Sinister Stepmother (Part 2)

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A flurry of thoughts entered the mind of Samantha "Sam" Benson as she drove home. She had lost her mother, Jessica Benson, a year prior, and her father, Darren Benson, is in a relationship with Delia Shaw, who was the woman behind an attempted robbery of a bank that Sam and Jessica attended that very day. Sam's suspicions went dismissed by Darren, but she would later find herself on the receiving end of not one, but two attempts on her life--the second one committed by Sam's own grief counselor, Dr. Allison Lee.

Dr. Lee's arrest included Sam discovering a note written and signed by Delia, promising $1 million if Sam was "eliminated." Sam kept the note for herself, as it was evidence of Delia being a master criminal, and as she arrived home, Sam's fears regarding Delia's reaction to seeing her alive started to fade bit by bit, as she entered her home without trepidation.

"Hello, Samantha! So happy to see you!"

Sam turned around and saw Delia standing across from her. She wasn't fooled by Delia's genial greeting; inside, she had to be shocked and even fuming over seeing Sam still alive. "Where's my dad?" asked Sam.

"Your father's out grocery shopping," replied Delia. "What's wrong, Samantha? You seem a bit...stressed. How did your last session go?"

"About as well as one expects when your counselor attempts to kill you," Sam replied while showing her antipathy to Delia's sinister smirk. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"I don't think I like your tone, young lady," Delia said ominously as she walked towards Sam. "Besides, it's not like your dad will believe you anyway. Remember: I'm part of his life, and soon, I'll be part of your family."

Delia's words were taken as a threat to Sam, and on the following day, she went to Maxine Gray, her best friend, and told her everything that happened regarding Dr. Lee's attempt, and Delia's role behind both plots. The young women decided to report everything to lead detective Brett Bartlett Rodgers, who arrested both of Delia's hired assassins, and it was at the station that Sam presented the note to Rodgers.

"So let me get this straight," said Rodgers, "you had this note all along and you kept it to yourself."

"I wanted to show it to my dad as proof of Delia's actions, but he wasn't home," replied Sam.

"Isn't that enough evidence against Delia?" asked Maxine.

"I'm sorry, but we'll need more than this," replied Rodgers, much to the shock of both Sam and Maxine.

"Please, Detective," said Sam. "My family's in danger because of this woman. She tried to rob that bank last year. She held a gun to my mother's head!" Rodgers saw Sam's anguish and hurt--a year's worth of it--and after deep thought, he gave some key information to Sam and Maxine.

"The bank's manager, Valeria Preston," said Rodgers, "she's the only one left at the bank from last year's attempted robbery. I hope that helps." Sam and Maxine thanked Rodgers, and once they left the station, they headed to that very bank--the site where Sam's troubles began. It was therapeutic for Sam, but nonetheless, she and Maxine entered the bank looking to speak to Valeria Preston, with employees sending them to her office. Sam knocked at the door; a knock that was answered quickly.

"Valeria Preston?" asked Sam. "I don't know if you remember..."

"You're that girl," said Valeria.

"Yes, I'm Samantha Benson," said Sam. "This is Maxine Gray. We know you remember last year's robbery. The woman behind it is in my house and she's going out with my dad. She's been trying to kill me; we need your help."

"I'm sorry, I really am," said Valeria, "but I can't relive that day again."

"Please, you need to help us!" exclaimed Maxine.

"I'm sorry, but you have to leave," Valeria said as she closed her office door, leaving both Maxine and Sam defeated as the left the bank. Both young women felt that they were out of options, as--in their mind--Valeria Preston was their last shot at taking down Delia. The pair drove to a diner afterwards, but once they got out of the car, another car drove up, and a masked assailant attacked both women before leaving with Maxine, much to Sam's horror.

Sam called the police and informed them that Maxine had been abducted, but after that call ended, the phone rang again, with Sam answering and hearing a familiar voice.

"Hello, Samantha."

Delia was on the other end, calling from the house, where she had Maxine tied up. "You've been a busy little bee, Samantha," Delia said coyly. "And now you've put your friend in danger." Delia later placed her phone next to Maxine, whose muffled cries were heard by Sam.

"Let her go, Delia!" ordered Sam.

"You don't make the orders here!" snarled Delia. "I'm the one in charge! You've been in my way long enough, so here's the deal: come home--alone--or I'll kill your little friend." Sam knew she had to acquiesce, as she was fully aware of how dangerous Delia was, but she had to have a backup plan. Sam returned to the bank, which was closing, but she spotted Valeria outside; she was the last one to leave.

