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Assuming any of us were all right.
I heard the sound of the lock at the door and turned to find Landon motioning me outside. I told Raine I’d be right back and went out into the bitter wind to speak with him.
“It’s set,” Landon said. “The tournament will begin the day after tomorrow.”
“What’s the plan?”
“Stay here tonight,” he said. “In the morning, we’ll get on the plane and head up there. The usual pre-tournament party for the elite is tomorrow night, and then it’s on.”
I nodded.
“I’m staying with her.”
“I figured as much,” Landon responded. “Don’t let it distract you.”
I ignored his tone.
“Give me your phone,” I said to Landon.
“Why?” he asked with narrowed eyes.
“This little party has fucked up Raine’s semester at school,” I said simply, “and I’m going to fix it.”
He debated only a few seconds before handing me the phone.
“I don’t have to tell you to use caution, do I?”
“Nope,” I responded.
I browsed the university website on the tiny screen until I figured out how to reach the first of Raine’s professors.
“Doctor Michaels?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Detective Masterson from Miami Dade,” I said smoothly. “I’m calling regarding one of your students, Miss Raine Gayle.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied. I could hear from his voice that he was already intrigued. “Is she in some kind of trouble?”
“I’m afraid I can’t discuss the details with you at this time,” I replied. “I just need your understanding and cooperation. Miss Gayle will be in protective custody for the next few weeks pending an important trial out of state. Needless to say, she won’t be finishing her semester, but she’s concerned about the hard work she’s already done in your class specifically.”
“Of course!” Michaels said. “Anything I can do to help. Miss Gayle is an excellent student. I’ve been wondering what happened to her.”
“She’s perfectly fine,” I said. “We just need to do what we can for her right now. Would you be willing to collect all her remaining schoolwork for the class and forward it on?”
He agreed completely, as I figured he would. Her remaining professors did the same, and Landon helped me arrange to have her work picked up at the university student center by a courier under Franks’ control. She’d have it all within a few days and had until the first of May to complete and return it. That gave her plenty of time.
It also gave her something else to think about besides what I had to do.
Tomorrow’s activities were set. At least for now, I’d spend my time with my family.
Back in the apartment Franks had set up for Raine and Alex, I sat awkwardly at the table in the kitchen while they ate sandwiches. Raine offered me one, but that was junk food in my book, so I declined.
“Can’t you give him something healthier?” I mumbled.
“He’s just a kid, Bastian. It’s peanut butter and jelly, not candy bars.”
I looked over the sugar content on the label of the jelly jar and cringed. The bread Raine had used for the sandwiches was that squishy white stuff, too.
