It was very dark outside. Another late night at the school. Between paperwork and grading and sorting. Lightning was extremely tired to. But at least he finished the paperwork with Dianna. She was off and filing those papers this week. He would no longer be Miguel's father by paper. That was a bit of a relief. Lightning yawned and grabbed his phone and keys. He headed to the front and began locking up the door when a car pulled up. He sighed because he was to tired to deal with anything else tonight. That, and a part of him fell a little nervous. Between Cal disappearing and the things Cleo had done in the past. Lightning didn't like being out alone in the night in parking lots. The car parked and the lights shut off. Lightning watched closely and nervously.
The door opened and Cruz. Oh Lightning let out a sigh of relief! Cruz shut the car door and walked over. "Hey.." She greeted softly. Lightning smiled a little admitting "Hey, you got me a little nervous there. I uh... Wasn't expecting you." Cruz snickered and asked "Did you sign my transfer request?" Lightning nodded and reached into the man purse on his side. Sorting through different papers. "Um.. Yep. Right here." He took it out and handed them to her. Cruz took them and couldn't exactly see his signature in the dark, but trusted him. "Thanks.." She muttered before turning and heading back to her car. Lightning almost stopped her, but why should he? They had nothing anymore and he really had nothing to say to her right? "Hey Cruz.." He called.
Cruz stopped and turned back around. Lightning sighed and said "I just.. I hope you find something better." Cruz stared. Weird. Lightning rolled his eyes. What a stupid thing to say. Cruz swallowed a little loudly before continuing "So.. Guess we won't really see each other for like.. A long time after this. Just.. Some races here and there maybe.. And when I do a few tours with Cal.." Lightning nodded slowly. "Did you guys find him by the way?" she asked. Lightning shook his head, Cruz frowned. "Must be hard for Megan.." She muttered. It got awkwardly quiet for a moment. Then Cruz took the chance and stepped close, with her left hand she placed on his right cheek then kissed his other cheek softly.
Lightning's eyes widened as they made eye contact. "Cruz.." He whispered as he removed her hand. She smiled warmly saying "It's okay.. I know. You love Sally and.. That's great.. I hope you are truly happy Mr.McQueen." Lightning was so surprised. It was the first real mature thing Cruz had said to him in so long! Cruz stepped back, smiled a little more, then turned and left. Lightning watched her go. He placed his hand where her lips had been and know what? He was happy. Very happy with how things were moving forward with Sally. He only hated that people had to get hurt. People like Cruz and Miguel, Megan and Cal...
The week went on. No one heard a word from Cal. No one saw him. It was baffling to a lot of people. Cal wasn't the type of person to iust run off and disappear, but that seemed to be exactly what had happen. Cal ran off, leaving Megan and Mera alone which, wasn't like Cal at all.
Jackson felt around as he carefully sat down at the little booth then a guard helped and handed him the phone. On the other side was Cleo. Rolling her eyes and glaring at the slowness Jackson was taking. Jackson held the phone next to his face and asked "So why was I needing to come back to you this time?" he was annoyed at Cleo. Cleo smiled answering with a question, "Was it easy convincing Lightning to come see me? Because he seemed easily convinced into the conjugal visit." Jackson sighed answering "Yeah.. It was pretty easy. So he signed the request form?" Cleo shrugged answering "Maybe.. Who knows. I'll know when he shows up and I'm escorted alone with him. That is, if it's approved.." Jackson was suspicious.
He was very suspicious and had to ask "Did you know Cal Weathers is missing?" Cleo snickered. "Yes. Lightning told me when he visited a few days ago." Jackson blankly stared toward the glass and Cleo asking "Did you have something to do with it?" Cleo hesitated in answering "No. Not that I remember. But that man was a time bomb anyway. Years of being number two-er well three and getting pushed around. You wouldn't understand." Jackson sighed. Back to why he was here now, "What do want me to do now?" he asked. Cleo giggled quietly. "Easy job. I need you to find a few things and go a few places.."...
It was an early morning at the police station. Sheriff had just gotten to the place and walked in holding a hot cup of coffee. Nick was at the front desk and greeted "Mornin Sheriff." Sheriff smiked greeting back "Morning Deputy-Wait? Have you been here all morning?" he asked. Nick nodded answering "Yes sir. I finished up all the monthly starements and quotes." Pointing to the stack of organized files. Sheriff's eyes widened. "Woah. That's new sheriff material right there. Keep it up." Sheriff complimented. He did plan to have Nick replace him soon with retirement coming closer for the old officer. Nick grabbed a bunch of papers that were binded together ans followed Sheriff to his own office.
