Secrets We Keep

10 (RODRIGUEZ)

My part of the deal? MY PART OF THE DEAL?!

Will has a lot of nerve to be asking for his part of the deal. After all I've done for him, I planned his wedding! That should be a joyous celebration. I placed the "sacred" diamond as a wedding gift for Lorrie. I jeopardized our friendship– if we're still even friends. I genuinely liked her as a friend, maybe even more but that's all irrelevant. I can't help but feel terrible. I helped conduct the plan. The plan for her entire marriage with Will. He doesn't just pick people at random. He told me to get close with Lorrie, gain her trust, become friends with her, maybe even more, and then discreetly drop hints and clues about her past. Destroy her from the inside out. He's a twisted man. I wouldn't have done it if I knew she was kind, or that I would've become friends with her. I wish I could take it all back... but I can't. Will wouldn't let me do it– alive.

"Rodriguez." Will barges through my room door, with Erik on one side, Malachi on the other, and a gun in his hand.

"Gee, thanks for knocking."

Will sits down on a chair nearby and gestures for Erik and Malachi to stand by. "I came here only for information, information that you were supposed to provide? Update me with your recent conversations with Lorrie. Is she sad? Angry?" Will asks, leaning towards me with interest.

"No. We haven't spoken at all since the journal. I think she's mad at me or something." I reply back with a lack of interest. The more I get into this mission, the creepier it gets. Why does he want to know our conversations? Is he really that controlling?

"Well that's no good, anyways, I'll keep you for now, have a chat with Malachi, would you? Lorrie wanted to speak with me earlier anyways." He nods at me, motions for Erik to walk out with him. Leaving me with Malachi– Lorrie's old partner. The man whose death caused this whole problem.

"So, you're Malachi-"

"Save the small talk, please. I hate small talk. I don't do small talk. If you have a question, ask it. I'm an open book at this point." He says with boredom, finding himself a seat as he massages his multiple wounds.

"What's your relationship with Lorrie?" I ask bluntly, waiting for his response. He looks taken aback. I might've overstepped. But he did say he was an open book.

"Ouch. We're going here, alright. Well, she used to be my girlfriend, then she got pregnant with our daughter, then I left..." He says, looking at the side, and not at me.

"Asshole." I mutter quietly.

"I'm aware... It wasn't my proudest moment, but after time we eventually made up for lost time and started raising our daughter Maeve together, until Will raided our house, shooting me, then our daughter, then Lorrie came home. And here we are." He finishes, with a chuckle. I stare at him with sympathy. His life was just taken away from him, yanked away. And poor Lorrie, her baby...?

"Was Maeve Lorrie's only kid?" I quietly ask. Kind of hoping he doesn't answer.

"Yea."

I sigh as I fall into my seat. This poor woman has gone through so much so quickly. And I've helped it continue. What kind of person am I? I walk up to Malachi and pat him on the back. "I appreciate you opening up to me, I'm sorry for being blunt. This whole situation is so confusing... and I need to get Lorrie out of here, it's too dangerous!" I tell him, placing my hands in my head.

Malachi smiles at me. "Hey, thanks for watching over her, she doesn't like to be vulnerable so be patient with her, she needs someone who can look after her, especially since I won't be here much long with these injuries..." Malachi trails off as he sees my quivering lip. "What's your name?"

I wipe the small tears that are clinging to my lashes, and offer a hand. "Rodriguez."