by Geri Krotow
“Nika?”
“Sorry, Bryce.” She turned back to him. “Sure, I can do that. But we need more to go on than a hunch. I’ll try to find out what her friends know about her.” She turned back toward Mitch. “Have you known her for more than this year?”
“She’s been in my class since sophomore year. It worked out that I was teaching honors chemistry her sophomore year, and then I was promoted to instruct IB chemistry, a two-year course. Rachel, along with the other seniors you’ve met, has been in my class for IB chem since last year. She’s been in my classroom for three grades now, but these past few months she’s been squirrelly. She used to be more happy-go-lucky.”
“Do you think she’s doing drugs or alcohol?”
Mitch sighed. “I sure as hell hope not. But I know we can’t rule it out. There hasn’t been one class I’ve taught since I arrived here six years ago that hasn’t had at least one or two students take the wrong path. The honors kids aren’t immune to addiction any more than the rest of us.”
Bryce looked at Nika. He didn’t have to say anything; she understood the grim expression on his face.
“I’ve got it, Bryce.” She stood. “Mitch, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter 4
Nika waited for the sun to set and changed into her regular clothes. She laughed to herself—her usual taste in clothes was far less hip than what she was wearing as a student. As a high schooler she made sure she’d picked the brand names favored by teens, as well as the colors. Her normal look was jeans and either Tshirts, long-sleeved Tshirts or turtlenecks, depending upon the season, all in muted, more natural shades.
As long as she was working undercover at Silver Valley High School she had to be very careful about being seen too much in public in her regular adult clothes. She was fairly confident that her demeanor as a student didn’t come close to resembling how she looked in everyday life, but she didn’t want to take any chances.
The thing was that if any of the students discovered she was a cop, they’d assume she was there to bust a drug ring. Prescription painkillers were traded frequently in the high school. SVPD had discovered the sellers were using their earnings to buy heroin. There were other officers working that case, however.
Her mission was to help bring down the True Believers, aka New Thought. To do that, she had to find out which students and families were undermining the open, accepting atmosphere of SVHS. The threats against the Rainbows was typical of the kind of bigoted sentiment the True Believers had fostered decades ago as they’d recruited vulnerable citizens into their evil fold.
Nika considered it fortunate that she lived in a town-home neighborhood just outside the Silver Valley school district, so she had little chance of running into any of the teens in her neighborhood.
She made use of her automatic garage-door opener as she pulled her mother’s small SUV into the cleared space, grateful for the ease with which she was in her kitchen and eating dinner after her first full day as a “senior” in high school.
Her doorbell rang and she checked the peephole before she let in her best friend and neighbor, Ivy Shaw.
“Hey. I just sat down to eat. Want some leftover shepherd’s pie?”
Ivy’s dimples accented her scheming grin. “I wouldn’t want to look like I came by to eat and not spend time with you...”
“Get in here.” Nika walked back to the kitchen table and Ivy followed. “Help yourself. There’s Chardonnay in the fridge if you want it.”
Ivy looked at Nika’s glass of water. “Aren’t you having any?”
“Nope. I’m on a case and I have to be supersharp in the morning.”
“Anything you can talk about?”
“Nope.”
“Oo-oh, that means it’s a good one. Will I hear about it at some point?”
“I hope so, once we get the bastards.”
They both laughed. Nika appreciated that Ivy understood her need to keep a lot of her work at work until her cases were solved.
“How was work for you today, Ivy?”
“The usual. The little ones are so excited about the holidays. I have a display of all of our winter and holiday-themed books and the kids love sitting in the cozy corner and reading.” Ivy was the Silver Valley Elementary School librarian. “Of course, we had a few parents complain that we were being bigoted by including nontraditional Christmas and holiday stories, along with the more traditional, expected fare.”
“You can’t please everyone.”
“The fact is that we have such a diverse community and the kids are so much more accepting of the different cultural celebrations than the parents are.”
