Immediately, I let go, my gaze traveling to his upper hand, where there are already four visible red marks. Serves him right.
“What are you doing, sneaking up behind people?” I ask, not having the slightest intention of apologizing.
“I wasn’t sneaking up,” he says apologetically, rubbing his sore hand.
“I didn’t hear you call out,” I tell him. “You could have just called my name and I would have turned around.”
“OK, OK,” he says, lifting his hands to his chest, as if he’s surrendering. “I didn’t approach you in the best way. I admit. I came to talk to you about the offer my partner and I made you.”
I wasn’t expecting to have this conversation this morning, and I especially didn’t expect to have it here, out in the open, in front of my car, moments after I thought I was gonna get mugged or even worse. My heart is still beating as if it’s about to jump out of my chest, and it’s not helping my decision-making abilities.
“Have you thought about it?” he asks, sounding strangely patient.
“That’s the only thing I’ve been thinking about,” I snort back, rolling my eyes.
I know I’m not supposed to talk to him like this, but we’re not at the police station, nor are we in that horrible interrogation room. This is the outside world. And if someone sees us, Dominic might find out. I can’t let that happen.
“OK then, let me rephrase that,” he corrects himself, clearing his throat a little. He also seems a little taken aback by my tone, but I don’t plan on changing it. His approach was all wrong. If he had done it like a normal person instead of like a thief of a rapist, I might be talking differently now. It’s all about cause and consequence in life.
“Did you make a decision?” he asks clearly.
I inhale deeply. My mind is a storm of waves that threaten to sink the ship that is my logical thinking. I’m torn between two sides, which I want equally. I know that this is a great chance to help my father. Something good might come of it. In a few years, heck, maybe even few months, he might be pardoned. The thought immediately warms my heart. It almost brings tears to my eyes, thinking about him, my mom, the fact that we could be a family again.
But I know at what expense that would come. I would have to snoop through Dominic’s apartment, to behave like a thief in the night in the house that has almost become a second home to me.
Then, suddenly, a thought occurs to me. I know he’s not guilty. I know it. I feel it in my gut, just like I know dad didn’t do it. They’re both innocent. Why couldn’t I use this opportunity to get exactly what I want? By telling them that I’ll look for dirt on Dominic, they will hold up their end of the bargain. They will help me reopen my dad’s case. And I will not look for evidence of Dominic’s guilt, but rather evidence of his innocence.
“Yes,” I say with a smile, but I immediately try to tone it down. I don’t want him to get suspicious, because first I didn’t like the offer at all, and now I’m being all smiley and happy about it. I have to watch out.
I purposely make him wait a little, our eyes locked, neither of us willing to look away first. Then, I continue.
“I accept your offer,” I say simply, with a quick nod. “I’ll do what you’re asking of me, if you promise that you’ll help my dad.”
“Of course,” he assures me.
I frown. “How can I be sure of that?”
“Well…” he says, scratching the back of his neck a little nervously, and I notice that his fingernails are bitten to the bone. “We can’t sign any contract or anything like that, if that’s what you had in mind. We can just give you a promise.”
“I guess that’ll have to do,” I say, not liking it, but realizing that he’s right.
What we’re doing isn’t really legal. I’m not supposed to do this, and the police aren’t supposed to ask me for such… favors but this is the world we live in. It follows its own set of rules. You just have to adjust yourself to them.
“If that’s all…” I say, pointing at my car.
“Yes, of course,” he says apologetically this time, taking a step back.
“I have to get to work,” I tell him, opening the car door.
“Yes,” he says again. “And… sorry about…” he points at his hand.
“Me, too,” I nod, getting into the car and after one last awkward wave, I drive away.
Strangely, I feel at ease with my decision. I wonder how come I didn’t come up with it earlier. I should have agreed with their offer immediately. I can help Dominic. I can find evidence that proves he couldn’t have done it. Then they would be off his back, focusing on someone who is an actual suspect.
Smiling, I arrive to Dominic’s home, much earlier than usual. He opens the door, wearing just sweatpants. There are still a few droplets of water on his chiseled, slightly curly chest, proof that he probably just got out of the shower.
“Morning,” I say, swallowing heavily at the sight of this Adonis.