The Deception (13 page)

‘Hey Bryce.’

He glanced up, realised it was Jaz and started some major eye rapid movement as he looked for an escape. His mates bailed, taking off to play basketball, or at least pretend to.

‘I haven’t touched your brother,’ said Bryce cautiously.

Jaz shrugged. ‘I know. I’m here for another reason.’ She leant back against the wall next to him. ‘Say a certain person was after a good time. Are you someone who could help with that?’

He didn’t move a muscle. ‘Maybe.’

‘So if I was after a really good time, enough for a few people, could you get that? Say a couple of grand worth.’ Jaz needed a big amount to make him go to his supplier.

‘Yep.’ He raised an eyebrow and it looked like a fat caterpillar. ‘I didn’t pick you for this type of fun.’

‘We come in all shapes and sizes. You understand that this does not get out or you know I’ll come looking for you. And I won’t play nice,’ she said, watching as his eyes grew wide. She’d beat him up a year ago when he started giving Simon a hard time, breaking his glasses and leaving his chest black and blue from a beating. Let’s just say since she’d made Bryce apologise, he’d been like the rest and given her and Simon a wide berth ever since.

‘How soon could I have it?’ she asked.

Bryce tried to calculate the time it would take to get his package together. ‘I reckon by tomorrow at school, if you can get me the money today.’

‘Sure. Name your time and place.’

He mentioned a nearby park that had lots of trees and hiding places. ‘Meet me by the kids’ tunnel at four.’

Jaz nodded and pushed off from the wall. The planning was done, now she just had to work on the surveillance side of things. And she couldn’t do it alone.

She got the phone Ryan had given her and sent him a message, asking if he could talk, and then waited out by the library wall. It was the quietest place she could find without any eavesdropping.

The phone rang moments later.

‘Jaz?’

‘Hey Ryan. Any chance you could get two grand together for me by end of school?’

‘What have you done?’ he said worriedly.

‘Your faith in me is so reassuring, Fletcher,’ she said sarcastically. Jaz went on to tell him about Bryce and the deal she’d made.

‘Nice one, great work,’ said Ryan. ‘I’ll wait for you after school, I’ll have the money. I’ll help with surveillance.’

‘You don’t have anywhere to be tonight?’ she asked.

‘No. All good. If you need to get home, I can continue to watch or we can bring Cody in.’

Jaz didn’t want that. This was her job. She wanted to stick it out. Anna would cover her for the night, no problems there. Besides, a night of surveillance with Ryan would be rather fun.

***

After school she found Ryan waiting in his car. ‘Hi ya,’ she said climbing in. Instantly she was engulfed with Ryan’s scent, a spicy deep redwood that sent her into a state of adrenaline like a thrill-seeking jumper standing on the tallest building.

‘Hey Jaz. Good day at school?’ he enquired.

She laughed. It was weird to have him ask her that while she was busy picturing him without his black t-shirt. But even with it on there was something appealing about how the material stretched across his biceps. She could also see the shape of his pecs under the soft material. On or off, it was still torture. ‘Okay, I guess.’

Anna skipped along beside Ryan’s car, her tartan skirt flicking up. Taylor strolled beside her with a serious expression. They both waved as they went past. Jaz understood Taylor’s pain. ‘Are we going to follow that guy soon? I’ve noticed he has been missing on occasion. Do you think they are dropping their surveillance on Tay?’ Jaz turned in her seat, looking for the black car and the man with the sunglasses who was usually watching Taylor.

‘Funny you should ask,’ said Ryan as he pointed out the guy. ‘He’s over there. I was going to follow him today—’

‘Not without me, I hope,’ Jaz cut in.

He smirked. ‘Of course not. But this thing with Bryce came up. So tomorrow we’ll follow that chump and see where he takes us. Tay has waited long enough. You also seem ready, you took down that guy yesterday alright.’

‘Which one, Cody or the big guy?’

Ryan laughed aloud. ‘Fair point.’ He turned on his car. ‘Nicely handled by the way.’

‘What was?’ she said with a frown.

‘Cody.’

And that was all he said. Did that mean he’d overheard? What were his thoughts on that? ‘Maybe if I wasn’t a virgin I’d take him up on it,’ she said bluntly.

It was fun to see Ryan’s jaw drop. It was hard to get the upper hand on him so she cherished this moment, even if it meant revealing something personal.

He eventually closed his mouth and turned to her, his brow creased and his head shaking slightly. ‘No, you’re not, are you?’ He looked shocked.

