CHAPTER FOUR - HOUSE INSURANCE PT 2.
Three quarters of an hour later Jeff was called to Vince McMahon's, his boss's, office. He knocked and entered. "Ah Jeff. These two gentlemen are police officers. They would like to talk to you."
"Jeez, not again, I told you this morning, charge me or leave it."
"This is unconnected at the minute." Jeff's heart sank as the policeman spoke. He'd just put his foot in it in front of is boss. He was going to have to think of a cover story quick. "I'm afraid to tell you that a neighbour was forced to call the police this evening as your house was subject of a burglary and arson."
"Arson?"
"The fire-fighters have the blaze under control but it seems to have gutted several rooms."
"Shit? What about the burglary? What's missing?"
"We'll need your help in identifying everything but the major things seem to have gone. TV, Video, DVD, Stereo, CD collection most electrical equipment."
"It would be useful if you could report to the police station tomorrow so we could take you to the house and assess the damage. If someone who knew the house well could aid you." The other policeman spoke. "You will be unable to return to your house tonight I'm afraid. As soon as the fire is out our investigators will be going in." Jeff nodded dumbly. The officers left the room.
"This morning Jeff. Was that about Matt's troubles?" Vince McMahon was a sharp man; you couldn't get much past him. Jeff nodded.
"I hope you're not mixed up in this Jeff. I can't have that kind of thing in the business. It's not a good example for all the young fans. So let me give you a tip. If you're not involved then leave it and let Matt deal with his own business. If you are involved then let Matt take the fall for you. He'd be willing and there's no use both of you going down."
Jeff left the office without speaking to Mr McMahon. He couldn't believe the guy would suggest he let Matt take he blame for his actions. This was serious, they weren't kids any more. Matt wasn't going to get grounded; he was going to rot in prison, for years so numerous that Jeff didn't want to consider it. He knew Matt would do it for him, but he also knew he couldn't let Matt do it for him. He would fight his brother to the last to stop him taking both the falls.
Vince McMahon's comments had momentarily subdued Jeff's anger towards his brother, but as soon as he heard Matt's voice the anger rose again.
"You bastard." Jeff hissed as soon as he was close enough for only Matt to hear.
"Leave it Jeff." Matt whispered back. He turned away from Jeff, but Jeff caught his arm.
"My CD's too, what was wrong with my CD's or are you worried that they'll find a birthday present bought with dirty money?"
"There was nothing wrong with the CD's but the videos had to be taken and taking one but not the other would have looked bad."
"What was there Matt? What did you video? God, you're dense."
"I'm sorry Jeffro, but it had to be done." Jeff walked away from his brother. Matt let him go. He knew that no matter how hurt or betrayed Jeff felt right now. He would never seek revenge. That was one of the ways the two brothers differed. Jeff was more emotional; he told people and expressed how he felt. Matt never expressed emotion yet he felt it strongly inside. It built up and had been known to burst out in fits of rage. But Matt still let the rage grow and still bottled things up. He did so now, taking deep breaths he pushed his feelings down to the pit of his stomach and prepared for his match.
Jeff lay back on the bed in the spare room of Matt's house. The house felt strange. It was normally so full of life, but with Chloe and Mollie gone there was silence. Eventually the silence was broken by footsteps on the stairs. Jeff knew it was Matt. Matt paused at the top of the stairs before heading to the spare room and knocking on the door. Jeff called that he could come in. He did so and sat on the corner of the bed.
"I'm sorry about your house Jeff. I was stupid to leave anything there."
"It had to be done I suppose."
"I'll help you replace everything."
"How bad is it going to be tomorrow?"
"I don't know if I should tell you. You're gonna have to be shocked for the police."
"I'm blind Mattie. I live in a world of blissful ignorance." Jeff laughed.
"It's bad Jeffro. You know all the big stuff but all the photos are burnt."
"They aren't much use to me now."
"I don't know what else. It wasn't actually me that did it."
"I know it wasn't you." Jeff let the silence linger for a bit. "Which rooms?"
