Jasmine Medina #6 "LESSONS IN FEAR"

LESSONS IN FEAR  CH 1 


"I can't believe it's late April already Jane?" Susan Fielding said to her
good friend, Jane Medina. "I mean, where did the months go?"

"I know exactly what you mean." Jane replied, sipping on some cold water.
"Next year at this time our daughters will be finishing the Ninth grade!"

The good friends were enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon relaxing in lawn
chairs at the Fielding house In Thunder Ridge, New Mexico. The women's
daughters, Jasmine and Lori were nearly inseparable friends that were Eighth
graders at Thunder Ridge Junior High. As the mothers enjoyed the sunshine from
their place on the back porch, Jasmine and Lori were playfully kicking a
soccer ball to one another on the side of the spacious yard.

"I can't believe my mother is teaching again Jas" The shorthaired brunette
Lori said to her best friend. "Especially at the University!"

"It's what she loves Lori ... .I guess my mom needs to be a P.I."

Jasmine's words rang true as her mother had decided to become a P.I. mainly
due to her daughter's headstrong ways in snooping around things she shouldn't
have. Jane had almost lost her baby girl many times since the duo had settled
in Thunder Ridge almost a year ago. Besides, she thought it would be a good
way to be more closer to her daughter, if that was possible.

The teens made their way to the back and sat down near their mothers. Lori
took off her sneakers and removed her ankle socks, rubbing her sore feet.

"I can't believe you want to continue teaching those classes mom." Lori
replied looking over at Susan with a sly grin.

"Lori Ann" Susan responded, taking off her sunglasses. "You know I wanted to
teach again and since your Father set this up, I couldn't pass it up."

"But at the University?"

"It's only been a week sweetheart and we have a small class ... . all of these
students are mostly criminal justice majors."

"I told you she enjoys it" Jasmine replied to her best friend, getting a
cross-eyed look from Lori in return. The girls then giggled.

"Hey!" Susan said almost shouting and then looking at Jane in particular,
"Jane, I have a wonderful idea!"

"What?" Mrs. Medina asked curiously.

"Why don't you sit in on one my classes?"

Jasmine then did a double take and then looked at Lori.

"But I am not a student Susan..."

"I know, but since I'm teaching, I'm inviting you to sit in on one of them ...
I think it would be fun."

"Or torture ... ." Lori said nearly under her breath. Jasmine then pinched
Lori and tickled her in the ribs, getting a squeal from her. Lori then ran off
chasing Jasmine, playful screams filled the air.

"Well our daughters seem to like the idea!" Jane Medina said before breaking
into a laugh.

"Now you can meet my prize students...Corinne and Gina."

Jane looked curiously at Susan before answering her question only to have Mrs.
Fielding retort instead.

"You always have two sort of troublemakers in the class."

"Troublemakers?"

"Well in a way" Susan added sipping some water. "They seem to be on their own
time....coming in late, not turning in assignments, stuff like that.....and
it's the first week!."

"Reminds me of myself a few years ago." Jane said laughing at her friend.
"Kids will be kids...I'm just so glad Jasmine is a straight A student, like
Lori."

Susan just smiled as the duo laughed it up in the Southwestern sunshine.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 2)

"My mom is dropping me off around 6:30 Lori." Jasmine said as she opened her
locker. She then adjusted her bright yellow skirt that contrasted greatly with
her tanned legs. "I hope she has fun sitting in on your mom's class."

"I can only wish ... . mom has been itching to teach for a long time, but I
know she could put me to sleep!"

"Lori Fielding!" Jasmine snapped at her best friend's remark, "That's your mom
your talking about!"

"I know ... ." Lori replied, rolling her head back. Just then some familiar
voices filled the air.

"Morning guys!" Tiffany Harrison called out. By her side was Nicole Marcos.
All of the girls were teammates on the school soccer team and unfortunately
Tiffany and Nicole had got mixed up in Jasmine and Lori's adventures, the last
one at picturesque Apache Lake that almost cost young Nicole her life by
drowning.

"So I heard your mom is teaching again huh Lori?" Tiffany asked her. Lori just
rolled her eyes again and playfully hit her head with her notebook.

"Yes ... and she's now teaching Jasmine's mom."

"What?" Nicole replied, "What did I miss?"

"My mom is just sitting in on the class ... as Mrs. Fielding's guest sort of
speak."

"Man, I would love to be a fly on the wall in that class." Tiffany added as
the girls walked down the spacious hallway together.

"Oh I know you would Tiff." Lori replied, half giggling and nudging her
friend.

"Hey you guys!" Nicole chirped in "We need to plan a year end party."

"Yeah that would be pretty cool." Jasmine added "Since we'll all be going to
the High School next fall ... ."

"Well we have about a month till finals" Tiffany interjected "Maybe after all
that ... I think it would be perfect!"

"I hope we can get Alicia to go, I mean she's still our friend ... "

Lori's voice tailed off as she talked about Alicia Robles, a cheerleader at
the school and a companion on a few of their adventures. Her mother however
saw fit to enroll Alicia in private school for the rest of the semester. Just
then the bell rang throughout the hallway. The girls then made their way to
their first classes.

Later on that night, Jane had arrived at the University and made her way to
Susan Fielding's class. The two mothers acknowledged each other as Jane took a
seat near the back and took out a notepad. She observed several students
coming in to the class and taking seats, about fifteen in all and mostly
female.

"Okay." Susan said "Let's get started shall we?"

"Hurry up Gina, we're late again!" shouted a striking brown haired girl who
could have been mistaken for a model.

"I'm coming Corinne!" answered the brunette who was a little bit on the chubby
side, but no less pretty, trying to juggle her textbooks. Hurriedly, both
girls walked into the classroom where they quickly took the first two seats
available.

"Miss Richards ... Miss Cimino, nice of you to join us" Susan said to her two
"Prized" students and clearly irritated at their tardiness.

"Sorry Ms. Fielding" Gina responded, getting her assignment out. Corrine took
her homework out and passed it along as well.

Jane could only snicker and shake her head at the duo that she had heard
about.

"Okay" Susan said keeping an eye on the tardy girls "Let's start again shall
we?"

Everybody then got down to what they were there for: Learning.

"So what did you think Jane?" Susan asked Mrs. Medina after the class was over
and everybody was filing out.

