Between the Lines (25 page)

Gabe – 37

I can’t
imagine what’s taking so long. Mag called Ellen this morning and said she
wanted to see her during last hour. It can’t be the article because that was
amazing and couldn’t be better publicity for the school.

If they
don’t hurry, I’m going to have to leave. The new soccer coach is going to
arrive and I need to have the kids ready.

Mag’s
door opens and I come to my feet. At least Ellen is smiling, so it couldn’t
have been too bad.

“Let me
know your decision when you can.”

“I will,”
Ellen answers and turns toward me. “Let’s go to soccer practice.”

She
doesn’t say anything and we’re halfway to the open area we’ve decided to use as
a field before one can be built when I finally stop. “What did she want?” I
finally blurt out.

Ellen
grins. “She offered me a job.”

“Doing
what?”

“Apparently
there’s someone in the main office who is supposed to check backgrounds and
isn’t doing such a good job.”

“Tabitha.”

“She
didn’t want the job anyway, but being a family member she was given little
choice when she couldn’t find a job.”

“That
doesn’t mean she should be careless,” I say.

“Well,
she quit anyway and since I like digging up dirt on people, Mag though I’d be
the perfect candidate.”

I’m
almost afraid to ask what she intends to do. Her story is done and there’s no
reason for her to hang around anymore. She has an apartment in New York and all
the places she loves is there. We’re close, I’m fucking in love, but you can’t
set a future on a two week relationship, even though I know in my gut that
she’s the one.

“I want
to do more though.”

Shit,
she’s going back to New York. Somehow we’ll make it work.

“First of
all, that website is abysmal. No wonder it’s not drawing the attention of
colleges and universities.”

Hope
sparks in my chest.

“And then
there is the fundraising.”

“That’s
Mag’s baby,” I tell her. I hope Ellen didn’t trash what had been done so far
because I’m sure Mag did not take that well.

“Oh, I
know, and she’s had some excellent programs.”

“So?” I
as slowly.

“She
needs help.”

That I
don’t doubt.

“I did a
lot of thinking about it today. At least I understand why everyone is a
scholarship kid, but the more money Baxter has, the more they can do.”

“And you
told her this.”

“Yep, and
she’s all for the assistance, she just hates to ask me to do background checks,
manage the website and help with fundraising when they can only afford to pay
me barely above minimum wage.” She laughs.

“So, you
aren’t going to take it.”

Ellen
rolls her eyes. “The reason I don’t really work is because I’ll never have to.”

Damn, I
knew she was rich, but knowing you’ll never have to work a day in your life is
richer than my comprehension. “What do you need to think about, if it isn’t the
wages?”

“You.”

 She
bites her bottom lip. “Me?”

Ellen
blows out a sigh. “This has been a whirlwind. Two weeks. I know how I feel in
my heart, but it scares me.”

“Me too,”
I admit.

“I’m not
even sure if you want me that close. If we’re ready for the permanency of my
living above you.”

“I think
it’s necessary to see what this is, and if it’s what we both believe it is.”

“So, you
won’t mind if I take the job, just to see?” she hedges.

After
last night, how we were in the bed, the shower and then how comfortable we were
just talking today, she still has to ask? “I’d mind more if you went back to
New York.”

A smile
blooms on her lips. “Then, I guess I’ll be taking the job.”

I’d kiss
her, but I can’t. We are standing in the middle of the campus. The kids just
got out of class and they are all around us. I’d get in trouble if I showed
affection in front of the kids and they’d never let me hear the end of it. I
can just imagine the catcalls from the likes of Louie. “Let’s go see who wants
to play soccer.”

Ellen

I can’t
believe I’m now going to be a part of Baxter. When Mag offered me the position
I nearly jumped at the chance, but held my tongue. I knew I’d need to think
about it, and see how Gabe felt. Things are great between us, but that doesn’t
mean he wants me underfoot indefinitely. But he wants me to stay and I’m
practically on cloud nine. And, the job is perfect for me. I can still do my blogs,
but chasing after the bad guys, dirty politicians, and the like is exhausting.
Here, I can dig into everyone they want me to for the one purpose of protecting
the kids.

I like
that. I want to be a part of this organization. Be a part of something good.

The
students are gathered outside the walls in an open field not far from the lake.
The counselors are there, sitting on picnic tables, along with some of the
teachers, watching the boys kick a few balls around. Female students are
gathered too, sitting around on blankets and talking. I’m not sure if it’s
because they are interested in soccer, or because it’s a chance to be outside
the walls and have a change of scenery. Most of the students are inside the
walls of Baxter and I’m not sure if they just aren’t interested in the sport or
not secure enough to step outside the walls.

I glance
around. There is no protection for the kids out here. The parking lot is just
on the other side of the trees and beyond that, the highway. If they are going
to make this into a soccer field, it’s going to need to be enclosed as well,
somehow. Not that they need to worry about the kids running off, or at least
not most of them, but a wall would protect the kids from anyone coming in, just
like the gate at the entrance. Mag showed me a list of things the school still
needs, including a library. I’ve just added a soccer field and equipment to it,
with a wall for protection and my mind is awake with all kinds of ideas for
fundraising.

Gabe
stops at the edge of the temporary field beside some picnic tables. Jenna and
Alexia are seated beside each other talking quietly. I don’t want to intrude
and look around for another place to sit. I don’t know them and I’ve never been
comfortable joining others without a specific invitation. Maybe in time they’ll
be friends. I will be an employee of Baxter, just like them, but I won’t be at
the school. My office will be in Poughkeepsie, so it isn’t like I’ll see them
on a regular basis. 

