Chapter forty Tai
Chapter forty
Tai
Thriving, not just surviving.
That’s the lie I tell myself as I fight for my life to crawl out of bed at whatever ungodly hour it currently is.
Oh—that’s right.
5:00 a.m. on a frigging Friday.
That was the blasphemous time I set the alarm for last night when I was sufficiently functioning as a human and optimistically high thanks to one Bexley Spencer. Damn her infectious energy.
At least I’m doing this for her. I wouldn’t just wake ridiculously early for anyone. Plus, she’s probably doing the same right now at Archer’s house. If she can get up this early every day, I can too.
Since most of our free time is stuck studying for exams, I decided I would have to create extra hours to keep chipping away at these locked files. Unfortunately, that means losing sleep. But it will be worth it when I uncover whatever secrets are hidden on this thumb drive.
It’s taking longer than I expected, a little frustrating that whoever encrypted it knew what they were doing. It’s not often I’m faced with a challenge, but I know I’ll get there, even if it takes time.
The only problem is we’re time poor. It’s one of the things we don’t have on our side right now, and every day that passes, we sink deeper into uncertainty.
Things have been too quiet—uncharacteristically so.
I’ve never known my father in my entire time to let anything go.
Just like Ry and H’s dads are being suspicious with their current unbothered behavior.
They are pretending to have moved on, but none of us are that stupid.
We won’t fall into their trap of false security.
I don’t bother to get changed before my search for some kind of caffeinated drink. Stepping out of my room shirtless and in my boxer shorts, I get the shock of my life at a dark figure standing in the shadows at the end of the hallway.
“Who’s there?” I snap, voice still gruff and raspy.
I’ve watched enough horror movies to know that if I try to run right now, I’ll trip down the stairs and break my neck. The last thing I need is to die in an embarrassing manner and have my cold, stiff body discovered by Sophia and Mary.
Tai Beckett. Died the week of final exams. His morning wood snapped off and broke when he fell down the stairs.
Hell, no.
I straighten up as the figure starts walking toward me, curling my fists in anticipation. But as they pass an open door to one of the spare rooms, tiny golden wisps of morning light reveal his face.
“Parker?” I grumble, slouching in relief. “Man, don’t do that.”
My respite is short-lived when I promptly remember what fucking time it is. Stiffening, I narrow my eyes hostilely, finally face to face with him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I question annoyed, equally suspicious.
Parker’s more dressed than I am, which is the only reason I don’t immediately put him through a wall. Even though the sun is only just starting to rise, it’s warm already, but this maniac is wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants, as if this is some breaking and entering expedition.
“Morning, Tai,” he says casually, ignoring my demand. “Early for you, isn’t it?”
“How would you know?” I ask heatedly before groaning. “Oh, let me guess—Sophia.”
He nods. “She said neither of you are morning people.”
“If you tell me you’ve just come from her room, you’re going to find out I’m not a people person at all, Parker.”
To my surprise and irritation, Parker snuffs a laugh. He digs his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants, relaxing despite my clear threat against his life.
“Chill, Beckett,” he mutters coolly. “It’s not what you think.”
I fold my arms indignantly. “Really?” I huff sarcastically. “Because to me it seems like you’ve spent the night in my baby’s sister’s room and now you’re sneaking out.”
Parker cocks an eyebrow. “Baby sister? Aren’t you only seven minutes older or some shit?”
“Regardless,” I sputter. “She’s my sister and you’re… you.”
I take back everything I’ve said about this guy. He could never be the Tai Beckett of Cedar Heights. Fuck him.
Especially if he fu—
NO!
Nope. No. Absolutely not.
I inadvertently make a gagging sound out loud, causing Parker to recoil with unease and mild disgust.
“I didn’t have sex with your sister, Beckett. Not that I care what you think of me, but I have a younger sister too.”
Straightening up, I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously. “You didn’t?”
“No,” he answers monotonously. “But even if we did, it’s not really your business, is it? Your sister is an adult—baby sibling or not. And it’s a bit hypocritical when you’re quite vocal about your own activities.”
Turning my head away, I boldly choose to ignore his logic. “Why are you here then?”
“I spent the night obviously. We studied until late. I assume you did the same considering what time you arrived back.”
I decompress—slightly. “Well, yes,” I mumble admittedly. “But why are you sneaking out so early?”
Parker gives an amused smirk. “I’m not sneaking out,” he starts. “I’m heading into town to pick up the Strawberry Banana Pancakes I just ordered for her from IHOP.”
“Oh,” I mutter quietly. “You know they’re her favorite?”
He shoots me an incredulous look, snarkily remarking, “What do you think?”
Sighing, I hold up my hand, conceding defeat for today. “Alright. Fine. But I will kill you if you hurt her, Parker. I’m currently up to number forty-seven in my list of ways to end your existence.”
“Duly noted,” he says dryly, starting to step around me. “What are you doing awake anyway?”
“Going to work on that code,” I say, gesturing for him to follow me down the stairs. Now that I’ve gotten my answers, I’m horribly aware that if we wake Soph up, she’s going to make me regret the day I was born. I mean—same day as her, but whatever.
Parker nods, pausing when we reach the bottom. “Soph won’t wake for another hour. I can come help when I get back if you want.”
Part of me wants to be stubborn and refuse, but I’m aware, even at this hour, that I’m being a bit of a dick and I have nothing to gain by turning down the assistance.
“Fine,” I grumble. “I suppose that would be… okay.”