"Very interesting ... you are a good teacher, I think you should go back full
time."

"No. Part time is good enough, but I thank you for your wonderful review!"

The duo parted ways and Jane made her way out of the classroom. She then
spotted Gina Cimino nearby talking on her phone.

"I told you not to call me ... you hear ... what do you want from me?"

Jane tried not to eavesdrop but Gina had noticed her staring at her as she
screamed into the phone again and then ran off before Jane could speak to her.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 3)

"So how did it go tonight mom?" Jasmine asked her mom as they drove away from
the Fielding house. Michael Fielding agreed to watch his daughter Lori and
Jasmine for the evening as his wife Susan taught the class that Jane attended.

"Mom?" the pretty Latina teen said "You're awfully quiet."

"I'm sorry honey, it's just I keep thinking of something that happened after
class ... ."

"What?"

"It's probably nothing dear."

"Nothing," Jasmine retorted, "Now you have my curiosity up."

"I know what happens when your curiosity flares up young lady."

"Oh mom!" Jasmine replied, rolling her eyes. "What happened already!"

"Okay. One of the girls Gina, seemed to get a threatening phone call that's
all ... . she was pretty animated about it."

"That's it?"

"Yes. I thought you would be curious."

"It could have been an ex-boyfriend or something."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking ... .I just don't want her to get hurt
that's all ... .even if ... .."

"Even if what?"

"Susan told me her and this other friend of hers, Corrine, are sort of
troublemakers. They were late for class tonight."

"Being tardy doesn't make them troublemakers mom."

"Yeah, maybe your right honey."

Jasmine just smiled at her mother as they continued the short ride home.

"It sounds like Jane had fun sitting in on your class honey." Michael Fielding
said to his wife as they sat down in the living room.

"Well typical evening with the "twins" late for class as usual, but it's
something that Jane told me after class."

"And what's that?"

"It seems that Gina got a threatening phone call....Jane said she was pretty
animated about it."

Meanwhile Lori had come downstairs but stopped short of going in to the living
room, but she could hear her parents talk about Gina.

"That sounds like Miss Cimino..." Michael said chuckling, I heard she was the
worse one of the two.

"Cimino..." Lori thought as tip-toed back upstairs. She went back to her room,
took off her glasses and shut off the light. Laying down the teen couldn't
relax thinking of what she heard.

"Jasmine.....you're to blame for this...." she grumbled as she got up and put
her glasses back on, switched on the light and turned on her laptop. She knew
her best friend was very curious about things, now she was starting to pick up
on it, against her better judgment.

A few minutes later, Lori had a signal to her computer. She pulled up a search
engine and typed in Gina's name.

"Gina Samino..." she typed and hit enter. Nothing of note. "Gina Simino....."
Again, nothing of note. Lori then thought for a minute....

"Maybe it starts with C..."

She typed Camino. Nothing. Finally she typed Cimino. "Jackpot!" she said
softly as somebody with that name came up in the search. She saw an article
about a Thunder Ridge teen, but a knock on her door startled her.

"Lori, are you in bed yet dear?" Mrs Fielding asked her, opening the door a
little bit.

Lori quickly hit HOME and shut down the laptop.

"Sorry mom, I had to search something....." she answered writing down Gina's
name on a small notepad.

"Good night dear" Susan replied "You have a busy day tommorrow."

Susan then kissed her daughter as she left the room. Lori rolled over and
wondered what was in that online article.

"You mean you actually searched for her?" Jasmine said as her and Lori walked
into school. "You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not." Lori quipped "I guess my curiosity got the best of me and
something came up in the search, but my mom knocked on my door and I couldn't
continue. And then this morning, I was running late, so I have know idea what
that article might say."

Jasmine looked at her best friend, smiled and put her arm around her.

"Let's got to one of the library's terminals then."

The teens noticed they had about ten minutes and made their way to the
library. A few other students were on most of the computers, but there was one
available. The girls sat down and Lori typed in Gina Cimino's name. She then
pointed to the article that she saw. Lori clicked the link, but a NOT FOUND
came up.

"Oh man!" she grumbled "It must have been taken down."

"Are you sure that was it?" Jasmine asked, looking at the date. It mentioned
something about 2007.

"Of course" Lori retorted as she scrolled down and saw another article. She
clicked the link and this one went through. It mentioned Gina getting an
academic award from Prinicpal Maria Alvarez.

"Miss Alvarez?" Jasmine said looking at Lori strangely. "But she's still on
suspension."

"This is almost four years ago Jasmine. Miss Alvarez was the High School
principal. It's looks like Gina here is a real academic whiz, or it least it
seems like it."

"There's something else" Jasmine added, pointing to something with the title
THUNDER RIDGE TEEN in the title.

"Hey i think it's that same article, but a on a different server maybe."

Lori clicked the link. Then both girls gasped at what they read...

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 4)

Jasmine and Lori did a double take when they read the online article. It
mentioned Gina Cimino and her classmate, Corinne Richards and another girl,
Erica West. The trio had been accused of arson and theft and put on two years
probation.

"Oh my God!" Lori gasped as she looked over her best friend's shoulder "I
wonder if they really did it?"

"This was 2007, so it's over now Lori. But I wonder what happened to the West
girl, maybe she's a student as well?"

Just then the bell rang, breaking up the teens concentration.

"Can you print it out?" Lori half-shouted

"Way ahead of you." Jasmine replied smiling. The article printed out three
pages. Jasmine then hurriedly put the pages inside one of her notebooks. The
duo then made their way to their first class.

"Okay class, open your textbooks to page 33 and read along with me."

A tall man with glasses then got up from his desk and went to the blackboard.
He wrote down some names of famous explorers: Columbus, Magellan, Cortez etc.

Jasmine however was busy reading the article that she had printed out.

"What does it say?" Lori leaned over and whispered to her.

Jasmine only stared at her with wide eyes. Lori figured it had to be good for
her friend to act like that.

"Miss Fielding," he said sternly "Do you have something you want to share with
the class?"

"No Mr. Logan...sorry..."

"Okay continuing our discussion." he continued.

