Happy new years fellow fans! Be safe and challenge yourself to pursue something new in the new year!
Chapter 28
Everyone turned at the sound of loud voices. Big Foster pushed his way into the barn "What the hell is going on here?!"
Dru's team immediately shifted into protective positions. He gripped Sally Ann's arm and moved her back in case they needed to make a quick exit. Claire moved close to Hasil and Ellis positioned himself near Joyce.
"We have visitors who came to see the Elders" Emelye answered
"So we're letting losties roam around and come and go as they please now?" Big Foster asked
Hasil stepped forward "I brought em up"
Shocked, Big Foster turned "Hasil?" He let out a laugh as he moved toward him, arms extended. "Hasil boy! I thought sure you was a goner!"
Hasil put his hand up to block Big Fosters embrace "I'm here, thanks to the Sheriff and these folks keeping the rest of the law off me."
Rejected by Hasil, Big Foster stood awkwardly with his hands on his hips. "Well, we are grateful you made it home. But that don't mean we want a bunch of losties….."
Hasil interrupted, forcefully stating "They're friends and family….."
"Family?!" Big Foster said, looking around "Well I see you brought your girl, but the rest of these…"His eyes landed on Joyce and he stopped, staring in disbelief. "Deirfiúr?" (Sister) he asked in old tongue "Joy?"
"It's me Foster" Joyce answered quietly
Overcome with emotion, he stared silently for a moment. Then shaking his head, he slowly moved toward Joyce. Claire shadowed silently, ready to intervene. He stopped in front of Joyce and they locked eyes. As Big Foster started to speak, Joyce raised her hand and delivered a vicious slap to his face.
Big Foster rubbed his Jaw, and started to speak again "I…." Clearly enraged, Joyce cut him off with another blow. And another….
Now that Arnie put Matt Meyer's mind at ease, he needed to spook him. He wanted to get him off balance in hopes that it would show in his behavior. When things were all said and done, he wanted people saying "Something didn't seem right"
He should be in a FEMA meeting now with a full audience. From a burner phone, he sent him a link to an article covering Bill Johnson's unfortunate demise. He added a message "First Haylie, now Bill. You're a busy boy"
Arnie smiled, most fun he'd had all year!
Joshua McInnis was a nervous wreck. He grew up in a politically active family of public servants; he never imagined he would be in this position. But he couldn't stop thinking and dreaming about that kid they pulled out of that Greenpoint mine disaster. He knew Matt Meyers was behind that and more importantly so did the Lt. Governor - and he didn't care. Becoming a whistleblower meant he could kiss his political career goodbye, but somebody had to do the right thing.
Staring at the response to his email, he knew he was reaching the point of no return.
The ACLU response read "Thank you, we understand the courage it takes to come forward in these types of situations. Would you be willing to meet with our team in person?"
Josh took a deep breath and typed his response. "Yes, but we need to exercise discretion"
Mary Beth agreed to meet Wade at the hospital. It was a place where both could be seen without suspicion. Peggy found an empty office for them to use.
Wade shook Mary Beth's hand "Appreciate you meeting me Ms. Cooper"
"Well it's the least I can do for Haylie. It's been nerve wracking waiting for you to call." She replied
"On the phone you said Haylie told you I'd call?" Wade asked
"Yes. On the day she died, she was really spooked. She was trying to get those samples checked and nobody would test them. Then Matt Meyers showed up at her hotel room out of the blue and told her to leave town" Mary Beth paused, remembering her last day with Haylie "She was scared."
"You saw her that day?" Wade asked "Went with her to close on a house?"
"Yes, I called her at 1pm to remind her of the appointment – she picked me up and we rode together. I'd handled most of the details on the purchase, she just needed to designate the title holder and sign" Mary Beth explained "I was shocked when she titled it in the Farrell boy's name."
Wade started taking notes "Who was the house for originally?"
Mary Beth sighed "She only bought it to use as either a carrot or a stick for Hasil – she followed him there and he was squatting in the house with a girl. She used her own money and planned to title it in her name. One Planet would have bought it from Haylie under her relocation package when she transferred out of Blackburg."
"So what happened that day?" Wade asked "Start at the beginning."
"Haylie called me around 7am and said she was planning to work from her hotel room that day. She asked me to get her a list of facilities she could call to get soil and water samples tested. I emailed her 4 different places. She called me back about 10AM and said she needed more locations to call, she sounded really frustrated. I called her about 1pm to remind her we had the closing at 2pm. She sounded upset, and I asked her is if I should reschedule. She said she was fine and she would swing by to pick me up." Mary Beth took a deep breath and paused, trying to keep her composure
"It's okay" Wade assured her "Take your time."
