Amateur Hour

Janice

She wasn’t too surprised to see Liam, even so early, but Janice was taken aback, by the way he practically burst through the door of her office. His green eyes were wide, behind his spectacles, and there was an odd, rumpled look to his appearance.

“Hi, Sugar. What —”

“I’ve got something for you,” he cut her off, yanking at his tie.

Janice felt her own eyes widen, as he pulled it over his head, and began to unbutton his shirt, somewhat clumsily in his excitement.

“Need some help?” she asked, when she found her voice again.

“No, I’ve got it.”

She watched him fumble inside his open shirt, at the back, and finally produce a clutch of files.

“What on earth —”

“Stash them in your desk, Honey,” he replied, forking them over.

Janice took them, and stowed them in the front of her own file drawer.

“They’re the last of the student files we wanted.” Liam explained the rest, while he buttoned his shirt, and replaced his tie.

“And, I have them now, because…”

“Because your office door locks, and I don’t want them loose, in one of my classroom desk drawers.”

“Okay. What next?”

“I figured you could photograph them, after lunch, if you would.” Liam, now looking more put together than he had, when he had come in, collapsed into her other chair, with a heavy exhalation, and a grin.

“And, here I thought you were just looking in on me,” she teased.

“Of course, I am. I meant to come by, all along. It’s just that this came up, too. Since when do you argue with serendipity?” He pretended to scowl at her, but his eyes were still gleaming.

Janice laughed. He never ceased to surprise her.

“How are we going to return them?” she asked.

“Jan, please — one crisis at a time.”

“I think I have an idea. I can manufacture a reason to visit Dr. Starkey, before the secretary goes to lunch, and leave his office, before she comes back. I could slip the files back into the cabinet, while the outer office is empty.”

“How would you conceal them, going in? No jacket,” he pointed out. “What about this — you keep him too occupied to notice someone in the outer office, and I’ll put the files back.”

“That could work,” she nodded. “Speaking of lunch…”

“Yeah, we ought to go.”

*******

They made it, just in time. Janice was relieved to see Guy in his accustomed place, at Liam’s table. Whatever punishment had been meted out by Starkey, it didn’t appear to have been too harsh.

Turning her attention back to her own table, she noticed that she wasn’t the only one, with an eye on Guy Ramirez. The new girl, Kayla Sawyer, was gazing at him, too with a cold stare. Liam’s explanation of all that had transpired earlier confirmed her own suspicions, regarding Kayla.

The timing of the girl’s arrival had been too on-the-nose, for her to have been anything other than a new partner, for Guy. She had been studying him, at breakfast, too. Yet, there had been something unfriendly about it.

Janice had caught occasional glances between Guy and Steph Howard, at meals. They had been communicative, in some sense that she would be hard pressed to define — not altogether unlike the looks that passed between herself and Liam, when their eyes met.

There was none of that, with Guy and Kayla. Her gaze was cool, and speculative. His was contemptuous, even hostile, and their gazes never met.

“You’re better off not to waste your attention on mean boys, Miss Sawyer,” Janice remarked, at one point, during the meal.

“Beg your pardon, Ma’am?”

Kayla looked startled, and a small frown appeared over her huge, grey eyes.

“Mr. Miles mentioned that Mr. Ramirez was picking on you, in class, this morning. Don’t give him the satisfaction, dear.”

“I’m sure you’re right, Ma’am. Bullies shouldn’t be encouraged.”

“Guy’s always been nice, to me,” one of the freshmen girls, Gina Ramos, spoke up. “But, maybe it’s because we’re both Puerto Rican.”

“I’m not sure it’s that,” Toby Byrd mused. “I mean, he’s a smart Alec, but I think he’s just trying to be funny. If you ask him a serious question, he gives you a serious answer, and he’s polite about it.”

Janice glanced at Kayla, to see her reaction to these comments. It was far from typical. Any ordinary girl would be getting steamed by other girls defending a boy that had supposedly wronged her.

Kayla looked like she was watching monkeys in a zoo. She was removed, and a there was a hint of smugness about her. Not much of an actress, Janice thought. Steph Howard would have given every appearance of being ready to burst into flames.

