“Let’s just say, it’s good to have friends in high places, baby girl.”
I cringed at hearing Bucker call Scarletbaby girl.
“Yeah?”she’d asked, voice silky smooth and encouraging Bucker to spill every little detail.
“Hewasa teacher at the high school. And the elementary schools. Can you fuckin’ imagine? Allowingthataround kids. But not anymore.”
“Sounds like you and your high-up friend handled it,”Scarlet suggested.
“Wasn’t my idea.”There was the sound of shuffling, and then Bucker’s voice got close and crackled in the phone’s speaker, like he’d moved to whisper in Scarlet’s ear.“The principal’s. We take care of our own.”
“Did you learn that in the Navy?”
“Sure did, baby. If they’re not stopped, they’ll take over the entire town.”
Gideon finally snorted. “Nothing worse than having law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, who keep a clean front yard, taking over Lancaster.Oh, the humanity.”
“I guess sometimes you’ve got to take matters into your own hands,”Scarlet’s recorded voice had said.
“Amen. That’s what I’ve been saying!”Bucker exclaimed.“If these gays think they can set up home here, then I’ll just burn those houses to the goddamn ground.”
Scarlet reached out and turned the recording off.
“We got him,” Stephen stated.
“He didn’t take credit for the arson at Felix’s orchard,” I pointed out.
Stephen shook his head. “No, but he hung Cass out to dry. Cass will tattle on Bucker if there’s any chance it’ll save his hide.”
“Shall I call the cops, then?” George asked us.
“Yes!” we all literally answered in unison.
THERE WASa scandal by Monday.
The superintendent had invited me to the high school for a meeting at eight in the morning. I didn’t want to be there before first period and possibly cause a scene among the student body, but what could I do? I strolled through the front doors, intent on rushing straight into the office and hiding under the reception counter until the bell rang, but I froze when I saw the front hall was filled with kids. Then I realized their attention wasn’t on me.
I tugged my scarf down from my mouth, removed my beanie, and stepped farther into the hall to see what had everyone so distracted.
“Holy shit,” I murmured.
Two uniformed officers were walking a handcuffed Cass out of the office and toward the front door. The students parted like there was an invisible force field around the cops. Whispers started growing louder as Cass approached the doors.
When he saw me among the students—and let’s be honest, my shock of red hair could be seen from space—his eyes grew and he tried to lunge from the officers’ hold. “You!” he shouted at me.
I stood my ground and wisely kept my mouth shut. Someone had shifted up beside me, and I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Alan. I put an arm around his shoulders and gave a reassuring squeeze.
“You’ll pay for this, Merlin!” Cass kept shouting, despite an officer telling him to remain silent. “You’ll pay, you fucking—”
“Watch your language!” Alan called.
Another student nearby started booing loudly.
And someone began a growing chant of “Merlin! Merlin! Merlin!” as Cass was escorted out the doors.
“You okay, Bowen?” Alan asked me.
“I’m okay. Thanks.”
