The Doorknob Society (The Doorknob Society Saga) (20 page)

My two teachers weren’t that different from my friends and me when we talk and I realized these two men must be friends, and good ones at that.

“Chloe, I’m truly sorry about all of this, if you need anything let me know. I better go and try to calm down Jordan.” Levi smiled at me meekly before heading out the door.

I stared at the closed door for a moment and then collapsed on the couch. Now not only was my dad in trouble but I had nowhere to turn.

I felt the couch move as Emory sat down beside me.

“Is my dad in danger?”

“I’m not sure. We’ve had some disappearances lately but this is the first one where we have proof that something is going on.”

“But not proof of who is involved.”

“Exactly, the SKG is a likely suspect but there are other possibilities.”

My mind conjured an image of the man in black. “Why would they be after Dad?”

“That’s complicated.”

“Before we came here we got stranded in Paris. There was an Old Kind, a man in black who attacked Dad. Do you know anything about that?”

Emory seemed to mull something over as if giving second thought to telling me,

Then finally he spoke. “Someone put out a blanket lockdown on you and your father’s papers a few months ago. We assumed they did it because your dad was being smart and staying off the radar by using normal means of travel. When you activated your abilities that night it was as if a flare went up. Whoever was looking for him... found him.”

“So it was my fault they found Dad?” Wow did guilt kick me in the butt. “Who is the man in black?”

“I’m not sure and what I do know is classified.”

“I don’t care about classified; I care about my dad.”

“I know, but there is a lot more going on here. This is much bigger than just your father.”

“Not for me it isn’t.”

“I’m sorry, Chloe, you’re going to have to trust me.”

As soon as he spoke I heard Dad’s warning not to trust anyone ring clear in my head and listened to it. Besides, it was useless, I wasn’t going to get any more information from Emory. And then I remembered there was something else I wanted to know.

“Did you investigate my dad?”

“What?” Emory’s face registered shock; he wasn’t expecting that question.

“I found a book about my dad’s trial and it said you were the lead investigator on his case. Is it true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“What did he do?”

“You really don’t ask easy questions, do you?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“He broke DS rules and violated the truce. He was brought up on charges and was kicked out for it.”

“And my mom?” I asked not sure if I wanted to know anything about her.

“She was involved but she went missing after everything happened.”

“Did my parents turn on each other?”

“No one knows what happened but your parents. I only know the facts of the case and nothing more.”

“So then tell me the facts, it’s the least you can do.”

Emory sighed and rubbed his hand over his mouth. He eyed at me the way my dad does when I’ve gotten on his last nerve.

“Your parents were searching for something. I’m not at liberty to say what, but supposedly they either found it or discovered something important concerning it. Whatever it was they refused to divulge the information and an altercation erupted with certain people. It went bad quickly with lots of accusations flying fast and furious.”

Emory paused and leaned back in the chair.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to risk disturbing him and have him stop talking about my parents, so I remained silent and waited.

“The DS and SKG both came to the HVO and asked us to investigate. That in and of itself was a rare occurrence, but there was a great deal of politics involved with the situation. I did my best to learn everything I could but even I wasn’t allowed access to everything your parents had been working on. In the end all I could prove was that your dad and mom had disobeyed direct orders and broken the truce accords by fighting with other members. The trial was more of a show than anything.”

“Did my dad deserve to get kicked out of DS?” I asked not really sure I wanted to know the answer.

“No, he was railroaded.”

“What did Jordan have to do with it?”

“He was your father’s superior and the one who accused him of disobeying and misleading the council and DS.”

“Did you work for him?”

“No, I worked the case and did my best to find the truth.”

“Jordan used the case against my dad to help himself didn’t he?”

“Jordan is a politician; by taking on the famous Masters family it raised his profile. Your dad was on the fast track, when he was put on trial there was a big uproar. Heck your grandfather resigned his seat on the council over the whole affair, and trust me, that was a very big deal.”

