The Guard’s Daughter

She called me (Gio’s perspective )

This is the first time I’ve heard her voice since the airport. It doesn’t make sense her calling me and I can’t figure out why she’d want me to come there. My feet make the decision before I do leading me to Raphael’s office.

He’s smoking a cigar. He’s at his desk. I’m standing in front of him my hands clasped behind my back. I’ve never asked for time off never needed or wanted it. I’m asking now though.

Of course my boss wants to know what I need time off for, where I’m going, and how long I’ll be. I could lie it wouldn’t be wise but I could. Instead I tell the truth. I do want to check on Frankie. In a way this is my fault.

My boss laughs. He agrees though. I’ve never had a vacation or time off. I leave tomorrow. I pack a small duffel bag not expecting to be gone long.

The plane ride is short and once I’m at the airport I call Frankie. Soon she’s at the airport standing across from me.

She’s effortlessly beautiful. She doesn’t cake makeup on. Her black hair is in a ponytail, she’s wearing jeans, and a band shirt with black converse. I already know what car she got since she texted me after she bought it.

I remember the picture her and some guy with his arm around her. I was jealous. I was angry. She doesn’t hug me. She just leads the way until we reach her car.

She drives to a coffee shop. She parks and looks at me nervously.

“I couldn’t tell you over the phone. I need you to see. I’m not crazy”, she tells me.

I have no idea what she’s talking about. I follow her into the coffee shop. I watch her sharp intake of breath as I see her spot a blonde who looks surprising like Valentina.

She tells me who she believes the woman is. If she’s right there’s only one explanation the woman had to have help faking her death. One of the guards had to have helped. The problem is even though there are a lot of guards there aren’t many who have access to the boss and his family. It would’ve had to be someone very near the top. Someone like Frank, he would’ve had that kind of access even back then.