Undercover Justice (31 page)

Thumping the staff on the ground to get everyone’s attention, although the room was already silent, the white figure, possibly the Director, they had spoken about in the shed said, “We convene the Order to welcome someone who’s family, many of you will be pleased to know, has been citizens of Pine Hill for many generations, as well as members of the Pine Hill Country Club. Please welcome, Kent Barton!”

As one, all the “members” stepped to the side with their right foot stomping it as they pounded their hearts with a right-handed fist. Then just as suddenly, they stepped back into attention. Surprised, I could feel that my mouth was hanging open. Not only because of the way they welcomed me, but because the voice of the Director sounded mechanical. Obviously it was being disguised using a voice box of some sort.

“We begin with the reading of the Order’s history and mission,” the director said taking a step back and sitting down on the bench.

One of the five members with a white sash stepped forward, holding what looked like a tablet. With a loud clear voice read:

The most elite members of Pine Hill Country Club formed a secret Order. The Order’s main purpose is to ensure that all people of high society, those who are the most wealthy and influential, shall forever more achieve top academic honors and the most prominent positions in our society.

The Order shall insure that, through any means necessary, only its members carry the most elite and prestigious positions in the town of Pine Hill and neighboring communities as well as our state and nation.

Non-members, who are declared inferior, are forbidden to know anything about this mission.

The Order’s mission is to rid our society of lower class citizen’s holding positions of leadership and replace them with members of importance, Members of The Order.

So that was their goal, Kent thought. They thought of themselves as better than all the poor and middle class citizens of the community, really the country. They were willing to kill to ensure that their members got the best grades, into the best colleges and ultimately the highest positions in society.

What about Charlotte? Jed? Or Ollie and all of Kent’s other friends at school? To Kent they were no different, just because their families weren’t rich or influential.

Standing again, the Director said in the same mechanical voice, “Mr. Barton, we realize that you will have to have some time to make your decision. Let me assure you that if you accept, your bad grade in English will disappear. Not only will you get into the best school, you will also graduate at the top of your class.”

Then the Director turned in a circle hands held out high and addressed the whole Order.

Kent took the time to look closer at some of the robed people, while the Director was apparently conducting regular meeting business.

Something about the Director seemed familiar to him. He couldn’t place it. Maybe it was the mannerisms. He looked closer at each of the five people just below the director. They must be important members. They came in all shapes and sizes. Was one of them the Mayor? One of the five was a big guy. At least Kent assumed it was a man. If it wasn’t, then that was one, huge, six foot three two-hundred pound woman. It was definitely not the Mayor.

Next to the big guy, stood a figure with a more slender build. The shoes on the slender figure caught his eye. They were bright white high top basketball shoes with bright red and blue strips on the sides. He knew those shoes! The last time he had seen them, had been on the feet of Nora’s friend Gabby’s boyfriend, Chris Norton.

That’s interesting, Kent thought. He could be the link between the school and this so called Order. Quickly Kent looked at the other shoes on those five. No other shoes looked familiar. He wasn’t surprised. He didn’t usually go around noticing what shoes someone had on. That was something Nora always did. To her, shoes made the outfit. That was the only reason Kent had noticed the shoes on Chris in the first place. Nora had asked Chris if they were new, during Social Studies the other day, drawing Kent’s attention to them.

The meeting must be getting ready to conclude, because the members on the steps were starting to shift so that they created an opening or pathway to walk. As soon as the last member was shifted over, the Director started to descend followed by the five below, and then so on down the levels.

As the Director walked past, Kent tried to get a better look at who it could be. The only thing he knew for sure was that whoever it was, was much smaller than Kent. As the first of the five members passed, he smelled Cinnamon. It was a strong scent and struck him as a weird smell. Not one that he would have expected to smell at this meeting. Making a note of it in his head, he silently stood there, until everyone had filed out, waiting for further instructions.

“Mr. Barton, Please follow me,” the figure Kent had named Pete said.

Kent followed him through the doors and retrieved his belongings when he was directed to. Then they walked into another room that was off the hallway. It was more like a conference room.

“Please, take a seat,” Pete said, gesturing to one of the dozen chairs seated around the large oval table.

Kent pulled out a black office chair and sat down.

“This is the only time, you are permitted to ask questions, regarding what you just saw,” Pete said, still standing by the door. It didn’t look like he was going to join Kent at the table.

Feeling a little awkward and intimidated, Kent sat back and thought. What to ask? Is the Order responsible for the missing boys? No, we pretty much already established that fact with Martin’s arrest. Why me? That too, is easily answered. The Barton family has been one of the richest and oldest families in Pine Hill for several generations. He needed more information. How was he going to get it, if he couldn’t come up with suitable questions?

Sensing Pete’s impatience, Kent decided to start simple. Looking up at Pete, Kent asked with a clear voice, “Who is the Director?” That was straightforward.

“I am not at liberty to disclose that information. Anything else?

“Is the Director’s voice always disguised?”

“Yes.”

“Do the members know who each other are?”

“No, only the elite five and the Director have that information.”

“So you personally don’t know who those six people are?”

“Of course not.”

