He dragged Brendan from his stool. When he tried to speak, Poser covered Brendan’s mouth with his hand. “Time to sing, a time to shut up.”
7. The Deal
They were heading back from the restaurant with a tray of coffee, iced tea, apples, and oatmeal cookies when Brendan noticed someone in the bushes by the window of the electronics lab. It was a man, and he was holding a phone to the window and taking pictures. Brendan looked for Poser, but he was busy texting and had fallen behind. He set the tray down and began walking towards the bushes.
“Hey!” Brendan called.
The man was older than he’d first appeared, with a receding hairline. The hair he did have was long and tied back into a ponytail. He wore a ratty blue T-shirt with a logo and denim shorts that went just below his knees.
As Brendan got closer, the man pocketed the phone and stepped out of the low bushes. He walked away from Brendan, seemingly intent on not making eye contact.
“Hey, you, wait!”
The man walked faster. Brendan considered calling security, but their response time was unpredictable. He jogged to catch up. The man ran to a motor scooter illegally parked by some of the recharge stations. He started it up and zipped away, driving on part of a sidewalk and almost running over the feet of a teacher, who shouted at him.
Brendan cursed. His drones were at the lab, and he couldn’t make out the license plate on the scooter.
Poser waited for him by the tray of snacks, still busy texting.
“Did you see that guy?” Brendan asked.
“What guy?”
“Never mind.” Brendan picked up the tray and returned to the lab.
“Well, that’s creepy,” Tina said when Brendan told them. She went to the window and looked outside.
“Could be anyone,” Poser said. He sipped his iced tea and made a face. He added a fourth pack of sugar and stirred. “A bit of a leap to assume it has something to do with the FBI and Brendan’s dad.”
“But my dad owed people money,” Brendan said. “The guy didn’t look like a federal agent. Maybe it’s my dad’s associates and they’re looking for me.”
“It’s possible. But it could be anything. There’s ten kids in here with rich parents. Maybe it’s just a run-of-the-mill kidnapping scheme.”
“You’re saying I should call security.”
Poser gave a dismissive wave. “What’ll they do? Maybe it’s just some pervo.”
“Yes, call security,” Tina said. “You don’t have to tell them anything more than what you saw. They have cameras. Let them do their job.”
Brendan watched Vlad type. Engrossed in code, he hadn’t taken any notice of anything going on around him. Brendan didn’t want to interrupt. He brought up Lucille’s contact on his phone and began to compose a text.
“Because texting implies that sense of urgency when it’s a real emergency,” Poser said.
“The guy is gone. Maybe it’s nothing. Tina’s right, and I’ll get in touch with security later. But for now, I’ll get Lucille down here, and we’ll come up with a game plan so it’s not just us helping her.”
Tina’s jaw tightened.
Vlad looked up. “She’s coming here?” He hadn’t been comfortable with the Lucille topic ever since temporarily falling under the girl’s control.
“You okay with that?”
Vlad exhaled and looked back at the tablet screen. “I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect your tender skin, brah,” Poser said.
Lucille and Tyler arrived an hour later.
“Gang’s all here,” Lucille said. Her eyes settled on Tina. “Cesar brought out the big guns.” She walked to the lab table and sat down on a stool, crossing her legs. Tyler spoke to the other students in the lab, most of whom seemed distracted by Lucille. After a minute, they packed up and left. One gave Vlad his gun back.
“I think we killed the battery,” the student said before shuffling off.
Lucille frowned. “You boys think it’s wise to build a weapon at school?”
Tyler reached over and plucked the device from Vlad’s hands.
“Give it back,” Vlad said.
Tyler pointed it at Brendan and pulled the trigger a few times as if it were a water gun. Brendan flinched. Vlad took the gun away and Tyler laughed.
“Careful, Tyler,” Lucille said. “That’s either the secret to Vlad’s good grades or a ticket to getting expelled. So, Cesar, you summoned me?”
“Yeah. I’m interested. We’re going to help with figuring out what Cat Valley is up to. But I need you to step up and help me sooner rather than later. I can’t wait for the next football game or however many it might take to figure out what they’re doing to the ball.”
“Fine.”
When Lucille didn’t add anything, Brendan said, “Okay. But this guy investigating my dad’s a fed. He could arrest us if we do anything illegal. I was thinking we could arrange for some sort of meet, maybe go into town and do it away from school.”
She was shaking her head. “What, you think I might have some magic way of getting him to tell you everything he knows? I’m good, but not that good.”
Tina muttered something under her breath.
“All I’m saying is that some kind of leverage will work better than any kind of sneaky approach,” Lucille said. “Unless you have some more of that upstream water.”
“Are you suggesting we catch him with his hands in the dryer handling your underwear?” Tina asked.
Lucille opened her purse and checked herself in a small mirror. “Don’t knock it. It’s a good trick, but no, that’s not what I’m suggesting. I just don’t know what I’ll be able to do since he doesn’t know me, and even if I had some of that water, it would mean skin contact.”
Poser yawned. “Maybe if we distract him and get a bug or a tracer on him.”
