Chapter 21: Prep and Travel

Word quickly got around the Circle to those outside the security committee and their families that the place was on some kind of security threat. We were using more and more of the human resources for guard duty and as back-up snipers. There was some concern, but the impetus for the concern was never fully revealed. Those who had known Dev had their suspicions but would never mention his or his family’s names again.

Dave and several committee members took a lesson from the novel ‘Wag the Dog’, and added in the misinformation that because of the reality TV series, the Circle and various people in it, were receiving hate mail that threatened them with bodily harm and death. The Circle had decided to treat the threats as real, and was reacting accordingly. While this was true to some extent, that was not the primary motivating force for the security increase. People were admonished not to talk about the threats in the presence of the cameras lest they tempt fate more than the Circle already had with the TV show.

The round-the-clock staffing at the gate by Circle members continued into May, however, no one showed up that acted the least bit suspicious or looking like they might be connected to the Colombian cartel.

On average there was at least two cars a day with curiosity seekers that somehow figured out where the Circle might be geographically. There was enough information in Cricket’s book to narrow down the location, plus in several places the book mentioned the main entrance was at the end of Christian Grey Drive. A quick search on any map application knowing that fact and our city, and one would have the general area. On a contour map it showed up as a large undeveloped piece of land. On a satellite view, one could see a few roads and homes, including the race track pattern and the runway for the planes adjacent to the townhouses.

The security committee talked about the coming graduation party and how to handle the influx of a large number of non-members in and out of the complex. Ultimately, the group decided to adopt an ‘Open Door’ policy, but to double-up on gate duty and patrols around and through the party area. Dave teased, “That means we can also partake of the benefits associated with the party, if there are any.”

Elsewhere, the seniors were busy planning the more fun parts of the event. The board approved using the meadow for the tents and for parking unless it had recently rained and created a mud pit. That made establishing a path between two of the homes to the core easier, and hence a check-in station where every attendee had to get a stamp of approval after presenting a recent STD test. Their names were also noted at check-in and any affiliation, such as the fraternity or sorority. Some of the guys, assisted by Millie, made signs directing cars to the parking area or to a drop-off location, and then walkers from the parking area into the core.

Colin, Noah, and Oliver created three makeshift bars, and stocked them with thousands of cans of soft drinks and bottles of water. An outfit named Lee’s Ice delivered hundreds of bags of ice to cool everything down in large plastic storage bins. Trash barrels were strategically placed around the patio and in the core living room. Parts of the core beyond the living room were cordoned off or blocked off with barrier doors.

Dane and Seth took over creating a Tent City in part of the meadow not being used as a parking lot. Again, signs were made and about a dozen four-person tents set up and secured.

Hank arranged for Marvelous Sanitation to deliver twelve porta-potties. One zone was established just off the patio past the gazebo, another couple near the tents, and one just outside the entry point from the core to the parking lot. The interior restrooms would be in full operation, as well.

Bobbie and her two sous chefs started to stockpile easily served hors d’oeuvres that would feed several hundred hungry mouths. There were also huge boxes stored of potato chips, taco chips, and other party favorites. There’d also be various dips and salsa to go with them.

Owen appeared before Dave one day with a strange look on his face. He said, “Dave, several of the seniors – pledges – asked whether at the party I’d staff a tattoo station, where anybody could get a tat. They’d pay me, but that’s beside the point. I’d do it for free just as part of the celebration. I’m asking, I guess. I could bring Greg, too, and I’m sure it’d be fun for all concerned.”

Dave laughed, “You going to stick your proboscis into each of the co-eds as payment?”

Owen smirked and then laughed, “The thought crossed my mind.”

“I have no objection. You could expand where we blocked off the core living room from the rest of the building, even do it in the hall or in that first classroom. I have one request so we don’t have any backlash.”

“What’s that?” Owen asked.

“Make sure your subjects are at least eighteen and sober enough to make an informed decision.”

Owen laughed, “I always do.”

Dave watched the other preparations, and this was three weeks before the party. He was sure that there’d be more like three-hundred attendees at the peak.

Rose got a call from Sheriff Orach one evening asking for a Saturday morning meeting. He promised that nothing bad would result from the meeting, but he wanted to close the loop with her about ‘her attack’. She agreed to the meeting, and immediately involved Dave – her stepdad, and Gordon Sonlin, her lawyer. Scarlett was back filming in Ireland.

Saturday at nine a.m., Orach strolled onto the patio in business casual dress with his badge very evident and hanging from his belt. Jim Hotch decided to also attend the meeting and greeted his associate as he walked to the table chosen as a meeting place. They were both all smiles.

Orach said, “This will be extremely short. Charges have been filed by the district attorney against your three attackers for filing a fraudulent police report, and also for charges relating to felonious assault with intent to rape.”

