Just Right: A Something Just Ain't Right Novella Read online

  “I came to give you a message.”

  “I don’t want anything from you.”

  “You might want to listen to what I have to say.” Travis said. He glanced at me as he gave me a huge grin. “Actually, it concerns you and your family.”

  I gave a confused look as he came closer.

  “I suggest you stop walking.” Morgan threatened.

  “You won’t shoot me. You would need to find out why I’m here.”

  “I’ll shoot you after.”

  “Stop it! Now, what the hell you’re trying to say, Travis?” I asked.

  “Let’s just say Morgan’s mom wasn’t the only thing your dad was double dipping with. He was also double dipping in his business practice. So much so that he was using funds from other sources. That’s why I’m here. I need to get the deed to the company. The person that needs it wants to sell it.”

  I didn’t know if I’d heard Travis correctly. Why would my dad go into business with any of the crazy McFarlane’s? This doesn’t make any sense at all!

  “Wait, what? You’re saying the company is not my dad’s?”

  Travis smiled.

  “And you’re saying I had the deed the entire time?” Morgan asked.

  Travis was still smiling when Morgan went over to him and dropped him face first onto the counter. He put the gun to his temple while giving him a heated glance. Travis started laughing, which made Morgan even more agitated.

  “Aren’t you a cop now? A temper like yours could get you fired or killed.”

  “Listen, we don’t have time for your bullshit. Tell us what all of this means or I will kill you.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would in self-defense. Now, start talking!”

  For a second, my heart stopped beating as I looked from Morgan to Travis. I put my hand on Morgan’s back, encouraging him to stop. I need to know the entire story and it won’t help if he kills Travis.

  “Tie him up.” I said.

  Morgan glanced at me as I grabbed Travis’ wrists. He started laughing even harder as I threw him in a chair.

  “Enjoy the little bit of freedom you have now because after we get you to talk, you’re going back to prison.”

  Morgan handcuffed him while I found some duct tape to tie up his feet. We stood in front of him, wondering if he will talk when Lamar walked in.

  “What the hell is going on?” he asked.

  “We’re about to find out something.” I said.

  “Why stop talking now, Travis? You were so eager to talk before.” Morgan said.

  “I’m just going by actual orders from the person that is after me. This is to save myself since I’m released.”

  “But you’re going to destroy our lives!” I exclaimed.

  “What did I walk in on?” Lamar asked.

  I gave him the quiet sign as I turned to stare at Travis. “So what, you feel like we owe you something after what happened to your brother? Remember, Morgan never killed him. Rick did. Either way, he was an asshole who deserved what he got.”

  “You destroyed my life when I was sent to prison, so I don’t have a problem doing this to you.”

  “You need to go back there! You tried to kill me!” I yelled. I was about to strike him when Lamar held me back.

  “Travis, stop playing games. If you know something, you better tell us.” Morgan said.

  Travis sighed. “This is what I know,” he turned to me and started talking. “When your dad got with Sophia, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. He didn’t know what to do, so Sophia suggested going to someone for help. She gave him a loan, but he actually signed the business over to the person. In other words, your father doesn’t own any part of Stevens Corporation.”

  Lamar didn’t speak as he quickly sat on a stool nearby. I was shocked at what I just heard. But how do we know if this is true?

  “How do we know if you’re not lying? Our father would have told us this! He just gave the entire company to Lamar.”

  “Did he tell you that he had an affair with Morgan’s mother? If he kept that hidden, then he would have kept this from you too. Anyway, the deal was made for him to continue to oversee the company as his own, but he didn’t have any stake in it. The person he got the loan from just wanted to help him, but didn’t want any part of the business. Until now; and since the company has turned its revenue around, the person wants her cut. Since your dad decided to up and leave the business, he didn’t live up to the end of the bargain by paying the person back.”

  “So the person is trying to claim what’s hers now,” Lamar said. “He gave me the company so I could fix what he’d messed up.”

  Travis smiled. “At least you got it now.”

  “And how do you tie into this?” I asked.

  “And Demetria since you were threatening her?” Morgan asked.

  “The only reason that I’m involved is because of Sophia and Craig. Since my last name is McFarlane, the person figured I could easily access it through you.”

  “There’s more to it, isn’t it?” Morgan asked.

  “Let’s just say I made some enemies in prison.”

  “Geez, that’s not a surprise.” I said.

  “Does this person have a name?” Morgan asked.

  “That, I can’t really say.”

  “Can you just give a straight answer?” I asked.

  “The person in question knows you all very well. In fact, she knows Demetria well too. That’s why she’s involved or supposedly involved.”

  “I guess we need to talk to Demetria then.” I said.

  “Probably won’t happen. She’s not going to talk.”

  “Maybe she will talk to us.” I said and walked out. Lamar followed me as I quickly stopped and he bumped into me.

  “Why are you following me?”

  “So you won’t do anything crazy.”

  “Lamar, I’m just going to talk to Demetria. I need to know who this person is. Don’t you?”

  “I’m still in shock about dad. He lied to us again.”

