Chapter 28—We finally found something!
February 21st, 2000
Connie's POV
Dean Buckley had requested me last week to come in today, during teacher in-service. Which was fine with me because I needed the money to help with graduation. I told mom and Dad that I would help finance half of my party. Up until today I wasn't able to find any evidence of Dean Buckley accepting bribes and up until Guy and I split up, Charlie would get angry because I hadn't found anything, when we had our biweekly meetings. In December I had to tell Charlie that I don't think that we are going to find anything, because all I am doing is making copies for teachers and running the lamination machine and cutting stuff out for them. Very boring work. I noticed that I was the only student aid in the office this morning.
"Good morning, Ms. Moreau," Dean Buckley said and then he sipped on his coffee.
"Good Morning, Dean Buckley," I said.
"Congratulations on making it to the playoffs by scoring the winning goal," Dean Buckley said.
"Thank you," I said. We had won on Saturday night 5-4, I was the one who punched our ticket into the playoffs.
"I am really proud of you ducks, you have proven everybody that was on the board your freshman year, wrong," Dean Buckley said.
"Thanks," I said as I smiled.
"I have a job for you, today," Dean Buckley said.
"Oh, okay. I thought that I would be helping Ms. Delaney with props for the musical," I said.
"Nope not today. I am going to give you a shredding machine, some trash bags and send you down to the file room, there are a bunch of documents that need to be shredded," Dean Buckley said.
"Oh okay," I said.
Dean Buckley had a cart with a shredding machine on it and a box of trash bags waiting for me in the hall. He said, "This should be enough bags, but if you need more you can get some from the custodian. He will be around the gym and ice rink today doing a thorough cleaning."
"Okay," I said as I walked with Dean Buckley who was pushing the cart to the elevator. When did Eden hall have those? That floored me.
"This is usually staff only but since you are the only student on campus today I am going to let you use it. I will even lend you my key. But you are not allowed to go off campus until your job is finished, understood?" Dean Buckley said.
"Yeah," I said.
We got down to the basement of the administration building and I followed Dean Buckley to the filing room. "So here is what needs shredded, everything in those two Green filing cabinets and the bottom drawer of the gray filing cabinet, should take you a few hours to do. If you need me I will be with the teachers in the in-service meetings in the cafeteria," Dean Buckley said.
"Okay," I said and with that Dean Buckley left.
I found the radio and turned onto the classic rock station cities 97.1, then I got to work. This was going to be fairly boring; I wasn't going to have a shredder in my ear without some sort of background noise. It was mostly boring stuff that Dean Buckley was having me shred. Old payroll reports, budget figures, old student financial information. It wasn't until I got to a file that said Stahl, Gunnar A. that my eyes perked up.
I could not believe it, there was a whole file on Gunnar's financial information. I looked through the file first and I saw the letters attached that this was the first payment of the money to ensure that Gunnar would get a spot on the Varsity Ice Hockey Club. Then it was signed by Björn Arnarsson, secretary to the president of the republic of Iceland. Gunnar was right, Dean Buckley was taking bribes. Since it was addressed to Dean Buckley, Headmaster of Eden Hall Academy.
I took Gunnar's file upstairs, walked into the cafeteria, and flagged Dean Buckley down who was busy talking with Dr. Anderson, Dr. Barbar and Mrs. Bombay, who was here for the in-service today. She was only working today and part of the day tomorrow for the in-service and parent/teacher conferences. At least that is what Adam told me last week. Then it was back to her maternity leave.
"Yes Ms. Moreau, question," Dean Buckley said to me.
"Um I found this file about Gunnar. Do you want me to destroy that?" I asked.
"Was it in the filing cabinets that I asked you to destroy?" Dean Buckley said.
"Yes," I said.
"Then yes, destroy that. Now back to destroying," Dean Buckley said and then he waved me away from him.
"But Dean Buckley," I said.
"Ms. Moreau, either destroy that folder or I will destroy it for you and if I have to destroy it for you then you will not be welcomed back into the admissions office to work. Understand?" Dean Buckley asked.
"Crystal," I said and then I left to go back to the file room to shred. But first stopping at the office to stuff the file folder in my purse bag that I carried with me that morning to school.
I finished all of my work at about a quarter to four. Right as the first parents were arriving on the campus for the parent/teacher conference. I raced over to Adam's house. I needed to tell Gunnar what I had found. Since it was teacher in-service along with Parent/Teacher conference's us students were not allowed to board at school until tomorrow night. So, Gunnar went to his host home for the weekend. When I got to the house, I met Mrs. Bombay, Coach's mom.
"How can I help you?" Coach's mom said.
"My name is Connie Moreau, is Gunnar here, I need to speak to him," I asked.
"No, I am sorry he is not, and I have no idea where he took off too, maybe Adam knows. Adam!" Coach's mom yelled.
"Yes Grandma, I am coming,' Adam yelled back. When he got there he was holding Kelly on his shoulder and patting her back. 'What do you want?"
"I, uh. I came to see Gunnar. Do you know where he went too?" I said.
