UNKNOWN ALLIANCE Page 14

  CJ to Brandi: I’d love to get hot under your covers with you. Did you take a pic?

  Brandi shivered and crawled under her bedding.

  Brandi to CJ: I have to go.

  CJ to Brandi: Did I make you feel uncomfortable? If I did, I’m sorry. You’re smoking hot—my mouth doesn’t know when to shut-up. Don’t go.

  Brandi to CJ: No, you didn’t. She lied. My mom told me I have to get off the computer. She lied again.

  CJ to Brandi: Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.

  Brandi to CJ: Not fair. I’d say the same to you but since I don’t know who you are, I can’t.

  Brandi to Rae: I’m getting off Jab. Text me if you want.

  The clock showed it was almost ten o’clock.

  Rae to Brandi: I’m tired, I’m going to sleep. See you tomorrow. Friday! Winter Ball in 2 days!!!!!!!!!

  Brandi to Rae: (thumb’s up Emoji)

  Brandi closed her laptop and turned out the lights. Her mind considered who might ask her to dance on Saturday. She thought of several guys she hoped might be him and several others she prayed were not.

  Brandi’s father opened her bedroom door and peeked inside. Light from the hallway spilled into her pink room, causing the room to glow. “Goodnight sweetheart.”

  “Night, dad.”

  Chapter 39

  Mac and Roni chatted with Nico before the dismissal bell. Parents and drivers lined up their cars along the curb, anxious to start their weekend. Other parents, like Brandi’s father, waited in the visitor parking lot across the street.

  The flag chain clanged against the pole in the crisp breeze.

  As the weeks ticked by, Mac felt more and more frustrated he hadn’t discovered the identity of Brandi’s assailant. Only partly tuned into the conversation between Nico and Roni, he mostly watched Scott and thought about how helpless the dad must feel.

  Mac said, “What did you just say? Rae has dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer?”

  “She loves to swim,” Nico said. “From what she’s told me when she lived with her parents, she used to get up early almost every day and met a swimming coach at the aquatic center.”

  “She hasn’t been able to get that going again?” Mac asked.

  Roni pulled her coat tighter around her chest and meandered toward a cluster of waiting moms.

  “The DeSalvo’s have a swimming pool, so she swims there.”

  “What about the coach?”

  Nico shrugged. “She hasn’t said anything about continuing to work with a coach.”

  “I did competitive swimming in high school until my old man made me quit the team.”

  “Why’d he do that?”

  “Long story for another day.”

  The bell rang and when the doors opened a herd of kids filed outside.

  Nico and Mac stepped back out of the mainstream.

  “Jiu jitsu on Sunday?” Mac asked.

  “I’ll be there.” Nico had a cockeyed grin.

  Rae, Brandi, Stu, and Kevin walked outside together. Rae’s face lit up when she saw Nico. Brandi scanned the parking lot until she found her dad. Kevin’s aunt picked him up. Stu always hitched a ride with whomever he could. Today, he appeared to get a ride from Kevin’s aunt.

  As she pulled away from the curb, Kevin gave an eerie stare at Mac through the window.

  Rae looked at Mac with wide open eyes.

  Nico broke the awkward silence that followed. “Hey, Rae, Mac did competitive swimming in high school.”

  Her eyes lit up. “You did? What events? Where’d you go to high school?”

  “I went to Brookfield.”

  The upturned corners of her mouth sagged.

  “My best events were in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, and 100-meter butterfly.”

  “Really? Do you remember your best times?”

  Mac looked around at the few groups of parents and students lingering. “Hmmm, seems like my all-time best in the 50 freestyle was 24.”

  “Wow, that’s fast. Did you want to compete at the Olympic level?”

  “Every kid dreams of the ultimate competition,” Mac said. “Don’t you?”

  “I did. Not anymore,” Rae said.

  “Don’t give up on your dream. My dad forced me out of swimming. It still stings when I think what I might have been able to do had I stayed on the swim team.”