“Are there any parents in particular who have been giving you a hard time?” Nika tried to not look too obvious. She ignored the twinge of guilt that she was pumping her best friend for information that might lead to an arrest. Ivy would understand.
Ivy pulled her plate from the microwave and sat across from Nika. Her supercurly blond hair accentuated her sparkling blue eyes and she was pursing her lips the same way she did when she pondered the ins and outs of a romantic comedy.
“There is one mother who has been the most vocal this year. She stirred up some trouble last year when we acquired a children’s book about how boys and girls could have the same jobs. She came into the library yesterday again, all fired up. Her youngest is in second grade, and she has a daughter who’s a high school senior. I had her when she was little, too.
“The family was normal then, and Megan used to volunteer in the library, stacking books. She was fun to be around, always joking. I couldn’t believe she was the same woman who stomped in yesterday, wearing a drudge dress down to her ankles. It was as if she’s completely let herself go. Her hair is long and straggly, and she acted like she was on drugs or something. It was scary.”
“What was her chief complaint?”
“That we had taken the real meaning out of the story of Christmas. That we were unaccepting of people who lived a true belief.”
True belief. True Believers!
“What did you say her last name was, Ivy?”
“I didn’t. It’s Donovan, Megan Donovan. Why?”
Donovan. Could this be Amy Donovan’s mother?
“Just wondering.”
“Sure you are.”
Ivy grinned but knew not to ask for more. She respected Nika’s work and knew Nika would share what she could when she could.
Nika sipped her water. “Ivy, for once I wish I could tell you about my job while it’s happening. Please know you may have just helped me work out something that otherwise would have gone unnoticed until it’s too late.”
“Are you sure you’re not in any danger with your current case? I mean, I know you’re in danger all the time. But are you doing something more scary than usual? Whatever Megan Donovan is involved with, it’s pretty frightening to make her go from a gal you and I would hang with, to some kind of religious wing nut.”
Nika grinned. “I love the scary, and no, this isn’t that interesting in terms of dangerous. Although, nowadays we have to be prepared for everything to turn dangerous, right?”
“Yes.” Ivy sighed. “It used to be a lot simpler when I started teaching.” She ate some more. “These plates are so cute. I love snowmen.”
“I can’t help myself at Christmastime.” She’d set the table with snowman placemats and a snowman lamp glowed from the far kitchen counter.
“It’s always so festive at your place. I love it. But, more importantly, what’s with the big grin, Nika? Is there a handsome man involved in this secret case of yours who you haven’t mentioned? Another guy you’re going to love and leave?”
“Maybe. But he’s way too high maintenance—he’s brilliant, hot and probably has his share of women kissing his feet. And why would he go out with someone he had to see at work the next day? Besides, you know what happened the last time I got involved with someone I was also working with.”
“You can’t judge them all by one st
ate trooper, Nika.” Ivy’s expression bordered on pity and Nika cringed.
“It’s not the job. It’s the kind of guy. I don’t need another alpha type in my life. I’m alpha enough!”
They both laughed and clinked their glasses.
*
The next day Nika made it a point to sit with several of the chemistry gang at lunchtime.
“Why are you coming to school if you don’t have to?” Neel ate his sandwich as he asked her, his mouth full of wheat bread and lettuce. Nika hadn’t missed the lack of manners with teenagers in her adult life.
“Yeah, if I were you, I’d stay home and goof off for the year. Or at least get a fun job until college starts next fall.” Jeffrey spoke over a pile of nachos he’d topped with jalapeños.
The girls from the class stared at her, waiting for her to dish.
“First off, where I went to school before wasn’t as competitive as here. We didn’t have IB classes, and Mr. Everlock’s letting me get caught up to where you are from last year. Besides.” She did the shrug she’d practiced countless times for a moment just like this. “I, um, get lonely. I’m not a gamer and I’m not much into TV. Plus, my parents would kill me if I didn’t come to school. They think there’s always more to learn.” Nika rolled her eyes and the girls laughed. Phew!
