The Hidden Truth

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Bottom Line

On the plane ride back to Hawaii, I couldn’t help but go over the facts in my head a million times while questions flood my brain. Who would want to muder my father? And for that matter why use Eclipse? Don’t get me wrong, I understood why the corner deem the act a stroke but the rest of the evidence didn’t add up correctly. The timing is all wrong not to mention I knew nothing about airplanes to figure out if the chaff system really could cause that much damage. I needed to find more answers and fast if I wanted to help my boss any further but I didn’t dismiss the idea that Jose might be hiding information from me.

After the plane touched down and everyone got off, I headed straight home in the same rental car my boss paid for in the beginning. I knew that Justice was a mechanic and he might be able to answer some of my questions. As I arrive at the house I find my sister is already in bed, so I sit down at the table with Justice and explain the scenario. Afterwards I ask, “Is that even possible?”

“Yes, given that the chaff system is electrical it could in fact backfire sort of speak and ignite the cab of the aircraft on fire making the interior go up like a roman candle. Do you know if the body was charred?”

“According to the corners report there was no other damage than that of a stroke.”

“That sounds odd. Any smoke in the lungs?”

“No.”

“Then he was dead before the infernal happened and the fire department put out the flames before it reached the cockpit. But I would have to see the aircraft with my own eyes to determine for sure if that indeed was how it happened or not.”

“I might be able to arrange that.”

“How?”

“Well, my boss did say that he still had the plane in his hanger and he wants answers.”

“Alright then, lets go check out this aircraft and see what we can come up with.”

“I’m sorry but you’ll have to do it solo.”

“Out of all the years I’ve known you, I have never figured you for a chicken.”

“I’m not, someone has to stay here and attend to the girl.”

*****

The next day I call my boss up and explain to him that I’m sending an expert to look at the airplane in his hangar. He of course agrees and sends a round trip ticket for Justice to pick up at the airport in town stressing his urgency to me over the phone. I relay the message to Justice along with informing him to not break his cover story. At least not until we have all the answers and know for sure that Jose or his company has nothing to do with any of this. Afterwards I send him on his way while I prepare to register Sara for her new school. 

Over the summer break Justice and I worked with her on controlling herself around others. Now it's time to put our hard work to the test. As I walk into the main office I speak to the lady behind the counter, “I’m here to register my daughter for school. I spoke to Mr. Persons on the phone and he told me to come into the main office and ask for him directly.”

“Ah yes, you must be Mr. Morgan.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Mr. Persons is expecting you, right this way sir.”

I follow the well dressed woman to an office down the hall. It was a small quaint little place tucked away in the back half of the hallway. As I walk in I’m greeted by a handsome young looking dark skinned male with a short buzz cut to his tightly coiled black hair. He had on a dark grey pinstripe suit that looked as if it was made in the 1920’s. Along with a nice white suit shirt tucked neatly into his matching vest down to his neatly creased pants. Minus the fedora on his head and adding the burgundy tie that stuck out like a sore thumb I figured him to be more of a gangster than a principal. He gestures to the chairs in front of his desk as he says, “Mr. Morgan, you explained briefly on the phone that your daughter got expelled from her last school and that you were looking to pull her out anyway. My question is why? I see that she had been going to Saint James for four years prior, why all of a sudden did you decide to switch schools. Besides that, there is no way Father Daiman would ever expel a student, you must have misunderstood him.”

“Sir, I assure you it's no misunderstanding. I have the explosion papers right her if you'd like to read them?”

“I think I will take a look at them. I’ve never heard of this ridiculousness from anyone in all my years as a principal.”

  I handed the papers to him stund that he said years as a principal. The man doesn't look a day over twenty five. As he reads what I can only assume is the first line, his eyebrows shoot up to the sky and don’t come back down as he continues. All the while I continue going over his words to me in my head. 

By the time he finishes he places them on his desk and picks up his phone as if he thinks I forged the documents. The poor man gets about five words out of his mouth before I hear Father Daiman’s voice on the other end loudly as if he's screaming at him. When he places the receiver down he turns to me and asks, “Are you sure homeschooling isn't a better option for her?” as if he’s afraid to enroll her into his school.

“Sir, she needs to be around children her own age, besides as you can tell she's perfectly fine.”

He turns his attention to my sister who is wandering about the room examining his figurines on the shelves near the doorway. He then returns to me as he replies, “She seems fine, but what about her medical issue, did you get that resolved?”

Although I would’ve liked to come to his office with documentation of her progress, I still haven’t been in touch with Caleb since the day he told me to go get her. “Over the summer I have been monitoring her and she hasn’t had a single spell. I have a feeling that most of her problems had stemmed from the amount of stress she was under. From the children at the group home along with the pressure of the classroom work. I honestly believe it was all too much for her to adjust to.”

“I see, and you think our school and curriculum will be easier for her?”

“Well, she won't have to deal with the same children from the group home that tormented her nor the extra added religious work that she doesn't believe in.”

“That is true. Well we can give it a trial period of sixty days and see how she does given that you are working with her. But keep in mind, this will only be a trial, if she does well then she will be allowed to stay. If not you will have to strongly consider homeschooling.”

“I understand sir.”

“Good, then here is the paperwork that needs to be filled out today and the first day of school is in about three weeks on friday, August first.” he says as he hands me a thick stack of papers before continuing, “The school calendar is in that pack of papers I handed you so make sure to read it very carefully. If there is anything you need don’t hesitate to call the office so that we can make sure it is taken care of for you.”

Afterwards he showed me to the door and Sara quickly followed behind. Her rate of speed and the fact that she turned on a dime made me think that she was afraid I’d leave her behind if she didn’t come with me immediately.