I'm the boss

The Code

The cook wouldn't stop crying, you would think it was her husband that was arrested.

"0983?"
What the hell was that? His final words to me was a random string of numbers?

The doorbell rang for a second time this morning and I was the one to answer it.

My father stood tall, brushing right past me and into Carter's office. I followed closely behind.
After being welcomed by an empty desk he turned to acknowledge me, "Where is your husband?" He inquired.

"He is out now."

"He is out now? We had a meeting, where did he go?"

"He had to attend a business emergency. He told me to tell you that he would get back to you as soon as he can," lies slipped from my tongue smoothly.

Carter is rubbing off on me.

My father let out a huff of annoyance before letting himself out.
Not a care in the world for his own daughter.

"0983.." I mumbled the numbers over and over, in hopes that they wouldn't slip my mind.

What was I to do?
They probably have him in some filthy cell with criminals.

He is one of those criminals...

How much can a man hate his father to do such a crime? To risk so much?

"0983..."

I sat down at his desk. The soft leather of the chair rubbed against my skin and I leaned back enjoying the feeling.

What can I do? How do I help in a situation like this?

I closed my eyes to concentrate. He must have given me those numbers for a reason.

Okay, okay. If someone goes to jail, what do you do?

Bail them out.

I jumped from my seat, I need to bail him out. Oh great, how much will this cost?

I run up to our room and put some appropriate clothes on and grab my wallet.

Empty.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I throw it across the room in a fit of anger, why do I have no money?!

Maybe Carter has some money laying around..
I begin to search the room for cash. I go into the closet and begin to dig through his pockets. I shift from coat to coat, as I push another one side, I see the glistening of metal.

What the..?

I shove the coats aside to reveal a safe.
"0983"
I type the numbers in and a red light turns green, I grab the handle and yank the safe open.

I nearly screamed with joy.
Why am I so happy to be releasing a murder?

As I peer inside I see wads of cash,  stacked to the top. I carefully reach in and grab one of them.
It must have been, at least, one hundred thousand dollars wrapped in one bundle.

I went to grab another, but my fingers brushed against something cold and solid.

I grasped it, all ready knowing what it was before I saw it.
I clutched the gun hard, my fingertips turning white.

I slam the safe shut, move the coats and head out the door.

<>

I drove myself to the police station. But before heading there, I made a pit stop to the bridge.
I stood on the very edge. The water below rocked lightly, a cool breeze drifts over a face.

I stare down at the deep blue. It was nice, hypnotic almost.

I unzip my purse and pull out the package. The cloth concealed the weapon along with rocks that I shoved in to make sure that nothing would float.

Though, I'm pretty sure guns don't float.

Is this what I want to do? Do I want to get rid of the murder weapon? Does Carter mean that much to me?

I drop the package into the water, it takes a minute before it actually splashes in.

I jumped back into the car, stress flowed through my veins as I raced towards the clink were my husband was being contained.

Upon arriving, I put my game face on. A face that showed that I had nothing to worry about, a face that showed that I didn't just dispose of a gun.

My heels clicked against the tile floor, officers could hear me a mile away.

I apporached a man behind the desk, who sat staring at a computer screen.

"Excuse me," I said gently, not to freighten him.

"How may I help you," his eyes turned to me, drinking me in.

"I'm here to get my husband released."

"Does this husband have a name?"

"Carter Host."

He gave me a sharp look, before turning back to his screen and typing something.
"Carter Host? The guy who killed his dad?"

"I'd prefer if you didn't make false accusations."

"Oh yeah? His bail is fifty hundred thousand, on the charge of murder."

Shock hit me, I was expecting millions.
They must be low on evidence...

I handed the man a bundle of hundred, to which he took a hold of in with a shaky hand.
Carefully, he counted all the money, assuring it was the complete amount.

After words, his glances became soft. He radioed in some code, which I assume meant, "bring the crazy one out" because soon after I was met with the face of Carter.

His hair was raked back messily and his suit tie was completely undone, along with a few top buttons.

After exiting the building, I felt automatical relief. I drove us home as Carter sat fixing himself.

"I was starting to think you left me there to rot."

"Well, it took me a bit to understand your little message."

He let out a light chuckle.
"You're an idiot," I spit out.

"Excuse me?"

"You. Are. An. Idiot."

"Care to explain."

"Who the hell keeps their murder weapon in a safe? That is, like, the first place they look!"

"What did you do with it?"

It felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. It was like all the peace I had merely seconds ago fled my body levaing me with dread.
I'm an accomplice to murder.

"What did you do with the gun, Aubrey?"

"Don't say my name!"

"Just tell me what the fuck you did with the gun!"

The car swerves. It was like I had lost control of my body. Carter reached across me grabbing the wheel and it seemed like I blacked out.

"Aubrey."
When I opened my eyes again Carter was driving the car.

"Aubrey, what did you do with the gun?"