  By now, most of the parents and students had left the area with a few stragglers waiting for rides or conversing.

  “Why’d your dad make you quit?”

  He swatted his hand through the air in front of him. “That’s a long story. Are you still working with a coach?”

  Sadness washed over her face. “I haven’t asked my foster parents about a coach. Coaches are expensive.”

  “Tell you what, I have an air force buddy who’s a USA Swim Coach. He’s in Sacramento. I’ll call him and see what he can do to help you out.”

  She lunged forward and hugged Mac. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  He looked at Nico who nodded his approval.

  “I can’t promise anything.”

  She stepped backward. “Oh, I know. When will you call him?”

  Crinkly lines appeared at the edge of his eyes as his smile grew into a grin. “I’ll call him over the weekend and let you know on Monday.”

  “Thank you so much.” She turned to leave, glancing back at Nico. “Come on, I need to tell Joss the news.” Rae took a few steps and then turned back to face Mac. “Have a great weekend.”

  “You too.”

  Mac had a few things to finish in his office before he’d be able to start his weekend. He focused on the stack of neatly smoothed notes from the tip boxes when Marlene buzzed him on the phone.

  “Yes, Marlene.”

  “Officer Tanner’s here to see you. Okay to send her your way?”

  “Yes.”

  He hurried around his desk to open his office door before she knocked.

  “Hello, Officer Tanner,” he said as she approached.

  She wasn’t in uniform.

  “Please, call me Monica.”

  “Casual Friday at the police department?”

  “My day off.” She gave him a smile. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by to ask how Rae’s doing.”

  He wondered if she was as attracted to him as he was to her. She could have called to ask about Rae.

  “You just missed her. She seems to be doing well. She made a few friends. Some good, some not so good. She smiles more.”

  “What do you mean she’s made some not-so-good friends?”

  “A couple of knuckleheads befriended her. They’re the kind of boys that trouble follows.”

  “Hmmm. I don’t like the sound of that. Can you share names with me?”

  Mac thought for a moment wrestling with whether he should give names or not. She’s the police, why not?”

  “Are you familiar with the name Randall Jackson?” he asked.

  “The guy who was found guilty of—?”

  “That’s the one. His son, Kevin, in my opinion, is not a good influence. How about the name Fred Collins?”

  “The criminal attorney in town?”

  “Bingo. You’re two for two. His oldest son Stu pals around with Kevin. They hang out with Rae and her friend Brandi.”

  “I see what you mean.”

  Mac looked at his pile of tips and then at his wristwatch. Almost five-thirty.

  “Since it’s your night off, if you don’t have plans would you like to grab some dinner at the Main Street Pub?”

  “I don’t have plans. I’d like that. Thanks. But we split the bill.”

  “We can sort it out when the bill comes.”

  He shut down his computer and filed the notes in the desk drawer before retrieving his duty weapon. He flipped the light off on his way out the door and locked his office in record time.

  As they walked by Marlene’s office, he noticed she already left for the day. Both her office and the interim boss
’s were dark.

  “I’ll meet you there,” she said when they walked outside.

  “I need to stop by my place to pick up my dog, Roxy anyway. Be there in fifteen.”

  She gave him a thumb’s up.

  When he approached his truck, he saw a piece of paper under his windshield wiper blade. He snatched the note and hopped into his truck before he read it.

  A full-size sheet of paper with letters cut out of a magazine like the note he’d found on Roxy in October when there had been a break-in at his house. The letters spelled out, ‘Mind your own business. We know where you and your dog live.’

  Not this shit again. He looked around for any strange or idling vehicles. Few cars were in the vicinity. Slamming the transmission into reverse, he punched the throttle to back out of his parking spot and jammed the truck into drive.

  Chapter 40

  Rae startled Joss when she burst through the front door with Nico on her heels.

  “Oh,” she squealed and jumped at the same time. “You scared me. What’s the rush?”

