Part 12 Recap: Divine or Daniela Intervention
Sitting in the cell thinking, Lyle's pulse quickened. This past year hadn't gone according to his exit timeline. A hot breath spread across his neck as is last words with The Boss materialized. He lowered his gaze as though unconcerned, but anticipating the man's wrath from within. His vindictiveness knew no bounds, as he'd previously witnessed.
The stench from the crowded cell shot up his nostrils and drew his ire, reminding him of the filthy, overfilled spaces once confined to.
Besides, he wasn't safe behind these bars. Not from him. However, even at his upper level, The Boss was still labeled a middleman. Lyle gambled on securing excess of his future needs and lost. The ways to an end hadn't panned out. Only by surpassing The Boss could he extricate himself from that heartless monster. The only viable pathway to independence.
Using the cartel's funds to legitimize his own enterprise was a gamble. But the only way to finally put the past behind. Shadows from chains around his wrists while others enjoyed themselves at his expense nearly evoked suppressed tears. He held them at bay. they couldn't change his past.
One painful image he recalled was only of a tall, imposing figure who turned away from him. Whispering to another man, the person his mother called his father extended his hand to accept euros. Reaching for his father, the man immediately stuffed a rag in his mouth and bound his hands. He couldn't cry out, but tears flowed as he noticed a starling perched on the windowsill before taking flight. Don't leave me too, he cried silently.
The next moment, his parents were gone. It was a few days later he learned he'd been exchanged for traveling funds abroad.
Of no use was remorse or anger over matters he couldn't control at the age of ten. All he knew was that now he belonged to another not of kin. The fact that he survived from victim to controlling his own fate was a testament to his tenacity.
Once he pigeonholed the finality of his imprisonment, he studied and absorbed the logistics of the trafficking business, realizing the inefficiencies and loopholes of international borders with regards to moving any type of "cargo". Drugs and weapons were mindless. The faces of workers confined to a fate he knew well began to tear at his innards. Using others along the way in the manner he'd been used satisfied the urge for blind revenge. For a while. And he knew one day he'd have to disappear.
Slowly, out of the corner of his eye, the cell grew smaller as two inmates moved from behind, headed in his direction. He understood why their hands dug deep within their pockets. He wanted no trouble, but wasn't one to back down.
"Did you see that? The new guy will be ripe for a June Bug" the tall uniformed guard whispered, then laughed and nudged his partner. They both turned their heads away from the cell Lyle occupied. One twirled his collapsible baton while the other whistled as they kept moving past the cell.
Defenseless, Lyle rose quickly, pushed the cot toward the approaching inmates, and retreated until his back touched the wall. Help wasn't expected from neither inside or out.
Lyle didn't ask how one of the inmates obtained the blade he flashed in his direction, nor why the other inmates moved to form a line and cover the front of their cell.
He only knew the end of his time had come.
His thoughts immediately flew to Daniela and the note he slipped into the pocket of her pants at the hospital. She wouldn't disappoint. She couldn't.
Inmates stood watching intently as though participating in a collective payday. Bars on the outside of the cell rattled amid the silence inside. Lyle breathed a long sigh. All he could do was raise his hands across his face in defense. The first cut to Lyle's wrist only slashed his shirt as he thrust his foot forward. It met the inmate's knee, immediately dislodging the knife and disabling him. But the second inmate joined in. He retrieved the knife and moved quickly toward Lyle to finish the job.
With one man down, Lyle was expert at one-on-one. Gaining control of the knife was his only thought. They exchanged jabs as other inmates standing against the bars cheered. Before the inmate attacking could gain momentum, Lyle pushed the cot against the man's body causing the knife to fall.
"Take that back to The Boss," Lyle hissed as the bloodied second inmate rose to his feet before wobbling away.
Through the commotion, Lyle didn't see Olivia standing outside the cell with the two guards watching the scene play out.
"Get him out of there," Olivia ordered one of the guards.
At the same time Olivia arranged for Lyle to be removed from the cell and released into her custody, Daniela was waiting on her release orders from the doctor. While sitting patiently, she glanced at the wall clock. Her father would arrive soon to take her home. She rose to gather her clothes, then sat on the bed and dressed slowly. Pulling up her pants, she noticed a bulge, so reached inside. To her surprise, a piece of paper was lodged there.
Reading the note, she paused for a long moment at the end. Signed Lyle. You meant to write, "Arturo", didn't you, she thought to herself, then tossed it near the edge of the bed. Shaking her head violently as if to unread his message, she whispering, "I can't. There's more than myself to consider. I'll not endanger both our lives further for a man who has no heart and can't decide whether he loves me or not."
