Chapter Two: The Condition

When my brother was incarcerated for armed robbery, I was only twelve and I saw how upset it made my parents. He was only seventeen and moving with the wrong crowd in the city. After a grueling court proceeding, he was sentenced. I promised myself I will never find myself in the back seat of a police car for anything.

Have I kept this promise?

No. 

I seriously did not see this day playing out like this. I was supposed to go to work, have a successful day and drive home in my bug content with a days hardwok. I'm a little disappointed in myself for getting arrested but not for confronting the Bancroft's even if I didn't get to do it face to face. 

The only thing separating me from a mugshot is the man looking at me like I'm the star of some sick fantasy happening in his head. He better not try to use my situation to leverage something out of me. After suddenly professing his love for me out of the blue, I seriously don't trust him. He looks like the kind to take advantage of my situation to get what he wants. He doesn't know me. I don't bend easily. I'm as stubborn as they come and there will be hell to pay before he takes advantage of me.

"We both know this isn't fair Sherriff." I carried on the fruitless soliloquy. "I am not the one who should be behind bars!"

He is completely ignoring me. He is reading today's paper from the only newspaper in town, the Sunrise Times Tribune. Maggie, the most successful reporter in the office broke the cover story about an old car found at the bottom of Cove lake. I don't see anything big about an old car at the bottom of the lake. Maggie is stuck up. I learned that after interning for her during the first months I worked at the Tribune. I used to look up to her. Now we don't speak. I think it's not good to meet your idols. They can be disappointing in person.

He rolled up the newspaper and made his way to the bars keeping me from bolting out of this place. He got uncomfortably close but I am resolved not to shrink away. 

"You know something; this is your fault." His tone is low. Carl is trying to listen in. "You picked a fight with an apex predator. You are lucky to be here and not somewhere else."

Should I be concerned that he is referring to the Bancrofts as apex predators? What does he know about them that he is not sharing?

"Where is this somewhere else you are referring to Sherriff?" I narrowed my brown eyes at him.

"Look... Clara. You are a pretty little thing with dangerous ambition. Ambition like yours will get you killed some day. Don't waste all this beauty by chasing pointless things."

"What do you recommend I do Sherriff?" I just want to hear what he will say.

"Get married to a hardworking man and start a family. Stay at home and raise that family."

I raised my eyebrows at him. What is it about men being intimidated by ambitious women so much so that their recommendation is the woman taking the role of barefoot and pregnant? If not for the bars I would have punched the smugness right out of his face. I don't mind assault being added to my list of offenses if it puts this chauvinistic man in his place.

"Where can I find a good hardworking man in this small-minded town?" I asked him with a clueless expression to further this pointless conversation.

"There is one right in front of you!" He stood a little taller and prouder. I looked at the grey hairs on the sides of his head, the bald spot at the center of his head and the unruly beard on his face and immediately decided to stick out my middle finger accompanied by a smile. The displeasure and disappointment on his face never fails to amaze me. He doesn't handle rejection well. "Fine. I was your only ticket out of here. You will suffer the consequences of your foolishness."

His deputy looked at me after the Sherriff left in a fit. Carl is more reasonable than his boss but he's often living in his shadow and is intimidated by the Sherriff's over domineering personality. He simply does what he is told.

"Why did you do that? Everyone knows the Bancrofts are not to be trifled with."

"You wouldn't understand." I paced like a caged animal. I am caged anyway and it makes me anxious that I'm stuck in here. "I am entitled to a phone call. I am, right?"

"The Sherriff specifically said I should not allow you to go anywhere near a phone. Sorry."

"What is this? This is illegal! When I get out of here I will sue everyone from the Sherriff to you Carl for being useless!"

I sat on the bench in the jail cell and sat quietly.

I should be rethinking all the actions that got me here but I don't regret anything. In fact, I am more fueled to cause trouble by antagonizing the Bancrofts until I get a rise out of one of them.

Owen Bancroft, the patriarch of the family, is the one likely to react. He rides on short fuses and an ego so big I wonder why his head hasn't exploded. If he is not flexing over how rich and powerful his family is, then he's a gun wielding senile old man who shoots at anything uninvited on his property.

Donovan Bancroft is Owen's only child. He is the typical stuck up rich guy who thinks he is above everyone else. He will never be caught with the commoners or even out and about in town. If he's not at the back of his tinted chauffeured SUVs, he is hiding behind the stone walls of the Bancroft Manor. I don't know much about him.

Quentin Bancroft is the eldest of Donovan's three children. Quentin spent his schooling years in boarding schools and whenever he was around Sunrise Cove, he partied hard and caused problems that his father buried as fast as they happened. What is left is just whispers in the wind that can't be proven true about his infamous wild days. He grew out of his reckless teenage phase into the role of a successful businessman. He lives in the city with his wife and two children. He runs the family business alongside his father.

