Doramis

Night of the full moon in August

4 hours earlier

Doramis sat outside a small cottage as Jordana came out. Doramis had her back to her and didn't see the surprise look on Jordana's face.

"What are you doing here?" asked Jordana.

Doramis looked up at her. "Waiting for you."

"I'm surprised you found where I'm staying."

"It wasn't hard," said Doramis. "Kid detective, remember," she said as she pointed at herself.

Jordana took a seat right next to Doramis. "How's the investigation by the way? Any of our suspects jumped up the list."

"That's what I was here to ask you."

"You first. Who do you suspect?"

"My mom has files on Liam, Jack and Ashner."

"Is that all?"

"She surprisingly has a file on my teacher as well." Doramis looked up at the sky as she said those words.

"Mr. Souza."

"Yeah. I can't believe my mom was investigating him."

"It might be nothing," said Jordana. "But here is a tip. Everyone has something hidden in their closet. No one is perfect."

"What's hidden in your closet?" Doramis asked as she looked into Jordana's eyes.

"You first," retorted Jordana as she stared back.

"I'm sixteen. I haven't lived long enough to have stuff hidden in my closet."

"Not even a secret boyfriend?"

"No!" exclaimed Doramis.

"Girlfriend?"

"Neither."

"So you're not the slightest interested in one of your two friends hiding back there." Jordana gestured behind her vehicle that was given to her by Isabella.

"No. And how long have you known they were there?"

"Right before sitting down with you. I can see their legs under the car."

Doramis looked towards the car and spotted Ken's sneakers. "Wow."

"Liam, Jack, Ashner and Mr. Souza are your suspects?" asked Jordana.

"As of now, yes."

"Jack is a surprising one. Wasn't he shot at as well?"

"Yes, but what if he was in on it with Liam. I think they might have been working together."

"It's not a bad theory, but do you think they were just trying to scare her, or worse?"

"If they were working together, it was to scare my mom. Which didn't work by the way."

"Is that who your mother suspects as well?"

"No. Actually, I don't think she is even investigating the incident."

"Really? Now that is surprising. Does she have something else going on?"

"I'm not sure," answered Doramis as she tried to think. "Mayor Pietro had asked her to succeed her as mayor. Maybe that's what has her mind preoccupied."

"Now I understand why Isabella hired me. She wants me to look after her successor. Anyways, you should be getting home. It's really late." Jordana stood up.

Doramis jumped up. "Wait, you haven't told me who is at the top of your list."

"Honestly, it was Mr. Souza, but after what you told me about Isabella wanting your mom to succeed her, Ashner has jumped to the top of my list."

"I've never liked Ashner."

"Seems like he doesn't have many fans. What dirt does your mom have on him?"

"I don't know. I just know she has a file on him. She keeps the actual dirt of her clients in a lock box at the bank."

"That's smart. Get home, sweetie. It is really late."

"No," said Doramis. "I'm going to look into Mr. Souza since he's so high on your list. I want to know what my mom has on him."

"Do it some other time. It's dangerous to be out at this time of night."

Doramis put her hands on her hip. "Do you really think I'm going to do what you say?"

"I'm the adult."

"So, you're not my mother."

"But I can tell your mother."

"So can I. I'm sure my mom is going to love to hear you're investigating her shooting."

Jordana flicked Doramis' forehead.

"Ouch," said Doramis as she rubbed her forehead.

"What are you even going to investigate at this time of night?" asked Jordana.

"The school," answered Doramis, matter-of-factly.

"You think he's going to have incriminating evidence at the school?"

"Maybe. Maybe I can find something I can use as leverage against him."

"There's nothing that's going to change your mind, is there?"

"Nope. I get my stubbornness from my mom."

"Do you kids at least have a car?"

"Of course not. Our parents would have caught us sneaking out if we took our cars."

Jordana walked over to her car. "Children, come out here." Ken and Robbie revealed themselves from behind her vehicle. Jordana looked back at Doramis. "You have your license, correct?"

"Yeah," she answered, questionably.

Jordana tossed her keys to her. "You can take my car, but drop me off at Isabella's. I have to report what I've figured out so far."

"You're going to let us use your car?" asked Doramis.

"Yes, I rather not have you on foot at this time of night. Once you're done investigating your teacher, drop the boys off and park the car around the corner of your street. I'll pick it up in the morning."

"Are you sure?" asked Doramis.

"I'm positive. Now let's get going. I'm already late."

****

Doramis dropped off Jordana at Isabella's then continued on to the high-school. Ken sat in the passenger's seat while Robbie was in the back.

"Should we be parked in the school's parking lot?" asked Ken. "It's going to look suspicious."

"The Help has a point," said Robbie. "If my father passed by, he would find this vehicle parked in the lot suspicious."

"Don't call me the help."

"At least you're not an extra."

Doramis was smiling as she drove the car to a side street close to the school. "Is this good enough?"

"This works," said Robbie as he got out of the car. Doramis and Ken followed. Robbie led the way while Doramis and Ken closely followed.

There was a howl in the distance and Ken stopped.

Doramis stopped as well and looked back at him. "What are you doing? Hurry up."

"But what was that?"

"Probably coyotes."

"You sure it wasn't a wolf?"

"There are no wolves in Mass. Now hurry up. We shouldn't be out in the open like this."

Ken followed Doramis and they ran as quickly as they could, trying to catch up with Robbie who was already at the school. Robbie stood under a window when Doramis and Ken approached.

"One of you help me climb up," said Robbie.

"What's wrong?" mocked Ken. "Too short to actually reach the window?"

"Quiet, Help. This is what you're here for."