"Miss Preston! Miss Preston!" shouted Sam.

"What are you doing back here?" asked Valeria. "I already told you, I want no part of this. And where's your friend?"

"She's been taken," answered Sam. "The woman who led the attempted robbery, her name is Delia Shaw. She kidnapped Maxine." A shocked expression appeared on Valeria's face, and after processing everything, Valeria simply said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Thank you so much, Miss Preston," a grateful Sam said.

"Valeria," replied Valeria. "Call me Valeria."

Sam returned home as Delia ordered, though she had a recording device hidden in her coat so she could capture any incriminating statements. Once inside, she spotted Maxine tied up to a chair, and it was at that moment that Delia came out, prompting Sam to pull out a gun and point it at Delia.

"Take it easy, Sam," said Delia. "There's no need for that."

"Shut up!" shouted Sam. "You have singlehandedly ruined my life! What the hell is your plan? Why are you here?"

"You really want to know?" asked Delia. "You want the truth?! Fine. I did try to have you killed, solely because I couldn't take a chance on you recognizing me from that robbery. I thought simply bleaching my hair would do it, but you caught my accent."

"But why date my dad?" asked Sam.

"Money," replied Delia. "It's that simple. I've had your face in my memory ever since my robbery plans were foiled, so I tracked you down, did some homework on you. Your dad's very well off, and quite handsome. Only your mother was an obstacle." Delia's next statement stunned Sam on an exponential level.

"But...with one snip of the brake lines...no more obstacle."

As Delia gave an evil chuckle, Sam was processing what she has just learned. Jessica Benson's death was no accident; it was a premeditated murder committed by a scheming and greedy villainess in Delia. Sam's immense and justified anger had to be subsided, as she later shouted:

"Did you get all of that?!"

It was at that moment that Valeria entered the house, much to the shock of Delia. "I heard every single word," said Valeria, "and I have one thing to say, Delia Shaw," Delia's surprised expression suddenly became a sly smirk, as Valeria suddenly pulled out a gun and fired a shot at Maxine's left shoulder.

"Drop it!" Valeria shouted as she pointed the gun at Sam, who did what Valeria asked. Afterwards, Valeria walked towards Delia and kissed her passionately, with Sam stunned over what she was witnessing: Valeria and Delia were lovers.

"You were in on this?!"

"I planned this with Delia for months," Valeria boasted, "and when that failed, I was the one who helped her track you down. Everything was going well; Delia would marry your rich daddy, and inherit his fortune once we kill him. But you and this one had to be a problem." Valeria looked down at the fallen Maxine, who was writhing in pain but still alive.

"It was you!" exclaimed Sam. "You took Maxine."

"Right again," Valeria said as she searched Sam and found the recorder in her jacket.

"Any last words?" Delia said smugly as Valeria pointed her gun at both Maxine and Sam, but it was at that moment that all four women heard sirens closing in, and shortly afterwards, the door was busted down, and Detective Rodgers entered with gun in hand.

"Drop the gun!" ordered Rodgers. "I won't ask again." Valeria lowered her weapon before she was handcuffed by Rodgers, with his fellow officers entering and taking in Delia. During the arrests, Sam heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Sammy?!"

"Dad?!" shouted Sam, who was embraced by her incoming father.

"Are you all right?" asked Darren.

"I'm fine, but Maxine..."

"An ambulance is here," said Darren. "She'll be taken care of."

"How did you know?" asked Sam.

"I had left my phone at home," replied Darren. "And I had to borrow a phone from my co-worker to call the neighbors. They mentioned a strange commotion and a gunshot heard in the house, so I called the police and arrived here with them.

As Valeria and Delia were taken into custody, along with Maxine being taken to a hospital, Rodgers approached Sam and Darren with more info regarding the former of the two criminals. "The car you described matched the same one owned by Miss Preston," said Rodgers. "We also have evidence connecting her to Delia and the planned robbery a year ago; they'll most likely spend the rest of their lives behind bars."

"Thank you so much, Detective," Darren said before Rodgers walked off. "And Sammy, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I just missed your mother so much; I guess I wanted to fill that void so badly that I just didn't think to ask questions." Sam responded to Darren's apology with a hug, showing that she loved her father, no matter what.

A month passed since then, and it had been just Darren and Sam, as Darren has been a bit wary regarding dating again, even though Sam had told her father that she would be happy for him if he ever found the right woman. For now, Sam was seated next to Maxine watching Bully for Bugs, the same cartoon she enjoyed with her mother, with both young women laughing loudly as they watched Bugs outwit that bull on so many occasions.

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