UNKNOWN ALLIANCE

by Robin Lyons

  Mac took photos of the essential notes to attach to the spreadsheet. After the group photos, and before he filed everything, he smoothed out the warning and snapped a photo of it all by itself. He’d show Roni to see if she recognized the handwriting.

  He texted Maggie: Hey. Check out the warning I received in the tip box today. He attached the photo.

  Maggie: OMG. Will that family ever leave you alone?

  Mac: Kevin doesn’t worry me. He’s a jerk.

  Maggie: Don’t turn your back on him.

  Mac: Haahaa. I won’t.

  Maggie: I have some of Bobby’s things I found in the attic I want to give you on Saturday. You do remember we’re going bowling on Saturday?

  Mac: I’m intrigued. And yes, I remember. Better get back to work.

  Maggie: K. Bye.

  Mac buzzed Marlene.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey. Are you alone or is the boss in his office?”

  “I’m alone. Dr. Zita’s off-campus at a meeting. Why?”

  “I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone, grabbed his cell phone, and locked his door on the way out.

  Marlene’s office was a few doors down from Mac’s. It took him longer to lock his door than it did to walk to her office.

  Marlene posed and ready for him as he turned the corner, she looked excited to be part of a mystery. “What’s going on?” Her eyes twinkled.

  Mac sat in the chair next to her desk and showed his photo of the warning he’d received. “Do you recognize the handwriting?”

  “No, I don’t. I don’t think it’s from staff, I know everyone’s scribble from purchase orders and report card notes. What do you suppose it means?”

  “Who knows? Kevin and I barely look at each other these days. I don’t know why he’d give a —,”

  She held up her hand. “Mac. Language. You’re getting better but still, need some work.”

  “Right. Sorry. I can’t imagine why Kevin would have it in for me.”

  “Maybe he still holds a grudge about everything that went down last semester,” she softened her voice, “He did lose his mother.”

  He didn’t buy the grieving son act.

  “I should let you get ready for the board meeting. See you later.”

  Chapter 23

  Just as Mac returned to his office after showing Marlene the mysterious tip, she buzzed him. “Mac, there’s a Police Officer Tanner here to see you.”

  “Okay, send her my way.” He felt a little twinge of excitement at the thought of talking with her again.

  He opened his office door as Officer Tanner was only steps away.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hello, do you have a few minutes to talk?”

  “Sure. Come on in.” He held the door and motioned with his hand to go ahead of him. “Take a seat.”

  Her attention went to the wall of monitors. “Wow! That’s impressive.”

  “Only the best at Blackstone.” He chuckled.

  “Mmhmm.” She nodded.

  “I thought I’d stop by to see how Rae is doing. RaeAnn Bowen.”

  “Does she prefer to be called Rae? You’re the second person this afternoon to refer to her as Rae,” he inquired.

  “She does.”

  “She seems to be fitting in, maybe a little withdrawn and quiet, but then I didn’t know her before her parents died.”

  “True. I didn’t know her either. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stop by periodically and check in with you.”

  “Yeah, sure, any time,” he said with a touch too much enthusiasm.

  It didn’t go unnoticed, Officer Tanner watched the security feeds rather than looking at Mac while they talked.

  “I don’t know how you get anything done with this slideshow going on.” She fanned her hand from side to side and up and down pointing toward the wall of monitors. “Do you actually catch kids up to no-good while you’re in here watching them?”

  “Nothing serious so far, this is my first year at the school.”

  She went on to inquire what he did before working at the school.

  Mac gave her the abridged version of his career and was pleased when she nodded in a manner, he felt, seemed impressed.

  When she told him she needed to get back on patrol, he felt a little disappointed.

  After Officer Tanner left, Mac noticed he’d missed his window of opportunity to go home, grab some dinner and check on Roxy, before his board meeting duty began.