Lori looked at Jasmine with an embarrassed look. Seldom if ever, she was ever
called out like that. She took pride in her school work and decided to pay
attention like she usually did, especially with finals coming up. Jasmine
quickly passed her a note. Lori read the word WOW on it and looked at Jasmine
who nodded her head. The girls hoped the time would go by quickly so they
could talk about it.

The girls quickly made heir way out of Mr. Logan's history class and made
their way to Mr. Bender's science class.

"So, why is this story so big Jas?" Lori asked, almost yelling.

"That Erica West is missing."

"Missing? like kidnapped?"

"Not sure, but she hasn't been seen around here since that time."

"Jasmine, maybe she just moved away?"

"I know, but I would sure like to know why she left them, maybe she was.... oh
my God! Lori! That's it!"

"What's it?"

"That phone call could have been from Erica, threatening them."

"Okay" Lori added "You have had some wild ideas in the past, but why would she
be threatening them and why now?"

"Maybe they set her up, maybe she wasn't guilty of the charges."

"Perhaps" Lori answered. "But I might have an idea that could settle this."

"What is it?"

"I'll ask my mom if we can sit in with your mom in class, maybe then we can
get an idea of what those two might be up to and I stress might be."

"Lori Fielding, I thought I would never hear you say you wanted to sit in one
of your mom's classes."

"Well, this is important, besides we can bring stuff to study."

"I guess you're right.

The two teens then headed for the science lab.

"You want to do what honey?" Jane Medina asked Jasmine as her daughter laid on
the couch flipping the tv channels with the remote.

"I think it would be fun mom, us three!"

"Okay dear, what are you two up to?" Jane quizzed, picking up her daughter's
over eagerness to go sit in on a college class, even if her best friend's
mother was teaching it.

"Nothing mom...." the pretty teen answered, her voice tailing off.

"Well, I think I know better and I think it has something to do with those two
girls, Gina and Corinne.... okay, what could it hurt then."

Jasmine beamed as she looked over at her mother, but she could tell that her
daughter wanted to play detective again.

Jane, Jasmine and Lori followed Susan Fielding into the classroom. They took
seats towards the rear of the room. The teens got out some textbooks to read
as the regular students started to file in. To everyone's surprise, Gina and
Corinne came in on time. Jane motioned to her daughter and Lori that was the
"prized students"

"Everything looks normal." Jasmine said to Lori softly as she noticed
Corinne's model looks as she had her brown hair in a ponytail and looked
killer in a light blue skirt and short black boots.

"She is gorgeous!" Lori said looking at her best friend. "But, Gina is cute
too!"

Jasmine smiled and shook her head. The girls and Mrs. Medina, sat there for
the class duration until Mrs. Fielding dismissed them. Jane then hurried over
and caught Gina.

"Hi" she said extending her hand. "I'm Jane Medina, we kind of met last
night.... is everything all right?"

"I'll meet you outside." Corinne cut in as she left.

"Of course it is Ms Medina, why do you ask?"

"That phone call you got...."

"It was nothing! Okay!" Gina snapped as she walked off.

Corinne Richards had walked a few feet out of the building when all of a
sudden a masked assailant appeared before her and punched her in her gut.
Gasping for air Corinne dropped to her knees. her attacker swiftly stepped
behind her and applied a sleeperhold before she could recover. Fighting
desperately, the beautiful co-ed passed out and was quickly pulled behind some
trees.

"Man what a temper!" Lori said, as her mother joined them.

"Those are my "Prized students", well at least one of them."

Jasmine could feel Gina was hiding something as she looked at Lori with that
sleuthing look.

Gina walked hurriedly out of the building but saw no sign of Corinne.

"Corinne? Where are you?"

Gina's pulse quickened as she noticed something on the ground. It was
Corinne's handbag. It looked like it had been ripped and the contents spilled
out. Gina covered her mouth and then saw a note inside of it. Opening it, she
gasped. The note was something like a ransom note with different shapes of
letters cut out and pasted on the paper. It spelled out a chilling scenario:

"ARE WE HAVING FUN IN CLASS YET GINA???...I THINK CORINNE THINKS SO...OR
THOUGHT SO..."

Gina dropped the note and screamed as she noticed Jane and the girls staring
at her...

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 5)

Jane, Jasmine and Lori rushed over to the obviously shaken Gina, who tried to
collect Corinne's things and put them back in her handbag.

"What's wrong?" Jane asked, knowing she still might not get an answer from the
co-ed. "Please, you can tell me."

Gina looked at her and then at the girls.

"I ... I can't."

She then turned and ran; unaware that she dropped the threatening note.

"Hey! Come back!" Jane shouted before lowering her voice. "What is up with
that girl?" she added as she took a handkerchief out of her purse and picked
up the note and showed it to the girls who gasped.

"Maybe this will shed some light on things." Jasmine said as she stared at the
threatening note. Jane looked at her daughter and Lori with a puzzled look.

"You two know something, don't you?" she quizzed, getting a nod from both of
them.

"Well let's go inside and talk to Susan about this."

Susan Fielding put some rubber gloves on and looked at the note. She then
looked at the other three females in the room.

"This certainly sounds serious. Lori dear what do you know about this."

"Mom, I was curious about Gina, so I ran an Internet search on her ... ."

"And this came up." Jasmine added, taking a folded up piece of paper from her
back pocket of her jean shorts. It was the copy that the girls made from the
Internet earlier in the day.

Susan read the article and then looked at them.

"I remember this now ... they were in high school at the time."

"Maybe this explains why Gina got that threatening phone call." Jane added,
looking at her daughter. "But what does this part mean about Corinne?"

"I know they are good friends." Susan said "Known each other for a long time.
What exactly did you guys see out there?"

"We were walking outside mom" Lori added "and then we heard Gina scream ... "

"And she ran away when I wanted to help her."

Susan looked at the note again.

"Did you see Corinne anywhere?"

"Now that you mention it Mrs. Fielding," Jasmine interceded "No"

"This sounds like somebody grabbed her."

"You mean kidnapped?" Lori asked her mother, who nodded in agreement.

"But why?" Jane asked "I know these girls are trouble, but who would want to
hurt them?"

"I think it might be that Erica girl" Jasmine added, "Maybe she wants
revenge?"

"I need to talk to Gina, to get her trust." Jane said, "Do you know where she
lives?"

"Not sure of the address, but I do know her and Corinne live in a apartment
near campus.... I think its Front Street."

