Page 147 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

THEO

As the room emptied, the hall filled and I moved inside.

Bridget was behind her desk organizing papers.

“I think I like six-year-olds better,” I said, when I watched the swarm of students moving around in the hallway. They were loud, obnoxious and made me slightly fearful of our future.

But then I remembered what Silas, Mav, and I were like at that age. Dex had been little then, like those six-year-olds and their missing teeth.

Bridget looked up, grinned. “I’m surprised they let you in.”

I tapped the sticker I’d slapped on my shirt that indicated I was a visitor. “I had to show my ID and explain how I knew you. I was expecting to give a urine sample but coincidentally Tom the history teacher was checking his mailbox and vouched for me.”

She pushed her glasses up and grinned. “The gym teacher is ruthless.”

“Remind me not to date her.”

She frowned and gave me a slightly dirty look. Dirty as in she wanted to kill me with a rusty butter knife. “I thought you were dating Mallory.”

I shook my head. “We’re not dating.”

“Just having sex.”

“Exactly.”

“This is lunch period, so you aren’t here for physics. What’s up?”

“Where’s Mallory?” I asked. That was the reason for my impromptu stop at Hunter Valley High School.

“I thought you’re not dating.”

“We’re not. She missed our usual six o’clock visit last night.”

She put the papers down, turned and leaned against her desk.

Then she changed her mind and crossed the room to shut the door.

The hallway had settled down, probably because everyone was in the cafeteria.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked–at least tried–to look formidable.

She was too small to be anything but a little scary. Like a honey badger with glasses.

“You have a standing sex time?”

“Don’t you with Mav?”

Her mouth dropped open. “You actually do?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God, Theo.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then came over and patted my chest. “You need help.”

“I know. Where’s Mallory? She’s not answering any of my texts and she was obviously–and strangely–angry about the house.”

“Out of town.”

“What do you mean out of town? She was in town yesterday.”

“Yeah, when you showed her the house you bought for her.” She sighed.

“Look, she’s not a patient you see at a certain time, examine them then send on their way.

Wait, you get what I mean. I’m not saying that you have sex with patients.

I’m saying you can’t treat Mallory like you’re providing her a service. ”

“But–”

“I get it. She wanted sex. You gave it to her instead of Tom and his dirty dick.”

“Exactly.”

“But it changed. You bought her a house.”

“Right.”

“You have feelings for her.”

I shook my head.

“You tackled entering high school, which is like a modern day fortress, just to ask me where Mallory is.”

“Right.”

She studied me as I wondered why we were talking in circles. “For a guy who’s so smart, you are the biggest doofus I’ve ever met.”

“I’m not sure if I should be offended or wait for you to clarify.”

With a huff and a shake of her head, she finally said, “You and Mallory are perfect for each other. Stubborn. Prideful. Idiots.”

I realized this was one of those times where I should remain silent.

“Okay. Let’s see how this shakes out. Remember you have my back when she hates me later this week.”

I blinked. “I don’t know what that means. Is it some kind of girl code?”

“Like the diarrhea is for boys?” she countered.

I couldn’t help but grin at her witty reply.

“Mallory is in”—she glanced at the clock on the wall– “or almost in, Las Vegas for a court appearance tomorrow morning.”

“That is the last thing I expected you to say.” She remained silent. “Court hearing for what?”

She shook her head. “She has to tell you that.”

Before I moved out of Mav’s house, it was distinctly possible I heard him spank Bridget.

As a kink. But still, I wished Mav was here to give her a spanking now to talk.

Why the hell would Mallory have a court appearance in Las Vegas?

She’d been there… last weekend? Not even two weeks ago.

Oh fuck. What the hell happened to her on that trip?

I knew bachelor parties went a little wild, but Mallory in Vegas for a bachelorette weekend?

Oh shit. Anything could be possible.

“She won’t answer my texts,” I countered when there was no way I could ask her about it if she didn’t respond.

Bridget threw her hands up in the air, then pointed at the door. “Get out of my classroom. If you can operate on a dying person, you can figure this out on your own from here.”