  He texted Maggie: Hey Sis. Any chance you could swing by my place and check on Roxy for me? I was delayed at school and tonight’s a board meeting so I’ll be home late.

  Maggie: No problem. We’ll go after dinner.

  Mac: Thanks!

  Once he had Roxy covered he hustled to the kitchen to beg for a nibble. The gals in the kitchen always prepared dinner for the board members and administrative staff required to attend meetings. He preferred to have dinner with Roxy.

  Back in his office, he gobbled chili and cornbread while watching the quiet campus on the monitors. He’d become so accustomed to the system, the novelty had long since worn off. But he could see why Officer Tanner was impressed with the state of the art system.

  He mentally replayed the conversation with Officer Tanner when movement on a monitor caught his attention. Dr. Zita, the interim superintendent, left his office. He stopped at Marlene’s desk and said something to her, she nodded.

  As soon as the new boss was out of sight, Marlene looked directly into the camera and gave a hand gesture pointing two fingers at her eyes and then in the direction the new boss had walked.

  Dr. Zita powered through the hallways and headed toward the business offices which were deserted except for Nena, also required to attend board meetings.

  Mac spooned some chili into his mouth and almost dropped the utensil when he saw Dr. Zita take Nena into an embrace and passionately kiss her on the mouth. His advance appeared to be welcomed and reciprocated. He froze the feed on the one monitor to continue watching the love connection. Nena, Mac guessed was in her mid-fifties and Dr. Zita easily in his late-sixties.

  Their make-out session was intense and quite familiar. After a few minutes, Mac felt uncomfortable and unfroze the feed to move off their location.

  Unsure what to do with his new-found information, Mac decided to take his bowl and spoon back to the kitchen. As luck would have it, he was on a collision course with Dr. Zita.

  “Hello,” Mac said.

  “Hey, how’re you doing?”

  “Not as good as you are.”

  “What do you mean”? The new boss appeared perplexed.

  “You do know we have security cameras all around the school, including the business office, don’t you?”

  Dr. Zita’s face turned red, and his jaw clenched. “Is this you staying out of my way?” He walked away from Mac without uttering another word.

  Mac shook his head in bewilderment.

  Once he’d returned his dinner items to the kitchen and retrieved his weapon from the safe in his office, he went to the auditorium to stand sentry.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket.

  Maggie: Checked on Roxy. She’s fine. We fed her and brought her home with us. All good at home. We’ll take her back to your place later.

  Mac: Thank you. You’re the best.

  Mac clicked off his phone seconds before the first board member turned the corner to the auditorium entrance.

  “Good evening, Marshal MacKenna,” Dr. Littleton said.

  “Good evening, sir.” Mac saluted. “Are there any hot buttons on the agenda tonight?”

  Dr. Littleton always wore a business suit with a bow tie to every board meeting.

  As the board member continued to walk past Mac, he said, “Sex Education’s a possibility. I’ve received quite a few phone calls from parents. Keep your eyes open.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Mac said to the man’s back.

  In response, Dr. Littleton gave a thumbs up without turnin
g around to look at Mac. He hustled to his place at the table where his dinner awaited.

  Mac snickered on the inside at the irony of Sex Education on the agenda after what he’d seen earlier on the security feed.

  Shortly after Dr. Littleton arrived, the remaining board members filed in. Dr. Zita didn’t make eye-contact with Mac. He kept his head turned away while talking with Anna Beth Ross. She had once again applied too much perfume making her presence known before anyone actually saw her. Mac closed the door after they cleared the threshold.

  Anna Beth Ross was sworn in last month at the short December meeting, followed by performances of holiday cheer. Tonight’s meeting was her second since she’d been elected.

  While the school board met in closed session to eat dinner and discuss whatever they discussed in private, Mac waited in the lobby with Marlene and Roni.

  Roni filled in for Marlene at the main desk while Marlene took the minutes during the open session meeting. Roni scrutinized everyone wanting admission to the campus before unlocking the entrance door.

