Page 53 of Facade

Security was heavy, surrounding Mitch as he packed his car with a pinched expression. Patrol jeeps were parked on either side of Mitch. One would lead the way to the gate, another would follow, preventing diversions and any revenge Mitch might want to deliver.

He was banned from all university-owned property. That included both colleges, the stadium, auditorium, and the animal barns north of town. Notices with his picture would be posted in the dorms and on most of the buildings, that the police should be called if Mitch was seen trespassing, or attempting to.

The lack of solid evidence chafed Jace to no end. He wanted this asshole behind bars. Clarke and the students should be safe on campus, but Mitch had grown up in Clementine, and would be living in town.

It was highly likely that the vengeful elemental would accost Clarke and Logan Palmer if either of them dared set foot in Clementine. And they would. There was nowhere else nearby to shop, get a haircut, get drinks at a pub, or eat out.

Jace was friends with more than half the police force in town, and knew all of the officers by name. Many of the younger officers had taken his law enforcement and combat courses. There was a strong foundation of mutual respect.

At university, Jace had been a teaching assistant in the pre-law enforcement and military officer training program. His goal had been to join the police force in his hometown after graduation, and he did. That lasted for one year.

Realizing that he preferred teaching over patrolling the streets, Jace quit the force. He returned to college for his master’s with a focus on training, and got his teaching certificate. The rest was history.

Having a good rapport with nearly everyone at Clementine P. D. had its advantages. Jace called the chief, explaining the situation with Mitch in detail. He was assured officers on patrol would keep a close eye on Mitch, and wouldn’t underestimate him.

Jace still wasn’t satisfied with the situation. But knowing that officers would be on the alert was better than nothing. It did ease his mind to a degree.

Most of the students were somber as they watched Mitch drive away from the dorm between the jeeps. There was also an aura of relief as well as hope for more peaceful days. The thick tension in the air was already starting to diminish.

Paul and Brandon exhaled in unison when the vehicles disappeared around the curve. “When is the new monitor getting here?” Brandon asked. “I wish we didn’t have to move again.”

They both looked nervous. Considering everything they had been dealing with, Jace couldn’t blame them for feeling that way.

“He’ll be here Friday, and start the position on the following Monday,” Clarke replied.

“You guys will stay with me until early next week. That will give you and the new monitor time to adjust,” Ray said in a calm and bolstering tone. “But remember that you can hang out and visit anytime, as much as you want. Our doors are open.”

“Thanks, Ray. That does make me feel better,” Paul said.

Ray encouraged all the casters to call him by his first name. His role was more fun uncle than watchful monitor. Since casters as a whole tended to rebel against strict authoritarian figures, the approach worked for them.

Shifters responded best when there was a clear chain of command. That, combined with the fact that he taught classes, was why Jace didn’t invite casual address. Maintaining a teacher-student dynamic would be more difficult if the rules were different in the dorm.

“Dean Stanhope requested that I mentor Lane Matthews, and I agreed,” Jace said. “There shouldn’t be any issues, but if there are, I want you to speak up immediately.”

“Yeah, come to any one of us at any hint of a problem,” Ray insisted.

“All of you will be with the three of us for home games,” Clarke said. “We’ll take a bus as a group. That has already been cleared with admin. Lane Matthews may join us if he wants to, but you won’t be reliant on him.”

“Oh, ok. I wondered about that, since I heard that he’s also a student,” Brandon said. “He might not have a lot of free time, or want to go to games.”

Hoping to eliminate lingering stress, the three of them ushered the boys to the caster dorm. It was a good, central meeting spot, and made sense since Ray currently had custody of five of the twelve boys.

Jace drove into town for burgers and fries after getting everyone’s order and calling it in. The kids deserved a treat.

He rolled his eyes at the sight of a line outside the new automated fast food kiosk down the street from his favorite burger joint. There was even one on campus now, that he pretended didn’t exist. You couldn’t pay him to eat at one of those, let alone spend his hard-earned money to do so.

Jace supposed it was the trendy thing. But even if they carried meat and dairy dishes, he wouldn’t trust a robotic cook. The very thought creeped him out.

All the kiosks were vegan, anyway. Everything was plant-based; nuts, tofu, soy, kale, etc. The meal options were limited, from what he’d heard.

As a carnivore, the choice to be vegan baffled him. But vegans probably felt the same way about his meal preferences. Jace was also a traditionalist, preferring human interaction, and the option of sitting down in a restaurant to eat.

Averting his eyes, Jace steered past the ugly glass and metal box. When he walked into the diner, the order was ready, waiting at the counter. Jace thanked the waitress, paid, and carried the bags to the car.

A night of board games and greasy burgers seemed to be good for all of them. The mood was lighthearted, full of teasing and laughter.

Over the next few days, everyone seemed to settle into a routine. Elementals in his classes were more cheerful, heckling their sparring partners in good fun, like they had before Mitch got his crazy on.