Undercover Justice (22 page)

Beaming at Jed, she said, “Then I will leave you to your talk.” Shutting the door, she left us to explain to my father what was going on. What are we going to tell him? I didn’t want to think that he was involved in this.

I sat down in the big overstuffed loveseat that sat in the corner of his office. My dad sat in his chair behind the desk. I think it made him feel like he had more control. Maybe he was giving Jed a subtle message that he was in charge. Kent perched on the edge of dad’s desk while Jed leaned against the wall close to the door.

Jed spoke before I could think of what to say. “Thank you for meeting with us Mr. Barton. Our project is on the Mayor’s office and we thought you might be able to help us with something we came across.”

“Yeah dad,” Kent replied, “We were wondering if you could tell us about high school. Didn’t you and Mayor Greenly graduate from Pine Hill High the same year?”

Surprised, he said,” Yes we did, in 1981. Why?”

Stepping forward, Jed said, “In our research, we came across mention of a list of Pine Hill C.C. graduates of 1981. We were hoping you might know what it means.”

Shock was apparent of his face. “Where did you kids find that? I haven’t heard that in many years. I thought it was a closely guarded secret. Not made public knowledge. If it existed at all.” Standing up he started to pace. I was starting to get nervous. A quick glance at Kent, told me that I wasn’t the only one.

“So you know about it? Can you tell us anything about it?” Jed asked. His tone left no room for argument.

Narrowing his eyes at Jed, he asked, “What does this have to do with your school project?”

“We witnessed a crime at the Mayor’s office and found a paper with this symbol on it in one of the Mayor’s private conference rooms,” Jed said pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to my dad.

“I remember a few years ago, overhearing you tell mom that the Mayor was a C.C. graduate, when he took office,” Kent said, “That’s why we came here.”

“Did you go to the police? Why aren’t they investigating this?” Dad asked.

“The police know, and they’re conducting their own investigation but we would like to search for some answers also,” Jed explained. “I think sometimes people find it easier to talk to a bunch of kids than to a police detective.”

Nodding, Dad looked down at the paper. He seemed reluctant to share any information.

“Please sir, we need to know. Kids are disappearing. Any information you give us could help the investigation. Your name will completely be left out of any report. We will just pass this information along to the investigating officer,” Jed explained.

“The C.C. stands for Country Club,” Dad started reluctantly. “In those days, status was everything. If you were anybody, you belonged to the County Club. Only the richest and most prominent families were allowed membership.”

“Did your family belong?” Jed asked.

“Yes, my dad was a member, as was his dad before him. Our family has a long history of membership to the Pine Hill Country Club.”

“So what was so secret about the kids from the county club? Why the separate list?” I asked speaking up for the first time.

Jed smiled his approval.

“It wasn’t the fact their families belonged to the Country Club that made this list secret. It was the fact that those kids belonged to the Country Club’s secret society. It was so secret that it didn’t even have a name. It was simply known by this symbol you gave me here,” he said gesturing to the paper.

“How do you know all this?” Jed asked.

“I was approached the start of my senior year to come to a secret meeting, along with a handful of other boys. I was curious. I went to the meeting. I didn’t realize before I went what kind of meeting it was going to be. In my mind I was thinking social club, a hangout, that kind of thing.”

A knock on the office door startled me. I was enthralled with the story. I couldn’t believe that all this time my dad knew something about the secret organization.

My mom poked her head around the corner. “I thought you all could use some lemonade and cookies.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I said, getting off the love seat to take the tray from her. Setting it down on my dad’s desk I passed them out. My mom quietly closed the door behind her.

“So what happened at the meeting?” Jed asked, bringing us back to the story.

“It was pretty creepy. We were told to meet at the Country Club and then black hoods were put over our faces. We were led down stairs and halls; it took us several minutes to get wherever we were going. When we got there we were told to take off our hoods. We were in some sort of room lit only with torches. There were probably a dozen people all in black hooded robes standing in a circle around one figure in a red robe,” he stopped, gulping his lemonade.

“What did they tell you?” Jed asked coming over to sit on the love seat next to me. I think my dad was so upset about reliving his past, that he didn’t even notice Jed take my hand.

Grateful for his support, I leaned into his strong shoulder.

“They made us take an oath. We had to pledge that anything we heard or saw that day would be kept between us. If we told anyone, then our families reputations would somehow be ruined.”

“I can’t believe this,” Kent said pacing.

“Sit down son, you’re making me nervous.”

“Sorry,” Kent said, resuming his perch on the end of the desk.

