Chapter 21 #2
“But they didn’t. What the new business owners got was embezzlement and a system that ensured their businesses would eventually fail.”
The uproar was immediate.
People in the crowd got to their feet and began shouting and pointing fingers.
The anger and outrage was fierce and visceral.
These were people’s lives and livelihoods.
People who didn’t have a lot, who thought they were teaming up to make life better for themselves and their community only to get fleeced by the very people they’d trusted, believing they were working toward the same goal.
Only to find the people they’d partnered with were blatantly stealing from them.
Lauren saw Santi speak into his radio and move closer to the podium.
She didn’t want to cause him more stress; he had enough of that.
She wanted to make his life easier, wanted to hear his deep laughter, wanted him to experience more pleasure, wanted the glasses off and his soul at peace, but she knew with her in his life, her boldness, her energy, he would never have it.
“I want her arrested for slander and defamation!” the mayor shouted at Santiago, swinging his arm in her direction. “She’s been a vicious, lying bitch since she descended on our town, a plague of death and chaos have followed her. She is worse than locusts, and I want her gone!”
“Let her speak asshole,” someone said from the audience as the council president called for order.
“I told my Minna for too long that something was ass to head wrong with this revitalization scheme. And look at this.” He jammed a finger at the packet she’d assembled.
“We couldn’t figure out how her boutique was always losing money when the business was growing.”
A number of other recipients of the program voiced similar experiences.
Lauren took the mic again, and Saige and Draya stood beside her.
“You’ve all worked in good faith, and the mayor and his coconspirators preyed upon your desire to build your life and your community. By the same token, many of you need to have better business practices and better plans and contingencies. That’s what our women’s business group has focused on.”
Saige, Draya, and Lina spoke about the increase in revenue and their experiences working with Lauren.
“What the city controller documented, and what he was probably killed for, was his beleaguered conscious. I eventually found two separate contracts. The second one mailed by him to Mrs. Willoby’s home.
The mail hadn’t been checked since I moved there.
The second contract laid out to you and the ones presented at the time of signing were different.
The changes were small, so closely related to the original that it would’ve been hard to see the differences.
But that difference ensured that, unless you read the contract you signed as vigilantly as you read the one originally presented, your business would revert to them with all the improvements you oh so painstakingly implemented and footed the bill for.
This would eventually make the private equity firm they were working with less on the hook financially for the improvements you made.
See pages twenty-three through twenty-five,” she directed.
“The increase in sales and foot traffic brought up earlier, at face value, was an accurate observation, however, if you refer to page forty-seven, you will see that the mayor contracted with the Newton Equity Firm to send traffic your way. But what was purchased by these people were small things that would not positively impact your bottom line. I believe the controller was killed because he was no longer willing to play along after the death of my home’s previous owner, Mrs. Willoby.
Hers would’ve been the first home they acquired.
Oh, and did y’all know Mrs. Willoby and the city controller were. ..intimate?”
“Well, I’ll be.” Someone’s shocked response was followed by indistinct murmurs.
Lauren wasn’t surprised. Bailey Joe was an older Black man, and Mrs. Willoby was an older White widow.
“I don’t believe the person who killed them knew about their secret.
And that ignorance will cost them. But that is also a matter for law enforcement and the courts.
I only discovered that missing piece today because the controller hid the most incriminating evidence in Ms. Willoby’s home.
In a place baby girl protected, but she knew I was putting together the pieces and steered me to what was hidden in the attic.
Between what he left in his records and what he left at Ms. Willoby’s, the corruption related to the revitalization plan is irrefutable, but that report will only be going to law enforcement.
The general knowledge related to the revitalization plan participants and community, that goes to you.
So, whether those involved are arrested or not, at least you have the information needed to keep these men out of office in this town forever.
And if you’re willing, I’m more than happy to work with the town and business owners to shift the tide of Shrouded Lake’s potential.
To build on the merits and promise of the original agreement. ”
Lauren returned to her seat and her mother patted her on the leg, a look of pride on her face.
