CHAPTER FIVE:
Suspicious Activity
Tammie taps Max’s shoulder.
“Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that Martin and Jennifer haven’t been sitting next to each other lately?”
Max nods. It’s Wednesday night, and Mr. James is teaching the youth a lesson on obedience. It’s a sobering lesson, touching some of the personal issues Max has to deal with at home. Max has trouble trusting his father, or any advice his father might offer. His father’s addiction nearly wrecked their relationship. Thankfully, Mr. Shaw is now attending his AA meetings regularly, and he is working now, too.
Max agrees that Mr. Shaw is definitely making progress, but in the meantime, Max feels as if he has no one to turn to for spiritual advice. In the past, he would go to Mr. Kent, his probation officer, but Mr. Kent no longer lives in Logoria.
He has found a friend in Tammie McLeod, the sweet dark-skinned girl in the seat behind him. He and Tammie became extremely close after she confided in him about her pregnancy. It was through his relationship with Tammie that Max found his own salvation in Christ. She had made a mistake, but God was willing to forgive her. He’d convinced himself that God couldn’t want someone like him; but by assuring Tammie that God wouldn’t reject her he realized that God would not reject him, either.
Max knows now that God has accepted him as His own. His only desire now is to please him and serve him in any way possible. Tammie taps him again and points to the front, where Martin is sitting. Martin is listening intently, or so it would seem, to what Mr. James is saying. Mr. James is a mentor to Martin, just as Officer Kent had been to Max. Max notices the strained expression on Martin’s face. Something is bothering him.
Whenever Martin is agitated, Max can tell. He’s known Martin since preschool. They’d swapped lunches one day and were friends ever since. Jennifer is sitting on the opposite side of the room. Max had at one point been at odds with Jennifer, but since experiencing his newfound faith they hadn’t had any confrontations.
Max is fairly certain that Martin and Jennifer like each other, but he’d long ago decided to stay out of it. Martin and Jennifer have been inseparable for the last six months, but recently there’s been severe tension between them. It’s impossible for anyone not to notice, but usually if there is tension it’s Jennifer avoiding Martin, not the other way around. Something has definitely happened. The last few services have been like this. It doesn’t bother Max, but Tammie is Jennifer’s friend, and her tone suggests that she’s worried.
“Maybe we should talk to them,” she whispers to Max. He shrugs. If Jennifer and Martin aren’t talking, that is fine with him.
Max shushes Tammie and whispers, “I can’t hear the lesson.” Tammie opens her mouth in indignation, but grins despite herself. Max shushes her again, and Tammie sits back in her seat, playfully eyeing him and pursing her lips.
Max grins back at her and turns around. Mr. James is closing out in prayer. After a brief exhortation, he dismisses the youth. Most of them leave the building and stand outside in the parking lot until the adult services are dismissed. Tammie immediately walks over to Jennifer. Max walks over to Martin.
Martin smiles at his friend wearily. “Hey Max,” Martin gives him a quick pat on the arm. “How’s life on the other side of the tracks?”
Max grimaces. “It’s alright I guess, if you don’t mind gunshots in the middle of the night.”
“Gunshots?” Martin’s expression changes from mild humor to worry in a matter of seconds.
“It’s not really that bad.” Max tries to reassure him. “I guess I’m just not used to it yet.” Martin stares at Max, unconvinced.
“Are you sure everything’s okay, Max?” Martin asks. “You know you can stay at my house any time you need to.”
Max shrugs. “I know. I just need to spend some more time with my dad, that’s all.” Max looks thoughtful. “Hey, I saw Johnny Reese the other day. You know he lives there too, on the East side of Mogis Hills.”
A strange look passes over Martin’s face. “Yeah, I know.”
Max wants to kick himself. “Hey, Martin, I didn’t mean to bring it up like that, man. What happened between you two is in the past, right?”
“It’s not that,” Martin shakes his head and sighs. “Never mind it.”
“Talk to me,” Max persists.
Martin scratches his head. “Maybe it’s no big deal, but...”
“But what?” Max continues to press him.
“It’s Jennifer.” Martin’s frustration is obvious. “I don’t know, but she’s started... hanging out with him!” Martin throws up his hands in bafflement. “It’s like I don’t even exist anymore! They sit together at lunch now, and they talk during classes and in the hallway.”
Max raises his eyebrows in surprise. “That’s all? You see them in the hallway, and they eat lunch together?”
Martin sighs, exasperated. “That’s not all! They’ve gone to the library together—I’ve seen them there twice.” Martin holds up two fingers. “And Johnny walks her home,” he adds, shaking his head.
“I can’t figure it out. What does she see in him?” Martin lowers his voice as Tammie and Jennifer walks past them. Jennifer only briefly glances his way before turning back to Tammie.
“He’s not even her type!” Martin whispers in a much lower voice.
Max shrugs. “Well, he looks different now. He’s less Goth and more prep, you know?”
Martin frowns. “Not helping, Max.”
Max places his pointing finger on his lips and thinks for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?” he asks Martin.
“Yeah, sure,” Martin replies, rubbing his head in frustration.
Max scratches his head. “Make that two questions,” he confesses sheepishly. “Question one: How do you know what Jennifer’s type is, and question two: So what if she’s seeing Johnny Reese? I mean, isn’t that her choice?”
