Part 18 (1/2)
She laughed. ”Kemp, please! Of course you didn't, and I don't need you to explain any of this to me! I wouldn't believe that in a second! Cheyenne will come to her senses and realize she overreacted. Don't give it another thought.”
He gestured toward the door. ”I think I should go and explain things to her.”
Jersey waved a finger. ”Stay away from her and that's an order. In fact, I want you both to give Cheyenne some room. If she's waving knives at people, it's definitely not the time to be questioning her. Follow up on the other victims and try to come up with more leads.”
Steven sighed. ”It's not that easy, Captain.” He left the office.
Jersey looked at Brianna. ”Since when is being a cop supposed to be easy?”
”He did what?” Aileen turned from Sarah's stove that night. Melody dipped up two giant bowls of b.u.t.tered popcorn. She gestured for Aileen to follow her to the den. She invited Aileen over to talk about Keith. Since Sarah worked late tonight, there couldn't have been a better time. Melody took the remote as he cradled the bowl of popcorn in her lap. She almost laughed at Aileen's shocked expression. Aileen ate two kernels before repeating the question. ”Keith did what?”
Melody nodded. ”He molested me right there in his office.” She shrugged. ”Believe me, I was as shocked as you are. So I called you over because you always give the best advice.” Melody switched the channel.
”Why are you being so nonchalant about this guy, Mel? My G.o.d, the s.h.i.+t he does gets worse and worse. You gotta go to the police now.”
She scoffed. ”Right. And say what? I mean, how in the h.e.l.l could I prove anything? Plus, would the police really care about some woman who's having problems with her sister's new boyfriend? h.e.l.l no, Aileen. I can see it right now. They'll label me jealous the minute I walk into the room, then wonder why I had the nerve to bother them with something so juvenile. The police are not an option, believe me. Keith hasn't really done anything against the law.”
”He put his hands on you, didn't he?” Aileen crossed her legs Indian-style. She swallowed a fistful of popcorn. ”Girl, if it was me, his a.s.s would be outta here.”
”Easier said than done with Sarah thinking he's heaven sent.” Melody waved her hand through the popcorn. ”You know, we aren't even close like we were since Keith came into the picture. Sarah and I used to share so much. Now it seems like she shares everything with Keith. We can't have one conversation without her bringing him up. And the way she thinks of him is pathetic. Oh man, she runs when he calls. When he doesn't call, she acts like a big nut. I don't know what to do.”
”I told you before that if Sarah won't listen, you need to take the initiative.” Aileen chewed.
”Before it gets out of hand?” Melody whispered.
”Melody, it has gotten out of hand and pa.s.sed out of hand! When a man starts grabbing you like you're his property, something is seriously wrong. He has no business putting his hands on you any d.a.m.n way, but at work...” She shook her head. ”Melody, this f.u.c.ker seems to think he can do whatever the h.e.l.l he wants, but you gotta make him see he can't. Some men are like that. They push and push until you give in to them.”
”Give in?” Melody stopped flipping the channels. ”What, you think this is some kind of seduction thing Keith's doing?”
”Would you be surprised? Melody, he had his hands under your skirt today. Don't you see that he's attracted to you?” Aileen walled her eyes.
”He actually told me that he was. I just wanted him gone. I never thought about why he was acting the way he acts. You think he is trying to be with me on the side or some s.h.i.+t?” Aileen shrugged. ”So that's it?” Melody sighed. ”He thinks I'll play this game, huh? I've told him repeatedly to leave me alone, and I'm sick of talking!”
”You should be. It's time to take action. There's something you can do about this, Melody. You hit him where it hurts. Hit him so that he gets the point that he can't keep doing this to you.” Aileen raised an eyebrow. ”Get my drift?”
”No.”
”Dang, girl, do you need a crate to fall on your head to get a clue?” Aileen chuckled. ”What's something that Keith needs and can't afford to lose? And I'm not talking about your bouncy blonde sister, either.”
Melody smirked. ”His job?”
”That's right. Hit his a.s.s where it hurts. Tell Mr. Lawson exactly what he's been doing. I bet you that'll put Keith in his place.”
”It definitely will and p.i.s.s him off in the process.” Melody grinned. ”He's so d.a.m.n c.o.c.ky. I'd love to stick it to his a.s.s and let him know he can't push me around.”
Aileen shrugged. ”And there's only one way to do that. I don't care how great he may think he is, but Keith probably needs that job either for money or clout or both. This will not only make him leave you alone, but he'll see that you're no one to mess with. You go to Mr. Lawson and this s.h.i.+t will end real quick, believe me. Anyway, what choice do you have?”
