Stone Investigations (Stone Series Book 4) by Bob Blanton (open ebook txt) 📗

sure you’re around if any of us needsto be rescued.”

“I’ll make sure to rescue anyone but you,” Matthew said.

“Ouch, man that’s cruel.”

By this time Matthew was next to Terry.  He reached over andgrabbed his wrist, applying a little pressure to the pressure point in the webof his thumb.

“Ouch, let go!”

“Just letting you know the kind of pain wise-ass remarks cancause you,” Matthew said.  “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got to get to class.”

Matthew didn’t actually have a class.  It was Tuesday, thefirst day of school, and since he attended his Calculus III class at UCSD onMondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, he had study hall in the library on Tuesdaysand Thursdays.  But he wanted an excuse to hurry away from Terry and his idiot remarks.

◆ ◆ ◆

“Hey, Emily, where are Jason and Alex?”

“They switched to civics instead of political science, it’seasier.  Didn’t you see them head out after lit class?”

“I wondered why they were going the wrong way.  Why did theyswitch?”

“Alex is worried that drama will be a lot of work thissemester.  Don’t worry, they’re still on the AP track.”

“So that means we only have AP lit with them.”

“Yes, and I have calculus with them, too,” Emily said.

“Oh, right.  Here comes Mr. Ward,” Matthew said as he slidback into his seat and focused his attention on the front of the class.  Itwould be nice to be able to just focus on class since he no longer had to worryabout Sayid.

◆ ◆ ◆

“Welcome to journalism,” Ms. Whittaker said.  “Our firstorder of business is to get volunteers to work on the school paper. Volunteering will only get you an interview; you have to pass the interview towork on the paper.  If you would like to volunteer, please stop by after classand I’ll assign you an interview slot.”

After class, at Emily’s insistence, she and Matthew lined upwith the others volunteering for the school paper.  Emily allowed Matthew to gofirst.

“Ms. Whittaker, I’m just here for moral support,” Emily said,“but don’t let him know.”

Ms. Whittaker gave Emily a nod and pretended to write out anappointment.  “Thanks for not wasting our time,” she whispered as Emily tookthe slip of paper.

◆ ◆ ◆

Matthew and Emily met Jason and Alex for lunch at theTeriyaki Bowl.  Jason, Alex, and Emily loaded up with Sushi, while Matthew tookthe place’s name seriously and had a Teriyaki bowl.

“Jason, how are you managing Hanna?” Matthew asked.

Jason snorted.

“Oh, Matt, you should know better,” Emily said.  “Hanna isstaying over at our place.  Cara would never trust Jason to watch after her.”

“That must be a houseful,” Matthew said.  “Alex, Hanna, and Sonja;how is your mother standing it?”

“Yvette does most of the work, but it is a bit overwhelming. It’s been a week with one more to go.”

“If you guys want a break, I bet my mom would be okay withHanna and Sonja doing a sleepover with Jessica.  Jen could babysit.”

“Are you sure?”

“I can ask.”

“Please.  Maybe it would get me out of the dog house,” Emilysaid.

“Sure.”

“Hey, you’ve never really explained why you’re in the doghouse,” Alex said.

“Just a little misunderstanding when we were in New York,”Emily said.

“Well?” Alex asked expectantly.

“Hey, you’ve got enough dirt on me, I’m not giving you more.”

“So, Matt, are you getting any driving in?”

“Some.  I’m still taking the drivers-ed course in Encinitasand Mom lets me drive whenever we go anywhere.  I’ve still got three months.”

“And two weeks,” Jason added.

“Yeah, I can count.”

“What are you going to do for a car?” Alex asked.

“Not sure.  I should probably start looking for one in the AutoTrader,” Matthew said.

“You’re going to buy a used one?” Jason asked.

“Hey, I’m not rich.”

Emily shot Coke through her nose.  “Sorry, it just went downthe wrong way.”

Matthew gave her a mean look while he patted her on the back.

◆ ◆ ◆

“Sorry, Matt.  I couldn’t help myself,” Emily said as she andMatthew drove back to school.

“Yeah, right.”

“Really.  You said you’re not rich and all I could think wasthat you’ve got over 200 million dollars stashed in those offshore accounts youstole from Sayid,” Emily said.  “Plus you’re getting 200K per year from thePrince.”

“The money in those offshore accounts isn’t mine.”

“Then whose is it?  You’re not going to give it back.”

“No.  But I should donate it or something.  I’ll figure somethingout.”

“But you could still afford a new car with the money you’regetting from the Prince.”

“Not really.  Our accountant worked things out so I’m puttingaway a lot of it into a 401K, and I’m helping with expenses so Mom can cut backon her hours and spend more time with Jessie.”

“Still.”

“I don’t need a new car.  If anything, Mom needs a new one.”

Chapter 2Political Science 101

“The cost of legislating morality,” Matthew read off theboard as he and Emily took their seats in class.

“Sounds interesting.  What do you think it’s about?”

“Drugs.”

“Quiet everyone,” Mr. Ward called out.  “I thought I’dintroduce a provocative subject this week.  I know you’re still settling intothe pattern of being back in school.  Come on, take your seats.”

It was only a little over a minute before the class hadsettled in.  Everyone liked Mr. Ward’s lectures.

“Okay, let’s list the way we legislate morality.  . . .  Jess.”

“We pass laws making things illegal.”

“Are there other ways?  . . . Come on, what else is the legislature famous for?”

“Spending money.”

“Correct.  The choices the legislature makes on how muchmoney to spend and where to direct that money also impacts how people live. And can in effect legislate morality.  Now what kind of morality do welegislate?”

“We have laws against murder.”

“Now is that legislating morality, or is itself-preservation?”

“Both?”

“If there wasn’t a moral reason not to murder someone, wouldthe laws still ban it?”

“Probably.”

Matthew raised his hand.  Mr. Ward immediately pointed tohim.  “Drug and Alcohol use.”

“Excellent, a favorite target.”

“That brings up the use of taxes,” Matthew added.

“I was wondering if someone would bring that up.  Taxes,legislatures love taxes, especially, sin taxes.  . . . Now other ways of trying to legislate morality?”

“Gay marriage.”

“Good.”

“Underage sex?”

“Excellent!”

“Pedophilia?”

“An interesting addition.  We definitely need to discussthat.”

“Smoking.”

“A very good topic.”

“Public nudity.”

“Good.”

“Prostitution?”

“Excellent, that one is also a favorite of politicians.  . . .”  Mr. Ward looked around the class to see if anyoneelse was going to