There was a little hesitation in Pete’s voice, that made Kent suspect that if he didn’t know who they were, he at least he had an idea who they were.

“So all members belong to the Country Club?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Why not?”

“I am not at liberty to say.”

“I would use someone else’s papers right?”

“Yes, they would be purchased for you.”

“Do I have to pay?”

“No, the Order does.”

“Where does the Order get its money?”

“I am not at liberty to say.”

“How do you guarantee that I will get into the college of my choice?”

“The Order has many connections.”

Sitting back, Kent stopped to think. What else should he ask that wouldn’t give anything away, but would get more information?

“How often does The Order meet?”

“The first and third Thursday of every month.”

Oh, Kent thought surprised. It was hard to compare a secret organization that was ok with murder, to any other normal organization that had its monthly meetings. It seemed so normal, hard to wrap his mind around.

“What do the different colored sashes mean?”

“The white sashes are for the elite five and symbolize their close ties to the Director. They are advisors if you will. Each one represents one facet of the Order. For example: the student liaisons from a local high school as well as university. The red sashes are for the guards. They provide the security for the Director as well as the whole Order.”

“What about the yellow sashes?” Kent asked.

“Those are for the alumni members, and those visiting from out of town.”

“Alumni?”

“Member’s who have retired from their jobs, or who are not actively involved. Once in The Order always in The Order.”

“Do they always come to every meeting?”

“No, only when they can make it. That level is reserved specifically for them.”

Ok. That made sense in a weird sort of way.

“When do I have to decide by?”

“Tonight by midnight.”

“You don’t leave me much time.”

Pete just shrugged.

Great. Thank you so much. That was so helpful, Kent thought.

“Who can I tell? My family? Sister?”

“No one.”

Well, that sums it up. Kent was ready to go. He was starting to feel physically ill from just the thought of being part of an organization like this. It was hard to believe that there were that many members in the community, who agreed to this.

“That’s all I have.”

Nodding, Pete gestured for Kent to get up and quickly turned and headed out the door. A few members were still lingering in the main hallway. “This way please.”

Following Pete back up the two flights of stairs, Kent found himself back in the garden shed. “Count to twenty and then leave the shed and don’t look back,” Pete instructed him then disappeared back down the stairs.

Kent tried to look around, but it was so dark in the shed, that he couldn’t make out if he was alone or not. He found it interesting that he had not been blindfolded, like his father had been. They had shown him the entrance. Obviously, times had changed. They probably had state of the art security, now.

Quickly counting to twenty, he cautiously opened the door and peered out. Not much had changed in the time that Kent had been underground. People were still coming and going from the country club. Looking at his watch, Kent realized that an hour had gone by. He hurried over and unlocked the Camaro and slid inside. He was anxious to see how Nora was doing, and to get home before the police came to interview her.

“How did it go?” a voice from the back seat said just behind Kent’s ear.

Kent jumped several inches in his seat. Glancing in the back, he saw Jed crouched down, trying to fit his big body on the floor behind the two front seats.

“Geesh, man! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Jed chuckled. “Sorry about that, I just figured it would be better, if I kept out of sight. I figured they would be watching you.”

“You’re probably right,” Kent said, checking all his mirrors, trying to see if anyone looked like they were watching his car.

“Tell me what you found out, while we drive. Then I’ll tell you what I found out from Martin. The police and an EMT will be at your house in about twenty minutes, so we better get moving.”

“Right,” Kent said, starting the car.

As soon as Kent was out of the parking lot and down the road a little ways, Jed climbed up onto the backseat and buckled in.

“So what was it like? Did you see anyone you knew?”

Kent spent the whole ride back to his house, filling Jed in on all that he could remember.

“Good job Barton. I think you should accept their invitation for membership. I will run it by my lieutenant, but I think it would be a major benefit to have someone on the inside. Especially if this is as big as you say it is. It has been around for a long time and will likely be around for some time yet. “

“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”

“That bad eh?”

“Those people are nuts. They believe that in the social order of things, the only social and economical class that should survive, is the upper class. All others are worthless.”

“Yeah, I would have a hard time belonging to something like that also. I don’t envy you, that’s for sure Barton.”

“Thanks,” Kent said sarcastically, as he pulled into his driveway.

“By the way, please keep the fact that I am a cop, quiet from your parents and Nora.”

“Any particular reason?”

“I don’t want Nora to think I lied to her. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to tell her yet. And, I could get in a lot of trouble for even telling you. I’m already in enough trouble for having a relationship with someone involved in my investigation.”

“The police know about you and Nora?”

“Yeah, they know.”

“Are they going to make you end it?”

“If I want to keep my job.”

“Sorry man.”

“I thought you of all people would be glad,” Jed said getting out of the car.

“You’re starting to grow on me,” Kent grinned.

“Good to know,” Jed said, sending Nora a smile as she spotted them from the patio.

Chapter 23

Looking up, I saw Kent and Jed heading up the driveway. I was so glad to see them. I had spent the last hour sitting out on the patio talking with my parents. Not that I wasn’t happy talking with them, I was just ready for a change in topic. Martin was in jail. I was safe. Let’s move on.

“The police should be here in five minutes,” Jed announced, as they walked up. “Are you up to talking to them?”