprise him with a sandwich or something upon her return. She was on her way to the kitchen when a noise from her father's office draws her attention.
She sees the sliver of light beneath the door and realizes he is up at this awful early morning hour. She tells herself to continue to the kitchen but something propels her in the direction of the office. She convinces herself that she needs to come clean with her father and tell him how she feels before she leaves….just in case she never sees him again.
She approaches the door and knocks tentatively. She frowns as she hears a slight rustling before he grants entrance. She opens the door, enters the room and closes it behind her. She sees the frown on his face as soon as she looks at him. She takes a deep breath and moves toward one of the chairs situated in front of his desk.
"I thought you were your mother," he states.
"Otherwise you wouldn't have let me in," she returns.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." She pauses. "Look Daddy….I've already apologized more than I should have for something I'm not even guilty of. I wish things could be different but they aren't and I've realized that I'm just going to have to accept it." Another pause. "Before I leave, I just wanted to be honest with you about everything. It will probably only make things worse but…I've always been honest with you and I'm not going to stop now." She takes a deep inhale and exhales slowly. "First of all, Rick and I aren't engaged to be married….."
Walter's head snaps up with that admission. "What?"
"Just let me finish please." A deep sigh. "We aren't engaged but we are….dating. He's my….bodyguard. He was hired specifically…..when I started receiving those notes and death threats. I…..I don't expect you to understand but he's….important to me. Also, I never gave up my career. I just wanted this visit to go well. So much so that I was willing to do anything to make it happen….even lie to you. For that, I do apologize. I know it probably doesn't make a difference but…"
"How can you say your way of life hasn't changed you when you came here leading with a lie? It's the same thing all over again. Just like with….." Walter stops abruptly, looking away from his daughter, trying to hide the pain in his eyes.
"Just like what?" Michonne prods.
Walter moves some papers around on his desk and pushes a black and white photo towards her. She picks it up and is astonished at the beautiful woman in the picture. She is dressed in a sequined jumpsuit and standing in front of a microphone, her hair a huge mass of curls. What can't go undetected is the resemblance she has to her father and to Michonne.
"Who is this?"
Walter clears his throat. "She….she was my….sister. Your aunt Madeline."
"Daddy…..are you serious? How come I never knew anything about her? How come I've never met her? I never even knew you had a sister."
"That's because….she chose the wrong path just like you and it…." His voice catches with emotion. "….it killed her. She died before you were born. She let that….that way of life…..rule her. No one could talk to her, talk sense into her….she wanted things and she wanted them her way….the fast way. She was Daddy's favorite so she thought she could do no wrong. She never thought Daddy would turn his back on her but he did." Walter takes a heavy, deep sigh. "She wanted to sing….that's all she ever wanted. She was the best singer in the whole county. She would draw people from all over Georgia to our church but….that wasn't enough for her."
Michonne sat riveted to the spot, wanting to ensure that her father would continue the story. She was disappointed and intrigued all at the same time. "What….what happened to her?"
"She decided she was going to New York….the big city." Walter can see his daughter cringe as she made the exact same decision when it was time for her to leave home. "It all went downhill from there. She got with this band as their lead singer, the only female. They started doing clubs, got noticed by some so called record producers but they never truly hit it big. She was forever chasing that dream." A pause. "Daddy….disowned her. She was a disgrace to our family, to our town. Somehow she got hooked on drugs and alcohol. I believe her white devil of a boyfriend got her hooked but I couldn't prove anything. I guess it didn't matter anyway. Momma and Daddy never forgave her, didn't want to see her. I felt like I was betraying them any time I even allowed myself to think about her." He looks to his daughter with pleading eyes. "That life….killed her and if you keep down that path, it's going to kill you too. I can't….be part of that. I just…..can't."
Michonne blinks rapidly as she tries to contain the tears in her eyes. Her heart feels as if it is literally being crushed when she thinks of the aunt she never knew and how the people who should've loved her turned their backs on her. The anger rises up and she wants to lash out at her father but realizes it would serve no purpose. Her grandfather…..God rest his soul….planted this seed and she's not sure if she has the power to undo the damage. "I'm….sorry about your sister Daddy. I truly am. I wish I could've known her, met her, helped her in some way but I am not her. I know nothing that I do or say at this point will convince you that I'm not living in complete sin and debauchery but just know that I have always loved you and I always will. I would never want to bring shame and humiliation on my family and I haven't. I think it's something you've chosen to believe because of your experiences and I understand it but you don't have to do the same thing your father did. You could at least give me a chance to prove myself to you."
