Page 56 of Facade

Clarke told herself to get her head in the game as she walked to the library. The whole vision thing was complicated, but she had to put it out of her mind. With Mitch gone and Lane on duty, the rest of them were back to their regular schedules.

She had missed Russell, and their conversations. It would be lovely to see him again. But if she was preoccupied, he would notice.

Projecting calm, and telling herself to focus on her job, Clarke walked into the library like it was any other day, waving to staff who were in view. Despite those efforts, Russell frowned at the sight of her. Damnit. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was psychic.

Clarke headed to a cart of returned books that needed reshelving. Surprisingly, Russell worked with her without asking any probing questions. It was companionable, and relaxing, but he watched her every move as if expecting her to detonate like a bomb.

Finally, she couldn’t stand it. “Just say it, already. I know you’re dying to,” Clarke said.

Russell heaved a sigh, and leaned against one of the study tables. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize how far Mitch would take this. All of you could have died.”

“That’s not your fault, and we didn’t,” Clarke said.

“I still wish I could have done more. His mental state is worse than I had guessed.”

There was really nothing to say in response. “The new monitor seems like a good guy,” Clarke commented.

“I hope so. I haven’t met him yet,” Russell said.

The sudden awkwardness between them was odd. Clarke didn’t know what to make of it. She continued shelving books, making occasional small talk. Eventually, some of the ease of their usual dynamic returned.

Clarke had too much on her mind to dwell on it. During her classes, she was able to put everything else aside and focus on the boys. But her thoughts were a jumbled mess the rest of the day.

Finally, it was over. The boys were studying in the common room after having dinner in the cafeteria. Jace wanted to meet in the basement, and she hoped he had a plan.

After checking on the students once more, Clarke headed for the stairs. One benefit of organizing shelters for the feral cats was that she didn’t have to sneak. It was the perfect excuse to be in the basement regularly.

They met in their usual spot. Jace pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on the cheek. Just being held by him eased her tension.

“I followed Heath at a distance after classes,” Jace said. “He runs in the early evening. Over the next few days, I’ll find out if he sticks to the same route.”

“Ok, then what? We can’t kidnap him,” Clarke said, and then frowned at the expression on his face. Jace looked mulish, and ready to break laws on her behalf. “You are thinking about kidnapping him. Are you crazy?”

This man. The fact that he was all in was one of the many reasons she’d fallen for him. But she didn’t want Jace to get arrested over this.

“Heath has wards around his house. We can’t sneak in and search it without him being alerted, and knowing we were there,” Jace said. “The only thing I can think of is ambushing him while he runs, and asking what he knows. I won’t hurt him, or commit a chargeable offense.”

Clarke felt like her blood pressure was rising. There had to be more options. “I know combat and interrogation are your specialties, but how are we supposed to ask him about Dad without mentioning my last name? It sounds risky.”

“Leave the details to me, and try not to worry about it,” Jace said, making Clarke roll her eyes at the idiocy of that statement. Of course she would worry. That was a given. “I want to do this Friday night. The football team will be traveling for an away game, meaning less students in the dorms.”

Clarke nodded mechanically. She didn’t like this plan, but had no idea what else to do. Revealing her identity and purpose for being here to Heath Halston wasn’t worth the risk.

Whoever was holding her dad captive, or knew why he was missing, could be alerted to their investigation. She could also be ousted from campus, with no access to the clue they still hadn’t found. Clarke was damned if she did, and damned if she didn’t.

She went through the week on autopilot, with her mind on confronting Heath Halston. Clarke needed whatever information he had, but was afraid of what she would hear at the same time. And that was if the crazy plan actually worked.

By Friday, her nerves were shot. Clarke had to return to her apartment three times for things she’d forgotten. She lost track of a lesson in the middle of a sentence, getting baffled looks from her students.

In the library, Russell pulled her unceremoniously into a study room the moment she crossed the threshold, and closed the door. “You can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?”

Clarke rubbed her temples. She’d had a headache for two days that refused to go away even with medication. “I honestly wish I could, Russell,” she said wearily.

Pretending to be a man and keeping all these secrets was a burden she wished she could unload. It wasn’t to be, though. Clarke wouldn’t put her dad in more danger by inadvertently trusting the wrong person.

“Look. You’ve been a mystery from day one,” Russell said. “I like to unravel mysteries, but after weeks, I still haven’t figured you out, or what you’re hiding. But what I do know is that you are a good, caring person, and a great teacher. So, the offer stands if you need to talk. No flirting, no bullshit. I’ll be an ear and a shoulder.”

That was tempting. Clarke and Hannah texted regularly, but it wasn’t the same as having a friend who knew all the people currently influencing her life, good and bad. She wished she could tell Russell about her dad, her bond with Jace, her crazy attraction to Heath Halston, just all of it. He would have intelligent, astute opinions.