Everyone else looked surprised.

Orach explained, “Your high school has high resolution video cameras surrounding the place. They record all activity in range whenever motion is detected. Periodically, they upload that information to the cloud for storage. The events of the night in question were captured on three separate cameras, preserved in the cloud, and are now part of the case file for this event.

“We could clearly see the three young men lurking near a pick-up truck in a corner of the lot. They were smoking and drinking beer apparently. We have a clear record of all the other students and the lead teacher leaving the high school, and as you said Rose, some had cars and others got rides. You became the only one left and you went and sat on the rock.

“The video clearly shows the three men drawing a bead on you, walking across the empty parking lot, and then accosting you. We can see that they quickly surrounded you, one holding you as the others moved to disrobe you. We could see one man starting to pull your skirt off, and another trying to unbutton your blouse.

“I have to say that everyone that has viewed the video in headquarters was amazed at what you did in the following twenty seconds. You booted one man in his gonads, broke the wrists of the one mauling your breasts and trying to unbutton your blouse, and then stomped on the top of the third man’s foot and as he let go, you butted him backwards where he lost his balance and fell onto the rock you’d been seated on.

“The videos show you grabbing your books and then running towards the main road. Eventually, although it was too far away to identify, we see a car pull-up, you get in, and leave the scene.”

Rose said, “I didn’t know I’d done that much damage to them, although that sounds like what I did. I just wanted to get away from them. I wanted them to leave me alone.”

“Quite all right. I might add that the action was also captured from different angles by two other cameras mounted on parking lot light posts. There’s no doubt about who was at fault, who took hostile action, or that you were put in a defensive position. If there’s one point I could fault you on, it was that you should have called 9-1-1 immediately and reported the incident.”

Rose shrugged, “I was safe, so I didn’t worry after Matt picked me up.”

Orach said, “Well, you did well. Keep taking those self-defense classes. I doubt you’ll hear another word about this other than to read about the case the DA wants to prosecute in the newspaper. If we need, you might be asked to testify, but that’s a remote possibility since we expect them to plead out.”

Orach looked around at everybody, “That’s all I had. I just wanted to personally close the loop with you. You were all so nice and accommodating, plus your story was consistent every time you told it. I kind of guessed what had really happened, but guesses have been wrong. I needed some hard evidence, and when I went to look, I found it thanks to your school’s security tapes.”

Everyone thanked the sergeant for coming and reporting on the case to them. Orach left. Dave sent Scarlett a long email detailing what had just happened. She was in Ireland working in a film studio for two or three weeks.

Monday evening the Circle 101 class gathered in the core living room. Again, there were a record number of people attending because there were so many pledges. Dave was surprised to see Felicity Jones sitting in the group, especially since she was snuggled against Dane Decker, one of the university pledges that had come to the Circle through Phi Theta Rho fraternity.

After calling the gathering to order, he wrote ‘SEX’ in large letters on the flipchart. He then looked at the class of smiling faces. He asked, “What does that word mean to you?”

There was silence until Neo tossed out a wiseass comment, “Getting my rocks off.”

The rest of the class jumped on him. Eve said, “NO! For me it represents connection with someone I really like.”

Logan said, “At first, I thought of the genres of people here – males and females. I didn’t think of the sex act.”

Jay said, “Another word for either fucking or making love depending on who your partner is and what your and your partner’s motivations are.” He shot a frown at Neo.

Dave asked, “Is this a nice neutral word you can bring up in any conversation?”

Heads shook. Dave asked, “Why not?”

“A lot of people think that sex is an undiscussable topic. My parents fit in that group,” Stu said with a laugh.

Felicity said, “The topic is an embarrassment to some people just the way nudity or some naughty parts of our body are.”

Dave posed, “Does nudity result in sex?”

Many heads nodded.

Dave said, “I’d like to try an experiment that’s probably pretty consistent with Circle mores. Most people here are fully clothed, yet in late afternoon a few of you women were nearly naked on the patio reading, talking, or sunning. What I’d like to try is to have all of us get naked. If you don’t want to participate, you don’t have to.”

There was a murmur of conversation as a few people started to undress and then more joined them. Dave stood at the front of the room and removed his shirt, slacks, and briefs until he was nude. When he paid more attention to the class everyone was naked and back in their seats.

Dave walked around a little and studied the group. A few people blushed, but only their eyes followed him.

“Well,” Dave said, “no one started to have intercourse after everyone was naked, so I draw from that the conclusion that nudity does not result in sex, at least in the verb form.”

Caleb said, “That doesn’t mean that the thought isn’t there.”

“Ah, but thinking and doing are two different things. If you’re parents came into the room right now, what would they think?”