Charade

Vic

It was morning by the time I'd finished with those damn skimmers.

My only stroke of luck came from the streets, which were quiet and empty for hours and hours, allowing me to go about my business without the threat of being caught. When I arrived at the hospital, the sun was low on the southern horizon, burning orange and gold, leaking out into the morning sky.

Lily's door swung open. I paused. Benjamin was lying in Lily's bed, asleep, with her head on his chest and his arm wrapped around her. I narrowed my eyes.

"Good morning," I shouted, clapping my hands together.

Benjamin's body jerked awake, eyes snapping open. Lily stirred, eyes open in slits, before rolling over and falling back asleep.

"Vic?" Benjamin asked, eyebrows furrowed. He looked down at Lily, then back at me, his eyes wide in the horrible realization.

"Benjamin," I said, lips in a line. "Would you like to explain yourself?"

"Vic, mate, i-it's not what it looks like."

"Then tell me," I said, "what is going on?"

"I-I-I stole a DVD for Lily and I to watch because I-I wanted to be nice, you know, so she wouldn't be bored or anything. And, well, I – she – we fell asleep. I swear nothing happened, we just watched a show, that's all. No harm done."

I remained silent for a long moment, analysing the situation – Benjamin's white face, the open curtains, the TV, turned on, stuck on a menu screen for some DVD. Benjamin was standing, terrified, waiting for me to lash out in some horrible way.

"Vic?" He whispered gingerly.

I licked my lips, considering my response.

"I believe you," I said. "But if I ever find you in my daughter's bed again, I won't be stopping to ask questions."

"Yep, definitely. I agree wholeheartedly." He blurted out, crossing his arms over his chest. With his shoulders hunched up to his ears, he grabbed his shoes and headed for the door, head down, not looking me in the eye.

And I didn't need to hear an apology to know just how sorry he was.

© A.G. Travers 2015