"I know where that is, I've seen those apartments.... thanks Susan."

"In the meantime" Susan added, placing the note in a plastic binder, " I'll
show this to Michael and see what he can come up with okay?"

Jane nodded then turned to her daughter and Lori.

"Come on girls, time to go home."

"Thanks Mrs. Medina" Lori responded "But I'll wait for my mom...see ya
tomorrow Jas."

Jasmine smiled as she exited with her mom.

"So what's the plan mom?"

"Well you have school tomorrow young lady.... I'll go talk to Gina and
hopefully Corinne as well"

As Jasmine walked with her mother, she was already frustrated about missing
out on what Gina had to say, she had to wait until school was finished....

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 6)

Friday morning was bright and sunny as Jasmine met Lori outside school.
Jasmine had chosen to wear a light yellow skirt that contrasted nicely with
her tanned legs, not to mention the white low heel shoes. Lori had chosen a
more simpler route, one that she was most comfortable in: a white flowered
blouse and blue jeans.

"What time is your mom going over there?" Lori asked, referring to Jane
Medina's plan to meet Gina Cimino and to see if she could get to the bottom of
what was going on with Gina receiving threatening notes.

"She told me sometime this morning." The pretty Latina answered her best
friend as she put her long dark hair into a ponytail, which she often did.

"This is really weird." Lori shot back before familiar voices filled the air.

"What's weird?" Tiffany Harrison asked the shorthaired brunette. Nicole Marcos
stood there as well.

"Morning guys." Jasmine beamed as she greeted her Soccer teammates who had
been involved in a few of Jasmine's misadventures.

"Well?" Nicole added, growing impatient with Lori's silence.

"This girl in my mom's class is getting threats."

"Threats?" Tiffany replied as the striking light skinned African-American sat
down next to Lori. "By who?"

Just then the bell rang for the first class.

"You guys meet us for lunch" Jasmine replied, standing up "And we'll fill you
in ... the problem is my mom might know more about this situation first."

"Your mom?" Nicole added "Wow! This ought to be good gossip!"

The four teens giggled as they walked off together and then to their first
class.

Meanwhile Jane Medina drove her car towards Thunder Ridge and to where most of
the College campus was. She then spotted Front Street and made a right onto
the small street.

"There can't be that many apartments here ... ." She thought as she parked the
car and got out. Jane was wearing a dark blue skirt that went nicely with the
long black boots she was wearing.

"I might have to ask somebody about her ... "

Jane then went up to the main apartment office and went inside. A middle-aged
woman greeted her.

"Can I help you?" she asked

"Yes. I hope you can" Jane replied, "I'm looking for Gina Cimino, do you know
where I can find her?"

The woman looked sternly at Jane.

"Why would you want to see her? She's nothing but trouble, her and that model
friend of hers."

"Well, she takes a class that's taught by one of my best friend's ... I just
wanted to give her some papers she forgot."

"Usually I don't give out this information, but building two, apartment five."

Jane was now more intrigued on why the woman said what she said.

"Why is she so much trouble may I ask?"

"Well if you must know ... ."

Just then the woman's phone rang and Jane didn't wait around as she left,
acknowledging the landlady with a wave and thank you. Jasmine's mother then
got in her car and pulled it into a GUEST space. She got out and hurried over
to the apartment.

She knocked on the door and waited. Nothing. She then knocked again. Still
nothing.

"Why am I thinking of doing this ... " She asked herself as she tried the
knob. But it was locked. Gina wasn't home.

"I guess I'll hang out until she shows up ... hopefully it's soon ... "

Jane went back down the stairs. But before she could get to the outside, she
got grabbed from behind and pulled back. A arm wrapped around her neck in a
tight chokehold. As Jane struggled hard her unknown attacker reinforced the
choke by pressing her other arm on the back of her head. Mrs. Medina fought
valiantly, but pressure of the chokehold blocked preciously needed oxygen
towards her brain. Black spots began to appear in her vision as she felt her
consciousness slip away. Then her eyes rolled backwards and with a sigh Jane
passed out. The masked assailant then pulled her back into the small room ...
.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 7)

Lunch time arrived at Thunder Ridge Junior High as Jasmine and her other
friends gathered at a table. The girls were enjoying their spaghetti lunch
when Nicole spoke up.

"Okay Jasmine Medina" she quizzed "You've been quiet long enough.....what
happened!"

"These two girls in Mrs. Fielding's class have a reputation as trouble makers,
well one of them is getting threats and the other one, Corinne might be
missing."

"Missing?" Tiffany added, taking a sip of her soft drink.

"Maybe kidnapped" Lori replied "She got a threatening note."

"Oh my God!" Nicole half shouted "By who? Does anyone know?"

"No." Jasmine responded "My mom wanted to sit in on one of of Mrs. Fielding's
classes and then heard this Gina girl get a threatening phone call..."

"And I got curious about her," Lori added "So I ran an Internet search on her
and this came up."

Lori then handed the other girls the article on their involvement with Erica.

"My mom went to talk to Gina this morning, but that girl is scared of
something."

Jasmine then tried her phone.

"Come on Mom...pick up."

Jane Medina was coming to, but felt pain at her wrists and mouth. She then
realized the was bound and gagged. She was woozy as she looked at her
surroundings. She looked like she was in some sort of small room, like a
utility closet. She tried to stand, but ropes were tied over her boots as
well. She struggled with the ropes tying her wrists behind her back, but they
wouldn't budge.

"Whoever knocked me out, meant to do this and keep me away from something..."
she thought as she saw a small nail coming out of the wall next to her. She
was now convinced more than ever, that someone was out to get Gina and
Corinne. Jane wiggled over to the nail and carefully put her face next to it,
hoping to peel back the wide strip of tape gagging her.

"I don't remember this" Tiffany said as she handed the article to Nicole.
"What else do you know about them?"

"Nothing really, just hoping my mom finds out why she keeps avoiding help...I
think she's petrified of something by the looks of things.

"I think it's time to find out why." Tiffany beamed

"You're kidding right?" Nicole responded "After the last adventure..."

The pretty Filipina was refering to her near drowning in Apache Lake when her
and Tiffany were kidnapped by gold thieves.

