Chapter 30: Brought to Light

The Friday night high school football game was well underway and Riley Bills was struggling to lead his team to victory. Every time he attempted to complete a pass or instigate a running play, his mind seemed to disconnect and he made all sorts of mistakes that he didn't usually make. His father wasn't riding him the way he often did when his game was off like this, instead his father sat on the sidelines in virtual silence. He and his father had barely said two words to each other since his father had returned from his mysterious vacation Tuesday evening and in Riley's mind it was just as well. What was left to say?

Coach Bills went through the motions of coaching because it was his duty. He knew from experience that Riley was a good enough quarterback that even when he was off his game, they could still pull off a victory. Everyone knew he was being accused of rape, and even though he had not yet been formally charged with anything by the police, the looks of disapproval were tough for a man with Wiley's ego to handle. He was used to being the hero.

Over the last several days Wiley Bills had spent the majority of his time obsessing over Angel and how much she was ruining his reputation. Plenty of people were on his side, but there were plenty more who weren't. He had hired an expensive attorney with the money Ethan gave him in Reno, so when detectives Lloyd and Burger questioned him on Wednesday night after his return from Reno, he had felt things had gone very well.

Wiley scanned the crowd of people at the game until he spotted his wife Jan and his two other sons, Carlton was almost twelve-years-old now, and Derek who was nearly seven. His jaw tightened as he looked at Carlton who was skinny and pathetic, with thick glasses and pale skin. Carlton was reading during the game and it made Wiley angry. Carlton had never been inclined toward sports and he took that as a personal failing. Fortunately Derek his youngest son and Riley more than made up the difference.

Coach Bills scowled and wondered what was taking Ethan Parks so long to come and fetch his missing hooker.

Across town at the Hanover Motel Charlie, the desk clerk, was a bit unnerved by the sudden appearance of a stranger. Charlie didn't realize he was looking at Rico, the man who had kidnapped Angelica Pirelli fourteen years earlier, all he knew was that the man was creepy, and since Charlie was rather creepy himself, that was saying something.

"I love it up here," Rico sighed as he smiled broadly at Charlie, "It's so quaint."

Rico resembled a skeleton. He was extremely thin and his eyes were sunken into his skull and he had dark circles under them. His teeth were jagged and yellow and his hair was greasy and long.

"Did you want a room with a kitchen?" Charlie asked.

"Sure whatever you got," Rico agreed and then he spotted the Playboy magazine Charlie was attempting to conceal beneath the desk calendar. He raised his eyebrows with interest, "Let me guess, the new December issue has finally arrived?"

Charlie's face reddened as he realized the corner of the magazine was sticking out, "No it's November," Charlie admitted and he raised his soggy paper cup to his mouth and spat his chew into it.

"November was a damn fine issue," Rico grinned.

Charlie was beginning to think maybe the skeleton man before him wasn't so bad after all and that maybe he had been too hasty to rush to any snap judgments. "What was your name again?"

"Jerry Jones," Rico said, and he had the fake ID to prove it.

Charlie nodded, "Well Mr. Jones you can have room 6," he handed the keys to Rico.

Rico reached in his pocket and pulled out some additional cash. "I would prefer if you didn't let anyone know I was here," Rico said, "It's just that I've got this pesky ex-wife and she's always trying to track me down for child support. I don't owe that bitch anything. She needs to wise up."

Charlie grimaced, "I hear that."

Rico put the wad of cash in Charlie's hand, "For your troubles."

Charlie's eyes grew wide. He had only seen payoffs like this in the movies and it seemed a bit surreal to him. "Thanks," Charlie said taking the cash, "I owe the wife too."

Rico stretched his back and grimaced, grasping his lower spine, "I've got the worst pain in my lower back. Is there a doc in this town?"

"One of the best," Charlie said, "His name is Parker," and Charlie quickly took out the phone book and wrote down the name and number of Dr. Parker's office. After the wad of cash Rico had provided Charlie was feeling extra motivation to be of assistance. "Except, he probably won't be back in his office until Monday morning I expect."

