Undercover Justice
Page 26
He pulled me straight into his arms and gave me a kiss. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said, reaching around me to shut the car door.
Blushing, I stammered, “Thank you Jed.”
“For what?” he asked looking down at me warmly..
“For this,” I said gesturing to Charlotte, Ollie and Gabby, who along with Kent, were waiting for Jed and I.
“I thought you would be more comfortable walking in as a group.”
“You thought right,” I said smiling up at him. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed his hand and started walking toward the building.
“Um…Nora?” Jed asked, “Relax ok.”
“Why do you say that? I’m fine,” I said, scanning the crowd of people mingling in the courtyard. I guess sneaking into class wasn’t going to happen, like I had hoped.
“You have a death grip on my hand,” Jed said, looking pointedly at our hands.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” I said, trying to pull my hand out of his.
“Hey, don’t be sorry. I’m not complaining and I am not letting go. You’re stuck with me,” Jed said with a grin.
“I can always count on you can’t I,” I said seriously. “You have always been there for me, whenever I’ve needed you.”
Jed stopped and looked down at me. “Nora,” he said brushing my hair off my face tenderly with his hand, “Don’t make it sound as if you are a chore. There is no place else I would rather be, than right here with you.”
“What have I ever done to deserve a guy like you?” I whispered, mostly to myself.
Jed’s eyes held mine, “I could say the same. What have I ever done to deserve a girl like you?”
“Oh, please you two, listen to yourselves. You both have to face the fact that you are both perfect for each other. It’s almost as if God made each of you for the other. Now come on lets go,” Gabby said with a friendly, but impatient smile, as the group stood there waiting for Jed and me to keep walking. I gave her a smile. Last night we talked late into the night about Chris being arrested. I told her what I knew as best as I could. She was my best friend after all. Since all this has been going on, I felt like we had been keeping secrets from each other and growing apart. We haven’t kept each other in the dark since we became best friends in grade school.
Jed and I looked at each other and grinned. She was right. It felt like we belonged and the look in his eyes, said he felt the same way.
As we headed for school, Jed gave my hand a squeeze and kept looking down at me grinning. My heart felt so happy. Gabby’s simple statement was like an eye opener for both of us. No matter what came our way, we would face it together. I liked the sound of that.
Unfortunately, some people at school seemed to want to do their best to make my day gloomy.
The moment we stepped up onto the sidewalk leading to the courtyard, we were surrounded by people calling out questions. They wanted to know who Martin was, and what he had against Jed, and there were many questions about what happened after Martin kidnapped me. Talk about nosy, some people were downright rude.
I have sympathy for anyone caught in the so-called spotlight. People don’t leave you alone. They don’t even seem to notice that what they are saying or how they were acting was hurtful.
Thankfully, Jed can be quite scary and intimidating when he wants to be. He was wearing a fierce looking scowl and an angry glare. He was giving off don’t mess with me vibes. One angry look from him had many people backing off.
I could hear Charlotte and Gabby politely answering some people’s questions as Jed, Kent and Ollie kept people away from me. We made it into the building without too much trouble. Because we were all in the same class together, we headed that way. Stopping at each other’s locker’s first. We still had plenty of time before the bell rang, but once in the classroom the group of gawkers was very small and much more manageable, which I was thankful for. Jed was starting to make even me nervous with his surly protectiveness.
As the bell finally rang, we were all surprised to see that instead of Ms. Morley we had a substitute teacher. I was kind of glad, that usually meant that we would be free to work in groups or we would be watching a movie. I was hoping for the movie, because that meant nobody would be able to talk.
I got my wish. The classroom door opened and the media teacher wheeled in a television set. As she set the movie up, everyone scooted their chairs around a little so that they would be able to watch the screen. Jed didn’t waste any time scooting his chair over, so that it was next to mine. His arm snaked over the back of my chair and around my shoulders. He lightly ran his fingers down my arm. I gave him a little nudge with my elbow into his stomach. He let out a little ‘oomph’.
There was no physical contact allowed. If he got caught with his arm around me, the teacher could make us move. I looked up at his devilish grin and rolled my eyes before pointing quickly at the teacher. I could tell that Jed had just taken that as a challenge.
Jed lowered his arm so that it was mostly out of sight as the movie started playing. It was going to be a documentary about something. You could tell from the music and fake pictures that started playing.
After that, I couldn’t tell you anything else about the movie. Jed proceeded to thoroughly distract me. I think Kent was starting to get suspicious.
At the end of the movie, when the teacher finally turned away to figure out how to shut off the movie, Jed leaned over and gave me a kiss followed quickly by a grunt. I suspect Kent kicked him, because when Jed pulled away and sat back, I could see Kent glaring at him. Jed just gave me a wink, while ignoring Kent.
Charlotte grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up out of Kent’s sight. I grinned back. Ollie just laughed. He found everything Jed did funny. He really seemed to look up to him.