"Hey, these showed up on my desk last night before I locked up." he stated. Sheriff turned and glanced down at the stack asking "Well what is it?" "Uh.. Something about the school. Legal stuff." Sheriff nodded before ordering "Take them to Lightning than. He's running the place." Sheriff then turned to go sit at his desk when Nick corrected "I.. Don't think he will be much longer.." Sheriff plopped down in his seat and gave Nick a weird expression then motioned for the man to place the papers in front of him on the desk. Nick quickly rushed over and sat them down with a thud.
Sheriff began glimpsing through them asking "What do you mean?" Nick sat down. "Well in these papers there is a legal agreement stating that if anything should happen to Cal or he doesn't show for work for a period longer than fourteen days, he is subject for replacement." "McQueen is replacing him. Just.. Temporarily." sheriff reminded. Nick sighed, further explaining "In these papers here, it's listed that Cal had an agreement with Cleo De Frank." Sheriff stared a moment. "Okay dep, firstly, it hasn't been a period longer than fourteen days yet. Cal can still show up. Second, is the agreement itself in here?" Nick shook his head. Sheriff leaned back with a smile. "Good. Without that agreement, any agreement made with Cleo De Frank is void. Just take these to Sally to be safe. She'll know what to do after the fourteen days if Cal doesn't come back." Nick nodded before gathering the stack of papers.
Then Nick asked "Hey.. What's the deal with Sally and her future husband anyway?" Sheriff raised a brow asking "You mean McQueen?" Nick nodded. Sheriff shrugged. "What do you mean?" Nick sighed and explained "The guy is a jerk. He doesn't deserve her and she doesn't deserve to be treated the way he treats her." Sheriff shrugged again as he answered "They seem to be uh.. Working things out.." "Yeah, for now! But what happens when that guy hurts her again? She seriously just gonna stand there and take it!?" Nick defended. Sheriff raised a brow before asking slowly "Do you?.. Have a thing for Miss Sally?" Nick's eyes widened!
"What!? Me? No, she obviously has a thing for assholes." Nick joked. Sheriff glared a little before scolding "After the things Mchas been through lately and the effort he put into getting her back? I'd say he's not one to mess with." Nick only rolled his eyes. "Look, as nice as she is and.. Cute. Damaged, repaired, jerk loving, push overs aren't my type. Not to mention that means kids from a previous marriage and so much drama." Sheriff glared and Nick moved the conversation "I'm gonna deliver these papers.." Then headed out. Sheriff called "Make sure you tell her they just showed up!" "I will!"...
It wasn't long that Lightning made his way into Cal's office. On the desk was a small stack of papers binded together. He curiously walked over and scanned through it. It was a legal documentation of what would become of the school if Cal didn't show up. Inside was an agreement Cal had with Cleo and Lightning just knew that Sally needed to see this!...
Lightning knocked on Sally's office door before opening it and stared a little surprised to see Nick standing there in front of her and the desk. Lightning glared at the cop as he came in. "What are you doing here?" He asked in almost a growl. Nick's smile faded as he answered "I brought some papers that happen to turn up on my desk." Lightning glanced down at the stack I'm replying "You to?" Sally sighed asking "Let me guess.. Those are documents about the school. Aren't those?" Lightning nodded and placed them on top of the ones Nick brought. The two men sort of glared at each other for a second. Sally frowned a little and shook her head. "Has Cal showed up yet?" Lightning stared at her with this look on his face. Guilt. She knew that look of his.
She sighed because that answered her question. Then Lightning spoke up adding "There's an agreement in there between Cal and Cleo." Nick slapped his forehead growling "I really wish I hadn't heard that." Lightning wanted to snap at this guy, but that wasn't a reason to. "Why?" He asked instead. Nick pointed to the stack of papers. "Well I'm a cop! If I never knew of the agreement, Sally could have, you know.. Placed it aside.. Make it magically disappear.. Now I know it exists though.. I'll need to see it." Lightning glared ans felt a little stupid for not already knowing that or thinking about that. He rolled his eyes asking "Can't you just.. Turn the other way?" Nick opened his mouth, but Sally spoke up "The fact that you and Nick both got these on the same day is suspicious.. Nick gets documentation and you get the agreement itself? Someone wanted you both here and wanted these publicized."
Nick shrugged and asked "Why?" "Cleo.." Lightning muttered in a growl under his breath. Sally frowned asking "How would Cleo have been the person who did this Light?.. She's in prison.." Lightning looked up at his love and answered "She has to have a person here. She has to have someone in town working for her." Nick snickered doubting that. "Though I wasn't here for the whole Cleo fiasco, I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to make any deals with her." Little did Nick know, Lightning was technically stupid enough. And Lightning was realizing that.