  “Do you think Mom knows?”

  Lamar shrugged. “I don’t know. All I do know is how am I going to find a way to buy this person out? We all thought it was dad’s company, but it was all a lie. I shouldn’t have to continue with it.”

  “Just tell Dad to hand it to Bryce.”

  “No. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction. I’ll figure something out.”

  “Okay, just don’t do anything crazy.”

  “You don’t either.”

  Morgan walked in while holding onto Travis. “I’m going to call Serge and take Travis to the station. You just kissed your freedom goodbye.”

  “Should you call for some backup?” I asked.

  “I’m good. He’s not going anywhere.”

  “I can’t since I’m duct taped, asshole.” Travis said.

  “Do you want your mouth taped too, because I’ll do it?” Morgan said. He pushed him to the door and Travis almost tripped.

  “I’ll be at Demetria’s.” I said.

  “Hales, I don’t need you going out. Just stay here, please.”

  “Nothing will happen.”

  “Are you sure about that? You were almost pushed off of the road and kidnapped.”

  “Being out can’t be that much safer than being here. We did just have Travis in our house.”

  “Hales, I’m not going to argue with you.”

  “And I’m not going to with you. Would you feel better if I take someone with me?”

  “Just wait until I come back and we’ll go together. For now, just stay with Lamar.”

  “Actually, I have somewhere I need to go. I can always drop you off at Mom and Dad’s.” Lamar said.

  I smiled. “There’s no need for that. Besides, I have someone else in mind to go.”

  I gave Morgan a kiss on the cheek and grabbed my keys. I figured I could kill two birds with one stone; I could find out the truth about the mystery person and get Kyle and Demetria to
talk.

  Morgan

  On the way to the station, my mind was racing with everything that I’d learned that day. I don’t know if what Travis said was true, especially with Cedric, but he did lie for years about having an affair with my mother, so anything is possible.

  I walked into the station, still holding Travis as several wondered what was going on. Serge was already waiting on my arrival as he was standing near my desk.

  “Well, look what has walked into our station. Or, should I say, hopped in. Is this really necessary, Carter?” he asked.

  “You know he would have tried to escape if he wasn’t tied up.”

  “Well, McFarlane, you did break your house arrest on your second day out. I guess you really love those prison walls.” Serge said.

  “I needed information from your detective. If I don’t get it, I’ll be killed.”

  “I suggest you watch your back in prison. Get his ass out of here.” I said as an officer came and took him to a cell.

  “How was he in your home?” Serge asked.

  “That I still don’t know, but it just opened up a fresh set of problems for my family.”

  “How?”

  “That’s something I don’t want to get into. But Serge, I know you don’t want me anywhere near the bank robberies case, but since I captured Travis…”

  “Which was by coincidence.”

  “Anyway, I think I should be involved. There really is someone else behind the robberies and it involves me.”

  “What! How?”

  I motioned for him to go into his office. Once I closed the door, I explained everything that Travis had mentioned about Cedric and the company. I’m sure Hales wouldn’t want me airing out her family’s dirty laundry, but I had no choice.

  Serge leaned back in his seat and blew out a long breath. “Wow, that story was definitely intense. That’s more than enough reason not to have you on this case.”

  “Seriously! I probably can get whoever the mastermind talking and ID the ones behind the robberies.”

  “Carter…”

  “Please, Serge. You know I don’t want to beg.”

  “You know the policy…”

  “Serge, just let me handle this one.”

  He leaned his elbows on the desk and sighed. “Just promise me you’ll go by the book, please. Whatever you do, you have to have a warrant. I can’t just have you going places without one. And as always, be careful.”

  I nodded and got up. “Thank you.”

  “Just get the criminals who are doing this.”

  I nodded again. “I will, but first, I need that search warrant. There’s already a person of interest that I need to talk to.”

  Hayley

  After leaving my house, I called Kyle to see if he wanted to go out for lunch. I knew he had been depressed after what happened, so I had to grovel and beg for him to leave his home.

  After doing just that for five minutes, he finally agreed, but I told him I had to run an errand before we left. As soon as I turned into Demetria’s apartments, I knew Kyle would be pissed. I parked, seeing Kyle already at my driver’s window. He moved so I could get out and he gave me an impatient glance.

  “I can’t believe you tricked me.”

  “I think we need to resolve this. There’s more to the story than you think, Kyle.”

  “There’s nothing to resolve. She lied to me.”

  “I think there was a reason for it.”

  “Why are you defending her? You sort of dislike her.”

  “Because she lied the first time, I thought she was doing it again but I think it was to protect us.”

  Kyle gave a curious glance as I went to her apartment. I knocked on the door, patiently waiting for her to answer.

  “I don’t think I should be here,” Kyle said. He tried to walk away, but I stopped him.

  “At least hear her out.”

  The door opened and Demetria was shocked to see the two of us.

  “Kyle…Hayley…what are you two doing here?

  “Can we come in, please?”