‘Yeah, I would know. Why, don’t you believe me?’ Not everyone walked around with virgin written across their heads.

‘I … well, no. I do find it hard to believe.’

‘Why?’

‘Well you’re nearly eighteen and—,’ he glanced out the window, making his voice harder to hear. ‘You’re every guy’s dream.’

Jaz waited until his eyes returned to her before she spoke. ‘Really? Cos besides Cody, I’ve had no offers.’

‘Marcus?’

‘He’s different. That’s not a real relationship, well, to me anyway. I don’t want my first time to be fake, or based on a lie. And it seems no boy wants a girl who they’re scared of.’

‘Maybe you just haven’t met the right man?’ His eyes darted away as he said the words, his voice deep, husky, and tight with innuendo.

Her body vibrated as if each word had plucked at her heartstrings, muscles and organs, waking them up. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Ryan had just said everything she’d been thinking lately. She did need a man. Was he willing?

He put his car in gear and drove out of the school car park while they both mulled over the previous conversation.

All too soon, Ryan had stopped at the park. ‘Here’s the money. Just be careful,’ he said.

Jaz took the envelope, her fingers brushing against his. ‘Thanks. You can’t miss Bryce; my height, blond tips, pimples and podgy.’ She tucked the envelope into her skirt, untucking her shirt to cover it before climbing out. It didn’t take her long to find the concrete tunnel near the kids’ play area. Jaz walked to it slowly, dragging her feet like a normal bored teenager. The tunnel had sea creatures painted on the outside, and inside graffiti tags. She bent over and stepped inside, sat down and waited. The tunnel cut out most of the park so she couldn’t see Bryce approaching, but she knew Ryan would be watching.

A few minutes past the allotted time, the light grew dark as his body covered one end of the tunnel. His face appeared. ‘Jaz.’

‘Bryce.’ She pulled out the envelope and waved it at him. ‘It’s all there.’

He took a quick look before shoving it down his own pants. Gross, she thought.

‘I’ll have your stuff for you tomorrow. Meet me at my car, the blue Nissan Skyline. Got it?’

‘Yep. I’ll be waiting.’

He walked off and Jaz got out of the tunnel. Only two kids played nearby on the swings, their mother watching them carefully. Ahead of Bryce she could see his blue Nissan parked on the opposite side of the play area. Quickly she got back to Ryan’s car, which was hidden behind the massive pine trees.

‘He’s on the next street,’ said Jaz. ‘Blue Nissan Skyline.’

Without a word, Ryan pulled out and together they followed Bryce, always staying a few cars behind.

‘Do you think he will pick it up now or before school?’ she asked.

‘Not sure. I’m guessing he wouldn’t want to risk having it on him at home so my guess is in the morning. But it also depends on his dealer.’

Bryce pulled into a large house; Minka’s red BMW was parked out the front. He’d gone straight home. Ryan stopped further down the road.

‘I’ll just go for a quick walk and see if there is another exit out of the house.’

He left her alone but the whole time Jaz was focused on Bryce’s car. If that moved so would she, regardless of whether Ryan was back or not. Luckily she didn’t have to make that decision.

‘No other way out, that’s it. If he moves we will see him.’

After half an hour, Jaz’s stomach groaned loudly. Ryan reached into the back and pulled a bag forward. He pulled out an array of food and drinks.

‘Always be prepared, right?’ said Jaz with a chuckle. She thanked him as she took an apple. They watched with only the sounds of their eating or the passing traffic. No words were spoken until Bryce got back into his car. He was out of his school uniform and in dark jeans and a shirt.

‘Here we go,’ said Ryan.

Bryce stopped at two places; the first was only for ten minutes, the house a standard brick and tile. The next house they’d been watching for two hours. It was fancy, bit like Marcus’s. Lots of cars were scattered out the front, flash cars.

‘Could be a mate’s place,’ said Jaz, thinking aloud.

Before Ryan could reply, his phone rang. ‘Hi Steph, what’s up?’

Jaz smiled. She liked his sister Steph a lot. She was nice enough to invite her to their special dinner where she announced her engagement to Gazza.

‘I see.’ He sighed. ‘Jaz?’ He glanced at her, his mind ticking over. ‘Um, well, she’s right here if you want to ask her.’ He grimaced. No doubt regretting letting Steph know he was with Jaz again. Ryan kept his family at arm’s length and away from his private life, so the moment they’d met Jaz as ‘his friend’ they latched on.

