Page 328 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“It says she tried to re-route government missiles to take out a child sex ring operation. Someone with that kind of determination could be an asset,” she argues, and I nod. Her file gets added to the pile.
Elsie finds another girl from St. Julian’s and even though Precious Rae – yes that’s her actual name – may be an uppity princess, her father is one of the most sought after criminal attorneys in all of England.
And the last person I choose is not from a family with connections or even wealth or skills, unless you class her pouring beers at the local pub as a skill. Baxter must have seen something in her but, her file is empty but for one news article. She killed a man in self defense. For me there’s something in hereyes that draws me to her. So I add Kathryn Spencer to the pile. They will each get a cryptic invite.
Most of the kids from the schools or universities around here will have heard rumours already, so we’ll see who turns up. I’ll organise to go to Mackenzie’s and Kathryn’s court hearings, or possibly send Elsie or Adrianne. First, I’ll have to look into the judge overseeing the case and find out if he’s part of The Order. I’m presuming most of the people in power in this country will be, and if they’re not, they’re probably in our pockets, keen for one of our priceless favours for times of need.
“All that’s left is to organise initiation,” I say looking at Baxter with a smile.
“Hell, no. That’s Kalen’s specialty and we both know it. They would be killed if it was left up to me.”
“I have to pull rank here. If it is left up to Kalen they’d all be naked and jelly wrestling, and I can’t have the girls help me yet because they have to take part. So that leaves you because it has to be fair.”
“You do realise that you are pushing the friendship boundaries right now,” he growls from between clenched teeth.
“Good thing that I’m not asking as your friend, but telling you as your boss then isn’t it? Because I believe deep down in that chest cavity is a heart which can be fair and help me with this.”
“No, there’s not. You’ve just managed to find a muscle that likes you and have mistaken it for a heart,” he replies before winking at me. Elsie gasps. I guess not many people have seen this teasing, almost playful side to Baxter before.
I shake my head at him. He talks a big game, but I think if I threw myself at him now he would turn me down. He may complain about it, but he needed a friend.
“Keep telling yourself that, Batman.”
He screws up his face at me and lights a cigarette that he pulls from a packet he had stashed in his pocket.
“Just remember all of this because I have a favour to ask of you soon, and I will need you to come through for me.”
With that he stands and leaves, and as he exits Jasper walks back into the small, dusty room. Perfect timing and ever watchful.
I know Baxter wants out but I’m not sure if that’s something I can actually grant for him. I need to pull some files on those who have managed to get a pardon. I want to ask my father, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to know all about his past yet. If he wanted me to know, he would have told me already. I need to talk to him about Debbie, too, and see what his thoughts are, but is he ready to know she is alive? And I don’t know how that will impact his relationship with Chelsea, because he cheated on Laura with Debbie, and although I can’t blame him for that, if they still have feelings for each other it would crush Chelsea. Hell, it would crush me. I couldn’t bear it if I caused a chain reaction like that. Surely there has to be someone else that I could look into? I might go to the ‘headquarters’ and do some digging so I can be prepared for when Baxter comes to me.
Chapter Fourteen
Amelie
Everything for the women’s initiation is coming along nicely. Baxter has a few ideas for their individual tasks. They all have to overcome their fears. I’ve tried to find a way for Elsie to not have to face hers, but there’s no way around it. She’s going to have to dig deep to get through it.
I have to shelve those thoughts because I’m late for music class. I wish Monty would just hurry up and get this sorted. I’m stretched so thin with school and The Order that waking up every morning is becoming harder.
I race into class with a coffee in hand, my guard sticking to my damn side like glue. Jasper is sick this morning, and his replacement is a young guy who looks like he could be from the cast of ‘Men in Black’. His face is void of all emotion, and his suit doesn’t have a wrinkle to be seen. I want to push him over in the dirt or something just to dirty him up a little, but that would be super childish. Though, I do at least hope Kalen feels the same way when he meets this guy.
Slate is strumming away on his guitar when I walk over to him. He is humming away to an Ed Sheeran song. I stare at him like a creeper while he finishes the song. His smile flashes his white teeth when he notices me staring. Done, he places his guitar to the side and holds his hand out for me. I step into him, and he looks up at me from the stool he’s sitting on.
“We really need some alone time, I miss you,” he confesses.
“By all means, take that argument up with your father. I’m almost ready to just give up on school completely. I mean, what will they do, send me back to Australia and throw me in prison?”
Slate laughs. “I don’t think you should risk it, I’m not sure if orange is your colour.”
I playfully slap his arm. “For your information the women’s prison near where my father lives is navy blue. I might get lucky in there. I have four super hot boyfriends, and I can’t seem to get laid that often. I was expecting all the dicks when I agreed to this.”
“I promise I’ll talk to the others and we will get you laid, even if we have to play tag team.”
That damn word sounds so gross, but the thought has me squeezing my legs together.
“I can get down with that.”
The teacher clears her throat, and I turn my head to look at her. “Is something wrong?”
