Chapter 86

“Let’s get going,” urged Steve. “I just remembered that we’re having a meeting this morning and we should be there by now. Don’t worry, Diane. Tyler won’t speed and I’ll make sure that Steph gets there safely.”

As they pulled into the school parking lot, Tyler made a suggestion. “We might be able to get Ralph to let us in the west door of the gym and that would save us walking all the way around the library, and about three minutes. Stephanie can go right up the stairs on that side of the building and make her meeting almost on time.”

As the trio approached the gym door on the west side, they saw a large man wearing coveralls standing near a white van. “It looks like they’re going to finish the gym floor again,” observed Tyler. “They usually wait until after the basketball season is over. I wonder if Ralph’s around.”

As they approached the man, Stephanie noticed that the he was talking on his cell phone. She was near enough to realize he wasn’t speaking in English,