Meredith

I sure hope I’m not over reacting. It might be a little embarrassing if I am, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I didn’t like seeing that car outside the playground fence today. It looked like the two men were looking for someone. Then, when I walked by the front office and saw one of them speaking to our office volunteer, Mrs. Cooper, I knew something was going on. I pretended to be looking for something so that I could listen in on what was being said. Mrs. Cooper has been a volunteer here for years. She handled the man perfectly. He was asking about a new student and she told him that unless he had a badge she couldn’t give him any information about any of the students at our school. When he persisted in trying to get her to confirm a students’ attendance she picked up the intercom and called the school resource officer. The man said he would get his information another way and left.

Mr. Brandt should know that the men were looking for Nellie. Mrs. Cooper wouldn’t have known that because the man in the office asked for Riley Brandt. Riley is Nellie’s given name but no one calls her that. I just know it because as her teacher I read her file when she got here and I saw her given name. I remembered it because Riley is such a pretty name and her middle name is kind of odd for a girl. Nelson is more of a boy’s name so I can see where the ‘Nellie’ came from. Anyway, I want to let Mr. Brandt know what I saw and heard. It’s just odd. Oh. There he is. Good.

“Mr. Brandt, thank you for coming here to talk with me.” I stick out my hand to shake his.

“Of course, Miss Walker, although you have me wondering what you want to talk about. And please call me Derek.” What a nice strong handshake he has, and a warm smile.

“Do you mind if we sit outside to talk, Derek? We can sit on one of the benches in the park across the street.”

“Sure. Let’s grab a cup of coffee and head over there.”

“Well, Derek, I am concerned about something I saw and over-heard today. While out at recess today I saw two men in a blue mustang loitering by the fence. It looked like they were looking for someone. Then later, while the students were at music, I passed through the front office and saw one of the men speaking to the office volunteer. He was asking her if Riley Brandt attended school there. I remembered that Nellie’s given name is Riley Nelson Brandt and Nellie is her nick name. The volunteer did not give the man any information and even threatened to call the campus police officer. The man just left, muttering that he would find out what he needed another way. Everyone at school only knows Nellie as Nellie. No one knows her as Riley. Can you think of any reason why these men are looking for her?”

“Yes, Miss Walker, I can. You need to know that what I am about to say is highly confidential. It could affect Nellie’s safety. Are you willing to put yourself in a position of knowing something of that magnitude?”

I ponder just briefly before responding, “Yes, if me knowing something can help to keep Nellie safe, then I am willing to have that knowledge.”

Derek continues, “Before I tell you everything I want you to know that the law enforcement here is fully aware of Nellie’s story. Every single person at Lake Norman Private has been thoroughly checked out, right down to the volunteers and the substitute teachers. No one’s back-ground has been spared the looking glass.”

I am taken aback. “Oh. Ok. I am starting to think that this is something really major.”

“Yes, it is. It will take a few minutes to sum it up for you. I am glad we are in the park so that I can keep an eye on anyone who might come by and over-hear what I need to say. I will start with why Nellie is with me. Nellie’s parents, my sister and brother-in-law, were murdered a little over three months ago. It was a mistake. Some hitmen were sent to do away with a couple who were dealing drugs without the permission of the local drug lord. This couple lived next door to Nellie’s parents. The hitmen got the wrong address and the wrong couple. They broke into the house one night and cut Cara and Joseph’s throats. The hitmen didn’t know there was a child in the house. Nellie saw them. She didn’t see her parents get murdered, thank goodness. She heard a commotion and when she realized there were intruders in the house she followed an escape plan that her parents had taught her just in case something strange ever happened. Nellie was able to sneak out her bedroom window and run to the house three doors down for help. The family Nellie ran to called the police, but it was too late for Cara and Joseph. Until recently the hitmen didn’t know about Nellie, but someone let it slip out and I am certain these men will come looking for her. She can put them away for life. To make matters worse, one of the hitmen is the son of the drug lord. If it were just any hitman the drug lord would just kill him and be done with it. He wouldn’t worry about a child seeing him; but, he doesn’t want to kill his own son. So, he has to get rid of the witness. Get rid of Nellie.”

“Oh, poor Nellie. I feel so bad for her. No wonder she is so quiet. That’s an awful thing to have happen.” I am just shocked. I don’t know what to say. There aren’t any words that would be helpful. Nellie lost her parents and Derek lost his sister. How awful. “How can I help?” I ask.

“You have already helped by being aware of your surroundings. You noticed the men in the car and then the man in the office, and you acted on your instincts and let me know.” Derek compliments.

“You can bet I will have my guard up from now on. Is Nellie used to being called ‘Nellie’ instead of Riley? I would hate for someone to trick her and call her Riley and she respond to it.” I think out loud.

“Nellie has always been called ‘Nellie’. The hitmen won’t know that though. They will know her as Riley. She was named after my younger brother, Nelson, hence Nellie. Nelson was Cara’s twin. He died in a car accident on his twenty-first birthday. Cara gave her daughter his name as her middle name and we just started calling her Nellie when she was born. She probably wouldn’t respond at all to Riley. The men who are looking for Nellie are looking for a Riley Tucker, or a Riley Brandt, if they have managed to find out about me. I’ve tried to cover everything I can to hinder their plight to find Nellie without disrupting Nellie’s life any more than I have to. I know this probably goes without saying but I need to say it anyway – this information is on a “need to know” basis. Your school principal and school security officer are both fully informed of Nellie’s story. Until now, they are the only ones who have needed to be informed.” Derek shares this information with deep concern.

“Please feel certain that I will not tell anyone about all of this. Nellie is such a special child. I will do anything I can to help keep her safe and help her have as normal a life as possible.” I earnestly try to assure him.