"I hate to ask this, but... What about Jackson? He returned in odd timing.." Sally reminded. Lightning thought about that for a moment. Nick then said "Good. If you think it's him, ask him." "I can't just ask Jackson." Lightning explained. "He's in a fragile place. If any of us go pointing fingers at him he's going to leave again and he's going to suffer." Sally thought quickly replying "But if he is her inside guy again, He could be dangerous to have around the school and the academy." Nick shook his head saying "If he's worked with her before, he could again abd very easily." Lightning sighed reminding "Just.. Let's get more evidence.. Don't you have cameras at the station to see who placed these papers with you?"
Nick nodded, but then explained admitting "We don't tell the public when, but the station was having work done to the security system. All cameras were down for the most part." Sally sighed and rubbed her head."What about you Lightning? Doesn't Cal's office have cameras?" she asked. Lightning nodded. "Just the attendant placed them there after receiving the papers as mail.. So no one suspicious." Nick shrugged giving an opinion "Could be the attendant." Lightning doubted that very much. Sally looked through the papers as Nick then brought up "Isn't it funny that these papers about in the absence of Cal Weathers appear after Cal really does disappear? I mean, yeah.. Could be some crazy bad woman out to do whatever unfinished evil she has, but.. Being an officer I look into every possibility." "What are you saying?" Lightning asked rudely.
Nick rolled his eyes before asking gently, "Could Cal have placed them? Maybe he doesn't want to come back.. And he justade sure the school was left how he wanted leagally.." Lightning's eyes widened before he defended "Cal wouldn't leave on purpose. Leaving Megan like that?" "You did fuck his wife.." Nick reminded. Lightning growled snapping "How did yo"-"Stop it!" Sally snapped loudly. "Enough Lightning." Nick crossed his arms and smiled repeating the words, "Yeah, enough Lightning." Lightning wanted to do it. He wanted punch Nick right in those white perfect teeth! He wanted to! He was going to wipe that smug smile off this ginger's face! Someone hold him back!
Sally sighed again, but this time with a slight smile and relief. "Well some good news. Cal wasn't stupid or talked into anything by Cleo much." Nick and Lightning stared at Sally curiously. "These papers state that in Cal's absence Chick teaches and becomes the face of the school." "HOW ON EARTH IS THAT SOME GOOD NEWS!?" Lightning shouted. Sally happily explained "Because though Chick is suppose to do a lot of work there, he doesn't get to run it, own it, be in charge. Megan does."...
Megan's eyes widened! "Me!?" she asked and wiped her eyes. She began pacing in front of Cal's desk. Confused and heart broken. Lightning sat at the desk, Sally standing next to him and Strip there to. "But.. I know nothing of owning a racing school!?" She pointed out! Strip spoke up reminding "Cal loves you and trust you. He probably knew you would be the best choice for the sake of the place." "Are you kidding!?" Megan snapped at the old man. "If he loves me at all he wouldn't.. He would come back home!" She was panicking a little. Sally sighed and added "Says Chick will work here.. All you have to do is tell him what you want him to do." "Oh no!" Snapped Megan!
"I don't want that oversized ego, gremlin driving, prick back here! I don't care if it's in Cal's agreement! No!" Sally nodded replying "Okay. That's fine. Even though it's in the agreement, YOU are in charge here. If you fire Chick because you don't want him here than that is okay and completely legal." Strip then added in "But someone will need to be here and continue the work." Megan stood there and then slowly looked at Lightning. She could indeed hire Lightning and let him continue to do what work he had been. Which seemed to be good sense he was decreasing the amount of drama, games, and bad students within the school. But surprisingly Megan said "I could close the place down.." Everyone was really shocked! "That is not what I was tryin to hint!" Strip snapped! "I know.." replied Megan.
Lightning stood up saying "I would gladly continue what I've been doing here for Cal. Might I remind you, I'm not even getting paid! I'm just here to help." Megan stared at Lightning and slowly became more angry and it showed! She slapped her hands onto the desk and growled "This is all because of you to begin with! Cal left because of you! I don't want you anywhere near this place.." Strip placed a hand on the woman's right shoulder before softly speaking "Meg.. You can't just drop all of these srudents like that. Now, Cal placed Lightnin here for a reason." "Yeah! And I'll bet this was all part of Lightning's plan! To get Cal out of the way and take over!" She was angry! She was angry and turned to leave. "Meg.. Wait!.." Called Sally. SLAM! Went the door behind her.
Lightning sighed and sat back down. Sally only assured "Don't worry about her.. She's just.. Broken right now.. She doesn't mean what she says." Lightning was pretty sure of that himself. Megan was just very stressed and worried and she should be. Something or someone was definitely messing with everyone. The biggest question right now though was, Where on earth was Cal Weathers?...