"I'm sorry" she responded "This is all just so…"
"Were ya'll close?" Wade asked
"We worked together for a long time" Mary Beth explained "I trusted her and she was good to me. She had a shitty job and she was good at it. But she could be kind and she didn't deserve this."
"I'll do my best get the people who did this" Wade promised
Mary Beth nodded and continued "So when Loretta asked who the title holder would be she gave Hasil and his girlfriends names. When I tried to say something, she just said they were owed the property and that we would review the details later. Then when we got back to the car, she said would explain when we got back to the office."
Mary Beth opened her bag and pulled out her laptop.
"What's all this?" Wade asked
"Haylie had a camera in her office. She recorded things she felt were important, and that includes our last conversation in her office" Mary Beth explained "Which is perfectly legal in Kentucky as long as one party of the conversation is aware."
Mary Beth inserted a Zip drive and started the video. It showed Haylie sitting at her desk and Mary Beth sitting across from her
Haylie: We haven't really talked about where I was, and I know you're curious about what happened at the title office.
Mary Beth: Are you alright? These things are out of character for you.
Haylie: You remember that activist that came here to see me?
Mary Beth: Who could forget him, he was a cutie pie!
Haylie: He was, and I ended up sleeping with him.
Mary Beth: What?! Haylie!
Haylie: I know, I know. We talked and screwed and talked and screwed some more. He told me that One Planet had poisoned the water and soil up on the mountain. It's the exact stunt Matt Meyers was suspected of pulling years ago in West Virginia. I let him have access to my computer. I gave him that information that was leaked to the press.
Mary Beth: Haylie, why….
Haylie: Let me finish. I ended up going up the mountain with him, and we got into a big fight and I took off. The Farrells found me and I saw it first hand – it's all true. I took pictures and I have samples of the soil and water. A child has died, Mary Beth, murdered.
Mary Beth: What can you do? How can you prove it's Matt Meyers?
Haylie: If I can get those samples tested I am betting whatever it is will be identical to what was found in that soil in West Virginia. But Matt is blocking me, I called 7 labs trying to get them tested – they all said they couldn't take on any more business."
Mary Beth: Haylie you have to be careful
Haylie: I know, Matt Meyers is scared. He forced his way into my hotel room and tried to get me to leave town. When I said he wouldn't, he got really angry.
Mary Beth: You should just leave town, you know what happens to people who go up against One Planet. You have a child of your own, just walk away.
Haylie: You didn't see what I saw Mary Beth. I can't. Somebody has to fight for these people. My job was to get them off the mountain. They don't deserve to be starved out nor have their children murdered. I'm not going anywhere. I'm taking Matt Meyers down.
Mary Beth: That kind of talk is dangerous Haylie
Haylie: I've done things I'm not proud of. I bought that house to make life harder for that Farrell boy if he didn't do what I wanted. And that was after I got some boys drunk enough to beat him up. I feel my soul getting a little smaller, my heart getting harder every time I do one of these jobs. But this, if I let this happen there'll be nothing left of either. I'm gonna stop him. And you know what? I feel good Mary Beth, better than I have in very a long time.
Mary Beth: Is there anything I can do to help?
Haylie: I appreciate the offer, but this is my fight. You deserved to know what's going on. I think you should take some leave; you have plenty of time on the books – why don't you take a few weeks off.
Mary Beth: I'm not going anywhere Haylie; we've been a team for 6 years now. My job is to support you, no matter what your job is at the moment. I'll get you some lemon water and start researching some labs out of state.
Haylie: Thank you Mary Beth
As Mary Beth stood to leave the office the recording stopped.
Wade sat in stunned silence.
With tears in her eyes, Mary Beth continued "She stopped me before I left the office and told me about the camera. She said if she wasn't at work by 7am the next day I should take the camera for safe keeping. And if anything happened to her, I should hold on to it until you contacted me – she insisted you were the only one I should trust with this information. She said it might take awhile, but that you'd contact me and make sure I was protected."
Wade nodded "Have you told anybody else about this?"
"Nobody, I'm terrified. They killed her Sheriff." She replied through tears "What do we do?"
"The ACLU is putting a case together to take to the Feds. We need to get this to them. Is there anything else on it?" Wade asked
"I only watched the last video, but there are several files dated over a 6 month period" Mary Beth responded
Wade shook his head, that Haylie was something else "Can you take leave without raising suspicions?"
