The Return of the Man in Blue (The Claudia Belle Series Book 4)

by C. S Luis

“How about it?” Mr. Slater asked, grinning big.

  I backed away. “I’ll take a rain check,” I simply said, surprising myself and most certainly surprising Mr. Slater who obviously wanted to ask why, but instead, said nothing; maybe because of Michael’s presence. I wasn’t sure.

  “I have too much homework, so maybe tomorrow,” I said very quickly, and I started walking away and then stopped to turn back.

  Mr. Slater was still looking over at me with the same confused and disappointed expression on his face. He wanted to ask; in fact, he looked right at me and gave me a questioning look. I knew he wanted to see me alone. I dreaded such a thing. After the dream, I just couldn’t stop thinking about him like that. It just made me a bit uncomfortable that I thought such childless things like that about him; if he knew, he would think I was such a foolish girl. I had to try to forget the dream and gather myself, enough so that I could be around him without feeling like such a fool.

  “What is it, Claudia? Did you have something else on your mind?” Michael asked.

  “Are you expecting the superintendent?” I suddenly asked Michael; almost immediately, I noticed Mr. Slater’s eyes blink in alert.

  “Why do you ask, honey?” Michael asked. Mr. Slater gazed at me; the expression on his face was one of sudden interest and worry.

  “Well, this might not mean anything. I just thought so, since I saw him in a black SUV driving down our neighborhood.”

  Michael smiled back at me. Mr. Slater, on the other hand, wanted to ask me another question but didn’t open his mouth to speak. He looked slightly troubled.

  “Well, I’m not expecting him that I know of. He must live in the same neighborhood, sweetheart. Maybe he recognized you,” Michael merely offered, and I nodded and Michael turned his attention to the documents on his desk.

  Mr. Slater appeared distracted as I now walked out the door and into the interior office. I opened the office door and headed towards my class. I wondered if I was right in thinking that the call Mr. Slater had received was from those people and that he was going to soon leave me. But why did he look concerned when I had mentioned the superintendent? Maybe he was afraid of it getting out that he was back.

  Right, he’s hiding, Claudia.

  Okay, well that could be one thing. Didn’t the district know he had changed positions? I was probably getting paranoid, but I just couldn’t help it.

  And why had I declined Mr. Slater’s lunch offer? God, what the hell was wrong with me? In class, as Ms. Witherson went on about our last assignment, there was a knock at the door. I looked out the window, wondering more and more about the superintendent when I heard a few people talking.

  Mr. Slater? I nearly bit my lip as he saw me at the back of the classroom, looking back at him for a moment; it felt like we were the only two there, staring back at one another. He folded that lip into a gorgeous smile. Was he here for me? But I soon realized that he wasn’t; he was actually there to evaluate Ms. Witherson, and she looked confident as he walked to the back of the classroom where I sat and stood over me, merely motioning to the desk beside me.

  “May I?” He asked.

  I didn’t say anything as he took the seat next to me. I don’t think he expected me to. I tried to concentrate on the lesson that Ms. Witherson suddenly seemed to focus on. I guess she was putting on her own act for her evaluation.

  “Okay, what did I do?” I heard Mr. Slater suddenly say. I glanced over at him, wondering why he was paying attention to me instead of the teacher. But he didn’t seem interested at all in the lesson.

  “What?” I asked as he tried looking towards the front of the class at the teacher.

  “I did something. I know it. Didn’t I?” He again asked, writing something on the clipboard he was carrying.

  “Tell me what I did,” he whispered.

  “Mr. Slater,” I started to say. “You didn’t do anything.”

  But he gazed back at me doubtfully, and almost hurt, I didn’t want to tell him the truth.

  “Then why won’t you go to lunch with me?” He stopped looking towards the front of the class, realizing how it sounded.

  “Why won’t you come to lunch with us?” He corrected himself.

  I blinked. “I have homework. I’m sorry…”

  Was he really doing this? I mean, really? He sounded like a jealous, overworked teenage boy.

  He glanced over at me. “Claudia, you know you’re not a very good liar,” he said, which, of course, I knew already. I started writing something, whatever Ms. Witherson was writing on the board.

  “Did something happen?” He questioned, and I glanced over at him as he looked at me.

  “You can tell me?”

  “Nothing happened. Why do you think anything happened?” I asked, breaking the lead on my pencil. He looked right at me, and I tried not to let him see my hands were shaking. He handed me an extra pencil that he was carrying.

  “Thanks,” I whispered; one or two students bravely looked back at us, but most people pretended he wasn’t even there.

  “Did the superintendent say anything to you?” I glanced over at him.

  He looked serious, waiting to hear what I would say with a certain regret or fear.

  “He’s not the superintendent, is he?” I said to him, and he blinked as I looked away.

  He quickly stood up. “Let’s go,” he instructed me as I confusedly looked up at him, unsure of what was going on or what he was doing. He then pulled me up and led me out of the classroom. Everyone looked surprise; they thought I was in trouble.

  It sure looked that way, especially with Mr. Slater holding my arm and pulling me beside him towards the door. The other students began to whisper to one another, and some boys made stupid booing noises and had the nerve to say busted out loud. Did I really need any more embarrassment?

