When nothing goes right, turn left

The Pieces that Refuse to Fit

Veronica sat across from Bella in the dim lighting of Clark's garage, fingers drumming against the old wooden table as she mapped out her next move.

"Hilary won't talk," Bella muttered. "So we find someone who will."

Veronica nodded, flipping through her mother's old records. Then, she saw a name—one buried deep in old property logs, tied to the transfer Hilary had signed.

"Elijah Caldwell," she whispered.

Clark leaned over the papers. "That guy's name rings a bell."

"How?"

Clark frowned. "Because William mentioned him before."

Veronica froze.

"William?"

Clark nodded, tracing the ink where Elijah's name appeared. "A while ago—back before any of this mess started. He said his family did business with an old lawyer named Elijah Caldwell."

Veronica's pulse hammered.

Hilary's transfer, R.T., Smith's investigation—and now William's family was connected to it?

Bella exhaled sharply. "That's not a coincidence."

Veronica barely heard her.

She grabbed her phone and started scrolling. Elijah was still in town.

And whether he wanted to or not—he was about to answer some questions.

Veronica adjusted her grip on the steering wheel, glancing at William from the corner of her eye.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his tone unreadable.

"No," she admitted.

The name Elijah Caldwell felt heavier now—tied to her mother, tied to William's family, tied to whatever Smith had been unraveling before he died.

William exhaled. "Then why bring me?"

"Because you're already tangled in this. Whether you want to be or not."

William didn't respond, just stared out the window as the buildings blurred past.

When they pulled up to the old office, the tension thickened.

Elijah was waiting.

Old, sharp-eyed, leaning against his desk like he'd expected them.

"You two have been digging," Elijah murmured, gaze shifting between them.

Veronica swallowed hard. "You signed off on my mother's transfer."

"I did."

"Why?"

Elijah tilted his head slightly, studying her.

Then, his gaze flicked to William.

"Maybe you should ask him."

Veronica froze.

William stiffened beside her. "What does that mean?"

Elijah smirked slightly. "It means this was never just about Hilary. Or Smith. This goes back—to things none of you were meant to remember."

Veronica's pulse pounded.

And suddenly, she wasn't sure who to trust anymore.