UNKNOWN ALLIANCE (School Marshal Novels Book 2)

by Robin Lyons

  “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.”

  Chapter 26

  Everyone seemed happier on Fridays. For twenty years, Mac never cared about weekends when he was in the air force. The military runs twenty-four hours, every day of the year, holidays included. Funny how quickly he’d dialed into the five-day work week.

  After lunch, Mac pulled the notes from all the BAT boxes. As he neared his office, he met Roni entering the school through the front glass doors.

  “Hey there. Whatcha doing?” she said.

  “Gathered up the tips. If you want to help read them meet me in my office after you put your things in your locker.”

  “Okay.”

  More and more tips and fewer idiotic items were deposited each week.

  He opened the spreadsheet on his computer to begin cataloging the tips.

  Roni knocked on the door before she opened it and walked into Mac’s office. She looked at the separated piles of papers on his desk. “Wow, you have a lot.”

  “A good week. We have thirty minutes until we’re needed out front so we should get busy. Let me know if you read anything of concern.”

  “Will do.”

  She imitated Mac’s movements of smoothing the wrinkles out for each of the papers before reading them.

  The first note Mac read said—Hank the custodian made me sweep my mess at lunch.

  The next two were in identical penmanship—Stu Collins is headed for trouble. Keep your eye on him. And —Kevin Jackson is an evil person. Female squarish cursive again. He put the note down and opened his desk drawer to retrieve the file with notes from last week.

  Roni looked at him. “Did you find something good?”

  “Last week, I received a tip about Kevin, too. I want to compare to this one.” He handed her the slips of paper he’d just read and flipped through the notes in the folder to locate what he was looking for.

  “The handwriting doesn’t look familiar to me. But it’s quite distinct, with the way she squares capital letters.”

  Mac set the two notes side-by-side on the desk.

  Roni leaned over to look at the comparison. “Looks like the same person to me,” she said.

  “I agree.”

  He made a mental note to watch some of the security videos to see if he could figure out who was leaving him the cautionary cryptic notes. With a week’s worth of time and many camera angles, it might be like searching for ‘the needle in a haystack.’

  “Let’s keep going. The clock’s ticking.” He returned the folder to its original place in the drawer.

  Another tip from the same female with perfect cursive made Mac freeze—Kevin and Stu were talking about the missing boy like they know he’s dead. He didn’t show Roni the tip. Instead, he quietly smoothed it out and set it aside.

  The next note was a joke from Teddy—What gets wetter the more it dries? Turn over for the answer—A towel. He drew a smiley face with a big grin. He passed the joke to Roni.

  He read his last note before they needed to get to the front of the school for dismissal—I hate wearing a uniform.

  “Did you see any important tips?” he asked Roni while they walked outside.

  “Not really. Do you know if there are any leads on the missing boy?”

  “Nope.”

  Once outside, Roni turned right to talk with a mother with whom she was friends.

  Mac watched the students filing out the school entrance. All seemed as eager as Mac to get their weekend started.

  The school became a ghost town in record time.

  Chapter 27

  At close to one o’clock on Saturday afternoon the doorbell chimed at the DeSalvo’s home.

  “I’ll get it. It’s Nico,” Rae yelled as she ran down the stairs from her second-floor bedroom.

  As anticipated, Nico stood on the front stoop several feet from the door.

  “Come inside. It’s so cold. I’m almost ready to go. Would you like to wait in the sitting room?”

  He stepped into the home. “I’m good. I’ll wait here.”

  She glanced at him before running up the stairs. He stood tall and straight with hands clasped together in front. Decked out in a black leather bomber jacket and black jeans with dark sunglasses made her giggle. She thought he looked like a secret service agent on a presidential detail.

  Stuffing her cell phone in the front pocket of her jeans, she took one last look in the mirror. As Rae started to leave her bedroom, she remembered the card.

  Descending the stairs, she heard Joss conversing with Nico about nothing important.

  “What movie do you think will win the Oscar for Best Picture?” Joss asked.

