“You’re such a brat. I’m going to school for computer programming,” he replied. “What? You thought I had plans to work at a diner for the rest of my life?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You make one hell of a pie.”
“Whatevs. I don’t need this place. Once I’m through with school I’ll be rolling in the dough.” He laughed at his own pun.
Suddenly I had a thought. “So I guess you’re pretty savvy with computers and all.”
“Duh.”
“And I’m assuming most of your classmates are pretty savvy, too?”
“Most people go to school for what they’re good at,” Terry replied patiently.
I tried for casualness. “Know any hackers?”
“Huh?”
I thought better. “Um, never mind,” and went back to wiping down the table.
“No, not ‘never mind’. Why do you need a hacker?” He leaned into the table, eyes glittering with mischief. “So there is a little bad girl in you after all.”
My face flushed crimson, and he saw.
“Okay, Wright. Spill it. Who do you wanna spy on?”
“Nobody.”
“Bullshit. What if I told you I did know a hacker?”
“Are you messing with me?” I asked.
“No.”
“Okay, who is it?”
Terry leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head. He looked up at the ceiling. “Yours truly.”
“Bull. Shit.”
“I’m serious. Why don’t you believe me? You think I’m stupid or something?”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, but come on. What are the chances I’d ask you about a hacker and you are one?”
“Well, you got lucky. Now what’s this all about?”
I couldn’t believe I was about to let Terry in on some of my secrets. I had no choice, though. Not if I wanted to learn more about that conversation I overheard in the stairwell. I needed him.
“Wright?”
“You have to swear on your life you won’t tell a soul,” I said.
“What? You think I go around blabbing about doing hack jobs for people?”
“Just swear it.”
“I swear,” he said, rolling his eyes.
I took a deep breath and settled into the seat across from him. “I think there’s something fishy going on at my school.”
“Oh God. Okay Veronica Mars.”
“Shut up. I’m serious,” I said, but I couldn’t help laughing.
We were sitting alone under one of the few lights still on in the restaurant. It looked like a scene from some cheesy detective movie. All we needed was the smoke from our cigarettes curling its way up to the ceiling, highlighting the jazzy refrain playing in the background.
“All right. What do you think is going on?”
“I overheard a conversation in the stairwell the other day.”
Terry clapped his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.
“You know what? Forget it,” I snapped.
“No no! I’m sorry. Look, I just didn’t know you moonlighted as Nancy Drew in your spare time.”
“How many more do you have?”
“Well, those are the only two . . . wait! Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote!”
“I don’t even know who that is.”
“Kids these days,” Terry lamented, shaking his head.
“Whatever. Are you gonna stop making fun of me and let me continue?”
“Be my guest.”
I took a deep breath. “So I overheard this conversation—”
“Can I ask how?”
“I was hiding underneath the stairs,” I explained.
Terry burst out laughing. I got up from my seat and grabbed the condiment caddy.
“Hey! Stop right there!” Terry ordered, grabbing my arm. “Stop being pissy. Now I’m allowed to laugh a little because this is fucking funny, okay? Get over yourself and sit back down.”
I slammed the caddy on the table.
“That’s the thing, you moron! It actually isn’t funny. I think some guys at school are raping girls as part of a sick game!”
That got his attention. I sat back down, watching his face as he processed the information.
“All right. All kidding aside, tell me what you overheard,” Terry said.
“I heard these guys talking about a secret club and how this other guy wanted to join. Someone mentioned that the only way he could join was if he slept with a virgin. There was a mention of a score sheet or something.”
“This is all you heard?” Terry asked.
“Pretty much.”
“And how do you know they’re raping girls? It could all be consensual,” Terry argued.
“I know one of the guys who’s involved in this club. Well, if it is a club. I know he raped someone. I think others are doing it, too. Maybe not all of them, but some.”
“How do you know this guy raped someone?”
“I just do,” I said.
“You’re gonna have to do better than that if you expect me to get involved in this,” Terry said.
I looked into Terry’s brown eyes. It was the first and only time I’d ever do it. I had to make sure I could trust him. I searched them, but they only told me that he was honest, would always tell me the truth, even if it ended up hurting my feelings.
“He raped my best friend,” I said. “She killed herself over it.”
Terry was quiet for a few minutes.