“No, thank you. I have to be driving home.”
“I understand.” I stared down at the yearbook Melanie had been looking at. I flipped through a few pages, landing on clubs. French club, German club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society… Where were the future lawyers?
And then they appeared in front of my eyes. Not the future lawyers, but the future lawmakers. There was Larry, there was Tom, there was Theodore Mathias, and—
My heart nearly stopped. The club had three additional members.
“Are you okay?” Jordan asked.
“Fine.” My voice was tight. Thank God, Melanie was returning from the restroom.
She touched my arm. “Jonah, do you mind if we leave? I’m not feeling very well.”
I went into protective mode. “Of course.” I looked to Jordan. “Do you mind? We’ll need to cut this short.”
“Not at all.” She stood. “Thank you so much for the drink.”
I stood and gave her a hug. “Thank you. You’ve made my uncle very happy.”
“Just call me when you’re done with the yearbooks, and I’ll arrange to meet you somewhere to get them.”
“Will do.”
She turned and walked out the door.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked Melanie.
Melanie sat down next to me. “Nothing. I decided it was time to get rid of her. Did you get any information out of her?” Then she looked at me, touching my cheek. “Jonah, what’s wrong?”
I pointed to the future lawmakers club.
“This.”
Chapter Twenty–Five
Melanie
The photo showed six students, five male and one female. I quickly perused the faces. Larry, Tom, and then Theodore Mathias.
One of the two other men was none other than Rodney Cates.
The woman?
My heart stopped.
Wendy Madigan.
I looked to Jonah. And then back down at the book. The last male was taller than the other four and virtually identical to the man sitting beside me.
Bradford Steel.
“Oh my God.”
“Melanie, I have no idea what to make of this. My father knew these men. Was in some lawmaking club with them. What the hell does all this mean?”
I stroked his arm. “I wish I knew. But I can tell you one thing. We will find out.”
“We need to keep these yearbooks. We can’t give them back to Jordan.”