Page 6 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

Chapter Three

Saturday morning, Ashley finalized his lesson plans for the end of the month. He knew where he’d go with the general idea for each grade. After teaching for eight years, he’d been able to streamline how he ensured the kids met the benchmarks for their age and grade.

“Dad, the mail is here.” Wyatt thundered into the bedroom and plopped letters onto the desk. “When we get our own house, I want one with the little hole in the door. It’s like Christmas when the mail comes.” He opened one of the envelopes. A packet of orange smiley-face stickers plopped onto the desk. “Mine!” The boy proceeded to slap the stickers all over his arms and shirt.

“Those aren’t for personal decoration.” Ashley flipped through the mail. The water bill, the electric bill and the reminder that the garbage bill was due along with an envelope he didn’t recognize. The return address was in Cedarwood, but not a place he knew. He drummed his fingers on the envelope. Something wasn’t right. They didn’t get envelopes from places he didn’t recognize. Everyone knew everyone else’s business in town.

“What?” Wyatt peered at Ashley. He’d added stickers to his face. The orange dots reminded Ashley of oversize freckles.

“Nothing. Where’s my cell?”

“I’ll get it.” Wyatt groaned and wandered out of the room.

Ashley snorted. “Do you have to be so overly dramatic?”

Wyatt huffed back into the bedroom and offered up the phone. “Maybe. I don’t know what that means.”

“You’re being grumpier than you need to. I just asked for my phone.” He swiped the screen and tapped the Internet app. Where was this address at? He inputted the information and clicked the Search button. Within seconds the results came back.

The Coalition for Order in Cedarwood. Order? He closed the Internet app and dialed Colin’s number. If anyone would know about this new group, it would be Colin. After two rings, someone answered.

“Hi, Colin?”

“This is Jordan. Colin’s indisposed,” Jordan said. “How can I help? Or can I help?”

“Well, maybe you can. Have you ever heard of the Coalition for Order in Cedarwood? This is the group that left shit bags on doorsteps, isn’t it? Or am I wrong? I thought I read about them in the newspaper. They sent out mailers not long ago, punking members of the LGBTQ community—it wasn’t anything bad, but they’ve been getting worse as time goes on. That time might not have had anthrax, but the next time could. I’m a little freaked out.” He turned the envelope over and resisted the urge to tear the end open. He’d been touching the envelope, and if there was anything odd on it, the substance was already all over his hands.Fuck.“It’s kind of funny. The group’s acronym is COC. They sent an envelope. I’m hesitant to open it. I doubt they’ve got something illegal in here, but I can’t shake the uneasy feeling.” He’d mentioned the acronym because it made him chuckle, but he didn’t feel like chuckling at all.

“Huh. When did you get the envelope?”

“Just now in the mail. Wyatt brought it in. Should I be worried?” His heart hammered.Now what? Is there something wrong?

“To be safe rather than sorry, have Wyatt wash his hands and put him in the shower. Hot water and soap. I’ll get the department to send someone over and I’ll be there in ten. Leave the envelope on the desk or wherever you’ve got it and wash your hands. Someone will be there shortly. Okay?”

“Okay.” He felt no better as Jordan clicked off the line. “Hey, Wyatt? Come here.” What else had Wyatt touched?Shit.“Wyatt?” He hurried into the living room where his son sat on the floor, tapping away happily on his tablet.

“I need you to get cleaned up. Like going to the hospital clean.” He scooped the tablet into his hands. “I mean it.”

“Why?” Wyatt shucked his shirt on the floor and strode half-nude into the bathroom. “What’s wrong?”

“I want you to get cleaned up. The cops are coming over.” That sounded so wrong.

“Because I complained yesterday? Dad, I’m sorry.” Wyatt’s eyes widened and his bottom lip trembled. “I won’t be bad.”

“Who said they were coming to take you? They’re coming over because I got a strange letter. Now strip.” He hurried his son into the tub and turned on the water. He kept an eye on Wyatt while he listened for the knock at the door.Christ.If Jordan was worried, then he didn’t feel much better.

Ten minutes later, Jordan and another officer showed up at the apartment. The two officers examined the letter and surrounding area.

“It’s not registering as being covered in anything. We’ve opened it.” Jordan’s shoulders sank. “It’s not dangerous, but it’s not good, either.”

“Why?” He stood beside his friend and read the words on the page.

The Coalition for Order in Cedarwood had graciously invited him to join their group. Their pledge was to restore the sanctity of marriage in the town of Cedarwood and to ensure the town wasn’t overrun by negativity. And they wanted him? Was he negative?No.Was he interested in the sanctity of marriage? Sure, but something wasn’t right.

“Colin and Farin get nasty letters, at least three or four a month. One had powder in it, but it was detergent. Since it looks like the group is trying to reach more people, I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Jordan nodded to his partner. “Thanks.” The other officer left the apartment, but Jordan remained. “I don’t exactly want to have to deal with this. It’s horrible.”

“But it’s not dangerous.” Ashley gave Wyatt his tablet back. “Okay, why don’t you go into my room and watch a movie while I talk to Officer Hargrove?”

“Sure, Dad.” Wyatt strolled into the other room, tablet in hand and happy.

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