Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
I froze.
I simply couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Interpol is an international policing agency.
They tracked down the most wanted criminals and have connections all over the world. My original theory was beginning to make sense, and then again, it wasn’t. I couldn’t fathom how David Bruton, the high school history teacher, was actually Carl Davenport, an Interpol investigator. I stared at the screen a moment longer, making sure I had it right, then stood and rushed to the door.
I opened it and stuck my head out into the hall. When I spotted Maverick, I shouted, “Yo, Mav!”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to find Big. Tell him to get his ass down here now!”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“I found him!”
“Found who?”
“Bruton!” He gave me a puzzled look, and I knew he had no idea what I was talking about. I didn’t have time to explain, so I shouted, “Get Big!”
He nodded, then disappeared down the hall.
I went back over to my desk and started looking back over everything I’d found. I had no idea how Bruton would’ve gone from working for an international policing agency to teaching history at our local high school. It seemed farfetched, and I was beginning to think that I had it all wrong—until my personal cell phone chimed with a message.
I took it out of my pocket, and I was shaken to the core when I read:
Unknown Caller:
I was wondering when you’d finally find me.
CHAPTER 11
Elsie
After a long, emotional day, I’d fallen asleep in Wyatt’s arms, and I’d slept better than I had in weeks. So well, in fact, that I’d overslept and was running late for class. I had to jump out of bed and rush down the hall to take a shower. I didn’t even have time to be bothered that I’d woken up in bed alone.
As soon as I was dressed, I headed out to the parking lot. I opened my door and had just thrown my bag into the backseat when I heard Cotton ask, “Where are you running off to so early this morning?”
“I’ve got class,” I answered with a yawn. “I’m going in a little early, so I can catch up on my notes.”
Cotton nodded, then asked, “So, are things going good with school?”
“Yeah, they’re going great.” I wouldn’t have even had the opportunity to go to college if it hadn’t been for Cotton and the brothers. They’d not only helped pay for my classes, but they had supported me and encouraged me every step of the way. “I’m hoping to get my information on graduation by next week.”
“Good deal.” A smile crossed his face as he said, “Proud of you, Else.”
“Thank you, Cotton.” I stepped over and gave him a quick hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I don’t know about that.” He chuckled. “You’re a stubborn one. You’d find a way—with or without us.”
“Maybe, but you gotta know that I’ll always be grateful for you and the brothers.”
“I do.” He motioned his hand towards my car. “Now, go on. Get to class.”
I nodded, then got in my car and headed to campus. It was cold, murky, and looked like snow, but I didn’t mind. I was in a great mood, and I wasn’t going to let anything bring me down. When I got to the communications building, I was pleased to see that there was a parking place right up front. I quickly nabbed it, then grabbed my bag and started inside.
I hadn’t gotten far when I heard someone call out my name.
“Elsie!” I turned, and my stomach sank when I spotted Ben rushing over to me. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Hey, Ben. It’s going okay.” He seemed different today, and it wasn’t just the fact that he’d traded his typical dress shirt and khakis for a black hoodie and jeans. He seemed agitated and off-center. It was unsettling. Not that it mattered. I had no interest in sharing a lengthy conversation with him, so I said, “I was just about to head into class.”
“I thought that class didn’t start until ten.”
I was a little thrown that he knew when my class started, but I let it go. “It does. I was just going to do a little studying beforehand.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Was there something you needed?”
“Yeah, uh...” He lowered his head and nervously toyed with a rock. “I just um... I just wanted to apologize for the other night.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
“But it is.” He actually sounded sincere as he told me, “I don’t know what was up with me that night, but I shouldn’t have said all that stuff about your friends.”
“No, you shouldn’t have, but I appreciate you apologizing.”
“It’s the least I could do, especially after I made such a mess of our date.”
“It’s fine. Everything worked out.”
“I don’t know if I’d say that.” He grimaced as he said, “You left me high and dry at the restaurant. It wasn’t exactly the way I’d hoped the night would go.”