Chapter 26

Gardenfield was locked down. When Alison came in on the train from Philly, she had to pass a security checkpoint before she could leave the station. At least the guards had been from the police force.

Throughout town, in “sensitive locations” such as schools, parks, and so on, there were “security deputies” wearing official DayGlo orange- or lime-colored vests. These were individuals recruited from the towns’ contingent of school crossing guards, bicycle parking enforcers, and volunteer fire fighters. They’d been issued walkie-talkies and instructed to be suspicious, intuitive, alert, intrusive, and communicative. Debbie was going nuts.

Alison hurried into the Lenape King and she and Icky retreated to the basement.

“This is freakin’ me out,” said Icky. “All these vigilantes.”

“Are they armed?” asked Alison.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Not most of them, anyway.”

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

Icky couldn’t believe it. Alison was so obsessed with that course and her professor, she couldn’t see the danger. “Alison, can’t you see how messed up this is getting? First, your teacher gets them to write about him in the Pest like he’s some kind of hero.”

“They made it sound like it’s just harmless pranks,” Alison fumed. “I wanted to throw up.”

“He’s covering himself so you can’t come after him.”

“He thinks he’s covered. The pig. But I’ve got evidence.”

“Alison,” Icky pleaded. “Throw it away. Forget about it. Forget about him. I don’t even care that you had sex with him. It doesn’t matter. Drop the course. Walk away. We still have each other. I love you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Hurt? Who’s going to hurt me?”

“This murder. Don’t you see? This is the cover-up. They’re trying to throw the police off the track or at least divert them while they plan their next move. These are dangerous people. Don’t you get it?”

“I’m dangerous too,” said Alison sullenly. “I want to bring those corporate assholes down. I thought Professor Littlejohn … I thought that was what he’s all about. I thought that was the whole purpose of my education. To empower regular people like us. For him, it’s just a pose. He used me. Now I’m going to use him …”

“Alison, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

“Icky. I’m not sure anymore. But I’m glad you love me. I love you too. But I need your help. So will you please shut up and just do what I tell you?”