This story contains graphic sexual scenes between males. If material of this nature offends you then you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age in most states you are not allowed to read this story by law.
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Mark Stevens
Porterville Chapter 14
Friday afternoon found Britt back in the office of the Tribune. He hadn't told Alice yet about his discovery. He thought it best to wait until they heard from Ron James before he mentioned anything to her. He wasn't anxious to add to an already complicated situation, and he believed with all his heart that was exactly what would take place when she found out the real "insurance company" her mother referred to was going to be Porter Textile.
His cell rang, and he greeted Devon. "Hey, what's happening?"
"I received a call from Ron James," Devon said. "He wants to come by the apartment around five-thirty. Can you be there?"
"Absolutely," Britt assured him. Not in a million years would he miss that meeting.
The rest of his afternoon was shot. All he could think about was Ron James and what the man had to say. Must be something big, he decided. Otherwise why hadn't he just waited and given his information over the telephone that evening?
At five o'clock he told Alice goodnight. "Enjoy your weekend."
"I will," she answered. "Britt, have you discovered anything yet?"
Britt's heart gave a flutter, and making him feel like he was caught in a lie. Aloud he said, "Not yet, Alice, but I will; you have my word." Then attempting to sooth his conscience he added, "I'm meeting someone now, and hopefully I will know something by tonight. Are you going to be home in case I need to get in touch with you?"
She nodded. "I have no plans this weekend. I'm still working on Mother's things, trying to decide what to do with them."
As he opened the door Britt said, "I promise Alice, if anything turns up this evening, I will give you a call. Night."
He arrived at Devon's apartment a short time later and found him alone.
"I'm glad you're early," Devon greeted him.
Standing inside the living room, they went into each other's arms. For a time it seemed neither one was willing to pull away.
Britt took a step back. "God, I've missed you today," he said.
"I've missed you, Babe."
"Ron give you any idea what he found out?" Britt asked.
"Not a word," Devon answered quietly. "He called me this afternoon and said he wanted to drop by here after work."
"Maybe he just wants to see your hot body," Britt teased.
"Yeah, right," Devon laughed. "No, my friend, those days are long gone. Have been for years," he added.
The doorbell rang, startling them both. Devon opened the door and discovered Ronald James standing before him. He invited the man inside.
"Ron, I would like you to meet someone. This is Britt Williams. Britt, this is Ron James."
Britt shook the man's hand and said, "Mr. James, I'm glad to meet you."
"Likewise, Mr. Williams," the new comer said with a smile. "I've heard a lot about you and how you've come back to Porterville to write a book."
"Well, I hope what you have heard is good," Britt laughed. "As for writing a book, well, that all depends whether or not I find anything in Porterville to write about. My editor seems to think writing about a small town would be a good thing."
"How do you feel about it?" Ron asked.
"The jury's still out on that. As for living in a small town, let's just say I should be able to write from first hand experience."
Devon eyed the leather case Ron was carrying and asked, "So tell me, Ron, were you able to find out anything for me?"
Ron looked at Britt and remained silent.
"It's all right, Ron; whatever you have to say can be said in front of Mr. Williams."
"Please, call me Britt. Mr. Williams was my father."
Ronald James took a seat on the couch, and Britt and Devon sat on either side of the man. They watched as he opened his case and took some papers out. Looking at Devon he said, "Devon, I had to really dig back to come up with the information you ask for. That is why I thought it best to drop by and show you, rather than try and tell you over the phone."
Ron handed Devon the first piece of paper. It was a copied ledger sheet, the kind that was used before the days of computer. "As you can see, June 6th, 1973 one thousand dollars was deposited into the Cooper account. Transferred, I might add, from the general operating account of Porter Textile. Each month after that looks like the same amount changed hands, so to speak."
Devon looked at the ledger sheet and then passed it across to Britt, who studied it closely. Still holding the paper, Britt asked Devon, "Why the hell would Porter Textile pay Tom Cooper a thousand a month?"
"I have no clue," Devon answered. "As I said, neither Tom nor Margaret ever worked for the company in any position."