  “Guess what the school marshal’s going to do for me?”

  Joss looked at Nico. He shrugged.

  “I’m going to take off unless you need me for anything else.”

  “Thank you, Nico, you’re free to go and enjoy your evening.”

  Nico turned to Rae. “What time would you like me to pick you up tomorrow?”

  “We’re going to dinner first and then need to be at the dance before seven, how does five-thirty sound?”

  “See you at five-thirty.”

  Before Nico had closed the front door behind him, Rae began telling her foster mother about Mac’s offer to call his friend, a swim coach.

  Joss listened and enjoyed seeing Rae’s enthusiasm. As Rae rambled on about swimming, aquatics programs, and specific events, Joss became more anxious about how to squash the young girl’s passion without causing her more heartache.

  Rae was like a freight train on a dead-head run. As she slowed down and appeared to be running out of steam, Joss seized the moment to delay the approval she felt Rae hoped for. “I’ll talk with Steffan about the school marshal’s generous gesture.”

  “Great, I’m going to swim before dinner.” Rae bounded up the stairs to her bedroom. Joss sat on the sofa an extra minute while deciding what to do about this latest development.

  Steffan entered the room. “Why you put this bad news on—” His Italian accent more present when he felt stressed.

  Joss put a finger to her mouth shushing her husband. She whispered, “Wait until she’s outside.”

  They were in the kitchen when Rae breezed through on her way to the pool.

  “Don’t stay out there too long, it’s a bit cold,” Joss called as Rae approached the door.

  “I won’t.” She bolted out the door.

  “Okay. Why you make me be the bad dude?” Steffan asked his wife.

  “I didn’t know how to stall her until I could speak with Lyla.”

  He waved his wife away. “Go now, call her.”

  Joss shut the bedroom door and because she was paranoid Rae would overhear her conversation she went into her dressing room to make the call.

  “Jossalyn, what a lovely surprise.” Lyla Blackstone’s cheerful voice had a lightness to it that Joss seldom heard these days. “How are you, dear?”

  “I’m well, thank you. How’re you?”

  “I can’t complain because nobody cares.” She burst into forced laughter. “You didn’t call to ask how I am, what’s on your mind?”

  “When Rae—”

  Lyla was quick to correct her. “RaeAnn.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry. Do you remember RaeAnn telling us how much she loved swimming and her dream to swim in the Olympics?”

  “Yes, yes. Get on with it.”

  “When RaeAnn arrived home this afternoon from school she was quite beside herself. The school marshal, Mr. Mac, offered to contact an old friend of his to possibly arrange for him to coach Rae, ummm, RaeAnn, in swimming.”

  “We’ve talked about this. As I told you, we can’t allow that to happen, Jossalyn. You’ll need to set her straight.”

  “I’m not sure how to tell her no. She’s already had so much heartbreak and all. We aren’t even sure what Mr. Mac’s friend will say.” Joss felt a migraine developing.

  “Okay. Let’s see what the marshal says about his friend.”

  “Thank you, Lyla.”

  “But under no circumstances are you to allow her to be coached by this person. And furthermore, do not encourage her regarding the Olympic silliness. I’m sure she would have already been scouted if she had an iota of a chance to make the U.S. team.”

  Lyla’s words were a stab to Joss’s gut.

  “I understand,” Joss said.

  “Can I count on you, Josslyn?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very good then. Lovely chat, dear. We must do tea again soon.”

  “I’d like that.” She lied.

  “Keep me posted.”

  Before Joss could respond the phone connection went dead. She felt it was just as well, they had nothing more to say to each other.

  She padded toward the kitchen. The smell of tomatoes, pasta, and garlic met her midway on the staircase. Steffan had his back to her, and when she touched his shoulder, he jumped.

  “Don’t do that—”

  “Is she still in the pool?”

  “Yes.”

  “Lyla said to wait and see what Mr. Mac says about his friend. But we can’t allow her to take the swimming lessons.”