As we walked into the hall after class, everyone picked up where they had left off, staring at us again everyone seemed to want to talk to us and ask questions. Jed turned and said, “I am going to get Nora out of here for the day. Kent, Ollie, do you want do go with me to talk to the Mayor this afternoon?”
“What do you mean, out of here?” Kent asked suspiciously, ignoring Jed’s other question.
Yeah? What did he mean? I thought.
Ollie said, “Sure!”
“She should have just stayed home today,” Jed said. “I’m going to get her away from all these people. This weekend will give time for some of the novelty to wear off and hopefully people will lose interest. Are you coming with me later or not?”
“I’ll be there. Meet me at our house right after school. I’ll drive. You better not...”
“Relax,” Jed interrupted, giving Kent a look that must have said something to him, because he backed off and nodded.
“Come on Honey, let’s get out of here,” he said taking my hand.
Waving goodbye, I gathered my things, and quickly followed Jed, as we snuck out the door while nobody was looking.
My long skirt blew in the breeze as we jogged over to Jed’s truck, I was glad that he hadn’t brought his motorcycle. He helped me into the passenger side, and I was struck by the realization that he planned this.
“You planned this all along, didn’t you?” I asked him with a laugh.
“Not planned. Just prepared,” Jed said grinning. “I know how much you like to wear skirts, so I brought the truck just in case.”
I gave him my best smile in answer. I was a little apprehensive about just leaving school. In all my years of school, I had never skipped out. Sure I had missed school once in a while for being sick, but had never intentionally left school while I was perfectly capable of being there. I guess you could call me a goodie-two-shoes, but I was one who followed the rules to a T.
“So what do you want to do today?” Jed asked with a devilish grin that was just begging for trouble. I could tell he was remembering class.
“What did you have in mind?” I asked cautiously. Even though I wanted nothing more than to go find somewhere private to park, it wasn’t my way.
“I’m glad you find that funny,” I said crossly.
“I’m just messing with you. I was thinking you might like to go for a walk out at the farm and have a picnic,” he admitted.
Whacking him on the arm, I said, “That sounds wonderful.”
“Good,” he said grinning, as he pulled out of the parking lot.
I couldn’t help grinning in return. I was really lucky that Jed was such a good guy.
We spent a wonderful relaxing day at his farm. He showed me all his favorite spots growing up and told me story after story of his life with his grandfather. The farm was a beautiful place. I could see how much Jed loved it. The horses, the warm sunshine and fresh air, and the trees and river, they were just amazingly beautiful.
Jed’s housekeeper Betty had packed us a delicious lunch and we sat by the riverbank and ate it. Jed held me in his arms and stole a few kisses as we watched a family of otters play nearby. I didn’t want this day to end. I was so ecstatic to realize that our day was just beginning.
Jed and Kent had to go meet with the Mayor. But after that, our group was going out to dinner at the Country Club. I was really looking forward to it.
Jed timed our return so that we arrived just as Kent and Ollie were pulling into our driveway. It looked like we had all just gotten home from school.
After we had said hello to our parents, it was time for the guys to head out.
“Charlotte said to call her so she could talk about what to wear tonight,” Kent called as he waited for Jed to say goodbye and climb into the Camaro.
Nodding, I turned my attention to Jed. “Thank you for a wonderful afternoon,” I told him.
Flicking me on the nose, he said, “It’s not over yet.”
Smiling, I said, “I’m glad.”
“Me too. See you in a little bit.”
I watched Jed climb in and the car pull away, before heading back inside to call Charlotte. I wasn’t sure what I was wearing either. Fashion had always come naturally to me, until I met Jed.
“It has been forty minutes,” Ollie complained as the three of them sat in the lobby of the Mayor’s office waiting for the Mayor to meet with them.
“I think he’s here too,” Jed said watching the secretary eye them nervously.
“Do you think he is putting us off for a reason,” Kent asked.
They were all starting to get impatient. Their scheduled appointment time had come and gone. They had arrived a few minutes early and had been told to take a seat while she told the Mayor they were here. They had overheard her part of the conversation with the Mayor, “Ok great. I’ll send them back. ...No, three boys. Ok, I see. Yes sir.”
After she had hung up the phone, she had turned to them and said, “Sorry, the Mayor is tied up right now. He will be just a few minutes.”
It was now forty minutes later.
“Yes, I think he’s putting us off for a reason,” Jed answered. “That reason is that he was probably only expecting Charlotte and/or Nora. Not us.”
“I’m going to go ask her what’s going on,” Kent said getting up out of the grey office chair.
Less than a minute later he came striding back. “She called the Mayor and he will be ready very shortly,” Kent reported.
“I’ll believe it, when I see him,” Ollie said putting his headphones back on. He put his head down and continued making notes in his notebook.
Surprisingly, only three minutes later, the secretary put down the intercom phone and said; “The Mayor will see you now. Please follow me.”
They followed her down the hall to the Mayor’s office. As they entered, they saw Mayor Greenly seated behind his desk, trying to look very important and busy. Jed knew better. He could tell by the sweat on his brow, that he was nervous about meeting with them. Jed found that interesting, because as far as the Mayor knew, they were just a bunch of high school kids.
