Dawn of the Knight Read online

  Finally turning to me she said, "My name is Shannon in case you haven't figured that out yet."

  "Hi. I'm Lance Rock. It’s nice to meet you." I stood up and held out my hand for her to shake. She glanced at it and replied, "I know. AJ has told me all about you. Why don't you put on some clothes and come down and join us for lunch?"

  Put on some clothes and lunch? I thought. Then I realized I was dressed in only my boxers! I could feel my face turning red. "Okay," I replied while quickly ducking under the covers and glancing at my watch as she exited the room. It was 11:45 AM.

  I got dressed and then made my way downstairs to the kitchen. Stacy was working at the hospital. She was doing a 12 hour shift and she wouldn't be home until 11:00 PM this evening. AJ was sitting at the kitchen table and as soon as I saw her, my hormones stirred as memories of our passionate encounter from last night came flooding back into my mind. Fortunately, Shannon was present and I was able to focus my attention on her instead.

  I sat down and Shannon asked me what I would like for lunch—offering several choices. While waiting for it to be prepared, AJ decided to show me how mischievous she could be.

  "Shannon, Lance said he thinks you're incredibly gorgeous and supernova hot. When he looked at your picture on the dresser, I heard him gasp and say that he had just found the girl of his dreams. He also thinks that you have beautiful blue eyes."

  I clasped my hands over my face in total disbelief—trying to hide! Then I looked down under the table to see if there was enough space there for me to crawl into and disappear.

  "He even asked if you had a boyfriend," she continued.

  My face was feeling hot and I imagined it was also glowing bright red. I could feel tiny drops of sweat seeping out from my armpits. Shannon turned and brought a sandwich and then set it down before me. I tried not to make eye contact with her and I glanced over at AJ instead. She had an impish grin on her face. I gave her a nasty look. She smiled back playfully and then while looking at Shannon she asked, "Do you think he’s as cute as Mitty?"

  "That's enough, AJ!" Shannon snapped while giving her a harsh look. "It's time to eat."

  As we ate, I eventually worked up enough courage to cautiously raise my head. I glanced over at Shannon and she glanced back at me with a warm and reassuring smile. I returned her smile as the butterflies in my stomach wildly flitted around.

  After lunch Shannon remarked, "My mother told me to tell you that the prognosis for Mr. Colson is not good. His left side is paralyzed. He's going to need constant care and physical therapy. I'm sorry to be the one to have to break the news but this means that the plans they had for you staying there for the school year are now over." My heart sank upon hearing this. "My mother also said that you could stay here for a couple of days until the school finds someone else who is willing or able to put you up. That is, if you want to."

  I breathed a big sigh and replied, "I'm sorry to hear that about him as well although I do appreciate you taking me in."

  "That's no problem, but I do need my room back. You're going to have to sleep on the hide-a-bed couch in the family room."

  "That's fine."

  "Since you are going to be staying here then, I'm going to give you a set of keys to the outside doors. Also, there are house rules you'll need to know about."

  "Okay."

  "First, our curfew to be back in the house is 10:00 PM. Second, we have household chores that we are all assigned and you'll have to do your share of them."

  "No problem."

  "Finally, you are not allowed to answer the door… or the phone."

  I raised my eyebrows at this statement. I could see she was uncomfortable and embarrassed about telling me this rule. Since she had been watching me nervously play with my key the whole time we were talking, she quickly switched the conversation to it.

  "Is that a key hanging from that chain?"

  "Yes."

  "I've never seen one like that before. It’s very cool looking. Is it to something special?"

  "I think it's the key to his heart," interjected AJ with that same mischievous smile on her face. I smiled back at her while slowly shaking my head.

  "It was given to me by someone very close," I replied. "It's the most precious thing I own."

  "Seriously?" asked AJ.

  I nodded my head affirmatively. I noticed during this conversation that Shannon's gaze was now riveted on me. I stared back at her intensely. I was totally captivated by her and the feeling of infatuation was becoming even stronger. Her eyes briefly met mine and then she quickly averted them.

  "So Shannon, what's most precious to you?" I asked.

  While ignoring my question she got up from the table and said, "We'd better get the chores done if we want to go to Keith's house for the party tonight."

  "What party are you talking about?" I asked.

  "Keith Mitterhauser is having a before-we-go-back-to-school party for all the seniors," replied AJ. "Shannon and I are going and you'll be coming, too. Right, Shannon?"

  She nodded her head yes.

  "But you're not a senior, AJ," I remarked.

  "She still's coming," said Shannon. "Here's your list of house chores," she continued while handing me a piece of paper.

  Cleaning the bathrooms was on the top of my list followed by cleaning the pool and then mowing the lawn. All the dirtiest and hardest tasks, I thought while chuckling.

  I went into the downstairs bathroom looking for cleaning supplies. There was nothing under the vanity or in the cabinets. I started searching around. I remembered seeing a door to the left of the inside garage entranceway and I thought that maybe it led to a utility room. Upon opening this door, I was surprised to find another metal reinforced door like a security or fire door that one might find in an office building. Set in the middle of this door and at eye level was a peep hole. Above it, and flush with the concrete wall was a CCTV camera. I reached over and attempted to turn the heavy latch on this door to open it.