"There's more," Ron said, pulling another sheet from his case. "It appears that starting in March of 1978 the amount doubled, making the monthly deposit two thousand." He handed Devon several more pages. The last few were definitely after computer age, because they were not on ledger paper as the first had been. "As you can see, they paid the two thousand all the way through last month. The bank received a notice from Porter Textile to discontinue the payments. For whatever the reason, that must have been the agreement between the company and the Coopers," he ended.
"According to my mother, this was some type of business arrangement between Margaret Cooper and my father. She claims to know nothing about the situation, other than what she has told me."
Ron stood to his feet. "Devon, I hope this is what you needed. It does sound strange, but then, who knows just what the real story was now that both Margaret Cooper and your father are gone?"
"Thanks, Ron, you've been a great help. You will keep this little info to yourself?"
Ronald James assured him he would keep silent. "After all, this would cost me my job at the very least."
"Well, you won't have any trouble from us," Devon assured him. He smiled warmly at Ron. "How have you been?"
"I'm well, thanks for asking." Ron looked at Britt. "I've been hearing a thing or two about you guys."
"Really?" Britt was surprised. "To think, Devon, I thought we were being discreet," he grinned.
"I'm glad you've found someone, Devon," Ronald said. "You deserve happiness."
"As do you, my friend," Devon agreed.
"Well, for now I'm happy to be alive, happy to have a relatively decent paying job. And good friends," he added.
"We'll always be friends," Devon assured him.
"Ron, you're right," Britt smiled. "Devon and I have found each other, we have found love. I want you to know that I would count it a privilege having you for a friend as well."
"I appreciate that, Britt. Thanks."
Ron left, and Devon and Britt returned to the couch. Britt had the papers in front of him. "You know what these ledger sheets tell us, don't you, Dev?"
"That Porter Textile has paid a butt load of money out to the Coopers over the last thirty plus years, and without any just reason."
"Oh I think there's been just reason; I just don't know yet what that reason was. I do know this, however; the payments started shortly after Alice's twin brother died. And they continued until the next month after Tom Cooper's death, at which time they doubled. That is where the annuity Margaret spoke of to Alice came from. Your company, my friend, has been sole benefactor for these many years."
"I don't understand why my father did this," Devon said shaking his head. "Puzzles the hell out of me," he added.
Britt stood to his feet and said, "Devon, there's something I have to do. I promised Alice I would tell her the minute I knew something. Even though we don't know the why, we do know the who that's been supplying her family's income all these years. I'm going to tell her. Would you care to go with me?"
"I'm not sure about that." Doubt could be heard in Devon's voice. "What do you think I should do?"
"Personally I think you should go, but you do what you feel comfortable with."
"Then I'll accompany you," Devon decided.
Britt gave Alice a call and told her he would like to drop by for a few moments if it was convenient. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"You didn't tell her I was coming with you," Devon reminded as they were leaving the apartment.
"I didn't think I should. I'll explain it best as I can when we see her."
As Britt drove them to the Cooper residence, he thought about what he would say to her. Usually words came easily for him, whether in his mind or on paper, but this time he could think of nothing to say to her that would make any sense; Because at this moment, nothing added up to anything except a big zero.
"Britt, I want to run something by you."
Britt was suddenly brought back to the present. He looked across at Devon and asked, "What's that?"
"What would you think if I were to continue paying Alice Cooper the money she's been receiving all these years?"
Britt was surprised. "Why would you do that?"
"I don't know, but whatever the reason was, if my father was willing to pay money to her family all this time, it must have been a very good one. He was never the type to throw money out. Neither was my mother," he added. "If she was willing to go along with the idea, it had to be something really big."
"I'm pretty certain it was big," Britt agreed. "It's still big," he corrected himself.
"So what do you think? Should I offer to continue paying her? At least until we can find out the reason behind it."
Britt turned into the Cooper drive. He shut the care engine off and turned to face Devon. "I'm not sure, Dev. I don't think I would mention it tonight, though. I've only come to know Alice since I've been back in Porterville. If anything, she is a very proud person. I'm not even sure how she's going to take it when she finds out where the money has been coming from all these years."
