Page 36 of Under His Sheets
“I appreciate your understanding.”
He backed up toward the door and then gestured once more to the guitar. “Consider it a loan, then. A guitarist cannot be without his instrument, yes?” He pointed to the envelope he’d left on the table next to the guitar case. “Be sure to RSVP. Have a nice weekend, senyor Sutter.”
“You, too.”
Ferrer strolled out the door, tapping it twice on his way out.
And then I breathed.
Holy shit.
I was still standing there, bent over with my hands on my thighs a few moments later, when Alonso came in and shut the door behind him. He walked straight to me and held my face in his hands.
“Are you alright, amor?” he whispered.
I blinked and pulled his hands away. “Alonso, I don’t?—”
The door opened and Lara breezed in, shutting the door behind her.
I stepped away from Alonso.
“It’s all right, Randall,” Lara said, placing a hand on my arm.
Alonso pulled out a mechanical device and walked toward the guitar.
“What are you?—”
Lara held her finger up to her lips.
We watched as Alonso held the device over the guitar, then he shook his head. He continued around the room with it, and Lara took me by the arms.
“Randall, I need to talk to you about something serious, okay? And I’m sorry to bring you into this, but we need your help.”
I frowned and looked to Alonso’s back as he finished his sweep of the room.
“It’s clear. I checked yesterday before I left. Nothing showed up except mine and nothing new has been placed in here since I checked yesterday.”
His what?
“Randall, this is Sargento Alonso Segura with Ejercito de Tierra, the Spanish Army, and he’s here investigating some disturbing activity. As I’m sure you’re aware, there have been some incidents on campus lately involving some of the parents.”
I couldn’t stop staring at Alonso.
“We had a feeling Mr. Ferrer is involved, so we’ve been monitoring him along with several other parents.”
Alonso still hadn’t spoken, and he had to know what I was thinking.
As if I’d communicated telepathically, he cleared his throat.“What did he say to you?” he asked.
“He, uh, had the guitar delivered to the school and someone in the office put it in here during lunch.” After getting robbed,this felt like a violation. I knew it was a classroom and not the same as private property, but I didn’t like the idea that anyone could come in here. We had valuable instruments and equipment. What if I’d had personal items stored inside?
Lara frowned and looked to Alonso. “No one should be coming into classrooms other than you, me, or teachers. I’ll let the office staff know to be more careful and we’ll let you know if anything else is delivered.”
“What did he say just now?” Alonso repeated.
“He asked me to come to a gathering next weekend at his home. I think he wants me to play? I don’t know. He mentioned some music industry people… Look, Lara, I’m not going to go. I know the rules?—”
“Actually, maybe you should go.” Lara looked between us, and my heart pounded out of control. What could she possibly mean? That would be breaking all of the rules.