Ry rocks up post-morning run at the same time as Parker returns, the pair of them walking into my room, conversing like old acquaintances.
It’s alright, though. I’ve downed a coffee so I’m slightly more approachable.
“Here,” Parker grunts, reaching into a plastic bag and extracting an energy drink. “For your mood.”
My eyebrows shoot up in pleasant surprise. With a serious expression, I take it from him. “I’ll let that comment slide. Thanks.”
“Don’t mind him,” Rylan chuckles. “He’s grouchy in the mornings.”
“Piss off,” I grumble back, holding out a thumb drive to Parker. “Made you a copy.”
Parker plucks it from me with a nod. “I’ll go store Soph’s breakfast until she wakes and grab my laptop so we can make a start.”
H wanders in not long after, oddly refreshed and relaxed, even with Parker’s unexpected presence in my room. Clearly, Bex is affecting him too, because I’ve never seen him so docile toward another Cedar Heights peer.
I’d say it was the dress and concert tickets. Lots of cardio has occurred in between study sessions, and I keep catching myself daydreaming about the look on her face when we surprised her with both.
Sure—she scolded us afterwards. But there was no bite. It was basically a Calvin-coded bark level.
I let Parker take over the reins of decryption while I switch between my own attempts and searching for info on this Elliott guy. I know I gave Ry shit for his obsessive need to stalk him, but after hearing what he did to Bex, it promptly went to the top of my priority list as well.
I’ll break every finger on his slimy hands if he touches her again.
Then shove them down his throat until he suffocates to death.
The four of us keep plugging away, only briefly stopping when Soph rushes in with wide eyes, alarmed and surprised at finding her… argh, friend, hanging with us.
I’m equally surprised when after he leaves to retrieve her food, the door reopens a short time later, Soph shoving Parker back inside.
I must give her an odd questioning glance because all I get is a shrug and, “for the greater good!” before she ditches the poor fucker in the wolf den.
We’re just about ready to call it quits to head to Willowbrook, when something on my database catches my attention.
“Whoa—I found something,” I announce out loud. “Did a little search on McIntosh’s medical history. His old PCP’s patient protection software is severely out of date.”
Ry stands, walking over. “What is it?”
“He was diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder,” I read. “They were trialing different medications but had to stop when he did jail time.”
H’s eyes darken. “What was the crime?”
I pull up another system, not needing any hacking skills this time. I use Dad’s credentials to log into the legal database, searching his name.
I’m not sure why I didn’t get around to checking this before. But I should have. Especially when his record appears immediately.
“Long list of minor stuff,” I mutter, scanning through the documents.
“Theft, simple battery, vandalism in his juvenile era. Wait.” Scrolling further, I frown, skimming over the adult charges from recent years.
“Looks like his behavior progressively got worse as he got older. Aggravated assault, drug possession… fuck!”
Ry glances at the screen over my shoulder, letting out an angry rumble. “The fucker was arrested and did time for arson.”
“Surely you don’t think it’s connected?” Hunter murmurs unconvincingly. “We’d already have him on our radar if there was even a trace of him being involved with Willowbrook or Cedar Heights.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences anymore,” Ry admits darkly.
Parker huffs. “And so you shouldn’t. I’m in.”
All of us go rigid, looking over at the man sitting on the edge of my bed.
“What’s in the files?” Hunter demands impatiently.
Parker’s gaze flickers up to Hunter. “Plans to demolish Cedar Heights Academy.”
“Well,” I drawl uneasily. “Devil’s advocate to cover our bases—but that could be simply from the damage.”
I don’t believe my own words. Not for a second. And when Parker turns to me, there’s a sickening feeling in the pits of my stomach at the expression on his face.
“There’s insurance documents here,” he answers simply. “And extensive coverage detailing the financial benefits to demolishing via insurance rather than self-funded means.”
Rylan stands, pacing aggressively. “I fucking knew it. I knew those assholes were involved,” he spits out, shaking his head as he shoots a look in mine and H’s directions. “We need to tie them to this. Is there any direct mention of our fathers’ names?” He asks Parker.
Parker’s brows knit together as his eyes scan the screen. “Not specifically. Though, your father is the mayor, right?”
Ry nods coldly. “What’s in there?”
“State funding,” Parker replies firmly. “The documents are addressed to the mayoral office in Ridgeview.”
Of course it is. That would explain the damn tunnel leading there from Cedar Heights.
A sudden chilling thought pops into my mind and I begin typing. As much as I want information, I’m hoping that my instincts are wrong.
They need to be wrong.
Because if they aren’t…
“Where’s your head at, T?” Ry asks me, concerned.
“Checking who this asshole’s last attorney was,” I reply, pulling up the arson charge.
The information opens and I stare blankly at the screen.
Everyone waits with trepidation, tension growing at my silence.
Hunter stands, heading over to my desk. “Is it George?”
“No,” I answer emotionlessly, and the three of them start to relax. Hunter catches on to my reaction first, swallowing hard.
“Who?”
“Dad’s old business partner.”
Seconds tick pass while the information starts to sink in. Ry is the first to recover, darting over to his phone.
“We need to warn Bexley,” he hisses quickly. “Wait—she texted me. What the fuck?”
“What?!” Hunter snaps, reaching the end of his tether.
Ry’s eyes blow wide, gaping at the phone before he slowly lifts his head, looking at H before sending a frown in my direction.
“Astor,” he reads in a dark, low tone. “I’ve thought about it and I can’t keep doing this. I’m leaving town for a bit. It’s for our own good. Don’t come searching for me—Bexley.”