AUTHORS NOTE: Apologies for the delay in posting, real life is being a complete pain in the arse again at the moment, with the rapid spread of the delta variant of the corona virus along with everything opening up again here in the UK we have been inundated with cases at work and therefore incredibly short staffed – therefore no time to breathe let alone do anything else. This is pathetically short but it is literally all I had time to do at 8.30am this morning when I finished work before I went to bed!

CHAPTER 67

(VICTOR)

"Hey, Vic! Have you seen this?"

I look up from my desk and across at three of the guys crowded around a laptop. I sigh and putting my pen down on the form I am filling in I make my way over to the laptop. They appear to be watching some kind of online news video where a reporter is standing outside a building I immediately recognise as the Fifth Avenue address of my daughter and Gideon Cross.

"What is it about?" I ask.

One of the guys taps something and the video restarts and he unmutes it. I hear the reporter explaining the reason why she is where she is and unsurprisingly it is still going on about the events of the Charity Gala.

I am just about to tell him to switch it off when she says something that makes me pick my ears up and pay attention.

"…recent revelations regarding the alleged culpability of Elizabeth Vidal in the giant investment swindle of the late 1980's and early 1990's, which eventually cost her then husband Geoffrey Cross his life, when the scheme collapsed and his corruption was uncovered. Geoffrey Cross subsequently committed suicide to evade justice for his crimes. Mrs Vidal has always maintained she knew nothing of her husbands' illegal dealings and that she was innocent of any involvement but after allegations made by Mrs Vidal's daughter Ireland at a recent charity gala, police are now investigating these claims. It has come to light today that there is a paper trail which implicates Mrs Vidal in her late husbands' activities and officers are currently speaking to Gideon Cross regarding this. It should be stressed that Mr Cross is unlikely to have any involvement as he was a very young child when his father was arrested. It is also unclear whether Mrs Vidal will face any charges with regard to these revelations as the statute of limitations has long since expired".

"Jesus Christ" I mutter and I wipe my face with my hand. My mind immediately returning to that night and Ireland's tirade at her mother.

These rumours about Gideon's mother being up to her neck in trouble regarding the Ponzi Scheme her late husband operated started a few days after the gala, when police who interviewed witnesses with regard to the business with Landon mentioned what Ireland had said that night. I did wonder at the time if Gideon telling his siblings about what he knew was wise as Ireland seemed to be incredibly angry with her parents due to their treatment of Gideon over the years and seemed intent on some kind of retribution. Thank God she didn't blurt out her role in the misery he suffered due to his abuse.

"Officer Reyes!"

I look up and see the captain standing in the doorway, "Yes sir" I say.

"If you could come into my office a moment" he replies gesturing towards his office.

The guys look at me and I sigh, before making my way over to the captain's office.

"Close the door" the captain says as he rounds his desk and pulls out his chair.

I do as he asks and then take a seat in front of his desk which he is gesturing to. He sits down heavily and clasps his hands in front of him.

"I think you know why I have asked you to come in for a chat today" he begins.

I shrug, "I have a fairly good idea" I say carefully.

The captain sighs and rubs his face roughly. "Look, you are a damn good officer, one of the best but it is clear since you came back from New York something is different, you are distracted and with the revelations that keep appearing in the media with regard to your daughter and her husband… I have a daughter so I can understand and sympathise. However, whilst I sympathise that doesn't help me. I have a precinct to run and I can't afford to have one of my officers distracted".

I nod in understanding. "I understand, and I'm glad you've called me in today as I've been thinking much the same thing. I have come to realise that I want to be closer to my daughter. Stuck on the opposite side of the country when I need to be beside her supporting her just doesn't feel right. I came back here far sooner than I would've liked when this situation kicked off and that was because of my position here and her husband realised that if the media discovered who I was I'd be hounded and that could affect the day to day running of the precinct. But since I've been back I just can't… I need to be with my daughter". I pause and wait for the captain to say something.

He nods thoughtfully. "I was thinking much the same thing. I appreciate your sacrifice for us and your career by returning far sooner than you would've liked to, but if you are not going to be totally here with your head totally on the job you are essentially worthless to me. With that in mind and the fact you are an outstanding officer, I have been talking to my counterpart at the NYPD and outlined the situation we have. They are willing to give you a position at one of their precincts – not in New York city itself but possibly in the suburbs, is that something you would be interested in?"

I lean back in my seat taken aback at the turn of events. I can understand why the NYPD don't want me in the city as it could be construed as a conflict of interests for me to serve in the city where my daughter lives considering who she is married to, but if I were to accept this I could be on hand and able to support Eva and be able to be by her side in moments rather than hours. I nod and lick my lips.

