The Truant Officer v5 Read online

  “If I knew I wouldn’t be here talking to you, now would I?”

  “Since I don’t know anything, I guess we have nothing to talk about. So if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my wife. Dallas, you say?”

  “You have travel plans today, Mr. McLaughlin, but you’re not going to Dallas.”

  Darren looked defiantly at LaPoint. He wanted to give him a piece of his mind, order him to get a warrant or some other line he’d heard on Law & Order, and toss him out of his house. But as he weighed his best course of action, Becks wandered out of the master bedroom, her hair a tangled nest of pink and blonde. She wore the same T-shirt she had on last night, barely covering a skimpy pair of panties.

  “What’s with the tension convention?” she asked with an annoyed look, like she’d been awoken from a perfect sleep.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” LaPoint responded.

  Becks sneered at him. “I don’t know what you’re looking at. I don’t do threesomes, so maybe go take your horn dog for a walk in a different neighborhood, pervert.”

  Darren didn’t know what she was implying, but nothing like that happened last night. Not only weren’t there any threesomes going on here, there weren’t any twosomes, or onesomes, for that matter.

  He turned to LaPoint, “This isn’t what you think.”

  “You don’t even want to know what I’m thinking, Mr. McLaughlin.”

  “She just came over last night and…” Darren started, causing LaPoint’s eyebrows to rise. “What I mean is that we went to a party and…”

  Darren kept digging a bigger hole, so he decided he would choose not to further incriminate himself.

  “What you’re telling me is that you attended a party with an underage girl, then you brought her back to your place for an innocent little sleepover while your wife is away.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business,” Becks snarled, “but I’m eighteen, so I can bang anyone I want.”

  Darren wanted to sink into the floor. He held up a stop sign and said, “Nothing was banged, or even lightly tapped.” He then tried to set the story straight. “Listen, I let her stay here last night. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest move, but nothing happened, so can we just move on?”

  “Seems like you and your wife make similar decisions.”

  Darren wasn’t going to take the bait. “I’m responsible for her being here, so now I’m going to make sure she gets to school on time.”

  “Who do you think you are, a truant officer?” LaPoint asked with a grin.

  Becks sighed loudly. “What, did you two take some sort of old people bad joke class?”

  LaPoint ignored her, turning serious. “Nobody is going anywhere without my say so. Mr. McLaughlin has a date in New York, and I will be escorting him to the airport to make sure he is on his flight. But first I will drop Miss Ryan at school, so she can further her education, and hopefully one day make a positive contribution to society, although I’m not holding my breath on that one.”

  “So after you finish carpooling, will you have that surgery to loosen up your tight ass?” Becks wasn’t done fighting. Her hangover had made her even more cantankerous and confrontational, if that were possible.

  LaPoint smiled back at her, as if she’d met her match. “I will be headed to spend my day in Oklahoma, so consider yourself lucky.”

  “I’m going with you,” Becks stated to befuddled looks.

  “Going with me where?”

  “To Oklahoma. Obviously that’s where you think Brett is. Why else would anyone go to Oklahoma? We have a big chemistry test today and I wouldn’t want Brett to miss it. Think of me as a truant officer, just like you two. Only cuter.”

  “May I remind you, Miss Ryan, that Brett Buckley is the victim in this case,” LaPoint said calmly.

  “The problem is, he’s been putting his victim where it don’t belong, so I’m going to turn him into a victimless crime. And then we all live happily ever after.”

  Darren was starting to get the feeling that would never be the case ever again.

  Chapter 55

  Darren was instructed to prepare like he was going to be on his normal flight schedule. That would be his cover. Why a cover was needed, he had no idea, but he didn’t have time to think about it. LaPoint gave him five minutes to dress into his pilot uniform and prepare for his trip.

  Becks went over the allotted time. But nobody could argue with the results. Darren barely recognized the sophisticated woman before him—she looked like she had aged ten years, in a good way. She wore one of Lilly’s business suits with mid-thigh skirt, and her hair was stylishly tied up.

