Лиза Макманн - Fade

Mr. Durbin’s, so she can gauge Stacey’s reaction. “Hi,” she says with a grin.

Stacey looks up from her book with surprise. “Oh, hey, Janie. What’s up?” Janie notes with a creepy shudder that she’s reading Margaret

Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

“You were in Durbin’s Chem. 2 class last term, right?”

“Yesss…” Stacey looks suspicious.

“And you’re going to the chemistry fair, right?”

“Oh, that. Yeah—you are too?”

“Yep. Sounds like fun. I’ll be at the meeting next week to create our display.”

“Cool. It should be easy enough.”

“Anyway, I’m actually here to ask you about Durbin.”

Stacey’s eyes narrow. “What about him?”

“Well, he’s having his Chem. 2 party at his house, and our class decided to invite your class to come too.”

Stacey gets a goofy smile on her lips. “Oh cool! He didn’t, by chance, tell you guys what happened last semester, did he?”

Janie cocks her head. “No, not really. Just said everybody had a great time.”

Stacey’s grin grows wider. She leans forward across the table, and whispers, “Everybody got completely plastered. Even Durbin and

Wang.”

Janie’s heart jumps. She controls her surprise, and speaks softly.

“Wang was there too?”

“Yeah. Durbin and Wang are buddies. I think they play a lot of rec basketball together or something. Durbin said something about Wang being there for entertainment and crowd control.” She laughs, and then grows serious. “Don’t tell anybody about the alcohol, ’kay? Durbin and Wang could both get canned for it. But we chem geeks are a loyal bunch. And we know how to keep our mouths closed,” she adds.

She’s chuckling to herself.

“Of course,” Janie says seriously. “I’d never rat on him—He’s the best.”

“Yeah.” Stacey sighs. “He’s sooo hot. Wang’s not bad either, for a snooty guy who lives up on the Hill.” The girls giggle softly, and Janie pulls out an extra copy of the party flyer. “Here’s the info. Do you think you can make it? We’re getting a head count so we know how much food to make.”

“Hell yes, I’ll be there. I could use a break from this crazy pace. You want me to spread the word? Most of the others are in my physics class.”

“Sure. I’ll get you some more flyers tomorrow.”

“Sweet. And that was real cool of your class to invite us,” she adds with a grin.

Janie grins back. “So, you think most of them will want to be there?”

Stacey thinks a moment. “I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t jump at the chance.”

7:02 p.m.

Janie wraps up her notes at Cabel’s house, and muses, “This is getting curiouser and curiouser.”

Cabel reads over her shoulder. He growls lightly. “He did that lame eyelash trick on you? God, what a loser.” He begins pacing.

“Easy, big fella,” murmurs Janie distractedly as she types in the info she got from Stacey that day. When she finishes, she flips screens to the party flyer and prints out ten copies.

Cabel’s on the phone.

“It’s Cabe,” he says. “I think we need to watch Durbin’s house in the evenings up until—” He pauses. “Oh. Well, that’s why you’re in charge.” He grins sheepishly into the phone. “Thank you, sir.”

He hangs up. “Did you know Captain’s been surveilling Durbin’s house for two weeks already?”

“Nope. But it’s a good idea. How’s your progress going, Cabe? I think it’s strange that I can’t find a single student who doesn’t like Durbin.

Have you been able to approach that question yet with your new contacts?”

“Some. He seems to be gunning for teacher of the year, though, the way things are going.”

“If a student was the one who made the call, what would make them not follow through and get their reward? I don’t understand that. Not everybody drinks. And if they showed up there last year not knowing it was that kind of a party, wouldn’t they back out slowly, or at least talk to somebody about it? I’ve never heard of this happening before.

You’d think Carrie’d know.”

Cabe begins pacing again. After a while he says, “Carrie wouldn’t know. She and Melinda and Shay and people into high-end Hill parties aren’t science geeks. There’s not one person on the list who I’ve ever seen at a Hill party. It’s two different worlds.”

“So, what is Durbin’s hold over the geeks that makes them want to protect him?”

Cabel’s in the zone. Janie can almost see the wheels turning in his head. She glances at the flyers, and on a whim, goes to her Gmail account and types up an e-mail to the address Mr. Durbin gave her.

Hey Mr. Durbin, I talked to Stacey O’Grady today, and she’s stoked about being invited to your party. She told me you guys had a terrific party last semester. If it’s okay with you, she’s going to distribute the flyers to the other kids from that class. Would it be cool if she and I came about an hour early to help you set it up?

And I know you said no alcohol, but I’ve got this great dessert recipe I wanted to bring…It has crème de menthe in it. Just a little. Not enough to get anybody even a buzz from eating a huge piece. Would that be okay with you? If not, I could always bring Rice Krispies treats instead.

Janie Hannagan

P.S. I’m a little worried about Friday’s big test—trying to study and get ready for the chem fair is taking up a lot of time. Can I set up a meeting to talk over some formulas with you?

Thanks. J.

She presses Send and keeps the computer booted, turning up the volume a notch, just in case he’s online and gets back to her quickly.

“What are you doing?” Cabel says suddenly.

“Flirting with Durbin.”

“Oh.” He turns back to his pacing, and then stops again. “You know, I think I finally understand how it felt for you. Remember when you stopped by my house and Shay was over?”

“Ah…yeah. It’s burned like a cross into my brain.”

“I didn’t want you to see that. Not because I wanted to hide it from you. But because it would hurt.”

Janie smiles at him. “I know. Sucks, doesn’t it.”

“It’s driving me nuts,” Cabel admits. “If that bastard hurts you, I’ll kill him. I’m still not sure about you putting yourself in a position like that.”

“Good thing I don’t work for you, then.” She knows it’s harsh.

He stops pacing. Looks at her. “Damn. You’re right.” Starts pacing again. “So, do you think Durbin is hot?”

“I can see why girls are attracted to him.”

“Are you attracted to him?”

Janie sighs. “Oh Cabe. Shay is hot, rich, sexy, popular. A cheerleader.

Were you attracted to her?”

“No. She was a facet of my job.”

“Exactly.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Janie hesitates, wanting to be truthful. “Durbin is attractive. I can’t deny that. But when he did the eyelash thing, it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He creeps me out, Cabe.”

Cabel nods absentmindedly as he walks. “Okay. That makes me feel better.”

She smiles. Gets it—it was the same with Cabel and Shay. And is proud of him for the new way he’s approaching it now. “I love you, you know,” she says. It’s getting easier to say.

He comes over to where she’s sitting and massages her shoulders lightly. But his voice is grim. “I love you too, Janie.”

“And I’m getting really good at protecting myself,” she adds. “My selfdefense class kicks ass.”

He tugs her hair. “I’m glad you’re taking that class. You’re really getting buff, you know that? It’s very sexy. As long as you’re not beating me up.”

“Don’t make me hurt you,” she murmurs. “Hey, can I stay tonight?”