Read Online The Academy (Moving In Series Book 6) by Ron Ripley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ron Ripley
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cousin, put an arm around the man’s shoulders, and gently said, “Don’t ask why, Mitchell. What we need is to figure out what to do next, okay?”
Mitchell hesitated, and then he nodded.
“Good,” Brian said. He led the man out of the cellar. They had work to do.
Chapter 22: Eddie Fina Loses Some Time
Edward James Fina had been a teacher for exactly ten months. His position as the youngest member of the foreign language department at the Academy was tenuous at best. He had a little bit of an attitude when it came to students who didn’t want to learn Spanish, and the kids knew it. They definitely knew how to push his buttons.
Mitchell Roy had already called him into the office once for an informal sit-down. The second time, Mr. Roy had informed him, would require the presence of Eddie’s union representative and a compelling reason as to why the Academy shouldn’t terminate his contract immediately.
Eddie had appreciated the man’s honesty, and he had worked hard to keep his temper under control. A few of the kids continued to try and get him wound up, but he had sent them down to guidance to cool down for a while. Life was getting better.
And then the world had dropped out beneath him. The senior prank had cost him all of the personal items he had brought to show the class for the last week of school. His antique prayer beads, carried to the New World by a Franciscan, with the etching of the Alhambra in Spain. The water from the burst pipes had destroyed the etching, and caused the old, twisted hemp of the beads to swell and break.
Then, Marilyn’s suicide had been devastating. She had helped him get in touch with Mr. Roy when he had trouble with the kids. She had made certain the guidance counselors wouldn’t bounce them right back to his classroom.
And now, Larry , Eddie thought. Larry had helped him retrieve his keys when the kids had hidden them in an air vent, when his briefcase had been tossed onto the roof of machine shop.
He walked in through the back door of the Admin building into Mr. Roy’s office. He needed to talk to the man, try and find out which hospital Larry was in and if he could have visitors.
Eddie walked into the lobby and paused. The display case was broken, and there was yellow tape hung around it.
What the hell happened? he wondered, shaking his head.
With a shrug, he turned to the office and hesitated, his hand floating above the doorknob. Marilyn had killed herself in the room beyond the door. Eddie’s throat clicked audibly as he swallowed dryly and let himself in. Mr. Roy’s personal office was open and empty.
Damn, Eddie sighed. He started to turn around and stopped. He looked back at Mr. Roy’s desk. There was something under it. A small square.
Pick it up, a voice whispered. It wasn’t Eddie’s voice, and for a second, he was going to ignore it.
Yes, Eddie thought, walking into Mr. Roy’s office. I should pick it up.
He dropped down into a squat, reached out, and picked it up. It was a curiously carved box, no bigger than a wallet. The wood felt cold beneath his hands.
It’s alright, the voice said. Don’t worry about the cold.
Eddie smiled, nodded in agreement, and straightened up. He turned the box over in his hands, saw it was hinged, and opened it. An elderly man with a noble expression looked out at him.
This should be put somewhere safe, the stranger said. Where would a safe place be, my friend?
My house, Eddie thought, grinning.
No, no, came the gentle reply. Where in the Academy?
Eddie thought for a moment, and then said, “The library.”
Of course, the library, what an excellent idea. Perhaps you should take it there now?
Eddie nodded, closed the frame, and left the office. He whistled and left the building the way he had entered. He nodded to a few other staff and faculty members he saw, but he remained focused on the library.
When he neared it, he wondered, What if it’s locked?
It’s not, came the answer. Okay , Eddie
Mitchell hesitated, and then he nodded.
“Good,” Brian said. He led the man out of the cellar. They had work to do.
Chapter 22: Eddie Fina Loses Some Time
Edward James Fina had been a teacher for exactly ten months. His position as the youngest member of the foreign language department at the Academy was tenuous at best. He had a little bit of an attitude when it came to students who didn’t want to learn Spanish, and the kids knew it. They definitely knew how to push his buttons.
Mitchell Roy had already called him into the office once for an informal sit-down. The second time, Mr. Roy had informed him, would require the presence of Eddie’s union representative and a compelling reason as to why the Academy shouldn’t terminate his contract immediately.
Eddie had appreciated the man’s honesty, and he had worked hard to keep his temper under control. A few of the kids continued to try and get him wound up, but he had sent them down to guidance to cool down for a while. Life was getting better.
And then the world had dropped out beneath him. The senior prank had cost him all of the personal items he had brought to show the class for the last week of school. His antique prayer beads, carried to the New World by a Franciscan, with the etching of the Alhambra in Spain. The water from the burst pipes had destroyed the etching, and caused the old, twisted hemp of the beads to swell and break.
Then, Marilyn’s suicide had been devastating. She had helped him get in touch with Mr. Roy when he had trouble with the kids. She had made certain the guidance counselors wouldn’t bounce them right back to his classroom.
And now, Larry , Eddie thought. Larry had helped him retrieve his keys when the kids had hidden them in an air vent, when his briefcase had been tossed onto the roof of machine shop.
He walked in through the back door of the Admin building into Mr. Roy’s office. He needed to talk to the man, try and find out which hospital Larry was in and if he could have visitors.
Eddie walked into the lobby and paused. The display case was broken, and there was yellow tape hung around it.
What the hell happened? he wondered, shaking his head.
With a shrug, he turned to the office and hesitated, his hand floating above the doorknob. Marilyn had killed herself in the room beyond the door. Eddie’s throat clicked audibly as he swallowed dryly and let himself in. Mr. Roy’s personal office was open and empty.
Damn, Eddie sighed. He started to turn around and stopped. He looked back at Mr. Roy’s desk. There was something under it. A small square.
Pick it up, a voice whispered. It wasn’t Eddie’s voice, and for a second, he was going to ignore it.
Yes, Eddie thought, walking into Mr. Roy’s office. I should pick it up.
He dropped down into a squat, reached out, and picked it up. It was a curiously carved box, no bigger than a wallet. The wood felt cold beneath his hands.
It’s alright, the voice said. Don’t worry about the cold.
Eddie smiled, nodded in agreement, and straightened up. He turned the box over in his hands, saw it was hinged, and opened it. An elderly man with a noble expression looked out at him.
This should be put somewhere safe, the stranger said. Where would a safe place be, my friend?
My house, Eddie thought, grinning.
No, no, came the gentle reply. Where in the Academy?
Eddie thought for a moment, and then said, “The library.”
Of course, the library, what an excellent idea. Perhaps you should take it there now?
Eddie nodded, closed the frame, and left the office. He whistled and left the building the way he had entered. He nodded to a few other staff and faculty members he saw, but he remained focused on the library.
When he neared it, he wondered, What if it’s locked?
It’s not, came the answer. Okay , Eddie
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