Jaz could hear Steph demanding he hand over the phone. Ryan did as he was told, a defeated expression on his face.

‘Hey Steph.’

Ryan kept watch out the window as she listened to his sister talk excitedly.

‘Jaz. I’m so glad I caught you. What’re you doing next weekend? Feel like a girls’ day out shopping for wedding stuff? Mum will be there too.’

How could she say no? A chance to get to know Ryan’s family was great and they were such lovely people. ‘Of course. Where shall I meet you?’

Steph gave her the address and a time early Saturday. ‘I look forward to it,’ said Jaz, trying not to get too excited, when in fact she felt like squealing with joy. With a bit of luck she’d be Ryan’s date to the wedding. Him in a wedding tux would be worth it. Maybe she could jag a dance too.

She hung up and handed his phone back.

‘Why are you smiling like that?’ he asked warily.

‘She wants me to go shopping with her next Saturday. Cool, hey?’

Ryan groaned. ‘No, it’s not.’ He pulled his lip through his teeth.

No doubt he was wondering if he’d made the right decision letting his family meet her. It opened up a whole bag of new questions and possible dangers, but he had to realise his family was important and they wanted to share in his life.

‘You know they feel closer to you by having me around. You should make more time to see them.’ Jaz put her hand up to stop him. She knew what he was going to say. ‘I know you don’t like all the questions and lying, neither do I, but you have me now, so you can just make up stuff that we are doing at the gym. You could even let them come to The Ring. Ryan, they just need a few scraps to feel connected. It can’t hurt.’

‘Maybe.’

Ten minutes later they followed Bryce back to his home. Jaz walked a few blocks to the nearby park where there were public toilets while Ryan watched for Bryce.

Back in the car she rubbed her hands together, the approaching night bringing the cold.

Ryan reached into the back of his car and threw her a jumper. She smiled as she put it on, trying hard to resist sniffing it. ‘Thanks.’

He shook his head as if knowing she would try to steal this one too. ‘I’m never going to see my other one, am I?’

‘No. It’s perfect to snuggle in. I’ll buy you another one,’ she said with a grin. ‘Maybe Steph can help me,’ she said teasingly. She wouldn’t do that, it would make his family think they were dating, and they’d already had to fend off that question.

He groaned loudly and rubbed his face with his hand.

‘Hey, seeing as we are stuck together in here for a while, how about we discuss what’s bothering you and Pax?’

Ryan’s change was instant, like liquid nitrogen had been thrown at him, freezing him rigid.

‘Come on, Ryan. Why won’t you tell me? I’m pretty sure it involves me.’

His silence spoke volumes.

‘I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s take baby steps then. Do you think I should know this so-called secret?’ she asked.

‘I do,’ he eventually mumbled.

‘But Pax doesn’t?’

He nodded.

‘Why not? What is Pax worried about?’ she pressed.

‘He’s worried about you, Jaz. It’s big.’

It’s big? How bloody big could it be? Had she done something wrong? What did it involve?

‘And you’re not?’ Jaz touched the window with her finger where it was starting to fog up and drew a little love heart. Where was her mind at! Quickly she rubbed it out.

‘I am, Jaz. That’s why I think you need to know. I don’t like keeping secrets from you. I like to think this is one relationship I have that isn’t built on a lie.’

She turned to him. ‘I’d like to think that too. Please tell me, if you think I need to know. If the roles were reversed and you were me, would you want me to tell you?’

‘Yes, I would. But Jaz, it’s to do with your family. I don’t think it would be wise to tell you now before your mission next week. I really need you focused. Could you hang off with all the questions until after we’ve sorted out Carl?’

A week. Jaz could wait a week, especially since she didn’t know what it was she was waiting to find out. She shrugged. ‘Sure, if you think that’s best.’

‘I do.’

Ryan reached over and squeezed her hand, Jaz forgot about the secret and what it had to do with her family. All that mattered now was the warmth spreading through her hand and up her arm like a trail of lit petrol.

Chapter 12

As Jaz took hold of the bag of drugs, she felt a wave of sickness. Ten times stronger than the nerves she’d had all morning just knowing she had to do this. ‘Thanks,’ she barely managed to get out.

Bryce shot her a smile and Jaz felt so repulsed. Quickly she shoved the drugs into her schoolbag and headed back to Ryan’s car. Bryce got out and headed to school as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Jaz could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Her heart raced and she felt like everyone knew.