“Nevertheless, it was bullying behavior,” Janice said. “Girls and women who behave like ladies, deserve to be treated as such. Never dignify boorish behavior, ladies. It only encourages more of the same.”

“Too many of the other teachers let it slide,” Toby said. “I’m glad Mr. Miles doesn’t. We have enough to worry ab—” She cut herself off, and shook her head.

“You do have enough to worry about, Miss Byrd,” Janice affirmed. “This school is difficult enough, without other students making it harder. You should at least be able to depend on the teachers to nip the bullying, in the bud. When they don’t seem to care, it’s a betrayal.”

“I wish I knew what Steph told her parents, to get herself out of here,” Sasha Barnes mused. “She went home, while you were on leave, Mrs. Miles, and just never came back. Steph was okay, for an Honors student.” There was a hint of anxiety in the girl’s face.

“I knew she went home,” Janice said, “but nothing more than that. Would you like for me to see if I can get an address, for you to write to her, Miss Barnes?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’ll do that.” Janice smiled. She could give Sasha her own address, and pass any letters to Steph, by hand. It would ease the girl’s mind.

On her way back to her office, Janice had to wonder how she had become a psychologist, a wife, a guidance counselor, a secret agent, and now a volunteer postmistress. None of it would have been on her list of career choices, twenty years ago. Now, she had to move on, to her gig as a photographer.

Liam. Most of this was Liam’s fault, she decided, with a tiny grin, as she closed her office door, and locked it.

**************

Nina

To say that she jumped at the chance to leave her gilded cage would be an exaggeration. It had been a long, tedious weekend, when she wasn’t worried about Ted. She didn’t doubt that, by now, he had arranged for someone to be with his mother, at all hours of the day and night, but who was looking after him?

Her fears for herself had long subsided. She hadn’t been neglected, forgotten, or actively mistreated in any way, other than being confined to a single room. Nurse Jack was odious, to be sure, and Gordon made her skin crawl, but the evening ‘nurse’ seemed to have no more connection to the school than the man who mowed the lawn, outside.

Jack seemed to be running late, this morning. Nina had risen, showered, and dressed before sunup. The nurse usually showed up around eight-thirty, with her breakfast tray. It was nine-thirty, when he knocked on her door, waited three seconds, then entered, sans tray.

“Good morning, Mrs. Billie,” he greeted her.

Nina smirked. She’d won that battle — he no longer called her, ‘Miss Nina’.

“Jack,” she nodded. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of questioning his lack of a food tray for her.

“I’m here to collect your laundry, and to make your bed. Mr. Eldridge has invited you to breakfast, in the sitting room.”

“Did Mr. Eldridge send a map?”

“I’ll show you the way, of course.”

And watch her eat, escort her back, and lock her in, again, no doubt. Nina held her peace, watching Jack remake the bed that she had already made. She wasn’t fooled. He was searching her bed, to ensure she hadn’t hidden anything in it. Foolish Jack. He thought she was more daring than she was.

“You didn’t take your Diclegis,” he commented, seeing the pills, still in the little cup, beside the bed.

“It’s not my Diclegis. It’s your Diclegis. I’m not sick.”

“Are you sure? It’s a safe anti-emetic, for pregnant women.”

“Jack, if I get sick, you’ll know it. I’ll make a point of barfing on you.”

Jack grunted. “It wouldn’t be the first time it’s ever happened.” He gave the spread a final smoothing, then stepped into the bathroom, to collect the laundry bag, from her hamper. “Shall we?” He nodded toward the door.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Yes. I can leave, lock the door, and you can eat, at lunch time.”

“So, not much choice. All right, then.”

She had been right — the house was enormous. Nina lost track of the hallways she followed Jack through, to finally arrive at the sitting room, where Gordon awaited her. She was somewhat surprised, when Jack showed her in, then left, without a word.

“Please, have a seat, Nina.” Gordon waved toward a chair, at the opposite end of the small table by the window. “I had them hold breakfast, until you arrived, but the coffee is hot and fresh. Decaffeinated, of course, so you may drink all you want.”