“Doesn’t the FBI screen its people for that kind of thing?” Vlad asked. “That also sounds like we’re getting into serious infraction territory. Or felony.”
“You and your gadgets,” Lucille said. “Seems like you have enough help getting yourselves in trouble. Call me when your plan fails.” She got up off her stool and took a moment to smooth out her outfit. Tyler stood next to her and shouldered his own backpack.
“Wait,” Brendan said. “Why would you offer to help if you’re not willing to take a chance?”
“I never said that. I’ve got something different in mind that might do the trick. But it will be risky. Not for me, but for you.”
“What is it?”
She smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Meet me tomorrow. Just you, no toys. Nothing you don’t want taken from you. And bring some quarters.”
8. Lockup
Lucille kept Brendan waiting at the edge of school grounds early the next morning. Brendan’s fuzzy brain had to remind him several times over it was Saturday, which explained the reduced student activity around campus. The anxiety of being late for class finally subsided. He could see his own breath every time he exhaled. Isn’t a desert supposed to be hot? He had left his heavy winter clothes at home and only had his sweatshirts, sweaters, and one light windbreaker. He pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up over his head.
He heard Lucille before he saw her. She was accompanied by her counselor, Ms. Kryschek. For once, Lucille was dressed warmly enough for the chilly air. It was the first time he’d seen her in jeans, and she had on an understated button-down shirt and coat. Her boots still had ridiculously high heels, and her footsteps were loud on the pavement as she walked towards him..
“Brendan Garza, good morning,” Ms. Kryschek said. They shook hands. Ms. Kryschek wore gloves and looked warm.
They caught the hyperloop and headed towards Los Angeles. A car service met them at the station. The driver already had instructions on where to go and said little. Brendan tried watching Lucille for clues as to where they might be going, but she just looked out the window at the passing scenery and traffic. This was the most Brendan had se
en of Los Angeles, and he had expected to see more signs of the earthquake that had struck four years prior. The disaster had displaced many people, yet cars clogged the streets—and this was a weekend.
They took an exit in Riverside and ten minutes later pulled into the parking lot of the county juvenile hall. He felt his pulse race and his hands sweat. He had experienced a few weeks in similar facilities back east, and just the sight of the high chain-link fencing made him want to order the driver to turn around. The driver parked and made himself comfortable. So did Ms. Kryschek.
Lucille got out of the car and began walking towards the front entrance. He followed her inside. A line had formed of family members waiting for a pat-down and a once-over with a metal detection wand. The blue-gloved guard wore a smiley face button on his lapel.
“Did you bring the quarters?” Lucille asked.
“I forgot.”
“Good thing I’m here to carry you.”
From her clutch, she got out a coin purse that looked like a jewel-covered fish and removed four quarters. She went to a line of lockers and inserted the coins. She opened one of the small locker doors.
“Everything inside. Everything. Know what I mean?”
“I get it,” he said as he put his phone and wallet in the locker. “I’m not carrying anything that will get me in trouble, but this would have been easier if you’d just told me where we were going. And why are we here, exactly?”
“I’m turning you in for the reward, silly.”
“Come on, I’m serious. This better not be a waste of time.”
She reached for his face as if to caress his cheek. He jumped back, and she laughed. She headed for the security line. He caught up with her and looked around at the other visitors. Everyone had a glazed, tired look.
Signs warned of the possible consequences of carrying any firearms, narcotics, or cell phones into the facility. In no uncertain terms, they said that violators would be prosecuted. The reminders were repeated in six other languages.
There were inside and outside family areas. Lucille examined the tables as if choosing a seat at a restaurant. She finally settled in at a picnic table with fewer scrawls and mystery stains than the others.
“Who’s here?” Brendan asked.
But she still wasn’t answering. Brendan felt self-conscious, and every stranger’s glance in his direction made him feel as if everyone knew he belonged there. He wondered how anyone inside this place could possibly help in finding his dad.
All of the detainees came in through one doorway past a guard who stood and watched. The incarcerated boys all wore tan pants and shirts. Then a side door to a smaller building opened, and a tall, lanky blond teen with hair over his eyes came into the yard, escorted by a second guard. The boy was perhaps a couple of years older than Brendan. He pulled a cigarette from a pocket and lit it with a lighter. No Smoking was part of every posted code of conduct sign. None of the staff appeared concerned.
The boy approached their table. “Lucille.”
“Chris.”
He sat down across from her and blew smoke. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Chris pushed his hair from his face. Chris had bad acne, and his skin was pale like Lucille’s. He had her blue eyes.
“Back so soon,” Chris said, his voice so soft Brendan had to strain to hear.
“It’s been a month,” Lucille said. “I’ll make it longer if you let me.”
“And deny myself the pleasure of your visits? How’s Mom?”
Lucille made a face and rolled her eyes.
“I guess asking about Dad is out of the question.”
“Can we get this over with? You know why I’m here.”
Chris looked at Brendan. “Who’s he?”
“A friend. We’re working on a school project together.”
“Brendan,” Brendan said, offering a hand, but Chris ignored him.
“And what project might that be? Taking a unit in social science and penology? Oh, sorry, maybe that’s too advanced for you kids. How about show-and-tell?”
