Reunion Mission (Rangers Under Fire)

by Virginia Vaughan

  Claire was impressed with the gentle manner Matt had with Jessica, but as he stood to place a call to Garrett, Claire could see the fear in both Jessica’s and her mother’s faces. The girl was taking a risk stepping out in faith, trusting that Matt and Claire could protect her and bring Luke’s killer to justice. Claire realized she, too, needed to act on faith.

  She reached for Jessica’s hand. “I admire your courage, Jessica. Can I pray for you?”

  She nodded, and after Mrs. Alvarez joined them, Claire lifted a prayer for Jessica’s safety.

  * * *

  Matt phoned Garrett and related what Jessica had told him.

  “Do you think you can get access to Spencer’s financial records?” Matt asked.

  Garrett chuckled in an arrogant manner. “Do I think I can get access? That’s cute, Matt. Now ask me for something hard.”

  “I ran a preliminary record on all the teachers and staff, but his didn’t raise any red flags. Now I want a more comprehensive check of his background. Right now, he’s our only suspect.”

  “I’ll phone if I find something.”

  He hung up with Garrett, then turned and saw Claire speaking low with Jessica and wondered if they were discussing the case. Then he saw Claire reach for Jessica’s hand and bow her head, praying with the girl and her mother. He smiled, knowing she was picking up with Jessica where Luke had left off. He liked that.

  Claire stood and hugged Jessica, then joined Matt as they walked to the car. “She’s going to be okay.”

  “I’m getting background and financials on Spencer, but I think it’s time to include Preston in this, as well. He’ll want to speak with Jessica, too. What do you know about Principal Spencer?” he asked Claire. Spencer wasn’t from Lakeshore, so Matt had never met him previously.

  “He was hired by the school board two years ago from a school in Nashville. He’s been a good principal, fair and efficient. Everyone likes him, the faculty and the students. I can’t believe he could be involved in the murder of a student.”

  “Well, we don’t know yet that he was. We need to find proof.” He was glad to have another lead to investigate, with the Brown lead not panning out.

  She shuddered and folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t even know how to act around him now. What do I say? What do I do?”

  “Nothing. You can’t do anything that might alert Spencer that we suspect him. You have to continue on just like before.”

  “I’m not sure I can.”

  “Whatever you do, Claire, don’t let on that we’re investigating him. If he did kill Luke, he’s likely already on edge, suspicious of everyone and everything uncovering his secret.” He looked at her and saw this revelation was already affecting her. “Maybe it would be a good time to take a few days off. No one would blame you.” Before she could protest, he continued. “I may have to go meet with Garrett and Josh again after they interview Wilson. I would feel better if you were with me, so I’d know you were safe.”

  She hesitated. Yes, it was a lame excuse, but it was obvious she needed a reason not to return to school and have to face Spencer.

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll take a few sick days.”

  * * *

  She didn’t have to phone the school about taking a few days off. As it turned out, Principal Spencer was waiting for them at the Ross house when they returned.

  Matt tensed when he spotted Spencer on the front porch with his folks having tea and conversing. Claire found it difficult to believe that this man could be the one behind her attacks and Luke’s death. He was caring and concerned about the students. He’d been a good principal and a good friend to her.

  He stood as they approached and his easygoing manner she’d seen with the Rosses evaporated. His face grew solemn.

  “Principal Spencer, what are you doing here?” she asked him.

  “I came to speak with you, Claire. I’m afraid I have some news.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. Had another student been injured or killed? It broke her heart to think of the possibility.

  “I wanted to be the one to tell you myself. I thought it would be better coming from me.”

  “What is it?” she pressed him. “Tell me.”

  “The school board had an emergency meeting. They’ve decided to place you on temporary suspension.”

  “What? They can’t do that. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “This isn’t permanent. It’s just until after the trial.”

  Assuming she was proven innocent. He didn’t say the words. He didn’t have to.

  “This isn’t right. I’ll appeal this decision.”

  “You can try, but I will tell you there are a lot of parents who are lobbying for your termination. They’re threatening to pull their kids out of school, and they make large donations to the political parties here in town.”

  “I had nothing to do with Luke’s death.” How many times did she have to proclaim her innocence?

  “Of course I don’t believe you had anything to do with that, but you did meet secretly with a student outside of school hours. You also knew and hid from his parents, the school and the police the knowledge that Luke was selling drugs. Some of the parents feel that if they can’t trust you to tell them when their child is in trouble, then they don’t want you around their child.”

  “What’s more important? That the parents trust me or the kids?”

  “I’m sorry, Claire, but this suspension is immediate.”

  He said his goodbyes to Matt’s folks, then stepped off the porch and crossed the lawn to his car.

  “Oh, Claire, I’m so sorry,” Mama Ross said. “It’s not fair.”

  It wasn’t fair. Nothing about this entire situation was fair. It wasn’t right that Luke was dead and she was being persecuted instead of the real villains.