“The figure in red, then stepped forward and said in a weird voice that I swear was altered some way to protect their identity, ‘How would you like to graduate at the top of your class in high school and in college. How would you like to be assured a prestigious job of your choice, a job fitting your status as a prominent member of this society? The position you deserve. This organization was formed with a belief, that there is an order to society. Those at the top of the order, come from the most prominent and affluent families with impeccable backgrounds. We, and only we, deserve those positions in our society.’ At this point I started getting nervous. From the way they talked, they did not use legal means. I didn’t want to be a part of it.”

“How did you get out?” I asked.

“We were told to think about it and then told to put our hoods back on. We were led back to the main entrance and then told to count to thirty before removing our hoods. We had to swear that we wouldn’t talk of it again. When we did pull off our hoods, no one else was there. I knew right away that I didn’t want to be a part of it.”

Relived I sat up straighter. “So who was there with you? Was it the Mayor?”

“Yes, he was one of the recruits there with me.”

“So he must have joined. I wonder why,” Kent said.

“He wasn’t doing that good in school. His grades were struggling. I had heard rumors around the Club that his parents were ashamed of him. If they were promised top grades and a great future, it would have been hard for him to turn down. I don’t know who accepted and who didn’t. Because I never went back they wrote me off. I never heard another word about it. Until now that is,” Dad explained. “And that is all I know.” Getting up he went over and stood by the window.

“You said that this has to do with the disappearance of those boys?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. Everything so far points to this secret organization,” Jed answered.

“In that case, you may want to tell the police to investigate the disappearance of several other boys throughout the years. I remember just after high school graduation a boy from a neighboring town disappeared and was never found. Perhaps the two are related.”

“Good thinking sir, I will let them know right away. Thank you for your time,” Jed said, getting up and walking over to shake my father’s hand. “If you think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to call. Nora or Kent has my number.”

“I will,” he said quietly. Turning back to the window, he seemed lost in thought.

“Bye, Dad,” I said giving him a quick hug. “I’m off to meet my date for dinner.”

“Right. Have fun sweetheart.”

“I’m sure I will,” I said, smiling warmly at Jed.

We left him standing there, and quietly walked out of the room.

“Where are you really going?” Kent asked me when we were out of earshot.

“Jed asked me to dinner. I said yes,” I whispered back hoping he wouldn’t make a scene.

Looking down at my skirt and then over at Jed with his motorcycle jacket slung over his arm, Kent reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys, “I don’t think she’s going to be able to ride your bike wearing that,” handing the keys to Jed, he said, “I better not regret trusting you Greyson.”

“Don’t worry so much Barton. I take care of what’s mine.”

“See that you do,” Kent said, looking Jed straight in the eye.

“Thanks for the keys,” Jed said handing them to me. “You better meet me somewhere down the road so your dad doesn’t find out. I assume that’s your main priority.”

“Yes, I figured it would be safest for now.”

“We’ll have to have a talk about that,” Jed said, “But for now let’s go. I’ll meet you at the corner market on the other side of Main Street.”

I knew the one. It was at the end of the main road. Just past Hickory Street. It was the last store before you hit a long stretch of highway with nothing but a house here and there until you reached Clyde the neighboring town.

Saying his goodbyes, he put on his helmet and started the bike. I watched as he roared down the driveway. My heart started pounding as I thought about meeting Jed for dinner and dancing. I still couldn’t believe that he would be interested in me. He was so much more mature, tall, good looking. I was short, fair-skinned, with what I thought of as average looks.

Glancing down at the keys in my hand, I gulped. Here it goes, I thought grabbing my purse. Taking a step down toward Kent’s car, I looked back up at the house. I could see my dad still standing in the window looking out at the apple trees along the driveway.

A moment of regret about lying almost made me turn around. Then thoughts of Jed’s warm strong arms around me convinced me, and I bounded down the steps pushing the unlock button as I went.

Chapter 17

Jed was standing next to his bike talking on his phone, when I pulled in to the parking lot. I pulled up next to him and got out. Smiling at me, he said into the phone, “Hey man, I have to let you go. I’ll talk to you later, let me know what you find out.” Closing the phone he walked over to me.

“Did I tell you, you look amazing?” he said bending down to kiss me lightly on my lips.

When I shook my head no, he grabbed my hands and pulled me close to him. “Well, you do. And you smell incredible,” he mumbled, burying his head in the hair by my neck. His face was scratchy against my neck.

“Jed,” I said blushing. His warm lips brushed my neck, with a gentle caress soothing the slight burn from the stubble of facial hair that covered the lower half of his face.

Lifting his head, he looked at my red face, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”

I let go of his hands, took the keys out of my purse and handed them to him. His eyebrows arched as he took them. “You don’t want to drive?” he asked surprised.

“It’s not that, I just figured you were like Kent, and would want to do the driving,” I explained a bit embarrassed. “It’s not that big a deal.”

“Yes, it is,” Jed said, “Thanks. You’re right. I have a hard time sitting in the passenger seat.”

