Page 24 of Scarred Redemption

“Meaning I was asked to take a day off. I was told I’d lose my vacation time, which is true. We have a use it or lose it policy. I had a doctor’s appointment and had planned on taking a half day off anyway. So I didn’t really think anything about the suggestion. The administrator had been known to do that before. Even now, it may mean nothing.”

“Something I’ll keep in the back of my mind. Why did you call me three weeks ago, Sara? On that day of the fire, you were clearly frightened. What exactly did you see or hear?”

“You’re right, I was scared. Less than an hour before we were scheduled to leave, I was told that it wouldn’t be in my best interest to take the children to the party.”

I sat forward. “Go on.”

“A couple of men came to my office and simply made a suggestion I knew I shouldn’t refuse. They weren’t threatening me. They weren’t brandishing weapons. And only one of the two did the talking. However, I could sense they’d be watching and expected me to follow orders. When I questioned who they were, they said they were my good friends and didn’t want anything to happen to me.”

I took a deep breath, fighting the increasing agitation. Her nervous behavior continued, including continually pushing hair behind her ear.

“That’s all he said, that it would be in my and the children’s best interest not to attend. I pressed him as to why and all he did was smile. The kind of smile that sends chills through your body. They left right after that and I waited for a few minutes and decided to find the administrator. He was in his office with the door closed, but I heard the same man’s voice. They sounded like they were arguing. I had to try and make an excuse so the children wouldn’t be loaded onto the van. After that, I called you.”

“Did you ask your administrator who they were at any point later?”

“I couldn’t. Mr. Dreyfus was transferred. By the following Monday, his desk had been cleared.”

Interesting. Another clue that I couldn’t ignore.

Whoever had brought a war against my organization was tidying up loose ends. Did that mean the bastards had a conscience and didn’t want innocent children to die?

Sara was telling me the truth. I could tell that easily. She was also utterly petrified. “What did these two men look like?”

She noticed the change in my voice and the fear in her eyes reflected it. “They were well dressed, both in dark suits. One was tall and thin with blond hair and the other was a huge bald man. A brute of a guy and he wore several gold rings. They flashed in the sunlight streaming in through the window.”

As soon as she made the statement, I took and held a deep breath. Was it possible the Dixie mafia hadn’t been responsible for the attacks? “A bald man.”

“Yes, and utterly terrifying. I think I’ve seen him at least three times since that day.”

“At the school?”

“No, different places. Standing across the street from the school when I arrived. Even when I was grocery shopping. What is going on, Mr. Aristov?”

“Who told you to call me?”

“What? No one did.” There were always signs when someone was lying, the deception going against their beliefs.

“What did they threaten you with?” I was calm in my demeanor, knowing if I challenged her with my own level of threats, she would stay silent.

Her lower lip quivered. “My mother. She’s in a nursing home. Dementia. She’s all I have left.”

I could handle this one of several ways, including using her as bait. However, Isabel even in spirit would never forgive me.

“I think it’s a good idea if you left town for a few days.”

“Why?”

The woman didn’t deserve the truth, but I wasn’t in the mood to enter the bowels of hell just yet. “Because I don’t want you to become collateral damage. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

Her lower lip quivered again. “Yes.”

“Do you have somewhere you can go?”

“A sister in another state.”

“Excellent. Go there. It shouldn’t be for long. Will you do that for me? I will ensure that your mother is protected.”

“Why would you do that?” She was barely whispering.