  Mr. Slater winked over at Ms. Witherson as we exited her classroom and stepped into the hallway; he led me away from the doorway and into the end of the hall. We stopped by the windows, looking into the back courtyard of the school where the halls were empty.

  We stood there for a moment in silence, staring at one another like two long lost friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time and were now reunited.

  “What did he say to you?”

  “Who?” I stubbornly answered.

  “Claudia, don’t play games with me,” he snapped. God, he was demanding when he wanted to be. He didn’t mean to scare me; he just wanted answers; he just wanted me to stop pretending I didn’t know what he was talking about.

  “He didn’t say anything.” I said to him, and he doubtfully looked over at me.

  15

  John Slater

  “Who is he?” She asked me. I couldn’t answer. I didn’t want to because I feared any more I revealed would or could put her in further danger.

  “A bad man,” I said. “That’s all you need to know.”

  “Are you leaving now?” She asked me. I gazed at her and merely walked over and tightly held her. “No, I’m not going anywhere,” I lied.

  “What about the man?” She asked, and I smiled over at her as I pulled away and lifted her chin.

  “Forget about him. Everything is going to be okay,” I said, and she looked reassured.

  “Now why are you mad at me?” I asked her, recalling her bashful reactions towards me back in Michael’s office. Claudia looked down.

  “I’m not mad at you,” she softly said, looking back up. “I just had a bad dream,” Claudia whispered, embarrassed to speak of it.

  “It was just a dream,” I said to her, knowing that whatever had frightened her had made her avoid me.

  “It’s only a dream; it’s not real,” I repeated. “Okay?”

  She looked up at me and nodded. I smiled at her.

  I walked her to her next class, and she appeared much more comfortable than before; the bell rang over our heads, and she looked back at me and disappeared into the classroom. Even after the door was closed, I watched her from outs
ide, opening her workbook with the rest of the students. She found my figure standing outside looking, and I waved and then moved away from the door. The halls were now empty. I took the cell phone from my pocket, moving out into the balcony that led to the courtyard outside to be alone.

  I dialed the number and pressed the phone to my ear; the phone clicked as someone picked it up, and at once, I said, “How dare you! I said no one touches the girl.” I growled at the person at the other end.

  “Why were you following her?” I angrily asked.

  There was silence, and then a voice very calmly began to speak.

  “Ah, I see,” he began. “I merely wanted another look.” His response was disturbing to say the least.

  “Stay the fuck away from her! I’ve already told you, she knows nothing,” I again said.

  “I will determine that. Don’t forget, you still work for me.” there was a pause as it seemed he might have been occupied with something else.

  “But do not concern yourself, I have no use for a simple girl.”

  I could sense what he wanted. His impatience was obvious, and his words were indirectly punishing me because I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing. He wanted the minder; he wanted me on the other assignment right away. And I knew what I had to do. I couldn’t let this go on any further. I knew what he was capable of.

  “I’m done here. I’m coming home,” I suddenly said into the phone.

  “So soon?” There was a satisfaction in the tone of his voice.

  “Your impatience has left me no choice, sir.”

  And I hung up.

  I finished the remaining evaluations by the end of the day; there were not many, of course. Michael didn’t want to overwhelm me, not that he would have. I came into my office. I planned to leave that evening. I planned to leave Claudia a note and just simply not return the next day. It was something I had been thinking of for most of the day. And as much as I didn’t want to do it, I had no choice now. This thing with Bryce was getting out of hand, and I feared what he would do if he didn’t get what he wanted. But when I stepped into the interior, I spotted Michael.

  “Michael?” He looked back from the entrance of my office.

  “Ah, John, just the man I was looking for,” Michael said, and I looked around for Claudia, wondering where she was, and it was closing time. He noticed the expression on my face.

  “She’s getting something from my office for me. I need to ask you something before Claudia returns.”

  Michael pulled me into the office with him and began to whisper, “Claudia wants to plan a birthday party for you.” I was astonished and surprised.

  “She’s been wanting to do this since our dinner.” I blinked over at him.

  “I know, I know. You’re probably not one for birthdays, and yes, your birthday falls on the week we’ll be out so she wants to throw a party for you tomorrow. I just wanted to give you the heads up to make sure you didn’t have any plans already. Since it’s the holidays, I thought we could do something right after school once the students have cleared the building. It will be fairly empty; a lot of activities are not currently active because of the holidays. So it would be a perfect time for a small celebration.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I was speechless. She wanted to throw me a birthday party?

  Michael gazed at me. “So, do you have plans?” He asked.

  “No, no!” I immediately spoke up. “I’m just taken aback that she would do that for me. I don’t know what to say.” I blushed like a little boy.

  He smiled. “Well, she’s our Claudia; she’s so saddened by the fact you’ve never had a birthday party.”

  I think I wanted to cry, but of course, I didn’t, but God I wanted to. The Man in White used to bring me something on the same day every year, and at first I was too young to know what it meant or to consider it.

  Then I realized it, and he came in one evening to give me my pills, he presented me with a box decorated in lovely Japanese characters. Inside was a desert eagle gun with black characters.

