Chapter 35

The bitch took her sweet ass time until she came down, that's for sure.  There was no way the awkwardness could be avoided when she did.  What was worse, was the actual dinner when the time came.

We all sat around the table, folding chairs added for more seats for everybody and we all sat close together.  Ironic too when I could tell everyone just wanted to be far away.  With our plates of spaghetti before us, there was not one sound besides that of forks scrapping on plates.  Just like it was when Luke and I had meatloaf with Clare the other night.  I didn't think it could have gotten more tense than that. 

Everyone's heads down, with their eyes glues to the plate... because of Clare.  Nobody wanted to look at her.  They didn't want to face her.  And though I was hoping that this would break her, make her apologize, I wasn't sure if it was worth it with how uncomfortable it was.  But I tried enjoying it as much as I could.  This was Francis's fault, the little shit. Staring at him, I think even he regretted it too.

"Hey," I said and got everybody's attention.  Francis was sitting besides me, Luke and Clare across from me, with Jan and Shannon at one end of the table and Mike on my other side and Brook besides Francis.  All their eyes lifted to me and I met theirs... all but Clare's seemed curious.  She shot daggers at me, as if knowing I would say something against her.   Meeting everyone's else's eyes, I said, "Have you guys seen that new video on YouTube?  Of that guy taking a shit like a dog outside in--"

"Albany," Clare hissed at me among a couple stifled laughs.  "That's not appropriate dinner conversation."   Raising my eyes to her, the narrow slits of her eyes stared at me in anger.  I was surprised she was finally talking.  After all, she should have been above this; you don't scold someone when it contradicts what you did. 

I nodded in agreement.  But I mean, I could have said something worse if Brooke wasn't here.   I just shrugged, playing along with this tense game.  I knew things were going to get explosive soon; I wanted it to.  I wanted to push her like I've been trying to make her break.  She needed to; we wanted the regret to come out and for her to show her loyalty.  

"You want to get started on what's appropriate and not appropriate right now, mother?" I asked in a lower voice to her from across the table  The scrapping of forks stopped around us and everything was too quiet around us.  I could feel everyone staring at me in this eerie stillness and it couldn't be anymore tense at the moment.  "Do you want to go there?"    

Glancing at her side to Luke, his lips were tight and eyes warning.  He shook his head slightly, wanting me to not start this now, here.  He figured this wouldn't help, I knew.  But after all, unlike him, I don't need to keep up an act.  I can be myself on this matter.  Especially when this could maybe result in her resistance caving in.  And though I didn't like doing this in front of his family, if they were around and watching this, that could even help in driving her into submission. 

"No," she said, laughing uncomfortably and trying to keep everything light (as if it was even 'light' in here to begin with).  "It's okay, sweetie, we don't need to talk about this.  Not with guests here," she said, her voice accusing me of being a child.  Unfortunately, and fortunately enough, I think it gave Brooke the wrong impression and that this was an open and comfortable conversation. 

With the silence crowding the air besides our words, Brooke's joined in after a long pause between me and Clare.  Her words... made me want to laugh and cringe at the same time.  "Wait, is this about the mental hospital daddy was telling me about?"

Shannon soon joined in, eyes guiding from Brooke to her father that was sitting beside me.  "You told her about it, you dumbass?  Why the hell would you talk about that with your dau--"

"It's called open conversation.  I read about it in one of those books for dummies," Francis defended himself, staring down Shannon with a small smirk on his face.

Just as they spoke though, Brooke chirped in again.  "It's alright, daddy told me Aunt Clare is the B word so I'm not confused anymore."

"Francis--" Mike moaned. 

"Jesus Christ Francis."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Three voices chirped in at once, aimed at Francis who sat back and put his arms up in surrender, face defending and shocked at the shots they took on him, which was actually quite amusing. 

He ignored them though and glanced towards Clare, as if to try to save whatever relationship he and her had (if there even was one).  I glanced to Clare at the other side of the table, who was just caught off guard from this eruption of voices all of a sudden and from what Brooke said for the most part.  Her eyes met Francis's in surprise and hurt - whether real or fake, I didn't know.

"Look, I was only upset at the moment about what you did, Clare."