“Add that to the list of things I don’t know about my family,” I said hugging myself against the cold that I could have sworn was creeping into the house and around me.

“Family is a pain in the butt, and don’t I know it. But in the end they’re the ones you can trust.”

There was that word again.
Trust.
And again Dad’s words echoed in my head.
Trust no one.
But who could Dad trust.
No one but me
. I felt sick inside knowing my dad was being chased, possibly captured with no one to turn to, no one to help him... but me.

Emory sat forward and his large hand engulfed my shoulder giving me a reassuring squeeze. He stood, his face a stoic mask which made me realize he was back to official business.

“I’ve known your dad for a very long time, Chloe. If you know more than you’re saying, you have to tell me. I can help him.” Emory’s eyes searched my face anxiously waiting my answer.

I wanted to tell him everything but all I could hear was the echo of Dad’s voice still in my head.
Don’t trust anyone
.

I did want to know one thing. “Were you my dad’s friend?”

“Yes, we were friends.”

“Then how could you have investigated him?” I asked my tone accusing.

Emory sighed and looked away. “You remind me of your mom. She never pulled punches either.”

For the first time in a long while I took that as a compliment. “I guess I’m not entirely a Master’s after all.”

“About why I investigated your dad,” Emory said. “It was the only way I knew to help him.”

So he was my dad’s friend. Still I had to be sure before I would believe him.

“I tried contacting your grandparents but I wasn’t able to reach them,” Emory said. “Is there any chance you’ve spoken with your dad?”

“No.” I lied.

“Then I have no choice, I have to decide what to do with you.”

“What do you mean... do with me?” I didn’t like what he implied.

“You’re a minor, Chloe, I can’t just leave you here alone,” he said motioning around the large room, which seemed entirely too lonely. “I’ve got to find you a place to stay.”

“I can stay here and look after myself,” I said adamantly.

“Not without adult supervision you can’t. Do you have anyone you can stay with a family member or friend?”

“I can stay with my friend Val.” The words had come out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying, but then where else would I go? I suddenly realized I was as alone as Dad.

“Good. Give me her contact information and I’ll set it up.”

I pulled out my mobile and scrolled to Val’s contact and handed Emory the phone. He hit the send button and walked back and forth as the phone rang. Val’s voice echoed in the room as I heard her answer. I could tell she was nervous when Emory asked to speak with her mom in regards to Chloe Masters. Val must be going crazy wondering what was going on.

I walked to the window, the snow having been so picture perfect before now seeming more like a prison of white emptiness where there was no escape. I tried to figure out just what the hell had happened in the last twenty four hours to completely screw up my life. Dad was on the run and to top it all off when I thought my life couldn’t get any worse I was now going to stay at Val’s house.

After everything I had discovered, I figured a couple of family secrets would be my biggest problems. Instead those discoveries were nothing to what my family was presently going through. Dad was in danger, I wasn’t able to reach my grandparents, Uncle Archie seemed to be missing and I was completely on my own. And what do I go and do? I get myself in even deeper by volunteering to stay with Val. I must like misery that’s all I can figure.

“I talked with your friend’s mother and she said you can stay with them. Your girlfriend is on her way over now to help you pack. Once we get in touch with your grandparents we can figure out what to do from there.”

“Great,” I said quietly as I continued to look out the window.

“I’m sorry about all this, Chloe.”

“Just make sure you find my dad.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“You better.”

The sound of the front door swinging open got our attention and I turned to see Val running into the room. She skidded to a halt in front of Emory and leaned over putting her hands on her knees as she took deep gulps of air.

“What... is... going... on?” She managed to get out between deep breathes.

“You must be Val,” Emory said.

Emory was holding a small orb in his hand and clicked it as he spoke. He told her he was a police officer looking for my missing father. Val stood silently, which for her was unusual and nodded mutely. The vibrations from that small orb lead me to believe it was an Impossible Engineer device. Most regular people can’t comprehend our world but sometimes even we need to use something to keep the veil of our world pulled more tightly.