  "STOP!" shouted Shannon while running up to me. "What are you doing?"

  "I was searching for stuff to clean the bathrooms with and I thought they might be here in this closet."

  "That's not a closet. You're not allowed in this area. Please don't come near here again."

  "I guess you forgot to mention that house rule to me," I replied matter of factually. "Is there anything else you forgot to tell me about; any other little family secrets?"

  She stared at me with wide eyes but did not reply.

  "Maybe you can show me where the cleaning supplies are so I can get on those toilets right away," I now sarcastically remarked.

  Two hours later all the jobs were done. The girls had gone shopping and Shannon told me to move my belongings out of her room and downstairs into the den area while they were away. Instead, I went upstairs and lay down on her bed. My thoughts were on the hidden door, on Shannon's diary entries, and on Shannon herself. I pondered the connection between the three. Then it came to me. The secret door was the entrance to a ‘panic’ or ‘safe’ room. It was a place of refuge and protection that was normally impenetrable where people could wait until help arrived or the danger subsided. Scott had gone over these with me in one of his lessons on security systems. The layout of this room fit the description perfectly. A secure room with a reinforced door, a camera, and peep hole to see who was standing outside. Probably an intercom built in as well. This was the room she had talked about in her diary. But why did Stacy feel the need to have a panic room in their house? I thought. What exactly did Shannon mean by the statements in her diary that someone was abusing her mother and that the police were unable to help? Why did she wish for the death of her father? Curiosity was eating away me. Was there anything I could do to possibly help them?

  If I was going to attempt assistance, I was going to need more information. The first step would be to finish reading her diary to glean any additional information I could find in any other entries. In order to do that, I was going to have to pick
the lock to her desk drawer. A quick search around her room yielded the proper implement and I had the drawer opened in a few seconds. But after a thorough search, the diary was nowhere to be found. Where could she have put it? I thought. Not back under the sheets because I would have felt it when I lay down. I looked around the room. There was a bookshelf on the other side of her bed. I went over to it and began to peruse through the books. The diary was not one of them. Maybe it's in the other bedroom—Teri's room.

  I went out into the hallway and turned the knob on that door. It was locked. I need a different kind of pick. I walked over to Stacy's room. This door was open. I made my way over to her bathroom and started checking around her cabinets and the vanity while stopping briefly to admire the Jacuzzi. After a one minute search, I found what I was looking for and so I went back to Teri's door. I was just starting to pick the lock when I heard Shannon's voice behind me exclaim, "Now what do you think you're doing?"

  Startled, I dropped the pick—not expecting them to be back this soon or having heard her come upstairs.

  "I… uh… was wondering why I have to sleep in the family room when you have this bedroom available. I was going to check it out, that's all. Since the door was locked, I was trying to open it to see if it was being used. I know I probably just broke another rule and I'm, ah… sorry."

  I retrieved the lock pick and quickly went downstairs. Fortunately, Shannon did not press me any further about it. I decided the only way to solve the mystery of what was going on would be through a direct confrontation. If that didn't work, I was going to have to put it out of my mind. I had reservations about using the direct approach however, because it would mean revealing what I knew through having read her diary.

  Chapter 8

  I'll try the indirect approach first, I thought. It presented itself when AJ asked me to play video games. While participating with her, I asked her some subtle questions while trying to fish out information. This turned out to be a fruitless endeavor. She refused to reveal anything while acting as if she had no idea what I was talking about. I did not feel comfortable about directly confronting her and I was now becoming annoyed and frustrated. After dinner, AJ and I were in the family room watching television when Shannon came in, sat down, and then told AJ to get dressed because we'd be leaving shortly for the party. AJ ran upstairs, leaving the two of us alone.

  "You can change too, if you want," she suggested. "It's an informal get-together."

  "No. I think I'll skip this event," I replied while thinking the last thing I want to do is go to Mitty's house.

  "Well, you have to come with us."

  "Why?"

  "Because it's an invitation for all the seniors and that includes you, too."

  "So what,” I remarked. “I'm still going to pass on going."

  This response took her back.

  "My mother—"

  "Your mother has put you in charge of AJ, Shannon. I’m old enough to take care of myself."

  Her expression immediately changed. I could tell she was not used to being challenged like this.

  "You have to come because it's too—"

  "Too what? Too dangerous to stay here all by myself? Is that what you're trying to say to me?"

  Now she appeared flustered and against my better judgment, I decided to unload the big question.

  "What or whom do you need rescuing from?"

  Her eyes grew large and her mouth dropped open in surprise. But she quickly recovered and replied, "Excuse me?"

  I repeated the question.

  "I don't know what you're talking about." she answered. She quickly got up out of the chair to leave the room and I got up, too. In an instant, I was in front of her and blocking her path.

  "You do know what I'm talking about," I challenged. "Why are you pretending like you don't? Who is harassing your family and why do you wish… your father was dead?"