  She nodded and she stepped aside for us to come in. Kyle doesn’t know anything about what Morgan and I have discovered. I should have given him the short version of the situation, but he would have known that we were visiting her.

  “Travis unexpectedly showed up to my home earlier to give Morgan and me a message.”

  Kyle quickly looked at me and I shrugged.

  “Travis is out?” Demetria asked.

  “Well, for a short time. Morgan took him back to the station, so he’s heading back to jail. Anyway, he gave some information about the robberies, including the reason behind them. We know it’s to find the deed to my father’s company. Now, we just need to know who the person that’s pulling the strings and I have a feeling you know who it is.”

  Demetria looked at Kyle, who didn’t return her gaze. “Before I say anything, I do want to apologize, Hayley. I knew from the start about the robberies, but I never warned you. For that, I’m sorry.”

  “You knew all along that my dad’s company was owned by someone else?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you never said a word?”

  “Only because of the way you’d treated me.”

  “My family is in danger, but all you cared about is your animosity towards me? And you wonder why I never trusted you.”

  “Your family has done a lot to mine, so of course I would feel some type of way about you.”

  “That’s not my fault with what happened in the past. What’s done is done.”

  “Why you didn’t tell me?” Kyle asked.

  Demetria sighed. “Because I knew you would tell Hayley. I couldn’t risk it. That and I didn’t want you involved in my mess. The less you knew the better.”

  “But we’re supposed to get married. We supposed to trust each other. How am I going to trust you if you continue to lie to me and shut me out?”

  “I couldn’t tell you why this was happening. Besides, I was targeted since I didn’t go along with the latest plan… how you got that video, I don’t have a clue to.”

  “Because it was manipulated, Morgan figured it out that whoever sent it put you at the scene of one of the robberies. Turns out that the bank in question is not in the right location.”

  Demetria looked confused as I explained to her what Morgan discovered with the street signs. She looked at Kyle, who still wouldn’t return her gaze.

  “Now that I told you that, can you please tell me who the person is that’s behind all of this?”

  Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door. She went and opened it, revealing Morgan on the other side.

  “Mind if I come in?”

  “Yeah, come in.”

  He walked in, staring at Kyle and me with a look reading, “Why is he here?”

  “I’m actually here on police business. I need to ask some questions about the bank robberies.”

  “Do you have a warrant?” Demetria asked.

  He pulled it out to show to her.

  “I guess you can take a seat.”

  Morgan turned to me, letting me know that Kyle and I could go, but that wasn’t happening.

  “I’m not leaving, Morgan. Not until I know who the person is.”

  “I can’t have you both here.”

  “Morgan, please.”

  He sighed and turned to look at Demetria. “Fine, I need to know who contacted you about the robberies. Was it a friend or a relative? Did they threaten you in any way to commit any of the robberies that happened recently?”

  “Should I have a lawyer present?” she asked.

  “Demetria, I already know the video that was sent was fake. I know you weren’t involved, but someone took a lot of time and effort to make you a part of it. Now, tell me who the person is?”

  “Can’t it be off the record?”

  “Demetria, I can’t do that.”

  “I don’t mind saying who it is; I just don’t want to be reprimanded for
it.”

  “You won’t be. The department is aware to what happened, so you’re safe. We just need to find out who the person is so we can prevent this from happening again.”

  “But you know why they’re doing it. I’m sure Travis told you.”

  “Yes, I do, but I’m trying to do things the right way.”

  “You’re not going to go after them for your personal vendetta?”

  “Demetria, just tell Morgan who it is.” I said impatiently. I knew what she was doing and it wasn’t going to work.

  She took a deep breath and sighed. “It’s my mother. She’s the one who is behind everything; from helping your dad to the robberies. When she found out that Hayley was the one who killed my dad, she wanted justice for his death. Even though the two couldn’t get along, she felt she was betrayed after what she had done for your dad. She doesn’t want the company, she just wants revenge. She tried to go to every bank in town to find out where your dad hid the deed. Long and behold, it was in Morgan’s possession the entire time.”

  “If your mom gave Mr. Stevens the loan, why wouldn’t she have made a copy of the agreement?” Kyle asked.

  “As I mentioned, she didn’t want anything to do with the company. Sophia was the one who put everything into motion. With the relationship she had with Hayley’s dad, she wanted to help him in some way, so she contacted Caroline, who was good friends with my parents. She knew the two had money since my dad was doing work for Travis and Craig, so she figured why not ask. Anyway, when the deal was done, Sophia never indicated where it was hidden. She just told my mom it was in a trusted place. I guess no one knew at the time how crazy she was and that she would hide it, but I guess she did just in case this happened.”

  Morgan just stared at Demetria and she sighed. “Sorry I called your mom crazy.”

  “It’s okay. We all know she is.”

  “But that is the reason why my mom approached me. She wanted me to help her get information out of each of you. When I told her I wouldn’t do it, that’s why she thought up this idiotic plan to go rob banks.”

  “But I thought this was about revenge, not the money?” I asked.

  “It was mainly that she broke, but she also felt I should have gone along with her idea since it was an eye for an eye deal.”