Her father remains silent, his head down as the tears fall. He wants to believe his daughter but can't let go of what that lifestyle did to his sister. His daughter is just as headstrong and stubborn as his sister was and for that he will not relent.
The silence continues to grow so Michonne stands from her chair, still clutching the photo of her aunt. She gives her father one last look before she exits the room.
XXXXXXXXXX
The next day, Rick is busy making arrangements for their travel with the assistance of Deanna's staff. They would be leaving Columbus that very night. He also made his way to the police precinct once again despite Michonne's protests to ensure that the charges against Mike would stick. He has an overwhelming sense to question Mike himself but realizes he probably would not be able to refrain from kicking his ass again.
He is informed that Walter will have to press charges for the embezzlement which could result in a felony with the possibly of jail time. Otherwise the other charges would be misdemeanors.
Meanwhile, Michonne is conversing with her mother, sharing the heart to heart she had with her father. Ms. Mae looks guilty as she knew all about Madeline but respected Walter's wishes to keep it hidden.
"I'm sorry, Michonne. I truly am and I want you to know that I don't care about your career choices. I was wrong. I was trying to do right by your father but I wasn't doing right by you and it breaks my heart. I know we can't truly make up for lost time but I am not going to lose you again. I…I can come to…California with you."
Michonne looks to her mother with astonishment. "Mommy…..I don't want you to leave Daddy. This shouldn't be a choice between him and me. I'm just…..glad that you know the truth about everything and you're still talking to me."
Mae pulls her daughter into her arms and holds her tightly. "I'm so sorry baby. We've been fools. I have been a fool. I know you. I know my daughter and that's all that ever should've mattered to us. Forgive me. Please forgive me."
Michonne returns her mother's embrace, tears of joy stinging her eyes. "It's ok, Mommy. I promise."
The two pull apart to look at each other and smile, reconciliation for a new beginning already formed.
"I want to talk about Rick. Do you want to marry him?" Ms. Mae questions.
Michonne can only laugh as she remembers how tenacious her mother could be. This woman is determined to get some grandkids.
Walter lifts his head, the ache in his neck and back prominent as he is not used to sleeping in his office. He sighs heavily as he wonders if his wife even bothered to check on him after they parted ways last night. He knows where she stands and part of him knows that she's right but he doesn't know how he can accept the things his daughter does to make a living. It's wrong….isn't it?
A tug of war ensues within as he considers what he thinks he knows about Hollywood, what Mike has put them through, what his congregation will think of him, and his role as a father and a husband. The thoughts become too much, too heavy so he determines to distract himself. He grabs the nearby remote and powers on the small television set mounted on the wall. He flips through the channels, arriving at a local news report.
Word has spread fast that one of our own hometown heroes is actually visiting her parents here in Columbus and the little girls of Blanchard Elementary are excited…most of them hoping that the starlet would humble them with an appearance right here at the school. We decided to speak with the principal and some of the dedicated Michonne fans to assist them in making their dream of meeting the famous celebrity come true.
Walter watches with a slight smile on his face and something close to wonderment as girls and boys wave at the camera, imploring Michonne to visit their school. The reporter speaks to the principal and several girls who made posters and signs dedicated to Michonne, gushing with excitement of seeing their favorite celebrity.
"She can beat up boys. That's why I like her."
"She's beautiful. I want to look like her."
"She lived here like me so if she can be rich and famous I can too."
"She gets the bad guys and puts them in jail."
The reporter ends her commentary while standing in front of a group of boys and girls, all chanting Michonne over and over again.
Walter never allowed himself to get involved in anything that pertained to his daughter's career. Mike tried several times to tell him about the movies, the TV show, the interviews but he couldn't allow himself to be drawn in. To see those children so excited at the prospect of seeing his daughter gives him the slightest element of hope that she is truly doing something good and positive with her career, with her life.
He gets up from his desk and goes in search of his daughter. He smiles when he sees her. "I think there is some place you need to be."
A little over an hour later, Rick is smiling in the doorway of the Blanchard Elementary gymnasium as Michonne administers autographs and takes pictures with the boys and girls of the school. A constant drone of activity sounds throughout the area as the excitement is continuous. He was surprised to get the call from Walter, asking him to meet them at the school even supplying him with directions. He takes a deep breath and releases it, amazed at the animation all over Michonne and wondering if this will be a new beginning for her and her parents.
A/N: Thank you all so very much for the support and appreciation you continuously give. This story was supposed to be 10 chapters long…that was it but as usual I have so much more to tell. Stay tuned my friends.
