Are you excited yet??

Chapter 16

Tom pulled into the parking lot of Waylon County High. The blue Mustang always turned heads. It was a classic car that had been left to him upon the death of his father. Tom had loved that car and treated it so well since his mother had given him the keys. It was how he stayed connected with his father. He missed him so much from time to time when he would drive it. There were times he would sit alone and wonder about the man whom he had lost so early in his adult years. It was so tragic. It had seemed so long ago sometimes and like the day before at others. The talk that he had had with Angie last night had stirred the emotions of loss up in him again. He was hurting today, but life still went on.

Tom gathered his books and his instrument up and proceeded to enter the school. He looked up at the sky. It was threatening rain today. The air had been warm, still the dark clouds loomed. What a night for a game. The only relief was that if it did rain, there would be no marching. They would line up in front of the bleachers play a couple of songs for the crowd at halftime and then they would be done. "Please let it rain." Tom muttered to himself. He really didn't want to be here or in a band uniform today. Tom quickly made it into the school. He was alone right now as Dean was bringing Penhall to school. Doug was afraid he would melt if he had ridden his precious motor cycle in the rain.

Tom started in the front door when he heard Penhall behind him.

"Tommy! Wait up!" Hanson turned to look at his partner rushing up the sidewalk.

"Well Doug… you made it." Hanson grinned at Penhall.

"Tom, come here." Penhall motioned for Hanson to walk over to the side.

"What's up." Hanson inquired.

"Dean got a call right after you left. Hanson, Kirk Davis died last night." Hanson's jaw hit the ground. "Tom, this is a murder investigation now."

"Oh GOD, Doug… we…" Hanson looked at the SUV's tail lights as Dean and Angie pulled out of the parking lot.

"Hanson, be careful, this nutcase knows that you know what happened." Doug looked stony faced at his partner. "They'll be back later, just watch your back. I'll meet you at lunch and we'll talk then."

"Yeah." Hanson looked down at the ground and ran his fingers through his hair. Shit! This was not right. Darren had murdered his best friend for his position of quarterback on the football team.

The day was a blur. Hanson met up with Doug at lunch. The two officers were engrossed in conversation. Hanson was feeling like there was something not right about this whole day. He was upset that he couldn't Angie a hug like she had shared with him so many times. He wanted to go back to the house and check on Booker, but knew that he could not leave campus. Booker was probably sleeping anyways.

"Hanson, you need to keep away from Lexi George and keep your eyes open in the back of your head. Go straight home after school, ok." Angie said she would have dinner ready for you when you get there and they are all going to be here for our bug debut." Doug jested.

"Doug, you're starting to sound like my mother." Hanson laughed.

"Just watch it." Doug said abruptly.

"I'll be fine Doug." Hanson answered.

The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the two men emptied their trays and headed off to finish their day.

"Don't forget, 5:30 on the dot… Don't Be Late!" Miss Harner shouted as the mob of students emptied from the band room.

Tom Hanson walked over to his instrument case and pulled out an old blue bandana. He gently wiped the tarnishing gold colored metal off. There was not much shine left to the instrument, but the sound was unbeatable. Tom had always enjoyed playing his sax. It was so nice to have the ability to practice every day since he had been at Waylon High. He felt like he was getting better. He cleaned the last of the instrument off and carefully disassembled it placing it neatly in its case.

"Nervous?" Lexi had made her way over to Tom. He was starting to get the creeps every time she got near. She was lovely, and in a normal situation he would have enjoyed talking to her and let it be. It just seemed that every time he opened his mouth to say something to her Darren would appear.

"Not really, I'm just wondering if this weather is going to hold." Tom commented. Where's your boyfriend?" Tom asked.

"Game night, they have their pregame rituals and I am going home with Bonnie." She answered.

"Are you ready Lex?" Bonnie walked into the room.

"Yeah, see ya Tom." She winked at the officer.

"See ya." Tom looked back down as he sealed the instrument case. He picked up the case grabbed his books and headed out to the nearly abandoned parking lot. The grey sky had not lightened up any and the wind was picking up. Tom's Mustang was the last of three vehicles left in the parking lot. He slowly walked up to the care his arms burning from carrying his sax again. Why did I bring this with me? I am going to be back in and hour and a half.

There was a noise behind Tom and before he could turn to acknowledge it he was shoved violently against the exterior of his car, a loud gasp escaped from his mouth. He dropped his saxophone case and his books. His key was halfway into the lock of the door when Tom lost his grip on them as he was shoved again. He then he felt a feeling he had never felt before. It was a burning, and biting sensation all at once in his lower back. It was like an electrical current torturing his spine. Tom cried out as he lost the use of his legs. He fell to the ground onto his stomach. He tried to inch forward to get away from whoever was behind him when a kick caught him square in the ribcage. Hanson recoiled onto his side desperate to protect his ribs when a second kick nailed him square in the face causing him to topple into darkness.

--

Angie paced the floor of the kitchen. Tom should have been here and hour ago. He was to be back at the school at 5:30 and he still was not here.

Dennis walked into the kitchen. His shirt was unbuttoned down to his ribcage. The flesh colored bandage could be seen on his chiseled chest.

"Where's Hanson?" He asked as he saw Angie pacing the floor.

"I don't know. He did say he had to be there at 5:30 right?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah." Dennis nodded starting to feel fear rise inside. "Maybe he went to get something to eat with someone else." He offered.

"No, something's wrong." She stated boldly. "He's to prompt to be late, and he would call if he was, we need to find Dean and Doug."

"Let's go!" Dennis moved forward at a slow pace.

"Dennis, stay here, I'm going to the station to find Dean." Angie ordered.

"You don't need to go anywhere, I'm here." Dean walked into the kitchen. His car was found with the keys in the door and his books were everywhere. His saxophone was on the ground. Someone has scratched the hell out of the side of the driver's door."

"Keyed it?" Dennis asked.

"No, Dennis, it looks like a zipper as someone shoved someone into it and they rubbed against it. It's at the impound lot at the station." Dean stated.

"What! Why!" Dennis demanded grabbing his ribs as he felt a muscle tug at his damaged side."

"Evidence Dennis, I don't know where he is but it can't be good." Dean said as he placed an arm around his shocked wife. "We'll find him, I promise." He said to Angie and Dennis.

Uh-Oh... now it begins...