Still, Janie wills Stacey to fall asleep in study hall again, so she can get a better look.
Six of the ten students in Janie’s Chem. 2 class are female. She doesn’t know any of them well, although they’re friendly enough with one another. None of them are going to the chem fair.
When Desiree Jackson suggests a study group night at her house before an upcoming test, Janie jumps at it. Maybe she can get some information that way. Several others like the study group idea too. They agree to meet Thursday night at seven at Desiree’s.
Mr. Durbin hands out the flyers for the March 4 party, and Janie raises a question. “What do you think about inviting the first semester group to join us? More people, more fun, I’m thinking. Or maybe you don’t have room for so many in your house, Mr. Durbin.”
Janie has driven by Mr. Durbin’s house. Cabel managed to snag the floor plan from the township office. She’s got it memorized. It’s a three-bedroom home with a large kitchen that overlooks the spacious great room. With its finished basement, the house is easily large enough for twenty or more.
Mr. Durbin scratches his chin. “I like that idea. Class, what do you think? You guys good with that?”
The class wants to know who those people would be. Mr. Durbin flips through the eight names by memory, and the consensus is affirmative.
“Cool,” Janie says. “I’ll make some more flyers. We should get a head count on how many are planning on coming.”
“Good idea. Sheesh, eighteen kids. You guys are gonna break my bank account,” Mr. Durbin jokes.
Several girls offer to bring appetizers, and Mr. Durbin gratefully accepts the offer. Janie’s puzzled now. She thought he might balk at the idea. But he’s giving no indication of this being anything other than a cool party for science geeks.
“Don’t let me see you bringing any alcohol,” Mr. Durbin says lightly, and grins like he’s young enough to be hip with the thoughts of seniors and wants to nip it in the bud. But the mere acknowledgment sets several students exchanging mischievous glances.
He said that on purpose, Janie thinks. To get the students thinking about it.
After class Mr. Durbin stops Janie. “Good idea for the party, Janie. Maybe a few of you girls could come early to help set it up?” He’s giving her a helpless bachelor look.
The back of Janie’s neck is prickling, but she smiles excitedly. “Awesome. This is going to be a blast! You are such a cool teacher. You’re just like one of us, you know?”
Mr. Durbin grins. “I try. It’s only been eight years since I was a senior in high school. I’m not some old geezer, you know.” He’s languid, leaning against the side of his desk, arms crossed in front of him.
And then he’s reaching out his hand. “Hold still,” he says. “You’ve got an eyelash.” He brushes lightly across Janie’s cheek with his thumb, and his fingers linger at her hairline just a second longer than necessary.
Janie lowers her eyes demurely, then looks back up into his. “Thanks,” she says softly.
He gives her a smoldering look that is unmistakable. Janie hesitates a moment, then waves her fingers lightly as she turns and hurries out the door to her next class.
In study hall, Janie finds Stacey and slides into the chair across from her. Janie wants to be the first to announce the invitation to the party at 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. Dur
bin 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.”