Chapter 18: New Girl in School

Sarah spoke as soon as he answered the phone. “Bert, we’ll have to meet Kelly after school. Jimmy forgot to get gas.” Kelly had been transferred from foster care to her uncle and aunt’s custody the evening before.

“OK, Kelly is with Aunt Marge in the office getting registered.” Sarah was surprised how fast Bert ended the call.

Bert was nervous during the Chemistry class, but Sarah was unable to talk with him since today’s class was a lecture, not a lab. When the class was dismissed, Bert ran out of class without even glancing at Sarah. She knew Kelly was the reason Bert was acting as he was. She was unsure how to find out what was wrong or what she could do to help. She wasn’t used to being helpless to solve a problem.

“Bert is nervous about his sister.” Sarah explained when she met Ash in the hall.

As they entered the cafeteria, they saw Leslie guiding a girl through the food service line. The teenage girl was dressed like a young girl, but the clothes were baggy and long. They were obviously hand-me-downs. Her hair was straight and had been raggedly cut off above her shoulders. She was looking down, only just answering as Leslie coaxed her to find out what she wanted to eat.

When Bert rushed past them, Sarah grabbed him. “Leslie is helping Kelly. Let’s get our lunches, then we will sit with you.”

Bert took a long look at Leslie helping his sister. He sighed, and his nervousness diminished. “OK, let me tell her.”

The girls got in line, where Bert joined them moments later. “Aunt Marge is going to take her out to get new clothes and her hair done, but she has to work late today because she was here this morning. Tomorrow is her regular day to work late. Kelly wanted to stay home, but Aunt Marge could only take time today to register her.”

Sarah and Ash looked at each other. They didn’t have time today between cheerleading practice and another meeting at MSI. As she chose her food, Sarah thought about calling her mom and asking for her help.

Leslie and Kelly were seated at the table where Bert normally sat. They joined them there, with Bert sitting next to his sister.

“Bert, this is Leslie. We have Geometry together.” Kelly smiled as she looked at Leslie.

“Thank you for helping Kelly. I went to Ms. Swenson’s room. She said the two of you had left together.”

“Kelly looked lost. I asked if she had lunch next to most of us.”

Sarah nudged Bert.

“Kelly, this is Sarah.” Bert leaned back so they could see each other. “Ashley is next to Leslie.”

“You saved me.”

Ash had never seen anyone look at her as Kelly was. She remembered her youngest brother Stan looking at their mother when she had picked him up after he had fallen and broken his arm. That was nothing compared to what she saw on Kelly’s face.

“They wouldn’t let me see Bert or even talk to him. They were so strict.” She turned to her brother. “Bert, you have to take me and get some clothes. I can’t wait for Aunt Marge.”

Leslie reached across and touched Kelly’s hand. “Kelly, no disrespect to your brother, but a guy, especially a brother, isn’t who you need helping you buy clothes. I’ll take you out and help you buy some things. We need to do something with your hair also.”

“We don’t have any money.” Bert said softly.

“Sarah and I will go too. Leslie, the top you got me for Hawaii is my favorite. You’ve got a better eye for clothes than I do. Would you also help Sarah and me? I’ll pay for everything, including what you get. Let me contact Ms. Swenson.” Ash had been texting with her phone as she spoke. ‘Gloria - Sarah, Leslie, and I are taking Kelly Wilson out for a makeover. We won’t be at practice.’ Ash knew Gloria also ate lunch when they did.

Bert didn’t know how to protest Ash’s offer. She was going to be paying for Sarah and Leslie’s clothes, not just Kelly’s, though he knew Kelly was the reason she was doing it.

“I texted Sandy to have us picked up after school. I told her we needed a minivan to go to the mall.” Sarah had started as soon as she understood Ash’s intentions.

“I have never gone out shopping with girls my own age before.” Kelly remembered seeing groups of girls shopping when she had been shopping with her mother, but that had been before everything had gone wrong. The joy she had started to feel at going out shopping was evaporated by the memory of her father’s death and all that happened afterwards.

Without thinking, Bert had put his arm around his sister’s shoulder when he felt the darkness of her memories affect her. “Who is Sandy?” He looked from Sarah to Ash.

“She is the head of our security.” Ash turned to Kelly. “After the plane crash killed my family, people attempted to kill me, Sarah, and my grandfather. We have people guarding us when we go out. Sarah arranged for them to drive us.”

“Your family was killed in a plane crash?”

“Later, while we’re shopping. Food, then class.”

After school, the four girls walked out to the street to find Sandy and Jason standing by a rented minivan. Bruce Canham and Chang Kuo were standing by their car as they watched for threats.

After they were in the van and heading off to the mall, Sandy turned and addressed the girls. “I figured you didn’t want Bruce following you into the stores any more than he would want to be seen doing it.”

“No, I guess you will be hiring more women. We don’t want to take you away from your work when we want to go shopping.” Ash apologized.

“We were both looking for a reason to get out of the office.” Jason’s smile could be seen in the rearview mirror.

“We were just going over resumes and making a list of items we need. We’ll get access to the RUSTI facility tomorrow. We’re going over with Sally and Wayne to look it over. They’ll be having a sale and we will see if they have anything we need.”

“Did you call grandfather about the auction?” Ash’s voice seemed angry.

“No, it was mentioned when I contacted them about coming by. I thought I didn’t need to clear purchases with him.” Sally was confused.

“It’s not that. Did you tell them you were from Richardson Security but didn’t mention Sawyer-Holdings?”

“Yes. Is there something I need to know?”

“We bought the facility intact. We own everything there, which isn’t government property. It was faster that way and Secretary Simpson said they kept finding more and more problems the more they looked into what RUSTI had been doing. We need to have someone there to make sure they don’t take anything away.”

“Jason, pull over. I’ll send Bruce and Chang over to keep a watch. What should they do if someone starts to leave with something?”

“I’ve got Captain McRae.” Sarah handed Ashley her phone.

“Sheila, Sandy said she was told RUSTI was going to be selling things off starting tomorrow. Yes, that is the agreement grandfather and Secretary Simpson worked out. I figure if they are willing to sell our property, they might not have too much of a problem selling government property.” Ashley listened for over a minute. “That sounds good. Let them know Sandy is sending over Bruce Canham and Chang Kuo to keep an eye on things. They should be there in ten to fifteen minutes. Sandy, Jason, Mrs. Pierson, and Wayne Sobczak are going over to check out the facility tomorrow. No, Sandy hadn’t mentioned the Sawyer name. No, Sarah’s father was very surprised by how bad things got after he left. I’ll let them know to expect the Chief and the FBI. Thanks for the help.”