Sworn to Protect (24 page)

It was a thought guaranteed to make even Carl sit up and take notice. But they didn’t have the manpower to spread that broad without tying in with some very dangerous pros. Men so powerful even Carl shuddered at the thought of doing business with them. No, in that situation, Carl would be the grunt again. The nobody.

That was not going to happen.

“I’ll think about it,” he lied.

They hung up, and Carl knew the man’s fate was sealed. He’d get the formula in the hands of someone who’d do what he was damned well told and wouldn’t dream with stars in his eyes.

Stars fell, and so did dreamers.

Only the ruthless survived. And Carl was nothing if not a survivor.

“Another crappy day at Hicksville High.”

Leaning against a tree at the park near campus, Drew took a drag from the cigarette Ty had given him. He hated the taste, but it made him feel good to do even one small thing he shouldn’t. Like he had some sort of control over his life, even when he didn’t.

“Doesn’t have to be.” Ty gave him a grin.

“Man, I can’t skip again. I’ve already gotten into enough hot water with Shane as it is.”

“Screw him. He’s such an uptight ass—”

“Don’t talk about him like that,” Drew snapped. “He takes good care of me, and he loves me. Which is more than you can say for
your
old man. And you’re the one who said you wished your dad was more like him!” Even though he still hadn’t met Carl, he knew that much from Ty.

Thoughts of his own dad, dead and buried, hit Drew hard. That happened a lot, and he couldn’t help but think if he’d been a better son, his dad would still be alive. Sickness churned in his gut.

The barb he’d almost forgotten about hit the target, and Ty made a face. “True that. I’ll be seventeen in three weeks, and he won’t even front me the money to buy a broken-down piece of crap. And I can’t get what passes for a lame-ass job in this town without a car! I’m hosed either way.”

“How does he afford nice stuff like the Escalade, anyhow? What the hell does he do all day?”

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, I want in on the action.” Ty narrowed his dark eyes. “I think it’s past time we find out.”

“We?”

“Sure. It’ll be an adventure,” he suggested slyly. “Then when we catch him, he’ll have to cut us in on the action.”

“I doubt I want any part of what he’s up to. But I wouldn’t mind knowing, just for kicks.” He thought of Shane’s suspicions about Carl and Johnson. The strange smell that had been lingering in Johnson’s empty barn as they’d painted the outside.

What if he could help make up for the trouble he’d caused Shane?

“What’re we waitin’ for, then? Let’s play detective.” He smirked. “Maybe that’ll earn me some brownie points with your cop.”

“Not unless you plan to tell him what’s going on.”

“Depends on whether my old man cooperates. You’re not going to say anything to Shane, are you?”

“No,” he lied. If he saw Carl doing something illegal, he would do exactly that. Even if he got himself in more trouble because of skipping school. “I’m just curious. Besides, I wouldn’t be going if you hadn’t asked.”

“Good. Now all we need is a ride.”

“To where?”

“Johnson’s place, for starters. Dad’s been spending a lot of time with the jerk.”

Drew groaned. “You’re determined to get us shot by that psycho, aren’t you? The last thing I want to do is come within a mile of him ever again.”

“We’re not going to do anything but watch, I promise. He won’t see us.”

“Like he wasn’t supposed to see us before?”

“That was different. This time we’ll stay hidden, and if my dad doesn’t show, we’ll scout around the area some.”

“So, who are we getting this ride from?”

“I’ve got it covered.”

Ty walked toward the school building and Drew followed, thinking he had to stop trailing wherever his friend led, like a stupid cow. If he found something useful to report to Shane, he’d do it, sort of as a favor to the man he’d treated like crap for the past few weeks. If not, he’d start distancing himself from Ty. The guy was a little off, took too many risks that made Drew uncomfortable.

“Hey, Alan!”

Drew jogged to catch up with Ty. “Are you crazy?” he hissed. “You’re asking that dickweed for a ride?”

“Relax. He’s a dickweed with a car, and one who enjoys bucking the rules. He’ll play.”

