Chapter 8 A useless man

Willomandra consortium? Chess mob? What did that even mean?

Dante knew he didn't have any family aside from the foster home neither did he know how the tattoo got to his chest, his memory started when he was twelve years.

"If this is not a prank, then you are certainly a soothsayer" Dante sucked his teeth "Well tell my imaginary mother I said hi" Dante laughed bitterly ignoring that the man had correctly stated the exact place he had a tattoo, which could be a coincidence

"I know you wouldn't believe me now" Dante listened to the man blabbing as he rolled his eyes tiredly wishing the day could end already.

"I lost my parents in a car accident when I was twelve, so I believe you have the wrong Dante"

"That's not true, your memory was wiped by your mother and you were taken to the foster home, she left you with a wrist watch. The car accident was only a made up story she told the foster home to tell you as you grew up"

Dante looked down at his wrist, but the wrist watch was not with him because the prison guards had taken it off him, he had owned it since he was twelve, this man wasn't just blabbing at all because he knew about the wrist watch. Dante could no longer say anymore words, so he swallowed trying to process everything.

"I would get a good lawyer to represent you, then from there you get to know about your true family, until then stay put young master"

****

Six days passed and the interrogation became more intense, Dante had no connection with his wife Audrey and her family yet and he didn't like the thought of his wife abandoning him to rot in prison

"Let's make this easier for ourselves, admit you were the inside man of the heist and-"

"Are you asking me to admit something I didn't do?" Dante asked, making the detective to come closer to whisper to him.

"You are the scape goat. Even if you are innocent you would still be declared guilty by the court, that is what happens when you don't have money" the detective winked and smiled mischievously at Dante

Dante felt it, it got to him that he swallowed as if it could soothe the invisible heaviness in his heart, whoever was pulling the strings was wealthy and they didn't mind a low life like Dante atoning for their sins while they go scout free and the case closes.

Dante had no hope of his freedom anymore, why has Audrey not come to see him? Why wouldn't anybody believe his side of the story? Why would the criminals still be breathing while Jean was dead?

"I am not going to admit what I didn't do" Dante stood his ground as he gritted his teeth

"There are two witnesses ready to testify against you, remember some of the security cameras were down so who would the court believe? Two against one" the detective said in a low tone

To think that his so called mother subordinate, Howard, hadn't sent any lawyer yet only made it clear that the man was a con artist and the story of him being a heir to a consortium was all a lie, probably just a soothsayer who he had the ability to predict things. Dante breathed out, it has been six days already.

"Willow, you are the one that can end this by admitting you planned the gallery heist, you won't be killed, but you stay in prison for life, that's all" the detective said it like it was an easy thing to do

The thought of never seeing his daughters outside the prison walls "Go to hell!" Dante spat

"Go to prison!" the detective mocked as he laughed to himself "Who would defend your case? Six days now-no lawyer, if I were you, which I can never be, I would-"

The door flanged open and a beautiful woman entered the room, interrupting the detective from speaking, the two men looked at her, at a glance she was beautiful and brave

"Are you lost miss?" the detective asked

"I'm Yara Vizoro, in fact am in the right room, here to represent Mr. Dante Willow" she said with confidence and maintaining eye contact with the Detective.

"Well Miss you must have missed the memo, this case is a legal poison, everyone else refused to take it even his personal lawyer"

"I'm not everyone else, I'm not afraid of a challenge and I believe in 'innocent until proven guilty' now if you will excuse me, I would like a moment alone with my client'

Yara threw the Detective of balance as he stood to his feet, he nodded his head defeatedly and walked out of the room.

"Mr. Dante, I have read about your case, it's a mess but am not here to judge. I am here to help you get justice all you need to do is tell me everything, okay"

"Were you sent by a man called Howard?" Dante asked inquisitively

"Yes, he only referred me to you. He told me you would pay me afterwards"

Dante was surprised to hear that, he was expecting the man would pay the lawyer himself if truly he was not a con artist. That was Dante chance of getting a lawyer so he nodded at Yara terms even if her charge was expensive.

***

Five months later, Dante was still in prison, the case was adjourned with no final judgment, the rhinestone necklace wasn't found, his in-laws were still bearing their loss of their painting and Jean was confirmed dead.

It was like everyone had forgotten about Dante, his hair was over grown and beards unshaved.

Yara was the only person giving him hope of his freedom because it was her job, he was almost loosing hope, a part of him told him each passing day, that he would be in prison without justice being served.

"Your wife is here to see you" one of the prison guard told Dante and even though each day he expected her visit, he was shocked on hearing it.

As the prison guards escorted him to the visiting room they snared at Dante

"What did such a beautiful woman see in a useless man like you?"

When Dante entered the visiting room with his hands cuffed together in his front, he saw his beautiful wife seating and waiting for him on the table was a brown envelope, Dante prayed in his heart that it wouldn't be what he thought it was.

"You look good" Dante smiled to Audrey, he was the first to speak as he sat on the chair across his wife

"I wish I could say the same about you" Audrey replied maintaining eye contact with him

"You never cared to visit me to hear my side of the story" Dante shrugged

"You are accused of stealing my family art piece remember? So ordinarily you are my enemy"

"I know and I don't blame you for not coming to see me but Audrey everything they accused me of is not true" Dante spoke with a serious face

"I know you are not guilty" Audrey responded calmly only making Dante's face to lighten up a bit and they fell silent

"How is Tessy and Bella" Dante broke the silence to ask of their daughters

"They are fine" Audrey replied and they both fell silent again

Dante looked at the envelop between him and Audrey, wondering when she would finally say what was in it.

Like she could read his mind, she opened the enveloped and brought out a paper which she presented for Dante to read for himself.

Dante confused and too surprise to utter any word looked from the paper to his wife with his mouth opened in shock.

Audrey sitting across her husband in his orange prison jumpsuit in the visitation room sees a mix of sadness and frustration in Dante's face, she couldn't help it, she couldn't help him either, although investigations were going on for the crime Dante was accused of, it was best for her to divorce him.

"What?" Dante asked loudly in a shocked expression