"And now you're alright with it?" I asked him, intervening between him and Clare and not giving her a chance to respond.

"Okay!" Luke said, speaking over everyone.  I glanced up at him as the clatter of outraged voices spoke simultaneously together continued.  "Hey, Brooke, you want to go play a game?" he asked her,  trying to cover all the talking probably not best for a seven year old to be exposed to.  As amusing as all this was, I understood where he was coming from.  I bet he wanted to get out of the room himself.  Glancing to Brooke, she nodded, none the wiser to begin with and a bright smile lit her face as she stood up from where she was sitting.  Her and Luke left rather quickly to play a game while the chatter continued and I directed my attention to a smirking Mike.

"Yeah, nice parenting move.  Have your brother be the one to save your daughter from this conversation," Mike snorted.

"Hey," he defended, chuckling slightly.  "What did I just say?  Open conversation.  It makes sense!"

My eyes glanced from Mike and Francis to see Jan just shaking her head slowly, taking a deep breath and even with a woman as sweet as her, she even seemed to have found this humorous.  Not the situation really but where all this was taking a turn.

"I'm on Mike's side," I jumped in.  "But I agree, Clare is a bitch!" I said, purposefully loud and when I glanced over at her, I saw her eyes filled with overwhelming sadness.  Lips dipping and pressed tightly together, her eyebrows followed the same movement.  She was tense and frozen, all except for her hands when she grabbed her plate in front of her full of spaghetti and pushed it away from her.  When she did, she rested her elbows on the table where her plate was a moment ago and came to bury her face in her hands.  Awe... poor baby.

Francis wasn't exactly concerned with defending Clare anymore though.  Just himself against us accusers (which was just too funny).  "Alright," he said in an angry voice.  Her raised his arms in exaggeration, gesturing his hands above us to drive his point. His scowl gave his words an effect too. "It was in the book!"

I erupted in laughter... at just everything.  Jan was the only one not smiling but I still couldn't help myself from chuckling like I was.  My hand moved down to my stomach as I laughed incredibly hard, as if holding myself together.  When I glanced over to Clare and saw her face still buried in her hands in embarrassment and anger, all that did was make me hiccup even more with my laughter. "Oh my god," I whaled.  "This is great," I said under my breath just as it began to die down. 

After a moment more, I knew I needed to keep going.  To keep pushing at her.  Even when I was amused by all this, I needed her to break.  Because even with that smile on my face and my stomach aching from my laughter, with the subject being brought up, more came to me.  Like that anger, the hatred I had for her, over what she did to me.  And all I needed her to do was give in, show her sadness even more and not stick with her anger and ego.  She must break.

Swallowing slightly, I stared down Clare slumped forward figure and I felt the hatred in me twist even more at just the sight.  As if asking for someone to feel sorry for her.  I glanced back to Francis as he lowered his arms and rested them on the table.  When he did, seeing his defending expression still there, I laid a comforting hand on his arm and spoke in a gentle but at the same time sarcastic tone.  But it was Clare... it was all for Clare.  "Oh, it's okay Francis. You're not a bad father.  Nobody can compete with Clare's parenting skills."  Francis looked down at me next to him from where we sat and I saw that humor drain from his eyes too at realizing I was bashing Clare. "It's not like you would even go out of your way to lock your daughter away," I said, chuckling but out of pure annoyance of the subject.  Oh what she did to me.  Glancing back to Clare, staring her down, I spoke louder.  "Yeah, lock her in a fucking mental institution which, ironically enough, tortures their patients!"

"Please excuse me," I heard Clare squeak into her arm as she finally moved.  She pushed her chair back from the table where she was sitting and lifted her head.  Her eyes always stayed down though, not daring to met anyone's.  Lips tight like before, eyes covered in sweet sorrow, I smiled at the sight when she stood up and quickly left, walking swiftly out of sight.  

Taking a deep breath, I turned back towards the table from where I watched her depart.  Even though I finished up eating my spaghetti before any chatter lashed out, I continued to still sit there.  Thinking over what just happened.  It was a mix of everything in my mind. So funny... but at the same time, I was happy it was taking Clare down because of it.  She looked defeated.  All she needed to do was openly apologize, even if she didn't mean it. 

