Undercover Justice (24 page)

“Tell us everything!” Charlotte said, as I climbed out of the car. “You look great by the way. How was your date?”

“It was wonderful. I will have to tell you about it later,” I whispered. “We danced, and Jed can really dance!”

“No! That’s a surprise. He doesn’t seem like the type. He’s too...rough.”

“Well, he can, and it was wonderful,” I said hugging myself as I remembered the feeling of swaying in Jed’s arms.

Taking my arm, Charlotte steered us towards the door. “Let’s get inside before you tell us what else happened. It seems creepy standing out here in the open, even though it’s still light outside.”

“I know what you mean. Let’s go.”

Shutting and locking the door behind us, we walked in, turning on the lights as we went. Because we didn’t have any food this time, we naturally gravitated toward the couches set up around the TV.

Charlotte and I sat down on one end of the couch together talking quietly as the guys turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. I think everyone needed a few minutes to relax and enjoy the company before we got into the heavier topics.

Finding a hockey game on TV that they could agree on, the guys each started to take a seat. I watched Jed, curious where he would sit with Kent watching him. He didn’t even glance Kent’s way, instead he strolled right over to the couch and sat on the opposite end. Grabbing my hand he pulled. “Come here,” he tugged me over until I was tight up against him. Turning slightly against the arm of the couch he adjusted his body so that he could wrap his arms around me and I could lean up against his chest. My heart started pounding hard. Even though he had wrapped his arms around me before, it felt different somehow. Snuggling in his arms on the couch seemed somehow more intimate. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

“Relax, Kent is going to think I am holding you against your will,” Jed whispered into my ear.

“I can’t relax with you so close to me,” I whispered back. His hard chest was against my back, and it was hard to even think much less relax.

Jed chuckled. I think he sounded a bit conceited.

“Stop laughing,” I said batting his hands away, embarrassed.

It’s not that easy for me being this close to you either. You’re very dangerous to my health. If the look your brother is giving me is any indication.”

I looked over at Kent, his face was starting to turn red also, but I know it wasn’t because he was embarrassed. Kent only turned that red when he was angry. From the looks of it, he hadn’t missed our exchange. He was mad and started to get up. I sent a pleading look at Charlotte, who stood up and grabbed Kent’s arm. “Kent, why don’t you come sit over here with me,” she said pulling him over to the loveseat. She sat down and patted the cushion next to her. “Come on, leave them alone. I want to hear about how things went with your dad. I called the Mayor’s office and scheduled a time after school on Friday to meet with him. I told his secretary that it would be someone from our group, but I wasn’t sure exactly who.” Distracted for the moment, Kent said down next to her.

“Score!” Ollie yelled from his perch on the couch armrest. “Did you see that?” he asked, jumping up to point at the screen. We all watched, as the forward broke away and skated down to smoothly deke the goalie and score the first goal of the game.

“Hey Ollie, how come every time we come in here, no one else is here?” Kent asked him.

“The other guys are too busy with sports. Most of them run on the track team, or play baseball. The spring is a pretty quiet time in for the science club. You should see us during the winter. We hang out here almost every weekend, sometimes more. Right Charlotte?”

“That’s right,” she said grinning. “I don’t hangout as much, mostly I just come to the official meetings and help with the projects.”

“A science club geek eh?” Kent said teasing her. I could tell he was just teasing, because of the light in his eyes when he spoke. He must really like her. It felt so good knowing my twin brother had someone who was so nice and genuine. I just wish he would feel the same way about me and my relationship with Jed.

“So tell us what happened with your dad, you guys? Jed, you were there too right?” Charlotte asked. “Ollie, could you turn the TV down a bit so we can talk?”

“No prob,” Ollie said getting up to turn the volume down before sitting back down on the coffee table between the two couches.

“Dad told us that the Pine Hill Country Club has a secret organization. It recruits new members by promising them perfect grades all the way through college so that they can get the best and most prestigious jobs. He turned them down in high school. Apparently Mayor Greenly did not. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say for himself on Friday,” I told Ollie and Charlotte. “Did I forget anything?”

“He suggested we have the police look into the disappearance of several other boys, starting with the year he graduated,” Kent added.

“The big question is what does that have to do with the boys who are disappearing now?” Jed asked. “Are they the boys who are in the club, or the boys who are selling their papers for money?”

“That’s easy,” I told Jed. “We just need to check the membership directory at the Country Club to see if any of the boys who disappeared are members.”

“That’s good,” Jed told me, “I would also like to get into the president’s office and see what else he had in those filing cabinets. Do you think we could get in there this weekend?”

“Sure, but that means you might have to actually dress up and go to dinner there. Do you think you could handle that?” I teased him.

“I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out, won’t you,” Jed said tickling my ribs.

Laughing, I said, “Why don’t we all go together? Friday night they usually have a special buffet.”

“Charlotte? Ollie?” Kent asked.

“Sure, sounds like fun,” Charlotte said.

Ollie shrugged, “I’m in.”

“Ok, why don’t we meet at the country club at seven. That should give whoever is going to meet with the Mayor plenty of time to get home and changed,” Kent said.

“Sounds good,” Jed said. “Now, about tonight.”

He proceeded to tell them about the note and picture that was taped to the windshield. “Whoever put it there, and I am leaning toward Martin because of his threats toward Nora, made it pretty clear that they are coming after her because of me.”

“How could they know she’s tied to you? They didn’t know that at first. I thought we agreed to be careful not to let them find out,” Kent asked once again narrowing his eyes at Jed. Was that all he ever did, I thought rolling my eyes.

“In the picture they sent me, it was pretty clear that she and I are together,” Jed told him.