Mary Beth nodded "I think so. Everybody knows Haylie and I worked together for a long time, HR has asked a couple times if I'd like to take some time."
"I'll take this and get it to the ACLU. You take your leave starting tomorrow, act like you have a flight out of Louisville and head that way." Wade advised "We'll have you meet up with ACLU team there."
"Are you sure we can do this?" Mary Beth asked
Wade promised "We're gonna finish what Haylie started."
Matt Meyers casually glanced down at his phone and saw a text from an unknown number. "First Haylie, now Bill. You're a busy boy"
His face lost all color as he clicked on the link in the message. "Police suspect Homicide in early morning car explosion"
Matt stood abruptly, spilling his coffee across the table and disrupting the speaker. All eyes turned to him.
"Everything okay Matt?" The FEMA official leading the meeting asked "Matt?"
Matt stared at him blankly, trying to force himself to respond. Without saying a word, he picked up his bag and turned to walk out. He could hear his name being called, but he focused on getting out of the building. He didn't stop moving until he was seated in his car.
His head in his hands, Matt thought to himself "What the hell? Who sent this? How did they tie him to Bill? Who killed Bill? How did they know about Haylie?"
Shit! Shit, shit shit! If Don or Arnie got wind of this, I'm a dead man.
"Thanks Wade, talk to you soon" Arlene said and hung the phone.
"What?" Kat asked
"Haylie Grime's secretary gave Wade a Zip drive with a bunch of recorded conversations on it" Arlene answered "She admits to giving Tim information on it"
"That's great! We have our whistleblower name to give Taeson." Kat paused, noticing Arlene's lack of enthusiasm "It is great news, isn't it?"
Arlene shrugged "Yes, I mean – it's crucial to our case to prove the information was obtained legally."
"So why do you look like someone just….." Kat started
"Slept with my ex-boyfriend? Who I haven't seen in 7 years?" Arlene sighed "He manipulated her, just like he's been manipulating me all these years."
"Don't do this to yourself Arlene" Kat said quietly "You've done good things with the information Tim feeds you."
"But at what cost to me?" She asked "I'm an emotional hostage, stuck in my last year of law school. I'll see this through but after this job I'm done."
"Finally!" Kat exclaimed
Arlene was shocked "Finally? Seriously?"
"Look, I know you care for him" Kat explained "but he is ridiculously intense and smug….and smarmy….and a lil bit creepy…..and…."
"Okay!" Arlene "I get it. Why haven't you shared this before?"
"Because you would have kicked my ass before. You've been a lot of things when it comes to Tim, but never before today have you been done." Kat explained "And I can tell you mean it."
"I do" Arlene said quietly "Last job. I'm glad it's a big one; we're helping a lot of people. The secretary is coming to Louisville tomorrow and we have a meeting with the source in the LT. Governors office tonight."
"I thought we were getting the boring part of the gig staying down here" Kat said "This has got to top what's going on up on the mountain. Should we call Tae?"
"No, he'll call after he reviews the file." Arlene said, reaching for the room phone "I think its time for another Mimosa break"
Big Foster grabbed Joyce's arm after the fourth blow "You got no right….." He started angrily
"You murdered our mother!" Joyce shouted, inches from his face
"You killed her first, her heart turned to stone the day you left!" Big Foster growled "I spent the last 40 years knowing she wished it was me that left."
"We both know she started wishing you'd left long before that" Joyce spat, unafraid "Morai was right about you!"
"Them old women didn't know nothing and neither do you!" He responded, clearly shaken by her comment
"I know the devil when I see him. Let me go" Joyce demanded.
Big Foster tightened his grip on her arm and pulled her closer to him "Why'd you come back?"
"Let me go" Joyce said, pulling her away
Claire moved in, snapping her wrist to open her telescoping baton. She swung and connected with the front of Big Fosters shin, causing him to lock up in pain and release Joyce. Ellis quickly grabbed Joyce and pulled her out of the way. Claire followed through and quickly locked Big Fosters arm behind his back, forcing him face down on the ground, resting her knee on his neck.
Dru grinned as everyone stared at Claire. She had him down and secure while the rest of them were thinking about how to do it.
Claire looked up at the crowd staring at her "Somebody want to disarm him?"
