huddled, speaking in low voices.
‘Here’s the thing. Caroline Laurelton’s parents are on the board,’ Carter said. ‘Not fans of Lucinda. Rumours are everywhere that they issued a statement to the other board members this morning saying Isabelle and Lucinda are dragging the school down and they wouldn’t be part of it.’ He hesitated for a second before giving the last bit of bad news. ‘They said they were just the first to pull their kids out. They said everyone would go.’
Allie’s stomach dropped.
‘More theatre.’ Nicole sounded bitter. ‘That girl is a pawn in her parents’ game. They don’t care about her feelings. They’re using her to send Nathaniel’s message to Isabelle.’
‘We think this is Nathaniel’s next move.’ Sylvain’s face was intense. ‘He’s divided the board. Now they’re dividing the school. It’s started.’
SIXTEEN
‘I don’t get it.’ Zoe said. ‘If this is happening, the instructors must know. But they’ve all completely disappeared.’
‘What do you mean, disappeared?’ Allie asked.
‘No one’s seen Zelazny, Jerry, Eloise or Isabelle since last night,’ Zoe explained. ‘Everyone’s talking about it. Jerry didn’t show up for a weekend workshop. Zelazny was supposed to do an extra class today but he wasn’t there. They’re just –’ she held up her hands – ‘missing.’
‘Well, where are they? Teachers don’t just evaporate,’ Allie said.
‘They must be with Eloise,’ Sylvain said. Next to him Carter nodded his agreement. ‘They’ll be questioning her with Raj – somewhere away from the school building because they don’t want to be interrupted.’
Zoe perked up. ‘Let’s find them and tell them what’s happening.’
‘The thing that scares me is… what if this is just what Nathaniel wanted?’ Rachel mused. ‘What if he set up Eloise just for this? The more chaos the better, as far as he’s concerned.’
‘He can’t have done,’ Allie said miserably. ‘I’m the one who accused Eloise. He didn’t make me do that.’
‘I think Allie’s right,’ Nicole said. ‘I think it’s the other way around.’
‘That makes sense,’ Sylvain said. ‘He found out Eloise was being blamed, so he’s decided to strike now.’
‘Yes, that is a smart move,’ Nicole said. ‘Hit us while all the teachers are distracted.’
Rachel’s brow furrowed. ‘Wait, how did you find out about what her parents said to the board?’
‘Katie.’ Sylvain spoke with clear distaste. ‘She’s telling everyone.’
The others groaned. Everyone knew Katie Gilmore’s parents were very active members of the Cimmeria Board.
‘But how did Katie find out?’ Allie asked. ‘She’d need a phone.’
Sylvain’s brow creased. ‘That’s a good question. I’ll go and speak to her – she was just outside so she can’t have gone far. I’ll see if she knows more as well.’
When he’d gone, the others were at a loss.
‘We have to do
‘How?’ Carter asked. ‘Right now we don’t even know where they are.’
Nicole looked at Zoe. ‘Why don’t we do a quick sweep outside? See what we can find?’
‘I’ll talk to the guards.’ Rachel stood up. ‘They might talk to me because of who my dad is.’
Relieved to have a purpose, they left in a rush. Now Carter and Allie were alone at the table.
‘So… what should we do?’ she asked, twisting her napkin into a knot of white cloth.
‘We need to find out what’s really going on, and how much the teachers know.’
‘How do we do that?’ Allie asked.
His replying grin had a dangerous glint. ‘I’ve got an idea.’
That afternoon, Allie was again outside Isabelle’s office. This time, though, she wasn’t alone. As she leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms in a pose of affected nonchalance, Carter stood across from her, his back against Isabelle’s door, whistling tunelessly.
Every so often his eyes met hers and his eyebrow arched questioningly. Each time she shook her head.
She knew from experience he only needed a minute to do what he was about to do. But if he was spotted it would be disastrous; she had to be certain it was safe.
Finally, the hallway went quiet. Twisting her neck, Allie checked the stairs and the corridor behind them. Empty. She turned back to where Carter waited, poised.
‘Now,’ she said.
Moving with swift confidence he bent over the lock to Isabelle’s office door and inserted a shiny metal pin.
As he worked, Allie stood beside him, blocking him from view as she watched the empty corridor for any sign of activity.
‘Still clear?’ he murmured without looking up. Glancing down, she had to admire the way – even under pressure – his steady hands worked the pin in the lock.
‘Uh-huh.’
The hallway was so quiet, the click the lock made when it gave seemed to echo.
‘They really should replace this lock,’ Carter said softly, as the door swung open. ‘It’s too easy.’
Slipping inside, they closed the door behind them.
The windowless room was very dark. The noises of the building were muted here; the quiet was unnerving. Allie could barely make out Carter’s shape but she could hear the sound of his even breathing.
She moved swiftly, dropping her blazer from her shoulders, stuffing it into the crack underneath the door.
Feeling his way around the furniture, Carter flipped on the brass desk light and the room leapt into life.
In the yellow glow, he met her gaze and pointed at the desk. ‘Let’s start here.’
As usual the imposing, mahogany desk was covered in stacks of paper and they looked through them hurriedly for anything about Eloise or Nathaniel. Anything that could give them some idea what was happening right now.
With no idea when the headmistress might return – or even where she was – they had to be quick. Getting caught would be the end of everything for both of them.
For ten minutes they searched in silence. Most of the papers were English essays the headmistress had been reviewing or normal school paperwork, bills and accounts. Nothing useful at all.
As Allie opened a file that proved to contain only utility bills, Carter stopped her. ‘Here.’
Looking up she saw he was reading something hand-written on a sheet of white paper.
‘What is it?’ He lowered the paper so she could see.
‘It’s the allegations against Eloise.’
The page held a numbered list of charges in square, precise handwriting, mostly related to the fact that she said she was alone on many of the dates and times Nathaniel’s spy was suspected to be active.
‘Look at that,’ Allie whispered, pointing at the page. ‘It ignores the fact that she couldn’t have got in the chapel to light those candles before we got there.’
‘It’s Zelazny’s handwriting.’ Carter’s tone was flat.
She looked up at him doubtfully. ‘Do you think…?’
He shrugged, his lips in a tight line. ‘If he’s accusing her… I have to wonder if he’s got something to gain by doing it. The real spy knows it’s not her.’
His words gave Allie that same sensation she’d had earlier of having ice at her core, and she shivered. ‘It’s just… hard to believe. Zelazny seems so loyal.’
In the glow of the desk lamp, Carter’s eyes were fathomless. ‘I don’t trust anyone any more.’
Unsure of how to reply to that, Allie turned back to the papers on the desktop.