  “How can they do this to you?” Matt demanded, his anger needing an outlet.

  “They’re worried about me being around the kids.”

  “This is unbelievable. They shouldn’t be able to do this.”

  “They shouldn’t be able to, but they did.”

  * * *

  Indignation ripped through him. He was ready to take on the entire school board, even the entire community on her behalf if needed, but as he paced the porch and looked at her, she was standing calmly.

  “How can you remain so calm?”

  Most women would have been screaming at the outrage or crying over all they’d lost. But he was quickly learning that Claire was no ordinary woman.

  “I have to hope this is all part of God’s bigger plan. I know He has a plan, and I know I’m a part of it.”

  “Of course it is,” his mother assured her. “God always has a plan.”

  He shook his head and raked a hand over his face. “I don’t understand how you can have such faith.”

  “I’ve been through worse and I survived. My faith got me through the most terrible time of my life. I have to trust it will get me through this, as well.”

  He felt his face redden at her mention of the accident. Yes, she’d been through much worse. Her body may have been battered and broken, but it hadn’t broken her spirit. And this time she wouldn’t have to go through it alone.

  “It’s been a very long day. I think I’m going to turn in early.” She said her good-nights to everyone, then disappeared into the house, leaving Matt alone on the porch with his parents.

  His mother touched his shoulder. “She’s right about God having a plan. We’re all a part of God’s bigger plan.”

  Anger ripped through him. “I’m tired of hearing about God’s plan. Claire doesn’t deserve this. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”

  “Jesus didn’t deserve to die on the cross for our sins, but He did,” his father said.

&nbs
p; Matt stopped him. “I didn’t come home for a sermon, Dad.”

  “Why did you come home, Matt? You haven’t been here in years and now suddenly you’re back. Why are you here, son?”

  “Because I thought you both would help me, not judge me.”

  “No, that’s not true. You did think we would judge you. That’s why you’ve stayed away for so long. But then the pressure of suffering got too high and you returned to the ones you knew were always there for you. You came home despite your fear of being judged. Can’t you see it’s the same way with God? Sometimes He allows our suffering in order to bring us back home, back to Him.”

  “But Claire is the one suffering, and as far as I can see she hasn’t strayed from God. She’s stood strong in her faith through all of this, yet she continues to suffer.”

  “Maybe her suffering isn’t meant to return her home. Maybe it’s meant for you.”

  “Me?”

  “You’ve suffered alone for all these years, son. It’s only now when someone you care for so much is in trouble that you’ve been drawn back home.”

  His folks went inside and left him on the porch to ponder what his father had said. Was it true? Was Claire suffering because it was the only way God could draw him back home? Back to Him?

  Anger burned through him at that thought, but it had worked, hadn’t it? He had been pulled back. He’d prayed for the first time in years. He’d begun reading his Bible again. But it wasn’t right. It wasn’t right that Claire had to pay for his foolishness.

  But if it would stop this descent that was happening to Claire, would he give up his anger and his bitterness and surrender himself to God again?

  * * *

  Saturday morning, Claire slept later than she’d planned on, but she hadn’t realized how worn-out she was. The stresses of this week had definitely taken a toll on her. She showered and dressed, then went to join in with the rest of the family for breakfast.

  She was surprised to find Preston standing in the living room with Matt when she went downstairs. They both turned and Preston’s face was grim as he approached them. Claire grimaced. Was he here to arrest her again?

  But his reason for coming was much worse than she’d imagined.

  “Jessica Alvarez’s mother was at the precinct early this morning. Jessica went out last night and was supposed to be back by midnight. She still hasn’t returned home.”

  Claire felt as if she’d been punched. Her heart fell and she felt sick. Jessica was missing?

  Matt was quickly by her side, which was a good thing because her knees were about to buckle.

  “We’ll find her,” Matt assured her.

  Preston continued. “We don’t normally take missing-person reports so soon, but Mrs. Alvarez also told me about a conversation she and Jessica had with you two last night about Principal Spencer being a killer?”

  “That’s right,” Matt told him. “Jessica confided in us that she saw Luke and Spencer together. She thought he might be Luke’s supplier...and his killer.”

  Preston’s face hardened at the news. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “We wanted to check him out first. I’ve got my guys doing a thorough background on him. I was going to phone you today.”

  Preston raked a hand through his hair. Claire could see he was irritated about not being kept in the loop and she felt bad for not including him.

  “I am still the law in this town, Matt. And I know your DEA investigation has been halted. If you’re trying to alienate LPD, you’re doing a good job.”

  “I don’t want to exclude you, Preston. I have nothing but the highest respect for the officers, but you’re all convinced you have the killer and you’re wrong. Claire is being set up and I intend to find out who is behind it even if it costs me my job at the DEA.”

  Preston eyed Claire. “You knew about this and you didn’t call me, either.”

  “It was just last night,” Claire told him. “I haven’t had a chance to call you.”

