Page 60 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

“The only reason that would be there is if someone planted it there,” I say, my eyes drilling into Charlie’s, and I actually take a step toward him. “You plant that there, Thompson?”

He loses some of his bristle and licks his lips, but jams his index finger toward me. “This is about you. You’ve been trouble since the minute you got here. This is the second time money has gone missing. Last time Mr. Sawyer let you off. This time we caught you red-handed.”

“I didn’t take any damn money. I don’t know how that got in my saddlebag, but I didn’t put it there.”

“Oh, and I suppose you didn’t have anything to do with breaking that band saw last week, or the fact that this morning I find the newest forklift vandalized.”

“Vandalized? What are you talking about?”

“The seat is all sliced up and oil was poured all over it,” Charlie snaps. “I don’t know what your game is, but I’m done with you.”

“Is it true? Did you do this?” Sawyer asks me, holding up the bag.

What’s worse than the way Sawyer is staring at me with suspicion is seeing the same thing in his daughter’s eyes. It’s like she’s wondering if she’s been wrong about the kind of man I am. I see the doubt in her eyes, and that guts me.

“Dust it for fingerprints. You won’t find mine, because I’ve never touched the damn thing.”

Charlie starts to sputter. “He… He probably had gloves on. Don’t believe another word out of his lying mouth.”

My chest swells with anger, and I take a step toward him, wanting to slam my fist in his fucking face.

Sawyer puts his arm up. “Stop. Look, maybe Charlie’s right. Maybe things aren’t working out here for you, son.”

I yank my phone out and scroll to the video. “You want to see the truth of what’s been going on? Take a look at this.” I show it to him.

Tori crowds close, peering at the screen.

They both watch Charlie swinging that hammer until the piece breaks off the equipment, and he tosses it in the trash.

Sawyer’s eyes shift to him. “What the fuck is the meaning of this? It was you?”

“I did that to show you this kid needs to be fired, but I didn’t do the other stuff. I swear it.”

“Get your things and get out,” Sawyer snaps, pointing toward the road. “Now.”

Charlie flings a stack of work orders he was holding into the dirt at Sawyer's feet. “Well, fuck you and this mill. You’ll see when you lose this whole damn place.”

He stomps to his truck and roars out, gravel flying.

Tori scrambles to gather the papers before the wind spreads them all over the lot. Then she stands, looking from me to her father.

Sawyer shifts on his feet, his jaw tight. “Why the hell would he do that?”

“He’s had it in for me since the moment I got here. I have no clue why, but I didn’t take that money.” I lift my hand toward the bag he still clenches. “I swear to you.” I point at the camera over the door. “Check the camera. It should show my bike in the lot. It should show who put it in my saddlebag, if you don’t believe me.”

“I asked Charlie about that. He said he never got them fixed.”

“Or he doesn’t want you to see what they would reveal,” I say.

Sawyer emits a sharp whistle. “Ed, take over for the day.”

The older man is standing across the lot next to one of the trucks that’s being loaded by Bubba. They both try to act like they haven’t been glued to this scene, but I know they have. Ed nods.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Sawyer.”

“Let’s go, Tori,” he says. “I’ll drive you to school.”

“Daddy, let Rafe take me. You need to go take that to the bank. And you should probably make sure there’s been no funny business with the account while you’re there.”

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