“I don’t care what anybody, and even you say, I raised you to be one of the baddest bitches I know.”
“Ma!”
“Tell me I’m lying.”
“I wish I could but then I would be lying.”
Santiago directed Sonny to take the mayor and council president into custody.
Walking up to Lauren, Santiago took off his glasses, staring down at her. She stood and stared back at him because he wasn’t about to try and intimidate her. He continued to look down at her silently.
“Can I just say you really do have the most beautiful eyes. I hate when you shield them behind your shades, but I understand. It’s part of your uniform.”
“What did I tell you about making my life harder?” he asked flatly.
“You do realize my mama is right here, and she will gut you if you’re mean to me.”
“He can say his peace,” her mother said.
She better not be taking another man’s side over hers.
“But I do carry a knife,” Ma added, patting her purse.
Santi smiled and nodded appreciatively.
Lauren rubbed his forearm. She really did want his life to be easier, less stressful. He bent his head and kissed her.
It wasn’t a passionate kiss but had just enough heat to ignite a spark in her blood.
“Whatever I said no longer applies. You make life better. And I’m man enough, probably the only one man enough, to handle all the parts of you—to want all of you to show up because it’s who you are, and who you are is what I didn’t know I was missing. Mama, cover your ears,” he told Ma Mable.
“When we get back to my house, I’m gonna do some things to you.” She pressed her thighs together because she really didn’t want to have an orgasm in front of her mother and the few people that still lingered in the room. He lowered his voice and pressed his mouth to her ear.
“I may just break you wide open trying to get to that molten center.” He pulled back. “But you’ll be fine after.” He adjusted her collar. “Run that fever right out of you. Ladies.”
He dipped his head to her mother, turned, and walked toward the front of the building.
Her mother frowned, confused. “You been sick, Ren?”
“No, Ma.” But she did feel feverish and jittery. “At least not physically. But I swear that man has made me sick in the head.”
“Or maybe, just maybe, he’s given you a permanent heart condition.” Her mother nodded sagely.
Lauren frowned at her mother. What did she even know? But then the truth of her mother’s words hit her, and she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Sit down before you fall down. You’ve always been so dramatic,” she said. Lauren fisted her shirt clutching it tight against her chest.
Lina separated from the council members not taken into custody and walked toward them, concerned.
She sat beside Lauren. “Was he angry, mija. Did he threaten you?”
“With a good time,” her mother said drolly.
“Ma, please.”
Her mother rolled her eyes.
“I can’t be with that man,” she said fiercely, but her fierceness was filled with panic.
“I haven’t been here two months. No one can fall in love in less than two months, especially when we couldn’t stand each other the first half of it, after having my heart broken. Lust, yes, but a brokenhearted woman cannot fall in love with a—”
“Handsome,” her mother said sitting on the other side of her.
“Kind,” Lina added.
“Fiercely protective.”
“Sexy.”
“Dedicated,” Lina nodded, ticking up another finger.
“Strong-willed and determined,” her mother said.
“I don’t think those are great qualities,” Lauren said.
“When it comes to you, they are absolutely necessary.”
“Absolutely,” Lina agreed.
“And—” Lina interrupted her.
“I know I haven’t known you long, mija.” Lauren looked at Lina sideways. When she was syrupy sweet and caring, it was a cover for something calculated and unhinged. “But the broken heart…was it really because of the fiancé?”
Lauren’s anger swelled. Lina held her hands up in surrender.
“All I’m saying is you seemed more broken over family. Maybe only your ego and expectations were wounded over the man,” she said smiling, nodding gently.
“You’re too nice Lina,” her mother said.
“But she’s not!”
“And if you won’t say it plainly, I will. You didn’t love that man and he didn’t love you. Not enough to put your needs first.”
Obviously.
“When you dedicate your time and energy to something or someone, Lauren, you see it through because you like—”
“Succeeding?” Lauren supplied preemptively.
“Hell no, you like winning. But if that’s how you wanna spin it to minimize how competitive you are, continue to tell yourself that.”
