Lightning stayed over with Sally that night. Both cuddled up together in bed. He couldn't sleep so more of just watched her sleep most of the night. It hurt so much that he had the chance to have her again but Cleo was a threat. Maybe he was being drastic but he wasn't willing to hurt Sally, the kids or give Cleo that advantage...
Cleo watched from the window of the diner. A bunch of the main townfolk all gathered in one place. She was suspicious and turned to Gage asking "What's going on over there?" Gage glanced and sighed. He shrugged answering "I don't know?.. A group of some sorts?.. Want me to break it up?" he asked. Cleo watched for a moment but shook her head answering "No.. Leave them be.." She watched aa it seemed Sally had packed a bunch of things and was leaving. With the kids. It was suspicious. Cleo watched as Sally and the kids seemed to say goodbye to Lightning. Really suspiciously she watched..
Sally sighed and frowned as she released Lightning frok her arms and asked "You sure this is what you want?.." Lightning frowned. It wasn't. But it was best for now.. "You should go.." He replied. Sally nodded. It hurt. But within a few minutes it seemed, Sally was gone and drove away.
The group parted ways. Some seemed sad. Did Sally actually leave? "Somethin isn't right.." Cleo muttered. She watched Lightning walk up and into the diner so she quickly acted normal. Drinking her coffee and reading the news paper while she watched him. Gage glared and cleared his throat. "What?" Cleo griped. Gage sighed and complained "You're ridiculous.." "Excuse me?" Cleo snarled. Gage shook his head explaining "Look at you, you're getting all worked up because Lightning hugged his ex wife goodbye. You should be happy that bitch is gone. That's what you want right? Lightning vulnerable?" Cleo glared without answering that and snapped "Don't you have parking tickets to hand out?" Gage glared but with that he left the diner and Cleo's company. She almost wasn't worth the trouble.
Cleo suddenly lost site of Lightning and inside she panicked! Where did he go!? Cleo sipped one more little bit of her drink before getting up. She left a tip and began out the door where she was startled by Lightning himself. "Hey." He greeted. Cleo jolted some and asked "Oh!.. Hey?.. What?.. Where did Sally go?" she asked. Lightning shrugged and asked "Why does it matter to you?" Cleo's eyes widened. She faked a smile answering "Ha.. Oh, it doesn't.. Not really anyway. She just packed a bunch of stuff.. And took the kids.. Weird right?" Lightning just stared. Both suspiciously watching each other. "Well.. I'm sure you have work... To do." Cleo said. Lightning nodded and added "And I'm sure you have work to do to.. Heard you were gonna do a special event for the school."
"I am?" Cleo asked. Lightning chuckled and nodded saying "That's what all the parents were talking about." Cleo turned red. "Oh well.. Ofcourse! Duh! Silly...me.. Almost forgot!" She walked away pretty miffed. Lightning snickered. He was playing her game by her rules. Bobby walked up and asked "Theres no special event is there? You made that up, didn't you?" "Yep." Lightning said proudly.
For the next week, Lightning continued to get under Cleo's skin. Making up events that Cleo would then have to attend or possibly risk make her image look bad to the town. Spreading little rumors that she was being unfaithful to Chick and trying to get with other parents partners which caused some issues with her and other parents in schools. Mostly to keep Cleo extremely busy and in attempt to stress her out. But Lightning set time aside to make sure and train Dan who decided to go ahead and start racing and get his toes wet so to say, and to call Sally and the kids every night before bed...
"How are you guys doing?" he asked as he sat on his bed.
Sally sighed.
It's tough.. Kids don't quite understand what's going on.. I don't understand myself really...
"I know.. I'm sorry.. But I gotta get Cleo out of here.. Tomorrow Bobby's gonna help me with something.."
Breaking into her office?
Lightning didn't answer that.
Lightning... You are breaking the law doing that... Please re think this.. If you are caught... I can't save you..
"I won't get caught. Cleo will be at some kid thing and Gage will be occupied."
Hmm.. It's been almost a week Light.. How long do we have to be away?
"I don't know.. Francesco is still here. Makes me think you're right and he's working with Cleo..."
It's suspicious for sure.. Is Dan's first race this weekend?
"Yeah. I'll be coaching him."
I'll make sure the kids and I watch the race than.
"Great. You know I miss you and I'm sorry for eveything going on right now.. Because I want to be with you."
Sometimes it's hard to believe that Light..
"I'm sorry.. Just.. Please trust me.."
I'm trying to Lightning. I am really trying to.
"How's your dad?"
Uh.. Hates you as usual.
"Wouldn't want it any other way."
he joked.
You are aweful.
"I know... Hey, let me say good night to the kids."
Kay. Hey guys, wanna say goodnight to Daddy?"
Lightning heard the phone shuffle around then Ece first,
Night daddy! I love you!
"Night Ece."
Then Colton
Night dadda! I wanna come to your house!
"Soon Colt.. I promise."
My turn!
Landon yelled.
Night Daddy.. I love you.
"Love you to kiddo. You all get some sleep and let mommy sleep tonight." The phone shuffled around again before getting back to Sally.
They really wanna see you Lightning.
"I want to see them to..".
Well.. Guess I should get to bed too.. You gonna call again tomorrow night? Or should I expect a call from the county jail?
"Well I hope not.. I'll call like I have been Sal.. I love you I swear."
Yeah... I know...
"Hey, goodnight.. Get some actual sleep tonight okay?"
I'll try.. Night Lightning...
