Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2) (34 page)

Getting back into the swing of work after two weeks of relaxing on the beach is just pitiful. When the alarm clock blared in my ear at five AM it took everything in me not to smash it into the wall. Colton told me to stay in bed and rest, but there’s only a few weeks before the baby is born and I need to get all of my ducks in a row at Simon Energy before I take maternity leave.

So here I sit, going through an endless stack of mi
ning violations with the Superintendents. What a nice day to spend our first day back to work, right? MSHA has been straight up our ass lately. I know the inspector is hoping that I’ll break and just start lining his pocket to let the violations slide, like Daddy did. But I refuse to run an unsafe coal mines. These men break their backs for my company. The least I can do is provide them with safe equipment and a safe work environment.

“Carly, you have an urgent ca
ll on line one.” Shelly says peeking her head into the conference room. Colton’s eyes pierce me as I stand and exit the room, heading towards my office. Taking a seat at my desk, I pick up the phone just as Colton closes the door behind him, leaning his plump ass against the corner of the desk.

“
This is Carly Weston.” I say, answering the call.

“Carly, this is Jodie
at Michele Runyon’s office. She has requested a meeting with you immediately. When can we expect you?”

“I’m in a meeting with my Superintendents now,” Colton taps
the desk, gauging my attention. He nods, silently telling me he’ll take over for me. “I can be there in thirty minutes. Will that work?”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll let Ms. Runyon know you’re o
n your way. Thank you.” She replies, ending the call.

Hanging
up the phone, I turn to Colton who is staring me down inquisitively. “That was my attorney’s office. She requested a meeting immediately. They have been looking into the sabotage at Black Ridge for a few months now.”

“Do you need me to come with you?” He question.

“No, I can handle it. Just finish up the Superintendents meeting, lay the law down to everyone and I’ll catch you up to speed once I get back.” Tipping up on my toes, I kiss him quickly before grabbing my purse and keys and leave the office.

Driving downtown to Michele’s office, my anxiety never wavers.
I know that for her to call with such urgency whatever news she needs to share is bad.

Jodie escorts me down the long hallway to a large confer
ence room where Michele, Tiffani and another woman I’ve yet to be introduced to are thumbing through case files. “Mrs. Weston is here for her appointment, Ms. Runyon.” Jodie announces

Michele glances up from th
e file in her hand and slides her glasses down to the tip of her nose. “Mrs. Weston, congratulations on your wedding.” She smiles as she stands to shake my hand then waves her hand at a chair, silently asking me to sit.

Bracing myself with the arms of the chair, I slowly sit down
on the edge of the seat. “Thank you, Michele. Now, can we skip the chatter? Being called in so urgently has me overwhelmed at the moment. What’s the issue?”

“
First, I’d like to introduce to you Jennifer Hurley, she is Tiffani’s assisting investigator.” She motions to the woman to Tiffani’s right. “I’m very sorry that it has taken longer than planned to present you with the evidence we’ve compiled. Tiffani had some medical issues that halted the investigation for a short while, until we were able to bring Jennifer up to speed on the case.

“You’ll be pleased to h
ear that during the course of the investigation, Tiffani and Jennifer were able to find enough evidence to tie the sabotage at Black Ridge to a,” pausing, she glances over the case file, “Mr. Bo Eldridge, supply man at Black Ridge mines. There is more than enough evidence for an arrest warrant, we just wanted to present this information to you prior to filing the charges.”

“Without question, file the damn charges. Maximum. Hit him
with everything that you can.” Michele nods. Looking to Tiffani she sighs as she leans back in her chair.

“Carly, there is more.” Tiffani adds.
“In investigating Mr. Eldridge, we couldn’t figure out his motive behind destroying Black Ridge. He has been employed with Simon Energy for over fifteen years, his employee record is stellar and he has no criminal history. Jennifer decided to take a closer look at his financials, which is what slid the noose over his neck. Mr. Eldridge has a gambling problem. He’s already had one vehicle repossessed and his home was in foreclosure. That is until he was paid off to sabotage Black Ridge.”

“Ladies, please forgive me for being rude but can you just bluntly tell me the facts? Who paid h
im off? Why? What happens next?” I bark impatiently.
How many damn times with the sausage, y’all. Not how it’s made, just how it tastes. Sheesh.

“Jennifer, get Carly a water please. I’m sure we will be here for a while.” Michele instructs Jennifer. Turning to me, she pushes her glasses back up her nose and
places a legal pad in her lap. I sit for an hour listening to the facts being told. Shockingly stunned into utter disbelief.

“Joshua Moore
began making deposits into Mr. Eldridge’s personal bank account in November. The deposits ranged from one to five thousand dollars with the total lump sum paid to Mr. Eldridge totaling fifty thousand dollars. We checked with the bank and Mr. Eldridge’s mortgage has been pulled from foreclosure. I sat on the Destin Andrews ownership specifically for the reason that I was suspicious of Josh and Drew’s involvements in the sabotage. I want them to be charged for every crime they’ve committed. Had I unveiled their ownership in Destin Andrews prior to this investigation, these charges would have been overlooked and I don’t feel that justice would have been served properly. One phone call, Carly. That is all it will take to put the wheels in motion. I already have the documentation drawn up. I just need to call in a favor to a judge to expedite the arrest warrants quickly. When you’re ready, say the word.”

