It was too quiet for Hunter's liking. He had already gone through half the list on Wednesday getting their statements on everything. It pretty much was a given that Scottie was guilty they just had to find evidence of it. It was the end of Friday night and they were pretty much done with the Smackdown superstars when Jarrett barges into the room.
"So now you are going to investigate? Now? When the public eye is on you, you are finally going to fucking investigate?" Jeff shouts.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, calm down." Hunter says.
"Calm down?! CALM DOWN?! How in the fuck do you expect me to calm down? I put in my complaint last year! June of last year and ain't nothing was done about it!" Jeff screams.
"What complaint?" Hunter asks. "Sit down. Sit down and go through this with me. Close the door, please." Jeff sighs but closes the door before sitting down.
"I figured it out. I mean, I couldn't…I couldn't tell when he was in NXT because I wasn't with him but here, when he came to the main roster I knew something was not right. Now I understand that ya'll don't want me to be the producer for all his matches but I figured I'd be given at least some of 'em. It took me a good while before I deduced what exactly what was going on. It took me even longer to figure out whom. But I saw a pattern; Hayes was almost always his producer. And when I brought him up, Eric would always change the subject or just leave the conversation. So I went to HR. I don't know why I went there instead of to you but that's what I thought was best. I filed a complaint against Hayes." Jeff explains.
"Let me just get HR on the phone." Hunter says. "Hey, Maddie, can you do me a favor and see if there's a complaint in the system from Jarrett about Hayes? It was issued June of last year. Yeah, 2019."
"Sir, I don't have any complaints." Maddie says. "It isn't in the system from what I can tell. You told me to go through all the complaints and we haven't had any made towards either party."
"That's impossible. I talked to HR." Jarrett says.
"Do you remember the person you spoke to, sir?" Maddie asks.
"I believe her name was Grace." Jeff says.
"I could ask her, but she's not in at the moment." Maddie says.
"No need, I'll call and have her come in." Hunter says.
"Alright, sir. Is there anything else you needed?" Maddie asks.
"No, no, that's all." Hunter says. "I didn't realize how deep it went." Hunter says.
"Hayes…he is pretty good at getting people to stay quiet." Jeff says. "I don't know about the others but I assume they used each other and teamed up."
"This list…it is too long. I just don't understand why they would go after so many of the ones that have family here." Hunter says.
"Because it adds to the thrill of it, not to mention, it also gives them more leverage to threaten them with." Jeff says. "I also bet they felt real smart and cocky for getting away with it for so long."
"I don't know what I'm going to do. With Florida signing off on us being essential business and us being able to go live again, I don't want this to be an unsafe working environment." Hunter says.
"Have it be like a buddy system. Two or three people who room together or are partners stay together backstage at all times." Jeff suggests.
"That's a good idea." Hunter says.
"Sorry for bursting in on you like that." Jeff says.
"Hey, I get it. He's your kid, your only kid." Hunter says chuckling.
Buddy looks around frantically but he's alone in the hallway. Alone in the hallway with him. He slowly backs away before putting his hands up in defense. He had just gotten done with a match so he was already worn out and tired and sore.
"Are you stupid?" Hayes asks punching Buddy in the side of the stomach. "Are you really that stupid? You made me look like a fool."
"I…I…" Buddy stutters out. It seems like nothing was good enough anymore for him. No matter what he was still going to beat him.
"Fucking idiot!" Hayes says punching Buddy in the stomach yet again. Buddy groans looking up to see that he's not alone anymore somehow Porter has joined him. "Open that." Buddy looks past Hayes to the traveling case. Buddy goes to scream but is stopped by a hand over his mouth. Buddy begins to panic and struggle against Hayes causing Porter to come over. The two of them are somehow able to lift Buddy up, MVP has Buddy's legs and Hayes has his shoulders and head. He is lowered into the case, the hand still firmly over his mouth as MVP searches through his gear for a phone. He moves to check his boots Buddy kicking his legs. "Stop that! Behave." Buddy groans tugging on Hayes wrist.
"I got it." MVP says. "He had it hidden pretty well, I must say."
"We'll see you at the end of the show." Hayes says removing his hand from Buddy's mouth closing the case lid tightly locking Buddy inside. Buddy screams punching the top of the case sobbing before taking a deep breath and centering himself. He knew he can't panic or else he would pass out sooner rather than later. He tries to turn his body around to see if there was something inside the case to help him get out.
After an hour and a half, Pat Buck was getting anxious, he hadn't seen his brother since his match and they were supposed to be buddies tonight. It was getting close to the end of the show there was only 20 minutes left.