  She smiled at the stares and did a pirouette. “I figured since your wife stole my boyfriend, the least she could do was let me borrow her clothes.

  Just the mention of Lilly sent Darren crashing back to reality.

  They drove in LaPoint’s car. The first stop was South Chandler High. Becks might have looked classier, but it hadn’t yet carried over to her actions. She slammed the door upon arrival and gave them the finger. She disappeared between a couple of school buses, walking awkwardly in Lilly’s heels.

  LaPoint then escorted Darren to Sky Harbor Airport. With Becks’ impressionable ears out of the way, he explained the day’s itinerary. Upon arrival in New York, Darren would be met by a team of federal agents who would escort him to the office of US Attorney Aaron Eicher, where he would be briefed on the details of Lilly’s case. LaPoint refused to answer any further questions.

  Before they parted ways, Darren again assured LaPoint that nothing had gone on with Becks at his house last night. “I’m an honorable man, Agent LaPoint, and I would never take advantage of a young girl like that.”

  “I know, Mr. McLaughlin. But unfortunately people take advantage of the honorable in this world.”

  He knew he meant Lilly. And he couldn’t blame him for thinking that. But LaPoint didn’t know her like he did.

  Darren walked to his normal sign-in for his flight, and then to his gate. The federal agents weren’t surrounding him like a pack of Secret Service around the president. They were spread out in tactical positions disguised as airport officials.

  His comfort level rose when he met the flight crew. Especially the familiar face of Ron Treadwell. He looked pleasantly surprised to see Darren, and greeted him with, “And here I thought Sunday was our last flight. The things you’ll do for a free night out in Manhattan.”

  Darren actually came close to a smile. He was thankful for Treadwell’s presence, as he was the one person who could possibly take his mind off what awaited him in New York.

  According to LaPoint, nobody knew the reason for his trip, including the flight crew. No explanation was given for Darren’s riding in the cockpit, other than it was approved by the airline. Treadwell didn’t question it, but his newbie first officer appeared concerned that Darren was doing an evaluation of him, and was on his best behavior.

  As they took off, Treadwell began giddily singing “New York, New York”. “Start spreading the news…I’m leaving today...”

  “What’s got you in such a good mood?” Darren asked as they hit their cruising altitude.

  “That Kelli chick from the other night emailed me. Said she wants to meet up next time I’m in New York, which thanks to you messing up my schedule, my friend, is today.” A big grin formed on his face. “I guess my charm outweighed my complicated nature.”

  He handed Darren his phone with instructions to check out the pictures she had sent him. The first one was that group shot from Sunday night in which Darren served as the third wheel. He couldn’t believe today was only Tuesday. It was like the world had slowed to a painful crawl. The next pictures were the ones Darren believed Treadwell wanted him to see. Suggestive photos of Kelli with an attached message.

  “She says she can’t stop thinking of you. I wonder if there’s a vaccine for that,” Darren said, and this time did smile.

  Treadwell laughed.

  Their moment was b
roken up by the intercom—the flight attendant requesting access to the cockpit, which Treadwell granted. But when the door opened, a girl burst in, almost knocking the flight attendant over in the process.

  “Wow, what a big cockpit you boys have,” the intruder exclaimed.

  Darren looked back to see a smiling Becks.

  Chapter 56

  Darren stepped into John F. Kennedy Airport, just as he’d done on hundreds of occasions. But this time was different—each step he took through the crowded airport was a step further into the unknown.

  He was still surrounded by his invisible net of federal agents. During the flight, he tried to come up with reasons as to why his wife’s case attracted this much priority. But came up empty.

  He felt a jab in the ribs. His whole body tightened. He turned sharply, not knowing what to expect.

  “So what’s with all the VIP treatment, Run DMC? Are they protecting you from all your groupies?”

  “What do you think you’re doing here?”

  “Just chillaxin in the NYC.”