Mateo is
sitting not far away, with a few guys I hadn’t met, but recognize as being
teachers and counselors. This is Gabe’s world and I suddenly feel like an
intruder. I’ve always felt that way when investigating a place, but didn’t care
if it got me the story. This is different. What if they don’t accept me?

“Ellen,”
Jenna says with a big smile. “Join us.”

The
anxiety around my heart eases just a bit.

“Loved
the blog post.” Alexia says with a smile. “I hope other outlets pick up on it.
Baxter could use the good publicity.”

“I sent
it to newspapers, both local and all over the state,” I tell them.

Jenna
beams at me. “Maybe I’ll send it to the colleges that are reluctant to help me
because they aren’t sure about the school.”

“So, this
is the soccer team?” A voice says from behind and I turn. I recognize Kian, the
officer, but not the two guys with them.

“This is
Cole,” Jenna begins the introductions. “He’s an EMT and firefighter.”

“I’m here
in case anyone gets hurt.” He grins and winks at Jenna. I get the feeling she
is the only reason he’s here.

“And the
guy not paying us any attention is Ben.” Alexia laughs. “He coaches soccer at
the local high school and is going to help train the kids over the summer.”

This Ben
has not looked at us once. Instead, he’s watching the boys on the field, a hand
up, shielding his eyes from the sun. He stiffens and takes a step forward,
squinting, and watching one particular player. “Hold up,” he says. “Is that
Ethan Cook?”

Jenna and
Alexia share a look. “Why?” They ask slowly.

Given
what I know about of how protective Baxter is about people showing up from the
past, I wonder if I need to start my job right now and do a thorough background
check.

He
ignores Jenna and Alexia and strides over to Gabe. “Why didn’t you tell me you
have Ethan Cook? The kid was amazing and colleges were already keeping an eye
on him when he was in middle school and then he up and disappeared.”

What had
Ethan said? He was bullied and tried to kill himself? That just goes to show
that kids can be haunted, hurt and depressed even when it seems as if they have
everything going for them.

“He’s
still got the moves.” Ben is grinning. “And that other kid guarding him isn’t
bad either.”

“That’s
Isaac,” Gabe says with pride.

“If the
other kids are half as good as those two, you guys just may have a decent team.”

“Well, they’re
all yours,” he gestures to the boys on the field.

The smile
hasn’t left Ben’s face as he starts to stride across the field.

“I’ll
just sit back and watch, and learn. I’m sure Ben will be training me too.” Gabe
laughs and turns to me. The smile falls from his face as he sees something
behind me. I turn and the anxiety that had been leaving me returns in full
force. Mag is walking toward the students. Beside her is Scott.

I assumed
they were looking for me, but how would Scott even know I was here? Unless he
tracked my phone again. Instead of looking for me, they walk toward two girls,
who come to their feet. The worry on their faces mimics what I’m feeling.

“Why is Scott
talking to the Babin sisters?” Gabe whispers in my ear.

I’m not
sure but my stomach tightens and I pull him away from the others so they can’t
hear us. “What do you know about them?”

He
shrugs. “They are sisters. One plays the piano and violin and the other dances
and sings.”

I’m going
to be sick. Scott’s job with the FBI is saving exploited children.

“They’re
Russian, I believe. At least the few times they’ve talked, there’s a hint of
that accent.”

“Oh,
God.” Were they victims of her father and Krestyanov?

The girls
are holding hands, their eyes wide with worry as Scott stops before them. I am
too far away to hear what is being said, but before long their shoulders relax
and they finally smile.

I’m glad
that whatever Scott had to tell them was good news. I don’t expect the same.
But I know in my heart that no matter what happens, whether I have to go back
to Nevada and testify or not, I have Gabe. For the first time in my life, I
don’t feel alone. He knows the worst and still wants me around.

The fear
of what could happen isn’t gone, but I can face that too. And, I’m not going to
run anymore.

One of
the girls points to me and Scott straightens and turns. An odd quirk comes to
his lips and he comes toward me. I walk to meet him. I don’t want whatever he
has to tell me to be overheard by anyone else.  Gabe is by my side every step
of the way.

“I read
your blog,” he says.

He isn’t
here about my article.

“Did you
finally decide to write about good places, or were you digging up dirt?”

My face
heats but I don’t answer. The fact that he hasn’t mentioned my father or
Krestyanov means he didn’t come here for me and the reason he was talking to
the sisters has nothing to do with my past.

“Dirt!”
He’s shaking his head. “If you would have told me, I would have told you that
you were wasting your time.”

“I may
not have gotten the story I thought I would, but it was far from a waste of
time.” I glance up at Gabe. He was the best thing that came out of my
suspicions.

“I was
going to give you a call when I left here.”

My
stomach tightens again. “Why?” I ask hesitantly.

“There
won’t be another trial.”

I blow
out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Krestyanov was in a car
accident on the way from the prison to the courthouse. It’s suspicious, but
someone else is investigating that.”

“He’s
dead?” I ask slowly.

“Very,” Scott
answers coldly.

Neither
one of us is sad over this turn of events. Krestyanov was a horrible person who
ruined many lives.

“Shortly
after, I received a letter.”

“From
who?” I ask.

“His
relatives,” Scott answers. “They wanted to assure me, and the FBI, that they
have put this unpleasantness behind them. That the crimes of Krestyanov are in
no way related to the legitimate family business and that anyone who had
anything to do with the arrest and incarceration of Krestyanov has nothing to
fear from them. They want to put it all behind them.”