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“That guy could have just as easily been after you.” Gene sounded like he was trying to convince himself. “Besides, we were kind of secluded behind that pharmacy.”
I really doubted that it mattered to the Snake’s thug whether we were secluded or not. It hadn’t the last time we tangled with the Snake. Gene and I had just made things easy this time. I didn’t say anything, though. I was too busy trying to figure out why Gene was so bent on going with Winston. It’s not like Winston had been very nice to Gene up to now.
“What about last night?” Matt interjected. “That guy was clearly after you, and it happened on campus no less.”
“Yeah, but it was at night,” Gene countered, “and I was alone. It’s day now and Winston will be with me.”
I raised my hand to cut off a sharp retort by Matt. “Gene, Winston’s not going to be much help if that guy returns.” I’d seen Winston in action. If he were able to keep from hiding under something, he’d be doing well.
“I think I can trust him to protect me,” Gene said defensively.
“If he even tries!” Matt exploded. “And that’s a big if. If he tries, what makes you think Winston will be able to do a better job than me? Remember last night? That guy just threw me around, and I’m a whole lot bigger that Winston. Not that size matters when the guy has a gun.”
Gene opened his mouth to object, but Matt interrupted him angrily, “Just so you don’t think I’m blowing my own horn, what about Scott? Have you already forgotten what that guy did to him? If the bruises and broken bones he gave Scott don’t show he means business, I don’t know what does.”
“I know that Winston’s not been the nicest guy here.” Gene looked at me apprehensively. “He even admitted that he hasn’t been treating me very well. That’s why he’s doing this, to make things up to me. I have to at least give him a chance. Besides, he has a cell phone. He can call 911 if anything goes wrong.”
I raised an eyebrow at Matt. Academy students were not normally allowed to have cell phones on campus. The Academy had strict phone use policies that just couldn’t be enforced on cell phones. I had heard Winston’s parents had insisted he be allowed to have one after our first run in with the Snake, but I hadn’t confirmed it. Now I had.
“Besides,” Gene finished stubbornly. “You guys can’t make me stay here.”
“Wanna bet?” Matt growled under his breath.
I shot him a sympathetic glance. I agreed with the sentiment, but wasn’t sure force would be appropriate. “Maybe we can’t,” I said to Gene. “But Superintendent Hinkly can. You have to get a pass first.”
“Winston already took care of that.” Gene held up the yellow slip of paper Winston had given him.
Something still didn’t seem right. I just couldn’t see Superintendent Hinkly allowing any of us off campus for anything short of a dire emergency. “Then it won’t matter if I called to make sure.”
Ignoring Gene’s protests, I reached for the phone and dialed Superintendent Hinkly’s phone number. He was usually in his office at this time of day, even on Saturday.
“John Jay Military Academy, Superintendent Hinkly,” a distracted voice answered.
“Superintendent Hinkly, this is Cadet McCully. I was just calling to see if you signed a day pass for Winston and Gene.”
“Yes, I signed a signed a pass for Cadet Daytona.” Superintendent Hinkly sounded frustrated. “His parents insist that he is in no danger. After all, he wasn’t involved in any of the attacks. I couldn’t keep him here without a good reason.” His voice lowered until it was nearly inaudible. “As if cheating and fighting aren’t good reasons.”
“Did you sign any other passes?” I couldn’t care less what Winston did, Gene was my only concern.
“Cadet McCully. I fail to see how this is any business of yours.” Superintendent Hinkly’s sharp tone warned I was treading very close to insubordination. “I did give permission for Cadet Daytona and another student to leave the campus for the day. This conversation is over.”
I held the phone in my hand for a moment after he hung up and looked at it thoughtfully. I wondered if he really knew what was going on. Not that I could actually ask that question without getting expelled. “Superintendent Hinkly said he signed the passes.”
“Then we call Chris.” Matt crossed his arms tightly and moved between Gene and the door. “He ordered Gene to stay here.”
“Come on, guys, Superintendent Hinkly gave permission,” Gene pleaded. “We shouldn’t be too long. Then you can call Chris.”
“One hour,” I agreed reluctantly. If Superintendent Hinkly gave permission, we couldn’t keep him here. “Then we call Chris.”
“Great.” Gene stuffed his wallet into his back pocket. “You’ll see, everything will be fine.”
As he dashed out the door, Matt glared at me. “I still think we should call Chris.”
“Superintendent Hinkly gave permission.” I still wasn’t certain what I thought of that, but it was done. “I’m not sure about going over his head to Chris. We’ll give it one hour and pray everything is fine.”
We spent the next hour in virtual silence. I could tell that Matt was angry with me for letting Gene go. Not that I blamed him.
Protect Gene, Lord. I stared at the digital clock on the bed stand and realized after thirteen minutes that, in all our concern about another attack, we didn’t stop to consider what torment Winston might put Gene through. I sighed heavily and dropped my head into my hands. I was angry, too. Angry with Winston for starting this whole thing. Angry with Gene for insisting on going. Angry with Superintendent Hinkly for giving permission. And especially angry with myself for not knowing what to do about it. As I sat there and counted off the minutes, I thought of a dozen different things that I could have done or said that might have been better.
Exactly sixty minutes after I let Gene walk out of our room, I reached for the phone. “I’m calling Chris. They’ve had long enough to...”
At that moment, the phone rang. My hand shot the last six inches to the receiver and snatched it up.
“It’s terrible!” Winston’s high voice shrieked over the line. “Kidnapping! Murder!”
My heart skipped. Murder! Worst-case scenarios flashed through my brain until I remembered who I was talking to. I steadied my voice carefully as I pressed for information.
“Calm down, Winston.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Matt was sitting next to me on the bed. “What happened?”
“Happening! Now! This minute!” He was getting hysterical. “He’s got Gene!”
“Hang up and call 911! Matt and I are...” I stopped myself. Getting Matt and I caught too wouldn’t help. “Matt and I will call Chris.”
“Too late!” Winston moaned. “I’m coming back!”
“Call 911, or I’ll do it for you.” I snapped. “Don’t you dare go anywhere until you talk to the police.”
“But I don’t want...” Winston whined.
“I don’t care what you want.” My voice rose as I fought to keep my panic and anger under control. “You brought Gene out there, you’re going to stay there until someone comes to help get him back. Where are you?”
“In the nature reserve behind the Academy,” he admitted softly.
I wanted to scream into the phone. So much for a public place! Instead, I simply repeated through clenched teeth, “Call 911. NOW!” And slammed the phone down.
“Gene?” Matt asked, his face red with anger.
I nodded. “I’m calling Chris.”
“Which you should have done before.” Matt slammed his fist into the bed between us.
I clenched my teeth to hold in a sharp retort. He was right and I didn’t fault him if he blamed me for this mess. I blamed myself. “You’re right, I should have. I’m doing it now. I’m only afraid of one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“What am I going to tell Chris?”