Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

MADDEN

It's been a while since I recorded, and I've missed it. Not because the comments on social media mean that much to me, but working out helps me to get my head right. I make a promise to myself that I'm going to do that tonight. Over the past few weeks, I've spent more time than I imagined I would with Bec and Mick. I'm settling into my job, and into the budding relationship I'm developing with Bec.

"Officer, we have something we need you to take a look at."

It's Principal Faulkner. I don't think she's ever going to call me anything other than Officer. When I glance up at her, I do a double-take. I've never seen her look so worried before. "Is it bad? I don't like that look on your face."

"I'm not exactly sure what it is." She blows out a breath, running a hand through her hair.

"Okay, now I'm interested." I chuckle. "Do I need to get Donut?" He's in the SRO office taking his afternoon nap.

"I don't think so. Follow me."

I'm hot on her heels as I follow her through the school. There are still rooms, and spots that I haven't been to and don't know about. As she heads through the gym and down a corridor, there are steps. "Where the hell are we going?"

She turns back, giving me the evil eye. "Watch your mouth. We don't want the students to hear you cursing."

"Of course, I'm so sorry." I feel as if I've just been reprimanded by my grandmother.

"These are what we used to call the old remedial class rooms. Later they were used for storage, and lately we've been cleaning them out. What we didn't expect to find is what we found today."

I wish I could make her walk faster, because I want to know what she's hinting at. I'm not good with surprises when it comes to work. We head down a few more stairs, and then we enter a couple of rooms. It's damp and dark down here. I can't imagine that any students could learn in this type of environment. I'm glad they've decided not to use them anymore.

"Alright, it's over there." She points to the corner. "One worker was clearing out that corner, and when they moved part of the shelving unit, the wall moved with it."

"What?" I raise my eyebrows as I look at her. "Are you saying there's a structural deficit?"

"Not exactly. You'll have to go over there to see it fully."

I'm kind of scared as I approach the corner she's indicated. "What am I looking for?"

"You'll see."

And as I get closer, I see exactly what she's talking about. There's a large hole in the wall, and sitting in it looks like old, old bottles of moonshine. As old as I've ever seen. "That's moonshine?" I say it as a question, but it's more of a statement.

"Looks like it. You know this town was built on moonshine. I'm sure you know that before there was the LSERT, there was the MTF."

I do know all of this. I don't know the history exactly, but I at least know where the LSERT came from. "Alright, let me take a look, get some pictures, and I'll call Mason and see what we need to do. I wish I had a better answer for you, but I don't know how to dispose of this. Is there a way we can lock this room if we need to?"

She nods. "There are pocket doors over there, and we can padlock them if we need to. I don't know for sure, but if you look back into the history of the school, at one point people say there was a nightclub down here."

"No sh-crap?" I catch myself. "Who would've thought that was a good idea? Having a nightclub in the basement of a school?"

She sighs heavily. "You have to understand what Laurel Springs was like before the Moonshine Task Force. For decades, the Strather's ran it between here and Birmingham. They would threaten anyone who wanted to put an end to it with physical and financial harm. It was a dangerous time for the city and county."

I duck into what appears to be little more than a crawl space, but when I step inside, I find out that I can stand at my full-height. "Why is this place so big?" My voice echoes.

"I'm not sure." She wrings her hands together. "I think it's something bigger. Maybe another part of what was the nightclub?"

She may be right. I take my phone out of my pocket and take pictures, sending them to Captain Harrison. "I'm sending pics to Mason, and I'll let you know what he says. Don't touch any of this until he can get down here and see it. Let's lock it up."

"Sounds like a good idea. I'm in shock that this has been here all these years."

"Me too, honestly. No telling what could've happened if someone found it with no idea of what it might be."

We're securing the room when my phone rings, with a call from the man we're talking about. "Chief?"

"Where in the fuck did you find all of that?" He skips the hellos and small talk.

"In the basement of the elementary school. There's a bunch of it, I'm talking about cases. It's in a wall that moves, as if it's a hidden room."

"Holy shit." He inhales deeply. "There's always been talk of that being there, but when they did some renovations on Laurel Springs Elementary years ago, they didn't find anything, so everyone assumed it was rumors. Do you have it blocked off? Everyone is heading home in a few minutes, and if we can start the morning off with this tomorrow, I'd prefer to."

Looking at my watch, I clock the time. We've been down here longer than I realized. It is shift-change, and most of forensics are going home for the day. "Yeah, I have it locked. Only myself and Principal Faulkner have the key."

"Perfect. Let's keep this to ourselves for now. I'll get everyone else looped in first thing in the morning."

"Will do, Chief. Thank you."

I quickly tell Principal Faulkner what we've decided to do, and then hurry to my office to take care of Donut. When I get there, the big oaf is asleep on his back, on the couch, living his absolute best life.

"What are your plans tonight?" I ask Becca an hour later while I'm heading home.

"Homework, dinner, and hopefully an early bedtime. I'm exhausted today. It was a rough one."

Her job is difficult, she's a lot like we are, she deals with people on the worst days of their lives. Sometimes it's very rewarding, others we all wish we were performing a different job. "Are you okay?"

"Had a kid who told me she couldn't find her parents today. When they got there, the parents were overdosing. It reminded me of what could've happened with Mick. I had to go to the bathroom and collect myself." She blows out a breath.

I hate the tone of her voice. She sounds as if the entire world is on her shoulders. "Do you want to see me tonight? Would that help? I can be over there in a few minutes."

"I don't know if I'm up to that," she whispers.

"There's no pressure. We can hang out on the tailgate of my truck."

She doesn't say anything, but I can feel her giving in over the phone line. "Okay, but not on the tailgate. There's a park a few miles from my complex. We can go there."

"Is it the same park I busted that couple fucking around at? I have PTSD."

She giggles. "Yes, let's go to the park inside my complex, then. How about that?"

"Sounds better. "I'll be over there in a few minutes."

This definitely wasn't part of my plan tonight, but if I can see Becca, I'm always going to prefer it to the alternative.