  After bursting into the cabin, the federal air marshals had immediately removed Becks and sequestered her in her seat. He hadn’t spoken to her since, and had no plans to do so while in New York. “You said you had a test today.”

  “C’mon, DMC, I told you that life experience is always better than book-learning. You and I have way more chemistry than some periodic table.”

  “You didn’t answer my question—what are you doing here?

  “Did you drink too much Hatorade on the flight? I bought a ticket like everyone else. You should thank me—I’m helping to pay your salary. Maybe if you make enough, your wife will drop Mr. Software Heir and come crawling back.”

  His skin had thickened. Her daggers now bounced off. “You shouldn’t be here. It could be dangerous.”

  “Nothing is more dangerous than chemistry class. Those Bunsen burners are an accident waiting to happen.” She flashed her usual smart-ass smile, before turning serious. “And besides, I’m in this thing as much as you are. I got screwed over just as much.”

  Darren strained to remember what it was like to be a teenager. Every relationship was Romeo & Juliet to the nth degree. She’d learn soon enough that the puppy love could never compare to a committed marriage. But he also remembered that it was impossible to argue with a teenager. So he didn’t.

  “What do you plan to accomplish by this stunt? I don’t even know what’s going on here.”

  The fierceness in her eyes remained. “Just remember that when someone screws me over, I won’t stop until justice is served.”

  Darren didn’t doubt that. They headed toward the baggage claim, where he was supposed to meet the FBI agents. He wheeled his travel bag behind him and looked the part of the arriving pilot. And despite the pink streaks in the hair, Becks could pass for a business traveler. Darren couldn’t get over how different she appeared from the extreme teenager he’d met just yesterday.

  As instructed, he marched past the rental car counters and out the sliding glass doors that led to the pickup area, congested with hotel transportation vans and honking cabs. Darren could wake from a Rip Van Winkle sleep and immediately know he was in New York—it had a different intensity.

  A black SUV pulled curbside, muscling between a couple of gridlocked cabbies. Darren was supposed to head toward it. He kept waiting for the federal agents to remove Becks from his side, but figured that they probably didn’t want to make a scene.

  The moment Darren’s foot stepped off the curb, a screech of tires grabbed his attention. A van was hurtling toward the sidewalk as if it had no brakes. People screamed as they scattered, leaving their luggage behind. The van shot up onto the sidewalk right in front of Darren and Becks. It buckled to a stop, cutting them off at the pass.

  Out of the vehicle leaped two of the largest creatures Darren had ever seen. The first one was at least three hundred pounds, and that was a conservative estimate. He was holding an Uzi, which looked like a toy gun in his enormous arms.

  The second one was not as big, but equally scary. He let out a primal scream and began randomly firing a pistol. When Darren took a closer look, he discerned that the second creature was actually a female.

  The bravest of their protectors identified himself as FBI, and demanded that the assailants drop their weapons.

  The woman laughed and sliced the agent’s arm with a bullet, causing his weapon to drop to the ground. A satisfied look spread across her face.

  The male began spraying machine-gun fire, pelting cars and shattering glass. Darren tackled Becks and tried to cover her. But there was no place to hide from these maniacs. And their FBI protectors were no match for them.

  The woman picked up Darren and Becks, one in each arm like they were a light dumbbell workout at the gym. She then shot-putted them into the back of the van, one at a time. The male slammed the door shut.

  Darren’s dark room just got darker.

  Chapter 57

  The male was pacing in the back of the van. Darren wasn’t sure how the creaky floorboards were holding him.

  The male had the biggest neck Darren had ever seen. It was like the trunk of an oak tree and it took a forest of a beard to cover it.

  Darren was too stunned to speak. But Becks was never at a loss for words, “Who the hell are you, and where are you taking us?”

  The male answered, “I’m Oleg Moziaf and this is my wife, Vana.”

  Darren wasn’t sure which one was the chip and which one was the salsa, but he did know that Vana was the driver. And it felt like she was doing about 100 mph through the city streets.