”You're right, this is the only choice. I warned Keith that I'd report him. I think Mr. Lawson would at least listen to my claims. After all, why would I have reason to lie? Mr. Lawson has to be objective, anyway, because if something like s.e.xual hara.s.sment is even suspected, he could end up in trouble himself for not paying attention to me. s.h.i.+t, I may even get Keith fired.” Melody grinned.
Aileen winked. ”The b.a.s.t.a.r.d would deserve it any d.a.m.n way. Mel, reporting his a.s.s is the only way to prove to him that you mean business. He isn't listening to words so you gotta use action.”
Melody nodded. ”You're right, girlfriend. I have a feeling this is the only thing that will finally put Keith Taylor in his place.”
Aileen winked. ”Just do your thing, girl. Do it.”
Melody held the fat stack of papers to her chest the next day at work. Out of all the rooms Melody regularly visited at Caper, she disliked the file room the most. Still, filing papers was a big part of her job. She couldn't escape it. She wondered if anyone else found the room creepy. She hated that dim light that only lit up half the room. The room seemed to be the size of two conference rooms. It would have to be. It housed every piece of written information Caper needed or would ever need.
Mario had done a miracle by training her on the system. A computer, with every gadget known to man attached to it, sat on the desk in the middle of the room. She preferred searching for files manually while others relied on the computer. She didn't trust computers. Since humans programmed the d.a.m.n things in the first place, what made people think computers were any more reliable?
The room smelled of old dust. She sneezed on her way to the back file cabinets. She squeezed through rows and rows of tall, fat, overstuffed cabinets. She came to the giant black ones in the back. They had to reach at least six feet. Anyone shorter than her would probably have to use steps. She hurried to find the files. She didn't want to be here any longer than necessary.
She heard something by the door, yet she didn't know why she jumped. She was in a crowded building. Anyone had access to this room. Why in the h.e.l.l did she feel it could be more than that? Maybe she should switch to decaf after all. She heard footsteps. She thought of calling out, but that seemed silly. She didn't know why this room frightened her so much. She rushed to find the files.
She got on her knees to check the low drawers. She pulled the Thompson files from the front. She smiled at finding them quickly. She stacked the fat files under her arms and turned to leave. She gasped. Keith stood in front of her. He swatted the files from her hands, and papers flew in all directions.
”Keith!” She went to pick them up. He grabbed her. She ripped her arm from his grasp.
”You think you're clever, don't you, Melody?” He sweated. She'd never seen him so angry. Usually his c.o.c.kiness kept him grounded. She took a deep breath. Going to Mr. Lawson had knocked Keith into place. Too bad that she got the feeling she would regret it. She loved Aileen, but sometimes her advice got people into trouble.
”Keith.” She looked at the scattered papers. ”Did Mr. Lawson talk to you today?”
”Oh, you d.a.m.n right he did.” Fury ran through his gorgeous face. His eyes were so piercing Melody had to turn away.
”Look, I didn't want to do that, Keith, but you left me no choice. I told you not to mess with me. I deserve to be able to come to work without you bothering me. You took it too far. You've invaded my personal life, and now you're in my face at the job.”
He smirked. She trembled. She wondered if he made anyone else feel this way.
”So this is how you want to do things, Melody? The hard way?”
”Look, you made that choice and not me. I want you to stay away from me, Keith. I don't care about what you do with Sarah, just stay the h.e.l.l away from me!”
”And...if I don't?” He squinted.
”Then next time I won't be going to Mr. Lawson. If you lay a finger on me or think of doing something because I went to Mr. Lawson, then I'll go to the police.” He scoffed. ”Think I'm playing, just try me, Keith. I'm not taking any more of your s.h.i.+t.”
He straightened his Omega on his wrist. ”I don't appreciate being threatened, Melody. You went too far. You do what you have to do, okay? But if you think you're getting away with this, you are wrong. You've f.u.c.ked with me and now you've f.u.c.ked with my job. I'm not just walking away from this. You can believe that, okay?”
”I'm not afraid of you, Keith. But if you're as smart as you want people to think, you will leave me alone! I will go to the cops next time, I swear I will.” She shook.
He leaned closer to her. ”Maybe that's a good idea, Melody. Because from now on, you're probably gonna need to.” He walked away.
Melody leaned against the cabinets, breathless.
Chapter Ten.
Melody read the message Sarah left on the refrigerator when she got home from work that Friday. The note instructed her to heat up dinner. Once again she'd be eating alone. She didn't mind. She loved the solitude that accompanied an empty house. It gave her time to think, which was something she longed for. Melody stared at the note.