Town Secrets (The Book of Adam 1) Read online

  The side door flew open and Kevin stuck his head inside.

  “Waldron’s just been destroyed like Langenburg," he said.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Adam was shocked by the news. Waldron was only 30 miles away.

  “How do you know?” he asked Kevin.

  “It was on the radio this morning when I got up. Mom and Dad were listening to it in the kitchen while I ate breakfast.”

  “What did it say?”

  “Not much. There was a strange fog around the town, same as Langenburg. When it went away, the first people into Waldron couldn’t find anyone. One guy reported that doors were ripped off their hinges and there was glass everywhere from all the broken windows. As soon as the Police got there they chased everyone away. They said they’ll release news as soon as they know anything.”

  Adam looked at Kevin, thoughts running through his head.

  “Do you really think we could be next?” he asked after a long pause.

  “I don’t know, but I’m starting to think George isn't as crazy as we thought. That’s really painful to admit,” said Kevin looking somewhat sheepish.

  Adam thought for a few moments. “We should talk to George,” he said. “We’ve heard Mark’s version of his stories, but I doubt Mark ever really listened.”

  “Yeah, he would’ve been stuffing his face the whole time or he wouldn’t have been there at all!”

  Adam laughed a little. “Should we ask Mark to come along?” he said.

  “Naw, let’s just leave him at home. He’s heard it all before,” said Kevin.

  Adam nodded and picked up his bike, following Kevin outside. After maneuvering it through the small side door they were on their way. It wasn’t far from Adam’s house to George’s, but in Grayson no two points were far apart.

  Arriving at George’s, they parked their bikes and stepped up to his door. The screen door was barely hanging on and had more holes than screen. At one time it had been white, but the sun had faded it to a pale yellow.

  Adam opened it and knocked. They could hear some rustling, then a far away voice from deep inside said, “Just a minute.”

  After a short wait the inner door opened slightly and George peeked out with one eye. After recognizing his company, the door opened enough to see his entire head.

  “You heard about Waldron, didn’t you?” said George.

  The boys nodded their heads in agreement.

  “What do you want from me, then?”

  “We just want to hear what you think is going on,” replied Kevin.

  George stared at them, trying to read their faces. After a few moments, he must have decided they were trustworthy.

  “Well, if you’re willing to listen, come on in. Excuse the mess,” he said, opening the door wide.

  They followed George into his house. The place was dirty and packed with things from floor to ceiling in most places. Piles of newspapers and stacks of boxes were everywhere. If there was a method to the mess, neither boy could tell.

  “So, what do you want to know?” asked George, leading them over a large box.

  “Everything,” replied Adam, following close behind. “What do you think is destroying towns, and why do you think we’re next?”

  George cleared some boxes away revealing an old love seat. He gestured for Kevin and Adam to sit. They did, even though the seat was dirty.

  “Ok then. Where should I start?” George said to himself, pausing in thought. “So, as you know, the Town of Grayson was founded in 1908. Basic knowledge. And you also probably know that there were 6 different families that founded the town.”

  Adam and Kevin nodded in agreement.

  “Didn’t it ever seem strange to you that the founding families came from so many different places?”

  Kevin looked like he was thinking really hard.

  “Not really,” said Adam, “but I never really thought about it.”

  “Yeah, to you it doesn’t seem strange, but just think about it. It was 1908. You had Russian, English, Irish, Indian, Chinese, and German men all coming here on the same train at the same time? I’m amazed they made it here without someone getting hurt, or even killed. And when they arrived, they worked together in peace, like old friends. Some of their home countries were at war with each other, and yet they all worked together without any major issues. That’s what I find strange. There had to be something uniting them.”

  George shuffled through a pile of papers as he spoke.

  “What else surprises me is why they would get off here? You have to remember, there was nothing here. No buildings, no roads, no rivers – nothing but sticks and prairie. At the time, it was hard to even get here.” He pulled out a map of North America and held it in front of the boys.

  “We’re in the middle of North America, East to West, and far enough North. Pretty well the middle of nowhere, especially in 1908. Why here?” He pointed to the location of Grayson on the map.

  Adam shifted uneasily. Maybe it was the information he was hearing, or maybe it was the forty year old love seat he was sitting on.

  “They get out here, set up camp, and start working on building the town. They get a few houses up and soon bring their families and relatives to help build more. Within a couple of years, they’ve built some really impressive structures - Town Hall, the hotel, and a few others. After looking through most of the original buildings myself, I found this symbol somewhere in each one.” George shuffled through a stack of papers as he spoke.

  He found a couple of pictures and handed them to the boys.

  Kevin didn’t recognize the first one, but Adam did. It was a picture of the lapel pin he had just found, blown up from a smaller image. The word “League” was printed on a label in the picture. Adam hid his shock from the others.

  The second picture showed the symbol carved into a piece of wood. It was labelled ‘Hotel’.

  “What is this? What does it mean?” asked Adam.