  Her expression now turned to one of shock followed by hurt. Then she slapped me across the face so hard it felt like she had thrown acid on it! Now I was the one who was stunned! With her eyes becoming red and moist she sidestepped around me and in a distraught tone of voice challenged, "Who do you think you are coming into our home and prying into affairs that are none of your business? How dare you violate my privacy by sticking your nose into something so personal."

  AJ had come back downstairs and Shannon hurried on past her. She looked at Shannon and then at me and asked, "What's wrong?"

  With her voice trembling, Shannon commanded, "Let's go, AJ!"

  "But what about Lance?" AJ asked while now looking both puzzled and concerned.

  "He's not coming," Shannon angrily replied as she exited out the door into the garage.

  "Oh, yes I am," I defiantly remarked while following out after them.

  ***

  We drove to Keith's house with me sitting in the backseat, Shannon at the wheel, and AJ in the front passenger's seat. Shannon was still visibly upset—wiping the occasional tear away from her eyes. AJ, now also looking troubled, kept glancing at her and then back at me. I just shrugged my shoulders and shook my head like I didn’t understand. I was annoyed that the plan I had conceived to try to solve this family's dilemma had failed. Direct confrontation was either a win or lose scenario. I had lost and I didn't like it. Why did this girl have to be stubborn and emotional? Why couldn't she have just answered my questions? I was just trying to help them. Couldn’t she see that?

  We arrived at Keith's house, or I should say mansion. The Mitterhauser's lived at the end of a cul-de-sac. As we drove up to his residence which was surrounded by a large iron fence, I noticed numerous cars parked on each side of the road. A security gate guarded access to his driveway, but it was currently open. Shannon pulled up to it while quickly wiping her eyes as a guard stepped out and greeted us. He was holding a clipboard and while gazing into the car he politely said, "Good evening, Shannon."

  "Hi, Steve."

  "You brought two guests with you tonight?"

  "Yes. This is my sister Amber-Joy and this… this is a boy who's staying with us temporarily."

  "And what is your name?"

  "Lance Rock."

  After writing it down he remarked, "You all have a good time tonight. Keith is expecting you Shannon. There’s a spot saved for you behind his car next to the water fountain."

  She nodded her head and then drove forward—pulling up to what I estimated to be a 10,000 square feet house. After parking, Shannon immediately sprang out of the car and ran along a walkway that led to the back of the house. AJ chased after her and I decided to lag behind and lock the car doors. Keith lived in an estate that was located on beach front property. I could only imagine the worth of this place. It figures my competition would have to be the son of a millionaire, I despondently thought.

  Instead of following the girls however, I paused to weigh my options. I was still infatuated with Shannon and the house before me was home to my rival for her heart. I needed to check it out, (or him for that matter), to see what I was up against. A little reconnaissance mission was in order. I decided to try a direct approach again while counting on no stubborn, emotional girls as obstacles to overcome. I walked up to the front door, opened it, and then entered his house. Stretching before me was a large, furniture-filled vestibule with a cathedral ceiling. No one was in the immediate vicinity. I deliberated on which room would be my primary objective and I found the stairs leading up to the second floor. I rapidly went from room to room while unlocking each door until I finally found it—Keith's bedroom.

  It was a huge room that contained what looked to be a king-size bed against the far wall. On one side of the bed was an awards display case. A closer inspection revealed it to be filled with trophies in football, swimming, surfing, and interestingly enough, martial arts—Judo to be exact. Keith held the rank of Orange Belt. I walked over to his dresser and noticed several pictures of him. He was a big guy judging by who he was standing beside in the photos. One of them was Shannon. There we
re others of Shannon as well. A jealous feeling came over me as I picked up a portrait shot of the two of them. Then I heard a voice from behind me unexpectedly challenge in an aggravated tone, "You've got about five seconds to tell me who you are and what you're doing in my bedroom."

  I turned around to face the doorway and there was Keith. He stood about six feet four inches tall and I estimated his weight at around 190 pounds.

  "My name is Rock, Lance Rock, and I'm looking for her," I replied while pointing to Shannon in the picture that I was holding.

  "What do you want with her?" he asked while still sounding agitated.

  "I'm an exchange student from Canada attending Santa Barbara Area Senior High School and I'm temporarily staying at her house. I came with her to the party tonight and I… ah… kind of got… lost."

  "And did you think you would find her in my bedroom?" he disbelievingly asked while crossing his arms.

  I could feel my face turning red. "Well… like I said, I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. I mean this place is… enormous."

  "Okay, lost boy from Canada. I don't know who you are, but if you are here for the party, it's outside in the back yard, not in this room. Put the picture down where you found it and follow me."

  I returned the photo to his dresser and walked toward the bedroom door. Keith turned and I followed him out. We went down the stairs and there, standing at the bottom, was a man who I surmised was house security. He was closely watching us. That answers the question as to how Keith knew I was here, I thought. This residence must have concealed cameras and alarms. I should have taken more precaution. At length, we made our way out a back entrance and into a large courtyard that contained among other things, an Olympic size swimming pool.

  In the courtyard Keith stopped, turned to me, and said, "Next time you're pretending to be lost, it better not be in my house. Is that understood?"