The jock stopped his trek into the building to arch a brow at their approach. “If it isn’t our resident felons in training. What do you want?”

“We need a ride out to Ferris Road,” Ty said. “Like, now.”

That earned a smirk. “Cuttin’ class, huh? What makes you think I’ll help?”

“Because I can pay you in weed, that’s why.”

Weed? Shit. He definitely had to cut Ty loose as a friend.

“I don’t do drugs, creeplet. But I got nothin’ to do in first period, so sure. Why not?” Alan strode for his car, an old Camaro that he was always tinkering with.

Drew couldn’t help but admire it aloud. “Sweet ride.”

The boy cut him a surprised look. “Thanks. I saved for two years to buy it, and I work on it when I can.”

“You have a job?”

“At H. G. Hill, over on Main,” he said, referring to the local grocery store. “Why? Does that surprise you?”

“Just asking.” Who knew the snarky jock was such a hard worker? Actually, it did surprise him a bit. Almost as much as the jock’s softened attitude toward him.

They didn’t speak much on the way out to Ferris Road. When Alan turned onto the road, he pulled over. “Here you go. You didn’t get a ride from me, dumb-asses.”

Ty slid out first. Drew was about to follow him when Alan gripped his wrist to stop him. Drew gave him a questioning look, and the other boy lowered his voice.

“Ditch that little creep before he ends up getting you in bigger shit than you can get out of.”

“What do you care? I thought you hated my guts.”

“Nah. I just had this idea of who I thought you’d be,” he admitted. “A spoiled rich brat who’d strut around acting like you were better than everyone else. Then I invited you to sit with us that day, and you threw my olive branch back in my face.”

Drew blushed. “Sorry about that. I had a lot of shit going on in my head.”

“I realized that, after I thought about it. I was wrong about you and I’m not proud of it. Just like you’re wrong if you think Ty Eastlake is your friend. He’s bad news, and so is his dad. Think about it.”

“I will. Thanks.”

The jock shot him a smile and he returned it. Drew got out of the car, mulling that over. Alan, the guy who was such an ass to him on his first day, might actually make a much better friend. Weird.

“What were you two talking about?” Ty asked suspiciously, watching Alan turn the car around and head back to town.

“Nothing. He was just giving me some crap about being a spoiled rich kid.” He didn’t feel bad about lying, and, thankfully, Ty bought it.

“You are a spoiled rich kid. In fact, you could buy us both a set of wheels and it wouldn’t even put a dent in your green.”

He tried to make it sound like a joke, but Drew knew he wasn’t. Right then and there, he understood why Ty hung around him—the money. He wanted to sponge, and all this time he’d been buttering Drew up, getting his hooks in deeper and deeper, pretending to be a friend. Maybe he even hoped Drew would fund him and his dad in whatever scheme the man had going.

He was on to the prick now. He should just walk back to town, but he really wanted to see what was going on with Ty’s dad and Johnson. If he could help Shane with his case, it might go a long way toward easing the guilt he felt about how badly he’d treated the man.

Not to mention easing the agony in his chest over what had happened to his own dad. The guilt over how he could’ve prevented it by telling someone what he knew. The pain never left him, but maybe he could make up for everything.

So he followed Ty, once again, for what he swore was the last time.

•   •   •

Shane’s cell phone rang at 10:15 a.m. He was poring over case notes, barely into his second cup of coffee, and groaned at the intrusion. If he didn’t get calls every ten minutes, he might get some work done.

Checking the display, he saw a number he didn’t recognize. In his line of work, that was annoying but not unusual, so he answered. “Hello?”

“Hello, this is Marylyn Estes, and I’m the registrar at Sugarland High. May I speak to Shane Ford?”

“That’s me, Mrs. Estes. How can I help you?”

“Mr. Ford, I’m calling to check on Drew’s absences from school,” she said in a concerned voice.

A chill went through him. “His what?”

