32 31. Old Songs (2/2)
”Danielle. And please refrain from using profanities. I'm your mother's age-”
At that, I laughed.
”And my mother would do that?” I asked scornfully. ”Look, I'm not here to do small talk, so how about getting to the point? What the hell do you want from Samara?”
”I could ask you the same.” She said, glancing at my gun and I grimaced.
”Don't test my non-existent patience,” I demanded menacingly.
”You can't do anything to me!” She burst suddenly and I raised my eyebrows. ”Samara would know-”
I laughed humorlessly. ”Uh-uh. You got that wrong. Actually, Danielle-” I said, pausing and glancing at a beautiful glass vase hugging some wildflowers in the room's corner. ”-actually, Samara will return here tomorrow-”
”If you harm her-” She started suddenly, threateningly and I smirked.
”She'll return tomorrow. Not blind,” I continued, smiling and waiting for a reaction.
Her eyes filled with fear. ”What do you mean?”
”I don't repeat myself and you're not deaf so...question two?” I said, tilting my head and she gulped.
”Can you please back away? I'm claustrophobic-”
”Then that's another reason for why you should talk faster-” I retorted and she looked away, taking a deep breath.
”Ricardo-” She blurted out, paused, and pursed her lips as if in pain. ”-was my husband and I can show you all the papers to prove that.” She added sincerely and I raised my eyebrows. She continued. ”When I heard he died and that I was officially a widow with Bianca to raise, I had to do something-” She said with difficulty and I stared at her to continue.
”All I knew is that Ricardo loved Bianca so much and I was sure he'd want her to live like her sister -Mara- lived.” She looked at me, unsure if she should continue and I nodded with a grimace.
”I knew I wouldn't be able to provide for Bianca to keep up with the standard she was living in when he was alive. Especially when he left nothing for her in his will.” She said, looking down, and shaking her head. ”He donated all his wealth for charity. Ironically. Samara's mother provides well for her-”
”You meant ′us',” I said sharply and she nodded sadly.
”But I swear I haven't used a penny on myself. It was all for Bianca and Samara. And Samara is a very nice young woman. I loved her immediately and knew that she's of no threat.”
”Obviously,” I said scornfully. ”-the girl's blind. Permanently blind, eh? That was what you told her?”
”Well, what would you have done in my position?” She said, looking angry all of a sudden.
”It surprises me how selfish you are-” I said hatefully. ”Selfish enough to destroy the dreams of a young woman for the future of your daughter,” I said, my voice laced with venom.
”Don't you dare use this accusing tone with me!” She said, her voice quavering. ”I always felt guilty and did my best to compensate-”
”What?” I said, controlling my voice that was about to rise. ”What could you possibly do to compensate for sight? A sense.”
”She could've done the surgery when she was bloody twenty!” She said, ignoring my question. ”Why don't you go and ask her dead father why he didn't let her have the surgery then? She's twenty-four now, bless her, and I've only been with her for a few months after her father died. So you can't totally blame me! The girl's been played around by everyone!” She said, her eyes wide open.
”Bullshit! You're making all that shit up! Where is the real Amanda?!” I exploded, irritated at what she said.
This just couldn't be right.
”Oh, her-” She said, forcing out a cold, hard laugh. ”She didn't give two shits when I insisted that I took care of Mara. Told her that I was a widow with no kids and needed some company. Told me that it was okay as long as I pretended to be her so that Samara wouldn't feel unbelonging.”
She shook her head. ”It was funny how Amanda easily called her mom and told her to pay me for taking care of her daughter! Amanda didn't even check who I was. Only my name and she was ready to throw the responsibility off her shoulders. The girl was disowned by her family!”
”Bullshit-”
”Oh yeah, Mr Caesar? Then let me ask you a question! Why the hell didn't her mother let her stay with her in France after her father died, huh? How do you explain, her mother only calling to make sure I received the money without even talking to her kid?! How do you explain that?! This is one messed up family I had to keep up with for Bianca!” Her outburst shocked me to the extent that I lowered my gun to my side.
”That can't be-”
”Oh, it sure as hell is-” She said. ”The girl is blind! Anything can be played on her! What people say don't match their facial expressions- which she can't see! Even Ricardo was lying to her all that time! That girl is a blind cat living in a cage packed with bloody lions-”
”Ricardo? Why would he do that? I thought he cared about her-” I said, my eyes sharp and focused.
”Ha! You don't even know him, do you? I married that man, thinking I was in love with him. He's ruthless. His work is dirty. He fishes for trouble. Definitely as sharp as a tack. Greatest lawyer of his time. I'm not surprised he was killed. He sure deserved it. Was an abusive son of a bitch. I discovered that I only lived with him for his money and for Bianca. So did he really care about Samara?” She snorted, shaking her head and pouting scornfully.
”Then why were you warning me about it the first day we met?” I asked and she smirked.
”I guess I should've warned you harder. Should've scared the shit out of you. Because look what my situation is right now. You've jeopardized my life-” She said, her green eyes glancing at my gun.
”That's not enough reason. You drove away any friends she had-” I said, my brain a mess.
”Nope, that's actually the only reason. Imagine what would happen to the girl if she knew all what I just told you. I wouldn't have stayed quiet. I'd tell her the whole ugly truth about her family. I'd say anything to protect myself and Bianca.” She said, looking into my eyes. ”Samara's soft. She would probably kill herself, blaming it on herself and her disability. I know this girl like I know my daughter. And I pity her that everyone is using her disability, including myself.”
”Why would Ricardo use her?” I asked shocked.
”I wouldn't want my daughter to know the shit I do if I was a bad person. He got blood on his hands, you know? He must've thought that it's better to leave the girl in the dark.” She tsked and I stared at her, hoping she'd show any sign of lying.
But she wasn't. I was excellent in kinesics- body language- and could easily tell a lie from a truth.
”Do you know what's become of Ricardo's possessions?” I then asked, throwing caution in the wind and she raised her eyebrows
”Possessions? What do you mean?”
”Documents. Papers-?” I started and she stopped me.
”Why?” She asked, biting her lip once in apprehension. ”I'm not quite sure where-”
”Are you?” I snapped and she winced.
”I don't think I can tell you-” She said and I cocked my head, raising my gun again.
”Oh? I think you can,” I breathed, aiming my gun at her leg.
She quickly scooted away. ”Look, I promised him-”
”Why are you contradictory? Why would you want to keep the promise of a man you hated?” I asked and she gulped.
”Those documents-” She uttered, grimacing and looking down. She then looked up again in my eyes and shuddered. ”-they are bad, bad documents.”