Derek gently touches my hand and says, “I sense that from you. I feel safe telling you our secret.”

“Thank you.” I feel a warmth traveling up my arm and into my heart. Into my whole being. I should not be reacting this way during such an important conversation. He just touched my hand for Pete’s sake. An innocent touch. I’m not even sure I like him yet. There is certainly more going on with him than I would have ever imagined. My first impression of him was not a good indication of who he is. I think I want to know more about him.

“Listen, the men you saw by the playground and in the school office may not be the ones who are looking for Nellie. There could be a good answer for why they were in the office asking about her. I will find out who they are and why they were asking about her. Either way, I will be able to handle it if they are looking for Nellie because they don’t want her to testify against them.”

“I don’t know, Derek, these guys will obviously have guns. I know you are a hunting guide but I’m not so sure that qualifies you for defender against men that want to kill you.” I try to reason with him.

Derek laughs at me! “I will have you know, Miss Walker, that hunting guides are pretty tough men! Most are expert trackers and good shots with a rifle. Also, most guides are pretty quick on their feet in case a big old elk gets angry and charges them.”

I can’t believe he is taking this so lightly, so I tell him, “Well, I don’t really think these guys are going to need you to track them down because they are coming after you! And you may not get a chance to run. And one more thing, what are you going to do if you have to point your gun at a human and not an animal? Can you handle shooting a human? I have heard that many people choke when they think they may have to take a human life to defend themselves. Nellie will need you to protect her. Will you be able to keep her and yourself safe?”

He leans ever so close to me. He is going to tell me something quietly; in a whisper. But no. Oh. He slowly brushes his lips across mine, while looking directly into my eyes. I’ll take that as an aversion to the answer. Sure will. Talk about getting hot. “What was that for?” I say a bit breathlessly.

“You are just so darn cute and beautiful. I must say I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the moment I first saw you. Now you sit before me with sincere concern over not only Nellie’s safety, but mine as well. I just had to kiss you. The thing is, now that I have kissed you I am only going to want more. Will you go out with me?” Derek shocks the shit out of me by saying all of this.

“Mr. Brandt,” I practically yell at him, “you need to be thinking about how you are going to handle these men who are coming after Nellie. And no, I will not go out with you. I don’t date the parents of my students. We will have to wait until school gets out next month.”

“I am not her parent; I am her guardian. Isn’t there a loop-hole for dating guardians? I think that after that kiss there should be a loop-hole for me. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you said ‘we’. And its Derek, not Mr. Brandt.” He responds.

“Hm. Let’s get back to keeping Nellie safe. How are you going to do that?” I ask.

“Okay, but we will return to my loop-hole at some point.” He grins. “I have not always been a hunting guide. I joined the military when I was eighteen. Over the years I have been trained in all kinds of weaponry. I can track all kinds of animals to include humans. I am a sharp shooter. I can build and dismantle bombs. I have been forced to shoot humans to defend myself and others. There is a very slim chance that the men coming after Nellie will be able to get to her and do her any harm. My home has been prepared for weeks now for just about any kind of attack that might come our way. Nellie has been taught an escape plan, as-well-as the couple who lives on my property, Lacey and Ned. These people have hurt Nellie enough already. She has a long way to go to recover emotionally. They will not harm her physically. Or anyone else I care about for that matter.” Derek has a look that tells me that he would stop at nothing to keep Nellie safe. I believe him.

“Wow. I would never have guessed you are anything more than a hunting guide. I won’t share with anyone anything that you have told me. If you wanted people around here to know your history, you would have already told them. It’s a small town and people talk. I imagine us just sitting here together has made it quite a distance through the grapevine already. Just be safe.” I tell him.

“Thank you,” he says, “I will be as safe as possible. Anything to protect Nellie though.”

I hate to end this conversation but I need to get home and Derek needs to be with Nellie. “Ok. We really should get going. I will be happy knowing you are with Nellie.”

As we stand Derek agrees, “Yes, I want to get back and have a talk with her, review our safety procedures. Thank you for calling me. I look forward to the end of the school year; if you don’t find a loop-hole for me before then. I’ll be seeing you either way at our conference!” Without warning, once again, he bends and places a warm kiss right on my lips. He then raises his head, smiles, and turns and walks away.

Please, please, please don’t faint. I can barely think. He is so handsome. Masculine. Testosterone over-loaded. Two kisses. How did that just happen? He said he can’t quit thinking about me. Well, now I certainly won’t be able to stop thinking about him! He must be teasing me. I look like crap. Why would someone like him call me cute? And beautiful. They must not have tested his eyes when he was in the military. Maybe he has some kind of Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder. There is definitely brain damage there if he thinks this girl is beautiful. I sure would take a rerun on the kisses though. While I wasn’t expecting them I sure did enjoy them.

I think I am completely overwhelmed by what Derek told me. That was information over-load. Not only do we possibly have some very bad men running around town, we also have G.I. Joe ready to take them on. Poor little Nellie, no wonder she’s a bit withdrawn. I’m so glad I acted on my instincts and told Derek what I saw and heard. These might not be the ones responsible for murdering Nellie’s parents but at least I know there could be someone out there lurking about to do harm. Knowledge is power. Now, I will keep my eyes and ears on alert. While most men like to brag about their abilities I don’t feel like Derek was bragging, and that is pretty darn sexy. He just seemed so matter-of-fact about what he can do. He didn’t seem scared at all. It was almost like he welcomes the killers to come. Maybe he does. If he is able to do all he said, then he is probably almost anxious to get back at the murderers for killing his sister and brother-in-law and leaving Nellie without her parents. I know if it were me I would want them dead; except, I wouldn’t know how to accomplish it.