  More parents than usual squeezed into the lobby to get out of the cold.

  Mac asked one of the fathers he recognized what brought him out on a cold night to attend the meeting.

  “Sex Ed.”

  Dr. Littleton nailed it.

  Notified the school board was ready to begin the open session, Marlene and Mac led everyone from the lobby to the auditorium. Mac remained at the door watching concerned parents enter.

  By the time Mac went into the auditorium other than his reserved seat by the door, only a few empty seats remained. Similar to the meeting last June when Mac’s potential employment was on the agenda, parents sat with cardboard signs in their lap ready to display their displeasure if they disagreed with the board members’ decisions. One huge difference between that meeting and this one, Mrs. Ross—now a board member—was the leader of the parent group in June. And she was about to receive some of her own medicine.

  A cafeteria cart with a large cake, plates, utensils, cups, and a coffee urn, or so Mac assumed, sat off to the side of the long U-shaped board member table. One thing he’d learned soon after starting at the school, the staff loved to celebrate and eat. Elsie had baked one of her delicious cakes for somebody’s birthday.

  Typically, when there was an occasion for a celebration, the school board took a break midway on the agenda and shared cake or whatever with the audience. With the spectators as riled as they looked tonight they might be tempted to throw the cake at the school board if they rendered an unfavorable decision.

  Mac sighed and thought to himself, this has the potential to be an interesting and long meeting.

  Chapter 24

  Nico arrived at the DeSalvo’s and left the car running to stay warm while he rang their doorbell. Rae had given Nico the silent treatment until yesterday after school. She had asked where he lived. Where’d he go while she was in school? Was he married? Did he have children? Why did he work as a driver? Was he always a driver. What was his birthday?

  He told her as much as she needed to know about him which he felt was minimal.

  Mrs. DeSalvo opened the door and wagged her hand instructing him to go inside. “It’s cold this morning,” she said with a caring tone in her voice, “Rae’s running behind. She’ll be right down. Would you like a waffle?”

  “No thank you, I’m watching my figure,” he patted his stomach and grinned.

  “That’s silly.”

  Rae ran down the staircase saving him from any further conversation with Josslyn. Mrs. DeSalvo handed Rae her backpack as she sailed past her.

  “Sorry,” Rae said to Nico.

  “No problem.”

  Nico opened the front door and followed Rae outside. And then he opened the front passenger door for her and waited until she settled onto her seat before he shut the door.

  He rounded the rear of the car and made himself comfortable in the driver’s seat.

  “Can I ask you something?” she said.

  “Of course.”

  “Are you required to tell the DeSalvo’s what we talk about?”

  “Nope.”

  “Do you tell them anything about our conversations?”

  “Nope.”

  “Nothing?”

  “What gives? They hired me to drive you wherever you want to go, nothing more. If they asked me to share our conversations, I’d tell them I’m not the right guy for the job.”

  In his peripheral vision, he saw her smile.

  “Are you about to tell me something I don’t want to know?”

  “No. I wondered.”

  They rolled through the guarded gate to exit the estates.

  “I was on the swim team at my other high school,” she said while staring out the side window. “Every morning I left my house before sunrise to practice swimming at the city pool.”

  “Why aren’t you on the swim team at the Academy?”

  “I don’t know. It’s not the same.”

  Nico decided to wait and see where this was going.

  “The DeSalvo’s were nice enough to tell me I could swim whenever I wanted. It’s not the same as competing. I want to go to the city pool once a week so I can be timed.”

  “Okay. Let me know what day and time.”

  “Don’t laugh, but I dream of swimming on the U.S. Olympic team.”

  She was staring at him now.

  “That’s possible if you stay with it and push yourself.”

  “That’s what my mom and dad told me,” she said softly.

  “You can do whatever you want if you stay determined.”

  “I know.”

