“Oh no, Lizzy. You mustn't think that...”
“But how was I not to think that? What else could have been the reason. You just left!” I interrupted as I lost slight control of my emotions.
“No listen. It had to be like that. I left because I loved you both. I didn't have a lot of choice. I had to return at some point to my community and I didn't want either of you to be too attached to me so you felt you had to follow me in.”
Rick sighed.
“It made sense at the time.”
He sounded regretful.
“But you left us no choice. You decided this. Mum was distraught.”
I couldn't help digging the knife in a bit further. I had years of resentment built up in me bursting to come out. I could just about keep the lid on it to avoid a major outburst. It wouldn't have helped. I didn't wait for an answer. I had decided to go for the killer question. He was vulnerable at the moment so might not be as alert and guarded.
“I need to ask you something important before we go any further. Don't jump to conclusions but I'm worried. Are you involved in some sort of criminal organisation... dad?”
I hesitated calling him that, but thought it would please him and keep him on my side. He didn't respond, a completely blank face stared at me for a couple of seconds. Then he regained control.
“What on earth has made you think that? Why would you think that Lizzy?”
He tried to sound incredulous and laugh it off, but as soon as he spoke, his worries and his guilt trickled through. I didn't give up and carried on quickly hoping he would open up to me.
“It's just the way you left mum and totally disappeared. She knew nothing about your past and even though she looked for you, you disappeared off the face of the earth. I just thought....”
He interrupted me with a sigh hiding some relief, though still on edge.
“No sweetheart. I wasn't involved in a criminal organisation. Don't worry. I wished Alice had decided to come tonight, we could've talked about it and cleared everything up."
He looked at me with such passion again, it was hard to concentrate. I had to keep prodding though as I wasn't getting anywhere. I decided to go in a bit harder.
“But what about now, dad? I know you're involved in something bad. Have they got a hold over you somehow? Please tell me if they are, we can get you out. Whatever you have done so far, it won't matter.”
I was talking fast, and it all came out a bit wrong but I wanted him to say yes, because the alternatives were unbearable for me.
“Lizzy, you're not making any sense. Who can get me out? What are you talking about?”
He was still confused, not wanting his dream of reuniting us a family be shattered. Then I dropped the bomb.
“Markus.”
Rick was rattled for just a few seconds. His face changed and all I could read was bitter disappointment. Realisation had dawned on him instantly that I was in contact with the Sensorians, and that I had hidden it from him. He immediately put his guard up, trying to close down all emotions he was emitting.
“Is that what they're thinking?" he asked icily.
I still saw a flicker of something, maybe hope, but I couldn't tell for sure. However, if there was even the tiniest bit of a chance to convince Rick to go and see Markus willingly, I was going to grab it.
“They've been trying to locate you with the aim to extract you. But the organisation you're involved with looks dangerous and complex and the Sensorians wanted a way to contact you without alerting them and think of a safe strategy together with you. They don't know what they have over you and didn't want to put anyone in danger. ”
I hoped he would understand our actions.
“Except for you." he said bitterly.
“They used you, my own flesh and blood, to trap me.”
He started to get very agitated, forgetting to cloak again, and almost spat the words out.
“They didn't hesitate to use you and put you in danger, the fucking bastards. Didn't think they could sink as low as that.”
“I'm not in danger. I'm fine." I said calmly, trying to sound as confident as I could.
Rick's dark expression told a different story, and for the first time I felt a smidgen of fear entering my conscious. I told myself sternly to ignore it. I was safe. Zack wouldn't let anything happen to me. I contemplated using our signal to get me out, but I wanted to hear more of what my father had to say. I didn't want to abort the mission yet. There was still a chance I could talk my dad round.
“Are you in danger?" I asked boldly.
“Yes, but not from the people you think. It's the lot that sank their teeth into you that I fear.”
He looked around furtively.
“I assume they're listening to this conversation right now? I can't detect any of them in here so there must be a listening device somewhere.”
He looked at me as if he could look straight through me to scan for it.
“You haven't got one on you. I can tell. If you want to talk to me, you have to follow me to a safe place. Don't even think about intervening Markus, or whoever is listening. I'm not completely stupid and have people in this establishment looking out for me. Don't tempt me to use them. It won't end well.”
“Why are you scared of what the Sensorians will do to you? If you aren't doing anything wrong you'll be safe there.”
I ignored his threat and I tried again, not moving from my seat, although he had gotten up.
“In their opinion I will have broken the rules, Lizzy. They must have told you the consequences of that? They have their own