In the next moment, as we all just... sat there, I noticed they slowly started to pick at their food again.  Without another word with the tension returning, even if Clare was gone.  consumed with their own thoughts.  All but Francis who shocked me with what he did next.

He groaned from next to me and pushed his plate away when he came to stand up from his chair. "I need to apologize to Clare...."  he said.

"Uh what?" I asked, turning towards him and looking up at him, raising an eyebrow.  Honestly confused too.  He knew the truth for one and two, he wasn't the type that would do that when he meant it, even if it was revealed through Brooke. 

Staring up at him, he pursed his lips and sighed again.  Eyes finding mine when he looked down to me, I noticed he crossed his arms while he began to explain it to me. "Look, I know what you were trying to do to get her to bust.  She's already there, it looks like.  Why not lay on the guilt even more, apologize for telling Brooke about her and that she is a bitch, and just explain to her... that I am simply disappointed.  That might hit home a bit more than anger like you guys were going for."

Glancing down from his eyes and to where Jan and Mike were sitting at my level with Shannon, I noticed their eyes showed slight confusion. After all, the two of them didn't know we were trying to get Clare to break down to begin with; as far as they knew, I just acted out from anger.  Glancing to Shannon, I saw her considering and thinking over what Francis told me and she even began to nod to herself at the idea.

Looking back up to Francis, I wasn't sure what to say.  But as I pondered it over as she had... I guess it made a lot of sense.  Anger against her anger... might not achieve what we want right away.  And though she is a bitch and twisted and crazy... she still has feelings.  She still loves Luke despite everything.  I was sure if Francis really laid it on her, that guilt might beat her anger.  It was worth a shot anyway, right?

"So... lay on the guilt but in a nice way?" I asked to clarify.

One side of his lips tilted up.  "I guess that's a good way to put it," he nodded.

"Okay then.  Try it."

***

After dinner, they all stayed and talked for a bit.  Luke and Brooke finally finished up with their game they played to keep them busy during that drama and sat down on the couch to resume... well, regular chatter really.  Everyone but Clare and Francis was present and it was clear they were talking for a long time; by the time Jan and Mike were ready to leave, they were still talking upstairs in her room.  It gave me hope it was going really well and they were having a 'heart to heart' conversation.

After Mike and Jan left, it was just Luke, Shannon, Brooke, and I in the living room.  It actually turned out to be a nice evening, strangely enough.  I showed Luke the bracelet his parents got me, he told us some jokes, and Brooke played with Jack.  And eventually, Francis finally came back down stairs.

Despite having a good time over all spending time with the Prenta family... Francis's words from early were catching up to me.  The short talk we had before dinner started... that he needed to tell me and Luke something.  It was something I pushed out of my head for most of the night because I didn't want to dwell on it.  I wanted to just enjoy this night with them, even if dinner was a little disastrous (it was still kind of funny).  But now, with Jan and Mike now gone and the fact that it was getting pretty late, I knew Francis would have to talk to us soon enough before he leaves too.  After all, it's Sunday.  Brooke and I are going back to school tomorrow - something I was especially not looking forward to with the new and public hype over the mental hospital. 

When he came downstairs, he told us Clare just decided to stay upstairs and go to bed.  And because Francis sat on the floor with Brooke to play with Jack with her, I had to assume he was going to wait a little longer to speak with us about it.  Probably because he wanted to wait a bit until Clare was most likely asleep.  I knew it had to be information regarding her or the gang and neither were subjects she needed to overhear. Not to mention, I planned on finding out how that little talk went with Clare upstairs.  I hope it was at least somewhat effective. 

About a half hour later of talking and playing with Jack, Francis finally spoke up in acknowledgement towards what he told me earlier, even though I was confused at first.  Good too because I had begun to think he forgot.  "Hey, Albany?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"Did you want me to check out the toilet for you?  You said it was giving you trouble...."  With where he was sitting on the floor with a distracted Brooke playing with Jack, he looked up at me on the couch.  What the hell is he talking about? were my first thoughts after he had spoke.  But once I watched him offer me a wink through his thick frames and nodded, it clicked why he said that about the toilet.  As an excuse to talk to me alone with Luke, away from Brooke because it was important. 

