Chapter 74 CHAPTER 077
She glares at me from her seat across the den, I open my mouth to reply her but just then a vibration goes off in my pants pocket. It is my phone. I grab it, and looking at the screen, it is an unsaved number. Unknown. I look at the hot glare on Sheryl's face as she watches me with palpable hatred.
Hernandez bursts into the room, he has set up a makeshift investigation room in the guestroom adjacent to the den, and he tracks my phone for every single call. He must have seen the call come in. Abbie is behind him and a third guy who is with Hernandez, whose name I have not bothered to know in the chaos since yesterday. Sheryl looks behind her and I see the panic cross her eyes for a second.
"That would be him, right?" I point the ringing phone to Hernandez.
"Should be. It is almost twenty four hours after." He says coolly. Abbie nods at me and the third guy pulls out a recording device with earpieces which he passes around to Hernandez and Abbie. Then he walks out of the room back to the investigation room where there are more sophisticated tracking devices to follow up the call. All these takes under five seconds, I push the answer button, set the call to loudspeaker and clear my throat.
"Hello, daddy." It is him. Of course. My eyes find Sheryl's across the room and she looks like she just heard a ghost. It takes me a moment to process what he just said. I turn to find Hernandez and Abbie's eyes on me, questions shining in their eyes.
"Tyler." Is all I manage to say. My head is ringing with his voice calling me daddy. Haunting and full with unveiled contempt. I am shocked and confused. I look at Sheryl again. At least she can't deny that her son is a criminal anymore. I feel vindicated but it is not a feeling that lasts. Or means anything to me in this moment.
"Do you miss your girl? How are you a better stepfather, or is it guardian you call it? or wait," His chuckle is tinged with a malice so deep, it makes me newly afraid for Amelia's safety around such a mad man "what is the best term to describe the abomination you and Amelia have going on?
Anyway, back to my question, how are you a better guardian to a stranger's kid than you ever were a father to your own kid?" He says, his chuckling dies down to a venomous tone laced with such palpable danger, I feel my pulse quicken.
"Tyler. I don't know what this is about. If it is the money, I'll give you all you want. You don't want this situation to escalate beyond what you can handle. Let Amelia go and we will resolve this as quietly as possible. No consequences." I say through gritted teeth.
I hate having to negotiate with him like this but Hernandez made me understand that the best way to go about it would be to make him feel heard and understood. No malice on my part. Try to fraternise with him. I hate it so much, my fists are white on the armrest.
I look at Hernandez for a signal, he signs that I am doing well so far and should try keep him on the phone for longer. Which means that they have not been able to successfully track the number. My eyes go to Sheryl's, she is pale as a ghost. And there is something else about her expression that gives me pause.
I had sidestepped most of what Tyler said because I am too occupied with keeping him on the phone and acting pliable, but my mind reels back to his words. What does he mean by I am being a better guardian to Amelia than a father to my kid? What kid? I have never fathered any child. I have never wanted to.
"Consequences? Fuck that and fuck you. I am not interested in your money, you piece of shit. How dare you try to throw money at me? You are a little too late for that." Tyler snarls. He is getting agitated. This pliable shit is not going well. I am confused by his words and looking at Hernandez and Abbie, it is obvious they are also as confused as I am.
Then I look across to where Sheryl is seated, she is not there, I look around in a panic and then I see her get up close, too late as she lunges for me, grabbing the phone out of my hand.
"Tyler! Son!" She cries into the phone, Hernandez looks at me, silently asking if he should take care of her, but I shake my head.