“You’re welcome,” I said shyly, going around the front of the car to climb in the passenger seat.

Once we were settled, I glanced over at Jed’s strong jaw and chiseled face with the dark shadow of stubble across his cheeks and chin. He was so handsome sitting there in his dark blue jeans and a steel gray long-sleeved shirt that stretched across his muscular chest, defining the rock hard muscles that lay beneath. He must have had the shirt in his…saddlebag or whatever those bags on the side of his motorcycle were called.

How did a girl get so lucky? To have a guy like Jed interested in her. I leaned back against the seat and tried to calm my racing heart. Every time I glanced at Jed, my heart sped up faster. There was no other boy in school that even came close to making me feel this way.

Jed turned to me and said, “Now about that conversation we had earlier. I just want to clarify what I meant.”

Looking down at my lap, I waited for him to tell me we were just friends. Grabbing my hand, he said simply, “I meant it.”

Looking up, I saw him looking at me a little nervously waiting for my reaction.

“You meant it. About us dating you mean?” I finally managed to get out.

“Yes I did,” he said more confidently. “I really like you Nora. I would be honored to have the chance to get to know you better. Exclusively that is. What do you think about that?”

“I like it,” I told him, my eyes finding his face and grinning.

Returning my smile, he said seriously, “It may not be the best thing though. Many people don’t think we should be together. Including your dad and no matter what he says, your brother.”

“Yes, but they just need to get to know you. Then they well lo… I mean like you as much as I do.”

“So you like me, eh?” he said grinning wolfishly at me.

“Sometimes,” I teased.

“What! I’m wounded,” he said, playfully grabbing his chest.

“Ok, all of the time,” I confessed, “But don’t let it go to your head.”

“Oh, I promise it will go straight to my head,” he said in a warm husky voice glancing over at me as he drove, the look in his eyes filling me with hope.

“Just watch the road,”

“Yes, ma’am,” he teased, shifting the Camaro’s gears while grinning.

The Clyde Roadhouse was full, but not packed. This being a weeknight and all, I was surprised to see so many cars here. “Is something special going on?” I yelled to Jed over the noise of the crowd and live music, as he held opened the door for me.

“I think a popular local band is playing tonight as part of the grand opening week,” he yelled back.

With Jed’s hand at the small of my back, we gave our name to the hostess and waited to be seated. Five minutes later, we were shown to a small table against the wall near the stage. Pulling out the chair facing the stage, Jed held it for me as I sat down. Then he moved his chair so that he sat with his back to the stage facing the door. Finding that odd, I asked him, “Don’t you want to watch the band too?”

“I’d rather watch the door,” he replied, looking around.

“Why?” I asked. That seemed strange. Who came to hear a band and sat with their back to them watching the door?

“What? Oh! Um...I don’t feel comfortable with all these people in here with a threat to you out there. I want to watch the people who come in.”

“Oh, Ok,” I said, a feeling of comfort and safety filling me with warmth. There was something to be said about having a big good looking guy, capable of protecting you giving you his undivided attention.

Opening the menu, I saw that they specialized in steak and seafood, two of my favorite food groups. While the prices were good, it was still expensive. I didn’t want Jed paying for it, if he didn’t have the money, but how did I bring that up without hurting his feelings and making him feel bad. Maybe I should just order something small and cheap.

“Are you ready to order?” a waitress asked, standing close to the table to hear over the music.

“I am. Are you?” Jed asked closing his menu.

“You order first, and then I’ll be ready,” I said quickly scanning the menu for something filling but cheap.

“Ok, I’ll take the twenty ounce prime-rib cooked medium rare, a Caesar salad and a plate of French fries,” Jed told the waitress.

Ok, well that was one of the more expensive steaks. What to do?

I decided to go with a salad and a bowl of lobster bisque soup. “That’s all?” Jed asked when I finished ordering. “I’ve seen you eat. You don’t need to pretend with me. Order what you want.”

Nervously biting my lip in indecision I hesitantly told the waitress, “And a twelve ounce prime rib medium rare with mushrooms on top.

“That’s better,” Jed teased. ”I was afraid I was going to have to share some of my steak with you.”

I softly kicked him under the table. “What?” he asked, raising his palms in faked innocence. “I don’t know where you put it, but I know you can probably eat just as much as I can. I like it. I like a girl not afraid to be herself.”

“I was just afraid that maybe it cost too much. Most guys I know can’t afford a meal that this,” I admitted.

“So that’s it,” Jed said amused. “Don’t worry darling, I have more money than any of those other guys do.”

Embarrassed, I mumbled, “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I want to hear about some of those stories when you were younger, of when you got in trouble and Kent had to rescue you.”

For the next hour, I kept Jed laughing with one story after another of my mishaps while we ate our dinner.