"We don't all have to do it...maybe just two or three" Jasmine responded,
trying her phone again "But first, I need to get a hold of my mom."

The phone kept ringing and went to voice mail again. Frustrated, the pretty
Latina tossed the phone on the table.

"Where is she?"

"Maybe she's talking to her and has her phone off." Lori shot back, unaware of
the real truth.

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

Working up a sweat and trying not to puncture herself, Jane kept rubbing her
head against the nail, trying to get it to peel the tape gag back. She finally
got the nail under it and jerked her head against it, enough to spit out the
sodden wad of cloth behind it. She took a deep breath and managed to work the
rest of the tape off. Getting to her feet, Jane hopped over to the door, which
wasn't far away. She tried the door, when suddenly it opened by none other
than Gina Cimino!

"Oh my God...it's you, what are you doing here?" she quizzed as she worked to
untie Mrs. Medina. "I came down here to get a broom and I see you...."

"I came to see you...to help you. You werent home and then I was going to wait
for you, but someone subdued me and stuck me in here."

Jane then rubbed her wrists and then untied her feet.

"I'm sorry I havent been straight with you..."

"Why?"

"I'm scared....I know Corinne was kidnapped...they warned me no Police or
else."

She then showed Jane her phone. She had got a picture of Corinne, bound and
gagged.

"You need to tell me what you know about your past and a girl named Erica
West.

Gina was shocked as she looked at Jane.

"Wow, how do you know these things...Miss...Miss"

"Medina, Mrs. Jane Medina and I'm studying to be a P.I. that's why I'm in your
class, to sit in on a regular criminal justice course."

"But I can't take credit for this, my daughter Jasmine and her best friend
Lori Fielding kind of stumbled onto it."

"Fielding? Any relation to..."

"Lori's her daughter. We're all close."

"I see" Gina said, getting the broom she needed. "Well let's go upstairs and
we'll talk."

Gina led Jane up the stairs, unaware that the masked figure was watching them.
The assailant then went into the small utility room, locked the door and went
over and picked up something. It was microcassette recorder. The assailant
then removed their mask. A blonde girl was revealed. She then played the tape
back to where Jane mentioned her daughter and Lori. She then got out her phone
and dialed it.

"Hey it's Erica, we might have a slight problem....two teenagers are nosin'
around finding out things....I tried to scare off one of the kid's mother's,
but I don't think she's going to go away easy....but I'll handle that....you
need to keep an eye on those brats from your end, make sure they don't do any
more snooping....their names? Jasmine and Lori....okay, I'll be in touch."

Erica hung up the phone and exited the small room quietly.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH [http://static.yuku.com/domain/bypass/images/cool02.gif]

Gina Cimino led Jane Medina into her apartment. Jane took note on how clean
and orderly it was. Gina and Jane then sat down on the couch.

"So who do you think did this to me? Erica West?"

"Not sure" Gina said "I haven't seen Erica since she left school."

"Well someone is after you Miss Cimino and whoever it is, knows I'm involved.

Gina got up and held her hand over her eyes.

"I'm so sorry I got you into this mess Ms. Medina....."

"Call me Jane, please. We need to go to the Police."

"No, they threatened Corinne....we can't do that."

"Well somebody mugged me right here, obviously didn't want me to find out
something...are you telling me everything Miss Cimino?"

"Yes!" Gina half-shouted "I did something stupid back in high school with
Corinne and Erica. "I know we all got probation for it."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Why do you ask Jane?"

"It sounds like Erica might have got more than probation."

"Like prison time?"

Jane nodded in agreement.

"Now that you say that, I'm not sure...like I said, I haven't see her in about
three years."

"I think she's come back and is terrorizing you for your involvement in the
crime. It looks like she kidnapped Corinne to toy with you.....who knows what
she'll do next."

"I don't know why though, it makes no sense Jane."

"That's why I need to help you Gina, please.....we don't have to involve the
Police."

"You said your daughter and Ms. Fielding's daughter stumbled onto it somehow.
How?"

"Lori Fielding ran an internet search on your name and some article came up
about this event."

"Were they the two teenagers in class last night?"

Again Jane nodded in agreement.

"Man, everybody's involved in this." Gina said as she sat down and started
sobbing. "I just want my life back on track and Corinne to be safe."

Jane then gave her a comforting hug.

"It will, but let me help you."

Meanwhile, Erica was listening to this from her car. She then took out her
phone and dialed it.

"Hey it's me.....we might have more than a problem on our hands....those teens
know more than we thought, but the one's mother is helping Cimino....yeah i
know....we might have to get them out of the picture.....how?......expedite
things......okay then....talk to you later...

Erica hung up and drove off from near the apartments.

"Mom, I can't believe this happened to you!" Jasmine said as she hugged her
mother as she told her daughter of her brief imprisonment.

Jasmine had just returned from school and was shocked to find out what her
mother told her.

"I'm okay honey, but someone is definitely out to get Gina and Corinne as
well."

"What now? Jasmine added, itching to find out more about this bizarre case.

"Now, I'm going to class tonight with Gina and look after her. I'm also
curious to know what Michael Fielding found out."

Jasmine looked at her mother and turned her head.

"Oh no young lady, you're not going...let me handle this."

"But mom..."

"Don't but mom me...that's final."

With that Jasmine stomped off and into her room. She dialed her phone and Lori
picked up.

"Hey, you're not going to believe this...."

A little later on, Jasmine and Lori rode their bikes up to the campus. They
parked them and ran up the door.

"I don't like this Jas" Lori protested "You're mom is going to be upset."

"Lori, my mom was chloroformed and kept prisoner by God knows who....she wants
to help Miss Cimino, but who's going to watch her."

"I think she can take care of herself Jasmine, afterall she is going to be a
P.I."

Jasmine said nothing else as the two teens started to enter the mostly empty
campus. Lori then stopped Jasmine.

"I've just got an idea."

"What?"

"What if I go down there and see what's going on....my mom might be more
understanding."

Jasmine shook her head and agreed.

"Be back here in ten minutes, or call me."

Lori agreed as the teen brunette made her way down the hall. She then heard
voices coming from a room.

