Jacob sighs. “Mr. Walker will be back on Monday, my uncle has someone tailing him in London, but when he gets back to campus, he’s all ours,”
“Why doesn’t your uncle just interrogate him?” Corden asks while typing away on his computer.
“He isn’t the head; he can’t do what he wants to. There are orders to follow, and he has already pushed the boundaries for us more than once,”
“So, what do we do now,” Piper takes a sip of coffee, her hands no longer as shaky as they used to be.
“Well,” Asher leans forward. “We have Jacob’s guy watching him right now in London. Corden is watching the cameras to his room and the hotel while also waiting for Bishop to send over everything he has on him. Once he gets back on Monday, me and the boys will go question him while you,” He points to me. “Stay with Piper, Max will be on the door, Corden you stay with them as well, just in case,”
“I want to go with you!” I demand. “I have questions of my own,”
Asher grabs my hand. “Please stay with Piper. You are the only one we both trust and I can’t have her anywhere near him if he is the one, we are looking for,”
“If we tail him on academy grounds, he might lead us to where he took the girls,” Daylan inputs. “I know Jacob’s guy can’t come past the gates so he can’t do it for us, but we should try and stick to the shadows for a few days. Don’t go in all guns blazing on Monday. We need to be smart about this because we don’t know how many people are really involved. Taking out one might not solve our problems here,” He looks at Asher’s and a silent conversation happens between them.
My brows furrow but I decide against questioning it right now.
“Good idea,” Asher nods.
“I just want this all to be over now,” Piper’s voice is soft as she crosses her arms around her stomach. “I want everything to go back to normal again,” Jacob doesn’t pull her into him as usual and the guilty look on his face is so obvious, I am surprised Piper hasn’t said anything.
“Okay, I have sent the files and information Bishop sent over to my brother and he is putting everything else on hold and working on this,” Corden shuts his laptop but opens his phone. “I have all the camera’s set to my phone; Mr. Walker can’t make a move without us knowing about it. So…” He stands and collects his things. “We are all going to head into town and grab some lunch and a bevy,”
“I have some work to do,” Jacob tries to excuse himself.
“No, you don’t. I already checked everyone’s timetables, assignment hand ins and sport schedules. We all have nothing until Monday. We all need to let off some steam. Come on,” Corden pleads.
I know we have a million other things to do, but an afternoon spending time with the people I have come to care about, does seem like the kind of thing I need right now.
Asher shrugs at me leaving the decision up to me.
“I’m in,” I stand.
“Me too,” Asher grabs my coat and his from the chair.
“I’ll come for a bit,” Daylan pushes his arms through his dark blue peacoat.
“I’ll go if you go,” Piper’s pleading eyes meet Jacobs.
He groans. “Fine,”
I chuckle to myself. As if he would ever say no to Piper.
***
The town outside of Marrowton Academy is small and quaint but spectacular in its own way. Old grey stone building’s line the small, cobbled streets and each shop has only one display window next to a slightly crooked, brightly painted door. The grey skies only add to its cosy charm.
All afternoon Asher has held my hand tight as we meandered through shops full of tat. No high street brands would ever think to put their store here, but the small boutiques are more than enough for the small amount of residents who live here.
When it starts to drizzle, we all take shelter in the small pub at the end of the street. The Hollow Lantern.
“They do a mean steak and ale pie here,” Corden beams as he opens the door for us all.
The inside is exactly how I expected it to be. Small and darkened due to the lack of windows, but the fireplace and wall sconces give it a cosy feel. Everything is mismatched and hanging onto its last legs, even the alcohol behind the bar looks ancient.
We take a corner booth that is red velvet lined, or was, before a million arses wore it down to nothing. We all take off our jackets and order a pint, even Asher who I assumed only consumed expensivewhiskey. We sip and chat while Corden demolishes his pie, which does indeed look and smell divine. The conversation is easy, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this content. And to think, if my father didn’t send me here, I wouldn’t have ever met these people who are fast becoming important to me. Even Jacob.
We are about to order one more round when the door opens, letting the cold air in and breaking the vibe entirely. I have a direct view of the door, so when I freeze at the girl beelining for us, everyone else turns to inspect. Jacob’s rare smile melts off his face as he turns white, his eyes flashing between Piper and the redhead nearly at our table.
