No More Games

30

JULY 13

Michael's Point Of View

Despite all of the media hoopla yesterday, I'm a little bit more relieved that it's died down a little today. I woke up this morning, did some dancing in my studio then got cleaned up and dressed to start the day.

"Good afternoon, Dean," I walked into their small security headquarters near my front gate, "how's everything looking for today?"

"Hey, Chief," Dean stood up and shook my hand. "Yeah, everything's looking good except one thing. . .uh, Aaron received a threatening call from some crazy lady saying she's going to break into your house tonight."

"Really?" I furrowed my brows, "It's been almost two years since we've had any types of threats like that." I thought that was weird.

Dean shrugged his shoulders, seeming just as confused as I was. "I don't know, boss."

"Was this call received in front of you?"

"No sir. He just called me a few minutes ago and made me aware of it then suggested he would stay behind tonight so that he could keep an eye out around the property."

This story was beginning to sound a little fishy to me. Aaron has never stayed behind on any of my outings. He's always been by my side. I also have a set of other men who stay on the property whenever I went out of town. Why would Aaron want to stay behind when I already have people to watch over my home? Now I am more curious to find out what Aaron is really up to. It's obviously not good.
"Why didn't he come to me and let me know?" I asked.

"Well, he was." Dean said. "I told him that I would take care of it. I didn't really want you to worry about it too much, especially on your working days."

"I get that," I sighed, "but any threats you guys hear that's directed towards me, should be addressed to me. You know this." Aaron shook his head, agreeing wholeheartedly. "Now, let me ask you something. Have you seen any weird activity from Aaron lately? Like, acting sneaky or anything?"

"Not really—well, I don't really pay too much attention to him to notice, however, I do notice he's got "situations" at home that he constantly has to go take care of. Other than that, I don't know." Dean said.

"Hmm. . ." I narrowed my eyes. "If he has problems at home, he should tell me—you know what, I call bullshit. I call complete bullshit, Dean. Look," I peeped out the small window to make sure Aaron or anyone else weren't coming in before I continued, "you need to keep this between us. Ok?"

Dean's face was filled with worry and curiosity. "Yes sir, one hundred percent."

"Aaron is doing something very shady around here and I need your help to find out what he's up to."

"I'll do whatever you need me to do, boss."

"I need you to play devil's advocate when Aaron get's here and act like you're tired of working for me or something. Start rambling on to him about how you're looking for some extra cash and you're planning on robbing me then leaving California with your family." From the look of Dean's face, all of this was catching him off guard but I continued. "When he sees how open you are to him, he'll do the same and start spilling to you what he's been doing to me or planning on doing."

Dean rubbed his beard, in deep thought of what I was asking him to do. After a few seconds of thinking, he reached out his hand, looked me dead in my eyes and said, "Boss, my loyalty has always and will always be with you. I'll do it."

I smiled and shook his hand.

Dean is the most loyal person I've had in my life since the day I hired him back when I was working on my Thriller album. He's been with me all these years and I cannot remember a time where I've asked him to do something, no matter how outrageous, for him to ask me questions or say no he couldn't do it. There's only three people I trust with my life. That's God, my mother and Dean.