"Hey, Pat, everything okay?" Rey asks worriedly walking around with his sons Angel and Andrade. Zelina, Austin and Aleister are also following close behind stopping as well.
"I…I can't find…I can't find Buddy." Pat says.
"When's the last time you saw him?" Rey asks.
"His match. He's my buddy tonight but…well obviously it makes it hard." Pat says. "I was helping with one of the matches but he was supposed to wait for me right by the stage area."
"Well, it can get kind of crowded there; he might have gone into a back hallway." Aleister says. "I can show you some of the places I go to get away."
"Can you?" Pat asks. Aleister nods politely. Zelina and Austin both follow along with Aleister. "So you guys are buddies tonight?"
"Yup, Angel and Andrade don't want to babysit him. Aleister and I don't mind it." Zelina says. They start to walk down one hallway, Pat instantly stopping him.
"He wouldn't…this wouldn't fly with him. Too dark." Pat says. Austin chuckles.
"Aleister just likes dark places." Austin says.
"It makes it easier to meditate." Aleister says.
"Where the hell is he?" Pat asks. "This isn't like him."
"Have you called or texted him?" Zelina asks.
"Both, calls go to voicemail immediately making me think he has his phone off." Pat says. Aleister stops Pat and the rest.
"Do you hear that?" Aleister asks.
"Hear what?" Pat asks.
"Shh, stay silent and listen closely." Aleister says. After a few seconds go by Pat grows angry until he hears a soft knocking coming from the hallway left of them. Aleister starts down the hallway.
"What the hell is that?" Austin asks. They all jump in surprise when the knocks get louder.
"Buddy?!" Pat yells.
"Pat? Hello? Get me out of here…" Buddy answers from the case. It was as if time stopped; his blood ran cold, his face paled. But only for an instant, then his big brother instinct kicked in.
"What in the fuck?" Zelina quips.
"There's no way we are getting this open without a tool, go get some help!" Aleister says. "Zelina, Austin, go get some help!" Zelina nods grabbing Austin's hand as they start running. "Murph, how long you been in there?"
"Since after my match ended. He said he'd be back by the end of the show, you need to leave." Buddy says.
"Whoa, Buddy, we aren't going anywhere until you are out of there." Pat says.
"Pat, please." Buddy begs. Pat can hear the fear and anguish in his voice.
"They won't hurt you anymore." Pat says. "If this isn't proof enough then I don't know what will be. Who was it?"
"Hayes and Porter." Buddy says coughing.
"Okay, just…don't talk anymore, alright?" Aleister says. "Take shallow breaths."
"'M trying." Buddy says.
"Murph, don't pass out on me." Aleister says. Zelina and Austin come back with Hunter and a few others in tow.
"What the hell is going on?" Hunter asks.
"Hayes and Porter locked my brother in a damn case." Pat says. "He's been in there for over an hour and a half, Hunter!"
"Murph, we are going to get you out now. Murph? Hey, Murph, come on." Aleister says leaning closer to the case.
"Aleister let them do their job." Zelina says gently pulling him away from the case.
"Please, hurry." Aleister says. They quickly open the case revealing a curled up unconscious Buddy Murphy.
"Is he breathing?!" Pat asks. "Get him out of there!" He shouts trying to get through to his brother.
"Relax, Pat." Hunter says. "They can't move him just yet. It looks like he is breathing just fine." They all turn to look at the case when they hear groaning.
"Hey, just take it easy." Aleister says. "You must have passed out for a minute. You think you can sit up? Try not to move too quickly."
"I'm dizzy, hot, and sore." Buddy says.
"Go." Hunter says. Pat rushes up to Buddy and Aleister.
"I'm sorry for not waiting for you, Pat." Buddy says.
"I'm just glad you are okay." Pat says. "Is…is this the first time they…they've done anything?" Buddy looks down at his hands avoiding eye contact shaking his head.
"I think this gives us damn good reason to fire them." Hunter says.
"I would think so." Zelina says. "They can't just go around shoving people into fucking cases, beating the shit out of people. We got proof now."
"Just take it easy, man!" Aleister shouts at Buddy as he is trying to get out.
"Aleister, I'm fine. Really." Buddy says. "Although I feel really gross right now." Aleister chuckles awkwardly stepping away from the sweaty Buddy.
"We can get your clothes while you go get checked out." Aleister says. Buddy groans in response.
"Do I have to?" Buddy asks.
"Yes." Pat answers.
"Fine." Buddy says.