  “To be honest, Mrs. DeSalvo, I don’t pay much attention to Hollywood.”

  Joss turned. “Hello, dear. Are you ready to visit your friends?”

  “Yes. I won’t be gone long. A couple of hours.”

  “Do you have your cell phone?”

  “Yes.” She smiled at her foster mother and hugged her.

  Rae felt immensely grateful to the DeSalvo’s for inviting her to live with them. She wasn’t sure how she got lucky enough to be placed with them, but she sure wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize it.

  Smiling, she handed the greeting card to Nico. “Happy Birthday. It’s nothing special, I made it for you.”

  “Is it your birthday?” Joss squealed.

  Nico nodded. “Another year older.” He shrugged and then eyed Rae. “You remembered?”

  “You told me two days ago, silly. I wrote the date in my journal.” She grinned. Her cheeks blushed with slight embarrassment.

  He opened his card.

  She’d given the project great consideration when deciding what to draw and write. Green paper to represent grass—in which she thought was beautiful—money useful, and Nico has green eyes. With colored pens, she’d drawn balloons and gifts on the left side. Then wrote on the right side. “Happy birthday, Nico! On the inside, she wrote, “Today is your special day, I’m sorry you have to spend it driving me around. I hope you do something fun in the evening. Meeting you was a special day for me. You’re the best driver a girl could hope for. Hugs and kisses, Rae.”

  “Thank you, Rae. That’s very sweet.”

  A little embarrassed, she turned to Joss. “See you later.”

  The wind almost blew them off the front porch when they stepped outside. Tall evergreens around the circular driveway swayed back and forth. Rae and Nico ran to his car.

  He opened the front passenger door for her. She hopped into the front seat as she always did now.

  After dashing around the car, he slid into the driver’s side. He opened the center console and placed his birthday card inside.

  She flipped on the seat warmer and bumped up the temperature on her side up to ninety degrees.

  He gave her a side glance. “Are you cold?”

  “Yes, but I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

  “My birthday card was very thoughtful. Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome.

  She stared out the windshield at nothing in particular, her vision a gray blur. “My mom never forgot a birthday. It didn’t matter whose it was if she knew your birthday she remembered. She even gave a birthday card to the hygienist at the dentist office. I want to be like my mom. If I do the nice little things she did, I hope it will keep her in my mem ...” She swallowed hard. “Do you remember where Brandi lives?”

  “I do.”

  “Are you doing anything fun tonight to celebrate your birthday?”

  “Not really. I’ll have dinner with my mother.”

  A sharp pain to her heart kept her from asking more questions.

  “My mom and dad are divorced. Mom lives in Folsom. Dad lives in San Diego.”

  His chatter gave her time to regain her com
posure. “You’re thirty-seven, right?”

  “Geez. Don’t remind me.” He saw, in his peripheral vision, she had a smile on her face. He turned onto Brandi’s street. “What time do you want me to pick you girls up?”

  “Three’s good. I don’t want to stay too long. It’s kinda weird at Kevin’s house.”

  “Weird how?”

  “Feels sad there.”

  Nico nodded.

  He parked the car on the wide driveway.

  Rae unbuckled her seatbelt and said over her shoulder as she opened the passenger door, “You don’t have to get out.” She slammed the door and sprinted to the Welch’s front door.

  Brandi opened the door the moment Rae landed on the porch.

  She went inside. Brandi’s mom and dad always wanted to see with whom Brandi socialized. Rae understood.

  “What are you two going to do at Kevin’s?” her father asked.

  “Play video games and hang out.” Brandi patted his back. “It’ll be fine, dad.”

  “Rae, will Kevin’s aunt be there?”

  “Yes. If she isn’t, we’ll not stay. Nico, my driver, is a phone call away.”

  “Okay. What about Stu, he’ll be there, right?”

  “He’s supposed to be. But nobody else.” Rae could feel the concern oozing from Brandi’s father. “I won’t let anything happen to Brandi.”

