Undercover Justice (25 page)

Jed gave me an equally intense look. “I can guarantee that I won’t be scared off. Neither your dad nor your brother can stop me from seeing you. Would you like me to show you again what I mean by that?”

“No, no that’s not necessary,” I said holding up my hands with a grin. “I believe you made your point quite nicely already.”

“Nicely, huh?” he said with a grin.

“You know you did,” I told him blushing.

“I also wanted to talk about how worried I am about you. Martin knows who you are now. He knows where to find you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I know you don’t and trust me neither do I,” I said still sitting on the couch. “I promise that I won’t go anywhere by myself. I don’t go around looking for trouble, you know.”

“It just has a way of finding you,” Jed said with a resigned grin. “Why is that by the way?”

“I don’t know, honestly. It’s like I’m a magnet for trouble,” I complained.

“If I didn’t already know you were a magnet, I would now. Agreeing to be my girl is probably not the smartest thing you’ve ever done. I’m definitely not good for you. How did you let this happen?” he teased.

“Me let it happen?” I said, playing along.

“Yes,you. You’ve gotten under my skin somehow,” he said getting off the arm of the couch and walking towards me. Giving me a tender kiss, he took my hand and pulled me towards the door. “And on that note, I think it is time we get out of here. No need to tempt fate.”

As I followed him out of the building and into the night air, the cooler air hit me in the face. It reminded me that I was walking away from Jed’s warmth and the warmth I feel being with him. Not that I didn’t know deep down that I had to put some distance between us. I just didn’t want to walk back into reality yet.

On the way back to where we had left his bike, we were silent. Jed took my hand and we just sat there listening to music softly playing. I didn’t want this night to end. On one hand it had been a nightmare, and on the other it had been a wonderful romantic date with this tough handsome man sitting next to me. I had only known him for such a small amount of time. It felt like it was an eternity. I felt like I had known him my whole life.

We pulled into the parking lot quicker than I wanted. His bike was still sitting there right where he had left it, seemingly untouched.

“It looks like nobody touched your motorcycle,” I remarked.

“It was safe here. I know the owner. He said he would keep an eye on it,” Jed explained. On one of Jed’s calls as a rookie deputy he had responded to a B & E in progress. Jed and his partner had not only stopped the crime and arrested the burglar, but had also stayed with the older man who started having chest pain because of the scare. Jed had helped him clean up the shop and shut things down, while they waited for the ambulance. The man was very grateful and ever since that day, Jed stopped by often to say hi. All the local thugs knew that the police frequented the little shop and so they pretty much left it alone now.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jed said, leaning over to give me a quick kiss before getting out of the Camaro. I got out and walked around to the driver’s side.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” I told Jed sincerely. Wanting to say more, but suddenly shy, I ducked my head and said, “Also, thank you for respecting my beliefs.”

Knowing I meant his restraint back at the school Jed smiled. “You’re welcome,” he said tapping me lightly on my nose. “Your faith is starting to grow on me. Now get in the car. I’m not leaving until I watch you drive away. Promise me, you’ll go straight home.”

“I will,” I said getting back into the car. As I pulled out of the lot, I looked back in the mirror and saw Jed leaning against the seat; arms crossed waiting for me to go. Grinning, I pulled away thinking how much I was falling for Jedediah Greyson.

Chapter 19

“I can’t believe it,” Gabby said the next morning as we met for coffee before school. I had called her last night after I got home, but she was out with Chris and so suggested we meet for coffee to catch up. “Kent always gets good grades. How could he be failing a class?”

“Well, he’s not failing yet, but he needs to ace his final term paper in English. He hates English class, so he hasn’t been trying his hardest,” I explained having a harder time than I thought lying to her.

“I know the feeling,” Gabby said taking a sip of her steaming cappuccino. “I don’t know how Chris does it. He’s getting straight A’s in all his classes. He always seems to be busy. If we aren’t talking or going out somewhere, he is with doing something else. When does he find the time? Why can’t school be that easy for me?”

“It’s the same with me. This last week has been a challenge staying up on my work. Ever since we went on that field trip for social studies, my life hasn’t been the same.”

“You mean now that you and Jed are an item?” Gabby teased.

“How did you know?” I pretended to gasp.

Laughing, Gabby said, “Could it have been the time Jed walked into our prom committee meeting, totally dissed Vanessa and tired to kiss you silly? Or was it the time I saw you two walking down the hall together after social studies with his arms around you whispering sweet nothings in your ear?”

“It wasn’t sweet nothings,” I protested good-naturedly.

“Ah! So you admit it,” Gabby squealed.

“What about you and Chris?” I asked changing the focus back to her. “It seems like you are getting pretty serious about him.”

“Actually, it’s weird. I enjoy his company and he is pretty good looking, but he doesn’t... I don’t know make me feel.. What’s the word I’m looking for.. passionate. That’s it. I want a guy like Jed, tough, mature, and sexy; who just inspires passionate feelings. Is that so much to ask?”

Now that I knew the difference, I could see her point. “So why are you still with Chris?” I asked her slowly sipping at my drink.

“I do like him, don’t get me wrong. He asked me to prom too. Is that shallow of me? I want to have a date to our senior prom. If I break up with him now, that means I will probably be going alone,” she asked.

“You don’t always have to be passionately in love with someone,” I reminded her. “If you enjoy being with him, then there is nothing wrong with that.”

“You’re right. Who knows, maybe I will feel differently after prom. It is supposed to be the most romantic night of our whole seventeen years. Right?”

“Actually eighteen for me,” I said grinning. “Our birthday is coming up in a little over two weeks,” I reminded her, speaking about mine and Kent’s shared birthday.