"That's not mom's classroom..." she thought as she got near the talking. She
peeked in to see two girls talking to one another, one blonde and one who had
brown hair. The brown haired girl must have heard her as she turned around.
Lori froze at the sight of Corinne Richards! She wasn't kidnapped at all! Lori
tried to call Jasmine, but in a panic dropped the phone and tried to run.
Corinne however, caught Lori and clamped her hand over her mouth, silencing
any scream. The teen tried to get free of the girl's tight grip, but couldn't.

"Who is she?...." Erica said as she picked up Lori's phone. She then read
Lori's name on it. "Well, of all the dumb luck...this is one of these nosy
kids."

"Mmmmm!!!" was all Lori could muster.

"That means the other one's around here somewhere......take this one to the
basement for now and makes sure she's gagged and tied up tight. I'll look for
her friend."

Jasmine continued waiting for Lori and looked at her cellphone time. It had
passed ten minutes.

"Where are you Lori?" Jasmine said, starting to worry, unaware that her best
friend was in grave danger. Jasmine started to walk down the hall. She
realized she might have to tell her mother what was going on. The pretty
Latina walked a few feet when suddenly her arms got pulled behind her back and
a hand clamped over her mouth and held her tight!

"I think it's time you joined your friend...." the voice sneered in her ear, a
female voice. She realized that Lori had been captured, now Jasmine was
too....

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 9)

"Now what?" Corinne Richards asked her partner in crime, Erica West as she
finished tightening the knots that held Jasmine and Lori together. The two
teens were sitting back to back, tied together. Their hands were tied in front
of them, but tied to their ankles in sort of a front hog-tie. The girls also
had bandanas tied between their teeth, gagging them silent.

"Now what?" Erica replied "You're going back to your apartment."

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

"You want to drive Gina nuts don't you?" the blonde replied "What better way
than making it look like nothing's wrong. It might also get that Jane woman
out of our hair."

"Mmmmm!!" Jasmine yelled behind the gag.

"Or maybe, right into our trap....since we have her daughter now. And besides,
no one knows you faked your own kidnapping, oh except for these two snoopers."

Erica looked menacingly at Jasmine and Lori, tightly lashed together and
squirming to free their hands.

"Maybe you're right" Corinne shot back "But what to with them?"

"They're not going anywhere, anytime soon. I'm working on a plan like I said
before, that will expedite things. I've got some planning to do, you get
home.....I only wish I could be there to see Miss goody two shoes squirm."

As Erica and Corinne left the small room in the basement of the building,
Jasmine tried desperately to move her wrists to where she could possibly pull
the gag from her mouth. Squirming furiously, the Latina tried not to pull too
hard on the ropes, for Lori would be pulled onto her back. Then she had an
idea. Her hands were indeed tied to her ankles, but if she moved her feet
towards her body, she might have enough slack to free her gag.

"Mmmmmm!!" Jasmine tried to tell Lori to sit still so she could try it. The
teen then pulled her legs up all the way she could and surely enough, the
ropes were slack enough to where she could pull on the bandana. Working her
tongue on one end and her bound hands on the other end, Jasmine worked the
sodden cloth past her lips and finally out of her mouth completely.

"There!" she said as she started to chew on the knots that tied her hands. She
had to stop several times and stretch her legs back out. Jasmine then
continued to chew on the tight knots. She figured it was the only way to get
loose. Her mouth had enough of the taste of the coarse ropes, but finally she
felt them loosen. Shaking her hands furiously, Jasmine was free of her bonds.
She then rubbed them before pulling her legs back up and freeing them.

"I'm free Lori...I did it!" she told her friend, who was still trussed up and
gagged. "Try and raise your feet and pull out your gag. I'll try and free
these ropes holding us together."

The Latina could feel Lori getting frustrated on duplicating her feat, but
soon she found the knots that held the two best friends together. Jasmine
undid the rest of the bindings and then helped Lori get free.

"How did you do that?" Lori asked, free of her gag. Jasmine then went to untie
her hands and feet.

"I just pulled my feet up and once I pulled my gag out, I chewed the knots
loose."

"Yuck!" Lori replied, rubbing her wrists "Glad I couldn't understand you
then."

"Look, let's get out of here and warn my mom....I can't believe Corinne is on
the revenge plot against Gina."

Jasmine then heard some footsteps coming near where they were....Erica had
returned to check on them!

"Hide!" Jasmine said boldly to Lori as she crouched down behind some boxes.

"What in the h....!" Erica shouted as she immediately noticed the girls free.
Jasmine then noticed a piece of wood near her.

"All right kids!" Erica sneered "Come on out, there's no escape!"

As Erica's back was turned, Jasmine snuck up behind her and with all she had,
whacked Erica on the back of the head! The blonde fell near where the girls
were tied up.

"Oh...my..God!" Lori shouted, covering her mouth "Is...she...dead?"

Jasmine noticed that Erica was still breathing and let out a huge sigh of
relief.

"I can't believe you did that Jasmine!" Lori said with apprehension in her
voice "That was stupid, you could have killed her!"

"Lori, quit being a drama queen and help me tie her up. We need to get to my
mom and then somehow trap Corinne."

Lori then helped Jasmine bind and gag Erica. Once done, the girls made their
way upstairs and towards the classroom...

FATAL EXPOSURE (CH 10)

Jasmine and Lori hurried upstairs to Mrs. Fielding's classroom. Running as
fast as they could, the two best friends then caught their breath as they
arrived near the room. They saw a light and heard a familiar voice, the voice
of Susan Fielding.

"Now what?" Jasmine asked "Do we just barge in? I mean your mom is in the
middle of teaching."

"Do you forget what just happened to us Jas?" Lori asked her best friend with
a curious tone.

"No, but any ideas though?"

Lori then made a quick knock on the door and then hid. She could hear her
mother say she would be right back. A few seconds later, Susan noticed the
girls and did a double take. She then carefully shut the door.

"Girls! What on earth are you doing here? and Lori Ann, you know you are
interrupting my class!"

"I'm sorry mom, but we need to tell you something, something important."

Susan looked back at the classroom and then turned to the girls.

"I'm going to have to dismiss class now."

Susan went back inside and let the small class out. Jasmine and Lori just
stared at the floor as the students filed out. The last out were Jane Medina
and Gina Cimino. Jane looked stunned as she saw her daughter and Lori.

"I should have known....Jasmine, I told you to stay home!"

