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

favor?”
    “Sure,” Herman said. “What do you need?”
    “Do you know where the trophy case is?”
    “The one in Adrienne Hall?” Herman asked. “All the sports trophies?”
    “For athletics, yes,” Mr. Weiss said, nodding. “Do you think you could bring me a particular one?”
    Herman hesitated, saw the confident way the old man smiled at him, and he said, “Yes. I mean, if it’s unlocked. I don’t want to break it.”
    “Of course, you don’t,” Mr. Weiss said soothingly. “And I would be averse to you committing such an act. The case will be open for you in the morning, most likely after six.”
    “Tomorrow morning?” Herman asked.
    “Yes,” the old man said.
    “Sure,” Herman said. “I’ll be there. I have to be at school at seven anyway.”
    “Oh,” Mr. Weiss said, smiling, “there won’t be any school tomorrow.”
    “No?”
    “No,” Mr. Weiss said, looking past Herman momentarily and then back to him. “You needn’t worry about classes.”
    “Okay,” Herman said. He paused before asking, “So, Mr. Weiss, what trophy do you want?”
    “I’ll tell you, Herman,” the old man said with a grin, and he stepped closer.
     

Chapter 24: Patrolling the Grounds
     
    Aaron Dubois cleared his throat, paused in his walk, and spat on the granite bench. A masterful collection of yellowish mucus clung to the stone, and Aaron smiled.
    Hope some little jerk sits on it , he thought, chuckling.
    Aaron, at thirty-three, had spent most of his life bouncing from job to job. Working for A-Plus Security had been the best job ever. He got to work third shift, so he didn’t have to deal with anyone other than Simon at the 7-Eleven where he grabbed most of his food. The majority of the jobs were in town, in the technology park up behind the stadium, so he had gotten rid of his car. Aaron either walked or caught a cab to wherever he was assigned and was able to ride the city bus home.
    This life is pretty great, Aaron thought, looking around the darkened grounds of the Academy. No car payments, no mortgage. No debt. Nope. Life is pretty damned good.
    He hiked his pants up, tightened his garrison belt, spat on the bench again, and laughed. Satisfied with the perfection of his world, Aaron continued on his rounds. He passed by the giant dumpster the school had needed to bring in for the broken toilets. Aaron was impressed with the level of destruction the kids had wrought, and he was disgusted with the stupidity of the staff.
    You need boots on the ground , Aaron thought. If I’d been here, the kids never would have been able to pull it off. Not. At. All.
    He adjusted his pants again, cleared his throat and was forced to swallow a mouthful of mucus as a far off noise caught his attention.
    Aaron froze, standing perfectly still. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the darkness, listening.
    Footsteps , he realized. He put a hand down to keep the keys on his belt silent, and started to walk towards the sound.
    For a slightly overweight man, Aaron could move quietly when he put his mind to it. And especially when he knew he was going to give someone a hard time. It was why he enjoyed his job so much. He loved it when some hapless sap begged him to let them go.
    Aaron never did, although he let the people beg while he nodded sympathetically and dialed nine-one-one.
    Nothing better , Aaron thought, grinning. He wasn’t afraid because he had never run into someone who was armed. The professionals always take off. They don’t stick around to get busted by a ‘rent-a-cop.’
    I always get the dummies, he thought happily, picking up his pace. And that suits me just fine.
    The footsteps grew louder, and Aaron headed towards a building. The sign above the door read, “Adrienne Hall.” The intruder, it seemed, was walking towards the front from the right side of the building.
    Aaron stepped into a shadow, slipped his giant Maglite flashlight from its holster, and put his thumb on the ‘on’ button.
    Time to put the