The King

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Authors: Rick Soper
interested in her was a source of constant wonder.
    She hadn’t dated in high school because of the Tommy Healy incident, and nobody had been interested in her at Stanford. When Billy had tried to kiss her, as the two of them stood inside his apartment, looking over the lights of San Francisco, she let him. When he ran his hands up under her shirt, she let him. When he pulled her skirt up, she’d sighed in anticipation. When he took her virginity, she screamed with pleasure.
    When she thought about it afterwards she had no regrets. She loved Billy, and he loved her back. She’d given him that special moment in her life and he’d made it special for her. She wasn’t thinking about college anymore, or her father. She wasn’t thinking about anything, other than Billy. Billy had become her world, and her world was filled with happiness. Love had blossomed in her heart.

Chapter 27
     
    Russell’s clothes were packed and the flight was booked. He was heading out the door when London finally called back. He wanted to be mad. He steeled himself, getting ready to yell at her, to tell her how worried he’d been.
    “Daddy,” she said. “I’m so happy!”
    At the sound of her voice, every bad thought, every disturbed emotion drained away, along with the adrenaline. “You sound so good, dear. Tell me what’s going on.”
    “I’ve met someone,” she said, and his heart melted as she told him about Billy Stone. “Dad,” she said to end her story, “I’ve never been so happy.”
    His heart melted. His little girl had fallen in love. Part of him was incredibly happy that she was happier than he could ever remember her being, but at the same time, he was terrified that Billy Stone was taking advantage of his naive daughter. What should he say? If he told her she was moving too fast or that Billy wasn’t right for her, he would drive her further into his arms. If he told her he was happy, he would be setting her up for whatever fall was probably coming. Before he could say anything she cut him off.
    “I have to go,” she said. “It’s Billy. I love you so much, dad!”
    And then she was gone, before he could tell her how much he loved her, too.
    He dropped the handle to his rolling suitcase, walked into his office, poured himself a Scotch and took a deep, long drink, that burnt its way down to his unsettled stomach. He refilled the glass and fell back into his chair, exhausted from the countless hours he’d spent fretting over what London was doing since he’d seen the video. He was happy to have heard her voice, but scared to death that she was rushing into a relationship with Billy Stone. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to find Billy Stone and tell him that he’d better treat his daughter right. But he also knew that she was an adult. She’d gone to Stanford to find herself, and that was exactly what she was doing.
    He finished his drink, threw the glass against the wall, turned, and started punching the wall behind his desk. He kept punching until the pain and blood made him stop, then he fell to the floor, bleeding, holding his aching hands as tears of frustration fell from his eyes. 

Chapter 28
     
    Agent Emily Sarah was designing the parameters and algorithms she would use to run the names that Stevens had given her. As she did, she pulled up the driver’s licenses of the girls and projected them onto the screen to use as reference points.
    “That’s her!” Stevens said, pointing at the picture of London Scott.
    “Why her?” Emory said.
    Stevens clenched his fists. “She looks like the prostitute at the hotel, and it’s a Virginia License.”
    Emily Sarah started throwing information about London Scott up on the screen, then sucked in her breath.
    “Jesus,” Emory said as he read over her shoulder.
    John Stevens practically shook with rage as he looked at the information on screen. “God damn it,” he said. “We’re already too late.”

Chapter 29
     
    London Scott stretched as she woke,

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