Leaving Joyce with Ledda, Ellis stepped forward to disarm Big Foster who was struggling in vain to break Claire's hold. Claire leaned forward to whisper to him "I could have broken your arm, but I'm showing restraint in the interest of peace. If you put your hands on Joyce again, I'll break your damn neck." Claire stood and backed away once Ellis was clear
Big Foster slowly rose, all eyes on him. He looked around, clearly angry and embarrassed. His eyes landed on Lil Foster, who was now holding his gun. "You gonna allow this as Bren'in? Outsiders and Losties attacking your family?"
"What's she talking about?" Lil Foster asked
"Ain't none of your business." Big Foster replied, moving toward him "I'll take my gun back and be on my way. I ain't gonna be a party to the ruin of this family."
Stubby stepped into his path "You ain't getting that gun back Foster. You go ahead on and leave the council to its business."
As Runt and Claire moved to flank Stubby, Big Foster stopped. He backed away, staring daggers around the room. "This will not stand" he warned and left the barn.
Lil Foster stepped forward "You alright ma'am?" He asked Joyce
"I'll be fine dear" She replied "I'm sorry I made a scene"
"You got no reason to be sorry" Lil Foster responded "It's not an easy thing we're doing here. What was that about Lady Ray….."
Joyce interrupted "Its not something I want to discuss right now. I just…..need some time."
Stubby stepped forward "Why don't ya'll come on up and stay with me till we come back for the coronation. Your camera folks can come too. I'd rather be where we can see Foster coming." He walked over to Joyce, who was still visibly upset, and put his arm around her. "C'mon Joy, a lil bit of Farrell Wine will calm your nerves."
The ACLU team pulled into the Shay Cousins Baile (Village) to await the Coronation. Much like the Farrell Baile, there was a square with a barn at the center surrounded by busy community work areas.
A quick meeting decided Joyce, Ledda, and Ellis would stay at Stubby's place with him. Runt would stay with Erica, Teddy, and the news crew as they moved around the different villages. Dru would stay with Hasil and Sally Ann at his place, and Claire would keep watch with Stubby's son Tiny.
Hasil held Sally Ann's hand as they walked toward his place. Looking around, Sally Ann asked "Is this the same place we stay last time I came up?"
Hasil shook his head "No, this was my folks place. I stayed here off and on when I got old enough to fend for myself."
They climbed the steps and Hasil ushered her in to the cabin, while Dru and Claire circled to check the perimeter.
Sally Ann looked around the modest 2 room cabin; it was clean and well kept. There was a kitchen area with a table and chairs and a small sitting area.
"Stubby's wife Millie was real close to my Ma, she keeps the place up" Hasil explained
"I like it" Sally Ann said "It's cozy"
"She's been keeping it just like my folks left it" Hasil explained "She hoped I'd live here when I had a family."
Sally Ann walked over to a rocking chair by the window "It feels warm" she said running her hand over the quilt draped over the back. "You can tell love lived here."
"My Fa built it" he said "He never came back here after she passed."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hasil?"
Hasil opened the door to greet Millie "Hey Cousin Millie" he said, making room for her to step inside.
Millie wrapped her arms around Hasil and exclaimed "Lord child, I'm so glad to see you! When I heard you was shot, my heart just broke to pieces!"
"I'm fine Cousin Millie, I'm sorry to worry you." Hasil responded, returning her hug
Millie pulled back and took Hasil's face in her hands "You look well, I see light behind your eyes. You stay away from that dipshit Big Foster, you here?"
Hasil smiled "Yes ma'am. I'd like you to meet my girl" Hasil held out his hand to Sally Ann. "This is Sally Ann Lewis. Sally Ann, this is my cousin Millie Shay."
Sally Ann smiled "Nice to meet you Mrs. Shay"
Millie smiled at Sally Ann "My, you're a beauty!" Moving in for hug, she felt the baby bump hidden under her sweatshirt and gasped. "Is that?"
Hasil smiled "Yes'm, we're having a baby"
"That's why you're all lit up!" Millie exclaimed "How are you feeling Sally Ann?"
"I'm good ma'am." Sally Ann answered "Declan is behaving, so the trip up wasn't bad"
"Declan?" Millie asked
"We're having a boy, we plan to name him Declan after Hasil's father" She explained
Millie put her hand over her heart "Oh Hasil, your Ma would be so proud!"
"Thank you Cousin, we're real excited" Hasil shared, putting his arm around Sally Ann
"We are gonna bless this child" Millie declared
Hasil was suddenly apprehensive "I don't know ma'am, Sally Ann ain't from here. Folks might not…."