  Brandi added, “And I won’t let anything happen to Rae.”

  Mr. Welch must have been comforted by the two declaring they’d watch out for each other. He gave Brandi a hug and told them to have fun.

  “Do you have your phone?” Brandi’s mom asked.

  “Yes, Mom.”

  Mr. Welch said, “I’m going to walk you out to the car. I’d like to meet your driver.”

  Not that long ago Rae would’ve had a fit if her mother or father were as overprotective as Brandi’s parents. Now she wished her mom and dad were here to smother her with love and concern.

  Rae and Brandi went to the back seat while Mr. Welch introduced himself to Nico. The girls were buckled in and ready to go.

  Rae heard Nico politely end the conversation. She leaned forward. “Do you remember where Kevin lives or have you forgotten in your old age?”

  Brandi looked at Rae with an expression that indicated she thought her remark rude.

  “It’s his birthday, I’m teasing him about his age.”

  Brandi smiled.

  Rae and Brandi chatted about favorite songs. Friends from school. Typical stuff teenage girls talked about. When they arrived at Kevin’s Nico walked them to the door.

  Kevin answered and stepped back to allow the girls to enter.

  Nico followed them inside. Kevin gave him an odd look.

  “I’d like to meet your aunt,” Nico said.

  Kevin looked at Rae. She shrugged.

  He turned and walked toward the rear of the house.

  Nico leaned into Brandi. “I promised your father I’d make sure the aunt was here.”

  She nodded.

  “Where do you kids hang out?”

  Brandi’s eyes got large, and she looked at Rae. Rae said, “In Kevin’s dungeon.”

  “His what?”

  Rae said, “After you meet his aunt, I’ll show you.”

  Nico seemed satisfied with her response.

  Nico, Brandi, and Rae waited in the foyer for Kevin to return with his aunt. They emerged from what looked like the kitchen area.

  After Nico was introduced to Aunt Jane, he said to Kevin, “Where’s Stu?”

  “In the game room.”

  Rae looked into the living room at the fireplace. “You locked him in down there?”

  “He was busy playing.” Kevin shrugged.

  “Come on.” Rae pulled Nico’s jacket.

  Kevin pushed on one of the stones in the fireplace surround, and it popped open to expose a keypad. The kind where you press your hand, and it reads your fingerprints. The entire fireplace box slid to the side leaving an opening with a trapdoor in the floor.

  Kevin led Rae, Brandi, and Nico down the stairs to his ‘dungeon.’

  They could hear Stu grunting and groaning as he played a video game. Sounds of rapid gunfire echoed off the cinder block walls.

  “Do you leave the trapdoor open when you kids are down here?” Nico raised his eyebrows.

  Rae shivered. “Yes. I wouldn’t stay down here if he tried to close it.”

  Nico pointed to the tripod. “What’s with the camera?”

  “Stu and I were playing around interviewing each other for the speaker club assignment.”

  “Well—turn it off,” Rae said.

  Kevin scowled at her. “It’s not on.”

  “Then why’s there a red light?”

  “Because it’s plugged in.”

  “Unplug it,” she snapped.

  Kevin grabbed the cord, gave it a yank and almost knocked the tripod over.

  Nico left after he peeked into the next room where Stu played the video game.

  Kevin said to Rae, “I can’t believe your driver insisted on coming down here. My aunt isn’t even allowed to. It’s my space.”

  Rae fanned her hand at Kevin. “That’s dumb.” She stopped herself from saying something about wishing she had caring parents. Kevin’s life wasn’t so great either.

  A tray with unopened cans of soda pop, bags of chips, and bags of candy sat on a table nearby.

  Stu said, “Shit,” tossed the game controller and joined the girls.

  “Do you guys want to smoke some weed?” Kevin asked.

  “NO.” Brandi and Rae said in unison.

  Stunned, Rae said, “Your aunt lets you smoke weed?”

  “No. Like I said, she’s not allowed down here.” Kevin smiled at her, his attraction to Rae obvious.