The second born son of Donovan Bancroft is a mystery. I only know his name –Lincoln Bancroft- and a few exaggerated stories from his sister. Other than that this man is a mystery.

Laurie Bancroft is the youngest and most visible Bancroft. She is a peacock. She likes to be seen. Everything Laurie does is because she wants to be noticed. I went to high school with her and she wasn't my cup of tea. We never saw eye to eye on anything. I can't blame it on the nerd and popular girl story. Oh no! I wasn't socially awkward. I was pretty normal with a knack at making friends. I was liked in high school and that bothered Laurie because if the universe doesn't revolve around her, she turns into the meanest thing to walk this planet. She believed I was out to take her place and she tried her hand at bullying me. It never worked out well for her because I steered clear. It was only on the fourth year of high school when I reacted to her wicked games. I made out with her boyfriend and I posted the photographs all around school just to get to her. I stooped down to her level and I wasn't proud of it. I apologized but she decided to play the victim hence making me the mean girl. We have never spoken since.

Carl approached me sometime after sunset jiggling a set of keys. "You are free to go."

"Why?" I should be happy but after causing trouble at the gate of the most powerful people in town, a girl has to wonder why she is walking free.

He opened the door. I jumped out fast before anything changes.

"The Bancrofts won't be pressing charges." He informed me.

Damn it!

This is not the reaction I was hoping for. But it's better than me rotting behind bars. 

"Just like that?"

"Take the win. Go home and stop picking fights you are bound to lose!"

Intent on getting the hell out of this place, I walked briskly for the door. I bumped into the Sherriff. "Clara."

"I want my car Sheriff. Did you hear? The Apex predator won't be pressing charges!"

He is still upset. "It's not getting off easy like you. Go home before I throw you back in the cell for wasting my time."

"Someday Sherriff, someday soon, you will be sorry."

I walked past him slightly brushing shoulders because he decided not to move.

Without my purse or any cash, it looks like I will be walking home. It is quite a walk but it should give me time to either cool down and make reasonable decisions or flare up enough to be at that Bancroft estate tomorrow for round two.

A set of headlights from a car behind me forced me to move away to the extreme side of the road. I waited for it to pass but when it didn't, I glanced to my side at the same slick black SUV I saw this morning. It came to a stop. The driver got out to speak to me. "Miss Nolan, Mr. Bancroft would like a word." He opened the back door.

I felt something choking me and my legs refused to move. I am not eager to get in there. Which Bancroft? The senile old man? The stuck up dad? The former party boy? The one I know nada about? Which one? I hate this mystery!

"T-tell him to-to come out here." I couldn't help the stammer.

He frowned at me. He thought about it before he communicated what I said to the man in the back seat. Seconds later, a tall man in a dark hoodie and sweat pants stepped out of the SUV. I stayed rooted to the ground my eyes wide.

"Miss Nolan," he took off the hoodie and extended his hand to me. "My name is Lincoln Bancroft."

I took a moment before shaking his warm hand. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his sweat pants. He has blond hair and the same exact green eyes as Laurie, only sexier because he is very easy on the eyes. I can't tear my eyes from his.

"Hi." It didn't come out with the usual tone I own. It was a little squeaky. 

"I want to apologize for what happened today."

"Which part?"

"The damage to your car as well as the unnecessary arrest. Your car will be fixed and returned to you."

A Bancroft offering an apology is the rarest thing anyone in this town will ever experience. Owning up to their mistake is just another rare occurrence too!

"It is not enough."

"What do you mean?"

"I have lost an entire day in that jail cell. An apology is not enough for me."

"What do you want? Monetary compensation?"

Now he sounds like a Bancroft. They throw money at everything.

"Never mind." I quickly reconsidered. "I want my car back in two days." I walked away with a stupid grin on my face. 

"Hey!" He caught my wrist. "We are good, right?"

"Were you the one driving the car?"

"It is not important who was driving the car. Compensation can be offered so that we put this whole thing behind us. Can we agree to that?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means this issue is dealt with and it will never be mentioned by you to anyone else." He stated firmly with a measure of authority in his voice.

I pulled my burning wrist free. "I want my car in two days. We will see then."

"Miss Nolan, you don't understand." He frowned at me. "Your car will be fixed only if you agree to my terms."

"I am the victim here and you have the nerve to stand here and call the shots? My car will be fixed by you without any strings attached because you damaged it. Period."

"Miss Nolan!" He called after me but I walked briskly and started a little run until I had put distance between us. 

No matter how brave I want to be, one thing is clear. I am scared of the Bancrofts. Why else would I run away from that conversation?