Page 48 of Facade

Clarke’s phone chimed, and she checked the message. “That will have to work,” she said. “Bruce wants me and Carlos in his office in an hour. I’m going to finish eating, and tell the boys to stick with you guys until I get back. I’ll update you later.”

Clarke

Clarke and Carlos walked back to the dorm in silence. Carlos was cheerful, but calm, content that the thoughts he’d heard might help the investigation. Clarke was just wiped out, and ready to be done with the day.

Bruce Walker had been very considerate of Carlos, taking time to put him at ease. But the session lasted over an hour. He explained that the fresher Carlos’s memories were, the better chance they would have of identifying the culprit.

That made sense. But sitting through the session gave her too much time to think about the attack. In the midst of it, she’d reacted automatically.

She was more anxious now, after analyzing the facts. Clarke couldn’t say how far Mitch would have taken it, but barring the door was sinister. That indicated that he didn’t care who was hurt, or how severely. It was a chilling realization.

Clarke hoped there was solid evidence against him. The students might not be safe until Mitch was removed from campus.

When the dorms were in sight, Clarke took a deep breath, telling herself to be patient. After getting the boys settled, she could put her feet up and relax. But it wasn’t to be.

The sound of shouting reached her ears as they approached the powered dorm. It seemed to be coming from behind the dorms. What now?

“Carlos, go in through the front, and stay inside,” Clarke said. Even if nothing dangerous was happening, the last thing he needed was to be bombarded by more thoughts he couldn’t block.

“Yes, sir,” Carlos said, and jogged to the main entrance of the powered dorm.

With resignation, Clarke threw her shoulders back, and marched around the rear of the building. Dozens of people of varying ages stood in the parking lot of the caster dorm, in tense postures. There was a mix of casters, elementals, and security guards, possibly some shifters as well.

Clarke wasn’t certain what was happening, except that Mitch was probably involved. Two security guards flanked Ray near the back door of the dorm. Ray stood in front of Brandon and Paul, the young elementals, with his wand out.

As she got closer, Clarke could see Jace and some of the other underage boys gathered behind Paul and Brandon. Ray’s stance was defensive. That motivated Clarke to join the fracas, for better or worse.

If Ray was protecting the boys, who’d been watching a movie in the caster dorm, she would help. Jace was positioned as a second line of defense, if it came to that. Her assistance probably wasn’t needed, but Clarke wouldn’t stand by while everyone else did the work.

One of the guards nodded to her as she approached. “Mr. Voudrie,” he said.

“May I ask what’s happening? I just returned from a meeting with Professor Walker,” Clarke said. “But I’m not sure it’s safe to retrieve the boys, who were here during my absence.”

“I would wait,” the taller guard said bluntly, without offering an explanation. The loud voices, punctuated by periods of ominous silence, were coming from the elemental dorm.

Jace grunted, and tipped his head in a terse nod. “I don’t want the kids walking past the elemental dorm until things are calmer there.”

She could probably get Liam and Ethan to the powered dorm without a problem. But they would worry about the other boys, and so would Clarke.

“Administration made the decision to move the boys while the investigation of the attack on your classroom is underway. Armando Garcia messaged an hour ago, telling me to ready a room for the elementals,” Ray informed her. “Apparently, the only available space in the shifter dorm is near predatory species, or older students. He thinks they will be more comfortable here. I said that I had a room prepared, and would be happy to house them.”

“I’m glad we don’t have to go back,” Paul said with visible relief. “No one wants to be in the dorm if they don’t have to be. Most of the guys stay in their rooms as much as possible.”

“Yeah, any other dorm would be better,” Brandon agreed. “But I might freak out if guys suddenly turn into lions, or whatever, when I’m showering or trying to study. We’ll be good here.”

“Nakedness and shifting does happen frequently,” Jace said. “This is probably the best solution.”

“Good point. Class is one thing. But I’m not totally acclimated yet,” Paul said.

“Mitch is having a fit,” Clarke guessed out loud.

“He is,” the chattier of the two guards said. “The elemental prefects have been instructed to pack the boys’ clothing and personal items.”

Several tense minutes passed before Clarke saw activity at the back door. A few casters were with the elementals, levitating suitcases to speed up the process. Mitch shouted that he was being falsely accused, and that a student had caused the wave.

More guards were inside. One stated loudly that no accusations had been made. Arguing wouldn’t change the orders from the dean.

The casters in the parking lot were all older students, who made it obvious that they were there to support the elementals. With so much opposition, and being watched by numerous guards, Mitch made a sullen retreat.