When I Lie in Bed at Night PT 11

Part Eleven

After hearing her name and seeing the strong resemblance, Antonio didn't have to second guess or even question her any further. Alana was his daughter and she stood before him like an angel. With out a doubt, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. At that moment, as Jude continued talking with her and he himself stared in awe, nothing else mattered. His past, the fights, drugs, and murder didn't matter. All he saw was her. She was now the one bright light in the hell hole he spent his life in.

     “Well...” Antonio said outstretching his arms. “We can hug if you want.” he told her smiling.            
     Alana's heart finally calmed down as she stepped forward and hugged her father for the first time. Her eyes swelled up with tears but she fought back the urge to cry in front of a bar full of bikers. The situation was already awkward enough. There was no need to make things worse. For now, all she wanted to do was enjoy the moment.

     Thankfully that moment lasted for more than a month before things got bad. She stayed in a small room at a friend of her dad's. She would spend the days and some nights, as long as the bar wasn't too rough, with her dad. They caught up on everything, or at least he caught up on her life. There wasn't much to say about his past twenty years. Her twenty didn't sound too bad. She had lots of friends and some good memories. He smiled listening to her talk about leaving home for the first time. Although he himself had traveled across the U.S. Many times, it sounded so much better when it was described by Alana.

     While Alana was telling him about her life, Antonio was regretting his. There were twenty years that he could have had with his daughter but he missed them. He kept trying to think of people to blame for this but it always came back to him. It was his fault and no one else. The only good part of the situation was that he had his daughter now and he was a free man, at least for the time being.

     Not more than a few days after the incredible moth he spent with his daughter, a man by the name of Detective Rick Weir showed up. The sullen, yet, pleased detective walked into the bar like he had just bought it. He didn't even need to ask to be pointed to Antonio. As soon as he walked in, he scanned the room with his hazel eyes and spotted Antonio right off. He pointed at him and motioned for him to come outside. Antonio followed but told Alana to stay put. A few of the bars patrons including Jude rose up ready to follow behind but Antonio told them to stay with Alana.

    “Come here.” Detective Weir said while he lit a cigarette. Antonio slowly approached the detective. He had had many run ins with cops since being released but they had never come onto his turf before. This detective was bold.
     “Can I help you?” Antonio asked. 
     Detective Weir blew smoke from his lungs and smiled.

    “You can go back to prison.” he said.

    “Sorry. I'm a free man.” Antonio told him.

    “The hell you are.” the detective growled. “I don't know how you did it, but I promise you this isn't over. You are not a free man, not even in your dreams!”

    “Your people made a mistake. They know I'm innocent. That's why I got out.” Antonio told him proudly.

    “I knew the cop you killed.” Detective Weir glared at Antonio as if he were an animal. “I know what really happened that night. You haven't gotten away with anything.”

    “Neither have you.” Antonio shot back. “If you know what happened that night, then you're just as guilty as you think I am.” 
    Detective Weir tightened his fist but didn't throw a punch. His face turned red with fury. Not able to say anything else without unleashing a firestorm of curses and violence, the detective got into his car and left, but not before telling Antonio that he, "would," be returning to prison. He even promised it on the deceased cop's name. 


(To Be Continued)

Copyright © 2012 by April Thompson

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