Anxiety grips me and anger surges through me as the story unfolds.
I suspected that Drew was behind the sabotage, but knowing that it was in fact Josh, causes my blood to boil.

“How long will the process take?”

“Tiffani can file the charges at the courthouse now and I just have to call in my favor to Judge Thornhall. The arrests should be made within forty eight hours, seventy two hours at the latest. You need to understand, Carly, once charges are filed that can’t be reversed. Josh and his entire family will be scrutinized under a fine tooth comb. I’ll also be sending the evidence we gathered of their involvement with Destin Andrews to the attorney over the class action law suit. The shit storm brewing is about to hit the fan, hard; and it’s gonna stink this town up for a long time.”

A means to an end. I know that Savannah may hate me for pulling the string that will completely unravel her family; but this may be her only chance at escaping Josh’s abuse.
I know this path we are about to walk down will be hard for her, but I’ll do my best to be by her side every step of the way. I just want to protect Savannah and do what’s best for her and the kids.

I pull in a heavy ragged breath and push myself up from the chair.
“Call me when it’s done,” I say without sparing them a passing glance.

Colton seethes in anger, his usually tan face is now a deep red and his chest rattles with a deep grumble
as I relay the facts to him. It’s taking every ounce of his inner strength to compose himself right now, but I’ve said repeatedly that it’s in the hands of the law, we just have to sit by and let them handle the case.

“
Savannah might just come unhinged after this, Carly Jo. You need to prepare for that.”

“I know, baby. I feel terrible, almost at fault for putting the wheels in motion but I have to protect Simon Energy. In doing so, I
’m protecting my family as well and I can only hope that she will understand that. I’ll be there to help her through it.” Rolling my head from side to side, trying to ease the tension in my neck, I release a pent up breath of air.

“Darlin, you need to quit stressin’. You’re too worked up over this, I can see the tension rollin’ off of you in chaotic waves. You need to go home and rest.” Colton orders.

“There is too much work to do here, Colton! Did you get everything straightened out with the other Superintendents?” I ask, turning in my chair to pull reports from the file cabinet.

“Carly Jo, it’s handled. Get home. Now.”
He orders. Turning me towards him he removed the files from my hands before he pulls me up from the high back leather chair. He grabs my purse and ushers me out of my office.

“Can I at l
east take some files with me to work on from home?”

“Hell no! Woman, you’
re thirty two weeks pregnant. You’re tired, stressed out and worryin’ ‘bout this shit ain’t good for your blood pressure. Now, get your cute little ass home, sink down in a nice warm bubble bath and read one of them stupid romance books you’re always readin’.” All but dragging me outside, he helps me up in the Tahoe and waves me off as I pull out of the gravel parking lot.

I know I’m doing the right thing, but I can’
t dismiss the foreboding sense of despair that fills my veins. Savannah may hate me after all is said and done, but one thing I know without a doubt is after Josh has been arrested, she’ll no longer have to worry about suffering at his hand.

With m
y mind wandering endlessly, I find myself in the parking lot of the Village Diner instead of home. I haven’t been here in so long and I don’t know why I’m here now. Looking around the gravel lot in slight confusion, I know when my eyes lock on the shiny black Harley why I ended up here. Slowly waddling into the diner, I wave to Tabby as I make my way to the back of the diner where Luke is sitting.

“Ain’t you supposed to be home, readin’ some love story o
r somethin’, Carly?” He asks as I approach his table, his eyes not even settling on me yet. How the hell does he do that? “What’re ya doin’, beauts?”

“How’d you know it was me behind you?” I laugh as I try to force my belly into the booth.

“I can feel ya, Carly. I always know when you’re near.”

“But you said I should be home reading?” I question, tilting my head to the side in confusion.

“You know that man worries ‘bout ya, beauts. Believe it or not, he worries about Savannah, too. Which is why he called and gave me a heads up about the shit storm that’s about to land.”

Tabby approaches the table with a glass of sweet tea and instinctively Luke orders a double slice of peanut butter fudge cheesecake.
We make small talk while we wait for her to return with the pie. Naturally, I get giddy with excitement when she slides the piece of delectably sweet pie in front of us. Pulling it directly in front of me, I lick my lips slowly as I unfold the fork from the napkin ready to dig in. Sliding a forkful of pie in my mouth, I moan around my fork as my eyes drift closed. Oh I’ve missed that taste. Luke reaches across the table with his fork and cuts off a sliver of cheesecake. Before he can lift the fork from the plate I slap his hand, causing him to drop the fork in a clatter.

“Luke Ashton, I don’t know what the hell you’re thinkin’, being bold enough to reach across MY plate trying to snatch a bite of my cheesecake. I’ll cut your damn finger off
if it happens again.” I snap, poking my fork in his face. Lifting his hands defensively he chuckles to himself, muttering something about a crazy ass pregnant woman.