Retribution by K.A. Robinson

wouldn’t be in today or tomorrow.”
    “What did you tell them?”
    “That you have a stomach bug. When you go back and they see your face, they’ll know I lied. You’ll have to figure out what you’re going to tell them.” He paused thoughtfully. “If you go back.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked as I watched him place the tray across my lap. Suddenly starved, I picked up a piece of bacon and chomped away on it.
    “I don’t know what you plan to do now. You could press charges against my father if you wanted to.”
    “We both know they’ll never stick. He’s too connected in this town.”
    He sighed. “You’re right. So, what are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know,” I told him truthfully. “I hate your father, but I have nowhere to go. I need to find a place to stay before I leave here. I’ll also need to find a new job as well. Something tells me I’ll be fired from the firm soon.”
    “So, you’re just going to run away and let him get away with what he did to you?” Cooper asked incredulously.
    “What do you expect me to do, Cooper? I can’t file charges against him!” I said, suddenly angry.
    He stayed silent for a moment. “I didn’t sleep much last night. Instead, I stayed up and tried to think of a way that you could get back at him.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “And what did you come up with?”
    “You’re not going to like it,” he said.
    “I’m sure I won’t, but tell me anyway.”
    He looked guilty for a moment, and my stomach dropped. I really wasn’t going to like this.
    “I want to use you.”
    “To do what?” I asked cautiously.
    “To finally get proof against my father. Think about it, Claire. You are closer to him than anyone else. He would never expect you to betray him, even after last night. He thinks you’re a timid little girl who is too dumb to go against him. You have access to him at work as well. I have never been able to get into his office before.” He took a deep breath. “I want you to go to him and tell him you forgive him for what happened last night. Then, I want you to snoop every chance you can, so we can finally pin my mother’s death on him.”
    I gaped at him with my mouth hanging open. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I’ve never been so serious about anything in my life. I think you’re my one and only chance at finally bringing him down, Claire. I wouldn’t ask this of you if I wasn’t desperate.”
    “You want me to forgive him.” I sucked in a deep breath. “No, it’s more than just forgiving Robert. You want me to act like nothing happened.”
    “I know it’s asking a lot, Claire. I get that. But wouldn’t you rather make him pay for everything he’s done than just walk away and let him hurt someone else like he hurt you, like he hurt my mother? Your innocence is what got you here, and it’s what’ll get you out.”
    “He really killed her, didn’t he?” My voice was so soft that I wasn’t sure if he heard me or not.
    Finally, after a moment, he spoke, “Yeah, Claire, he did. And it’s up to me to make sure he pays for what he’s done.” His voice grew gruff as he said, “My mother is dead because she wanted out. I can’t let that happen to you, too. Please, help me, and I swear to God, I’ll protect you from him. I need you to do this though, Claire. Please.”
    I stared at him. I no longer saw a sarcastic man. Instead, I saw a broken one. Marie’s death had destroyed Cooper. He’d spent so much time trying to avenge her, and he had come up with next to nothing. If I walked away, I wasn’t sure that Cooper would ever stop trying. He would either get himself killed, or he’d murder Robert and destroy his own future. I couldn’t let that happen.
    Despite what had happened between us, I still cared for Cooper. I probably always would. That was why I had waited and waited for him to finally make his appearance once we returned. It wasn’t because I was afraid of him. It was because I’d wanted to see him.