CH 13: End of the Road

"And who might this be?"

Rachel stood up, and said, "Hello, mother."

The woman finally introduced herself. "I'm Siobhan Sadler Black. Mrs. S, for short. I would say 'pleasure to meet you', but that would be a downright lie."

Kára Lang couldn't hide her bewilderment. Over the course of their relationship, not once has Cosima ever mentioned her mother. Kára just assumed Cosima's parents had passed away. But here she was, in the flesh, alive and well. This wasn't something Kára account for, and the revelation rocked her.

Kára offered up her hand. "Kára Lang."

Mrs. S rudely slapped the extended hand aside.

Kára scoffed. And before she knew it, Mrs. S knocked her to the floor with a sucker punch. The sharp jab caught her right in the jaw. It was reminiscent of the scene that unfolded only months prior, when Cosima decked her with a sucker punch. It was in the exact same spot, too.

Kára landed with unadulterated force. Her body bounced off the floor with a hard thump.

"That's for hurting Cosima, you piece of shit." Mrs. S brought her foot up, and she drove her heel into Kára's open palm. The three inch heel was razor sharp. Any more pressure, and it would easily pierce the flesh below. "And this, this is for hurting my children."

Nobody intervened, nor did they extend a helping hand. Every single one of the Black children remained impassive, and unmoved. They knew their mother better than anyone else. They weren't the least bit surprised. But Delphine, on the other hand, she muffled a gasp with a hand to the mouth.

"You can't do this! This is assault!"

"Try and prove it, honey. Haven't you ever wondered why all five of the Blacks only retain 10% each, of Black Crown Corp.?"

Kára assumed it was a rhetorical question; she said nothing.

"That's because I retain majority control. I own 50% of the company, and I'll be damned if I let a little spoiled bitch, like you, steal my company." Mrs. S bent down to be eye level with Kára. "It's bad enough you stole Alison's share. Don't you dare, for even one second, think I'll let you push my children out of my own company. Do I make myself clear?"

Kára timidly said, "Very."

"Good. I will tolerate your presence, but rest assured, I will make your life a living Hell. So much so, that by the time I'm done, you'll be begging me to buy you out, Ms. Lang."

Kára gulped.

"Black Crown Corp. will remain private. And that's final. The topic will not be broached again."

And with that final declaration, Mrs. S was done. She threw her daughters an unreadable look, and she left, just like that.

Kára was the next to follow suit. She swayed on the spot, no doubt still dazed from the sucker punch. She, too, left without another word.

When the sisters were certain their mother was out of earshot, did they finally break word.

"You called mother?!" Sarah was in disbelief. "Really?"

"I had no choice."

Everybody, except Delphine, knew what this meant.

Alison said, "I'm assuming mother is back for good, then."

"Yes." Rachel said indifferently, "Our original agreement stands. I will step down as CEO."

Cosima cleared things up for Delphine, and said, "Shit just got real."

- o -

Felix banged his fist against the table repeatedly, and frustratingly.

"What the fuck is going on?!"

"Please, Mr. Black."

"How many times do I have to tell you?! I didn't stab the guy! I didn't even go near him! He stabbed himself!"

"We heard you, Mr. Black, loud and clear. But that doesn't make sense. And if that's the story you're sticking with, then we're in big trouble."

"What story?!" Felix was flabbergasted, "This isn't a cover story! It's the truth, I tell you!"

Cary Agos threw his partner a helpless look. Alicia Florrick took that as her cue.

"Mr. Black, I'm going to be candid with you." Alicia began, "The man, Jason Finly Goode, he's currently listed in critical condition. The Attorney General of Ontario will likely charge you with assault with a deadly weapon, but what we're worried about is the charge of attempted murder. Should Mr. Goode succumb to his injuries, that charge will be upgraded to manslaughter. We'll do our best to claim self defense, but we need your cooperation."

Felix's breath was caught in his throat, as a rock settled in his stomach.

Cary continued, "Your bail hearing is still as scheduled. But Alicia and I agree, given the recent development and severity of the charges, your bail will likely be denied."