Instantly, a small quiver she couldn't determine its origin interrupted her thoughts. She shuddered. "I've done it royalty this time family. I've reinforced your view of my instability. I can't just return home from this mess and pretend all is well," she mulled over.
As though an afterthought, she grabbed the note, then gasped! The nerve of him, she thought trembling. Still, she read it carefully a third time. Sensing a thaw of her resolve, thought gremlins intervened and hammered her brain attempting to loosen the emotional grip Lyle still held.
But they couldn't. She'd already decided her next move. And it wasn't by no means the norm.
Part 13 - A Glimmer of Hope
Decision made, Daniela walked slowly from the hospital, lead by her father. Silence fell between them as he drove her to the home she knew as as child.
Emerging from her inner thoughts, she pointed frantically, "where are we going? You have to turn around. It's urgent I go home immediately."
"What's so important there? Lyle is in jail, and that place holds nothing but bad memories for you," he scolded.
She refused to tell him the reason for fear he'd think her insane allowing Lyle to continue to dictate her life until he demanded, "I won't turn around unless you tell me now your business there. "Don't you care at all for your own life?"
"Alright!", she shouted. "I need to retrieve some valuable information that may help clear Lyle's name in all this mess. He left it in the attic that the police overlooked because it was hidden in a cup board he cut out."
Her father lowered his head to the side in her direction with look of complete surprise.
"Haven't you had enough abuse and been duped by that man long enough. What if it's only another ploy to help him flee the country? Do you want to be an accomplish? to that. I know I taught you better than that. Think for once with your head and not your feelings. Although I don't understand what you ever saw in that man!"
Silence again.
After a long moment, Daniela let escape a heavy sigh before confessing. "Dad, I'm pregnant."
The only thing her dad could think to say was, "I hope to God you didn't tell him."
She rushed to respond. "Of course not. I'm not completely stupid. I understand my and his predicament."
"I doubt that," was her dad's only response.
He didn't want to but turned around and headed to her and Lyle's home.
Once there, he led the way up to the attic and retrieved the information that he kept in his possession. Daniela didn't oppose his decision. As they left, he asked harshly, "is there anything else you've left out, such as where you're going to meet him to hand these over?"
Stunned her dad surmised Lyle's request, she simply answered, "Yes, he left me a note in the hospital where to meet him."
He was so upset that he dared not look in her direction, merely stated. "Then, you'll not go alone." Instantly, he was on the phone. Daniela couldn't decipher his conversation, so sat quietly, hoping all would work itself out.
Meanwhile, Olivia had led Lyle from jail. A black sedan drove up and parked near here. Opening the door, she placed Lyle inside and into the care of her partner. No sooner than she'd released him into her partner's custody, the phone rang. She stared at Lyle while nodding, then smiled and joined him inside the police car.
She tapped the front seat, and her partner drove off.
"You've made a wise decision to hand over the ledgers to us." Olivia glanced out the car window and waited for his response.
"I don't know what you mean?" Lyle questioned, his pulse racing.
"Evidently you don't know Daniela as well as you think. She's finally come to her senses." Again Olivia waited.
But Lyle merely stared ahead. He didn't believe it. Daniela wouldn't betray him. Then he remembered the phone call moments earlier and her purposeful smile.
Olivia continued to press for a reaction. "Do you both a favor and allow us to handle everything. You got a taste of what trying to go it along back there in the cell will be like. We can protect you and...," she stated matter-of-fact before pausing. It wasn't her place to divulge Daniela's truth.
He finally responded. Starting slowly, he explained without depth the machinations.
"I'm merely a facilitator. But I'd rather die at the hands of The Boss' inner circle. You can't protect me and have no idea how far and deep the net that has entangled "good people" in high places. I know too many who would silence me without a thought to keep their names under the rocks. The waterways' octopus has many tentacles, at the end of which all are paid to look the other way while the trafficking wheels turn and lubricate their pockets.
Finished with that tidbit, he sat back and turned his gaze toward the window as a worried scowl enveloped his face, fearful of where they were headed if indeed he'd misjudged his wife.
[to be continued]
For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the 
14 March 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3042: can’t find the evidence
5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; and
21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
Parte 13 - Un rayo de esperanza
Una vez tomada la decisión, Daniela salió lentamente del hospital, acompañada por su padre. El silencio se apoderó de ambos mientras él la llevaba en coche a la casa que ella conocía de niña.
Saliendo de sus pensamientos, señaló con nerviosismo: «¿Adónde vamos? Tienes que dar la vuelta. Es urgente que vaya a casa inmediatamente».
«¿Qué hay allí de tan importante? Lyle está en la cárcel, y ese lugar solo te trae malos recuerdos», la reprendió él.