"Nope and I don't really care," Adam snapped at me.
"Adam come on; I am begging you. I'm your friend and I am his friend and I deserve to see him," I said.
"Friends, really? Well, that is news to me," Adam said.
"Please tell me Adam, Please?" I asked.
"Fine if you must know, Bella had picked Gunnar up early this morning, I assume they were going to her house for the day," Adam said.
"But this is her house," I said.
"Not anymore, she finished moving out on Saturday. The little bitch," Adam said.
"Adam, Kelly has ears. She can hear you," Coach's mom said.
"Like Kelly can understand what I am saying," Adam said.
"Adam! HELP ME!" Hans screamed.
"I have to go if you will excuse me," Adam said.
"Thanks," I said and then I turned around and started the process of heading for Edina. I and Guy were the only ones that didn't have a car. At least of the intown Ducks. Even Fulton had a car, and his mom was poorer than Charlie's parents. Although to be honest it was a piece of shit that didn't have anything matching on it. But it was Fulton's pride and joy. I skated over to my house and asked mom if I could borrow the van from her. She said sure as long as I picked up Beth from Ballet first. We didn't have practice today, because of the conferences, however that did mean a double practice on Wednesday. At 5 am and 6 pm.
I went down to the Ballet studio and picked up Beth from her dance class. Needless to say, she was surprised to see me picking her up. I then took her home and then went to Bella's house at Royalty Estates in Edina. I hadn't been at Bella's house in years. But I knew her car when I pulled up into the U-shaped drive away.
"Can I help you," A short, fat woman said as she answered the door with red hair, green eyes, and an English accent.
"Uh yeah, Is Bella and Gunnar here, my name is Connie Moreau. I need to speak to them," I said.
"Ah I believe that she and Mr. Stahl were heading down to the Hot Tub Room downstairs. Is she expecting you?" The woman said.
"Uh not exactly," I said.
"Oh well come in and hang up your coat and you can follow me," the woman said.
I followed her into the house and when we were outside of the Hot Tub Room I was told to wait there a moment.
Gunnar's POV
I had been with Bella all weekend this weekend. I needed to get away from Adam. I didn't know what Adam's deal was between him and his birth parents, they seemed fine with me. Much more affectionate than my own parents when they were together in the same room. However, Mamma was always more affectionate without Pabbi in the room. We had been relaxing in the Hot Tub room for almost an hour when Bertie came into the room.
"Excuse me, Miss Bella but a Constance Moreau waiting to speak to Mister Stahl and you. Is it alright to let her come in and talk to you?" Bertie said.
"What could Connie want?" Bella asked.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Miss?" Bertie asked.
"Of course, sorry. Please send her in," Bella said.
"Of course," Bertie said and then she exited the room a few seconds later Connie came in.
"Hey Connie," Bella and I said together.
"God Gunnar please tell me you have trunks on?" Connie said.
"I do," I said as I leaned back in the hot tub. I was naked from the trunk line up. With all of my lovely chest hair that was dark in color.
"So, what's up?" Bella asked.
"Well, you remember what you and Charlie asked me to do back in September?" Connie said.
"Yeah trying to find out if Dean Buckley is taking bribes. You told me that you hadn't found anything yet," I said.
"I did today, there is a whole file regarding you," Connie said.
"What?" I asked.
"Yep the whole nine yards, canceled checks, letters, statements, everything," Connie said.
"You mean we got Dean Buckley?" I asked.
"Yep," Connie said.
"Where I want to see it," I said.
"In my backpack," Connie said.
"Wait hold on… what file, what favor?" Bella said.
"Remember when Dean Buckley made me captain last year and Charlie was pissed about it?" I said.
"Vaguely. Why?" Bella said.
"I had a hunch that someone in Iceland bribed Dean Buckley to get the board to grant my acceptance to Eden Hall. Charlie just wanted to take a few people down a few pegs, a few of the cake-eaters. Does he know yet?" I asked Connie.
"No, I haven't told him. I thought that since you were the center of the subject you should know first," Connie said.
"Come on let's see what this paperwork entails," I said as I got out of the Hot Tub. I quickly wrapped a towel around my waist and started to walk out of the room. Bella followed us and we all went into Mr. Banks's home office. We were in the office looking at all of the paperwork.
"It's worse than I thought, it goes all the way up the Icelandic government chain of command to the President," I said.
"What does?" came a voice from outside the office.
"Hi daddy," Bella said.
"Hello Ace, how was your day?" Mr. Banks asked and then he kissed her on the top of the head.
"Fine," Bella said.
"Could you look at this Mr. Banks sir?" I asked.
"What is it Gunnar?" Mr. Banks said.
"It's a file, regarding my entire placement at Eden Hall. I thought that maybe I was the victim of a bribery scandal at Eden hall and after months of looking. Connie finally found all of the paperwork," I said.
"Well bribery is not exactly my strong suit,' Mr. Banks said as he was looking through the paperwork. After several minutes of him looking, 'Yeah I don't think that you have a good enough of a case. Sorry Mr. Stahl."
