Chapter Thirty-Two
Nathan frowned as he sat in the Tree Hill police station, considering Jake's plan. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"Look, the coach is strict. You get late for two practices in one semester and you're off the squad."
Nathan raised his eyebrows. "That is strict."
"Well, he's been a lot tougher on them after Vegas was caught doing drugs," Jake explained.
"Right."
"So, just wait a couple minutes after practice starts, get in there and see what you can find and get out real quick. It shouldn't take you five minutes."
Nathan nodded. "Okay."
"Okay, then. We've been over everything."
"Yeah, I think so."
"Then, I'm going home. It's late and I still have a couple more papers to mark before tomorrow. Man, I want this plan to work."
Nathan chuckled, silently agreeing. As his friend turned to leave he called out, "Er, Jake?"
"Yeah, Nate?"
"I kind of need the key for this to work."
"Right! Sorry." Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. He checked that it was the right one before he threw it over to Nathan. "See you later."
"See you."
Jake left the room he and Nathan used when they came here, and waved goodbye to the people he remembered on his way out. As he walked through the waiting room to get to the main doors he came to a sudden halt. He felt his eyes widen as he stared at the person sitting on a chair to the right of him; the last person he expected to see in a police station. He half wanted to ask them what they were doing there, but, unable to come up with a viable excuse for his presence, he knew it would be better if he slipped out unnoticed. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side.
"Jake!"
Jake forced a smile as he went over to her. "Haley! This is a surprise."
"Yeah," she said as she stood up.
"What are you doing here?"
"My sister was arrested for drunk driving – again." She pointed to the door on the other side. "I'm just waiting for them to release her. What are you doing here?"
"Well, uh…research!" Jake blurted out the first word that came to his mind.
Haley's brow furrowed. "Research? At a police station?"
"Well –"
"Hey, Jake, I thought you'd already lef…" Nathan's sentence trailed off as he saw who Jake was talking to. "Hi."
"Nathan?" Haley stared at him, shocked. Haley continued to stare at both of them, as Jake and Nathan glanced at each other, uncertain how they should proceed.
Just then, the gate to the side of them opened and a tall brunette emerged from the other side, accompanied by a police officer. The police officer glanced at Haley, who nodded, before he smiled at her companions.
"Hey, Jake; Nathan," he acknowledged.
Nathan smiled weakly. "Hi, Fergie."
The brunette girl, unaware of the situation ran to Haley and hugged her. "Thanks, baby sis. I knew you'd come for me!" She stepped back from Haley and turned around. Smiling approvingly at Jake, she said, "Hi handsome." She looked to his right and the corners of her lips turned upward in a smirk.
Nathan swallowed hard. "Taylor."
Taylor grinned. "Nathan. Fancy meeting you here."
"What the hell is going on here?" Haley exclaimed loudly.
Taylor glanced back at her. "Jeez, sis, chill."
"Nathan and I work here," Jake said, bluntly.
"We're undercover at school," Nathan admitted.
"B-but…" Haley sighed and shook her head, trying to compose herself. "Undercover for what?"
"Someone at school's a drug dealer. We were sent to find out who it is," Jake explained.
Haley looked blank for a while, glancing at both Jake and Nathan. Then, she finally said, "We have to leave." Nathan opened his mouth to say something else, but Haley just grabbed Taylor's arm and pulled her out to the doors.
Jake and Nathan stared after them silently for a few moments.
Nathan took a deep breath. "Well."
"I actually have a question of my own."
"Shoot."
"How do you know Haley's sister?"
"Remember how I told you that last summer I ran into the first girl I had sex with?"
"Huh. We're both screwed."
"No shit, Sherlock."