  His shoulders slumped. He stared into his wife’s eyes.

  “Don’t look at me like that. We knew what we agreed to when we said we’d accept her into our home.”

  She pulled a pill bottle from the cabinet and shook two pills into her hand. “I feel a migraine, I’m going to skip dinner and go to bed.”

  “You’re going to hide?”

  “No. Well, yes. But I do feel the beginning of a migraine.”

  “Fine. Go to bed.”

  She quickly popped the pills into her mouth and gulped water before rushing off to her bedroom. A small guilt pang washed over at her cowardliness for hiding from Rae and leaving Steffan to play dumb.

  When Lyla asked Joss and Steffan to be Rae’s foster parents, she thought because they could provide her with most anything she might want they wouldn’t be in a position to have to tell her no for anything.

  Joss and Steffan had given up trying to have children many years ago. They decided God had a different plan for them. When Lyla presented them with the opportunity to parent Rae, they mistakenly thought this was the Lord’s plan. They neglected to factor in Lyla Blackstone.

  Chapter 41

  Nothing out of place at home, he and Roxy arrived at the restaurant on schedule. Mac parked in a spot where he could see his truck from inside the Pub. He wanted to keep an eye on his Roxy.

  Inside, he saw Monica and made a beeline for her.

  “Are you okay? You look like something happened.”

  He slid onto the empty side of the booth.

  “Found this note on my windshield at the school.” He tossed the paper onto the table.

  A server approached as Monica lifted the paper to look at it. She quickly turned the paper face down.

  The server placed a basket of tortilla chips and a small bowl of salsa in the center of their table. They both ordered a beer.

  Monica turned the paper over and looked at it. “What’s this about?”

  He showed her a photo of the similarly styled note he received in the fall.

  “When did you receive this one?”

  They ate, drank beer and crunched on chips and salsa while Mac filled her in on the break-in at his home.

  “If you think the first warning related to drug dealing at the school and they were busted, then why did you get another warning?”

  “A few days ago, I followed one of the guys I believe was also involved in the drug sce
ne.”

  She coughed, almost choking on her chip. “Why would you do that?”

  “Technically, I didn’t follow him. Like he had done in October, the dude picked up the lawyer’s kid at school. I kept his address or what I thought was his address, from before. When I saw him at the school on Wednesday, I instinctively drove there. And found his car parked in the driveway. I wanted to see if the lawyer’s son was there too but I don’t think so.”

  “You should have told Detective Marten instead of chasing it down yourself.”

  “There wasn’t much to tell or chase down. And I didn’t think anyone saw me. The neighborhood was quiet.”

  They both ordered tacos and another beer.

  Mac kept an eye on his truck to be sure nobody messed with it or Roxy. He liked that Monica had a good appetite. After she ate the last few bites of her taco, she looked at him.

  “Tell me something personal about yourself. Did you grow up here?”

  The server placed the bill on the table. Mac snatched it one second before she could reach for it.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “I’ll tell you something personal about me. My mother raised a gentleman, and there’s no way you’re paying for any part of dinner tonight.”

  She smiled and said, “Thank you.”

  For the next hour, they swapped stories from their past while they sipped water. Mac liked how easygoing she seemed. He also liked that they had a lot in common. He hadn’t noticed her at the training center before, but she told him she had a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and trained there. She appeared impressed that he was a brown belt.

  He told her about Roxy, and she told him about her Maltese, Comet.

  Monica leaned forward. “Before we head out, will you tell me a little about Brandi, the girl with whom Rae became friends? Is she a good friend or not so good friend?”

  “She’s a good friend. I think Brandi and Rae have bonded over their hardships.”

  “Brandi’s had a hardship? Did she also lose a parent?”

  “No. Well. Ummm, can we keep this between us?” Mac hesitated, remembering Scott’s insistence to not involve the police.

  “Of course.” She crossed her heart with her finger. “Cross my heart. I promise to keep this between us.”