  They sat on big puffy pillows on the floor.

  “Have you guys put anything into the Marshal’s narc boxes?” Stu asked.

  “No. Have you?” Brandi said.

  “I put in a condom.” Stu laughed.

  “Gross.” Rae grimaced.

  “It was still in the package.”

  Rae turned to Kevin. “Have you put anything in one?”

  “Hell no. I wouldn’t offer any tips to help Mac. I can’t stand him.”

  Rae tilted her head. “Why do you dislike him so much?”

  “He ruined my family,” Kevin said bitterly. His eyes went dark and his expression menacing.

  The girls and Stu sat quietly for a moment.

  “Do you want some soda and chips?” Kevin tore open a bag of potato chips and popped the top on a soda pop can.

  Brandi declined the drink and the snacks. Rae did the same.

  The boys ate and drank and ignored the girls while they played a video game. Periodically Kevin encouraged the girls to eat chips and candy.

  Two hours went by fast. When the alarm on Rae’s phone sounded signaling it was close to three o’clock, she was a little disappointed.

  Kevin’s face fell. “Do you have to go?”

  “Yeah.” She liked that he looked disappointed.

  “Wait. We wanted to talk about the Winter Ball,” Stu blurted out. “Let’s all go together.”

  “As friends?” Rae said over her shoulder as they climbed the stairs from the playroom.

  Brandi looked at Rae. She raised her eyebrows and shoulders at the same time.

  “We have to ask our parents,” Rae responded for both.

  “Okay. Cool.”

  Rae peeked out the living room window and saw Nico’s SUV waiting in the driveway.

  Kevin opened the door for the girls, the wind pushing it into him.

  When the girls ran outside, a gust of wind blew them off course a pace or two. They laughed, pulled their coats tight against their chests. Their long hair blew in all directions.

  Nico waited at the rear door when they arrived.

  Before the car backed onto the street in front of Kevin’s home, Brandi said to Rae, “Oh. My. God. Kevin totall
y likes you.”

  “I kind of like him too but he’s got a mean streak I don’t like.”

  “If we go to the dance with them, I’m just a friend with Stu. Period.”

  “Poor Stu. He’s crushing on you bad.”

  Brandi rolled her eyes.

  Nico pulled his car into Brandi’s driveway. He told Rae he needed to speak with her parents and would be right back.

  The friends said goodbye and Rae found herself alone in the back seat. She climbed over the console and was seated in the passenger seat when Nico returned.

  “What’d you say to her parents?”

  “Her father asked me to verify Kevin’s aunt was home. I told them I met the aunt.”

  “Do you know why her parents are so paranoid?” She leaned forward and turned on the seat warmer.

  “Cuz they’re good parents?”

  “Well, that too.” She proceeded to tell Nico about Brandi’s sexual assault and hazy memory. What Brandi knew was based on her mother’s gynecologist’s examination results. She had been sexually violated and was no longer a virgin. Rae didn’t feel weird or squeamish telling Nico the details. He felt like a big brother to her.

  “Do they know who did it?”

  “No. Brandi told me they have someone helping them figure that out.”

  “You mean a private investigator?”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  “And then what?”

  “I guess they’ll tell the police. I don’t know.”

  “What’s this about you girls going to a ball with Kevin and Stu?”

  “You eavesdropped?” She smiled.

  “My car isn’t a limo with a partition between the front and rear.”

  “Brandi has to ask her parents. I’m pretty sure the DeSalvo’s will say it’s okay.”

  “Are you certain neither Kevin or Stu assaulted Brandi?”

  “No way.”

  “You use good judgment around them. If your gut questions anything they say or do, cut and run. And remember, I’m a phone call away.”

  “I don’t even know where you live.”

  “In town. I can be there fast.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She opened her door and started to get out, then leaned inside. “Have a nice birthday dinner with your mother.”

  He touched her arm to get her attention. “If you go to this ball, I’m driving you.”