Free The Academy (Moving In Series Book 6) by Ron Ripley

smiled. He went up the stairs and wasn’t surprised when he found the door unlocked. The alarm, he saw, was unarmed.
    Where should I put it? Eddie asked, looking around.
    Upstairs, came the suggestion. There’s a small room on the left. They use it for a broom closet now.
    Eddie went up the stairs and found the room. Cleaning supplies were stored there, as were extra metal shelves and book stands.
    To the right. Do you see the odd-colored piece of wainscoting?
    Eddie squinted, spotted it and thought, Yes.
    Go and press upon the left edge.
    Eddie did so. A soft ‘click’ sounded, and the panel swung out slightly. An empty space was revealed. Without being told, Eddie took the photo and placed it in the cavity.
    Close the door, Edward, the voice said. And forget that you were here. Will you do that for me?
    Yes, Eddie answered. He returned the wainscoting to its place.
    Several minutes later, Eddie stood in the quad. Frowning, he wondered where Mr. Roy was, and when Larry could have visitors.
     

Chapter 23: Waking Up
     
    When Herman woke up, he didn’t feel rested. His back ached, and his head had started to throb again. With a grunt, he grabbed the top of the pew and pulled himself upright. His stomach rumbled, and his mouth was dry. Beyond the stained glass windows of the chapel, he saw the sun had nearly set.
    Man, he thought, groaning. Herman pulled his phone out of the side pocket of his shorts. He checked it and then sighed with relief when he saw there weren’t any texts or calls from his parents.
    The sigh ended abruptly, though. It wasn’t like his parents to leave him alone. And while Herman didn’t particularly like either his mother or his father, he still loved them.
    He sent a quick text to his mother, telling her he was with his friend, Bob Pelt. For several minutes, he watched his phone anxiously.
    She didn’t respond.
    Herman sent a nearly identical text to his father.
    His dad didn’t answer either.
    All of his sores and aches were forgotten as he stood up. He grabbed his bag off the pew, pulled out a granola bar and wondered where his parents were. He ate the hard snack quickly, washed it down with some warm water and checked his phone again. Briefly, he thought he might have turned the volume down. He hadn’t.
    His parents weren’t answering him.
    What if they can’t? Herman wondered. What if there’s something wrong?
    He pushed the thought away and went to the exit. Cautiously, he pushed the door open half an inch and scanned the grounds. Herman couldn’t see anyone.
    As quietly as he could, he slipped out of the chapel, eased the door shut and stole through the evening’s shadows along one wall. He didn’t know if the Academy had a security guard, or if they depended on a surveillance system. All Herman knew was he didn’t want to find out.
    Not at all.
    “Herman.”
    Herman stiffened and looked around nervously. In the shadow of the Groton building, he saw the old man, Nathaniel Weiss. Mr. Weiss smiled, and Herman returned it. He forgot all about leaving the grounds and finding out what was going on with his parents.
    I want to talk to Mr. Weiss , Herman told himself. He walked over to the older man.
    “Hello, sir,” Herman said cheerfully.
    “Hello, Herman,” Mr. Weiss said, sounding equally pleased to see Herman. “I’m surprised to see you here so late in the evening.”
    Herman blushed slightly. “Well, to be honest, sir, I fell asleep in the Chapel.”
    Mr. Weiss chuckled, saying confidentially, “That’s alright, Herman. I used to fall asleep in church when I was younger.”
    Herman felt a smile creep across his face, and he felt better about having fallen asleep.
    “Where are you off to, young man?” the older man asked.
    “I was going home,” Herman answered. “I haven’t heard from my parents.”
    A flicker of confusion flashed across Mr. Weiss’ face, and then it was gone. “I’m sorry to hear that. I was wondering, though, if you could do me a