Ella se negó a decirle el motivo por miedo a que pensara que estaba loca, lo que permitiría a Lyle seguir dictando su vida hasta que él exigió: «No daré la vuelta a menos que me digas ahora mismo qué haces allí. ¿No te importa en absoluto tu propia vida?».
«¡Está bien!», gritó ella. «Necesito recuperar información valiosa que pueda ayudar a limpiar el nombre de Lyle en todo este lío. La dejó en el ático, donde la policía no la vio porque estaba escondida en un armario que él mismo había recortado».
Su padre ladeó la cabeza hacia ella con una mirada de total sorpresa.
«¿No has sufrido ya suficientes abusos y te ha engañado ese hombre durante demasiado tiempo? ¿Y si solo es otra estratagema para ayudarle a huir del país? ¿Quieres ser cómplice de eso? Sé que te he enseñado a ser mejor que eso. Piensa por una vez con la cabeza y no con los sentimientos. ¡Aunque no entiendo qué viste nunca en ese hombre!».
Silencio de nuevo.
Tras un largo rato, Daniela dejó escapar un profundo suspiro antes de confesarlo. «Papá, estoy embarazada».
Lo único que se le ocurrió decir a su padre fue: «Espero por Dios que no se lo hayas dicho».
Ella se apresuró a responder. «Por supuesto que no. No soy tan tonta. Entiendo la situación en la que nos encontramos tanto él como yo».
«Lo dudo», fue la única respuesta de su padre.
No quería hacerlo, pero se dio la vuelta y se dirigió a la casa de ella y Lyle.
Una vez allí, subió al ático y recuperó la información que tenía en su poder. Daniela no se opuso a su decisión. Al salir, él le preguntó con dureza: «¿Hay algo más que te hayas dejado de contar, como dónde vas a encontrarte con él para entregarle esto?».
Atónita, su padre dedujo la petición de Lyle, y ella simplemente respondió: «Sí, me dejó una nota en el hospital indicando dónde encontrarme con él».
Estaba tan enfadado que no se atrevió a mirarla, limitándose a decir: «Entonces, no irás sola». Al instante, se puso al teléfono. Daniela no podía descifrar su conversación, así que se quedó sentada en silencio, esperando que todo se resolviera por sí solo.
Mientras tanto, Olivia había sacado a Lyle de la cárcel. Un sedán negro se acercó y aparcó cerca de allí. Al abrir la puerta, metió a Lyle dentro y lo dejó al cuidado de su compañera. Nada más entregarlo a la custodia de su compañera, sonó el teléfono. Miró fijamente a Lyle mientras asentía con la cabeza, luego sonrió y se subió con él al coche patrulla.
Dio un golpecito en el asiento delantero y su compañero arrancó.
—Has tomado una sabia decisión al entregarnos los libros de contabilidad. —Olivia miró por la ventanilla del coche y esperó su respuesta.
—¿A qué te refieres? —preguntó Lyle, con el pulso acelerado.
—Evidentemente, no conoces a Daniela tan bien como crees. Por fin ha entrado en razón. —Olivia volvió a esperar.
Pero Lyle se limitó a mirar al frente. No se lo creía. Daniela no lo traicionaría. Entonces recordó la llamada de hacía unos momentos y su sonrisa decidida.
Olivia siguió presionando para obtener una reacción. «Hazos un favor a los dos y dejad que nos encarguemos de todo. Ya has tenido una muestra de lo que será intentar salir adelante allí dentro, en la celda. Podemos protegerte y...», afirmó con naturalidad antes de hacer una pausa. No le correspondía a ella revelar la verdad sobre Daniela.
Por fin respondió. Empezando despacio, explicó sin entrar en detalles las maquinaciones.
«Yo solo soy un facilitador. Pero prefiero morir a manos del círculo íntimo del Jefe. Ustedes no pueden protegerme y no tienen ni idea de cuán amplia y profunda es la red que ha enredado a la “gente buena” en las altas esferas. Conozco a demasiados que me silenciarían sin pensarlo dos veces para mantener sus nombres ocultos bajo la piedra. El pulpo de las vías fluviales tiene muchos tentáculos, al final de los cuales todos son pagados para mirar hacia otro lado mientras las ruedas del tráfico giran y lubrican sus bolsillos.
Una vez terminada esa revelación, se recostó y dirigió la mirada hacia la ventana mientras una mueca de preocupación envolvía su rostro, temeroso de hacia dónde se dirigían si, de hecho, había juzgado mal a su esposa.
[continuará]
Para mi tema, me inspiré y utilicé la publicación de
5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; y
21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.
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English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
El inglés es mi lengua materna.
Si se incluye traducción, utilizo DeepL para ayudar a mis lectores.
Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.