Page 160 of Break Out the Girl

He harrumphs. “I pity the faculty, I really do.”

“Like you were any easier!” Theo teases.

Theo and I have an interesting family connection, but it’s really too complex to explain, at least without diagrams.

“How’s your Jammie Dodger?” I ask her.

She looks down at the strawberry confection in her hand. “Bloody delicious. Finally, I get to have some proper British biscuits!”

That’s because of London’s project.

At first he wanted to be a gymnastics instructor.

Then teach a pan-pipes class.

But his final decision is the right one.

On a small building, over by the stone archway, is a sign depicting a goat wearing a chef’s hat. The front doors are thrown wide open, and several of our contractors are lined up, waiting for their morning fix.

Through the wide window, I can see London gamboling around in his flour-dusted apron as he slides massive trays of fresh pastries onto the counter. Basil is right beside him, grumpily ringing up orders. The kid needed a weekend job to save up for his debate club trip to Rome. He’s the captain now.

It turns out he enjoys destroying his rivals verbally, not physically these days. In the last debate-meet we all went to watch, he didn’t use the word ‘moron’ once. Who’d have thought.

London is going to have a busy night if all his wares get eaten today. Starting tomorrow, any students in need will be provided with free breakfasts and lunches, courtesy of ‘The Baaaaake House’.

A piercing whistle sounds across the yard, and we look over to see Clay, hands on hips, directing Tally’s boom-lift. Yes!

The welcome banner is finally going into place.

Beyond the banner are a row of sparkling greenhouses. Layla will be in there. She and Opal have planned a whole unit on herbology.

I’ve not put much input into the curriculum. There have been so many other things to do. But organizing will soon be behind me, because, like François, I’m going to be a student!

I’d tried to get London and the Ashgrave crew to enroll as well, but had no takers.

So the students in our gang will be just me, François and Sky, plus Basil when he’s old enough.

Theo’s phone buzzes and she lets out a squeal. “At last, Willow and Naomi are here. I can’t believe you haven’t met them yet.”

Willow is Theo’s best friend, and also Taliesin's cousin. I look around and see two girls headed through the arch.

My heart clenches a little.

When the Grieves’ island base had been taken apart, a stash of files was found in an office.

Old sales records.

Of people.

One of those invoice numbers had a name and description that matched the details of Naomi’s missing older sister—Alice.

She’s been gone for six years now.

The information was scant, all we know is the buyer was from the USA.

Naomi and Willow have been there all summer, along with Cosmo’s PI, Striker, trying to track down clues to her whereabouts.

“I feel so bad for Naomi,” I murmur to Theo. “I take it there are no updates?”