Conduit - M J Marlow (best short books to read txt) 📗

picking the clothes up off the floor, “wants to do something nice for you. What’s the harm in letting her do so?” “I don’t know why,” I snapped at him. “I have spent my entire life being pushed around and forced to do things I didn’t want! How is this any different?” I saw their shock and knew they did not care how I would feel. It only made me angrier with them. “I was happy! For the first time in my life, I had people to care about and a place of my own! And you ruined it!” I curled up on the bed and sobbed. “You ruined it all!” “I think we should leave the little princess alone for a while,” Justin decided. “Can you get her sizes off of her clothing?” Karen nodded. “Then we’ll go buy her a few things and let her settle down.” “Maybe she’s hungry?” Henry suggested. He went to call for room service. “I’ll have the kitchen send up something.” I wasn’t listening anymore. I heard them close the door and I knew they probably had locked it. I had no idea what they were talking about. I had a home. Why would I want to go somewhere with three complete strangers that I had never known before? But they were being quite insistent that I should do this. At least I had gotten the others out of there before these people could get them in trouble. I could only hope the twins would look out for the others because it was now becoming increasingly obvious to me that I was caught. “Princess,” the other man, Henry, called as he unlocked the door. “I have food out here. Why don’t you come join me?” I didn’t want to, but the smell of pizza hit my nose and I was drawn to it. He had ordered pizza? I went into the main room and there were two large pizzas waiting, along with a salad, some breadsticks, soda pop in an ice bucket and fancy silverware and plates. I sat down at the table and said grace. Then I began to eat while Henry watched in amusement. He joined me and we were halfway through the first pizza when Karen and Justin returned carrying several bags. Karen put them in the bedroom and they joined us in the meal. If I had wanted to be here, I thought as I finished my slice and reached for another, this would be quite pleasant. “Pizza, Henry?” “She’s a kid, Justin,” Henry shrugged. “What kid doesn’t like pizza?” He turned to me. “There’s ice cream for dessert.” There was a knock on the door and he went to answer it. “Your very own sundae bar,” he said as the waiter pushed in the cart and set it up next to the table. He gave the man a five and sent him out. “Whipped cream, strawberries, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, pineapple, hot fudge, marshmallow. If you want something different, just let me know. I’ll get them to bring it up.” “I want my friends!” I could feel the tears welling up and I could not stop it. They were treating me like a pampered pet. It wasn’t right! I shoved the pizza boxes on the floor and ran to the bedroom, slamming the doors shut as I sobbed. “I want to go home!” “Wow!” “What did we expect?” Karen said as she went to the bathroom and pulled out a pill bottle. “This is all a shock to the poor kid.” She shook out a pill and took my soda glass with her. “A little something to keep her calm.” “We’re drugging her?” Henry cried in protest. “This is going a bit too far…” “We were told to bring her back, Henry,” Justin broke in. “And if the pills keep her calm and controllable; I’m all for them.” He went to help Karen while Henry cleaned up the mess. “Having a problem?” he asked as he saw me in the corner, shaking my head in refusal. “It’s just a little sedative, princess. You’ll feel much calmer once you’ve taken it.” “And then you’ll sell me to a pimp!” I cried and tried to back up further. “I know how it works. I’ve seen it happen to other girls. They come in the night, and force them to take pills, and then the girls disappear.” “We are not selling you to a pimp,” Justin shook his head. What other horrors had this child seen in her young life? Was the foster care system aware of such abuses? Did they even care? He held his hand out to me and smiled. “Come on, little one,” he said softly as he stepped closer, “we are your friends. We are not going to hurt you.” I laid my hand in his, locked to his concerned eyes. He made me sit down. “Now if you promise to quit throwing these temper tantrums, Karen won’t give you the pill.” I nodded, eager to avoid such a thing. “Come on out and have some ice cream. Henry went to a lot of trouble to select something for you to enjoy.” I went back to the table and smiled at Henry who became quite eager to act waiter for me. He put a towel over his arm and bowed at the waist. When he put on a silly accent, I found myself giggling. Justin and Karen exchanged amazed glances. So I was still capable of being a child. They decided to let Henry entertain me and went to watch television. The rest of the evening passed peacefully and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. Karen crept in as I was out cold and gave me a shot of the sedative while I could not stop her. * Gramps was impressed by the Spanish Embassy’s interior. He had seen it many times on his drive to work, but it had not prepared him for this. He felt as if he had been thrust back in time. The aide showed him out to a garden