“Jaxson,” Troy said with warning in his voice.
Will looked at us in contemplation but shrugged.
“Has anyone located Mr. Young and his family?” Noah asked with concern as we sat down.
“No,” Collin answered. “He won’t answer my calls either.”
“Do you think someone saw you with all of us and tipped him off?” Jaxson asked as he traced the wood grains in the table top.
He hadn’t said much today about his girlfriend, and I wasn’t sure if he missed her or not. The last time, he needed a little time to wrap his head around ‘us’ before he had finally broken up with her. He had always told me his relationship with her had been one of convenience and not love. Drake on the other hand…
I looked over at him and noticed he still seemed withdrawn into himself.
Collin shrugged. “Bridgette’s gone too. No one has seen them since late last night.”
“Not since the party,” Jaxson added.
“So, we all need to be aware of our surroundings until we find out if Horatio has anything else planned,” Will stated. “Rachel and I have been interviewing a lot of the people on our teams today, and I am happy to say that we had very few traitors in our ranks. I also handpicked the ones I want to be with Jaxson, Jemmy, Rachel, Noah, Drake, Collin, and Blake.” He suddenly frowned. “I hadn’t realized how lackadaisical we had gotten. A lot of our teams have gotten lazy. I’m surprised they have been so successful on their missions. Remy and Troy, I would like it if you started a training program. I would like you to improve the program we have in place and implement it.”
I didn’t bother asking if a team was necessary for us. I had made my last connection. I was torn between admitting it and letting it go. It was embarrassing enough that my intimate life was out in the open. With six connections, I would be in constant speculation. Why add more to it? So, I didn’t inform Will on the change of events.
“Everyone has to go through it too,” Jemmy grumbled looking at us pointedly, as she came into the room and mutinously sat in her chair.
We all started laughing, except for Gavin, but I could tell it took everything in him, not too.
“Pops wants us to start on Monday,” Jemmy groaned. “Before school,” she wailed in self-pity.
Remy and Troy laughed even harder. “We can have a game plan completed by tomorrow night,” Troy reassured Will.
“I think we should start with a run on Monday morning, maybe four miles.” Remy gave Jemmy a wicked smile as he rubbed his chin.
“Nooo!” Jemmy howled.
It almost felt like old times as we all sat down for our late dinner. Collin even seemed to be adjusting well to our new situation, and I was pleased to find out he had run to the apartment and got all our belongings, so my clothing would be waiting for me, after my shower. Jemmy had already informed me that she was borrowing one of my jackets.
I didn’t mind; it reminded me of the old days when she would raid my closet or allowed me to wear her clothes. She was determined that we would be going shopping tomorrow. Rachel, Ella, Chip, Alex, and Micah needed a more complete wardrobe.
Micah was shoveling food in his mouth and didn’t seem to care that he might have to go shopping with us tomorrow. He didn’t realize how Jemmy was. I’m sure he would grow to hate it by the end of the day. It was rare for any 13-year-old boy to enjoy shopping.
“I’m taking Micah,” Jaxson stated resolutely. “She will make it a lot longer than it has to be,” he explained to Micah.
Micah nodded. “This is good. What is it?” he asked as he pointed to the plate of noodle and meat stir fry in front of him.
“It’s japchae,” Drake finally spoke. “It’s a Korean dish, typically made with glass noodles, thin strips of beef, and vegetables. Sue likes to put spinach, carrots, garlic, and onions in hers.”
He was in his element when he talked about food. I really wished I knew how to talk to him. We never had any issues talking in the past, or should I say, the future.
“Mmm, its good,” he said around another mouth full of food.
“Do I have to go?” Chip piped up. “My mommy has lots of clothes for me at home.”
Noah looked at him with sympathy. “I’m sure she does, buddy, but until we find her, you need new clothes.”
Chip made a face, “But I already got new underwear, jeans, and shirts.”
“You’re going with the boys,” Ella said bossily. “You too,” she pointed at Alex. “I’m going with the girls.”
Some of us laughed at her bossiness.
“Okay,” Chip mumbled unhappily.
“Okay,” Alex said agreeably.
“I guess that means I’ll go with you, too,” Jace said with a smile in his voice as he looked over at Jaxson.
“I’m coming,” Noah volunteered.
“Can we play more video games?” Ella asked as she pushed her plate away.
Will looked down at his watch and over at me. I nodded. “It is a Saturday night, you can stay up a little later.” he smiled indulgently.
“Yay!” Chip, Alex, and Ella stood up with excitement, getting ready to run out of the room.
“Hold it,” I yelled after them and they froze in their tracks. “Sit down and ask to be excused. Then take your plates into the kitchen and put them in the sink.”
They reluctantly all sat back down, asked to be excused, and then took their plates into the sink, before running back into the living room.
After dinner, everyone took their showers and got dressed into more comfortable clothing. Even though we were tired we all decided to meet back into the kitchen, where Drake volunteered to make some cupcakes for the kids, although we weren’t telling them yet.
Will asked if he could invite Steven, Beth, Cora Karn, and their daughter Nadia over. They were another connection trio. Steven was their nucleus. Beth and Cora, his wives. They were members of the board, and Will felt he could trust them in our secret. He was hoping if they got involved they could help us figure out how to proceed from here, plus they had the right to know when changes were being made to the whole Knights division.
I looked longingly at my bed as I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and one of my tank tops with the built-in bra—there was no way I was putting another bra on. I towel-dried my hair, getting as much moisture as I could out of it before adding some product into it. I figured I had dawdled long enough and left the comforts of my room.
I thought about my room as I made my way down to the kitchen. It was going to take some time before I could make it feel like my own again. I had added so many personal touches before, and I was determined to restore it to its former glory.