"I'm sorry mom, but we need to show you something, something very important."

"Well, for your sake young lady, this better be good!"

"Where is she?" Jasmine said shockingly as Erica, who had been tied up was now
gone. "I mean, she was just here!"

Lori then stared at her best friend as to say 'now what?'

"We need to call the Police now!" Susan replied as Gina tried to say 'no' to
that idea.

"Obviously she got away, either she had help or got loose.....oh man, it's all
my fault!" Jasmine then teared up as she hugged her mother "If i had just
listened to you mom..."

Just then Susan's phone rang. She looked at it and said it was from her
husband.

"Hi honey....are you sure?....well this sure fits in what's going on
tonight....okay I'll be home shortly....."

"You're not going to believe this" Susan said, looking at Jane.

"What is it?" Mrs. Medina replied, echoed by the other females.

"Michael found something that connects Corinne to Erica, but that's not all."

"What is it mom?" Lori perked up.

"There's a teacher here at the University that's been in contact with those
two."

"Who?" Gina quizzed

"He didn't know, but someone you all had class with at one time. Do you know
it might be?"

Gina sat down and then looked up.

"The only one we had together was a Professor Perkins."

"Perkins, I thought she went into another line of work?" Susan shot back,
getting a shrug from Gina.

"Maybe that's who freed Erica?" Jasmine piped up, somewhat embarrassed that
Erica got away.

"I think you're right honey" Jane replied "It does make sense, but that still
doesn't excuse you two from doing what you did."

"I agree" Susan said, getting a 'sorry' look from her daughter. "I think we
should all go back to my house and figure out our next move."

"What about me?" Gina asked "Won't Corinne get suspicious if I don't show up
at home?"

"I think you'll be safe at our place Gina" Susan replied. "Who knows what
those two will do next."

Gina then nodded and thanked Susan.

"Besides, someone needs to watch these two" she added as Lori and Jasmine
rolled their eyes and watched the older females start laughing.

"So glad you showed up when you did." Erica said as she looked at the woman
driving the car. She was blonde and was wearing sunglasses "Stupid brats!"

"Don't worry Erica, everything is okay."

"I sure hope so, we have spent too much time on this operation."

The blonde then pulled over and parked the car in an abandoned lot.

"Should check on her."

Erica nodded as they got out. The blonde opened the trunk as someone was
squirming underneath a big cover. The blonde then pulled the cover back to
reveal.....Corinne Richards bound and gagged!

The blonde then took off her sunglasses and wig. Corinne's eyes got big as she
recognized the woman.

"You do remember Miss Perkins here, don't you Corinne?" Erica said "Nothing
personal, but I'm not sure I can trust you anymore, in fact I think you were
going to help Gina get me."

Corinne was cursing behind her gag, wanting to get at Erica in the worse way.
Erica and Miss Perkins just laughed at her helplessness.

"Now to get Gina and those other meddlers....and end this once and for all."

Corinne heard the chilling words as the trunk closed, leaving her in a dark
prison once again by two betrayers.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 11)

"Well that's what I've come up" Michael Fielding said to his wife. The
Medina's, Lori and Gina were also in the room sitting down.

"But why Professor Perkins?" Gina asked, looking at the others. "Why would she
be helping them?"

"Gina," Susan asked "Is there anything you can think of about her?"

"No, she was always nice to me...one of the best teachers."

"Daddy, are you sure about your info?" Lori queried "I mean maybe Corrine came
back and freed Erica."

"Sweetie. You know I've looked into this."

Lori then sat back on the couch and looked at Jasmine. Something funny was
going on. The girls were convinced of that.

"Well I think it's time to get back" Jane announced "Gina, you're invited to
stay with me and Jasmine tonight."

"Thank you" Gina said getting up and hugging Jane "You've been more than kind
to me."

Jasmine looked at her mother and smiled.

"And don't worry Gina, I have contacts working on trying to find Erica,
Corrine and this Professor Perkins."

"Thank you Mr. Fielding." Gina replied, shaking his hand.

With that, the two parties parted ways for the evening.

Saturday morning broke nice and sunny as Gina joined Jane in the kitchen.

"Hungry?" Jane asked the co-ed as she made pancakes.

"Oh yes! That smells so good!"

"Good, Jasmine should be up soon."

Just then the pretty teen rambled down the stairs.

"Morning mom, morning Gina."

"Morning dear." Jane replied, kissing her daughter. "Oh, can you look outside
and see if the paper's here?"

Jasmine nodded her head and went out the side door. She picked up the folded
paper and looked at the headlines. Suddenly Erica showed up out of nowhere.
Before Jasmine could scream for help Erica seized her by the shoulders and
slammed her knee hard into her belly, making Jasmine's cheeks puff as the air
got knocked out of her lungs. Jasmine doubled over holding her belly. Erica
swiftly wrapped her arm around her neck, trapping Jasmine's head and neck
under her armpit. The blonde arched her back and tightened the chokehold and
within seconds Jasmine passed out. Satisfied with her silent takedown Erica
then picked Jasmine up and carried her off.

"What's taking her so long?" Jane asked a shrugging Gina. Just then Gina's
phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello Gina..." said Erica in a cold voice."

Gina then looked at Jane, who went outside to look for her daughter. She then
saw the newspaper laying on the driveway and covered her mouth. Jane returned
to the inside and she saw Gina handing her the phone.

"It's Erica....she wants to talk to you."

Jane gulped and took the phone.

"Hello?"

"Do exactly as I say, or your daughter gets hurt, understand?"

Jane closed her eyes as she realized the cold truth.

"What do you want Erica?"

"You and Gina are going to take a ride."

"Where too?"

"The school.....and no tricks.....your daughter's life depends on it."

"If you hurt her, so help me...."

But the phone went dead. Jane hung up and handed Gina back her phone.

"What is it?" Gina asked, seeing the look of horror on Jane's face.

"It's Jasmine....she's been kidnapped."

Gina looked at Jane, stunned.

LESSONS IN FEAR (CH 12)

Jane and Gina drove up to the College and parked. They got out and looked
around.

"I wonder where we have to go?" Gina asked "Oh man! This is all my fault!"

Tears welled in Gina's eyes as Jane comforted her.