  Preston shook his head as he gave her a mournful expression. “No, you chose to keep it from me.” He stomped out of the house, slamming the door as he left.

  He was right. She’d made the choice to trust Matt over Preston. She knew she’d hurt Preston and that saddened her. He had been a good friend to her, someone she could always depend on. But she had to admit she’d never trusted him the way she did Matt.

  Then it hit her...she trusted Matt.

  “Did we do the right thing?” she asked him.

  “We did what we had to do,” he said. “Besides, we have a bigger problem now than hurt feelings. We have to find out what happened to Jessica.”

  “Do you think he would harm her?”

  Matt looked as if he wanted to reassure her, but he knew what she knew—if Principal Spencer was the drug supplier, he’d already murdered one student. He probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill another to keep her from talking.

  * * *

  Matt and Claire drove around town and checked out all the places Claire knew the kids hung out. They were hoping to spot Jessica at one of these places, still praying that she wasn’t missing because someone discovered she’d been talking to them.

  They stopped and talked to as many teens as they could, but Claire knew it was a futile attempt. It was still early on a Saturday evening and many of the kids’ hangouts wouldn’t get crowded until much later.

  “Do they still hang out at the lake?” Matt asked.

  “I think so. Let’s try there next.”

  He nodded and drove, parking next to the area that housed picnic tables overlooking the water. It was deserted, which struck Claire as odd. It was the beginning of spring and usually this park ground would be busy with kids hanging out and swimming. But the unusual nip in the air must have been keeping them away. April in Tennessee didn’t always bring with it warmer temps right away. They’d been known to have a cold spell as late as the end of April.

  Matt sighed. “I’m going to call Garrett and Josh and see if they’ve found anything.” He pulled out his phone and looked at it. “My battery’s dead. Can I borrow your phone, Claire?”

  She took her phone from her purse, then handed it to Matt. She wandered away from him while he made the call, heading along the bank to a place that had been sectioned off with rocks. The water rolled over it, causing a small but lovely man-made waterfall. She closed her eyes and listened as water hit water, the sound soothing and calm. She slipped off her shoes and dipped her toes into the water. It was cool as it splashed against her feet. She often came here to this waterfall whenever she needed to clear her head or think—that is when it wasn’t overrun with schoolkids. It was a relaxing place to wind down and enjoy the serenity of the outdoors.

  Matt approached from behind her, pulling Claire back to reality.

  “I talked to Garrett. They found Wilson, but they weren’t able to convince him to give up his supplier. All he would say was he worked for a drug runner out of Nashville.” He sat down on the bank beside her. “Didn’t you tell me Spencer came here from Nashville?”

  “He did, but that doesn’t make him the drug dealer Wilson was talking about.”

  “Well, they also went through his financials line by line. He’s been making large deposits into his bank account.”

  “How large?”

  “Larger than someone on a high school principal’s salary could afford. But he’s been smart. He’s kept all the deposits under the $10,000 mark so the bank didn’t flag them as suspicious. Anything over $10,000, the banks have to report.”

  She was devastated to hear this new development. It seemed Spencer was involved after all. Claire didn’t understand how someone who had dedicated his life to helping students could also be selling drugs to them.

  “I know this is a lot for you to take in,” Matt said
. “He’s your friend.”

  “He’s more than that. He’s been my moral compass for several years now. I’ve counted on him—we’ve all counted on him—to keep the school going. And he’s made great strides academically. Lakeshore has one of the top-ranked science programs in the state. And now to think that he’s been conspiring against me? That he killed Luke? That he attacked me?” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe it.”

  He put his arm around her and pulled her toward him. “I know it’s hard. I’m sorry.”

  “Preston was right.”

  “About what?”

  “People do hide. I always try to see the world for good, but people aren’t always what they seem, are they?”

  “No, I guess they’re not. But you are, Claire. There’s nothing counterfeit about you. You’re just as beautiful and kind a person as you appear to be.”

  She enjoyed hearing him say so, but she knew it wasn’t true. She had a daily struggle to hold back her bitterness and anger over the state of her life. She had to fight for every accomplishment and every day against debilitating pain in order to make something of her life. Often, more than often actually, her anger railed against Matt. He’d gone off to have a successful career, while she’d been left behind to suffer alone.

  Alone.

  That was the real rub. She could have endured the pain and rehab necessary from the wreck, but why had she had to do it alone? She looked at him now and knew she’d never truly forgiven him for that. The wreck wasn’t really his fault, but leaving had been.

  “Why did you do it?” she asked him.

  “Do what?”

  “Why did you leave? I mean I know the accident was terrible and I looked horrible and you probably didn’t want to spend your life with a cripple, but you didn’t even say goodbye. You just left.”

  He was shaking his head. “I never thought you looked horrible, Claire. You were beautiful then and you’re beautiful now. And I never once thought of you as a cripple.”