“Thank you.” Nina poured out, into the cup at her end of the table, adding only creamer. She sat down, and waited.

“Is your neck feeling any better?” he asked, laying aside the book he had been reading.

“Some.”

“Good. Dr. La Face says you refuse anything but acetaminophen, for the pain.”

“I know acetaminophen,” she shrugged. “I’m pregnant, and I’m not a pharmacist.”

“I see your point. You’re not very communicative, either, are you?”

“We’re not here, to entertain each other, are we, Gordon?”

“We’re not,” he admitted. “But, we needn’t be enemies, either.”

“Are you sure about that? I didn’t ask to be here. I’m not allowed to leave, am i?”

“No, my dear. You are not. You’ve been injured, you have no transportation, no phone, no funds, and we’re out in the middle of nowhere, in particular.”

“Every bit of that, is your doing. Would you tell me why?”

“Over breakfast,” he said, “which should arrive, any minute, now.”

He had no sooner finished that speech then two raps came, at the door, and a man entered with a large tray. He placed a domed plate, a glass of juice, cutlery and napkins before each of them, and was gone.

“My reason for bringing you here, is simple,” Gordon resumed, lifting the dome from his plate. “I lost my son, and I want him, back.”

She was dumbstruck. His son wasn’t the only thing he’d lost. He’d lost his mind, as well, she thought.

“Why on earth — what makes you think —” She didn’t know how to finish, she was so perplexed.

“Theodore is my heir, for better, or for worse. But, I can’t leave everything I have to someone who doesn’t understand what he’s getting, can I?”

“I don’t think Ted has any interest in your business, whatever the hell it is, or your money, Gordon.”

“It’s a lot of money. It’s a successful business, too. He’s a teacher — it should be right up his alley.”

“Owning schools that torture children? Somehow, I doubt it.”

“Pfft… Torture. Nothing of the kind. Do eat, Nina. You need to stay strong, and healthy.”

Nina pushed her plate away, still uncovered, almost knocking over her juice glass.

“You kidnap them. You drug them. You alienate them from each other and everyone else. You —”

“That must to be the Gospel according to Ted,” he smirked, buttering a biscuit.

“And others.”

“I remove them from unsafe influences. When necessary, they are given medication to regulate their moods, of help their ability to concentrate and learn. I provide a safe environment, for them to learn, where they don’t get one another into mischief. Nina — your husband, my own son, is the beneficiary of a similar program.”

“Beneficiary?!”

“Yes, indeed. He straightened up, got a good education, became a productive member of society. Overall, I would say he benefited. Of course, my own program is superior to the one he experienced. At the time, that old model was the most progressive. It still has its uses, I suppose, with the more recalcitrant students.”

“My husband would never, ever, have a part in your ‘business’, Gordon.”

“He already does. I sign his paycheck. Well, not directly, but you know what I mean.”

“Ted wants nothing to do with you.” Nina was startled by the trembling of her voice. She had never been so incensed.

“He’s made that clear, yes. That’s why you’re here, Nina. To bring Theodore here. It’s up to you, whether you’ll be a guest hostage, or an imprisoned one.

“I would prefer to treat you as a guest. We needn’t be friends, but we can be civil. As my guest, you may leave your room, use many of the other rooms, in the house, go outside — I’ll even be happy to supply you with painting and sketching materials. Or, you can stay in your room, and content yourself with visits from Jack.”

“If you think I’m afraid of Jack —”

Gordon chuckled. “Goodness, no! The only threat Jack poses, is one of boredom. You haven’t eaten a bite,” he observed.

“I’m not hungry.”

“I’ll have someone see you back to your room, then, and bring you a breakfast tray. You’ll want to think about my offer, I imagine.”

Nina

In the back of her mind, Nina knew she was going to accept Gordon’s offer of more freedom of movement, the moment the words were out of his mouth. Only a fool would pass up a chance to scope out the house and grounds, learn the household routine, and maybe find potential weapons. Nina might be under-educated, but she was not a fool.

At the front of her mind was the scene that had just played out, with her father-in-law. There was, as Janice might say, a lot to unpack, and Nina was content to do so, in the quiet of her room.