Felix shot straight up from his seat, but the body chain kept him tied down. "How is this possible?! Check the cameras! They'll prove to you I didn't do it!"

"The surrounding cameras only caught the aftermath. You were situated in a blind spot."

Felix was stupefied. "You're kidding, right?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not." Alicia said, "We need the truth. So why don't you start from the very beginning, and walk us through the events once more."

"No! No! No! I want to speak with my sisters!" Felix banged his fist violently, "Get them here, now!"

"You need to calm down."

"Do not tell me how I should feel, or act. I'm the one that pays your God damn salary. Now, go! We're done here."

"You can't possibly —"

"I said we're done!"

- o -

The triumphant return of the Queen to her rightful throne. Mrs. S could not contain the sense of jubilation she felt at this exact moment. True. She wouldn't be back here, if not for her children's failures. But such is life: you win some, and you lose some. And in this case, her children's lost was indeed her gain.

The moment she set foot through those doors, Mrs. S was hit with a hardened sense of déjà vu. It's as if she never left in the first place. And it felt good.

It wasn't long before the Black children lined up, in their birth order: Rachel, Alison, Sarah, and Cosima. Delphine stood in for Felix.

And it was something Mrs. S took note of almost immediately.

"And who might you be, darling?"

"She's Delphine, mother." Rachel answered. "Felix's wife."

Mrs. S could not believe her ears. She thought she misheard. "My only son weds, and I wasn't even afforded a courtesy call, much less an invite. I guess you all really do hate me that much."

"They eloped. We weren't afforded anything more than you were." Sarah said matter-of-factly, "And we don't hate you, mother, we hated what this company, what the business, did to you, to us. We felt more like you employees than we did your daughters."

Alison added, "Money isn't everything."

"And that's exactly the mindset that got you where you are today!" Mrs. S pointed a finger at each and every single one of her children. "Rachel: shortsighted; Alison: soft; Sarah: temperamental; Cosima: emotional; and Felix: spoiled."

None of the Black children have seen or spoken to their mother in five years' time, and this was how they were greeted. They couldn't hide the hurt or disappointment etched on their faces.

Delphine observed everything with a careful eye. The Black family dynamic was as turbulent as it was dysfunctional. But now, truly, Delphine felt her mother, by comparison, was a saint. Rachel, in her time of need, asked her mother for help, to which, granted, Mrs. S did. But then to turn around and rub her failure in Rachel's face, and then attack her children's self esteem, it was cold.

Sarah refused to stand down, and take the beratement. "It's not as bad as it seems. We were in a bit of a jam. Rachel's leadership, and capabilities, aren't called into question. We simply needed your majority share, to quell the proposal, is all."

"Rachel left Black Crown Corp. susceptible to a hostile takeover; Alison has lost all her shares in her own God damn company; you're still bruised and battered, Sarah; Cosima's nutter ex is out for blood. And I have a fucking daughter-in-law I didn't even know existed." Mrs. S yelled in a violent outburst, "And Felix is fucked, because he mowed two people over with his fucking car! So tell me, Sarah, darling, is everything really sunshine and lollies?"

Nobody said anything.

"The five of you forced me out. And I agreed because at the end of the day, you are my children, and I want to see you succeed. And I kept my word. But we had an agreement. The moment you ask me for help, is that the day I resume control."

Rachel was not above asking for help, even if it meant her own demise. "I remember, mother. I will step down, as promised."

"Good. Once I've settled, I look forward to a lovely dinner with all my children."

Mrs. S gave each and every single one of them a kiss on the cheek; it was more customary than it was personal.

They took that as their cue to leave.

But Cosima stayed. She held Delphine's hand publicly, for the first time ever, and she stayed back. "Give us a moment, will you?"

Rachel, Alison, and Sarah noticed their fingers interlocked. They weren't blind. They always knew there was something between Cosima and Delphine, but none of them had come right out and asked. This public display of affection, it was Cosima's way of reaffirming what they already suspected.