It was Friday evening. Rico frowned and pretended to be struck by a notion out of the clear blue, "Hey you don't suppose he might be open to making an exception do you? I wonder if I can persuade him to see me sooner, I mean, this is sort of an emergency, do you know how I can reach him?"

Charlie reasoned he had nothing to lose or gain by giving out Doctor Parker's home address, so he wrote it down for Rico. "Here you go, good luck," Charlie said as he handed the paper to Rico, "I hope he agrees to see you."

"Thank you," Rico smiled. "Let me know what you think of page 23 in that November issue," Rico cocked his eyebrow and gave Charlie a wicked grin, "Those tits are some of the best I've seen."

Charlie blushed a little, "OK."

"Have a great evening," Rico pivoted and left to go find his room and take a shower. It had been a long journey and he was tired.

Jordan and Angel were sitting at the corner table in Red's Barn drinking shots of tequila and enjoying some burgers and chili cheese fries. Jordan tilted his head back and raised his second shot, swallowing it in one gulp. "It's been a long week," he sighed as he slammed the shot glass down on the table.

"You're telling me," Angel sighed.

The week had begun with Angel being interviewed by the police, then Jordan asking her to marry him, not to mention they had been invited to dinner at the Pirelli home only to find out Mia had been suspended from school, and Martin was his old self. She wondered when the police might get around to charging Wiley Bills with his crime. For some reason she felt very uneasy inside, but she tried to ignore her feelings and think positive.

Jordan enjoyed the relaxation and looked forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning. Now that Martin expected them to attend Sunday Mass, Saturday was their only day to sleep until noon. He resolved that he needed to slow down and work less now that Angel was in his life.

Frank and Amanda soon arrived and made their way over to where Jordan and Angel were sitting. Rori and her husband Doug soon followed. Rori made no secret about how pleased she was that Frank and Jordan were friends again.

"I hope our night out the bar this time goes better than the last one," Frank joked, as he recalled his fight with Wiley Bills the last time they had been there together.

"I wish they would arrest that scumbag," Rori quipped, "He's still walking the streets a free man and Pop's business is off because people don't know what to think."

Angel glanced downward. She hadn't meant to cause a stir. Jordan squeezed her hand for reassurance, "Yeah I've had a lot of cancelations at my office too," he sighed, "People can be fickle."

"Well once people find out the truth about who that bastard Wiley Bills really is, they'll come around," Frank said.

"Let's dance," Jordan said pulling Angel up out of her chair and leading her out onto the dance floor. He could see the conversation was making her uncomfortable. When they reached the dance floor he put his arms around her and pulled her close.

She held onto his warm body and leaned against him with her eyes closed, "My butt still hurts from last night," she said after they had been slow dancing for awhile.

Jordan wanted to rub her bottom right then and there on the spot, but he knew it wasn't a good idea. "I guess you better stop being so naughty then."

Angel squeezed him a little tighter, "I guess I can't help it."

As Jordan felt her body pressed against his, it made him aroused. It was all he could do to continue dancing with her in a civilized manner and not ravage her on the spot in front of everyone. The thought of her slightly red bottom made it even more difficult for him to maintain his composure. "So when do you want to set a date for our wedding?"

Angel stopped dancing and pulled away from him, "You really know how to ruin a moment, don't you?"

Jordan grinned playfully into her sparkling dark blue eyes and leaned forward to kiss her, "I just want you to be mine is all."

She returned his kisses with a passion and heads in the bar turned to stare at them. Rori shrugged, "God, I've never seen Parker behave like this, with anyone."

Frank had to agree, "Me either, he's really taken with our little sister."

"I can't believe her past doesn't bother him," Rori said absently, not thinking before she spoke as was often the case. All of them had all been thinking the same thing, but none of them dare say it aloud.

Amanda and Doug had learned a long time ago that when they were around the Pirelli family it was no use trying to get a word in edgewise. Even if it was just Rori and Frank, being heard was a challenge, but Amanda felt like speaking her mind for a change, "They make a perfect couple if you ask me."