"That is a very generous offer sir, would it be possible for me to call my daughter and discuss this with her?" I ask.

The captain smiles at me and nods. "Certainly, I would expect no less" he says.

I stand and shake his hand and leave his office. Pulling out my cell phone I make my way to the break room which is thankfully deserted and sit down. I quickly dial Eva's number.

"Hi daddy!" she says brightly as she answers and I automatically smile at her words.

"Hi sweetheart, how are you? How's Gideon?" I ask.

There is a pause and I hear a sigh. "It's all pretty fucked up here. The police have questioned Gideon about the allegations against his mom and he was upfront and gave them all the information he had. She won't be facing any criminal charges though, as the statute of limitations has long since expired, but there is always the chance that now this has come to light that civil cases will be pursued and people will come out of the woodwork looking for some kind of compensation from Elizabeth now this information is out there".

"Do you think they will pursue Gideon?" I ask and I hear another sigh.

"To be honest I don't know, they might after all he would be the easy target considering how wealthy he is but he is confident that no court in the land would entertain that considering he was just a child and it had nothing to do with him".

"What about the police?" I ask.

"Again, I don't think they could do anything as it has been made clear that the statute of limitations has long since expired. Plus there is also the fact, they can't prove that Gideon has had these documents and just sat on them. I don't know how long he has had them, but he is letting the authorities assume they only recently came into his possession and then he told his siblings which caused it to come out when Ireland opened her mouth. Chris is in total shock; I think he is now realising that everything Gideon has said could be right. He is distancing himself from Elizabeth to save his own reputation but he still needs someone to blame for everything and unfortunately that someone is Gideon".

"So, how are you holding up?" I ask.

I hear a brittle laugh, "Oh daddy what I would give to have you here, just to wrap your arms around me and tell me everything will be ok" she says wistfully.

I lick my lips and swallow hard at her words, "What if I could make that happen?" I ask her gently.

There is a silence, and then when she speaks again there is cautiousness in her tone, "What do you mean?" she asks.

I take a deep breath, "What I mean is, how would you feel if I transferred to the NYPD and came to live on your side of the country?" I ask.

"Really? You'd do that?" she asks the excitement obvious in her voice and I smile.

"I've just been talking with my captain and I told him that I need to be closer to you. I'm distracted worrying about what is happening and how I can't be there to support you and it's affecting my job. The captain has also seen this and he reached out to his counterpart in New York and the offer of a transfer is on the table. I am running it past you as it would be a huge thing to do, to uproot and move and there is always the chance that you wouldn't want me on your doorstep".

I wait and immediately she denies that, "No daddy, I'd love to have you here. But… is it what you want? Your whole life has always been in California? Is this my fault? Am I causing this?" she asks.

"Sweetheart, stop. Just stop. I want this, if you are happy with this then this is what I want. I want to be closer to you to support you and help you out. Ever since it all came out about Frank Lambert and everything, I've felt the need to be closer to you and this has just brought all that into focus. It has never crossed my mind that you are anything other than my daughter but I feel that since the truth came out, I need a little reassurance from time to time that you still look upon me as your dad".

"You are my dad, always have been and always will be and I would love to have you close by. Oh god this is going to be so great" she gushes.

"Ok then, in which case I'll get the ball rolling from this end. I'll tell the captain to set in motion the transfer" I say.

"Would you like us to help with the logistics of relocation?" she asks carefully and I realise what she is saying as I am going to need to transport myself and my belongings across the country. Not to mention that I am going to need somewhere to live when I get there.

I pause and think, "I'd like that" I reply simply.

oooOOOooo

By the end of the day, everything is arranged. After I had finished talking to Eva, it wasn't long before Gideon called me and I'd gone through with him the conversation I'd had with my captain. After he had apologised profusely, he assured me that everything would be done from his end to facilitate a smooth relocation and I know that he will bend over backwards to make sure everything goes as planned. Not only for Eva's sake but for him to atone for his previous behaviour. I actually can't fault him, since we had that talk a while ago and he apologised for his behaviour he is clearly making a huge effort to show he was and is sincere. I pause and I realise that I want to relocate not just for Eva, I want to support Gideon as well as it is abundantly clear that he has never had any kind of parental support and I want to be there to give him some kind of father figure which he does not have.

I pause as I think this and I remember Angus, the driver and security operative who had accompanied Eva and Gideon to California when they came, after it all came out about Frank Lambert. I also recall Gideon's interactions with Angus when I was in New York. The familiarity and obvious affection. The way Angus talked to Gideon… like a father, and that is when it hits me, Angus is Gideon's surrogate father figure. I obviously don't want to step on toes but I will make it known that I am not only there for Eva but if Gideon wants it, I will certainly be there for him as well.