Chapter 14
SILVER
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” Calli asks, as we’re walking across the driveway from the house to the little cabin.
She knew something was up when I volunteered for us to go grab the kids’ pajamas.
It’s been impossible to get her alone all night, and Lee will be back soon from helping Arlow with the goats. I need to talk to her.
“I’m fine. I need your help with something that has to stay between us.”
“Of course.” She opens the door and we dodge the toys on the floor to sit in the small living room. “Is this about Lee?”
“No, it’s nothing to do with him. You’re not going to fucking believe what I found out. Do you remember Celia? The elderly woman who comes into the diner for crullers?”
Calli briefly worked the overnight donut shift. “Vaguely.”
“I was friends with her granddaughter, Molly, when we were kids, and Molly was locked up with me the night I spent in jail. Celia gave me a ride back to my truck and asked me to come and visit her. She claimed she could help with the Matheson’s.
I didn’t believe it, but Jesus, Calli, she handed me everything I need to bring them down. ”
Calli’s eyebrows raise. “What do you mean?”
“Celia was county clerk for years, and she used that position to basically spy on everyone. Mostly because she liked to know the gossip from what I can gather, but she also collected all the documents and ledgers. They’re full of proof of the Matheson’s crimes. And there are a ton of them.”
Calli’s jaw drops and she scoots forward to perch on the edge of the couch as I continue.
“They’ve been embezzling funds, accepting government grant money for specific projects then using it for their own shit, committing tax fraud, and laundering money. You name it, and they’ve done it.”
I pull a flash drive out of my pocket. The little thing holds a week’s worth of reading, sorting, scanning, and lining up all the proof I was handed. I still have the paper versions as well.
Calli covers her mouth with her hand and talks through her fingers. “All the Matheson’s?”
“Austin isn’t mentioned, but you can see the things that were done to benefit him. Grady and Emmett’s signatures are all over it. And the police records make it evident that Clay was an accomplice, using the threat of arrest against people when they needed him to.”
Calli can’t contain herself and gets to her feet to pace the floor in front of me. “Why did Celia give it to you? Surely, they’d know it was her.”
“She’s dying of cancer. And I spent a lot of time at her house when I was a kid. She wanted to give me a weapon that would get them off my back. So I can keep the diner.”
Calli is quiet for a moment as she lets it sink in. “You have all of it on that flash drive?”
“I do. And another copy as well.”
“Silver.” She sits across from me again, looking me in the eye. “This isn’t small town drama. That’s prison level shit. This is serious.”
“I know.” I hold out the flash drive to her. “Which is why I want you to hold onto this copy. In case something happens to me. No one will know you have it, but if they lock me up…or worse, you can send it anonymously to the attorney general and to the press.”
She swallows hard, looking at the small black flash drive like it’s a snake that may strike before reaching out to take it.
“You don’t have to. If this is too much, I can get one of my brothers to—”
“No,” she interrupts, taking it from me. “Of course I’ll help. I’m not scared for me. I’m scared for you. What exactly do you plan to do?”
I’ve put a lot of thought into that. Every ounce of me wants to see them all arrested. To see them led away in handcuffs, their names splashed all over the news, to set the town free of them. That day will come, but first, I’m covering my own ass.
“I’m going to blackmail the judge executive.”
Calli leaps to her feet again and stares down at me. “What?”
I nod, sitting up straighter. “I’m going to call Grady Matheson and tell him I want to meet to discuss the diner.
Only with him, not Austin or the others.
He’ll assume I’m ready to give in, make a deal that gets me out of trouble and lets them buy Lucky’s.
Or he’ll think I’m meeting to beg for mercy. Either way, he’ll show up.”
“I’m sure he will.”
“I’m going to show him the paper copies and tell him that he’s going to make sure all charges are dropped against me for hitting Austin.
The fire marshal is in his pocket too. He can make him rule my house fire as accidental so the insurance will pay.
And I’ll demand they leave me alone. Or else I’ll turn them all in. ”
“You’re going to blackmail the most powerful man in the county.”
I shrug like it’s no big deal. “They’ve been paying people off and bribing them for more than thirty years. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Calli looks terrified. “Unless they decide to kill you and throw you in the lake!”
“Which is why I need you to hold onto the copy. I’ll make it clear that if anything happens to me, the copies will be sent to the authorities and the press.
