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“You won’t get far. The school will know we’re missing right away.”
He laughed. “You know that isn’t true at all. No one will miss us until the end of the school day. I know because your principal thoughtfully provided that information along with the permission slips she sent home. Actually, the earliest possible alert they might have would be if the company called the school to ask where you were. Fortunately, the information sheet gave the name of the contact there, and I thought it only courteous to call him and let him know that we had a change of plans, that the field trip had to be cancelled due to an outbreak of the flu. He was quite upset and concerned, but understanding. As a result, we have plenty of time to get far away before they even know anything’s wrong.”
Tessa’s heart sank and she forced herself to think. Obviously, Taylor had planned things carefully. He was whacko, but not stupid. “But they will know, Mr. Taylor. It’s standard protocol for Mr. Jarvis to call the school when we arrive and again when we leave to return.”
“Jarvis?”
“The bus driver.”
Taylor glanced to the front where Jarvis was focused on driving. His shirt was wet with sweat. “Bullshit,” Taylor said finally. “There wouldn’t be any need for that, and I think the principal has other things to do.” He smiled and turned toward Jarvis. “But that reminds me… Do you have a telephone, Jarvis?”
The man clutched the wheel tight. “Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“In my jacket pocket.” He pointed at a compartment above his seat. “Up there.”
Taylor went over and pulled out the jacket, retrieved a cell phone, switched it off, and put it in his pocket. “At the next overpass, I’d like you to get onto I-5 headed north, Jarvis. Got that?”
“Yes.” Tessa heard the terror in his voice. She couldn’t blame him. He hadn’t signed on for this.
“Mr. Taylor, you’re terrorizing the children,” she said, putting a snap of disapproval into her voice. “How is that a good thing or helpful? You want to send a message, but waving guns at children is no way to make anyone think you care about them.”
He laughed. “They seem fine to me. They’re just having an adventure. It will be good for them to see how weak their teachers really are. They’ll see that the guns aren’t to threaten them—they’re only to stop adults who want to silence me,” he said calmly.
Tessa listened to him and realized he walked an interesting line. On one hand, he was carrying out his self-appointed mission very intelligently and efficiently. When he gave directions and orders, his voice was firm and steady. She remembered Jimmy once mentioning that Taylor had been in the military, in some kind of special forces or another. That might account for that confidence. In taking his prisoners, he went back into that role.
Still, when he drifted into talking about his message, explaining the reasons for his actions, the tremble of passion, frustration, and anger crept into his voice. That voice was far more frightening.
Taylor came back to her and held out his hand. “Give me your phone, Miss Lee.” When she hesitated, he smiled. “I know you have one with you. You’re responsible for this class, and you’d want to be able to call for help in an emergency.”
She nodded. “Of course, but it’s in my purse. I left it on the front seat where I was intending to sit.”
He nodded and scanned the other passengers, stopping when he saw Mr. Affir. “Who are you?”
“Charles Affir,” he said weakly.
“Right, the civics teacher. I know more about you than you’d like. You’re the dumb shit who thinks patriots don’t think for themselves—that they just do what they’re told.”
“I just—”
“I know what you just. I read the textbooks, Chuck. I know the vile, toxic ideas you force the kids to memorize.”
“It’s just civics, explaining how the government works.”
“So you’re a great patriot, Chuck. Are you a hero, too?”
Affir hung his head. “No.”
The man’s response made Taylor smile broadly. “Good. That’s very good. Now give me your phone, you toady little bastard. If you stay in your seat and behave yourself, there’s a chance you’ll come out of this in good shape.” Affir took his phone from his pocket and held it out. When Taylor took it, Affir’s arm fell limply to his side. “You stink of cowardice and defeat, Chuck. It’s kind of a bonus for me that you so easily show the kids this side of you—the side that lets them see that you’re just a bully.”
“Leave him alone,” Tessa said. “You’re the bully and a coward, using children to get what you want.”
Taylor looked at her. “That’s a curious thing for a teacher to say. You use children as a way to earn your living every damn day. This is my first time at it.” Then he looked around the bus, letting his gaze check that Jarvis was doing as he was told before taking in the students. “Now, kids, I need you all to follow the good example of your teachers and give me your phones. You’ll get them back. I just need to make sure we aren’t interrupted too soon.” He went over to stand next to Jimmy, then pulled a cloth bag from his back pocket and dropped it in his son’s lap. “Jimmy, collect phones from everyone.”
Teary-eyed, Jimmy stood up with the bag.
“Start from the back. Make sure everyone puts a phone in the bag, and meet me in the front.”