  George thought for a moment. “I’ve been trying to find that out for years. I think it’s the symbol of a secret group that the Founders belonged to. Whatever the organization is, it’s what made them cooperate with each other instead of fighting. I have no idea what the purpose of the group was, but I have a couple of ideas. In all the research I’ve done I haven’t even found a name for the group, besides the word “League” you see in that picture. Whatever it is, it’s a well-guarded secret.”

  “But this is all over 100 years ago?” Kevin stated. “You still think this ‘League’ is operating here?”

  “Yes, I do, but I think only a few people in town are members. I also think that they are guarding something – a treasure of sorts – but I don’t know what.”

  “And this treasure is what someone was looking for in the other towns?” asked Adam, following George’s logic.

  “Right. I think the other towns are different branches or locations. Maybe those towns were hiding their own treasures as well, I’m not sure.”

  “Let’s back up a second,” said Kevin. “You think a bunch of people in our town are part of this ‘League’?”

  “Yes and no. At one time I think everyone was part of the organization, but I don’t think there are many members left. I think there’s only one person who knows what the secret is, and maybe one person who knows how to find it as a backup. The less people that know about something, the easier it is to hide.”

  “Who do you think it is?” asked Adam.

  “Well, I first thought it would be the Mayor, but that’s too easy. He’s too much of a politician. And he’s kind-of stupid,” said George without missing a beat.

  The boys chuckled. They knew George was right. Mayor Jeff Wyndum’s nickname since childhood was Windbag. The townspeople had voted him in as Mayor just to get him out of town on business trips. While he was gone they didn’t have to listen to his stories, and when he got back he would at least have new ones to tell.

  “So, I’ve narrowed it down to the Town Council, because they decide
the direction the town takes as far as building and development. Just which ones are members, I don’t know. As you know, we haven’t had much development in a long time.”

  “Who else might know something about the symbol?” asked Adam.

  George looked at him, paused, then said, “Well… your dad was at the top of my list….until….you know…”

  It seemed to almost hurt George to speak about Ed McTaggart in front of Adam.

  “There has to be others you suspect?” Adam asked again.

  “Of course, I’m just not positive. My neighbour here,” he pointed to the Gupta house, “is the grandson of one of the founders. He’s the only one who stayed here while the rest of his family moved on, and he is the oldest son,” replied George.

  “Do you think he knows the secret?” asked Kevin.

  “I’ve shown him the picture of that lapel pin before and asked him what it meant, but he just pretended he had never seen it before. The look on his face told a different story.”

  George glanced at the clock, nearly hidden behind a stack of magazines. “Ok boys, It’s time for me to go. The bus is almost here and I’m getting out while I still can.”

  “You’re leaving?” asked Kevin.

  “Yep, and I think you should do the same.”

  Adam and Kevin made their way back to the door as George led the way.

  “Thanks for talking to us,” said Adam as they stepped out and took a deep breath of fresh air.

  George looked side to side making sure no one was around.

  “Like I said, get out of town for a while. Convince your parents to go on a vacation or something. Langenburg and Waldron happened exactly a week apart, so you don’t have much time,” said George. “Now go home.” He pulled his head back into his house and slammed the door.

  Kevin looked at Adam and shrugged his shoulders as they walked back to their bikes.

  “What do you think?” asked Kevin.

  “Follow me,” said Adam without answering Kevin’s question. “I have something to show you.”

  He hopped on his bike and led Kevin back to his garage, saying nothing the entire way.

  Adam jogged into the garage and took the pin from its hiding place, but left the pictures in the envelope. Kevin had stayed at the front of the garage, so Adam walked back to him, opening his hand as he got closer.

  “Does this look familiar?”

  Kevin’s face showed the shock he felt. “That’s the one from the picture George showed us! Where did you get it?”

  Adam explained how he found the pin.

  “What should we do with it now?” asked Kevin. “Should we ask your mom about it?”

  “No. Definitely not.” Adam knew that asking Mary would get the pin taken away and they’d be left without answers. “I’m not sure what to do. I think we should show it to Mark, though. Maybe he knows something more, being the oldest son of the oldest grandson of a founder.”

  “I doubt it, but another opinion couldn’t hurt, even if it is his,” said Kevin.

  They rode back to the Gupta house and rang the doorbell. Mark answered the door.

  “Is your dad here?” asked Kevin.

  Mark looked at them as if the question was strange.

  “No, he’s gone to work again.”

  Adam and Kevin looked at each other, and Mark picked up on the look.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Come out and we’ll tell you,” said Adam.

  Mark followed as they walked south from his house. They stopped in front of the old lumber yard and sat on the step of what used to be the office. No houses were nearby, so they could speak freely without being overheard.

  Adam and Kevin filled Mark in on their visit with George.

  “Thanks for not taking me, really. I’ve heard all those stories and seen his pictures a thousand times,” said Mark.

  “So, do you recognize this?” asked Adam as he brought out the pin and showed it to Mark.

  Mark was clearly shocked. “No way! Where did you find this? Not from George?”

  “No, Adam found it at home. It was his dad’s. He even has a picture of his dad wearing it,” said Kevin.

