Keepers of the Cave (8 page)

She was suddenly very afraid.

***

“Our neighbor is not home yet,” CJ said as she sauntered into the bedroom at ten. At Paige’s raised eyebrows, she added, “Fiona.”

“Maybe she stayed in Hoganville,” Paige said, closing her laptop.

“I suppose. I was looking forward to meeting her, though.”

“Why? You think she might have horns or something?”

CJ laughed, turning her back to Paige and pulling her shirt over her head, leaving herself naked from the waist up.

“Must you? Really?”

“Just getting ready for bed. Don’t look if it bothers you,” she said, smiling as she heard Paige leave the room and slam the door. She shouldn’t tease so, she knew. Not if they expected to make it through this assignment without getting a divorce.

Of course, they had to do other things as well. Like get a TV. With Paige holed up in the bedroom, CJ had stayed in the living room, her only entertainment was the music on her phone. It would be much easier if they could get along for an extended period of time. She really didn’t think the kiss was overdoing it. In fact, they had been so playful with each other, it would have seemed odd
not
to kiss in that particular moment. And if she really thought about it, she could almost say Paige was the one to initiate it.

“Was barely a kiss anyway,” she muttered as she climbed under the covers, tugging at the sleep shirt she was not used to wearing.
God, how many months of this?

“Are you decent?” Paige called.

CJ grinned. “I’m always decent, baby.” She could picture Paige rolling her eyes.

Paige stood at the door, hands on her hips. “I think you’re enjoying this way too much.”

“On the contrary. I’d much rather be back in Houston with the guys. You’re a little...uptight.”

Paige glared at her. “Uptight?
Me
?”

“It was barely a kiss.”

“Jesus, are we back to that again?” she asked as she jerked back the covers on her side of the bed.

“Isn’t that what’s got your panties in a wad?”

Paige took a deep breath, then pursed her lips. “Goodnight, CJ,” she said. “Please turn out the lamp and stay on your side of the bed.”

“God, this is going to be a long assignment,” CJ murmured.

“Tell me about it.”

CJ punched at her pillow, trying to get comfortable. She smiled devilishly as she slid her foot across Paige’s imaginary line. She was rewarded with a swift kick to her calf. She couldn’t contain her laughter.

“You’re such a child,” Paige muttered.

CJ sighed and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come. She tried to ignore the warm body only a few feet from her. Just as she was dozing off, a sharp, piercing scream shattered the quiet around their little house. They both jerked up, barely breathing, as Paige gripped her arm tightly.

“What the hell was that?” CJ whispered.

“I have no idea. What do you think it was?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a coyote?”

Paige cocked her head. “Do you even know what a coyote sounds like?”

“Hell, I’m a city girl. So maybe it was like a cougar or something,” she said.

“Do they have cougars out here?”

CJ shrugged, then jumped as the scream was heard again, this time a little farther away. “It sounds like it’s hunting.”

“It?”

“Let’s go with cougar,” she said as she settled down again. She was thankful Paige did not remove her hand.

CHAPTER TEN

Paige felt a little nervous and just a twinge of anxiety when she dressed for her first school day. Of the two of them, CJ would have made a much better gym teacher. Of course, CJ made a much better cop too, she thought, as she spied her tucking in her uniform shirt. Well, maybe not a better cop, but she certainly looked better in a uniform than Paige did.

“I saw you looking, quit pretending you’re not,” CJ said with her normal arrogance.

“I was not
looking
,” Paige said. “I just happened to glance over and see you.” She rolled her eyes. “God, she’s so full of herself,” she muttered.

CJ laughed but made no further comment. “You ready for coffee,
dear
?”

“Yes, please.” She was thankful she’d insisted on packing her gourmet coffee from home. The grocery store they’d shopped at was sorely lacking and had only a limited variety.

“This is pretty good,” CJ said. “What is it?” she asked as she handed Paige her cup.

“Guatemala Antigua. Medium roast,” she said, closing her eyes, savoring the first sip. “I always taste just a tiny hint of chocolate in that first sip,” she said. “You?”

CJ shook her head. “Not really.”