” Her expression is a mixture of doubt and fear.
“I don’t see another way. I’ve lost my house and it looks like insurance won’t pay.
I still owe the loan I took out, and I went deeper in debt for repairs after the vandalism.
Even if I don’t get any jail time for the assault charge, there will be fines and legal fees. They’re going to bankrupt me.”
Calli’s voice is soft. “Listen, Arlow and I have more than enough to help.”
“I’m not taking your money. Lee offered the same, and I really love you all for it, but I can’t. Besides, that won’t keep them from continuing to target me until they get the diner. This is the answer.”
With a sigh, she sits down again and mulls it over. Finally, she nods, still looking afraid but also impressed. “You’re right. But you have to meet him in a public place and you’re absolutely not going alone.”
“Okay, but he needs to think I’m alone. Do you know where Freddy’s Bar and Grill is? I’ll have him meet me there after lunchtime. It won’t be crowded or full of his cronies, and it’s public.”
“I know where it is. I can pretend to be having lunch there and keep an eye on you. Maybe I could have Alicia go with me. I won’t tell her what’s going on, just that you have a meeting with a man you don’t trust and want a safety net.”
If she feels better having someone with her, I’m not going to argue.
“Okay, that’ll work.” I reach over to take her hand.
“You’re the only one I’m trusting with this.
I know you well enough to know you won’t want to keep it from Arlow, but I’m asking you to, at least until after the meeting.
I don’t need him telling Lee. He’ll bully his way in to try to fix things. ”
A small grin grows on her face. “Yeah, he would. I won’t say anything to Arlow until you’re okay with it. But Lee’s someone you can trust with this if you want to. If he goes with you or makes it obvious that he’s watching, he can be intimidating.”
“No, I’m not getting a man to fight this battle with me or for me. They’re going to have to accept they were beaten by a woman. Two women, actually. None of this would be possible without Celia.”
“When are you going to meet him?”
“I’ll call and let you know.” I lean back into the couch. My chest is lighter. It feels good that someone else knows the truth and is standing with me.
Calli’s phone beeps with a text. “It’s Alicia wanting to know if we got lost,” she laughs. “We’d better head back.” She tucks the flash drive in her pocket and goes to fetch the kids’ pajamas.
“Thank you,” I tell her, grabbing her in a hug.
It’s snowing on our short walk back, and I’m looking up at the sky when she asks, “Are you and Lee still…getting along?”
“He’s moody as fuck lately but yes, we’re tolerating each other.”
She gives me a sideways smile. “The way he was looking at you tonight didn’t scream tolerant.”
“That’s just because I’ve been screwing his brains out.”
We both laugh as we enter the house. “What’s so funny?” Arlow asks, as Lee stands beside him.
“Nothing.” Our simultaneous reply makes us both crack up again.
On our way home, Lee looks over at me. “Did you have a good time?”
“I did. It was nice to hang out with Calli.”
“Good. Remember that next time I have to threaten to carry your stubborn ass.”
“I’m not stubborn. You’re just bossy. Grouch.”
“Hellion.”
Maybe it’s the wine I drank before we left, but I’m struck by an urge. It’s late on Thanksgiving night, and the roads are deserted. I unfasten my seatbelt and scoot over closer to him.
“What are you doing? Put your seatbelt back on.”
“There you go again, telling me what to do.” I unfasten his pants and pull down the zipper.
“Silver.”
“Hmm?” I pull his cock out and give it a slow stroke. “Do you want me to stop?” A curse falls out under his breath, and I take that as a no. I lean over and lick slowly around the head. The shuddery breath he lets out is sexy as hell. “Can you keep your eyes on the road?”
His fingers tangle in my hair. “We’re sure as fuck going to find out.”
“Ah ah, both hands on the wheel or I stop. Safety first.”
He obeys, and his deep chuckle is cut off by a groan when I suck him into my mouth.
I take my time, slowly working him up. His heavy breaths, muttered curses, and moans urge me on.
I hear a couple of cars pass us, but I couldn’t care less if they saw my head bobbing up in the window.
This is something I’ve never done but always wanted to.
Lee makes a turn and stops the truck. I’m not sure where we are but it doesn’t matter. He throws it in park and threads his fingers into my hair again. “Silver, fuck, yes. I’m going to come.”