"Hush, she's carrying a Farrell child. You let somebody try and tell me I can't bless this baby." Millie admonished "The world is getting smaller; if we're to survive we need to welcome some change. And we need all our kin; we can't be shunning our own folks who live an honest life."
They were interrupted by Dru knocking and stepping in "Got the lay of the land…I'm sorry, didn't mean to interrupt"
Hasil made the introductions "Dru this is my Cousin Millie"
Dru extended his hand "Pleasure to meet you ma'am"
"How do" Millie said "Appreciate you bringing this one home"
Dru smiled "It's more like he brought us, but we're glad to be here"
"Well I'll let ya'll get settled. Sally Ann, Hasil - We'll see ya'll for dinner?" Millie asked Hasil
"Yes'm" Hasil answered and Sally Ann nodded in agreement
After Millie left, Dru asked "Won't we be at the coronation at dinner time?"
"Up here dinner is lunch and supper is dinner" Hasil said
"Gotcha." Dru responded "Why don't you two get some rest? I'll check in with Arlene and Kat to see what's going on with them. After dinner you can fill me in on what to expect at coronation and circle"
Hasil nodded, accepting the bag Sally Ann had packed from Dru "Alright, wake us in about 2 hours?"
"Will do!" Dru said, moving to the table to set up for work
Hasil placed his hand on the small of Sally Ann's back and guided her toward the back of the cabin. They went through a door into a bedroom. There was a skylight and just enough space for a full size bed and table.
Sally Ann sat on bed "You should take your meds and let me look at your bandage" She said, reaching for the bag
Hasil sat down next to Sally Ann and started to take off his boots "Not the stuff for pain, it slows my thinking"
"Well at least take some Advil" She handed him a bottle of water and his antibiotics and Advil.
"Thank you Darlin" he said, reaching out to rub her knee
Sally Ann started taking off her own shoes "You're welcome Babe. So Cousin Millie seems nice."
Hasil smiled, taking off his kilt and laying down "Yeah, she's one of the few that ain't crazy. C'mere" he said, patting the bed
Sally Ann curled up next to Hasil, resting her head on his shoulder. "Did you live with them?"
"When I was young, I mostly lived in the other village. I got into some trouble and came up here when I was about 13 summers." Hasil explained "I stayed with them the longest stretch, till I was about 17"
"What kind of trouble can you get into up here?" She asked
"They say where there's a will there's a way" Hasil responded, kissing her forehead "And I had a pretty strong will. Stubby and Millie were good to me, and the boys and me got on real well"
Sally Ann smiled, imaging young Hasil trying but failing to say out of trouble "Why'd you move back to the other village?"
"It was time for me to start learning a trade" he replied "My Fa was a carpenter, so I took up the same trade. My cousin Krake took me as his apprentice, he makes the Farrell Wine too – so I learned how to do both."
"You can make wine?" Sally Ann asked "I should have a glass; they say its okay to have one or two or week when you're pregnant"
Hasil laughed "It ain't that kinda wine! Its moonshine, so it might not…."
"Yeah, never mind!" She interrupted with a smile "That's one Farrell tradition I'll skip. What's this blessing that Millie was talking about?"
"I don't know a whole lot about it, but they make Shay Rose water during the blessing and you keep some for the Baby's first bath." Hasil turned to face her "You ain't gotta do it if you don't want to. I'll get her to tell us all about it beforehand"
Sally Ann leaned forward to kiss Hasil "It sounds sweet, I'm sure it'll be fine. Are you nervous about tonight?"
Hasil nodded "Mostly tomorrow. Coronation will be tonight, but the day after coronation is when the new Bren'in calls First Circle. First time they call Circle as Bren'in and go through anything that ain't been settled and then anything new can be brought to him. That's when Ms. Ledda will have to call out Big Foster."
"What do you think's gonna happen?" She asked
"I don't know. Circles are rowdy and rough as it is, so having a outsider calling out Big….its gotta be done, but its gonna be tough."
"If he gets out of hand just sick Claire on him." Sally Ann said, trying to lighten the mood
"That was something, wasn't it?" Hasil grinned "but tomorrow there'll be a lot more folks there and some of them might be on his side. Hopefully most folks will side with Lil Foster and want peace"
Sally Ann wrapped her arms around Hasil "Let's just try to get some rest for right now and you can talk it through with Dru and Joyce this afternoon. I'm sure you guys can come up with a plan"
Hasil lay back and pulled her close, willing himself to relax "I love you" he said, kissing the top of her head.
Sally Ann yawned "I love you too Hasil Farrell. Everything's gonna be fine, I can feel it."