"One on each floor. The den, your bedroom and the loft."
Three quarters of an hour later Jeff was called to Vince McMahon's, his boss's, office. He knocked and entered. "Ah Jeff. These two gentlemen are police officers. They would like to talk to you."
"Jeez, not again, I told you this morning, charge me or leave it."
"This is unconnected at the minute." Jeff's heart sank as the policeman spoke. He'd just put his foot in it in front of is boss. He was going to have to think of a cover story quick. "I'm afraid to tell you that a neighbour was forced to call the police this evening as your house was subject of a burglary and arson."
"Arson?"
"The fire-fighters have the blaze under control but it seems to have gutted several rooms."
"Shit? What about the burglary? What's missing?"
"We'll need your help in identifying everything but the major things seem to have gone. TV, Video, DVD, Stereo, CD collection most electrical equipment."
"It would be useful if you could report to the police station tomorrow so we could take you to the house and assess the damage. If someone who knew the house well could aid you." The other policeman spoke. "You will be unable to return to your house tonight I'm afraid. As soon as the fire is out our investigators will be going in." Jeff nodded dumbly. The officers left the room.
"This morning Jeff. Was that about Matt's troubles?" Vince McMahon was a sharp man; you couldn't get much past him. Jeff nodded.
"I hope you're not mixed up in this Jeff. I can't have that kind of thing in the business. It's not a good example for all the young fans. So let me give you a tip. If you're not involved then leave it and let Matt deal with his own business. If you are involved then let Matt take the fall for you. He'd be willing and there's no use both of you going down."
Jeff left the office without speaking to Mr McMahon. He couldn't believe the guy would suggest he let Matt take he blame for his actions. This was serious, they weren't kids any more. Matt wasn't going to get grounded; he was going to rot in prison, for years so numerous that Jeff didn't want to consider it. He knew Matt would do it for him, but he also knew he couldn't let Matt do it for him. He would fight his brother to the last to stop him taking both the falls.
Vince McMahon's comments had momentarily subdued Jeff's anger towards his brother, but as soon as he heard Matt's voice the anger rose again.
"You bastard." Jeff hissed as soon as he was close enough for only Matt to hear.
"Leave it Jeff." Matt whispered back. He turned away from Jeff, but Jeff caught his arm.
"My CD's too, what was wrong with my CD's or are you worried that they'll find a birthday present bought with dirty money?"
"There was nothing wrong with the CD's but the videos had to be taken and taking one but not the other would have looked bad."
"What was there Matt? What did you video? God, you're dense."
"I'm sorry Jeffro, but it had to be done." Jeff walked away from his brother. Matt let him go. He knew that no matter how hurt or betrayed Jeff felt right now. He would never seek revenge. That was one of the ways the two brothers differed. Jeff was more emotional; he told people and expressed how he felt. Matt never expressed emotion yet he felt it strongly inside. It built up and had been known to burst out in fits of rage. But Matt still let the rage grow and still bottled things up. He did so now, taking deep breaths he pushed his feelings down to the pit of his stomach and prepared for his match.
Jeff lay back on the bed in the spare room of Matt's house. The house felt strange. It was normally so full of life, but with Chloe and Mollie gone there was silence. Eventually the silence was broken by footsteps on the stairs. Jeff knew it was Matt. Matt paused at the top of the stairs before heading to the spare room and knocking on the door. Jeff called that he could come in. He did so and sat on the corner of the bed.
"I'm sorry about your house Jeff. I was stupid to leave anything there."
"It had to be done I suppose."
"I'll help you replace everything."
"How bad is it going to be tomorrow?"
"I don't know if I should tell you. You're gonna have to be shocked for the police."
"I'm blind Mattie. I live in a world of blissful ignorance." Jeff laughed.
"It's bad Jeffro. You know all the big stuff but all the photos are burnt."
"They aren't much use to me now."
"I don't know what else. It wasn't actually me that did it."
"I know it wasn't you." Jeff let the silence linger for a bit. "Which rooms?"
"One on each floor. The den, your bedroom and the loft."