Alison wanted to say something, but Sarah held her back.

The door closed behind them.

"Really, Cosima? Your brother's wife?"

"It's not like that, mother." Cosima looked Delphine in the eyes, and the words simply rolled off her tongue, "I genuinely care for her. And I'm certain she shares the sentiment."

"I do."

"We care for each other, deeply, but we haven't done anything to betray Felix's trust. I would never do that to him."

"So if it's not my blessing that you're looking for, then what is it?"

Delphine didn't need Cosima to fight her battles for her. She was ready to own up to her mistakes, and atone for what she did, to them. "I have sensitive information regarding Rachel. I think I know why Kára Lang's obsessed with Black Crown Corp., and why she's so Hell bent on taking the company public."

"But that's not all. It's not just Rachel." Cosima exhaled heavily. "It's me. I'm in trouble. And I need your help."

"Oh?"

From the moment the bombshell was dropped, the thought of Shay has always lingered on Cosima's mind. And she was certain that it was something Kára would hold over her head. She needed to do the right thing. The guilt, it was unbearable. Not even Delphine knew. Cosima hasn't told a single soul, not yet, anyways.

"I...I think I killed Shay. And I want to turn myself in."

"You, what?!"

- o -

Jason Finly Goode was pronounced dead at 3:49PM, at the age of forty-three. He's survived by his wife, Marie, and their two year old daughter, Grace.

Jason's death may have been sacrificial, but it was not in vain. In addition to his life insurance policy, which wasn't a substantial sum, the family also got a lump sum to the tune of $100,000. A deposit was secured prior to the arrangement. And the moment the news broke, and made national headlines, the outstanding balance was paid in full, as promised.

The woman that orchestrated the stabbing obviously wanted Felix Dawkins Black in prison, and she was willing to pay, manipulate, and exploit whoever was needed, to get what she wanted.

The woman paid in cash. And Jason paid with his life.

- o -

"Do not take that tone with me, Arthur, I do not respond well to threats!"

And with that, Kára ended the call. Nothing was resolved. And neither party got what they truly desired.

Kára had never been this angry before. She was so close, too. All that time, energy, and effort was wasted. All because one stupid bitch decided to stick her nose where it didn't belong. This wasn't over. This was far from over.

Kára still had plenty more up her sleeve, but first, she needed money, lots of it. She already blew through the allowance her grandfather gave her. And that's exactly why she was here, in suburbia, at her childhood home.

The Lang family were well off. Both Kára's mother and father came from old money, and together, when they passed away, left her with a hefty inheritance. But Kára didn't have excess to that money. No. Her inheritance was locked in a trust fund, with her grandfather as the sole executor. Whenever she needed money, she was reduced to begging like a lowly bum. It was beyond humiliating. And yet, that's exactly what Kára had to do, if she had any hope of finishing what she started.

Kára let herself in. There were staff on site, and a live-in nurse, though Kára found nobody else at the residence. She headed straight for her grandfather's study, where she knew he'll be.

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

"Hello, Opa."

Walter Joël Lang was a man in his mid eighties, though his mindset was sharper than most. The man was a tough son of a bitch. He outlived his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. All he had was his work, and his only granddaughter, Kára Lang. Walter's health had deteriorated over the years; even with multiple bypasses, and heart complications, the man refused to step down, or take it slow.

Their relationship weren't the best. Walter Lang came from a different time. He never truly understood his granddaughter, nor did he accept her homosexual lifestyle. They saw each other every now and then, but they weren't close.

At the sight of his granddaughter, Walter smiled politely, and said, "Kára. It's nice to see you."

"Have you been well?"

"I have. Thank you. And yourself?"

Kára, unconsciously, rubbed her jaw. "I could be better. I need a favor, Opa."

Walter got up from his seat, and he situated himself on his desk, with his arms crossed. "Go on."

"I need more money."

"I see." Walter sternly said, "Well, the answer is no."

"Please, Opa, you know I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't absolutely necessary."