The man was crazy. There was no way around it. There would be igloos in hell, before Ted would agree to take over any business of Gordon’s. His passion for teaching, and his hatred for his father, made it impossible. Gordon underestimated both, if he thought there was any way that would happen.

She was certain Ted would know who had her, by now, if he didn’t know where she was. His instinct would be to come for her, free her, then punish Gordon — in that order. How he might do so, was something she couldn’t foresee.

In the meantime, there was nothing for her to do, but watch and wait. And pray, her mind added. As much as she would have liked drawing or painting supplies, Nina would have given almost anything, at the moment, for her flute.

Playing the flute, was her primary way of connecting with Spirit, especially when words failed her. Words failed her, more often than she would like.

**************

Ted/Liam

Slugging the bag wasn’t working as well for him, as it usually did, and after five minutes, Ted gave it up. He was dripping sweat, and still as angry as he had been, when he started. He peeled the Velcro back from one wrist, with his teeth, and removed the first bag glove, then the other.

The sight of Liam, loitering by the open garage door, startled him, but he faked a smile, and gestured for him to come in.

“Want something to drink?” Ted offered, opening his mini fridge. “I have blue, orange, red, and water.”

“I’ll have orange, if it’s not your last one.”

Ted brought out a sixteen-ounce bottle, and tossed it to Liam, before securing one, for himself.

“I never run out of orange. Is it after four, already?”

“Four-thirty eight,” Liam answered, glancing at his watch, before twisting the cap off his bottle. “Jan wanted to look in on Hannah. Hope you don’t mind.”

“You two are always welcome.” He waved toward a vacant lawn chair, that had seen better days, and seated himself on the end of his weight bench.

“I interrupted your workout.”

“I was finished. I like to lift, first, then go to the bag.” Ted grabbed his towel, and mopped his face, before uncapping his own drink.

Liam nodded. Weights had never been his thing. He preferred swimming and running. It was just one more thing that they didn’t have, in common.

“You were really waling on it.”

“I was, but it wasn’t helping. You been standing there, long?”

“Not really. Long enough to know that I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of any of those punches.”

Ted smiled. “You look pretty agile. You’d probably be out of the way, two seconds before I could land one. So would my old man, for that matter. He was always as quick as a snake.”

A small silence fell between them, as they sipped their drinks. Liam watched Ted. Ted stared moodily at the garage floor.

“You think he has her?” Liam was unsettled, by his own question, but he held Ted’s gaze, when he looked up.

“Who else? No one else would have the means and motive to kidnap Nina. Or, to leave her car, where it was left.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was almost exactly where I sank Gordon’s car, when I was a kid.”

Liam jerked back, in his chair, as though he had received a punch. Ted was smiling, but his eyes had taken on an angry glint.

“The hell, you say! I guess I can see why you didn’t tell the cops about that.”

“That was aimed directly at me, all right,” Ted agreed. “I plan to kill him,” he added, in a matter-of-fact tone.

“First, you have to find him, and get Nina back. Have you told Steph Howard about the significance of where the car was found?”

“Yeah. I called her. Didn’t want Janice to know that detail, which is why I didn’t mention it, when we met Stephanie, in Marianna. If she knew, she might guess that I’m planning to hurt him. Seems to me, she has enough, on her mind.”

“Prison isn’t good enough?”

Ted shook his head.

“Men like Gordon Eldridge don’t go to prison. They create prisons, for the innocent, and turn a profit.”

Liam studied his colleague. He could understand the impulse, certainly. The notion was unhinged, but Ted looked completely sane. Liam, as a historian, knew men had been killed for less, in the not-so-distant past, than what Eldridge had done.

“Don’t worry. I’m a patient man. I don’t mean to dispose of him, until we find out what’s really happening to those kids.”

“Nina doesn’t deserve to have you go to prison. Men like Eldridge might not get sent there, but guys like you and me? We do.”

“Only if we get caught. Right now, my priority is getting Nina home.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“I’m going to wait until Stephanie finds him. Then, I’m going to steal her back. I’ll send her and Hannah south, with Sissy. When the time is right, I’ll deal with Gordon.”

“Sissy?”

