Undercover Justice (20 page)

“I had a great time. The movie was good,” she answered sending Kent a smile over her shoulder. He was following right behind us. “How was your night? Did Jed take you right home?” she asked, giving me a look that clearly asked if anything good had happened after they left. She was trying to be discreet, because we both knew Kent was listening closely for my answer.

I returned her look with a small nod that told her I had something to share later and said, “We dropped off Ollie and then Jed took me to watch one of his horses have a beautiful black little colt. He was so small. You should have seen it. It was so wonderful. Then he took me home.”

“How special! It must have been so exciting. I have never seen a horse give birth.”

“There’s Ollie,” Kent interrupted. “Hurry, let’s get seats by him and save a seat for Jed. He should be here soon.”

“How do you know?” I asked, as we headed over to where Ollie sat.

“Jed sent me a message this morning saying he had something to tell us.”

“Oh,” I said, a little disappointed that Jed had sent Kent a message, but not me. I tried not to let it show as I smiled at Gabby across the room, who was sitting near her boyfriend Chris.

We took our seats by Ollie. “Hey, Ollie,” Charlotte said greeting him.

Kent set his bag in an empty seat next to his, which was behind mine, saving it for Jed.

Luckily, today was a group day to work on our projects. We would be able to talk without drawing attention to ourselves.

“Ok, class. Can I have your attention for a few minutes before you break into your groups?” Ms. Morley said from the front of the room. “I would like an outline turned in by this Friday. I will be around to each group to watch you talk out your project and note how you are interacting as a group. Part of your grade will be on your participation.”

Collective groaning sounded around the room.

“The Mayor sent his appreciation over how well you all behaved last week on the field trip. I am very proud to report that he welcomes you all anytime,” Ms. Morley continued. “However, the group doing their report on the Mayor’s…Mr. Greyson, how kind of you to join us, late again,” she interrupted, as Jed walked through the door.

“I apologize for being late, Ms. Morley,” Jed said politely as he handed her his late slip.

Taking the slip, she said, “As I was saying, the group reporting on the Mayor’s office, please have a representative report to my desk as soon as we break into our groups.”

Jed walked over to the empty seat and whispered “Thanks,” to Kent as Kent moved his bags for Jed to sit down.

“Hi,” Jed whispered in my ear, leaning forward to run his hand down my arm.

I sent him a smile, as I tried to control the shiver that ran down my arm at his touch.

“Please move your desks into a group, you have the rest of the hour to work on your outlines,” Ms. Morley said.

We moved our desks into a group, and then I volunteered to go see what Ms. Morley needed with our group. “I’ll go, I don’t think Ms. Morley likes you very much, Jed,” I teased, getting up.

“I can live with that. “ He said quietly catching my eye. “As long as you do.”

I do, I thought, I really do. At first I wasn’t so sure about Jed, but the more I get to know him, the more I like.

I smiled at him as I headed up to the front.

“Yes, Ms. Morley? You wanted to see someone from our group?” I asked politely.

“Yes, Miss. Barton. The Mayor would like to speak with your group again regarding the interview you conducted. He did not seem pleased. I am very disappointed in how your group handled things. Mayor Greenly is a very important part of our community. I would appreciate it if you, or someone from your group could contact his office today and set up an appointment. That is all,” she said, dismissing me.

I stood there for a second with my mouth hanging open in shock. Quickly turning, I headed back to my desk.

“What did she say?” Kent asked, taking in my expression.

I told them what she had said, my face red from embarrassment.

“It’s not your fault, Nora,” Charlotte said kindly.

“No it’s not,” Jed said forcefully. “I was there also. In fact, I did most of the talking. If anyone is to blame, it is me. Don’t feel bad.”

“Jed’s right. Don’t worry about it,” Kent said, “At this point, who cares about the project anyway.”

“Hey! I do,” Ollie said indignantly.

“Let me rephrase that. I meant it is hard to worry about the project when we have bigger problems right now,” Kent explained.

“I’ll give the Mayor’s office a call today after school,” Charlotte offered. “I don’t mind going back to talk to Mayor Greenly.”

“Thanks, Charlotte,” Jed said warmly, giving her a smile. “There are a few things that I would like to ask the Mayor. So I plan on going to hear what he has to say. Actually, that’s what I want to talk to you all about.”

As Jed lowered his voice, we all leaned forward to hear what he had to say. “Last night, a friend and I discovered a list of students who graduated from Pine Hill. There was also another list mentioned. It was a list of all the Pine Hill C.C. graduates. Not every year had one. I think it stands for Country Club. Have either of you heard of it, Nora or Kent?”

I shook my head. I had never heard of such a thing. I looked over at Kent to see his reaction. To my surprise, I saw him nodding.

“You have?” I asked. “Where?”

“I remember a few years ago when Mayor Greenly was sworn in as Mayor. Dad made a sarcastic remark to Mother about it. He said it was because the mayor was a Pine Hill C.C. graduate. He said it using quotation marks with his fingers. I wasn’t paying much attention at the time, so I can’t tell you much more than that. All I know is that Mom asked him what he meant by that, and Dad said, “It’s nothing, just a little joke that went around school.”

“Is it possible for us to talk to your dad tonight, after dinner sometime?” Jed asked us.

“I’ll have to check with him when we get home. Sometimes he works late at the office,” I told Jed.

“Ok,” Jed said nodding. “Ollie? Have you heard anyone else talk about going to a secret meeting or anyone selling any papers to make money?”

“No. Only Mark, but I will ask around. If anyone would know anything, it would probably be the guys in the science club.”

“He’s right,” Charlotte said. “If you wanted to buy term papers who better to buy from than some of the smartest kids in the school.”

“Good idea Ollie,” Jed told him, “Someone has to know something, there has to be someone here on the inside. Who posted that flyer? We need to find some answers and quick. Time is running out for those other missing boys.”