“No, I suppose not. You’ve already killed the flavor with sugar and cream.”

CJ laughed good-naturedly. “You should know, since you bring me coffee all the time.”

“Well, what we serve in the office, I wouldn’t exactly call
coffee
,” she said, not caring in the least that she sounded aristocratic. There was a distinct difference between well-blended gourmet coffee and the cheap, low-grade coffee that made its way to their office.

CJ stood back, eyeing her. “Are you going to manage this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Off-the-rack clothes,” she said.

Paige looked down at herself. “These aren’t exactly off-the-rack,” she said. “They are made to appear that way.”

CJ lifted a corner of her mouth. “Okay, so if they’re made to appear that way, why don’t you just buy the real thing? It’d be a hell of a lot cheaper.”

“Obviously, you don’t see the point.”

“Obviously, you don’t either.”

Paige sighed. “Okay. Perhaps I should scope out the other teachers, see what they wear,” she said. “And then we can plan a shopping trip.”

“Oh no. Don’t lump me in with
we
and
shopping
,” CJ said. “At least not clothes shopping. I’d rather go to the dentist.”

Paige smiled. “That’s not really a surprise. I’ve seen how you dress.”

“Good. So you won’t have to try to change me when we get into our golden years.”

Paige couldn’t contain her laughter—it bubbled out before she could stop it. CJ’s eyes were dancing with amusement and Paige just went with the moment, enjoying CJ’s playfulness this morning. Oh, maybe she did need to lighten up.

“You know, I think you’re making a big deal out of this anyway,” CJ continued. “I mean, you’re a gym teacher. My gym teachers wore workout gear. Maybe you could get some short shorts or maybe some tights and a sports bra setup. That’d be really hot,” she said with a grin.

“I so do not see that happening,” she said, still smiling.

But later, as they were parked in front of the admin building, her smile vanished and she gave CJ a threatening look.

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.

“Look, let’s just make it quick, then I’m gone.”

“I don’t believe that it’s necessary.”

“You don’t think everyone is watching the new teacher? Do you want to pull this off or not?”

Paige stared at her. “This is not necessary. You’re doing this just to piss me off.”

CJ grinned. “Well, that too. This is the worst assignment I’ve ever had.” She leaned closer. “So humor me. Kiss me and get it over with.”

Paige’s gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes. “Didn’t we just have this discussion last night?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“And I never concurred with your line of thinking.” CJ smiled and it was almost a sweet smile, Paige noted. “We’re in love. Now kiss me goodbye and go start your day,
honey
.”

Paige relented. She was making far too big a deal out of it anyway. She closed the distance between them, touching her lips to CJ’s. To her horror, she felt them linger there. She pulled back quickly, unable to meet her eyes.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Paige cleared her throat, then opened the door. “Don’t shoot anyone today,” she said dryly as she slammed the door behind her.

She took a deep breath, making her way to the administration building where she was to meet Gayla Grumfeld. She was ten minutes early but was pleasantly surprised to find Gayla waiting for her in the lobby.

“I was hoping you’d be early,” the older woman greeted her. “I’m Gayla. You
are
Paige, right?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you,” Paige said, extending her hand.

“I’m afraid the whole tour will have to wait for another day, but I do have time to go over the position somewhat. Fiona Hogan called in sick this morning,” Gayla said as she began walking down the hall. “Very unusual for her, but I’ll have to cover her classes,” she explained.

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Paige said.

“Don’t know. There was only a message left very early this morning.” She held the door open, motioning Paige to go first. “We call this the breezeway, even though it’s enclosed,” Gayla said. “This links the admin building to the classrooms. There is another one on the other side of campus that links to the dorms and cafeteria. The students are allowed outside—supervised sessions—twice a day. Those who get good marks for behavior get some hours out alone on the weekends. They can go as far as the lake and the hike and bike trail. Everything else is off limits,” she explained.

The long corridor had windows on both sides. On one side, there was a view of the parking lot and beyond that, the small lake. On the other side was a small courtyard with tables and chairs, a few of them occupied.