I glanced over to a confused Luke; he still didn't know that Francis had information for us.  I never had the chance to get him alone and tell him.  No doubt this tripped his mind up.  His eyebrows were dipped and after seeing that meaningful look from Francis, he stopped himself from openly asking.  Instead, he said, "Um... and what was wrong with it again?" he asked his brother, trying to maybe get a better hint of what this was all about.

"Remember, you plugged it up again, Luke," I said as seriously as I could. He gave me a look that called me ridiculous.  I dramatically sighed as I shook my head at him, playing with him.  "I told you that you needed to quit eating so much cheese," I scolded and I heard Brooke begin to chuckle from where she was laying on the floor and facing a happy Jack.  Her eyes caught Luke's though and she couldn't stop that light little chuckle.  Shannon looked quite amused too, even though she knew I was being sarcastic.  He looked down at me with pursed lips and searched my eyes in amusement as well.  But that still didn't give him answers.  So the only way for him to know is to just come with us. 

I stood up and Francis followed, getting up from where he was on the ground.  Looking to Shannon that was sitting in the chair, he gave her a stern nod and it became clear she already knew what he was talking about - which was surprising.  I didn't think she understood but then again, he might have spoke with her separately before he even got here. 

"Yeah, I might need Luke's help with it too," he said, looking to his green eyes, indicating for Luke to come with us too.  Watching in curiosity from where he sat, he didn't hesitate anymore and stood up beside me too.  From there, the three of us made our way down the hall towards the bathroom - which just made me raise a brow at.  I mean the bathroom?  Seriously, the smallest room in the house? 

When we crammed in and Francis closed the door behind him since he was the last to enter, leaving the three of us finally alone. I didn't waste time in asking him.  "Jesus man, why did you pick the smallest room in the damn house?" I chuckled, leaning up against the counter.  Francis lowered the cover over the toilet and sat down while Luke stood next to me, back to the counter too. 

He smirked.  "Where else should we go, bright one?"

"Well, me and your parents talked in the storage room by the back door....  And why the hell hide?" I asked, teasing him.  "What was all that shit about 'open conversation'?"

"Oh," was all he said, not thinking.  Raising his eyes and looking between us, he said in a muffle, "Well, too bad.  And fuck open conversation right now; that does not apply to this."

Luke didn't waste time in speaking up; after all, he had no idea what this was even about.  Poor guy.  "Okay, just wait a minute," he said, looking between me and Francis, as if we were keeping a secret.  "What is this all about?"

I set my gaze on Francis.  I had yet to find out, after all.  Then, he finally told us.  Glancing to Luke and catching his eyes too and held them as he spoke.  "It's about... what some people in the gang said."

"What did they say?" I asked.  I figured as much.  Francis didn't have much news from them recently and I assumed it had to be about time he went prying openly for information this time.  Staring down into his eyes from where he was sitting on the toilet, he looked quite worried.  But at the same time... as if he didn't believe whatever it was he had to tell us himself. 

With a scoff, he said, "That the sheriff is involved," he said, his full attention now resting on Luke.

My attention at first... was just scattered.  Just... what?  How and why the hell would he be involved?  I turned partially to Luke and looked up at his expression.  After all, they were quite close I came to believe.  They have known each other for a very long time.  Not to mention, I met the guy myself.  He was very nice, held nothing against me (which was just plain shocking).  Luke was on my side with that, I knew.  It was clear on his face too.  Eyes wide and staring into his brothers, jaw dropped slightly at the words.  His sculpted eyebrows lowered and disbelief radiated from him. 

Slowly, I watched as his eyebrows slightly rose, his arms crossed and he leaned closer towards Francis.  He didn't believe him.  "What?" he asked, shaking his head.  "T-That's just.... Sheriff Denport?" he asked, wanting to make sure they were talking about the same sheriff.

Francis nodded, pursing his lips and nodding in agreement to Luke's state at the moment.  "I know.  I didn't believe it at first... but with the more people I talked with, they all said that he's working at the top in this town with the leading officials that are over him in this entire drug operation.  And it just... it just makes sense."

"In what way?" I asked him. 

He took a deep breath when my eyes met his.  That pretty hazel though quickly went back to his brother.  "Luke should know.  Why would the police be involved in smuggling and selling drugs?" he asked, Luke, which just confused me.  How would he know?