  “It’s the symbol of power, the universal life energy,” he said regarding the characters. “You like it?” He asked me, putting a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve earned it rightfully,” he said. I had made him proud in the shooting range. I assumed it was a reward for that, but then it was clear it was for my birthday.

  “Is it my birthday?” I asked him, and he merely smiled. “You give me something on the same date of every year, so I’m assuming it’s my birthday,” I firmly said.

  I still had the Desert Eagle; it was one of the best gifts I’d ever received.

  But I had never had a birthday party, an actual birthday party. I blinked, realizing my descent into the past. It was strange that I had been reflecting back more to it now than most of my life.

  “John?” Michael’s voice broke through my memories, memories that up until now seemed unpleasant.

  “Don’t let on that you know anything, okay?” He said.

  He walked over to the door of the office. I followed him, and he stopped again, taking something from out his pocket.

  “Oh, by the way, here. Claudia wanted me to give you this,” Michael said, handing me a slip of paper he had taken from his pocket.

  “What is it?” I asked as I took it from his hand, and I realized it was a check made out to me for a thousand dollars.

  “What's this for?” I asked, glaring at the check in my hand almost in disgust.

  “For everything you’ve done. Taking Claudia shopping, the dinners, and any other expenses,” he said.

  “She asked me to write it out to you. She wanted you to have it,” he said once more.

  I bit my lip hard. Why did she keep refusing my gestures? She was my responsibility; I wanted to do those things for her.

  “No,” I firmly said and shook my head. “I can't take this. I just can’t accept this.”

  “John…” Michael began, but I interrupted almost angrily. I had to lower my voice, realizing I was losing it. I wouldn’t take money from a lady.

  “No,” I again said, trying to hand him back the check. Michael refused to take it back.

  “Please,” he pleaded. “She feels bad that you’re having to pay for her every time. She thinks it’s unnecessary since she’s inherited a large fortune,” Michael said.

  “That’s not the point, sir. I…” I began to say as Claudia entered, and we could say nothing else. She curiously walked into the interior of the office, looking over at both of us as we froze up.

  “Is everything okay?” She asked.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d planned for me. Nor the fact that she had tried to have Michael shove this check in my face. I knew she meant well, but she was defining me in a way by trying to pay me back. It was like an insult to John Slater’s enlarged ego.

  I tried to forget the check still in my hand, shoving it into my pocket before she saw it. I now thought about the birthday party she was planning for me. I felt like a little boy again, but this time, instead of a visit from The Man in White, I was going to have a party, a real party, like a real person.

  Michael elbowed me when I didn’t say anything and just stood there with a wide grin.

  “Everything is fine. Why do you ask, my dear? Did you find the folder?” Michael said, trying to change the subject.

  “Yes,” Claudia politely said, handing it over to him.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Michael glanced over at me as he motioned Claudia to the door. I had definitely been too quiet, and it was starting to look like something was up.

  “So, any plans tomorrow, Miss Belle?” She curiously blinked over at me. “For lunch? Remember you gave me a rain check. We are having lunch together, right?”

  Claudia smiled this time and said, “Yes of course, Mr. Slater.” And then she walked out the door ahead of us, and Michael glared at me. I just shrugged my shoulders back.

  We stepped out into the hallway and walked down the long hall leading into
the parking lot. I couldn’t stop thinking about what she was planning for me. The smile on my face remained every time she looked back at me, and every time I looked back over at Michael, he was starting to frown slightly.

  It was only then that I realized I couldn’t just leave now. No I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t, at least not yet.

  We walked over to the cars. My car was parked right alongside Michael’s at the designated assistant principal parking spot that Claudia had indicated. Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez’s spaces were already empty. They had left for the day; did those guys ever stay longer?

  I glanced over at Claudia, and she glanced back at me. We seemed to do that often, finding each other’s eyes looking back at one another. You’d think we had a secret relationship no one knew about. I blushed while considering that.

  The Man in Blue doesn’t blush; you’re doing that more often, John. What hold does this girl have on you?

  I don’t know, but its scaring me.

  “Don’t forget you and I have lunch tomorrow, Miss Belle,” I said, pointing a finger back at her and winking.

  “No more rain checks, or I’ll come looking for you. I know all your classes,” I jokingly said, and she blushed and started laughing. I opened the door to Michael’s car for her; she climbed in as I poked my head into the vehicle and at Michael who was now seated in the driver’s seat.

  “So, how are you liking the job so far?” He asked me before I could say anything.

  I smiled. I could do this; it wasn’t as hard as what I was used to. But I think I was ready to settle down. I gazed at Claudia. With time, I could of course settle down.

  John, keep dreaming; you’re a killer.

  “It’s different, I’ll say,” I started to speak, looking at him past Claudia who was looking at her lap. God, she was so shy, especially around me.

  “But I like it,” I again said as Claudia suddenly looked at me. I think she was happy hearing me say that.

  “I can get used to this…with the right company of friends,” I added, again looking over at Claudia who seemed very pleased but bashful.

  “I hope I’m not overwhelming you with too much,” Michael asked, turning on the car.