“His absences. He’s missed first period four times and seventh period six times, most of those on the same days. He’s had excessive tardies in the period after lunch as well. I know he’s turned in written notes from you excusing him, but—”

“No, I haven’t written Drew a single note excusing him from
any
missed school time. If he’s given the school notes, they’re forgeries. I had no idea he was skipping.”

Fuck! I swear to God—

“That’s what we were afraid of,” she said with a sigh. “I just wanted to find out whether the absences were legitimate. Nobody thought too much of them at first because of the terrible tragedy he’s been through, plus he’s such a polite boy and always came back with a note. But when they continued and he didn’t show up today, we decided to check and make you aware this was happening.”

“He’s not there now?”

“No. And his grades are suffering, because he’s not turning in the work he’s missed.”

What in the hell is that boy thinking?

“Oh, believe me, he
will
turn that in,” Shane said, seething. “Whether or not the teachers will allow him late credit is up to them. And he’ll be punished at home for skipping and forging my name.”

“I hate that Drew is in trouble, because he really is such a nice young man who’s just very lost right now,” she said sincerely. “But I agree he’s at the point where he needs intervention. We appreciate your support, Mr. Ford.”

“Do you think counseling would help? I’ve suggested it and he didn’t want to go, but I’m thinking I’ve made a mistake in not insisting.”

“Legally, I can’t tell you to seek outside professional counseling for him. But if it were
my
child . . .” She left it hanging.

“Thank you, Mrs. Estes. I’ll be looking into it.”

“You’re very welcome. His first-, fourth-, and seventh-period teachers will be contacting you. Is there anything else I can answer for you?”

“Not at the moment, but I appreciate the call.”

After hanging up, Shane slumped at his desk. That’s where Daisy found him some minutes later.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting in a chair next to him.

“Drew’s been skipping school almost as frequently as he changes underwear, and he’s been forging my name on the absence notes. He’s skipping now, in fact, which is why they called me.”

“Oh no. What are we going to do?”

He blinked at her. “We?”

“I think of him as mine, too,” she said with a soft smile. “I love him
and
his new father, so of course it’s
we
.”

He gave her a smile. “You don’t know how good that makes me feel. Drew and I are lucky to have you, sugar.”

“I wish I could kiss you, but that might cause a stir.”

“Not as much as you think, since I’m pretty sure Taylor and Chris have managed to blab our status to everyone who wasn’t at the party or already in the loop.” Leslie was less than happy, but he wisely refrained from saying so.

“Still. We don’t know what’s going to happen with our jobs since we blew the No Dating Other Cops rule out of the water.”

“Yeah, but they can fire me if they want. I’m rich, remember?” He gave her a wan smile.

“You’d wither and die within a year without detective work, and you know it. But don’t worry; it won’t come to that. I’d resign first.”

She would, too. But he wouldn’t let her, so they’d figure out something.

“What are you going to do about Drew?”

“I’m going home to wait for him to show up. Then I’m going to ground his ass, and have a long talk with him doing most of the listening. I’m going to take over driving him to and from school, and I’ll sit in every one of his damned classes with him if I have to. Then he’s going to counseling—period. I know you always think I’m being too hard on him, but—”

“No, I don’t. I think you’re doing exactly the right thing.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I think I’m too easy, and I always stick up for him when he needs a firmer hand. I promise to support you more from now on.”

He didn’t think he could love her more. “I don’t think you’re too easy. He needs that with you one-on-one, but I appreciate you backing me. If we’re gonna do this family thing, we have to present a united front.”

“I agree.”

He stole a quick kiss, anyway, earning a few good-natured comments from around them. Standing, he shrugged on his jacket over his holster. “I’ll call you later.”

“Please do. I want to know he’s home safe.”

“Dinner at my house?”

“Sounds good, but I’ll cook. I have a feeling both of my men will need some mothering by then.”

“I have a feeling you’re right.”

A short time later, he wasn’t at all surprised to arrive home to an empty house. Pacing, he prepared for a long wait.

•   •   •

“There’s nothing going on,” Drew said. Not even a leaf was moving on Johnson’s place. “It’s obvious he’s not home. Why don’t we head back to town?”