“You are so lucky. My birthday isn’t until summer. Speaking of summer, did you see that flyer going around about that trip the science club is sponsoring?”

“No, what about it?” I asked interested.

“I’m not really sure. Apparently there’s going to be some sort of trip out of state for a few weeks in the summer. I haven’t seen it myself, but overheard people talking about it yesterday.”

“Find out more about it. Maybe it would be worth going to,” I suggested intrigued. A trip away from all this sounded heavenly.

As we finished our drinks, I got a text from Jed saying, “Where R U?”

I replied, “With Gabby for coffee.” Before I could put my phone back in my purse, it was vibrating again with another message.

“Don’t go off alone.” Rolling my eyes, I quickly typed back. “Thanks, I remember that from last night.”

“Just making sure,” he replied.

“Who’s that?” Gabby asked.”Kent?”

“No, it’s Jed just wondering where I am. Kent must have gotten to school and Jed noticed I wasn’t with him like I usually am.”

“We better get to school. Good thing it’s just around the corner,” Gabby said as we walked out of the coffee shop. “See you there,” she waved getting into her car.

Walking the couple steps to my car, a weird feeling suddenly raised the hairs on the back of my neck and made my heart start racing. Quickly I glanced around, but I didn’t see anyone. I opened the door and climbed in immediately locking the doors behind me. Turning the key, I glanced around and saw a dark car, parked on the other side of the lot, start up and slowly start inching toward me.

Hurrying, I put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking space as fast as the tight quarters would allow. Turning right, I headed for school. Glancing back in my rear view mirror, I could see the car following me at a distance. Heart still pounding, I turned into the school parking lot watching to see what the car did. It slowly kept driving, until it turned into a drive at the other end of the school. Then it crept toward this side of the parking lot. Clearly, whoever it was, was waiting for me to get out of my car.

As soon as I found a parking space, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jed. He answered right away. “Hi. You here?”

“Jed! I think someone is following me. They are still in the parking lot coming toward me. I think the person is waiting for me to get out of the car.”

“Lock the doors and stay there. I’m on my way. Where are you parked?”

“I am in the row just west of the entrance. Maybe twenty cars down.”

“Ok, I see you. I am in the courtyard. Stay on the phone. Give me a description of the car.”

I couldn’t see Jed yet. I knew he was coming for me, but I was still nervous. Straining to see where the dark car was, I said, “It’s a dark color, the windows are tinted. I think it has four doors. I can’t see it now.”

“Hold on a second while I look for it,” Jed said. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was running now.

“I got it! It’s heading your way. I want you to get down in your seat. Do not stick your head up until I tell you it is clear. Do you understand me?” Jed practically shouted into the phone.

“Ok, I am getting down now,” I said getting unbuckled and scooting down in my seat so that I wasn’t visible.

“I am almost there. Don’t worry. I am going to hang up the phone now because I want to try to see who it is. I will be right here,” Jed must have hit disconnect because suddenly all I heard was the sound of my racing heart.

A few minutes later I heard the sound of tires squealing out of the parking lot. I was so relieved that I wasn’t prepared for Jed to knock on the window. I jumped at the sound. “It’s me,” Jed said through the glass.

Hurriedly I unlocked the door and climbed out, into Jed’s waiting arms. “Who was it? Did you see him?” I asked as Jed squished me up into a big bear hug.

“Yeah, I saw him,” Jed said. “And he saw me. Come on, let’s get inside. It was definitely Martin. He left as soon as he saw me heading your way.”

Shaking, I snuggled up next to Jed as we walked into school. “It’s ok,” he said,” I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

“I know,” I told him as he followed me to my locker. “I’m just not used to being in danger all the time.”

“Most people never have to know what it feels like. I think you’re doing great.”

“You do?”

“What do you think?” he said backing me up against my locker and tilting my head up to look him in the eye. His eyes were warm and for once transparent. He let me see his emotions; I could see the concern for me as well as admiration. Just as quickly they turned dark again closing off the bridge to Jed’s thoughts.

The first bell rang. Turning out of Jed’s arms, I put my stuff inside my locker, grabbed what I needed for social studies and shut the door.

“We better hurry, I don’t think Ms. Morley will be very happy if you are late for class again Jed,” I said pulling him along.

“Probably not,” he conceded.

We found seats next to everyone just as the second bell was ringing. “Where were you two?” Ollie asked. “I didn’t think you were going to make it before the bell.”

“Nora had a little problem with a tail that I had to take care of.”

“Huh?” Charlotte asked.

“Are you ok?” Kent said, obviously understanding what Jed meant.

“I’m fine, Jed scared him away,” I reassured him, getting out my notebook. It didn’t look like Kent was going to let it go.

“This is starting to get serious,” Kent said.

“What was your first clue?” Jed asked sarcastically. “The first dead body or the second?”

“I meant serious for Nora,” Kent said angrily.

“Yes, it is. I am pretty sure it was Martin following her.”

Ms. Morley called attention then, drawing our gazes to the board. “Do you see that?” I whispered.

“We see it,” Kent whispered back. “News sure travels fast around here. I’ve only had a chance to tell a handful of people.”

“Yeah? Well I’ve only told one person,” I said looking over at Gabby, who was sitting next to Chris again.

Someone had drawn the symbol of the open book with a P on one page and the H on the other in the upper right corner of the chalkboard.

“Why do you think it is there?” I asked.

“It must be some sort of signal. I seems like it would be too soon for the message to be directed at Kent,” Jed said reasonably.

“That’s true. Do you think it is like advertising? They are saying that there is a paper available for this class?”