Invincible Chronicles of Nick - By Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 0,45
in three places), but the way he had that phrased …
Yeah, Mark needed a VM editor.
Nick sighed as he considered his other options.
Wait … He knew another geek.
Madaug St. James. If anyone could give Bubba a run for his money when it came to computers, Madaug was it. His classmate had been born with a keyboard in one hand and a modem chip in his brain.
Besides, Madaug owed him for saving his hide from the zombies the moron had created and then unleashed on all of them.
He scrolled through his contacts until he got to the right number and called him.
“Hello?”
Nick let out a breath in relief that he’d finally reached a living person. “Madaug?”
“Yeah?”
“Nick Gautier. Um, I have a bit of a problem that I need some help with.”
“Homework?”
“Kind of.”
“What’s ‘kind of’ homework?”
“You know the new coach?”
Madaug growled. “The troglodyte who let Stone defile my gym shorts and then wrote me up because I wouldn’t wear them afterwards? Yeah, I know him, may he choke to death on a jockstrap not his.”
Okay, obviously Madaug had issues left over from PE.
“What do you need me to do? And does it involve any kind of vengeance on him?”
Nick nodded even though Madaug couldn’t see it over the phone. “If what I’m thinking is true, that’s an affirmative. I was wondering if you could do a background check on him and find out where he’s taught in the past and what his record at those schools was.”
“That sounds tedious. Why do you want me to do that?”
“’Cause I think he’s hiding something.”
“Like what?” Madaug asked.
“I’m not sure. Suffice it to say that I think he has some skeletons in his closet that might be interesting and useful to us both.”
Madaug paused as if considering it. After a minute, he agreed to be Nick’s accomplice. “Fine. But it’ll cost you.”
“Cost me what?” Nick was aghast. “Dude, you owe me. Big-time. So log off Doom and help a brother out.”
Madaug sputtered. “How did you know what I was doing?”
Simple. It was all he ever did. If you ever asked him how his day went, his response was always his Doom progress report such as how many creatures he’d killed and how many zones he’d opened. “An educated guess.”
“All right. I’ll get started and call you if I find something interesting.”
“Thanks, M. Appreciate it.”
“Any time.” Madaug hung up.
Nick set his phone aside as he heard footsteps approaching his office. He’d just switched back to the online shopping cart when Kyrian came in. “Hey, boss. I have your coat ready. I just need a method of payment.”
“Top drawer on your right.”
Nick opened it, expecting to see one of Kyrian’s credit cards. Instead, it was one with Nick’s name on it.
Totally stunned, he couldn’t breathe as he stared at the NICHOLAS A. GAUTIER on the Visa card. Wow, it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen.
Kyrian walked over and closed Nick’s mouth with his forefinger. “It has a thousand-dollar limit on it, and it’s for business purchases only. If you prove yourself responsible, I’ll get you one of your own in a few months with a higher limit. Deal?”
“Yes, sir.” Thrilled beyond belief, Nick entered the number into the fields and finished buying the coat for Kyrian. “I also spoke with Kell, and he said that he’d have no problem putting blades into the Ferragamos if that’s what you want.”
“Fantastic. When the shoes come in, make sure they get sent to him.”
“You got it.” Nick paused to watch as Kyrian pulled the curtain back to look outside at the dark yard—something that was highly unusual for him. Not to mention, he was surrounded by an air of melancholy. “Is something wrong, boss?”
Kyrian hesitated before he answered. “Not sure. I have a … I don’t know. Bad feeling, I guess.”
His words caused Nick to have one, too. “About me?”
He shook his head. “Ash would quote the song, there’s a bad moon on the rise. I have a feeling it’s summoning something that should be left alone.” He met Nick’s gaze. “Why don’t you let me take you home tonight?”
Yeah okay, Kyrian’s strange behavior was starting to freak him out a little. “Sure.” Another fear went through him. “Did they find another kid murdered?”
“No. It’s not that. I’d feel better making sure you and your mom are safe. Get your stuff, and I’ll take you now.”
He wouldn’t argue that. Nothing better than heading home early. He shoved his books back into his pack, then slung it over his shoulder.