Undercover Justice (23 page)

“I see life with you is never dull,” Jed said laughing, as he pushed his plate away. I can’t believe that he finished every last bite of his meal. I still had a small hunk of my steak left that I didn’t think I was going to be able to finish.

“I bet Kent wishes my life was a little duller,” I conceded.

“I bet he does,” Jed grinned looking over by the door. “Ah oh, here comes your friend Tyler and the lovely Vanessa.”

Swiveling around, I thought great, not tonight, not during this perfect date.

“Quick, let’s hide,” I said to Jed. I watched as Tyler Gordon spotted me. He escorted Vanessa around the tables towards us. I didn’t want them ruining our evening.

“Now, Now.” I heard Jed say under his breath as they approached.

“Nora! Fancy meeting you here,” Tyler said by way of greeting. “Greyson right?” he asked, turning to Jed.

“Jed,” Jed offered, holding out his hand to Tyler. “Hello Vanessa,” he said politely.

“Humph,” she said, turning her nose up in the air. I guess she was still mad about Jed almost kissing me at the country club after rejecting her.

“You look great. Nora,” Tyler said looking me over. “Save me a dance later will you.”

“Um..” I stammered.

“I don’t think so,” Jed said possessively, standing up. “Nobody dances with her but me. Care to dance Baby?”

Inwardly smiling at Tyler and Vanessa’s shocked expressions, I stood up and took Jed’s outstretched hand. “I would love to.”

Vanessa glared at me as I scooted around her. I sort of felt sorry for her. She was apparently on a date with Tyler and he had just asked me to dance. On top of that, Jed, who she had had her sights on, had made it clear that we were together.

Ok, I lied. It felt great.

A slow song was just starting, as Jed pulled me onto the dance floor and took me in his arms. I melted against him, savoring the feeling. “You look happy,” he whispered in my ear as we swayed to the love song.

“I am,” I whispered back.

Softly kissing me, he said, “I’m glad. So am I.”

As that slow song turned into a faster one, I was prepared for Jed to walk off the dance floor, until another slow song started, like most guys did. Instead he smoothly moved with me into a sizzling rhythm of swaying and stepping. I was impressed and told him so.

“My grandfather was old-fashioned. He said that any man who couldn’t dance with his woman, was not worthy of having a woman.”

“I wish I could have met him,” I said smiling, “He sounds like a very smart man. I would have thanked him for the foresight.”

“He was,” Jed said wrapping me in his arms and drawing me close. “Very smart,” he said bringing his head down to expertly kiss me tenderly until my knees weakened and I had to cling to his shoulders before I fell on my butt in the middle of the dance floor.

Grinning, he pulled back and said, “Don’t let me do that again,ok. It’s getting harder and harder to stay away from you.”

“Who said you had to?” I returned.

“I did,” he said spinning me around as another song started.

Secretly I was glad. It usually killed the date and any potential for a second date, when I explained that I wasn’t that type of girl, and they weren’t getting what they thought they were going to.

Relived, I threw myself into dancing and having a good time. It felt good to know that I wasn’t expected to repay him for anything at the end of the night. I think I fell in love with him at that moment.

“You ready? I thought we could go take in the sunset,” Jed asked after we had gone back to our table to get a drink and pay the bill. “Then, I better get you home, before your dad sends out the cavalry.”

I grinned, knowing he meant Kent. “That sounds good.”

Picking up my purse, we headed for the door. I glanced over at Vanessa and Tyler sitting on the other side of the stage. They didn’t seem to be having a great time. Vanessa was looking longingly at the dance floor and Tyler was looking longingly at…me? Quickly turning away, I followed Jed out the door. I wasn’t the least bit interested in Tyler anymore.

“What’s that on the car?” I asked, as we got closer to the Camaro. A large white envelope was tucked behind the wiper on the driver’s side. Jed strode over to it and grabbed it, turning it over looking for a name. There was nothing on it. Opening it, he pulled out a sheet of paper. It was typed on a computer. It simply said, ‘Check the dumpster by the paper factory in Clyde. This is what will happen to you, if you don’t stop sticking your nose where it’s not wanted.’ Feeling something else in the envelope Jed pulled out a picture. Looking down at it, he cursed angrily. It was a picture of him kissing Nora under the tree near his house. Someone had scrawled ‘Found her. Can’t wait to find out if she’s as good as she looks’.

“Get in the car,” Jed said through clenched teeth. Stuffing the picture and letter back in the envelope he got in and buckled up.

“What was it?” I asked. I hadn’t been able to see what the letter said or who was in the picture. I think Jed had kept it turned away from me on purpose. He was clearly upset. His fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel so tightly they were turning white. Slamming his hand against the wheel he swore.

“I don’t want you to see it,” he finally got out. “Someone is trying to warn us to stop asking questions. I think they just gave me a clue to another missing boy.”

“That’s great Jed,” I said hesitantly. “Isn’t it?”

“Not when it leads to a dumpster,” he said angrily hitting the wheel again in frustration.

Shocked, tears started running down my face. I didn’t want to think about another poor boy being murdered because of whatever was going on.

Seeing my tears, Jed gently used his knuckles to brush them away. “I’m sorry Nora, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I know you’re upset, but I need to go check this out. It’s not too far from here. Are you ok to do that?”

Nodding, I brushed the rest of my tears away and listened as Jed called it in to the police. He seemed to know whomever he was talking to pretty good. I didn’t want to think that it was because he had been on the wrong side of the law. So instead, I focused on the soothing sound of his voice as he drove.

“I want you to stay in the car. Under no circumstances are you to get out. Do you understand me? I won’t have you ignore me again. Even if you can’t always see me, I want to come back here and find you still safely buckled in this seat with the doors locked. Promise me Nora,” he said as he drove toward the paper factory.