"Well, that's okay, we just wanted your opinion," I said.
"Well let me take it up to my office tomorrow, Michael Jacobs has more bribery experience then I do," Mr. Banks said while starting his lighter.
"Um, if it's all the same to you, I might have Coach Bombay look at it," I said.
"Well, whatever you think. Bertie said that dinner was ready, are you kids hungry?" Mr. Banks said while quickly pocketing the lighter.
"I have to be heading back home," Connie said.
"Bella is it okay if I go with Connie and I will see you in the morning?" I asked.
"Yeah, fine," Bella said.
"Connie let me go and pack my stuff and I will come with you," I said.
"Sure," Connie said.
I quickly changed clothes and packed, I thanked Mrs. Banks for hosting me this weekend and left with Connie. When I walked into the Bombay's I said, "Hello I'm home."
"What the fuck are you doing here. Shouldn't you be having fun on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?" Adam said with a snide tone in his voice.
"You are so fucking full of it," I said as I rolled my eyes.
"Boys, that is enough!" Coach's Mom said as she exited the kitchen.
"Where is Coach? I need to talk to him," I said.
"Hopefully it's about a one-way ticket back to Iceland," Adam said with a snide tone of voice.
"Uh he is putting Hans down for the night, I didn't know you were coming home, I would have saved some dinner for you," Coach's mom said.
"Its fine I don't think that I could eat right now, anyway," I said.
"Good," Adam said.
"Adam Jonathan Bombay, that is ENOUGH!" Coach's mom said.
"What is with the yelling out here, I am trying to get your baby brother down for the night," Coach said as he peaked a head outside of Hans's room.
"MOMMY… MOMMY, I want Mommy!" Hans said crying.
"Coach I need to talk to you," I said.
"I am busy right now, wait for me in the kitchen," Coach said and then he shut the door to Hans's room.
It was 30 minutes before, Coach finally came out of Hans's room. "So, what is going on Gunnar?" he said.
I passed the file to him, "I need you to look at this."
"What is it?" Coach asked as he started to open the file.
"It's all of the notes and letters regarding my admission into the Eden Hall Academy. I have been the victim of a bribery scene," I said.
"It's a scheme. A bribery scheme," Coach said.
"Same thing," I said.
"No, it's not," Adam said.
"Adam please," Coach said as he started to look through the paperwork.
"Anyway, I want to go after anybody who might have had a hand in this. Because obviously Dean Buckley put me in as captain to earn a payment of some kind," I said.
"I see that 30 thousand dollars," Coach said.
"30 thousand G's just to make him captain. That sucks!" Adam said.
"Adam, please. Don't you have homework or something?" Coach said.
"I did it already," Adam said.
"So, what do we do?" I asked.
"I don't know, I am going to have to confer with my colleagues. I am a bit rusty with the laws and such, Gunnar," Coach said.
"Is there any way that I could come up there after school tomorrow and we can discuss this?" I asked.
"Well let me see what my colleagues have on their plates, tomorrow and then I will let you know," Coach said.
"Okay," I said.
"Do you need this file, or do you trust me to look after it?" Coach said.
"I trust you. But Coach how will I know that it's a go to have that meeting after school tomorrow?" I asked.
"I will call the school and tell them that I need to see you at my office after school," Coach said.
"Great, Adam?" I asked.
"NO, I am not giving you a ride to school tomorrow, you can forget it," Adam said.
"You know what never mind I will call Charlie; he is going to want to hear the Good news." I said.
I had called and asked Charlie to give me a ride to school in the morning. I had some exciting news to tell him.
"So, what's up?" Charlie asked as I climbed into his jeep.
"Well Connie found a whole file regarding my enrollment, Dean Buckley was bribed to let me attend Eden Hall," I said as I smiled.
"YOU'RE SHITING ME," Charlie said.
"You know I never understood what that meant," I said.
"It means kidding, like you've got to be kidding," Charlie said.
"Oh," I said as I looked out of the window on the passenger side.
"So, when do we go to the board and expose Buckley?" Charlie said.
"I don't know. Coach said that he was going to have to confer with his colleagues and then he will let me know if I could come up to the office this afternoon. Do you think that you could give me a ride up. Adam is still pretty pissed at me," I asked.
"Yeah, maybe. I mean he is my roommate and fellow Amigo, so I have to be careful, so I don't piss him off myself," Charlie said.
"Oh, never mind I could ask Bella," I said.
"Okay, speaking of Adam where is he?" Charlie asked.
"School. He took off before I got into the shower this morning. The garage door rolling up is what woke me up," I said.
"I see. I take it you are still mad at him?" Charlie asked.
"No," I said.
"No? Why?" Charlie asked.
"Because in my family, we don't do that," I said.
"Do what?" Charlie asked.
"Go to bed oh what's the word," I said.
"Angry?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah. We might hold a grudge for a while, but we try to calm down as best as we can," I said.
"Oh," Charlie said.
Coach called early that afternoon, I needed to meet him up in his office. Bella gave me a ride downtown. It was a go as soon as the paperwork was filed.
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