Part 3 – Helena Hendricks

  Chapter Twenty-four – Daughters.

  Mrs. Hendrick sat at the table with Frank. He had asked the two big men to step out. She wondered why. She felt that he had a reason. She believed she wouldn't like this reason. She watched him sit quietly. She knew he waited. She didn't know why.

  Brent spoke to Fred as they walked towards the propane tank. “He wants to talk to her about Ellie and Emma. That's why he asked us to leave. Ellie doesn't bother me anymore. I don't even know who she is now. She became something I don't understand. And Emma? I don't know if anyone can help her. It would be nice if someone could. I like Emma. I don't think I like Ellie anymore.”

  Fred replied, “You may be right. He probably wants to talk to her about her girls.”

  The two big men appeared in the window. He didn't speak until they were far enough away not to hear them. He said, “Mrs. Hendricks.” He paused.

  She suspected what he wanted to talk about. Who he wanted to talk about. She didn't know how to start this conversation. She didn't want to have that conversation. She asked a different question. “I'm sure you weren't planning on taking that money for yourself. The thirty thousand. The other man said that might be enough. Enough for what? I know you're planning something.”

  Frank said, “Well, look at that. I guess I'll start from the butt end and work my way out. I'm going to find Emma. I need to put her someplace he can't find her for a while. I don't want him to be able to use her against any of us. And I don't want her to be used. I know an inpatient rehab facility. It's very intense. They'll clean her up and keep her sober. It's a ninety-day treatment. They'll take her if I pay in cash.”

  Mrs. Hendricks was sad but intense when she spoke. “She may not want to go in. She won't volunteer.”

  Frank said, “I know. She won't have to. You won't have any part of this. If she comes out hating someone, it's going to be me. It not a volunteer program. It’s good, but it’s off the radar, so to speak.”

  She murmured, “This doesn't sound completely legal.”

  He quietly replied, “Not completely. But you will know you tried to help. What we’re doing here today could end up helping her.”

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  Mrs. Hendricks shook, then she cried, “He fed it to her. He kept her coming back. It's how he got her to work for him. To do him little favors. When she didn't do what he said, he threatened to put her on the street. I'm not sure, but I think he did. I tried to stop him, but... As a child, she was always so scared.”

  She cried. It was in the past now. That didn't stop it from hurting. He understood her pain. At least, some of it. Eden had told him of the beatings she endured trying to protect them. It didn't matter if she sometimes failed. She was their protector.

  Calmy, he said. “Tell me about Ellie. Eden never told me directly, but Emma did. Ellie was supposed to marry Kilgore. She worked on Eden for years, convincing her how great he was. She made marrying him seem like a fairy tale. When your husband found out, he joined in. That way he could get rid of the useless daughter and gain an ally in the more useful one. Is that true?”

  She replied, “I think so. I think they conspired. I didn't really know what was happening. I was happy to see him pay attention to the girls. Emma played along because it was fun, or maybe she was just threatened into it. I don't know which. It probably was both. I figured out the manipulation right before the wedding. I tried to stop it, but no one listened. I figured it out too late. Ellie was just too good at playing the game. She was just like her father. When Eden married Kilgore, I lost two daughters. I didn’t know he made a deal with Kilgore to pay off a debt by giving him Eden. Until after she passed.” Her anger returned.

  Frank paused to think. Maybe the old woman hadn’t known about Murphy using Eden as a payoff. It might be true that she had tried. Maybe there was some hope for her after all.

  Mrs. Hendricks continued, “Ellie knew what Kilgore was. She hated Kilgore. What she did, she did on purpose. I don’t doubt now.”

  Frank looked away from her and stated, “That's where the extra money was going to go. I'm going after Ellie. I don't know what I'm going to do yet. But I am going to destroy her life. I don't think I want to tell you about that. If there's anything good left of her after I'm done, I'll bring it to you. If she's like your husband, I'll break her. She won't be able to hurt anyone else.”

  She nodded as she spoke, “Now I know why you wanted Brent out of the room. Nothing about Ellie seems to bother him anymore. I don't think he hates her. I'm not sure he could hate anyone.”

  Frank said, “I like him. I don't want to hurt him. And they're coming in. He must have thought of something.”

  Fred spoke first. “He has a general idea of where she is. I think he could help us find the little blue-haired druggie.” Fred pointed at Brent.

  Brent nodded.

  Fred was solemn for a moment. “Sorry, ma'am. Murphy keeps track of her. We could use that. Brent might be able to get some information.”

  Frank mused out loud, “Brent, I didn't know you were so well informed.”

  Brent retorted, “I'm supposed to monitor the phone calls. I can tell you where she was last week.”

  Fred prodded him. “Do you have any thoughts on how we could pick her up?”

  Frank instinctually knew that Fred already knew the answer to this question. He always seemed to know the answer when he did this kind of thing.

  Brent nodded. He was glad to be useful. “You mean once we find out exactly where she is? Yeah, that's easy. Just send a car for her. Tell her that he wants to see her. She'll get right in. She won't be happy about it, but she'll get in to see daddy. I don't think she knows she has a choice.”