“I promise,” I told him, grabbing his hand and holding on tightly. “Do you mind if I pray?”

Giving me a surprised look which turned to one of interest, Jed nodded.

Still holding Jed’s hand, I bowed my head and closed my eyes and prayed out loud.
Dear Lord, please be with us this night. Guide Jed as he searches for this missing boy. If it is your will help him to be ok, but if he’s not, be with his family and let them find peace with You. Please keep Jed and I safe and help us to remember You are with us always. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Jed gave my hand a squeeze as I looked up and then turned his attention back to the road. I don’t think he realized that I could tell he was deep in thought from the fierce expression on his face. My prayer seemed to have gotten to him. I hope in a good way.

Turning into the paper factory, Jed slowly crept through the parking lot looking for a dumpster. The factory was obviously doing badly, because several of the parking lot lights were spray painted with graffiti and weeds were starting to grow up through the cracks in the cement. The lot was only partially filled. The only cars in the lot were parked close to the entrance door far away from where we parked.

“There’s the dumpster,” Jed said, parking a safe distance away from it. It was on the grass on the farthest side of the lot, partially hidden by a long ago planted row of shrubs. “I am going to go take a look. The police are on their way. Remember what I said.” Climbing out of the car, he waited until I locked the doors and then slowly approached the dumpster. The opening must have been around the other side, because he disappeared around the shrubs. Nervously, I glanced around the parking lot while I waited for Jed to reappear. There were no cars over on this side of the parking lot. It was totally empty. Only a few minutes had past before I saw Jed reappear. From his dejected expression, I could tell that he hadn’t found anything good.

Climbing in the car, Jed pulled out his phone. Looking over at my questioning expression, he said, “There’s a body in there, probably one of the missing boys. I need to let the police know so they can send for the coroner.”

Tears fell again, as I listened to Jed tell the police. I felt so sad; that boy’s parents were going to be told their son had been murdered. And for what? Good grades? Extra Money? It didn’t’ seem worth it. These people deserved to be behind bars. Whatever it took, I was determined to help.

“There’s nothing else we can do, but wait for the police. I need to show them this letter and picture. Why don’t you call everyone in the group and have them meet us in the science club if they can? We need to figure out what we are going to do now,” Jed told me. Seeing my tears, he leaned over and kissed me softly then pulled me into his arms and gently rubbed my back. “I’m sorry you had to be here, Nora.”

After a few minutes, I pulled myself together. As I sat there, I was reminded that could have been Ollie in that dumpster. I told Jed what I was thinking.

“I know,” he said in a tight voice, “That’s why I want to get everyone together if we can tonight.”

“Then I better make those calls,” I said, pulling away from him.

“Thanks, Jed,” I told him reaching into my purse for a tissue to blow my nose.

“Anytime. Any excuse I have for holding you, I’d be stupid not to take advantage of,” he said teasingly trying to lighten the mood.

“You’re shirt’s wet,” I said quietly noticing the big wet spot on his chest where I had cried against it.

“It’ll dry,” he said taking my hand again and giving it a squeeze.

Pulling out my phone, I started with Kent. I figured he would be the easiest to get a hold of. He answered right away. He was probably wondering why I was calling him, when I was supposed to be on a date with Jed.

“Kent,” I started, my voice cracking.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Where’s Jed? He’s dead if he hurt you.”

“No, No Jed didn’t hurt me. It’s just that…” I guess this was going to be harder than I thought.

“Here, give me the phone Honey,” Jed said taking it from me. Quickly he filled Kent in on what had happened ending with. “But thanks for the vote of confidence there, Buddy.”

Kent must have said something Jed found amusing, because he laughed.

“Ok, Thanks, see you there in a few,” Jed said hanging up the phone. “Kent’s going to call Charlotte. Here come the police. Do you think you’re ok enough to call Ollie? I need to get out and talk to them.”

Taking my phone back, I said, “Yeah, I’m ok. It just took me a few minutes. Sorry about that.”

“Hey,” he said kindly. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s normal to be upset that someone was killed.”

Nodding, I said, “Go, I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Stay here and lock the doors after I get out,” he said getting out and shutting the car door behind him.

I called Ollie, who also answered quickly. He was free, but didn’t have a ride, unless he rode his bike over. I told him that we would pick him up on our way by.

I watched as Jed shook hands with the two police officers who had arrived, and pointed over to the dumpster. Together they all walked around the shrubs to the other side.

Just as they left, a van pulled up with the words Livingston County M.E. on the side. It was quickly followed by a suv with the Sheriff’s department logo on the side. It must be the crime scene investigators, I realized. I was thankful that I was sitting on the opposite side, so that I didn’t have to see what was going on in the dumpster.

Looking around the parking lot again, it amazed me that all these people had been at work and some were still here. Not one probably had a clue that a boy had been murdered and thrown in the dumpster.

About fifteen minutes later, Jed came around the corner. Climbing back into the car, he said, “We are free to go. We may have to answer additional questions after they go over the scene and write the report. But for now, let’s go meet everyone. Was Ollie able to make it?”

“Yes, but we have to pick him up on our way.”

“Ok, I would rather do that, than have him ride his bike when it is going to be getting dark soon anyway.”

“Was it the boy from my school, Mark Mason?”

“No Honey, from his ID, he was a boy from Clyde.”

I was relieved that it wasn’t Mark. But where was he? I really hoped that he wasn’t involved in this, like those other boys were. It wasn’t starting to look good for him.

Chapter 18

As soon as we pulled up next to the high school, Kent and Charlotte got out of my Escape and rushed over. Kent must have picked Charlotte up on the way, since the Escape was the only car in the parking lot besides the Camaro.