  “Just look at it! It’s the one in George’s picture!” exclaimed Mark. “That makes me re-think all the stories he told me. I wish I would have listened more. What if there is a treasure here in Grayson?” He paused for a second, and the others could see another thought take over his face. “Whatever happened to the other towns could happen here!” he exclaimed.

  Adam and Kevin nodded in agreement, having already thought the same.

  Adam asked “Has your dad ever said anything to you about these stories?”

  “Why would my dad have anything to say?” asked Mark.

  “George seemed to think that because you are direct descendants of one of the Founders, your Dad would know about this pin and possibly even the secret behind it,” said Adam.

  “Nope. If he knows something, he sure hasn’t filled me in,” said Mark.

  They sat in silence for a few moments, each boy deep in thought.

  After a while, Kevin broke the silence. “What should we do now?”

  “I’m not sure,” said Adam.

  “Let’s go for a walk. I think better when I’m moving,” said Kevin.

  “Well, I think better when I’m sitting,” Mark replied.

  “You must think a lot then,” Kevin shot back.

  Mark was about to argue with Kevin when Adam stood.

  “I agree with Kev. Let’s go for a walk,” said Adam. “Is it ok if we leave our bikes at your house?”

  Mark nodded.

  Adam crossed the road and walked toward the hotel. Mark and Kevin caught up and walked beside him, one on each side.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The boys walked along the street, not speaking as they passed Mr. Casey’s house. Mr. Casey was cutting his lawn again as they waved hello. He nodded back with his usual scowl.

  “I think blade number 233,487 is out of place,” said Mark once Mr. Casey turned away with his mower.

  They laughed at Mark’s sarcasm since the noise of the mower drowned out their voices.

  Ben Casey cut his lawn every second day, even if it was raining a little. Everyone in town knew it was his obsession. His yard was always beautifully maintained and he stood guard over it, grunting at anyone who came too close. Because the Gupta’s lived across the street, Mark had cut Ben’s lawn a few times after Ben sprained his ankle the previous summer.

  “Every time I cut it, he made me go over it three times. He kept saying ‘It isn’t right, do it over.’ ” Mark imitated Ben’s gruff voice. “He paid me well, but I’m never doing that again!”

  The boys chuckled and continued walking. They turned the corner at the hotel and walked toward the store. The smell of food followed them from the hotel, where the bar doubled as a restaurant during the day.

  “We could go out to the station and talk to Mark’s dad and Mr. Chen,” said Kevin, returning them to the subject they had all been thinking about.

  Adam shook his head. “You heard George. He’s tried to talk to Mr. Gupta without any luck. I don’t think we’d get any more answers than he did.”

  “I don’t think Dad knows anything anyway,” said Mark. “He couldn’t even keep it secret that he was taking Mom to Mexico for their anniversary. Before he could even surprise her, Aggie and Martha asked Mom if she was excited about her trip to Cancun. Dad swears he didn’t say anything, but he had to have told a lot of people ‘cause he doesn’t exactly hang out with those two old quacks.”

  “Yeah, but this seems like a secret you’d take to your grave,” said Adam.

  “True, but I’ve known him my whole life, and I just can’t imagine him knowing something that secret. It would almost make him cool.” Mark laughed at the thought.

  “Maybe we should go dig around in the Town Archives. We might find something there,” said Kevin.

  Mark looked at Kevin like he
was speaking another language. “Town Archives? What are you talking about?”

  Kevin and Adam looked at each other puzzled.

  “The Town Archives? In the basement of Town Hall? We went there on a field trip in Grade Three?” said Kevin.

  “That was the Town Archives? I just remember a lot of boring old pictures, and it smelled funny.”

  Kevin had a grin on his face. “You were more interested in the free doughnuts anyway!”

  “Ha ha, funny. Although I do remember the doughnuts.” Mark’s eyes glazed over.

  “Anyway, Kev, that sounds like a good idea,” said Adam. “Let’s see if anyone’s there and if they’d let us look around.”

  “Let’s stop and get a drink on the way,” Mark interrupted as they neared the grocery store.

  “Umm - how about not. You don’t need it,” said Kevin. “I’m sure there’s a water fountain at the town office if you’re thirsty.” Kevin knew Adam didn’t have any money and wouldn’t take a hand-out. Avoiding the store just avoided any awkwardness.

  Mark picked up on it, but still had a little tantrum. “Yes Mom.” he replied.

  They turned the corner onto Main Street and immediately saw Town Hall at the end. It was a stone building that looked more like a church than a town office. It had a tall steeple with a clock on the front that was built into a section of the roof that covered the double door entrance. Four large pillars supported the overhanging roof. The building looked strange in the town of 250 people, much more suited for City Hall in a small city rather than in a tiny prairie town.

  “Looks pretty deserted. Maybe we should come back tomorrow,” said Mark.

  “Mrs. Jones only lives a block away. You can’t tell if anyone’s here until you try the door. You just don’t want to go into the basement again,” said Kevin.

  “N-no, that’s not it,” Mark stammered.

  Adam walked up to the double-doors and tried one handle. It was unlocked, so he opened the door and stuck his head inside.

  “Hello,” he called, hoping to hear Mrs. Jones reply.

  Nothing.