Broken Trust

Redley's Hideout

Beth looked in the mirror at her outfit, not focused on it at all. Unemotional Robot. That was the nickname that was branded to her in high school. The girl that doesn't even cry. The girl that is void of emotion. The girl who can't feel. And for the most—or all of that, they're right. You'd think that after loosing her daughter that she would fill up dry rivers with her tears..but no nothing.

"You just lost your daughter. ..."., she sighed out, staring at her reflection., "...Come on, that's worth at least a few tears, Beth".

She looked at her dry face and threw her hands up in the air.

"Great. Thanks, Mom and Dad".

"Stop crying!"., the whooshing sound of her father's hand, slapping her, his other handing gripping her ponytail, the potent smell of alcohol coming off his breath.

"Hit her Greg!..."., her mother egged him on, with a big smile on her face., "...She deserves it, honey!".

Like any child would, she was sobbing at the abuse she was enduring.

"You look weak while crying! Only weak and pathetic people cry!".

"Caleb!..."., Beth called out helplessly, trying to squirm away., "...Help me!".

"Your stupid brother isn't here to protect you, fatty!..."., her mother spoke, quickly going to the door and looking around just to make sure., "...How dare you embarrass me and your father like that!".

The "embarrassment" she is talking about, is that she went to get a second plate of food at a family event, and after that she had a cup of tea. Not a big deal, but to them, they acting like she took a shit on the table in front of everyone.

"I..was hungry!..."., she sobbed out, trying to cover herself as best as she can., "...I'm sorry, please stop!".

"I told you to loose that weight on your stomach! Not add onto it!".

A loud knock sounded through the room and he immediately stopped and fixed up his shirt. He gave his wife a look and she nodded, letting out a deep sigh and fixed up her hair. He pulled his daughter up to his feet and his disgusting, rough hand went to her face. As an instinct reaction, she flinched, hiding her head behind her arms.

"Don't be an idiot. ..."., he shook his head, moving her arms and wiping her tears away., "...You were not crying. You look stupid and weak while crying. Do..not..cry".

"Do not cry"., she sighed out.

She looked at her outfit, trying to decide whether that's just what she's going to wear. It's just "Santino's" plain brown hoodie and some black tights. She shrugged, putting her hair up in a messy bun and looked in the mirror again, throwing her hands in the air.

"This is as good as it's going to get"., she muttered.

"Amore mio, what are you doing?"., Santino spoke in a gentle tone, walking back into the room and clipping his badge on his right shirt pocket.

"I'm going to work..."., she muttered., "...what does it look like?".

"Didn't you ask for some time off?"., he asked, a little surprised.

"Why would I do that?..."., she muttered, blocking the view as she entered in the four digit code., "...I need to go to work".

"I'm sure your boss will understand, if you put in a request to take some time off".

"I want to be on this case, I can't do that".

"This case involves you, I think that's another reason for you to take some time out".