  “I don’t know who you think we are, but you got the wrong people,” Becks shouted.

  He flipped Darren over like a pancake and removed his wallet. He looked at his license and said in a thick accent, “Nope—Darren McLaughlin—he’s the right guy.”

  Darren felt a shiver down his spine—not only was he their focal point, but they were willing to risk a shootout with federal agents to capture him!

  “What do you want with us?’ Becks asked again, this time in a more civilized tone.

  “That depends—who are you?”

  “My name is Rebecca Ryan. I am a high school student from Arizona. And I’m late for my chemistry test.”

  “Do you get good grades in school?”

  “All A’s.”

  “Then you probably figure out we have no need for you. So I’m going to kill you.”

  Darren was struck by the excitement in his voice when he talked of killing her. He was sickened that he might be responsible for this innocent girl’s death.

  “Oh no you don’t, Oleg,” Vana’s husky voice echoed to the back of the van.

  Darren felt relief for a moment, but then she uttered, “We kill together, or we don’t kill at all.”

  “You know I’ve never killed without you since we’ve been married, Vana. I wait for you, of course.”

  She shook her large head. “Our orders are no killing.”

  “But the girl is an extra.”

  “I said no, Oleg!” she shouted.

  He first looked disappointed, but then found a compromise plan. “I promise not to kill her. But she talks too much, so I will cut her tongue out!”

  Becks began inching toward the back door. Diving out onto a busy street at high speed seemed like her best option.

  Darren had to do something—and fast. “Let her go. She has nothing to do with this! This is about me—you got me, so leave her be.”

  “Only God can save her now, and even God’s scared of the Moziafs,” Oleg replied with a laugh.

  Becks had moved as far back against the door as she could. When the van swerved sharply, almost tipping, Darren made his move. He tried to tackle Oleg like he was back playing high school football. But it was like hitting a brick wall, and he tossed him to the ground without a reaction. All he could do is watch as the behemoth headed for Becks.

  “No!” Darren shouted out.

/>   Becks had run out of wiggle room. “You two are crazy mofos!” she yelled out.

  Oleg seemed to take it as a compliment. He moved closer, his hand clenched around a knife handle. Darren expected to see fear in Becks’ eyes, but what he saw was fight.

  “You better kill me, because if you leave me alive, I will hunt you down and make you wish you were dead!”

  The threat didn’t deter him, but then Vana shouted out, “I like her sassy mouth—don’t touch her tongue. We’ll let the Rabbi decide what to do with her.”

  Oleg looked disappointed, but Darren got the idea he didn’t cross his wife.

  Moments later, they skidded to a stop. Oleg forcefully picked Darren and Becks up by the collars, kicked open the back doors, and dragged them out into the gray afternoon.

  “Time to go see the Rabbi,” he announced.

  Chapter 58

  They would meet the Rabbi in a sparkling oasis built within a rundown urban area. To Darren, it looked more like a nightclub than a synagogue.

  Oleg carried Darren and Becks under a striped awning that declared the place as Sarvy’s. Before entering, they were frisked by two barrel-chested bouncer types. One let his hands roam underneath Becks’ skirt with a grin “Just looking for a gun. People have been known to hide them there.”

  “If you ever put your hand there again the only thing I’m going to hide is my foot in your ass,” Becks fired back.

  The bouncer kept grinning, seemingly not taking her seriously.

  The Moziafs physically ushered them inside. “Welcome to Sarvy’s,” Oleg announced.

  Walking into the cavernous room was like walking into a domed football stadium. And it wasn’t just impressive in its size. The place oozed money, from the art deco columns to the chrome and parquet fixtures. But it also appeared to be in the middle of a reconstruction project. Beefy men in sharp suits supervised. Tables were being set up, hammers pounded, and drills bored into walls. Carts filled with Smirnoff bottles whizzed past them. Microphone sound checks deafened.