Chapter Nine

D eciding that it was easier to get close to the school if they looked like they were jogging, Olivia and Brock didn’t change out of their running clothes. They parked a little way up the street in a parking lot of a business that had plenty of spaces and started their run down the sidewalk. The pavement beneath her feet was a lot different than the sand that tried to hold her back and Olivia felt more free as she ran alongside Brock. When the school came into view, they slowed their pace a little, relying on one another to observe the space and see if there was anything amiss.

It was a Saturday morning, so the large parking lot adjacent to the school was empty, except for two cars. Olivia slowed her pace a bit, to a fast walk and Brock fell into line beside her. Her sunglasses hid the direction of her gaze, which slanted down toward the two cars in the parking lot. One of them was a red sports car, Mustang, maybe, parked with its headlamps facing the north. The other one was a white Altima or Sentra, Olivia couldn’t tell from this distance, and parked with its headlights facing the south, as if they had pulled in to talk to each other window to window.

But they weren’t talking from their cars. A woman with light brown hair that hung to her shoulders in wavy curls was held by a taller man with his back to the street. They were too far away to make out any features but it was obvious that they were in love. Women didn’t nestle against someone’s chest like that unless they were close and possibly dating or romantically involved, Olivia noted.

Brock nodded to Olivia and she could tell that he wanted to break into a jog again. As he did, he quickened his pace and she fell into line beside him, acting naturally. But the man did turn to see them. He was still too far away to see anything, but his body stiffened as if he didn’t want to be seen hugging this woman in public. He turned quickly and whispered something to her and she pulled from his grasp. Olivia kept her eyes ahead but she noticed Brock glance toward the parking lot. As they passed by, Olivia heard two car doors slam and two car engines start up. One of them roared to life with the souped-up roar intended to draw attention and tires squealed. The other car started normally and the sound of both engines grew louder. Olivia chanced one look over her shoulder to see the red sports car peel off in the other direction while the white one turned, speeding past them. The woman they had seen occupied the front seat and sunglasses hid her eyes from them. She didn’t even look at them as she passed, but she did go by pretty fast for a parking lot before she zoomed around the corner and out of sight.

Once they were gone, Olivia and Brock slowed to a stop as soon as they could. Their pace had brought them past the school by a few yards. Once they both caught their breath, Brock turned to look after the red sports car. “Hmm. I wonder what’s up with that.”

Other than the sign that said Cape Fremont High School and the laser banner sign underneath it, the school was hidden behind a grove of trees and bushes. Hidden or not, Olivia still looked around, just in case anyone was nearby to listen in on their conversation. All was quiet, except for the wind hissing in the leaves above in the trees. “Yeah. They sure got out of there in a hurry after seeing two random joggers go by. They must really be trying to keep their little love affair a secret.”

“I think it’s more than a love affair.” Brock turned to face her, fully. “I saw him hand her a manila envelope.”

Olivia stopped thinking, even breathing for a moment. “What?”

“That’s right.” He nodded his confirmation. “Right before they took off, he slipped her something and then they both got in their cars and left.”

“That’s odd,” Olivia stated the obvious. “What business did they have in the school parking lot on a Saturday that involved a manila envelope?”

“Whatever it was, they probably thought they were going to be alone. No one’s at school on a Saturday.” Brock looked toward the parking lot again. “No one’s even out on the street. They were probably trying to keep their meeting clandestine.”

They turned, crossing the road and jogging past the school. Once they neared their car again, Olivia broke the silence with her thoughts. “I’m still toying with the idea of a teen cult. But my gut is telling me that everything leads back to the school, somehow.”

“What are you thinking?” Brock asked as a means to draw her out.

“Ellie went missing after school. And you mentioned that you think a teacher might possibly be some sort of influencer for kids like Josh. ”

Brock nodded, remembering. “So, we’ve got to find a way to get into that school.” They got to their car but weren’t quite ready to get in, yet. Brock leaned against his door, pushing his hands through his hair. “But what would two newlyweds be doing in a school of all places? No one vacations in a school.”

Olivia looked toward the school as if it could give her the answers. Although the school remained hidden, she could still see that light-up sign. The banner sign announced the climbing temperature, the date and the name of the school’s football team.

She kept watching it and the first thing that scrolled past after the information she already knew sparked an idea. The idea grew within seconds, along with her smile. “Hey, Brock?”

“Hmm?”

She turned her grin upward to meet him and nodded to the sign. “Our Susanna is rocking the waves. I wonder just how good she is at sports, along with her surfing.”

At first, he looked confused until he glanced back up at the last little bit of the announcement that disappeared behind the brick outline. He caught on to her train of thought and the same smile began to form on his face. “Good one, Olivia. Let’s ask her.”