  Their short drive to school was about to end as Nico inched his SUV closer to the front of the drop-off line. He noticed Rae’s friend Brandi, and a boy waiting near the entrance door.

  Almost at the same time as Nico put the transmission in park, Rae said a quick goodbye and exited the vehicle.

  The boy with Brandi put his arm around Rae’s shoulder. She flung his arm away from her.

  Nico noticed how Mac watched the trio with interest.

  Chapter 25

  Almost two weeks had passed since Scott talked to him about what had happened to his daughter. Mac wished he had answers for the anguished father.

  While watching the kids go into the school, Mac felt a small person squeeze his leg.

  “Good morning, Mr. Mac.”

  He looked down to see Jillian, his pint-sized first-grade friend. “Good morning Jillian, you’re running late, better get into the school before the bell rings.”

  As she ran off, he saw in his peripheral vision Stu and Nathan Collins approach the school. “Better get moving boys, the bell’s about to ring.”

  The boys said nothing. But Stu stuck up his middle finger.

  Across the street, as he often did, Scott waited in his vehicle staring at students entering the school. Once the trickle of children slowed to a few stragglers, he approached Mac and Roni who waited outside.

  “Morning, Scott,” Mac said.

  “Good morning.” They shook hands. “Have they found the missing boy yet?

  “Not that I’ve heard.”

  “That can’t be good.” Scott shook his head. “Do you have anything new about...?”

  When Scott stalled mid-sentence, Mac said, “As a matter of fact, Roni learned some information, and we’re chasing down the tip to see if it’s credible.”

  Scott turned to Roni. “What tip?” She swallowed hard.

  Mac responded instead. “According to the little sister of Roni’s friend who was at the party, she saw Brandi stagger to the bathroom. Two boys followed her and waited outside the door.”

  “And then what?”

  “The sister went back to the pool and never saw Brandi again.”

  “Who were the two boys?” Scott balled his hands into fists.

  “Scott.” Mac touched his shoulder to take the focus off Roni. “I’m not comfortable with Roni sharing the boys’ names
with you at this time. We don’t know if they had anything to do with your daughter’s assault.”

  Scott said nothing for what felt like minutes. “Were the two boys on the list you’ve been working on?”

  “Yes, they are.”

  After a brief pause, he said, “From everything I’ve heard about you...” His anger faded a bit. “You’re an upstanding guy. I want to trust that you’re doing your best to find out who hurt my girl.”

  “I am. But I’m also trying to be discreet so as not to shine a light on the crime because you want to keep it confidential. If I go around asking kids straight up if they were at the party and what happened, they’ll get spooked and start talking to one another about me snooping. The last thing I want to do is tip off the guy we’re looking for.”

  Scott shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “You’re right. I don’t want you to tip your hand at this time. Let me know when you have something solid.”

  Roni added, “My mom has a group of women she plays cards with. It’s her turn to host the card game. I know some of those ladies were at the party. I’ll find out if any of them have gossip.”

  Scott said, “My wife tells me I need to let go of the notion that we’ll figure out which little bastard raped Brandi.”

  “I haven’t given up,” Mac said.

  “Me neither,” Roni said.

  “You don’t think it’s hopeless?”

  “No,” Mac said, “I want to find who violated Brandi as much today as I did the day you told me about it. I have nieces. If the same thing happened to one of them, I’d do just what you’re doing.”

  Scott took a deep breath.

  Mac continued, “I’m not the kind of person to say, ‘I forgive you’ to someone who hurt one of my loved ones. I don’t take the law into my hands—I’m not a vigilante—but I do want justice.”

  Scott’s voice was hoarse and throaty. “Thank you.”

  Brandi’s heartbroken father walked back to his vehicle and drove away.

  “I feel so bad for him,” Roni said.

  “Me too. It’s eating away at him. I hope some other names pop up besides Stu and Kevin following Brandi to the bathroom. It’ll be next to impossible to prove Stu was involved.”