"Your father entrusted me to be the executor of your trust fund. And this is exactly why. Every time you show your face, you're always asking for more money. Time after time; again and again. When does it end, Kára?"

"I am not asking you for money. It's my money. And frankly, it's embarrassing that I would even have to beg you to gain access to my inheritance!"

"Your father never did trust your better judgment. And with good reason. You're almost thirty, and you have nothing to show for it! All your brushes with the law, your stint in rehab, and even prison, and you still can't get your ducks in a row. How can I trust you with your inheritance? What's to stop you from shooting up again, huh, with all that money lying around? Once an addict, always an addict."

Kára's eyes darkened visibly. "Don't push me, Opa."

"I've given you chance after chance to prove yourself, and yet, you're a constant disappointment. Believe it or not, but I care about your future, Kára; and you won't have one if I continue to entertain your childish behavior."

"You want to cut me off, is that it?"

"I already gave you a million dollars. You could've taken that money and started a business. But instead, you go investing in a company you know nothing about! You know zilch about real estate development."

"You have no right to spy on me."

"That's where you're wrong. You're a spoiled brat. And if anybody tells you otherwise, they're a liar. Now piss off. We're done here."

Kára grabbed his grandfather, and whipped him around. "I will leave when you give me my money! It's my inheritance, not yours! And don't you, for one second, think that just because you're my grandfather, that it suddenly makes you a good role model! Bullshit!"

"How dare —"

"No!" Kára screamed, "Fuck you! You do not get to come in here, and lecture me on how I should conduct myself, when you're a fucking fraud yourself! Get off your high horse, Opa. The only reason we moved away from this place was because of you, and all the attention you showered my mother with!"

Walter was rendered speechless.

"I saw you, all the times you got handsy with mom. She didn't dare leave me in the same room as you. That's why we moved away! That's why my mother hated you! And that's why Oma couldn't stand to even look at you! If dad had known just what a loving father you were, he would've never entrusted a pervert like you, to be the executor of my trust fund. So don't be so quick to judge me, when you can't even conduct yourself accordingly. You're a small minded, miserable old man. I hope that when you die, your soul will rot, and you'll burn for all of eternity. And believe me when I tell you, that day can't come soon enough."

Walter threw his hand up, and he tried to slap Kára.

But Walter wasn't fast enough. Kára grabbed his arm, and shoved him.

Walter lost his footing, and he went down, hard. A sharp ache shot up his arm, as his chest began to tighten. "You, ungrateful cunt!"

Kára watched as his grandfather struggled on the floor helplessly.

By this point, Walter was wheezing as the tightness in his chest began to spread. Walter recognized the familiar sensation. He pulled out his bottle of nitroglycerin.

Walter was on his side, and his hands were shaking terribly. And the child proof seal didn't help. Walter fidgeted with the bottle for minutes on end, unable to open it.

And that's when Kára stepped in. Kára brought her foot up, and she kicked the bottle right out of Walter's hands.

"Kára..." Walter laid flat on his stomach. "Please..."

Kára hated her grandfather. And now, he got what he truly deserved.

Walter struggled defiantly, but his ailing heart won. Eventually, his body stilled, and he collapsed.

Kára watched as her grandfather drew his last and final breath. Kára waited patiently for more than thirty minutes, just to err on the side of caution. Then finally, she checked for a pulse. She found none.

Kára planted the bottle of nitroglycerin just on the cusp of his fingertips.

To an outsider, or even the authorities, this will look like nothing more than a tragic accident.

"I'm sorry, Opa, but you had to go."

- o -

Everything was in disarray. The drama in their lives were messier than a bull in a china shop. But they collectively agreed, that with mother back in town, their lives were about to get that much more miserable. But no matter what, family came first.

News of Felix's recent prison brawl was not welcomed. They may each have their own drama to deal with, but they couldn't neglect Felix, not when he needed their support in such dire times. And that's exactly where the family was headed now.

And while on route, Sarah finally got an eagerly awaited call back.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Black. It's Roy McDonalds, here. I got your voicemail."

"Listen, Roy, I would really appreciate your help, and discretion, with the matter."

