Framed

It was almost midnight and my feet were killing me.

It was a friday and Blue Lounge bar was packed, as usual. It was the same old crowd, city guys in suits, too drunk to stand but somehow still cocky enough to make my skin crawl.

“Selena!” my manager yelled from behind the bar. “Table nine’s drunk and rich. Go charm ‘em.”

I rolled my eyes as I picked up the tray of drinks and summoned my best fake smile. “Yeah, because that always ends well.” I muttered to myself. Most of the men in the bar were sleaze bags that thought they were entitled to getting in my pants.

As I walked over, I could already hear them. The loud, annoying laughter, the clink of glasses and a comment about my ass I pretended not to hear. I dropped their drinks on the table.

“Three bourbons, one gin and a martini. Anything else?”

One of them with a red tie and greasy hair grinned at me, licking his lips like I was dessert. “You, sweetheart.”

I froze first, stopping myself from giving him a dirty look. Then I turned away.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist.

I jerked back. “Don’t touch me.”

“Aww, don’t be like that, sweetheart,” he slurred, standing up. “We’re just having a good time. No need to be rude.”

“I said don’t touch me.”

The other guys laughed like it was a show. I was just about to smack him in the head with my tray when a voice came from behind me.

“Let her go.”

The guy blinked, looking up. “What?”

“I said let. Her. Go.”

I turned and someone in a black hoodie with his face mostly covered. But his stance was firm and I got a very unsettling vibe from him.

Red tie scoffed. “Mind your own business, bro.”

The man stepped closer. Just one step, but it was enough.

“I’m not your bro. And you’ve got three seconds before I make you regret touching her.”

Everything went still. For a second, I thought Red tie might take a swing. But he didn’t. Clearly intimidated, he backed off with a laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Whatever, man. She’s not worth it anyway.”

I clenched my fists. I wanted to scream at him or punch him or maybe both. But I just turned back to the stranger.

“Thanks,” I said, heart still racing.

He nodded once. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just another night.”

He looked at me a second longer. I expected him to say something more. But he just turned, disappearing into the crowd.

I sighed, walking back to the bar when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I looked at the screen.

Dad

I answered immediately. “Dad?”

“Selena—” His voice was frantic and his breaths were coming out heavy and shaky. “I need you to come home. Now. Please. Something’s happened.”

My stomach dropped. “Dad, what's going on?”

“I—I don’t know. They’re saying things… just come quickly.”

He hung up.

I didn't waste a second.

By the time I got outside the bar, the street was mostly empty and the air was cold. Luckily I got a cab. My heart raced faster the closer we got as I wandered what awaited me at home. 

When the cab finally turned the corner onto my street, I saw the flashing red and blue lights first.

Police cars. News vans. Reporters swarming like flies.

“No… God, no.”

I threw cash at the driver and jumped out, running towards the house. There he was. My dad, in handcuffs. Being led out of our house like a criminal.

“Dad!”

I pushed past a reporter shoving a mic in my face. “Move!”

He saw me and froze. His eyes widened.

“Selena, go inside!”

“What’s happening?” I yelled. “Why are they taking you?”

An officer tried to hold me back, but I kept reaching for my father.

“Ma'am, please step back.” he warned.

“He didn’t do anything!” I cried. “Tell them, Dad! Tell them you're innocent!”

He looked me directly in the eyes. And my heart broke.

“I didn’t do it,” he whispered. “I swear, baby girl. I didn’t do it.”

“Then why? w-what did they say you did?!”

“Fraud and Embezzlement. They found some secret accounts in my name. But I never… Selena, you have to believe me. I never touched any of it. Someone's setting me up.”

“I know dad, I know… just tell them”

They’re not listening”

They started pulling him toward the car again.

I grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t take him! Please, he’s all I have left!”

“Ma’am, you need to let go.”

“Please! Just listen. He's innocent,”

They shut the car door in my face.

I ran after the car as it drove away, screaming at the top of my lungs. Eyes stinging, head hammering. “Dad! Dad!”

But he was gone.

And I was left standing there. In the middle of the street. Lights flashing. Reporters shouting. Cameras clicking.

I couldn’t move. Couldn't breathe. 

My hand clawed at my aching chest. Tears fell from my face as I stared after the police car that took my father. The man who raised me. Who worked himself day and night to keep me safe after mum died.

He was just gone.

Framed for a crime he didn't commit.

Who could've done this? Why?

I was completely alone again. I hadn't felt such an intense feeling of loss since mum died… No, this couldn’t be happening to me. Not again.

I looked around me at the chaos. The police lights reminded me of the ambulance that had taken out mum's body. And then, I was filled with rage. I couldn't fight death, but I could sure as hell fight whoever had framed my dad. 

Wherever they were… I would make them pay.