CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER
FIFTY-EIGHT
Thirty minutes later, Lana and a refreshed, sober Jayson returned to the living room where her entire team had appeared. When she didn’t see Rocky or Sunny, Country nodded toward where the kids’ room was.
She relaxed when she realized they were checking on the kids so that she could focus on dealing with Ashley. She felt a little guilty about the fact her first thought was helping Jayson instead of checking on them.
“Don’t, Ice. They are good. They are still asleep. How, after the scream this bitch let out, amazes me,” Rocky informed her as she came back into the living room.
“Sunny staying in the room with them?” Lana found herself asking.
“Yeah. In case word gets out, this one has been arrested, and they try to get them for leverage.”
“Alrighty then, let’s get this party started.”
Lana turned her ice glare onto Ashley as she read the woman her Miranda rights. The entire time, Ashley was swearing and threatening Lana, oblivious to Jayson’s presence and glare.
“You have no right to arrest me! I was here by invitation, you jealous slut.”
“Really? And who invited you? It wasn’t Jayson, our children, or me. We are the only ones who may invite you into this house.”
Lana looked over at Jayson, who shook his head, informing her of what she already knew. She turned her eyes back to Ashley when the woman growled out after Hawk pushed her back onto the couch.
“Why are the Maylans and the Hubbards targeting the Kenwoods and Hellburn Falls?”
“Fuck you!”
“No, thank you. Now, last chance, Ashley or we let word get out on the streets that you and your sister, Jayme, squealed the family secrets like the little bitches you two are.”
Ashley burst into laughter. “Guess your friends here didn’t tell you that her real husband got her an attorney and she’s being released because of a favor owed to the mayor, my dad.”
“Actually, she’s not, because the judge had to remove himself from the case. Especially since Daddy-O and his big brother, Rusty, are all suspects in the missing girls case.”
Lana couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on her face at the shock in Ashley’s eyes at her statement. She was going to wait to deliver the rest of the news.
“You’re lying. Jones is a good cop. They will trust him.”
“Nope!” Swift popped her “p”.
“As of two hours ago, Jones, Ellers, and Brewer were all put on suspension without pay by internal affairs pending an internal investigation.”
“Now we know why the Maylans or the Hubbards are targeting Hellburn Falls. Why are you fuckers targeting the Kenwoods?” Lana repeated her question.
“Thought you knew it all, bitch?” Ashley laughed loudly.
“Jayson, does the name Brenda Wright mean anything to you or your parents?”
“No. Should it?”
“Call your parents and ask them. Also, ask them about someone named Kenzie.”
“Kenzie? She was my dad’s younger sister. She died when she was sixteen.”
Lana watched Jayson as he grabbed his phone off of the coffee table and called his parents. The pieces of the puzzle were now starting to complete the whole picture.
“Hello?”
“Hey Mom, can you put me on speakerphone?” Jayson asked his mother.
“You’re on Bluetooth, son. What’s up? Everything okay?”
Lana could hear the concern in Mr. Kenwood’s voice. She hated to bring up bad memories while they were driving.
“Can you guys pull over at a well-lit gas station or fast-food place that’s still open?” Lana requested as she continued to nibble on her lower lip.
“We just pulled off to get gas. What’s going on?”
“Does the name Kenzie or a Brenda Wright ring any bells for you?” Lana cut to the chase.
“Y-yes. Kenzie was my baby sister. Brenda Wright was the one who caused her death. Even though Kenz had committed suicide, we couldn’t get Brenda for causing her death,” Mr. Kenwood’s quivering voice sounded over the phone.
“Lana, why are you asking Ken these questions?”
“I’ll get to that in a moment. Mr. Kenwood, can you tell me about the events that led up to your sister’s death?”
“Brenda and her friends bullied her relentlessly. Snakes left in her locker, eggs thrown at her, feces from animals thrown at her…you name it, it was done. The junior/senior prom was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She showed up…”
Lana stayed quiet as she let Mr. Kenwood collect himself. While she knew most of the story, Ken was filling in some gaps they had.
“She showed up for prom with a friend. Well, someone we thought was a friend. They helped orchestrate the beating and rape that my sister suffered at the dance in front of everyone.”
“Do you know why they targeted her?” Swift asked, after Lana nodded at her.
“Because Brenda assumed Kenz was interested in the football team’s captain, Elliot Conrad. She wasn’t. She was only tutoring the asshole. She was actually interested in another guy, Jefferey Blackman.”
“Wait, Jefferey Blackman as in the head of Blackman Financial?”
Hollywood had everyone’s head up, looking at her because of her question. If that was the case, it explained so much about that man.
“Yes. They were supposed to have gone to prom together, but Jeff got sick really bad with the stomach flu. He was down for a week, if I remember correctly.”
“Explains what we know of the man.” Rocky laughed half-heartedly.
“You’ve met Jeff?” Mr. Kenwood asked in shock.
“Yes. He is a huge supporter of our team at the sheriff’s office in Texas. He’s also a godparent to the twins and Trevor’s father-in-law.”
“Trevor?” Mrs. Kenwood asked in confusion.
“My senior officer, sometimes partner, depending on the assignment with the military.”
“Is he a good man?” Mr. Kenwood asked almost silently.
“Yes. And you should know, now that I’ve connected the dots, he’s named one of his daughters, Kenzie Lynn.”
“Wow, such a boring fucking moment. What does this bullshit have to do with me?” Ashley growled at everyone.
“The fact that Brenda Wright is your adopted grandmother, married to a U.S. Senator and has not only targeted Hellburn Falls, but the Kenwoods out of revenge instead of growing the fuck up.”