Glancing up to Luke, he however seemed to have somewhat of an answer.  "Okay, yes, it is quite common for police to be involved because it is much easier that way.  But... I mean come on Francis, you met the sheriff.  We've known him for how many years...?"

I was surprised to hear that.  That cops are involved more in smuggling than most believe.  But.. it made sense too.  With control of enforcement, it could make smuggling quite easy, especially since you are trusted by most that live in this town.  Of course, when Luke said that they knew him for years, Francis had a way of turning it around and making another good argument.

"Just because he is a good guy doesn't mean he can't be involved in stuff like this," he said back, which I saw to be a good point.  I mean, just because your a good person doesn't mean you are completely innocent of breaking the law.  The best example was standing beside me (even though the sheriff is in a worse position).

Francis's point pretty much left Luke and I without anything to defend.  Because... it was possible, really.  And... the more I stood there and thought about it, I was becoming convinced that it might actually be true.  Francis wouldn't come to us with this information if he wasn't nearly positive he was right.  If there were people associated with Denport too from the gang, obviously there has to be a connection.  And if not, why would they lie about being involved with him to begin with?

Luke however wasn't ready to give in yet - which was understandable.  He knew the guy for how long and they work together.... I'd be more suspicious too of what he is saying.  "Francis, it doesn't make much sense," he said, eyes on the floor as he concentrated on his thoughts.  "If he is involved with this, that means he knows about me and Albany being a target.  Hell, he even helped me when it came to protecting her with Mark."

Francis only searched his eyes for a silent moment.  Until, I noticed a certain glint in his eye that grew brighter, as if ready to reveal something that was altering of this situation.  Turns out, I was right.  His lips flat, he asked Luke in a darker voice something that caught my attention.  "Did he?"

"Yes!" he replied instantly.  "He was involved with going after Mark when he was at her school, looking for her.  He helped with the bust going on in Sandusky."

Sandusky... that reminded me....  "But Francis said there was probably an insider in Sandusky.  Someone that was working for the smugglers but seen to be a cop... could that have been the sheriff?" I asked at remembering what he told us one of the times he delivered us information one night, after I babysat Brooke. 

Looking between the two brothers, I saw them glance to each other before looking to me.  Francis said, "It's possible.  I'm sure there is multiple with how... wide spread this business is."  He looked back to Luke, responding to what he said about the sheriff defending us.  "Tell me something Luke... that one time he went after Mark... did they catch him?"

"No," he said immediately.  "But that's not the point.  He still tried."

"Really?  Now, when Mark was finally killed... what happened to your backup?  You were the only one there when you found Albany flipped over in your truck.  Nobody responded to your call.  Nobody was there to help you take Mark down.  And I know that the sheriff has the authority, in this specific district, to call off back up if he believes it's not necessary.  Or he could have just said he was going to be the only one responding and just never showed up."

At Francis's words... I recall he was right.  That night he saved me from that burning truck, Luke pulled me off towards to the side of the road.  I remember him... leaning over me in worry, his hand bloody when he raised the radio in his hand and demanded to know what happened to his backup.  And as far as I knew, we never got an answer.  They just never showed up - which I knew Luke didn't get a good excuse for.

Luke had nothing he could say this time either to defend the sheriff.  Looking him over, I saw he was quite tense at this point, his body tightly resting against  the counter he leaned against.  This being the only place in the house that hasn't been remodeled, it casted a dim yellow light on Luke and lit his distressed face even more.  He was considering it finally after hearing what Francis had to say.

"Alright, and let's just say that maybe your right," Luke said.  "Where could we get proof?"

Francis sighed and I saw this was the end of his high flying streak he was on.  "If anything, it would be documents between the head honchos of smuggling and him.  You wouldn't be able to access it."

I thought over the possibilities... of how we could pin the sheriff to this if it's true.  Catch him in the act?  Hold his wife hostage until he admits?  Traces of communication...?  I didn't really know.  I was spit balling here folks when I came up with the most basic answer, even if it wasn't what we wanted.  "Well, what if we take any files he has on himself at the station? You know, like we did with Clare."

