Relationship Status: Mafia

Chapter 4

_____ALICE POV____

The next few days were a struggle, to say the least. I'm so used to working long hours every day, all week, and I always keep myself busy. Now, my time has consisted of waking up early with morning coffee and doing things around my home.

I've cleaned my apartment from top to bottom, and there's nothing left for me to do. I even thought about visiting my father, but I quickly abandoned that idea. I don't care how bored I become during my leave from work. My dad is the last person I'll visit, especially after my case went to hell and dragged me down with it. The last thing I need is a "I told you so" from him.

Blake has messaged me for the past three days since I've been gone and updated me about work. Sounds like he's starting to like working with Detective Brown. They've been teaming together on other narcotic cases, making remarkable progress.

I am, however, still hung up on the very mess that benched me and can't seem to let it go. I can't be in good conscience when I let Han and Judge Ross get away with the corruption they'er causing this city.

Tonight, I sat on my couch, looking over my own notes taken during the investigation. I had two confessions, and it didn't stick worth a damn and it's a shame. I fear that kenny and Muyang are in serious trouble now. Muyang can be moved away to another facility, but even that is a stretch because I have no idea how far Judge Ross's power reaches.

I closed the file and pushed it off the coffee table the more I thought about everything. So much anger is welling up inside that I wanted to scream until my lungs popped.

Just then, my phone started to ring. I dreaded this moment because he calls at least once a day.

"Hello." I grumbled.

"Alice, it's your father."

"Yeah, I know, dad." I rubbed my eyes in annoyance. "How can I help you?"

"Well, I wanted to check on you." He sounded like he was dancing around what he really wanted to say.

I pulled the phone away to groan from the mental exhaustion.

"I'm doing the same as I was yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that." A bit of sarcasm came through when I spoke. "If that is all you called to do, then I'm going to bed."

"Wait, I also wanted to ask you something." He cut me off before I could hang up. "I was thinking of what you can do next when you return to work. Obviously, narcotics didn't work out. Maybe you can explore a less stressful path. You could consider going back to patrol."

I blinked rapidly because I couldn't believe what I had just heard.

"Wait, wait. So you are suggesting I demote myself to patrol? Are you high? Are you kidding me? Honestly, think about what you just said. What would you say if someone said that to you during your detective career?" I don't hold back and unleash my pent-up frustration.

"Don't insinuate that I'm high." He sounded offended that I would say such a thing. "You know I don't play around with that sort of thing."

I laughed like an insane person because my dad can't be for real right now. He is so ridiculous and can't see past his own nose. My mom is rolling over in her grave right now. I mean, he was an absurd narcissist when I was younger, but he turned it up a notch when mom passed away.

"You know what, thank you for the unbelievable amount faith you have in me as a detective. I can really see it now. So, if you don't mind, I am going to go to bed and try not to think about the piece of shit Father you are."