and brought his a drink as he waited for his interview. He rose as a man out of history strode towards him. Gramps could see the two shadows remaining nearby as the Spanish grandee who was the Prince Rivero Santos came to join him. He held out his hand to Gramps and his imperious gaze looked Gramps over and did not dismiss him. Gramps felt as if he had passed some test. “Judge Davenport,” he nodded briefly. He indicated the chairs. “Please, let us sit.” He waited a moment and then fixed his hawk-like gaze on Gramps. “I am led to understand that you have some connection to my granddaughter, Dulcinea.” “I have,” Gramps nodded. “And you wish to understand how I could leave the child to the mercies of your foster care?” Antonio saw Gramps nod tightly and he understood. “I knew where she was, Judge,” he told him bluntly, “up until the time the Social Services claimed her. Someone in their offices lost her records and all of my searches came up empty.” He told the whole truth. He knew this man would accept nothing less. “Her name would pop up from time to time, but by the time my men got to her location she had been moved on. It was as if they were doing this on purpose to keep her from me.” He was silent a moment. “How did you come to know her?” “She tried to lift my wallet,” Gramps replied, smiling. He saw the man’s shock. “She was 13 then. The man who ran the foster home had tried to rape her and she broke his nose.” He saw the man’s pride flare and then grief quickly follow tinged with great rage. “He beat her senseless and dumped her in the trash.” There was just rage now. “He is in prison for that act. I adjudicated the case personally.” “It is now four years later,” Antonio prodded him. “Dulcie refused to return to the foster care system,” Gramps nodded. “And, after seeing that brave child taking the stand to testify against the monster who had hurt her, I couldn’t do that to her. So I became a ‘shadow’ guardian for her and the other children she rescued from other abusive homes.” “My granddaughter became a crusader?” Antonio was impressed. His grandchild was a lioness! A true credit to his family! “Do you think she will wish to meet me?” “If it is her choice, Your Highness,” Gramps told him honestly. “Dulcie has a very strong resistance to being forced.” He looked at the other man. “I have a feeling it is something she gets from your side of the family.” “Si,” Antonio nodded briefly. “It is one reason why Diego and I parted.” He displayed the first signs of softness. “My son and I did not agree with his scholarly pursuits. I wished him to follow me into government.” “Children do not always share their parents aptitudes and ambitions,” Gramps nodded. “My children are much the same way, Your Highness. The closest any of them got to law is my daughter. She is my clerk.” “Then you understand,” Antonio finally smiled. “He sent mepictures from time to time. I knew he had married. I knew he had a child. But I was not allowed to contact them. When I heard that he and his wife had been murdered – in front of their child; I was on the next flight.” He saw Gramps’ relief. “You were prepared to come here and read me your ‘riot act’, Judge.” He nodded agreement. “I would not have blamed you. I should have insisted more, but…” “That was what caused your estrangement in the first place,” Gramps nodded. “Dulcie only remembers bits and pieces about her parents. She remembers the music they loved, the work they pursued, but very little of a personal nature.” “It is locked away from her by the trauma,” Antonio said. He saw Gramps look at him in confusion. “I discussed her situation with several eminent psychologists. They all agreed she would forget much to protect herself from the horror she witnessed and could not understand.” He saw Gramps’ curiosity. “You really do not want to know what happened to my son and his wife. It was not pretty. My experts tell me that it took several hours, if not days, for them to die.” “While they made Dulcie watch?” Gramps was horrified. “What kind of sick son of a bitch would do that to a child?” “They never caught him,” Antonio replied tightly. He saw his aide nod and rose to his feet. “I wish I could continue this conversation, Judge,” he said as he held out his hand, “but I have other duties I must see to while I am in your country. Please feel free to call on me again. I have a feeling we are much alike and could become quite good friends.” “I appreciate the time you could give me, Your Highness,” Gramps smiled and took the man’s hand. “When you find her, please let her know the children and I are glad she’s safe.” “She will tell you this herself,” Antonio decided. “For I will not take her anywhere unless it is her choice.” He saw Gramps’ surprised look. “You know her better than I, Judge, and I accept your advice.” “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that,” Gramps smiled. “I’ll leave you to your work then. I have cases to adjudicate this afternoon, and Snitch has a ball game…” “Snitch?” “Sorry,” Gramps smiled. “That’s what the children call him. His real name is Gilbert Thomas. He’s on his junior high baseball team this year and he is very good.” “Tell me more of these children of yours,” Antonio smiled and resumed his seat. He waved off his aide. “Call the Secretary