"I don't want her feeling embarrassed in any way," Devon declared. "However, it is something I will think about."
Britt smiled. "I love you."
Devon reached up and touched his cheek. "I love you, too."
Britt led the way up the walk. He rang the doorbell, and they waited.
The door opened very quickly.
"Hi, Britt," Alice greeted. Then she saw Devon, and both men saw the look of surprise on her face. "Hello, Mr. McKenzie."
Although she said nothing more, Britt realized the shock she must have felt when she saw Devon standing beside him. He said, "Alice, I know you are surprised that Devon is with me. If you will allow us to come inside, I will try and explain."
"Of course, please, excuse my manners." She stepped back and motioned for the two men to enter her home. "Please," she said indicating the sofa in the living room.
As Britt took a seat beside Devon he said, "First of all, Alice, I need to ask something of you. What I am about to show you, for now, I need your word you will tell no one about it. I will explain why in just a moment."
Alice Cooper's face paled. Remaining silent, she gave a nod of her head and waited for Britt to continue.
"Alice, I did some checking down at the bank, and I've discovered a couple of things. It's what I uncovered that has brought Devon here with me this evening. You see, it has been Porter Textile that has been paying your mother all these years and not an insurance company."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Here, let me show you." Britt handed her the first page of the ledger sheet. "As you can see when you read this, the first deposit was placed in your mother and father's checking account on June 6th 1973 in the amount of one thousand dollars."
"But why?" she asked. "I don't understand."
"At this point neither do we. Devon has absolutely no idea either. When he discovered the draft had been going to your parents for years, he asked his mother. She told him it was some sort of business arrangement between John McKenzie and your parents. She says she knows nothing more, other than the fact it was going to be stopped at your mother's death."
"Neither one of my parents had a connection with your company, ever," she said to Devon.
"I realize that, Miss Cooper. Like you, I am totally in the dark here."
Britt handed Alice the rest of the papers. "If you will read on, Alice, you will see something else. It appears that in March of '78 the amount was doubled and continued going to your mother until her death."
Alice studied the figures before her with a puzzled look on her face. "I simply have not a clue about this. And why my mother lied is beyond me."
"Alice, I have no doubt she had her reasons," Britt told her. "If I know nothing else about Margaret Cooper, I do know this; the afternoon I visited her, it didn't take me long to realize she was a woman of high standards. Whatever the reason or reasons were she accepted that money all these years, there had to be something solid behind it. Who knows, maybe she thought she was protecting you by keeping the real truth hidden. Alice, I promise you, I will find out what's been going on. You have my word."
"I really appreciate that, Britt." She turned and said to Devon, "I am so sorry you have been involved in this. If I could, I would pay you back the money."
"Please don't think that is why I have come here, Miss Cooper. The money is the least of my concern. Like Britt, I just want to find out what is going on. After all," he added, "if there is reason to, I will reinstate the payment back to you."
"Oh, no, I could never allow you to do that," she protested. "You've done way too much as it is."
"Let's just sit back and see what we uncover," Britt suggested quietly.
"How did you come across this information?" she asked.
"I'd rather not say just yet, Alice," Britt answered. "Reason being, someone Devon knows went out on a limb for us and it could cost him his job. For now, this has to be kept confidential."
"All right, I understand."
Britt and Devon left shortly, but not before reassuring her they would be in touch the moment anything new turned up.
On the way back to Devon's apartment they discussed what their next move would be. Devon asked Britt, "Is there something I can do to help?"
"I'm not sure," Britt replied. He was thoughtful for a moment. Finally he said, "Why don't you do some digging in your accounting department and see if you can come up with something? I think Monday morning I'm hitting the Beacon early and going back in the files. I'll start somewhere around the time the money began appearing in the Cooper's bank account. Perhaps I overlooked something before. I thought I went through every file with a fine tooth comb, but who the hell knows? I could have missed something."
Britt stayed the night at Devon's apartment. They spent the rest of the weekend together. It gave both of them a wonderful feeling, being with each other and spending time together. They felt complete, and their world was perfect. Spending time together like this helped them to put the mystery that surrounded Porterville out of their thoughts.