Page 120 of Sold to Her Enemy

I take it, lay it on my desk, and open my laptop. Then I insert the flash drive into the slot. A video starts to play. It’s from the same restaurant where we saw Davis go to meet the mafia.

“Dad, I’ve seen this. Countless times.”

“Keep watching.”

There’s the restaurant’s interior and the mob guy at the booth. Davis is there, and then he leaves.

“Yep, same thing I’ve seen over and over.”

“Adrian, please keep watching.”

Sighing, I turn my attention back to the screen. A moment later, Davis walks in again, but this time, he’s without his jacket and hat.

He stands at the side of the table. A big, beefy guy gets up; the mob guy holds up a finger.

Davis slides back into the booth. There’s no sound, but he’s gesturing as if pleading with the guy.

“What is this, Dad?”

“What do you know about Davis?”

“He’s brilliant. He’s kind.”

“Does he strike you as the type of man to mingle with the mob?”

“No, but he was desperate.” I push back from my chair.

“Adrian, I love that you are tenacious, take charge, and spring to action, but in this one case, you were too hasty. Re-watch the entire video this time and tell me what you see.”

I reach over, set the scroll-bar to the beginning of the frame, and press play.

The same scene that’s seared in my memory starts to play. Davis, in his coat and jacket, walked into the restaurant.

“Do you notice anything about Davis? Pay attention.”

Davis sits down and crosses his legs. Davis takes a sip of water.

I pause the image on the screen.

“Fuck. You can’t be serious.”

“Yes.”

“Explain.”

My dad gets up and walks behind my desk, staring out at the view. “I’m not the only one who wanted to retire.”

“That’s not Davis. That’s….”

“Yes.” My Dad’s voice is choked and strained.

“Why?”

“Because she wanted it to end. She didn’t want Davis to keep working here. She knew he was back to gambling, and she couldn’t take it. Last time, Davis sold her wedding ring. I got it back for her.”

“Why didn’t you say anything before now?”

“Honestly? I was hoping the investigators would catch on, but your mother pointed out to me that letting everyone think this was Davis would be a way to protect Liz. You helped us by shutting down MM Industries. We knew they didn’t have enough to charge Davis.”

---