Old Enemies

Elizabeth thought about the past, as she drove Moses to her father's place. At one point, her father was still a struggling prosecutor looking to make his name for himself. Moses had changed all that. Richard had married her mother after the indictment, a much younger trophy wife. The publicity, the speeches, the heady political spectacle of it all had changed his future. And as the case lazily made its way to trial, Richard had bred his bride.

After the prosecution, everything seemed to be just the way it should. Richard became a successful judge, and Elizabeth's mother was the perfect arm candy. But that luck had withered. Her mother had been dead for five years now. And her much older father's brain was going downhill at an accelerated state. They had a nurse that stayed with him during most days. He'd moved out to a farm out in the country, where he could fill his days with easy, mindless chores, and there would be no one to ask him questions that confused him. As Elizabeth completed the drive, very aware of Moses's hand resting on her inner thigh and the cream leaking into her panties, that the change in luck was almost a karmic reckoning.

"Hey, Daddy," Elizabeth said, hugging her father. Richard could recognize Elizabeth, he saw her weekly. Moses looked curiously at the old, frail Richard. Richard looked at him dumbly, with almost a spark of recognition. But the synapses weren't quite working, so he just nodded in a friendly way.

"Who is this fella?" he asked his daughter.

"I'm Moses," Moses said, taking the initiative. "I'm seeing your daughter, Mr. Castle."

"Oh," Richard said. He looked at Elizabeth. "I thought you were dating whats-his-face?"

"It's complicated, Daddy," Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth cooked fried chicken and mashed potatoes and cornbread for lunch. They talked about little other than the weather and the farm. But before they left, Moses had a request.

"Mr. Castle, I was a big fan of yours back in the day. Could you sign this paper? Right above where your name is, please."

Elizabeth looked curiously, but Moses hadn't discussed the content or his plan in any way. She felt like she might not like it, but she wasn't going to get in the way of karma.

"Sure, fella. Always have time for an autograph."

"But just your name."