Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Two - Truths

After one of the most exhausting days I've had, I laid on bed with my arms folded behind my head, staring at the ceiling.

It's so clean up there. Who the f**k cleans up there?

Mrs. Harris?

Hailey returns to the bedroom shutting the door behind her before switching off the air condition unit and switching on the over head fan.

With an apologetic smile, "I'm not locking it, in case Emmy wakes up scared," she explains and I nod, patting the empty space beside me.

Lowering the lights, she joins me, clad in her favourite PJ's, that never goes old for me.

Dinner was quiet except for the constant chatter of Emmy, which kept us all entertained, while we tried to suppress thoughts about what happened at the Mall.

After the officers questioned Hailey, I didn't bother to probe further, because she clenched my hands tightly as she recalled, how she felt and how she knew it was Ellis, without actually seeing him.

Before the officers left, Hailey turned to Officer Jackson, "I realize you considered my complaint as irrelevant until you met my husband." She stared him directly in the eyes, "but that is so unfair to the victims of men like Ellis Clarke." She continued, as tears slowly starts trickling down her cheeks.

"That little girl you saw with us earlier, she was one of his victims and she is only six years old right now." Hailey continues with a bland expression now.

"Hey it's okay." I reminded her, hugging her around the waist as I drew her closer. "You're both safe," I assured her although I felt like throttling Jackson now.

Glaring at Jackson, "I think we're done here now. I will be doing my own investigation as the owner of the Mall concerning Ellis's recruitment as a security officer, if he is fact working there." I forewarned him.

With an awkward smile, "I am sorry about earlier and the way I approached you, Mrs. Knight" Office Jackson, immediately apologizes to Hailey, but she just continued staring at him without showing any emotion.

Nodding at me, "I will keep in touch and please fill us in on your findings" he turns to his partner, who has been standing quietly the entire time, before turning back to Hailey.

"I'm sorry, but your clothes," he pointed to her skirt, "the way you dress could encourage a ma..." Office Jackson was stopped in mid sentence when I plunged towards, only for Bas to pull him backwards, before shoving him forward, giving me an opportunity to punch Jackson in the face.

Dragging him upwards, drawing his face two inches from mines, "don't you f**king look at my wife and insult my wife's appearance, because you're just a poor pathetic motherf**ker like Ellis." I spat angrily, throwing him backwards, watching him hit the floor.

Wiping the side of his mouth, he stares up at his partner who was also staring down at him with a disgusted look.

Glaring at him, "now get the f**k out of my house and I don't want you anywhere near my wife or this case." I continued and turned to his partner. "You are welcome, but make sure you don't bring this piece of s**t with you." I said, as I tried controlling my anger and not bring Officer Jackson's partner in his mess.

Nodding, "yes sir, Mr. Knights" the other cop agrees politely, watching Officer Jackson, struggle to get his footing. "Your ready to go?" He asks, "looks like you've done enough damage here." Officer Jackson's partner tells him, before turning to Bas.

Chuckling, "I should start training where you guys train," he tells Bas, but when his eyes met mines, he realizes that was way too early to make small talk.

"Let me check on Emmy," Hailey says before leaving the room, giving us extra time to beat the motherf**ker up.

Curling up beside me, Hailey laid her head on my bare chest, bringing me back to the present.

"I'm sorry" she whispers in the quiet room, where only the soft purr of the over head fan can be heard spinning.

Unfolding my arms from beneath my head, I hugged her.

"Why?" I frowned, although she cannot see my expression because of how her head was positioned. "What did you do?" I probed, when I realized she had gone silent.

Lifting her head to face me, "you hit a cop because of me," Hailey explains, three horizontal lines creasing her forehead, her upturned lips quivering. Lowering her eyes again, "the way that I dress cause the cop to question me." Hailey continues, while I silently vow to make Officer Jackson pay for disrespecting Hailey.

"Hailey, you did nothing wrong. Emmy did nothing wrong. Our Malls are supposed to be safe and family oriented and what occurred today confirms our customers and employees are not safe." I explained. "I have called a board meeting for tomorrow to implement safety measures of children and women and the security we hire." I continue to fill Hailey in what my plans are, since I already had Caleb the impromptu meeting.

I haven't heard from my f**king mother, but I know Chubbs would have mentioned what happened between her and I today and since mom's a board member of the Mall, I expect to see her there.

Kissing my chest, "what happened between you and Adana?" Hailey asks the question I was mostly dreading.

How do I answer this question without having her know Ellis is working for my mom?

Taking a deep breath, "it's going to change your opinion of Chubbs and you may never want her in your life again." I warned sadly, If my sister is a threat to my wife, I don't want her around Hailey.

"Okay," Hailey says, but I don't know if she still wants to know or does she want me to stop?

"I'm listening," Hailey reminded me.

"I suspect Ellis is working for my mother."