01 - The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Author:Cinda Williams Chima
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-10-03T18:58:50+00:00

The week after the Cedar Point trip was exam week, the last week of school. When Will arrived at Jack's house that Monday morning, he found the kitchen door locked. Looking through the screen, he could see Jack with his head down, asleep at the table, his cereal uneaten. Will had to bang on the door several times before Jack awakened, wild-eyed. When Jack saw who it was, he got up and let Will in, relocking the door behind him.

"So you're locking your doors now," Will observed. He motioned for Jack to finish his cereal and poured himself half a bowl. Jack looked terrible. His black eye was now turning green and yellow. There were dark circles under the other eye. He might be a physical masterpiece, but he looked like an emotional train wreck. "Were you up late studying social studies last night?"

"Social studies? Uh, yeah." Jack mechanically shoveled soggy cereal into his mouth.

"Fitch says he can get together with us tonight to study math. Ellen can't make it. I guess she has some relatives visiting all week."

Jack shrugged as if he didn't care one way or the other. "Okay."

"Listen, Jack." Will hesitated. "I was wondering if your problem is something the police could help with?"

It seemed to take a moment for Will's words to register. Jack stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm wondering if you and your aunt are in some kind of trouble. It seems like every time she visits, things happen." Jack didn't say anything, so Will hurried on. "My Uncle Ross is a sergeant on the Trinity police force. Maybe we could go talk to him. Just informally, you know. He might be able to give you some advice."

Jack shook his head. There was an air of resignation about him that bothered Will. "No, it's okay. Everything's going okay," he repeated unconvincingly. "We're leaving for England in another week or two."

Will nodded. "Well, you're not the only one who's traveling this summer. Did you know that me and Fitch are going to England, too?"

That roused Jack from his lethargy. "Right. Ellen told me. But I don't know much about it."

"Mr. Hastings set it up. The Chaucerian Society is spending a month in England. We'll overlap with you, because you'll be there most of the summer, right?"

Jack nodded. "I guess. But how can Fitch afford to go to England?"

"There was some private foundation. Mr. Hastings had us all writing essays. Fitch's was really impressive. We're all getting some support, but he's getting a full scholarship."

Just then Will heard someone descending the back staircase to the kitchen. It was Linda Downey. Will regarded her with a peculiar mixture of hostility and fascination. Will was convinced that Jack's beautiful aunt was somehow responsible for Jack's troubles.

"Hi, Jack. Hi, Will." Linda greeted them warmly, but her smile faded when she saw Will's expression. Jack was oblivious. "I'll drive you two boys to school."

Will was disappointed. He had been hoping for private time to talk to Jack, to try to get to the bottom of the events at Cedar Point, to try to persuade him to talk to Uncle Ross.

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