The Harper Family: Second Chances (Wattpad Version)

Pieces falling into place

Matt

I explained everything to Nora after my phone call with Larissa. Elias's boys' case became highly profiled because it involved all five of them. Reporters had camped out everywhere to get information about the case. It became a nightmare.

I met Payton at his office. The Oakridge Sentinel covered the case, but Payton protected never included the victim's names.

"What's going on, Matt?" Payton asked.

I sat across Payton's desk in his office. "The newspaper covered a sexual abuse case years ago."

Payton leaned back in his chair. "Yeah. Mr. Leland had me cover it and print a story about it. Why?"

"Did you know the identities involved in the case?"

"Not at the time since the Judge wouldn't allow any press in the courtroom. With minors involved, the judge wanted to ensure their protection. It made my job difficult. So, I contacted my nephew Oliver since he was working the beat when the police arrested the person involved."

"What did Oliver Gray say?"

"Oliver said someone called in a domestic disturbance at an address. When the police got there, they arrested a nineteen-year-old male for sexual misconduct involving minors. He couldn't give me names since he wasn't the arresting officer, and it was an ongoing police investigation."

I leaned back in my chair and played with my bottom lip.

"Matt, we didn't know what happened to the boys until you told us. Afterward, I pulled previous news articles and checked them. I found something you might want to see."

"What?"

Payton opened a drawer, pulled out a manilla folder, and handed it to me.

I opened it and found different articles the Oakridge Sentinel covered. "What is this?"

"These are different articles about a street drug showing up at parties and schools."

"Okay. But street drugs have been around forever."

"Right. But this particular drug comes in different forms and is undetectable. The kids call it X. After you told us about Trevor Cox, I searched the computer for him. The police had arrested Trevor Cox for dealing drugs. He was also a registered sex offender."

"Tori checked OTIS religiously. It never showed a sex offender living on her street."

"That doesn't surprise me since not all offenders notify the state with an address change."

My mind processed the information. If Trevor was dealing this street drug to local kids, our family exposed him when the police arrested him. That meant Trevor's boss would know who our family was.

"Thanks, Payton." I stood up and left Payton's office to talk to Elias and Tori.

Tori was working from home today. So, I could kill two birds with one stone.

******
Elias

Owen worked on invoicing at the office while I showed Marty a few things at home. Val and Odin checked the supply trucks for any issues. This time it allowed us to have supplies ready for the new builds.

"Elias!" Tori called from the kitchen.

"Yeah?" I called back while drafting.

"Your dad's here!"

Marty and I glanced at each other.

"Why is Grandpa here?" Marty asked.

"I don't know." I shook my head. "I thought he was working at the shop. Here, take over."