Luke looked down at me beside him, offering me a sad smile.  "Afraid not.  We are lucky we managed to get Clare's files.  That was through lies and excuses of needing them.  You can't just take them.  We got lucky with a lot of them really.  Nobody was really watching when I took them."

"Yeah but your a cop.  It can't look that suspicious."

He licked his lips as he explained it to me.  "First of all, I'm walking on thin ice right now.  I'm lucky I'm there.  The last thing I want is to push it by asking for files - for the fucking sheriffs - which a good reason.  Second, those files... officials that work at the station, their files are separated and in a certain section.  It's not like it's being guarded or anything crazy like that but it would look very suspicious."

"What if--" I was cut off from another voice.  But one on the other side of the door along with the repetitive knocking on the door.

"Daddy!  Daddy! I'm tired!  Can we go home now?" her little voice yelled out and through the door, a little muffled.  Glancing to it then to the certain dad in question, I watched him purse his lips for a moment before he spoke.

"Okay princess!  We will leave soon!  Uncle Luke really clogged it up though so it may be a few more minutes!" he yelled in answer through the door. 

Laughing under my breath, covering my mouth with my hand, I looked up at Luke and saw him groan slightly.  He gave Francis a death stare over his stupid excuse as to why we were all in here.  Smiling slightly, I watched him stand up from where he was sitting on the toilet  and come to stand closer to us. 

In a quieter voice, not knowing if Brooke was still outside the door or not, he said, "Well, whatever you do with that information is up to you."

Luke nodded to him and despite his skepticism on the matter, he gave him a nice smile.  "Thank you for telling us this."

"I know I'm appreciated," he smirked up to his brother he faced and patted his arm in comfort, making Luke roll his eyes in return.  Francis's hazel eyes turning to mine, he gave me a teasing look, one filled with humor.  "Well, I'm going to get going them.  Thanks for the... entertaining dinner," he said as he grasped the door knob ready to open it.

"No, really, thank you.  It's your fault," I smiled and just as he began to turn it and opened the door up, I felt my heart jump at remembering something.  And god, I was happy I remembered too otherwise I would beat myself up over it later if I never found out.  I grabbed Francis's arm just as he began to walk out of the bathroom and into the dark hall.  Gripping him to stop, he turned around with a curious look on his face aimed at me.

Before I could even ask, he said something too typical for him; I was surprised he didn't say something like it sooner.  "If you're about to ask whether I will participate in a threesome, think again."

"Jesus fucking Christ," I heard Luke say under his breath from where he was standing behind me, looking to Francis too if I had to guess.  I didn't blame him.  This guy is due for an ass beating with all these comments he keep making.

"Um...N-No," I struggled for a moment, caught off guard actually before I continued to speak with an able and straight mind. In a stronger voice, I said, "No, smartass, you forgot to tell me what you and Clare talked about."

"Oh," he raised his eyebrows in realization.  He thought it over for a second before glancing before me to Luke then back to me.  "I told her that I didn't mean to talk to Brooke about her and call her a bitch.  But I was very disappointed and she just... talked to me about her thought process behind it.  Let me tell you, she didn't have a good excuse.  But she felt the need to still really elaborate on it and she had sympathy.  I wouldn't be surprised if she apologized tomorrow."

I was... quite surprised by what he told us.  I mean, I knew Francis and Clare weren't that close to begin with.  After all, even before Luke was in the picture, he knew me and knew of my mother.  He believed I was insane but even then, he still said he didn't like how she sounded.  So when Luke and Clare got married, he was always very cautious of her.  I was surprised she opened up to him.  But then again... who else does she have to open up to?  Plus, she could be just talking BS in knowing Francis might tell Luke to make us believe she was sorry.  Even still, she admitted it. That's all we wanted, even if it wasn't true.

"Wow," I said, blinking in surprise. "That's... surprising."

He shrugged, pursing his lips.  "Well, whatever you make of it, I can tell you one thing," his eyes shifted behind me and to Luke.  "She is still in love with you.  That's all she said and that she is upset of where things are.  Blah, blah, blah," he said in disgust.  "All that sappy BS that might not even be true.  That's for you to judge," he said to his brother. 

"Thanks man," I said, in relief.  I doubted the part of it being fully true, the sappy shit he was talking about.  But just as long as she said it, the rest doesn't matter.  "I'm really happy you did that."

