The Aegis of Noah Hart

22-Noah's Secret

"I'm not some gullible idiot like the Liberals want. This is all some scheme I'm telling you! A bomb in London? Send Aegis! Trainwreck in Hong Kong? Send burning man. Flood in Texas? Well-"

"DAD! Listen to yourself? People really died in the flood. Their homes were destroyed. You think that Aegis is in on some conspiracy. This stuff isn't happening?"

"I didn't say it isn't happening. I'm just saying these people claiming to be rescued by this hero are part of the ruse! They get screen team and pay offs while people that really suffer get overlooked. It's a crime!"

"Dear you have to listen to your father. Whoever is behind this Aegis person-I mean they probably aren't one person but a group of people. And I bet they aren't even in these places but all work out of some apartment in England somewhere. Just wait. It will all be on Dateline in a week."

"MOM! You, too?"

Katie glares into the rearview mirror at the her parents though they don't seem to notice. Pulling her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around them, the brunette turns her head to look out the window. The back entrance to school, the one closer to the bus drop off and senior parking lot, comes into view. A brick sign with the Willie Blount Academy logo smeared across the middle flashes before her eyes then the white Mercedes-Benz M-Class slows down with the traffic ahead. Katie sighs and leans her forehead into the window.

"Katie?"

The girl pulls her face back from the glass at the sound of her mother's voice.

"Now I'll have your truck back home by the time your father picks you up. It's just an oil change-"

"Did you ask them about that foggy headlight?"

"Yes, Henry. They're replacing that, too!"

She groans. Mr. Knone had a habit of "fact checking" people. In truth he was usually right about the little details.

"Well you just said they were-"

"Anyway," Hannah interrupts, "you need to be ready right after school lets out. Dad, will bring you home. No track today and no riding."

"But-"

"Mrs. Marshall is going out of town this weekend remember? And we won't be home, we have to drive out to Lebanon to watch the babies for dear Wendy. She's doing her sleep study and-"

"I know, Mom!"

Mom, please don't act like you care about Wendy. You two just want to help out because you can spend time with the grandchildren. Wendy going in for the overnight sleep study means you get time with Ben and Ava without having to deal with her. And Lucy? Lucy won't leave till later tonight for Kentucky so I have sometime to see Benny. She has to wait on Coach Marshall to get home from football practice. She'll be there, but even if she doesn't want me to ride, Lucy wouldn't care if I came over just to see the farm. She's already asked me to come over tomorrow for feeding anyway. Sunday, too!

"Are you listening, Katie dear?"

"I-oh!"

Katie realizes the car has stopped. Looking into the front seat, she finds the concerned faces of her parents looking back at her. 

"Got it, Mom! Bye now!"

"Bye Katie!"

"Have a nice-"

Thump!

Katie shuts the door and makes her way for the history building. She dons her best Knone family "fine" face as she passes the other students. Despite her best efforts to avoid excitement thought she hears a commotion happening. Turning to her left, she spots Larson and Everett waving their arms at someone.