“They’re right. There always is more.” Ted, a tall, gangly boy with oily skin, pushed his glasses up his impossibly long nose. “They say that once we’re in college we’re going to realize how stupid we are.” Nika watched the young man as he sat straighter and a slight blush ran up his neck and cheeks. “I think you’re smart to keep coming to school.”
“Dude, can you be any more obvious?” Donald Mather, the only student in the class who knew where he was going to college already thanks to early decision, slapped Ted on the back. He leaned in toward Nika. “What Ted’s trying to say is that he wants to take you to the Silver Bells Ball. You know, he wants to ring your bell.” The boys hooted and hollered while the girls at the table groaned. Ted turned several shades of coral.
Shit. She hadn’t thought about the ramifications of looking the part of a student so well.
“This is kind of embarrassing, but where I was before, in Iowa, I went to all of our dances with a group of friends. My parents won’t let me single date yet. They’re old-fashioned.” Geez, she wanted to roll her eyes again, but at herself. As if being a teenager once in a lifetime wasn’t enough, she felt confused and unsure of her next step, just like she had ten years ago when she’d really been a senior. “Why don’t we all go as a group? I mean, unless you all already have dates. Or is that how they do it here? Everyone has to have a date?”
Their response was immediate and positive. The girls blushed with excitement and the guys looked like they wanted to cheer at the suggestion.
“We’d rather go as a group. It’s too intense when everyone pairs up. And this way we don’t have to go matchy-matchy.” Gabi spoke up. “It’s such a pain in the ass to find the right color cummerbund to match a dress. Besides, we all wear black, right?”
“Yeah, who wants to get matching flowers?” Nika hoped she sounded logical.
“But we can still have wrist corsages and boutonnieres, right?” Rachel spoke quietly. “I like flowers.”
Nika cleared her throat. “There’s a great florist over on Main Street.” The conversation stopped and the table grew very, very quiet as all eyes went to Nika.
Oh, boy.
She shrugged again, hoping she wasn’t overplaying her signature teenager move. “My mother had to order flowers for a friend and we went into this shop. It’s cool, kind of retro.” Nika made a mental note to tell Rio to let his girlfriend and town florist, Kayla, know that Nika was the one responsible for an influx of last-minute dance orders.
At least she’d managed to get out of taking an underage boy to the dance. That’s all she needed to report back to Bryce and Chief Todd.
Which brought her back to the legal but most inappropriate candidate for a relationship. The man she couldn’t stop thinking about.
Mitch Everlock.
*
The following Monday, Nika decided to touch base with Mitch. They weren’t officially working this case together as he wasn’t in law enforcement. But she wanted him to know that she hadn’t discounted him as a valuable resource in solving the case. It would take everyone they had to bring the Rainbow Hater down, especially if he turned out to be linked to the cult.
“That smells wonderful.” Nika sniffed the delectable aroma of Mitch’s coffee as she spoke with him in his small office in an annex off the lab. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m stopping by. It’s important to me that we connect.”
“I don’t disagree with that. And you’re welcome to some.” His eyes sparkled with interest as he nodded at the coffee. “I don’t picture you as the black-coffee type.”
“I am, but I do enjoy some real cream in it, too. I’d better not. I doubt a lot of students drink it that way. All I’ve seen them drink are very fancy, expensive lattes and other sugar concoctions.”
“You’re right, although I’ve had an odd one here or there who joined me in a mug of black. Go ahead, have some. We have a good half hour before any students show up.” He leaned back in his chair and Nika absorbed the sight. Button-down shirt, khaki slacks and upscale comfortable shoes. She helped herself as directed.
“Thanks for not kicking me out of here this morning. I do need some extra help with my homework.” They’d agreed that their “cover” whenever they had to get together to discuss the case would be that Nika needed some extra assignments, and perhaps some guidance as to where she should apply for college since she wanted to stay in Pennsylvania.