Early morning. Bobby was in Lightning's camaro and waiting out behind the courthouse on the phone with Lightning who was waiting near the other side of rhe building. "This is taking forever.. Where is this cop anyway? I'm gettin hungry!" Bobby griped. Lightning sighed answering "Anytime now Bobby.. He's inside.. Once he gets out here and into the car you can go. You sure you can do this?" Lightning asked. Bobby sncikered over the phone, almost laughing "Ofcorse I can! I can easily out maneuver some rookie cop." Then Gage walked out. He grabbed his keys and began heading to his patrol car.
"Alright Bobby you go ahead. Call me once you lose him but don't make it easy or quick. Give me some time in there." "You got it!" Bobby answered happily then hung up. Gage was just getting into his car when Lightning's car pulled out with a squeal and sped off! Just as planned, Gage quickly started up and went after him! Lightning smiled and went on inside. Lunch break, so most everyone was out. Just the assistant at the desk out front who didn't pay much to any attention lo luckily. Lightning went straight back to Cleo's office and just to be sure knocked. But she was busy at some thing he set up for her. Needless to say, Lightning learned a thing or two on planning out social events from Celia.
Lightning tried opening the door but it was locked. "Dammit.." He muttered. He quickly looked around but there was no spare key. He took out his wallet, a credit card and within a few seconds he was in. Lightning immediately looked up and around to see if she had cameras. Sally didn't before so he wasn't sure if Cleo had any put in. Didn't look like it. Then Lightning began searching everywhere and everything. Trying to find something to use against this woman. Something that frightened her. Something deadly, career ending, shattering. He looked in the desk and nothing. He looked in boxes, files, nothing. The closet, nothing. It was like this woman had nothing to loose!
Lightning sat in her chair and had to think. There had to be something in here!? Next the computer which surprisingly didn't have any passwords or lock on it. Thankfully. He searched file after file after file. There was nothing!? No photos, no docs, no files... This didn't make any sense!? Cleo had to have some form of dirt on her? Lightning's phone buzzed. Bobby. Which meant it was time to go. Lightning locked up and left quickly before anyone knew he was there but sadly he didn't have anything still...
Bobby, Heather and Lightning all sat in one of the break rooms of the academy and talking about the next idea. "So you couldn't find a SINGLE thing in that office?" Bobby asked. Lightning shook his head answering "Nothing.. It's like Cleo has nothing to lose.." Heather hummed and reminded "She does have two boys right?" Lightning quickly snapped at the young girl scolding "No. I'm not putting her kids, any kids into this. Mick and Barker are just kids!" Heather was young and just didn't have a family really besides Bobby. Bobby sighed and asked "So what's next?" Lightning shook his head admitting "No clue.. I gotta go with Dan to the races this weekend anyway. That can give me some time to think of something else. Ill just keep Cleo busy for now and keep pushing her nerves..." Bobby was stumped too. Usually he knew how to get back at someone even but Cleo just seemed spotless! But these guys knew she was anything but.
"Was it pretty easy with Sheriff Gage?" Lightning asked. Bobby snickered with a smile "Too easy. That kid is nothing behind the wheel." He joked. Lightning nodded. That was good to know. "Did you find out if Francesco is even working for her?" Heather asked. Lightning shook his head once again. Bobby frowned and slowly suggested "Maybe?... Maybe you should... Talk?.. To Francesco?" Lightning stared at Bobby like he was looking at a complete idiot. "Why would I do that?" Lightning asked. Bobby shrugged "Maybe he has something on her?... Worth finding out right?.. You got a lot of enemies with Cleo running things.. Couldn't hurt to flip one around..." Bobby tried to make sense but Lightning hated Francesco for sleeping with Sally. Maybe not as much as Ben Bentwheel but he still hated the italian. "No.. Francesco would be a terrible ally." Lightning snarled. Bobby sighed. All three were clueless as to how to get to Cleo...
"Great job Dan!" Lightning complimented as Dan got out his race car. Dan smiled and was shaking with excitement! "That was so exciting! I can't believe how.. How, how amazing that was!" oh how excited Dan was. He just raced with the Jackson Storm and Cruz Ramirez. "Fourteenth isn't bad for your first race kid." Lightning exclaimed. Dan snickered and shrugged "It's not like you.." Lightning glared and scolded "Hey. No. I don't wanna hear that. You did really great for your first race. Next week will be your last one for the year. And I'll help you prepare for your more official start next season." Dan was overly excited "Thank you. Thanks so much for this chance Lightning." "Don't let me down kid." Lightning replied.
"Now, I gotta make a quick phone call." Lightning said and stepped away. He grabbed out his phone and called the one person he missed more than anything right now.
Hey! I saw the race! Dan did really well.
"He did huh. I missed you a lot today Sal.."
Hmmm. I missed you to.. Did you?.. Break into her office?
"Um.. Yeah. But didn't find anything."
Nothing?
"Nothing.. Which doesn't make any sense. But it is what it is I guess."
So?.. We can come home? Right?
"No... Not yet. You gotta give me more time Sally."
How can I trust you?.. How do I know you aren't.. Sleeping with someone again?
"Because I don't want anyone else. If I gotta wait for you because I gotta make the path for us safer okay. That's where we're at right now Sal. I gotta make sure things are safe again. I don't.. I don't get Cleo at all. Did she?.. Ever tell you anything? Like future plans?"
Um... I can't think of anything right now but.. If I think of something I'll call you about it.
"Okay, good. Thanks. How are the kids?"
Running around playing at the moment. You wanna talk to them?
"No, no. I gotta get off here anyway. I just wanted to hear your voice."
Hmm okay.
"I love you. Please believe that at least."
I know.. I know.. You be careful please.
"I am. I'll call you again tonight. Once I'm back home."...