“Maybe dad will know something about the list,” Kent said, looking around the room. “We better do something on our project. Here comes Ms. Morley.”

We all hurriedly scrambled to get out our notes and look like we were working. In the process, Charlotte accidently knocked my notebook that contained all my notes and copies of evidence we had gathered for the case, onto the floor. Dismayed we looked at each other and froze. It contained, the symbol, my threatening letter and the scrap of paper I pulled out of the filing cabinet, as well as a picture of the lanyard from the Country Club president’s office.

The notebook fell between me and Jed, the picture falling out. Looking down, we both lunged for the copies that had fallen out before anyone saw them.

Unfortunately, Ms. Morley approached our group at that moment. Jed was quick to scoop up the notebook, but she had to have seen something. I looked up quickly at her face to see if she was looking that way. Of course she was. A look of surprise crossed her face for a split second before disappearing. “That doesn’t look like it pertains to your project. I am going to have to ask that you hand it over. Class time is not the time to be discussing other matters. I gave your group project time, not free time, Miss Barton. Mr. Greyson, I assume you have something to do with this also. Both of you see me after class. Now get to work.”

“Yes, Ms. Morley,” I mumbled politely.

“I am so sorry!” Charlotte whispered, when Ms. Morley was out of earshot.

“Don’t worry about it, it’ll be fine.” Jed told her.

“I don’t understand. Ms. Morley has always been so nice to me. She is one of my favorite teachers. I wonder why she doesn’t seem to like me anymore,” I said to the group.

“It’s probably just end of the year stress,” Charlotte offered. “I am sure it is getting hard to contain everyone, now that the weather is getting nicer, and the end of the year is right around the corner.”

“I am sure that’s it,” Kent agreed patting my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, sis.”

“Ok. Here’s our outline,” Ollie said leaning forward. He had been quietly bent over his desk working, furiously writing something. He looked up with an eager expression on his face. He struck me as being so young just then. I know he was fifteen, only a few years younger than the rest of us, but his eager to please face, made me smile inside.

Looking it over, I had to admit that it was excellent. Ollie really was a smart kid. “This is great Ollie,” I said. “Why don’t I type this up since you did all the work again?”

“Thanks, Nora,” he said gratefully. Lately he had been following me around with a look of admiration on his face, ever since Charlotte and I had rescued him from the mill. I don’t think it was because he had a crush on me or anything, it was more like a little brother thing.

“What does Ms. Morley have against you Jed? She seems to always think the worst about you,” I asked Jed, touching his sleeve.

Turning his hand over, he took my hand, “I think she found out about my juvie record, and decided I was a no good dropout, not worth her time,” I saw Kent smile behind his hand. What was with that? It wasn’t funny. That was awful and mean. “Kent!” I said giving him a kick under the desk. “That is not something to laugh about.”

“Your right, Nora,” Kent struggled to say with a straight face, “That’s awful Jed.”

Rolling his eyes at Kent, Jed said, “Thanks, I’m glad I have your support, Barton.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The bell rang. I gathered up my stuff slowly, trying to put off walking up to Ms. Morley’s desk to get my notebook.

“I’ll talk to you later Oll,” Jed told him, putting his hand casually on my waist as we walked up there. Just having it there gave me courage. What was it about Jed that made me feel so alive?

“I am sorry for not working on my project, Ms. Morley?” I said, right away as soon as she looked up. “We already have our outline finished. It will be ready to turn in on Friday.”

“I am glad to hear that Miss Barton,” she said a bit more calmly now. She didn’t look as upset. In fact she gave me a smile.

“Is something wrong Ms. Morley? You don’t seem like yourself lately?” I asked trying to be polite. Besides, I was concerned about her. She always seemed so happy.

“Thank you dear, but I am doing much better now. I just got a message back from a friend and everything I was worrying about is going to be taken care of.”

“I am so glad to hear that,” I said sincerely.

“Here is the notebook,” she said, handing it to me.

“Mr. Greyson. I don’t know why Principle Culver seems taken with you. I for one don’t believe your reformed story. If you want to pass this class, I expect you to be here on time and to stay out of trouble.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Jed told her.

“Now get to class, both of you.”

“Thanks, have a good day Ms. Morley,” I said as we walked out the door.

“That went better than I thought it would,” I told Jed, slowly walking down the hall to my locker.

“And, you smell better than I ever thought you could,” Jed said, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me close. He leaned down to bury his head in my neck.

“Jed! People are watching!” I said, batting at his head.

“So, let them,” Jed said grinning, giving my neck a quick kiss, before lifting his head.

“You are going to get me in trouble again,” I said with exaggerated exasperation.

“That’s me, trouble, especially for you. I want you to know that I am sorry if you get hurt because of me. I don’t want you to forget that. Promise me Nora,” Jed said seriously.

“I promise, Jed. But it won’t be your fault. I know you will do everything you can to keep me safe,” I told him, looking into his worried eyes.

“There are other ways of being hurt. I just don’t want you hurt,” he said leaning against the lockers as I pulled out the book I needed.

“I know, but I trust you,” I said leaning up to give him a quick kiss on his check. “I have to get to class. See you later, ok.”

“You can count on it,” he said, as he watched me walk away. Never had Jed felt so low as he did right then. He didn’t like lying ever but sometimes it came with the job. Lying to Nora was eating at his conscience. He didn’t know if he had the strength to keep doing it.

“Hey! Leave her alone,” I heard him say.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jed quickly approaching Marlene Baker. Sadly, she is the most unpopular girl in our senior class. She was overweight, homely and very shy and so didn’t stick up for herself when other kids made fun of her. I was ashamed to admit that I walked past her every day, without talking to her or sticking up for her.