Chapter 38 #2
If I say too much to this man, I’m going to break his fucking face for what he said about my family and did to my wife.
I have to remember that I am hitting him where it actually hurts.
I helped make today happen. Hitting him will take me from my family, and I’m so done with being away from my family.
He takes a menacing step in my direction, raising his hand when a soft knock comes at the door. He drops his hand quickly and turns to the newcomer. Perfect timing.
A man dressed in sweats and an I’m here, what more do you want T-shirt walks directly into my office behind my father. “Dick Shitaker?”
I almost fucking lose it, then Asher gives a very suspicious cough.
“What did you just say to me?”
He hands over the envelope. “Mr. Dick Whitaker, you’ve been served.”
“The hell I have!” Dick tries to shove the envelope back, but the guy is faster and already retreating out the door. “What in the fuck is this shit?” He rumbles as he opens the envelope and reaches inside. Raised voices come from the entryway down the office steps, and Asher and I trade smirks.
“Retribution? Karma?” Asher throws a couple of answers from where he’s leaning against the wall.
My father must read what he needs to know because his hate-filled eyes meet mine. “Justice,” I whisper, keeping my head up and meeting his daggers with cool indifference.
Thunderous steps echo from the stairwell, and Asher mumbles, “Time for the grand finale.” I snort.
Dick steps back from me and turns toward the door when the first of them comes into our offices. “What is the meaning of this?” He roars, his face turning an alarming shade of red. The papers he holds crumple in his clenching fists.
“I need to see Mr. Richard Whitaker.” Brandon freezes, paling before pointing a shaking finger in the direction of my office. The three of us watch as the officer, Officer Noah Granger, comes striding confidently toward us.
“What is happening right now?” My father mumbles. Granger is in full gear, so I’m not sure what’s so confusing.
“Mr. Dick Whitaker?” I smirk.
“Yeah, that’s me. What do you want?” He eyes me like I might have anything to do with it. I do, but he doesn’t know that.
“Mr. Whitaker, you are under arrest for conspiracy, fraud, accepting kickbacks, and violating the federal fair lending laws, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act.”
Dick blubbers, “What in the world are you talking about? I’ve done none of those things!” He tries to step behind my desk, but I manage to block his pathway.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Granger grasps my father by the shoulder, but the stupid man struggles again.
“Sir, you can come calmly, or we can force the issue. It’s your choice.
” I slip past them to the doorway. By now, a few other officers have found their targets, and the entire office is in an uproar.
Unsurprisingly, even with the warning, Dick does not calm down.
“Don’t you have any idea who I am? I own this town.
I am this bank!” His voice is growing louder, more manic.
Granger rounds the desk and doesn’t struggle long before he has my father’s hands cuffed.
“Trevor, are you going to let them do this to me?”
I look behind me. “Who, me? I thought my name was William.” Asher does chuckle this time while Dick growls.
“You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just said to you?”
“I didn’t do anything.” His eyes catch on Asher as if for the first time this morning. “Glenn! Glenn, tell these men you know …” His voice trails off when another officer steps in and walks straight to Asher.
“Detective, we have the majority of the suspects collected.” Asher nods.
Dick’s eyes narrow, and his mouth gapes open.
“Who the fuck are you? Did you call these men? You don’t know me, boy!
” His beady, panicked eyes meet mine again, and the relief there makes me want to laugh in his face.
“Son, tell these men I know nothing about kickbacks. It’s all Glenn.
He’s been planting evidence. Things were fine until he showed up. ”
I nod and keep my expression neutral as I reach past him to the desk. I pick up the envelope, fold it in half, and tuck it neatly into his pocket. “Don’t want to forget this, right, Dad?”
“You little shit!” He spits at me. “You’re going to regret this. All of you!”
“I guess Dick’s ignoring the part where anything he says can be held against him.” Asher gruffs under his breath. I cough out a laugh and marvel at how light I feel, even as my father continues to wrestle against the younger man holding him.
Then, like music to my ears, a familiar and despised voice shouts down the hall.
I reach into my pocket and pull out Bethany’s favor.
Ignoring the grunting and cussing from my father and the casual conversation of the other two men, I lean out the door to see Bobby and Krista down the hallway.
“I just started this job! I didn’t know about any of those things!
” Bobby’s voice rings out over the low, bored tones of the arresting officer calmly latching the cuffs behind his back.
“What did you do, Krista? Tell them!” Krista says nothing.
“Dammit, I’m telling you, it was her! She set me up. She’s not even my assistant!”
He pulls away, jerking his body as if trying to escape, even gains some distance … for half a second. The officer regains control and shoves him against the nearest desk, completing her reading of his rights.
Krista silently cries as the other officer reads her rights, staring at Bobby like he broke her heart. Shame.
As I jog up to the group, Bobby jerks his head up and narrows his eyes at me. I smile. “Hey, Bobby. I have something for you. It’s from Bethany.”
“Fuck off, Trevor.” He spits at me, then a desperate gleam hits his eyes. “Wait! That’s the boss’s kid. He’s likely in on everything. Get him! She’s his assistant. They were in on it together!”
The officer raises her brow at me. I shrug. “Can I talk to this guy for a second?”
“I don’t care even a little bit, man.” She yawns but remains behind Bobby. I’m guessing she still has hold of him. I’d pay money to see Bobby try to run.
I lean closer to him. “See this?” I hold up the ostentatious ring that the small town banker somehow managed to purchase with his ridiculous lifestyle. Krista whimpers beside us. I ignore her. She made her choices.
His eyes flash with recognition. “That’s … why do you—”
“My sister wanted you to have it back. Her words were … wait. Let me think for a second.” I tap my chin, then hold up a finger.
“Oh, yeah. ’Thanks, but no thanks.’” I tuck it into his front pocket, so he can deal with it when they process everything, and pat it a couple of times.
He sputters, but really, what is there to say?
“It was a good time, Bobby, but it will be even better when you’re far away from here. ”
“You stupid piece of—”
I turn away, but raise my hand in farewell, one finger up. “Hope it was worth it, you two!”
Down the hall, I hear my father yelling at the top of his lungs as he’s led out of my office. His furious, red face turns to me one final time before he’s led down the steps.
I sincerely hope that’s the last time I ever see him.
I put in my final resignation before leaving. Ms. Tyson tries halfheartedly to convince me to use more sick days and pull in my paycheck, but I’m done. It’s time to shut the door on this part of my life for good.
I went to The Shop to finish the day and have been counting down the hours until I can return home to my woman and son.
Tonight, Paige is making dinner for everyone, so Billy and Carter have been bugging me about what she’s making us. I’m just trying to understand how I got so fucking lucky to get to this point despite everything I’ve done wrong.