Good Intentions

Ch25: Target

*** Hey guys. Here is a short update. I haven't had much time the past couple days, but didn't want to leave you hanging too long, so here is a little something to snack on :)

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Sang POV

Sang took a moment to really think about what to say next. She had learned a lot in that meeting with Hendricks, and her mind was going a mile a minute trying to figure out how to best use it to her advantage. Almost forgetting that Owen and Sean were there, she startled slightly when Sean started speaking.

"Owen, we can't allow this."

"I know Sean, but what can we do about it? They are just observing, and unfortunately, they aren't really even observing her. Taking her out of there won't even help, because it is her situation they are watching. We can't force her father to come back." The hatred in his tone had me snapping back to full attention. Taking in his face, I was a bit startled to see that he looked murderous. Without thought, I spoke.

"Why are you so angry?"

They both brought their eyes to me, with identical incredulous looks. I studied their eyes, and tried to see if I could figure out what had them so upset. Nothing had really changed. Not really. If anything we were in a better situation because now we knew. Knowing was always better. Wasn't it?

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't we be angry?" Sean asked.

"It doesn't really change anything. We just know now. Plus, I think I was able to buy us some time. Look, I know I took a risk, saying everything that I did, but now we have a few more leads and more information. Honestly, this is good news. If he is focused on me, you guys are free to do your jobs. We can use this." 

They both just stared at me, as if they hadn't understood a word I said. I tried to replay my little speech in my head, to determine which part of it they seemed to have an issue with, but I couldn't figure it out. So I sighed, and just waited. 

"Are you insinuating that we use this information, or more pointedly, that we use you, to distract Mr. Hendricks so that we can further investigate?" Owen spoke slowly and carefully, making it very apparent that he thought that was a foolish idea. I would have been embarrassed a week ago. I would have dipped my head and probably apologized for even having an opinion that he found so lacking. But it was not a week ago. And it was not a bad idea. I think the problem was that it wasn't his idea. 

"I'm not insinuating anything. I'm telling you that this is what is happening. He is already focused on me as it is, for whatever reason. So instead of just trying to manage it like we have been, use it." His eyes narrowed at the soft command in my voice. He was not used to be standing up to him, not that I had really ever been in the position to do so before. Sean, however, looked like he was thinking rather hard about something. Again, I sighed and waited. I was going to do what I wanted anyway, and what I wanted was to shut Hendricks down. There was so much more going on here than just missing funds and bad administrators. I didn't know what yet, but I had a bad feeling that Jade was a big part of it, as well as my father. I just didn't know how. 

"Miss... Sang," he huffed in frustration, which made me smirk. "That is unacceptable. It is bad enough that you somehow made yourself a target, I will not allow us to use you as some type of pawn. We will find another way, and in the meantime we will find a way to make your home life appear more normal to outsiders that may be looking in." 

I heard every word he said, most of them being exactly what I expected him to say. What surprised me was that he had just blamed me for making myself a target. And that, in my opinion, was laughable. So, I laughed. I laughed until I worked out every bit of nervous energy that lingered. I laughed until my eyes were blurry with tears. I ignored them completely and laughed like the lunatic I was starting to feel like. Made myself a target. The nerve he had was just unbelievable.