This. This is why she loved, but didn’t always like, or appreciate, talking to older women. Their reality checks were rugby-level brutal. You couldn’t be weak and survive women like Ma Mable.
Unless your name is Lahn, she thought caustically.
She’d work on being more empathetic and forgiving starting tomorrow. For real this time. But tonight she was gonna get her mom settled at her house and then head over to Santi’s to see what he’d have for her tonight.
She gathered her things and placed them in her bag.
“Ma, you ready to go?”
“Oh I’m not going home with you. I’m staying the night at Lina’s where I can sleep in, have a decent dinner and breakfast in bed, and then do some shopping in town. I’m definitely not gonna stay and hear you and that sheriff do things to each other no mother should hear.”
Lauren ended up staying another thirty minutes, talking to some of the business owners and council members, promising to schedule meetings, before she headed to her home.
Outside, the mist obscured the landscape. She’d parked her car around the corner and was about to head to it when Santiago pulled her to a stop.
“I need you to pack a bag and head to my place tonight. There was another break-in at your house this evening.” Alarm surged through her.
“It’s okay, whoever broke in looks like they tried to break back out after your roommate got a hold of them.
Aside from some blood and a few broken items, all is well there, Lauren.
Roan and Derry gathered the evidence they needed and cleaned away most of the blood.
They’re back at the station now. McIntyre is sitting on your house waiting for you to get your things and escort you back to my place.
Wren…” She blinked and took a deep breath.
He shook his head and grabbed her hand. “You’re coming back to the station with me.
I’ll finish up with Anderson and Flemming as soon as I can, then we’ll—”
“No…no,” she said, trying to shake free of her fear.
“You go finish up with Archer and Flemming. The whole point of my presentation was to hold them accountable for what they’d done.
I’ll go pack a bag and lock myself in your house.
I won’t open the door until you come home and relieve your deputy of his duty. ”
He tried to talk her into going to Lina’s and she thought about it, she probably would have but she really didn’t want to deal with her mother and Lina right now. She was tired and knew she would be safe at Santi’s.
He walked her to her car and promised to be no longer than ten minutes behind her.
The mist was thick tonight, forcing her to drive slower, more carefully.
She thought back to the first day she’d arrived in Shrouded Lake. It felt like a lifetime ago. Which really did go to show that if you gave yourself the space to heal, life conspired to quickly show you how much better it could get.
After pulling into her front yard, she greeted McIntyre who escorted her in the house. She was careful as she made her way upstairs and began to gather enough items to stay at Santi’s for a week.
Her phone rang and picked it up immediately.
“How did the meeting go?” Reese asked in greeting.
Lauren chose not to tell Reese about the break-in because she didn’t want her friend to worry, but she did give her a brief rundown of the meeting and ended up telling her about the low-key threat her mother made to Santi as well as some of the information she’d learned about Lahn coming into their lives.
“That’s why I don’t play with Ms. Mable.
To be honest, I always thought something was fishy about that accident your father had when we were in fifth grade.
I always thought she put a hit on him or got some of the guys from the old neighborhood to beat him up.
I know it’s wrong, but I swear that’s what I thought. ”
“Ma is going to be Ma,” she said as she zipped her bag.
“When push came to shove, she always had your back Ren. Mine too,” Reese said with a trace of an old sadness. “I’m glad bitch-ass Derrick ratted you out though; I’m glad you two have this time together.”
“Me too sis, me too.”
“Alright, I’ll let you go and good job tonight. Give me a call and let me know when it would be a good time for me to come visit the hicks. Love you.”
“Love you too,” Lauren smiled and disconnected the call, then headed downstairs.
“Alright Deborah, I’m gonna leave you to your own devices but I’ll leave a slice of cake on your altar for all your help. I’m sure Santi won’t miss it knowing it went for you,” she said, careful as she navigated the broken stairwell.
When she was safely downstairs, she turned toward the direction of the kitchen only to find a man pointing a gun at her.