Delusion by Avery North
Chapter 12
Two months later, Amber sat staring at Corrine from across the table. The woman who had raised her looked downcast, her once full body now skeleton-like, the effects of too many drugs and booze. Amber didn’t know whether to be angry or sad.
After getting the testimony from Richard and tracking down Bob, who opened up to the police for fear of being thrown in jail again, Corrine was finally found. She was arrested for her many crimes, including drugs, prostitution, and breaking a restraining order that someone else had placed on her. After Corrine had devised the plan for ruining Amber’s life with the pictures, she had tried to figure out her next plan of action. She and Bob had gone on a drug-induced road trip, celebrating that they would soon be rich and making plans for their future. They didn’t count on Bob bending under pressure and squealing to the police when he was cornered.
After being thrown in jail to sober up, it was a very morose Corrine who met with Amber.
“So, Corrine. Here we are again,” Amber said, looking at her.
Corrine just sat staring at the table, shaking her head. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this."
"I have to ask. Why? Why would you go to such lengths as hiring someone who looks like Jake and take those pictures?” Amber asked, leaning forward in her chair. “Don’t lie because Bob told us everything.”
“I wanted to ruin you. You were so fucking happy with your fucking little life, and I had nothing.”
“You had nothing? I gave you money. There was enough money there for you to start a better life, get a job, make something of yourself. Instead, here you are,” Amber said. “Corrine, come on. What happened to you?”
Corrine just broke out in tears, covering her face with her hands.
“Corrine, we were happy once, and I will always be grateful for you providing me with a roof over my head. It wasn’t a great life, but it was something. Plus, no matter what you think, I did learn a lot from you, which is probably why I strive for perfection.”
Corrine looked up at Amber and broke out in tears. “I’m so sorry. I ruined everything. My life. Your life.”
“Oh, you didn’t ruin my life, Corrine. You made it stronger. The only thing you did was make us postpone our wedding for a couple of months, but that was all. You see, as much as that little episode with the pictures took us by surprise and caused a bit of a problem between Jake and me, when the truth came out, it made us stronger, and we are better than ever,” Amber said. “The only thing you ruined was yourself. I used to think I was the victim. The nights I was left alone in my room while you went out and partied. Being the joke of the school because of my second-hand clothes. The endless nights of going to bed hungry because you kept saying there was no money for groceries. I always thought it was just because we were poor, and I spent many a night crying and wondering how my parents could do this to me. But we weren’t poor, were we? You just chose to spend the money my parents gave you on yourself. Screw me. What did I know? I was just a stupid little girl who didn’t know any better. But I know better now.”
“I need help, Amber. I’m sick. I want to get better, so I can be part of your life again,” Corrine cried.
Amber shook her head. “You lost that chance, Corrine. I’m done. You are going away for a long time, and if you ever get out, I don’t ever want to see you near my family or me again, and I’ll take every precaution that you don’t.”
Amber stood up and gave Corrine one last glare before turning and knocking on the door for the officer to let her out. She had said her piece, and she never wanted to see or think of Corrine again. As far as she was concerned, Corrine was dead to her.
✽✽✽
Bob sat at the small table by the window at the CornerKiss Motel. He downed the last of his bottle of Jack Daniels and sobbed. He was crying partly because he missed Corrine, but mostly because of what he had done to her. Turning her into the police was not something he had wanted to do, but it was either him or her.
He didn’t want to go back to jail, and he was going to make sure that he never did – no matter what. He remembered that night so vividly. It haunted his dreams every night. Every time he closed his eyes, he could still see Corrine's face, screaming at him to help her, to tell the police they had the wrong person. He would hear her screams for as long as he lived.
He had met Corrine one night when he was down on his luck. Newly divorced, fresh out of prison and out of work, he found himself nursing a beer at a local bar, trying desperately to drown his sorrows.
“Hey, this seat taken?” a woman's voice had interrupted his thoughts.
Looking up, Bob saw Corrine smiling at him, and he couldn’t help smiling back at her. “Not at all, but if you are looking for anything, I’m not the person to sit next to.”
“Not looking for anything. mister, just want a few beers and a place to rest my aching bones,” Corrine said, sitting down beside him and holding out her hand. “Corrine Earle.”
“Bob Swifter,” Bob said, shaking Corrine’s hand. “Do you come here often?”
“Wow. Can you not think of a more original pick-up line?” Corrine said, teasing.
“Oh no, sorry. I actually was asking seriously. I come here quite a bit and have never seen you.”
Corrine smiled, sniffed then looked around the room. “I come here once or twice a month and have never seen you either, so guess we are even.”
Bob laughed. “You are a funny girl. So what brings you in here today?”
“Not sure. Something just told me I should come in for a drink. Maybe it was because you’re here,” Corrine said, looking Bob up and down. “What do you do for a living?”
Bob shrugged. “Nothing right now. I’m waiting for my big break if you know what I mean.”
“Big break? You an actor?”
“Ha, I wish. Nope, just a guy trying to get back on his feet. I just got out of prison, and I’m looking for work,” Bob said, nursing his beer. “Trying to figure out where I’m gonna sleep tonight.”
“You have no place to sleep?”
“Nope, I’ve been staying at the local men’s shelter but have overstayed my welcome, so to speak,” Bob said. “Thank god I have a car to sleep in just in case.”
Corrine looked at Bob and smiled. “What did you do before you went to prison?”
“I was a photographer,” Bob said, shaking his head. “I wasn’t a very good one, but it paid the bills.”
Corrine suddenly sat up straight. “So you know how to take pictures?”
“I do. Why? You want some pictures taken?” Bob said jokingly.
“Actually, I do,” she said. “I think you and I are going to become very good friends.”
“Oh really?” Bob said, feeling Corrine rub her foot up and down his pant leg. “What do you have in mind?”
After that meeting and a night of screwing their brains out, Corrine let Bob in on her plan. Bob was definitely interested, especially when he found out there was money involved. Corrine had promised him no one would get caught.
Sitting at a bar one night, Bob was bragging to some of the locals about the woman he’d met and how he was soon going to get a load of money, telling them about the plan to use a lookalike in the photos. All it took was an investigator snooping around and asking the right questions to track Bob down.
Three days after the police broke down the motel door and dragged Corrine away, he vowed to do whatever he needed to keep Corrine’s plan going. She wanted revenge, and he was going to make sure she got it. Now that the pictures had been delivered, he knew exactly what he needed to do next. Corrine would be so proud of him, and this time he wasn't going to let her down.