Read Keepers of the Cave for Free Online

quickly. “You start throwing the cult word around and people get nervous. But something of the sort, yes.”
    CJ sat down again. “What about the staff here? Do they stay away? Are they warned when they take the job?”
    “I wouldn’t say they’re warned by the administration, but I’m sure the other teachers fill them in. Turnover rate is very high here. On average, most teachers stay only three years. There are two, a couple, that have been here five. They have the longest stint, if that tells you anything. Gayla Grumfeld is who I’ve assigned to be your mentor,” he said to Paige. “She can fill you in on the intricacies of the school and whatnot.”
    “The school has been here, what? Thirty years?”
    “Thirty-one,” he corrected.
    Paige nodded. “If the town is so isolated and wants to be isolated, why was the school located here? I mean, they obviously have influence on what happens here. Why would the Hogans sell land and allow the school to be built?”
    “Money,” he said simply. “Without the school, I think the community would have died long ago. I know what the estimate is on the population, but I’d say it is less than fifty people. To the person driving down the highway, they wouldn’t even notice it.”
    “But how does the town handle visits by parents? Assuming that parents visit, that is.”
    “It’s very regimented. Parents are allowed one Saturday visit per quarter in which they can take their child out of the compound. Surprisingly, Hoganville puts on a good show. It’s very staged. They welcome the parents in the café with signs. In fact, one of the guys has this huge smoker that they’ll bring out front and barbeque brisket and ribs. It’s quite a hit with the parents,” he said. “Of course, a lot of the parents take day trips out of town. The girls aren’t allowed to be gone overnight. Bed check is at ten p.m. on those days. Nine p.m. on normal nights.”
    “How many parents actually come visit? I would imagine a lot of the girls aren’t exactly from model homes and families,” Paige said.
    “I’ve been here for two of the quarterly open houses. I would guess less than half of the eligible girls get visits. The school is expensive, so there’s an odd mix here,” he said. “I’m surprised it’s worked, but it has. There are two sectors—blue and red. I classify the reds as just this close,” he said, holding his thumb and index finger an inch apart, “from being sent to a traditional juvenile lockup facility. Those were sent here by a judge and are obviously funded by the state. These are girls who got into trouble and need guidance. Petty thefts, drugs, mostly. First-time offenders really. But still, just basically your run-of-the-mill juvenile delinquents. Then you have those whose families have money and can afford to send their child here.” He shook his head. “Even though they are kept separated, I personally would not send my child here.”
    “I’m assuming it’s diverse? More so than the town, anyway,” CJ said.
    “Of course. I would say sixty percent white, thirty black, ten Hispanic. But like any school—or prison, for that matter—you have your cliques. You have a group of leaders and a bunch of followers.”
    “Gangs?”
    “Let’s call them mini-gangs. Again, there’s a lot to go over. That’s why I’ve asked Gayla to assist you, Paige. CJ, you’ll get the rundown from the chief.”
    “Okay, how will we communicate with you? Face to face?”
    “Not often. It might raise suspicions. Especially CJ. There’s really no reason for one of the campus cops to visit my office.”
    “What’s the layout on that? Security guard at the gate. Another here? What else?”
    “There are ten security guards, who don’t carry weapons. They split the day and night shifts. Besides the gate, they are in and out of classrooms, the cafeteria and the dorms. There are also six police officers, including yourself. An armed officer is always in the red