“I’m telling you Max, that guy is up to something,” Martin starts to get loud again. “It’s like he’s got her under some spell or something.”
Max hates where this conversation is going. “Have you tried talking to her about any of this?”
Martin rolls his eyes and leans against the building. “She and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms right now,” he confesses.
“Why?” Max asks. “Because of Johnny?”
“No,” Martin replies. “It’s something else.”
Max waits for Martin to continue. He doesn’t.
“Do you want to tell me what it is?” Max eyes Martin curiously. Still more silence. “Ok, fair enough. We’ll talk about something else. Tell me about all the research papers I’m missing out on at Logoria High.” His eyes widen in feigned anticipation.
Martin rolls his eyes. “Don’t remind me! I’ve got research papers for at least three classes due by the end of the semester.”
Max laughs. “I don’t miss that at all. No papers for me!”
“So, what’s the difference between Logoria and Wellis?” Martin asks.
“Um... ” Max pauses. “More ethnic people?”
Martin raises his eyebrows. “Ethnic people?”
Max looks sheepish. “Well, I don’t know how to say it! The ratio of blacks to whites there is about 10/1.”
“Does that bother you?” Martin asks. There is no trace of judgment in his voice.
“At first,” Max admits. “It was kind of like the first time I met Officer Kent. I’m just not used to it.”
“Not used to seeing black people?” Martin jokes.
“Ha! Yeah, that’s it,” Max smirks. Max and Martin both turn as the doors to the sanctuary open. The adult service has been dismissed and people are slowly trickling out of the doors. Max turns again and looks at Martin.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Yeah?” Martin turns again to Max.
“Have you ever heard of the S.K.U.L.L.S.?”
“No...” Martin raises his eyebrows. “Who are
they?”
“Well, from what they told me, it’s a group dedicated to protecting and looking out for each other. It’s mostly for teens who live in the rougher neighborhoods in Logoria.”
“I haven’t heard anything,” Martin replies. “I’ll ask my dad, though. Who did you talk to about it?”
“A guy named Frank,” Max answers. “I think he goes to Logoria High. He lives a few blocks from Johnny.” Max glances away nervously. “Anyway, I was just curious. Maybe I’ll look into it. It can’t hurt to have a few extra people looking out for me, right?”
“That’s true,” Martin chooses his words carefully. “Max, remember that God is looking out for you, and so am I. So don’t rush into anything, at least not until I’ve talked to my dad about it, okay?”
Max shrugs his shoulders. “I won’t. With a name like S.K.U.L.L.S. I wasn’t all that enthused to begin with. But Frank explained to me that it’s just an acronym, and what it means is actually pretty good.”
“What does it stand for?” Martin asks.
“It was pretty long, so I can’t remember,” Max admits. “If I see him again, I’ll ask him.”
Martin looks towards Jennifer again. “I hope she’s careful around that guy.”
Max shrugs. “I’m sure she can handle it. She’s a Christian, Martin. Even though we’ve had our differences, I know she loves the Lord. That’s got to count for something, right?”
Martin looks at Max in surprise. “Where did all this spiritual insight come from?”
“I learned it from you, Martin,” Max looks at him with sincerity. “Just trust God with everything. That’s what you always tell me, right?”
Martin looks at Jennifer again. “Pray for me, Max. I don’t know what’s going on with me.” He looks back at his friend. “Pray for Jennifer too. I have a feeling we’ll both need it.”
•••
Michelle Reese is terrified. The look in her husband’s eyes is clear. She will pay for her mistake. Dearly.
“What’s the matter with you?” Mr. Reese shrieks, waving a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. “Every time I leave you do this, and I told you the last time it had better not happen again!”
“It was a mistake, Charles, please!” Mrs. Reese pleads, backing away from him slowly. He advances in her direction, still clutching the paper.
“You’re useless!” he screams at her. He grabs her wrists in one hand and smacks her in the face with the paper in the other hand. “Completely useless!”
Tears stream down her face as she takes each blow. She tries to wriggle free, but it’s no use.
“I made a mistake, Charles! I used the wrong card, and I’m sorry!” Her wriggling only annoys him, and he shakes her violently.
“Hold still and look at me! Look at me!” he demands. He pushes her against the wall and she lands on the floor with a thud. Mr. Reese unfolds the paper and pushes it into her face.
“Do you see this?” he asks her as though speaking to a child. “Do you see that negative balance? That means that you-” he pokes her hard in the chest- “spent too much money! That’s my money! What were you thinking, huh? You’re a complete moron, Michelle!” He slaps her and she screams.
“No, Charles!” she begs. “Please, I’m sorry; it won’t happen again!” He grabs her by the hair and she screams again. “No, please! I swear it won’t happen again! Charles, please!” she sobs and Mr. Reese releases her, shaking his head in disgust.
“Do you see what you make me do, Michelle? I have to treat you like a child, because you keep acting like a child.” He grabs her by her arm and pulls her back up.
“Now clean this place up,” he snarls viciously. He turns to walk away, but pauses, as if in thought.
“And Michelle,” he adds, “don’t let this happen again. If you do,” Mr. Reese turns and raises his hand to strike her.
Mrs. Reese winces, but his hand stops an inch short of her cheek. Mr. Reese laughs at her, gleefully watching the fear in her eyes. He turns again and heads to his office, his laughter loud and obnoxious.