"No problem," he shrugged.  Then, that smirk showed up again.  "We're leaving now.  You two... be careful tonight.  The last thing we need to deal with are any sex injuries," he said, raising and lowering his eyebrows just as he turned away from us and began to walk down the hallway.  He left me and Luke standing there, speechless.  If Brooke wasn't around and waiting in the living room, you can bet I would have followed him on that one and kicked his ass for it.  But we couldn't. 

When everyone was gone though, when Francis fled with Brooke to avoid retaliation, Shannon soon followed.  Everything was quiet in the house after that.  And... that conversation we had, it still lingered in my mind.  Not the part about Clare, not even his stupid sexual crack he made... but what he said about the sheriff.  What were we going to do with that information?  What could we do?  How could we try to prove he is right...?

Those questions raced through my mind while me and Luke attended to the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.  Scrubbing away the dried sauce in the pot for the spaghetti, the only sound between us was our breathing and the sound of the water with the movement... I could tell he was thinking the same thing over.  I mean, what could we do?  How could we get those files?  I wasn't sure if it would even be worth it.  But... there was still that possibility.

We weren't getting too far with stopping this thing with the gang.  Our focus was mainly on Clare at the moment.  I knew the cops were on it and it was a hard process even just trying to grasp the reins of this whole thing because this same company is into wide spread smuggling.  Even so, if Francis was right... that might even mean no progress was being made to begin with.  And if that's the case... that's something we need to know.  We need to if we are fighting an unwinnable battle here.  If we are, we could come up with a new strategy.  But we would only know if we find out if he is involved or not.  But how...?

The idea has been circulating as an answer as to 'how' to do it but I kept shooting it down.  It was the most absurd idea and in my mind, probably wasn't worth the thought.  But since I kept seeing that as the only solution, I at least needed to put it out there. 

"Luke?" I asked.

"Hmm?"

I bit my lip.  "Before I say this, just know you don't have to consider it.  I'm just going to put it out there."

"Oh god," I heard him say under his breath. With him standing beside me at the sink, I glanced over from where I was washing the pot to where he was drying the dishes and was putting them away.  His hand holding the towel stopped drying off a plate I just finished.  Glancing up to his face, he looked down into my eyes in question.  "Let me have it."

"Well... what if we just, break into the station."

He nodded almost immediately after, as if he saw that coming, in a way that called me ridiculous.  "Yep.  Can't consider it, Albany.  You were right."

I groaned, turning my body away from the sink to look up at him.  Crossing my arms, I narrowed my eyes at him.  "Well, what else can we do?"

He set the towel down himself, turning to face me too.  Eyebrows raised, he just shook his head.  In a small voice, he said, "I don't know.  But... with the fact that I'm a cop and you want us to break into the station... I work in... it's just too risky and seems kind of pointless."

"Okay, I take it back.  You don't have the permission to shoot my option down.  Since it's the only one," I said.

He gave a soft chuckle under his breath and he looked away for a small moment.  When his eyes came back to mine, they were full of humor.  "I really shouldn't be surprised to hear this idea from you."

"I know," I nodded.

He pursed his lips.  "Why don't I just... walk in and grab the file?  My reasoning could be I'm just looking for mine since mine would be in the same place as his."

I thought it over for a second until I found one possible hole in that plan.  "Can you even do that?  Look into your own file?"

"I don't know if it's allowed but if it isn't, I'll just say I didn't know if they really go that far and ask why I'm looking for a file."

I felt a smile grow on my face.  Because I didn't see one other reason why his plan was really that bad.  Better than mine, clearly.  Even if mine would have been more fun, he didn't need that risk.  This would reduce the risk of getting caught, of anything bad happening.  I bit my lip in excitement.  Because we could do this... we could pull this off right.

"Can we do it?" I asked in a quiet voice, as if afraid he would say no.  My smile only grew though by the second at the idea running through my head. 

He scoffed slightly but as he looked down into my eyes for a long moment, he finally gave me an answer.  "Yeah, we can do it," he smiled. "And... I think if we do it, it ought to be tonight."

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I tried writing this chapter a bit differently. Tell me what you think :)