“What’s up?”
“First, I want to apologize for assuming you didn’t know what you were doing when the rock came through the window. You obviously have extensive training for dangerous situations.”
“I do. But so do you, Nika. You would have been fine if I hadn’t been around.”
“But you were there, and you saved me from what could have been several nasty cuts or bruises.” Maybe even a concussion.
“Apology accepted.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Nika, I owe you an apology, too. I assumed you weren’t going to be able to pull this off. To me, you look like a grown woman, in the best way. But the students seem to have taken to you. They accept you as one of them.”
“Have any of them said anything to you?” Her gut tightened. From concern over how well her undercover disguise was working, not any reaction to Mitch’s compliment. She had to succeed at this op.
“Only Rachel.” He lowered his voice. “She hasn’t come in to see me outside of class since she started behaving differently. But she stopped by after class last week and said she’s not sure having you in class is a good idea.”
“Did she say why?”
“Only something vague about letting in new students who didn’t even need the class. Said her mother had the concern, not her. But since then, I’ve noticed she’s spending more time with you in and after class. Is this true?”
Nika nodded. “Have you met her parents?”
“Yes, last year at open house, but I barely remember them. Since Rachel’s always been a good student, there was no need to see them since. They didn’t come in this year, though.” He looked thoughtful.
“What are you thinking, Mitch?”
“I could be way off, but I’ve had students here and there who are from very strict families, who aren’t allowed to be real teenagers. I worry most about them, actually. Because no matter how well they do academically, there are certain rites of passage that need to happen in high school to help the kids go on to survive in college, or wherever they go next.”
“And you think Rachel’s from one of these families?”
“Hard to tell. She has older siblings, but they’re in college or living away. It’s just her and her parents, as far as I know.”
“Do yo
u have any reason to think she’s in danger?”
“No, but if her family’s fallen in with that crazy cult, it would explain her sudden lack of enthusiasm about schoolwork and extracurriculars. She used to be a more active part of the Rainbows but hasn’t participated much since the end of last semester, last spring.”
“What cult are you talking about?” Nika thought that while the general public might know a bit about the former True Believers Cult members showing up in Silver Valley, the SVPD was working closely with the media to make sure the most important details of the case against the True Believers were kept out of the spotlight.
Was Mitch blushing? Not for the first time she had to wonder if he was only a chemistry teacher.
“The one that they think might have been partially responsible for the church fire last Christmas, and the huge takedown that happened at Mayor Charbonneau’s daughter’s wedding.” He looked directly at her as he spoke.
He was telling her the truth, per se, but her gut never proved incorrect. Mitch knew more than he was telling.
She’d let it go, for now.
“Yes, well, that’s a scary thought. That a girl you knew as a bright, confident student is suddenly under the thumb of controlling parents, who might be connected to a dangerous group. Do we know if her parents have actually had contact with the cult?” She didn’t want to reveal anything she knew to Mitch. Not yet. Even with his military background, he was still a civilian and didn’t need to know everything.
“Again, no. I have no idea about her family.”
He leaned back and touched the holiday lights strung around his desk. “Tell me something, Nika. I appreciate that you’re dedicated to your job, and that you no doubt always get your man. But you seem really, really intense about this. As if it’s personal. Is there something you haven’t told me about this case? Have you been affected by this group of wackos?”
She shook her head. “No, no. It’s not that.” She looked into her coffee before she faced him squarely. “The deal is that I’m first-generation Polish American. My mother and father came over right after the Berlin Wall came down. They had nothing, just the clothes on their backs. They were political refugees. They’d fought against tyrants and an oppressive system that essentially brainwashed its citizens to believe its lies. Granted, the True Believers Cult is much smaller, but if we can save one child, one family, from suffering, and help get those bastards, it’s worth it, right?”