“My cousin. Well, first cousin, once removed; she lives with her grandmother. She’s here, now, to help look after Hannah.”

“Does Hannah know what you’re considering?”

“No. She’s holding up, but she would never be able to stand that. She wouldn’t blame me for it, but the stress of waiting for it, might kill her.”

“Are you still interested in the student files you asked for?”

“Of course. I’ve looked at the ones, Guy sent.”

“We got the others, today.”

Liam told his tale, yet again.

“Impressive,” Ted commented, when he was through. “Crazy and dangerous, but impressive.”

“I emailed them, to you.”

“I’ll look at them, right after I get a shower.”

“I suppose I should collect Janice,” Liam said, rising.

“You don’t have to rush off.”

“I’m kind of beat, Ted.” He was actually kind of depressed. Conversations about murder sat ill with him. “We’ll stay long enough for you to say ‘hi’ to Jan, but…”

“I get it. The adrenaline has worn off.”

“That’s probably it. Maybe I’m wilting, from the heat, too.”

“It’s the lack of a breeze, in here. I should have brought out a fan.”

*******

“So, a brick and a tomato walk into a living room…” Hannah said, at the sight of the two men.

“It is a little hot out there,” Liam admitted, with a tired grin, for the old lady.

“I thought you weren’t going to say ‘hi’ to me, at all, Liam,” she scolded him.

“After the day I’ve had, I’m not afraid of you, anymore, Hannah. Of course, I was going to pay my respects. ”

The old woman laughed, at this. “Janice told me and Sissy about your adventure. That school seems to make bad boys, good, and good boys, bad. Sit down, and cool off, a little. You,Ted — get washed up.”

“I will, I will. Just wanted to say, hello. Hi, Janice.”

“How are you, Ted?”

“As well as I can be, under the circumstances. Nothing new, yet, from Stephanie. She calls, even so, every evening. I know she’s doing her best.”

“I’m sure, she is.”

“I’m sorry, everyone, but we should really run along,” Liam said, before too heavy a silence could settle.

“But, you haven’t even met Sissy,” Janice objected.

“It’s all right,” the young woman smiled. “Sometimes I get lost in the sauce. I’m Ted’s cousin,” she introduced herself, to Liam.

“I’m sorry, Sissy. Usually, I’m not so rude.”

“It’s fine — you do look hot and tired. It can’t be easy, being the faculty’s answer to Indiana Jones.”

Liam grinned, appreciatively.

“More like the Scarlet Pimpernel, right now,” he quipped.

Ted, of course, chuckled at this literary nerd joke, then excused himself, to shower.

*******

Janice

“Did you and Ted get into it, again?” she asked, when they were in the car.

Liam glanced at her, as though to satisfy himself that she wasn’t being accusatory.

“No. In fact, he was more transparent than he’s ever been, when we were talking. I think I like it better, when he’s opaque.”

“What does that mean?” Janice demanded, perplexed. “Really, Sugar — I do wonder about you, sometimes.”

“I know,” he sighed, turning the car out of the driveway, to head in the direction of their own house. “So do I, if it makes you feel better.”

Janice reached over, and pushed some of his hair away from his brow. His whole mood had shifted, from what it had been, on the way home. She’d sensed it, the moment she saw his face, and Ted’s. Liam had gone from exuberance to something bordering on depression, parting jokes, notwithstanding.

“Has Ted had some bad news?” she prompted. “He didn’t act like it, but…”

“No, Honey, nothing like that. He doesn’t know any more today, than he did, yesterday. Why?”

“Because your whole vibe has changed.”

“Oh, that. I’m just low on seratonin, adrenaline; maybe even blood sugar. I’ll have a little snack, when we get home, and a big, cold drink. That should fix me up.”

He smiled at her, but it wasn’t very convincing. It was true that he and Ted hadn’t seemed irritated with each other, but something had passed, between them. Something that he was keeping from her, now.

Janice didn’t doubt that she could sweet talk him into sharing it, whatever it was. As it turned out, she was wrong. No flattery, teasing, nor even his favorite dinner, had any effect. Janice was no more enlightened, when she went to bed, than when they had gotten into the car.