Her eyes went straight to her mother. She was pretty, her fading blonde hair charmingly coiffed, her eyes blue, her skin fresh and lightly scattered with freckles which helped to create an astonishing illusion of youth. She wore a blue skirt and cardigan and a creamy silk blouse; her legs were slim and shapely and her hands beautifully manicured; decorated with pale pink fingernails, and many rings and fine gold bracelets. Scented, immaculately preserved, she made her think of a charming little tabby cat, curled precisely in the centeR of her own satin cushion.
"I didn't invite you, did I?" Trenton said in a drunken stupor.
"But I did," Morgan said as a smile spread slowly across his face, "And they've brought company." The men in blue swarmed into the room and apprehended Michael Trenton and his other men.
"Well, I see your forty days are finally over," Jackson said pulling his daughter behind him and away from Trenton's stare. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Trenton added with disarming candor. There was a subtle lifting of the atmosphere, a freshness in the air as Trenton was whisked away in the police jeep parked outside. Later, he was arraigned in court and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to defraud the company, which earned him a lifetime imprisonment.
****
Midday. It was the fourth day since Sophie's disappearance. Her distressed parents; their hopes shattered by the continuous unfruitful investigations. During the past three days, before the dead calm descended, this section of New York had suffered not only a tremor, but ten hours later a tropical storm whose bolts of lightning and ground-shaking thunder had almost set fire to multiple residences and caused residents to turn to their deities for deliverance. The lordly mansion, however had somehow survived both catastrophes. It was made of iron-bolted stone and steel and built in Bridgeport on the north side, impenetrable, indestructible, a fortress.
"It is him," said the man behind the desk in the darkened parlor. On the left wall was hung a detailed map of New York, specifically of Newark. "We can presume Evans looked you up on your company's website and located your residence then waited for the opportune time to strike. Let's also presume that he came by flight from Canada- that's the only way he could survive the weather."
"What was he doing in Canada?"
"We don't have any information on that yet but we have located where he's held your daughter captive."
"Why don't you advance with your troops?" Asked Victoria, sitting in front of the desk and staring at the map, "It would certainly make everything easier."
"Yes of course it would," the officer lit a cigarette, " but for a man raised by a lunatic father as evil as himself we cannot afford to take chances. I want irrefutable proof before I can issue any orders."
"I really hope you are right, detective Edwin. This state cannot afford Evans Trenton."
"The last piece of evidence that for us confirmed his identity was that among the allegedly buried records were family histories- certain more isolated branches of the Trenton Empire."
"I'm not sure I follow you," Jackson said, "You mean to say that Trenton actually had established organizations which he managed to keep hidden for twenty five years?"
"Yes, something of that sort."
"And exactly who's overseeing their daily operations?"
"I do not have that information but on the contrary it is not of importance at the moment."
"Ok." The door creaked and Morgan walked into the house.
"Have they found anything yet?" he asked after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
"Just where Evans is keeping her."
"That's all the information I need. I'm going in."
"I wouldn't advice that. I don't think it's safe for you to do that"
"At this point I really don't care what you think. You've been sitting behind that desk for four whole days and all you've done is conduct meaningless investigations. Your advice doesn't count. Give me the details." Edwin handed over the details and Morgan checked his stun gun.
Sophie was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened and Evans walked back in, "So..." he was interrupted by the doorbell and he went back out to check making sure to close the door behind him. A few seconds after Evans left, Morgan stealthily walked in and began untying her.
"Morgan," Sophie's face was writhed in smiles.
"He might hear you," Morgan finished untying the ropes.
"But how did you know I was here?"
They were on their way out when Morgan caught a flash of Evans' face; one eye and half his mouth in dark profile. Evans hit him before he could get his stun gun up. He hit him with tremendous power, a punch to his temple. "Going somewhere?" Evans pulled a wary face. Morgan remembered how strong Evans was, and how crazy he had become after his father's demise while in confinement. Morgan's ears rang, and his head was spinning. His legs were wobbly. Evans had almost taken him out with the first punch.
Maybe he could have. But he wanted to punish Morgan, wanted his revenge, his payback for Morgan's betrayal. Evans' strength was as brutal as it had been the last time they met, especially fighting in close like this. Morgan knew Evans had a bomb somewhere, but he wasn't sure where exactly it was. Evans had Morgan wrapped in his arms, and tried to crush him. Morgan was nearly out on his feet. He butted with his head. It took Evans by surprise.
His grip loosened, and Morgan broke away for a second. Morgan threw the hardest punch and heard the crunch of Evans' jaw. Evans did not go down. What did it take to keep him down? He came at Morgan again, and Morgan struck his left cheek. He felt a bone crush under his fist. Evans screamed, then groaned, but did not fall.
"You can't defeat me," he growled, "I'm going to kill you," Evans came at him again.
Morgan finally raised the stun gun, got it out. He fired! Although it happened fast, it seemed like slow motion. The shot bulldozed through Evans' upper jaw. It must have blown his tongue away. What remained of Evans reached out to him, tried to hold on, to claw at his face and throat. Morgan pushed him away. He staggered, several steps down the darkened staircase. Morgan was already too tired to chase him. Evans fell toward the stone floor. He dropped like a dead-weight.
As he hit the ground, the bomb in his pocket ignited. The explosion perforated Morgan and Sophie's eardrums. Evans exploded in flames. The rooms behind him were illuminated for at least a hundred feet. He screamed for a few seconds then burned in silence- a human torch in his cellar. It was finally over.