"No it's not your fault Gina, stop blaming yourself. Come on, maybe we can
locate where my daughter is."

The two females walked towards the school when Jane spotted Susan Fielding's
car in the parking lot near her classroom.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?....Jane thought as she tried the door
that led to Susan's classroom. Jane and Gina then went inside and to Susan's
classroom. She tried the door and opened it. Calling out for her daughter, she
heard moaning sounds coming from the back of the classroom. Gina quickly
turned on the light and immediately the women saw Susan and Lori Fielding as
well as Corinne Richards bound to school chairs. Strips of tape covered their
mouths.

"Oh my God!" Jane shouted, moving swiftly over to Susan to remove her tape
gag. Suddenly a loud noise filled the air behind them. Erica West stood there
with a bound and tape gagged Jasmine!

"Jasmine!" Jane shouted and running towards her daughter. Erica suddenly
pulled a gun and pointed it at her. Jasmine closed her eyes as tears started
running down her cheeks.

"That's far enough Ms Medina. Oh hi Gina, do you remember Professor Perkins
don't you?"

Just then the former professor showed herself and removed the blonde wig. Gina
stepped back and covered her mouth with both hands.

"Why are you doing this?" Gina asked "Why?"

"It's simple really" Perkins replied to the scared co-ed "Revenge"

"For what? We paid for what we did Erica...."

"Some of us did Gina, but you got off light my dear...."

"Light? I was put on probation...."

"I went to jail Gina!" Erica shouted pointing her gun menacingly.

"I..I'm sorry to hear that, but we were all in that prank together."

"That was then... this is now."

"What do you have to do with this Professor?"

"I served time with Erica and Corinne."

"Why?" Gina asked "You weren't in our group...you were a prof....."

"A professor? who do you think masterminded the operation?"

"Oh my God!"

Gina then looked over at Corinne.

"But what about Corinne?"

"She's expendable, like all these other meddlers...." Erica snapped
"Everything was going good, until little miss chica started snooping around."

Erica pulled Jasmine's ponytail, getting a yelp out of the teenager.

"Now what?" Jane asked, not wanting to hear what Erica and Perkins had in
store for them.

"Tie Chica to that chair over there." Erica commanded as Perkins tied rope
around Jasmine's body, securing her to the wooden chair. Erica then tossed
more rope to Perkins

"You two take a seat and put your hands behind your chairs."

Jane and Gina were helpless as Perkins bound their hands tightly behind the
chairs. Their legs were secured to each chair leg. Finally, Perkins stuffed
handkerchiefs into their mouths, securing it with strips of tape.

"Very good" Erica said, now for the finale. The blonde walked over to a closet
and opened it. She then brought out a can...a gasoline can! Jasmine, Jane,
Gina, Corinne, Susan and Lori all squirmed in their chairs as they finally
found out what the blonde intended to do to them....burn up the school, with
them in it!

LESSONS IN FEAR (CONCLUSION)

As the captives squirmed in their chairs against the tight ropes, Erica and
Miss Perkins splashed the gasoline all over the classroom. Erica then made a
trail outside the room and into the hall. Finally, the blonde tossed the can
on the floor.

"Oh don't worry about the sprinkler system ladies, my partner here took care
of that."

Lori looked at her mother tearfully as it seemed only a miracle could save
them. Erica walked over to Gina and grabbed her chin.

"Now you're going to feel what's it's like to suffer!"

"Mmmmm!" Gina said behind the tape covering her mouth as she was helpless to
stop Erica's ruthless taunts. But taunting was the least of the six's worries.
Erica then took out some matches as the squirming and moaning got more
intense.

"I always love doing this......nice knowing you all!"

Erica and Perkins exited, but not before throwing the match near the gasoline!
Suddenly it ignited and shortly flames shot up near the captives. Jasmine
tried to maneuver her chair closer to her mother. She had hoped to free her
like she had with some of her friends in the past.

The fire started burning more rapidly and soon the females would be consumed
by the blaze. No amount of squirming the females did could loosen the knots on
their bonds. Jasmine tried to maneuver her chair, but the angle wasn't right.
Jane now could sense what her daughter had gone through in the last few
months, as she now was experiencing it. Jasmine then caught the eye of her
best friend Lori, tears streaming down her cheeks. Jasmine closed her watery
eyes and prayed hard.

Just when all hope was lost, the women heard what seemed to be the sound of a
fire extinguisher! Actually two of them! The voices, male voices trying to put
the fire out. Jasmine looked up and could see who one of the guys was.....she
couldn't believe it.....Javier Gomez!

Jasmine opened her eyes and could see people she knew all around her.....her
mom, Lori, Susan Fielding.....and her crush Javier Gomez.

"W...what happened?" the pretty teen asked as she looked around and saw fire
trucks and other emergency vehicles as well. "The fire...."

"You passed out honey" Jane replied "Javier here and his friends saved us and
from the looks of things, the school as well."

If Jasmine was in a dream, she didn't want to be awaken from it. Most of the
University Soccer team had saved Jasmine, her mother and friends from certain
death.

"I think she'll be fine Mrs. Medina." one of the medical personnel said, "But
I think we should have a look at her at the hospital."

"Hospital!... no..."

"Jasmine honey, it's okay."

Jane helped her daughter to her feet and she then saw Javier looking at her.
Jasmine went over to him and looked at him.

"Thank you Javier...."

"No need to thank me Jasmine, I'm just thankful that we happened to be
nearby."

Jasmine's heart was pounding as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. The Latina
then caught Lori's reaction which included crossing her eyes and sticking her
tongue out. Jasmine could only laugh at her best friend, as once again the two
had survived a harrowing ordeal together.

IN CONCLUSION....

Erica and Miss Perkins were eventually apprehended and with the help of
Corinne Richards testimony, were indicted on attempted murder, arson and
kidnapping charges. Corinne was given a lighter sentence for her turning
state's evidence.

Jane wanted Gina to stay around to help her in her new found investigation
business. Mostly as a secretary though, as Gina was a whiz at office work.
Gina could also be used to keep an 'eye' on Jasmine, Lori and their friends.

As for Javier, Jasmine knew the age difference was something she couldn't
fix....if only he was a tad younger or she was a tad older.....Maybe someday
she could meet a boy as dreamy as Javier Gomez....someday....

THE END