“I want to see it,” Kent demanded.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jed told him.

“Didn’t you give it to the police?” I asked him, turning my head to look up at him.

“No, I showed it to them and they copied down the message and then let me keep it,” Jed said. Usually that wasn’t standard procedure, but those officers had known Jed and knew that he was on this case. Besides, it wasn’t exactly the type of picture Jed wanted circulated around work and knowing those guys it would have been posted everywhere.

“Is it really that bad?” I asked Jed curious.

“You haven’t seen it?” Kent inquired sitting forward on the couch.

“No, Jed wouldn’t let me,” I admitted, still a little bit miffed about that.

“I want to see it Greyson, and now,” Kent insisted standing up.

Tilting me to the side, Jed pulled his wallet out before settling me back against him.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he told Kent. “Don’t let Nora see it though.”

“Hey!” I protested.

“I’m not stupid,” Kent said, opening the picture from where Jed had folded it to fit it in his wallet. “Nora!”

“What?” I asked offended that Kent was upset. I knew that the picture probably showed us kissing. Hopefully it wasn’t really clear.

“His hands are …!.”

“Like I said, Barton, I didn’t think it would be a good idea for you to see it. Read the writing,” Jed said interrupting Kent’s ranting.

How embarrassing! I thought blushing hotly, I had a pretty good idea what that picture must show.

“But your…” Kent stopped and started again, trying to concentrate on reading the message at the bottom and not on the picture.

“I want this guy! How dare he!”

“My sentiments exactly,” Jed said. “Now do you see why I called this meeting?”

“What’s your plan?” Kent asked, handing the picture back to Jed, but not before giving me a look that promised we would be talking about it later.

“We need to watch ourselves. Ollie has already been abducted once. Nora has a threat out for her, and we found another body. We need to do some pretty heavy duty investigating in the next couple of days. I don’t want this to go on much longer. I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I know a way we can move things along.”

Ollie leaned back and turned off the TV. “Ok, were ready. What is it?”

“I think that Kent, being a member of the country club should try to get into this secret society. Maybe he can get inside and find out more about it. We need a name, a contact, and the person at the school who is in charge. What do you guys think?”

“I like it,” Kent said right away. “Do you think I should post it on the board? How do you think I should get invited to a meeting?”

“I think someone at this school must belong to it. It sounds like it’s by invitation for country club members only. I would just spread the word that you are doing bad in a class and need to get a good grade on your final term paper in order to pass.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard. I have class with almost every one of the guys whose family belongs to the club.”

“Good, and Nora can drop little hints around school also.”

“I’ll start by telling my friend Gabby tonight. I promised I would call her. I hate to use my friend like that, but if she tells Chris her boyfriend, it should be around school by lunch time tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a great guy,” Jed said.

“I don’t really know him that well,” I admitted. “I just know that Gabby really likes him. I haven’t seen her much lately, now that she is going out with Chris. They seem to always be together.”

“I haven’t heard from my friend about any of the guys selling papers yet,” Ollie said. “I’ll call Jimmy tonight. If anyone would know it would be him. He is always looking for ways to make extra money.”

“Ok, let’s all keep our eyes and ears posted. Hopefully we will know something before we meet for dinner on Friday,” Jed said.

“I better get home,” Charlotte said, “I have a Chemistry test tomorrow that I have got to study for.”

“Ok,” Kent said getting up and giving Charlotte his hand to pull her up. “I’ll drive you home. Ollie? Can we give you a ride home too? I know Nora has to take Jed back to get his motorcycle.”

“That would be great, thanks Kent,” Ollie said gathering his things. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” he waved to Jed and I.

As I started to get up Jed held on tighter. “Wait a minute,” he whispered in my ear. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Ok,” I said feeling little flutters of nervousness hit my stomach. “See you guys tomorrow. See you back at the house in a little bit Kent,” I waved.

“You better be right behind us,” Kent said pointedly, giving Jed a glare.

“I have something I need to discuss, and then we will lock up,” Jed told him.

“See that you make it quick,” Kent said finally walking out the door. We sat quietly together until we heard the Escape start up and then drive off.

As soon as they left Jed started trailing his hand up and down my arm, he brushed aside my hair and kissed my neck. “I could get used to this,” he said.

Sighing, I leaned back into him. Turning me, so that we were face-to-face, Jed gently pushed me back into the couch cushions and leaned over me. “What are you doing?” I asked breathlessly, putting my hands against his chest. We were truly all alone in this room. I know Jed had said he respected my values, but he wasn’t acting like it right now. I was starting to get a little nervous.

“I just want to kiss you for a minute before we talk. Kiss. That’s all.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I said quietly, lost in the look in his dark eyes. They looked very intense. Jed seemed to have iron self control, but I didn’t.

Slowly he lowered himself so that his chest was just inches from mine. Kissing me deeply, he lightly ran his hands up and down my sides. I moaned, my hands winding their way around his neck. Abruptly, he drew back.

“You’re right. Not a good idea.”

Sitting up he got up and walked over to the other couch. Leaning on the armrest, he stared down at the floor for a few minutes to get a hold of himself. Finally he said, “I wanted to talk to you about your dad and our relationship. I’m not going to hide it from him. I want to see you and be with you. I’m not afraid of him, like some other guys may have been. He won’t keep me from seeing you.”

Hearing Jed talk like that, it made me realize once again, how much more mature and older Jed seemed than most other guys our age. I didn’t want to hide it any more than he did. “You’re right. You’re a great guy; I know he’ll come around soon. I just didn’t want him to scare you off. He can be pretty intense sometimes.”