Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 30 - Too Young

Chapter thirty

Too Young

Sam looked out the window at the pouring rain and shifted uncomfortably. He was supposed to be wet. Comfort was foreign to him, and standing in a cozy hotel room felt a little confusing. At least he'd taken a proper shower. Now that he had missed.

He looked at the ruby, still unable to believe that they'd managed to get it. The day seemed to go on forever, though time was now measured in before and after shower. Before shower was starting to feel like a dream.

A knock on the door broke him out of his thoughts. Sam answered and was relieved to see Herrison there.

"Thank God you're fine!" Herrison gave Sam a tight hug. "Your parents almost decapitated me when I told them I brought you here."

"You told them?" Sam yelped, pulling back.

"Don't worry." Herrison waved his hand airily. "I stuck with the study-camp-that-went-very-wrong lie. But I had to tell them about Snitch Gravel in case you guys didn't come out safely. It was a shocker when JT and Steve pulled back. They weren't supposed to. We reckon Snitch Gravel hacked into the satellite and gave out some fake orders."

Sam stared at him so astonished, it was a wonder his eyes didn't pop out of his head. No wonder Snitch Gravel had known exactly when to come and kidnap the girls.

"Sam, I'll be honest with you." Herrison scratched the back of his head. "When this whole thing started, I thought you were too young to handle it. I was wrong. I'm glad I was wrong. You've been confirmed as the leader of this division and you more than earned it. Especially since you managed to get the ruby and everyone home safely."

Sam looked at the ruby he still had in his hand and reached out to Herrison. "Here. I hope all we've been through was worth it for this rock."

"Oh, it was. This is very important." Herrison looked at the ruby and then at him with such admiration, Sam started to feel awkward.

"Hey, Sam, I heard them agency dudes turned up." Harry appeared in the doorway, an excited smile on his face, but his mouth fell open when he saw Herrison. "Dad?" he chocked out.

Herrison turned towards the door, his eyes wide and panicky. "They recruited you? They dared recruit you?" Herrison stomped outside the room, towards Harry.

Sam stared, unable to believe he didn't do the math. Harry James, Herrison James... though he'd thought it was just a coincidence. But, as curious as he was, it was better to get out of there and let the two talk. He'd wrench the information out of one of them later.

He stepped out, closed the door silently behind him, and headed for the lobby. The shock-fest was apparently not over yet. He should have asked Herrison when their plane left. As nice as Cancun was, he didn't feel like staying much longer.

"Hey, Sam." Tom came towards him. "Did Herrison show up yet?"

Sam stopped in the middle of the hallway. As much as he tried to hide it, Sam could tell that Tom couldn't wait to get home and meet his parents. They still hadn't discussed how Jimmy and Tom felt about the whole thing, and Sam hoped he wouldn't have to, at least no until they got home and he could see what their parents had to say. "Yeah, he's back there with Harry. Apparently the two are father and son."

Tom's mouth fell open. "Really? Wow, heavy stuff. Speaking of heavy stuff, Jessie went to get her stuff."

"Alone?" Sam shook his head rapidly. "Wait, Jessie's from Cancun?"