“Good afternoon sir,” Jed said as they each took a seat across from the Mayor.
“Hello boys,” the mayor said, “I am very busy, so what brings you in.”
“You asked to meet with us,” Jed told him. “Why don’t you tell me?” Jed knew very well that the Mayor was trying to intimidate them and make them uncomfortable.
Glaring at Jed, the Mayor said, “Oh, that’s right. I’m just too busy these days to remember. You’re the ones doing your school paper on this office aren’t you?”
“That’s right,” Jed said.
“Um…I just wanted to make sure that your paper, accurately represented this office.”
“How do you mean, sir?” Kent asked.
“What do I mean? I would like to read your paper, before you submit it. There were a few things that I would like you to leave out of your paper. This office needs to be presented in a way that would make the residents of Pine Hill proud. I am sure your teacher expects it of you. It has come to my attention, that some member’s of your group have been asking questions that would not put forth the best foot to the citizen’s of Pine Hill,” the Mayor said, in an exaggerated, important sounding voice.
Jed was sick of pretending that they didn’t know what the Mayor meant. He decided the best way to show the Mayor that they couldn’t be manipulated, was to cut right to the chase.
“You mean, you don’t want us asking about a boy, who disappeared after being seen getting beaten in your conference room. Why you lied about it being your private room?” Jed asked him honestly.
“Yes,” the mayor said forgetting all pretense of politeness. He put his hands on the desk as he leaned forward to give them a heated stare. “You put anything like that in your report, I’ll see to it that your whole group fails not only the project, but also the class.”
“Oh yeah, how are you going to do that?” Jed asked from his seat, looking not in the least bit intimidated.
Kent and Ollie just sat back and watched Jed work. They knew that he was a cop and that he wasn’t going to let the Mayor off the hook. They were there for some answers. Out of the three of them, if anyone knew how to get the answers, it was Jed.
“I know some very nasty people. You don’t want to mess with the people I know,” the Mayor threatened. “They can be most unpleasant.”
“You mean your thugs in The Order?” Jed asked him back in a quiet seething voice. To the Mayor it probably sounded like Jed was intimidated by the Order. Not to Kent and Ollie who sat back in their seats. They knew from experience, that Jed was getting angry.
“Yes, those thugs,” the Mayor said nastily not realizing what he was admitting.
“If you mean Vecelli, he’s behind bars,” Jed told him. “Care to try again.”
“How do you know about him and The Order for that matter?” the Mayor demanded starting to look a little bit nervous. “You kids don’t know anything. Now why don’t you leave and remember what I told you about not saying anything.”
“I don’t think so,” Jed said. “I do know something. I know that you just threaten us. I know that you are involved with The Order. And I know that you were somehow involved in the beating and disappearance of Mark Mason. I wouldn’t be surprised if you knew what happened to him, as well as the other kids who have disappeared over the years.”
“You need to leave. Now!” Mayor Greenly said angrily. “I will not stand here while a bunch of boys question and accuse me of things that they know nothing about. I don’t have to answer anything you ask. Nobody will believe anything you say anyway. They won’t take your word over mine.”
Jed was mad now. He had hoped not to have to do this, but he was not leaving without answers. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. Striding over to the Mayor’s desk, he slammed it down in front of the Mayor and said, “Then I am asking you as an officer of the law. You will answer every one of my questions or I will be forced to arrest you, and haul you down to the station to be questioned for murder and kidnapping.”
“Now do you care to answer my questions, or would you like for me to arrest you?” Jed asked, still standing over the Mayor’s desk.
“What do you want to know?” the Mayor asked in a meek voice. He obviously found it hard to submit to Jed. It was hard to comprehend that he was a police officer, when just a few seconds ago, he had been a boy in high school, one that he could intimidate into silence.
“Let’s start with your conference room. Room 35. Why don’t you tell me why they were in your private room?”
“I didn’t know what they were doing. I swear,” the mayor pleaded. “I just make the room available when the Order needs it.”
“Are you a member of the Order?” Jed asked.
“Not anymore,” the Mayor insisted shaking his head.
“Member’s aren’t allowed to leave,” Jed said. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not!” the Mayor said getting hysterical. “I got out. I didn’t want to be apart of what was going on.”
“Then how come you’re still alive,” Jed asked bluntly.
The Mayor started sweating profusely. “I promised that I would never speak of them, and that I would help them in any way they needed, without asking any questions.”
“That sounds like extortion,” Jed said. “What happens if you don’t do as they ask?”
The Mayor’s silence was answer enough.
“I’ll make a deal with you. You tell me everything I need to know, and as long as you haven’t committed any heinous crimes, I’ll be willing to talk to my superiors about leaving you out of this. Of course, if you blow my cover, I will come after you will everything I’ve got. Is that understood?” Jed demanded. Jed knew that the Mayor couldn’t tell anyone about Jed being a cop, or even Kent breaking The Order’s code, without convicting himself.
The Mayor nodded his agreement.
“Who is the Director?” Jed asked.