“The courtyard is for staff mainly. Some of us use it for breakfast and lunch. The only times students are allowed to use it is on visitation days when they can sit with their parents.”

“How many students?” Paige asked.

“We can house up to two hundred. Currently we have one fifty-eight,” Gayla said. “Has Director Avery explained the color codes?”

“He mentioned it, but no, he didn’t really explain it.”

They were now in the building that housed the classrooms. The hallway was large and seemed endless, their shoes echoing loudly as they made their way deeper into the school.

“Red and blue,” Gayla said. “The reds are a mixed group. Some are just bordering on being a juvenile prisoner who should be at a detention center. Those who have committed violent crimes are not allowed here, thank goodness. Reds are sent here by a judge’s order. This school gives them the chance to get their life back together and to make a fresh start. The blues—in my opinion—should not be here. Most are just troubled girls whose parents didn’t know what else to do with them. Some parents look at this as some kind of boarding school, which is crazy. Others think it’s a boot camp that will instill the discipline that they obviously didn’t.”

“Surely they’re kept separate,” Paige said.

“Somewhat. The blues have the most freedom, especially at night with a couple of TV and game rooms. With good behavior, reds are allowed to get sent down to Blue Hall each evening, if they wish. The reds have a small TV room, but watching privileges are limited to two hours each evening, so that’s incentive right there.”

“How do you coordinate the classrooms?”

“Times are staggered. The blue rooms are just like your normal high school, basically. Reds have an armed guard in them.” Gayla smiled. “Your partner will no doubt be assigned that job. You make a cute couple, by the way.”

Paige didn’t know why, but she blushed at the comment.

“I saw you in the car earlier,” Gayla explained. “Very attractive.”

“Yes, she is.”

“I heard you went to the cookout yesterday. We went to Dallas instead. I needed a city fix. Real restaurants, shopping, movies.”

“Yes, I know what you mean. CJ and I are from Houston so this will be an adjustment, I’m sure.”

Gayla stopped in front of a pair of double doors. “The gym,” she said, pushing them opened. “It’s not full size, obviously, but it’ll give you enough room to work with.”

A basketball hoop was attached to one wall with four balls tossed haphazardly around it. A net stretched across the two shorter walls, for volleyball, she supposed. Other than that, the room was vacant.

“Curriculum is standard?”

“We’re sanctioned by the state but also have some federal guidelines to follow. There are six other schools like this across the nation, this being the only one in Texas. Unlike a juvenile detention center, once the girls are here, they’re here until they graduate.”

“So a fourteen-year-old could be sentenced to two years, but if they come here, it’s four?”

“Exactly. Our youngest is thirteen, oldest nineteen. For the most part, the system works. And it’s rewarding when they graduate and you know they now have a life ahead of them.” Gayla shook her head. “Not all, of course. Some leave here and go right back to where they were, but we do our best.”

“You’ve been here how long?” Paige asked.

“This will be our fifth year. I do love it. And, as you know, you can’t beat the pay. But there’s a reason for the high salary,” she said. “We live mostly isolated. And the main gate locks at ten so it’s not like you can make a late night of it. Except Saturdays.” She smiled again. “Shopping is a real challenge. I hesitate to even call Hogan Grocery a real store.”

Paige nodded. “I know what you mean. CJ and I drove to it on Saturday, hoping to find something for the cookout. The store was closed. In fact, the whole community looked shut down. We didn’t see a soul.”

“Well, not trying to sway you or anything, but that whole place gives me the creeps,” Gayla said with an embarrassed laugh. “In fact, I haven’t been there in two years, at least. If we need gas, we make a point to drive to San Augustine and do our grocery shopping at the same time.”

“You keep saying ‘we,’” Paige said. “Married? Partner?”

“Sorry. Husband. Dave. One of only two male teachers. He’s a history buff and loves teaching.”

“One of two?” Paige said, hoping she showed enough surprise in her voice. “He must really feel isolated.”

“Oh, we’ve adjusted. And we’re all great friends here. You have to be. The weekend cookouts are what keep us sane.” She leaned closer, her voice low. “Well, that and a good bottle of wine.”