“Don’t be mean.”
“And why not? Just once I’d like you to come here because you actually want to see me.”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?”
Chris leaned forward over the table. “And what a pleasure it is. Tell me what I like to hear.”
“Don’t.” She broke eye contact with him and looked down.
He snatched her hair and pulled her close. She cried out. Neither of the guards appeared to care.
Brendan grabbed his hand. “Let go of her.”
Chris put a hand on Brendan’s. It felt like an electric shock. The scrawny boy’s grip was strong and Brendan couldn’t pull away. He instantly felt dizzy. Pain radiated up his arm and the world circled around him. Chris’s grip only grew tighter.
“Let him go!” Lucille screamed. “Chris!”
Brendan pawed at the hand, but even his free arm felt weak. Tremors shot through his entire body and the edges of his vision grew dark. The cherry of Chris’s cigarette bobbed before him. With great effort, Brendan managed to snatch the cigarette from Chris’s mouth. He pushed it into the boy’s hand. Chris screamed in pain and released him.
The sky and ground stopped spinning. Brendan got up and backed away from the table. Chris had let go of Lucille and was holding a protective hand over where he had been burned. The hard stare he gave Brendan was one of undisguised fury.
“Hey!” one of the guards shouted. He was approaching.
“You started this,” Lucille hissed. “You want me to ever visit again?”
A lopsided sneer crossed Chris’s face. He held a hand up towards the guard. The guard stopped and surveyed the scene before turning and going back to his post by the unmarked door. Brendan noticed the man also wore a yellow smiley face button on his shirt pocket.
“You’d never deny me the pleasure of your company,” Chris said. “Look how much fun we have.”
Lucille held her hand out. Chris put the burned hand in hers. She kissed it. Chris let out a sigh and closed his eyes. The kiss lingered. Brendan couldn’t help but stare, growing more and more uncomfortable.
“Give me what I need,” she whispered. She released the hand.
Chris nodded and reached into a pocket. He took out a plastic sandwich bag full of tiny white pills. Lucille took the bag and put it into her own pocket. Brendan couldn’t believe it. Both guards in the yard were still watching. He couldn’t shake the rising sense that at any minute he was going to be cuffed and arrested. Once again, it would be his mother who would bear the brunt of the shame. Now he had drug dealer to add to his resume.
Lucille got up. Chris wore an odd sheepish look on his face.
“First Saturday of next month,” she said.
He nodded.
Lucille beckoned for Brendan to follow as she headed towards the exit. The guard there watched them closely. He too wore a button, and the smile mocked Brendan as they walked out.
***
Brendan waited until they were alone back at the academy before saying anything.
“Your brother…what is he?”
Lucille appeared not to understand the question. “He’s irritating,” she finally said. She reached into her pocket and took a pill from the bag. She swallowed it with a sip of water from a bottle. A long sigh followed.
“And how is any of this supposed to help me?”
She reached back into the bag and produced three pills. She handed them over. “Give these to your agent. Crush them up and put them in his coffee or water. He’ll answer just about any question after a few minutes.”
“That’s the plan? Drug a federal agent?”
“Look, I’m not telling you to do it. I’m sure it’s illegal or something. But you wanted help. Here it is. But since you’re asking me, I’d say just let it go and let the cops do their job finding your father. It’s not like you have much of a relationship with him, anyways.”
He looked at the pills and looked at
her. He put them into his pocket.
“What did your brother do to me? What kind of control does he have over everyone in there?”
She shrugged. “He seems to like it in there. I like him not being home when I visit. So it works out.”
He waited for more, but she began walking back towards the dorms, leaving him standing there.
9. Agency Dinner
The Sunday evening crowd in the Hunan Dynasty restaurant was light, and Brendan wondered how the restaurant managed to stay open. Two tables were occupied by senior citizens who ate their chow mein and broccoli beef with forks. Brendan waited alone at a table, having arrived extra early to make sure he would beat Agent Walters there. He ordered water for himself and another for the agent. The sandwich bag with the three crushed pills felt hot inside his jacket pocket. He imagined every eye upon him as he sipped his water and worked up the courage to dump the pill powder into the second water glass.
A waiter finished busing a table and vanished into the back with his load of dishes. The older Chinese woman who worked the front was reading something on a tablet.
He had seen Lucille take a pill. She hadn’t died, hadn’t shown any ill effects. So they weren’t poison, unless it had been sleight of hand and she hadn’t actually swallowed it, or she had taken a dummy pill as part of some subterfuge.
Get me to poison a fed. Lots of laughs. Please like video and subscribe to my channel. Queen witch of the west. Charmer of warlords. Madame Mesmorelda.
If not some cruel game, then what? Why had she bothered having Brendan come along for the visit to see her brother?
His phone vibrated once. From Tina, a group message: “He’s coming.”
“Quit stalling,” Poser said in his ear.
“Bug in position?” Brendan said softly.
“We won’t miss a thing on our end,” Poser said. “But there’ll be plenty to miss if you don’t spike that drink. It can’t be that hard.”
The Dark Academy Page 5