I snuck up stairs and mindlessly began throwing clothes in an overnight bag that I keep under my bed. It’s not like I had any idea how long this was going to take or what else might happen, but I figured a small bag would let me make a fast escape if necessary. Besides I can’t seem to stop my mind from wandering back to the last conversation with my dad and his warning to me.

“You okay?”

Val’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as she came to stand next to me and helped me shove the last few things into my bag. “Yeah, fine.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

That’s one thing I have got to give Val, she might talk a lot but lately she has been real good about knowing when to keep quiet.

Emory walked us out of the house and I locked the door annoyed that I wasn’t getting to stay in my own home.

“I’ll contact you as soon as I know something,” Emory said.

“Thanks,” I said as Val and I turned and walked to her place only a few houses away. We may live on the same street but to me it felt like we lived miles apart in entirely different worlds.

Val’s house was Victorian style like mine though wind chimes hung everywhere on her porch and it was packed with wicker furniture.

Val swung the door open and Mrs. Hobson walked into the foyer from the living room. She was dressed in a grey pant suit and was talking on her cell phone. She finished her conversation and clicked the end button, but the phone still didn’t leave her hand.

“Chloe, good to see you, dear, I’m sorry to hear about your dad and glad we could help.” Her voice carried all the warmth of a boss who struggles to remember the names of their employees.

“Thank you, Mrs. Hobson.”

“Ms. not Mrs., dear.”

“Mom,” Val pleaded with embarrassment.

“Val tells me that you attend the Paladin Academy? As a legacy I understand.”

“Yes,
Ms
. Hobson, my family has been going there for years.” I smiled weakly eager for the conversation to end.

“We attempted to get Valerie in but they didn’t seem to think she was a good fit.” Ms. Hobson’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at her daughter who shifted uncomfortably next to me.

“Anyway I’m meeting Mr. Hobson for supper so we’ll be out for the evening. I’m sure you girls can handle yourselves. Valerie set her up in the guest room. Good night, girls.” Ms. Hobson gave a wave as she stepped out of the house and closed the door.

“Sorry about that,” Val said quietly.

“No problem.” Just that short conversation had reminded me of the first reason I had stopped wanting to play with Val when we were kids. Her parents were two of the most self-absorbed people on the planet, always putting themselves before their daughter.

Val showed me to my room and I thanked her and told her I could use some sleep. After she left I threw my bag on the chair and stretched out on the bed annoyed at being forced to stay here. For all I knew Dad had been caught and was in real trouble. How could I sit here and do nothing? But it seemed that I had no other choice, at least for the moment. I replayed the day’s events in my head trying to figure out a way to help my dad.

Then I remembered something he had said. He told me to find Uncle Archie and tell him to do what they used to do when they were kids. I had no idea what that meant but it must have been important. Now I just had to figure out what it was and maybe I could find a way to help.

“Chloe, can you hear me?” I looked around the room thinking someone had walked in and I hadn’t noticed. But I was alone.

“Chloe.” This time I realized it sounded as if it came from a distance. I couldn’t make out who the voice belonged to, but I was sure that I had heard it.

“Chloe.” There it was again and this time I followed it. I opened the door and peered out. The hallway was dark though a light shined from under a closed door. I walked toward it and heard raised voices yelling at one another.

“Chloe, I’m here.”

The voice was closer this time. I turned and realized there was a door beside me. It was dark and not at all welcoming and the voice was coming from inside. I reached out for the knob but before I could grab it the voice cautioned.

“Don’t touch it, it’s a trap. You have to be careful and don’t trust anyone. I’m not even sure this is going to work or that you can hear this, but please be careful.”

“Dad?” I whispered recognizing his voice.

“You need to stay safe, find Uncle Archie and give him my message. Tell him I found what I was looking for and they caught me. We can’t let them get it; it’s my only bargaining chip.”