Even though I had managed to hide enough money to get away from my wife, I felt it would be best to try and get a good read on my in-laws.
Over the last few years my father in law had grown in a famous figure with a lot of clout, partially thanks to my "donations", so I could not afford to be careless about what repercussions leaving my wife would bring.
After giving it some thought, I contacted one of my "specials". "Specials" is what I call my external collaborators. They have no ties to the company, they are always paid in cash, the fund being obfuscated trough bloating various expenses and their job is investigation and protection. When you handle a 50 million property sale, there are a lot of chances on being scammed. False deeds, blackmail, intimidation of heirs, during my career I have seen it all.
My "Specials" job was to investigate the truth of the deed, confirm the real beneficiaries, protect the heirs from intimidation, and convince any criminal element that would try blackmail to back off. Given that my "Specials" are ex special forces recruited by my old buddies from my army days, not many would risk pissing them off and the few who did become an example for the rest. Thus, I gave Mike a call.
"Yeah". A baritone muddled voice answered my call.
"Hey Mike, sleeping during the day"? I asked
"Hi Boss, yeah, the little one is teething and we get almost no sleep at night. It's driving me crazy. Anyway, what's up"?
"I got a job for you. This one is personal and the pay is double the usual".
I didn't speak anymore and waited. I know Mike's character very well. He is the smartest of my Specials and he always analyze the situation before acting. After two minutes of silence he replied
"no bodies involved"?
"None, I just need a background investigation". I then proceeded to tell him everything about my situation and my wife's family.
"Shit, they really did a number of you boss. This isn't like you. How did you let it happen"?
"Yeah, well, I kinda am blinded when it comes to family I guess. Can you do it"?
"No problem boss, send me all the details to my email and I'll get to it as soon as I get a cup of coffee or three. No charge this time". Was the instant reply.
I shook my head.
"No, the double charge stand, I won't have you work for nothing".
"Look Carl", Mike said. It is rare for him to call me by name, but when he does it means that he is very serious.
"When I was discharged from the special forces on trumped up charges, you gave me a chance.
When that bastard of a CO pushed the blame for the r ape of that girl on me, I thought that my life would end there. You gave me a job and never talked down on me. When I married you helped me buy a house. When my first child was born you sent flowers to the hospital and set up a college fund for my kid. You did the same for my little one. You might be my boss, but you are one of the few people I can call a true friend. So, if you think that I will take your money to help you out of this family shit, I will shove your company's building so far up your ass that you will need a demolition crew to take it out. Are we clear"?
I was honestly touched. What I did for Mike is what I always do for all my employees. It is not a coincidence that almost no one ever wishes to leave my company even if they are offered higher salaries or benefits. What I didn't realize until now is that when I recruited Mike he was a pariah, an untouchable, and my way of handling things had a much greater impact on his life than on my employees.
"Okay Mike, but I will still pay regular rate. You have the little one to think of now and you need the money. Think of it as two friends looking after each other".
"Good, I can accept that. Send me that email and I'll get to work".
We chatted for a few minutes more and then we hang up. I sat on my laptop and I prepared the email. I wrote down all I knew about my in-laws, their habits and schedules and sent it. Afterward I left the office and drove home.
When I reached home my wife was not there, so I headed to Ella's room to see if she was back from school. I went to the upper floor and knocked on her door.
"Ella"?
"Come in Dad", came her voice from the room.
I entered my daughter bedroom and saw her at her desk doing her homework. Her head was bent over a book as she was reading causing her blonde long hair to drop forward to caress her cheeks.
She looked so much like her mother when I first met her that I felt a knot in my throat. She was wearing a pink shirt over a pair of white shorts and as she was bent forward over the desk, her perky round butt completely filling the fabric of her shirts like it was ready to rip them apart and be free. Her shirt while loose could not hide the form of her D-cup breasts. Her face was scrunched up with a slight frown of concentration. For the millionth time I had to repeat to myself in my mind that she is my daughter, a mantra that would hopefully keep my erection down. Yeah, I was sexually attracted by my 18 years old daughter.
I did say that I am a pervert, right?