Doramis and Ken pushed the window open and climbed up. They offered their hands to Robbie and pulled him up and in.

"You're welcome," said Ken as he closed the window.

Robbie ignored him as he went into the hall. "Which one is Mr. Souza's classroom?"

"Follow me," said Doramis as she led them through the halls. "Right here," she said as they entered classroom 244. She went straight for the teacher's desk while Ken went to the window. "Damn it," said Doramis as she tried to open the drawer. "It's locked."

Robbie went over to her and tried to pull the drawer open. "Yup, it's locked."

Doramis gave him an annoyed look. "No shit." Doramis' phone ran and she pulled it out of her pocket. "Shit," she said. "It's my mother." She ignored the phone call.

"You should put that on silent."

"That's what you're worried about," said Ken as he walked over. "Her mom knows she's not home. That's why she called."

Robbie stared at Doramis. "Are you good?" he asked her.

Doramis turned her phone off. "Not really. I'm in so much trouble."

"You're not going to call it a night, are you?"

"Of course we are," said Ken. "We need to get out of here before we get into more trouble."

"No," said Doramis. "We're already in trouble. We might as well finish what we started."

"Seriously?"

Doramis walked towards the door. "Let's get that drawer open." The boys followed her into the hall.

"Where are you going?" asked Ken.

"I'm going into the shop and finding something to pry open Mr. Souza's drawer." Doramis walked with purpose as she made her way across the school.

Another phone ran and they all stopped. It was Ken whose phone rang this time. He pulled it out and was horrified to see the words mom on his phone. He quickly ignored it.

"There's nothing we can do about it now," said Doramis. "We're already in trouble. Might as well finish this."

"Robbie's not in trouble," said Ken.

"Not yet," said Doramis. "But I'm sure our mothers are heading straight to his house next."

"Really?" said Robbie.

"Where do you think they're going to go next? They know us three hangout. They're definitely going to your dad next."

"Shit. My dad is going to kill me."

"No backing out now," said Ken. "We're all in on this together."

"I wasn't going to back out. I'm not a chicken like you."

"Again with the chicken shit."

The three of them shared a laugh.

Doramis smiled as she controlled her laughter. "Let's get going. We don't know how much time we have left."

A light came over the teenagers as they covered their eyes. They tried to see who was flashing the light at them when the man brought down the flashlight.

"Dori, Ken," said Mr. Souza. "What are you three doing here?"

Robbie took off running while Doramis and Ken looked back at him. "Look who's the coward now," said Ken.

"Roberto Tirado Junior!" yelled Mr. Souza. "There is no point in running. I recognize you too."

Robbie stopped as his shoulder went slump. "Damn it."

Mr. Souza walked over to Doramis and Ken. "What are you two doing here anyways?"

"Shouldn't we be asking you that question?" countered Doramis. "I don't recall your hours running this late."

"No," said Mr. Souza as he shook his head. "No you shouldn't be asking me that question. I'm the adult here and the three of you are trespassing."

"Aren't you trespassing as well," said Doramis.

"No I'm not. I work here. I have a key while you three snuck in through a window."

"You saw us?" asked Ken.

"Yes, that's the reason I'm here. Because I saw someone breaking into the school. You're lucky I didn't call the cops. Now again, why are you here?"

"We thought it would be cool to sneak into school at night," answered Doramis as Robbie came to stand next to them.

"So let me get this straight," said Mr. Souza. "You skip school during the day and sneak back in it, at night?"

"Pretty much."

"Your parents are going to be so mad at you."

"They already are," whispered Ken.

There was a loud crash outside.

"What was that?" asked Robbie.

"I'm not sure," said Mr. Souza as he walked to the nearest classroom. He went to the window as the teenagers followed. They saw a car smashed into a tree. Mr. Souza didn't even hesitate as he ran out of the classroom.

"Who's car is that?" asked Robbie.

"I don't know, but let's go," said Doramis as she ran after Mr. Souza.

The four of them ran to the car as they slowed down at their approached. The car was catching fire.

"Stay back," said Mr. Souza as he continued to get closer to the vehicle. "The driver is still inside." He ran to the driver's side. "Call the police," he yelled as he tried to open the car's door. The doors were locked and Mr. Souza proceeded to elbow the window, trying to shatter it.

The teenagers pulled out their cellphones, but they were shut off. Doramis and Ken had to turn their phones back on while Robbie called the police.

Mr. Souza was struggling to break the window as Doramis approached. "Stay back," he said to her.

Doramis noticed the back door was cracked open and went to it. She opened the door then unlocked the driver's side from the back. Mr. Souza gave her a nod as he pulled the woman out of the car.

"She didn't have her seatbelt on," he said.

"It's Isabella," said Doramis.

"Help me get her away from the car." Together they pulled her to the other side of the street. Ken and Robbie stood behind them and watched. Robbie was still trying to get a hold of the police.

Mr. Souza pulled back his hands. "She's covered in blood." He went to check on her pulse when a loud howl was heard nearby.

Mr. Souza stood straight up as they all turned around. In a blur, a large animal rushed towards them and swatted Mr. Souza away. Mr. Souza flew across the street and landed with a thud.

The teenagers backed away to the field of the school as they saw the animal sniffing Isabella's body. The teenagers were frozen into place as the animal whined as it pushed its snout on Isabella's side.

Ken stepped on a stick causing a cracking noise, and the animal turned and looked at them.

"Run," yelled Robbie, causing them to sprint towards the school. In an instance the animal took chase. It was just about to pounce on top of them when something tackled it.

The teenagers didn't even look back as they got inside the school and closed the doors behind them.