"I would really love to help you, Ms. Black, but unfortunately, Dr. Smith hasn't taught at the University, well, since your days. But I asked around the faculty, and a few of them still keep in touch. I was able to get you a forwarding address, if that helps."

"It does."

"If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Black, what is this about?"

"My company's looking for a new chief legal advisor, and I thought Dr. Smith would be a suitable candidate, given everything he's taught me."

"Oh. Well, if that's the case, you know, Ms. Black, I was recently thinking about —"

"Thank you, Roy. If you'll kindly email me that address, it'll be greatly appreciated."

And with that, Sarah ended the call.

Dr. Smith was one of the sharpest professor Sarah's ever encountered during her tenure at law school. The man was brilliant. And also a rapist. He was the biological father of Kira Dierden.

- o -

Rachel, Alison, and Sarah had met up in the parking lot, and decided to head in first.

Cosima and Delphine stayed behind, if just for a minute. The car ride over was unpleasant. Delphine didn't know what to say to Felix, or how to break the news to him given his current plight. It didn't seem right. But it wasn't fair to her, or Cosima, either.

Cosima had, more or less, the same dilemma. She loved Felix. She could never bring herself to intentionally hurt him. But it had to be done. Cosima knew, the moment she first laid eyes on Delphine under that maple tree, behind that masquerade mask, that it was love at first sight. And for the first time in her life, Cosima wanted to fight. It was unfortunate that Felix had to be on the other end of that stick, and for that, Cosima was sorry.

"Ready?"

"Not really." Delphine said almost laughingly, "But I feel like I owe it to Felix, to tell him in person, about everything."

"Hey." Cosima cupped Delphine's face, and she kissed her, ever so tenderly. "You're not the only one at fault here. We'll get through this. I know Felix. We just need to give him some time."

"I do feel better with you here, though."

Cosima's heart ached, but her mind was made. With the accompaniment of a lawyer, she too, was going to turn herself in. Most likely by tomorrow. Whatever her punishment may be, at the very least, when everything was said and done, she and Delphine could finally start over with a clean slate.

And that's when Cosima remembered. She has yet to make arrangements with her lawyer. Cosima patted her pockets down.

"Shit. I left my phone in the car. I'll meet you inside."

"Okay."

The trek was short. Delphine walked mindlessly; her head was spinning a mile a minute, in all different direction.

"Mrs. Black."

Delphine didn't recognize the voice, but she did recognize the name. But no one's ever called her that before, at least, not the people that knew her.

At first glance, Delphine didn't recognize the stranger. But upon a second glance, Delphine was immediately taken aback by the recollection. She had met her once before, at Mount Sinai. And it was there, that the mother of the victim left her with a parting gift, in the form of a sharp slap.

"Mrs. Bloomfield?"

Delphine remembered the name. How could she not? Felix had killed her daughter, and left her husband brain dead, and in a persistent vegetative state.

"Your husband, Felix Black, he took my daughter from me. And he left my husband a ghost of a man he once was. Not a single day has gone by, where I don't blame your husband for what he did. He should have never gotten behind the wheel that night."

Delphine felt her pain. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Bloomfield."

"People like your husband, they think their money makes them invincible; that they can buy themselves out of trouble. But your husband, he'll rot in prison for what he did. And, now, he'll finally know what it feels like, to have your heart ripped out!"

Kára Lang wasn't the one that paid Jason Goode. No. It was Matilda Bloomfield. She was the one that orchestrated the entire ordeal. The bloodlust had consumed her being. She was out for blood.

Delphine was capable of handling herself should a physical altercation arise. But this wasn't a fair fight. This was an ambush. Delphine did not see this coming. And she most certainly didn't see the serrated blade.

But Cosima did. Without the slightest hesitation, Cosima sidestepped in front of Delphine, and she took the blow.

The sharp blade penetrated Cosima's flesh with ease.

The open wound gushed with the ferocity of a broken dam.

There was blood everywhere.

- o -

A/N: At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest we forget.