Hendricks waited for me inside the hallway. He allowed me to walk ahead of him, nudging me forward. There wasn’t a chance to grab the phone without him seeing I was trying to call for help. I regretted waiting so long.
The hallway to the principal’s office was quiet, with a lot of closed doors. Vice-Principal McCoy’s office door was closed, the light off. Maybe he was taking the day off. That was a relief. One was bad enough without the other.
The Principal left the door open as he walked over to his desk, sitting in the burgundy, oversized office chair. “Will you have a seat?”
I sat down in the smaller chair in front of his desk. I glanced around the room, noting the position of the vents and shadowed areas. I knew there were cameras watching Mr. McCoy’s office. Were there some in the principal's office? Could Mr. Blackbourne be watching now?
I sucked in a breath, holding it and waiting for what I was sure would be a detention or worse. I wouldn’t get called down to the principal’s office for paperwork.
Hendricks steepled his fingers under his chin. “Don’t look so scared. I just have a few questions. You’re not in any trouble.”
I sought relief in this but I felt there was a stipulation to the not being in trouble part.
“I noticed you didn’t make it to class last week. Is everything okay?”
My eyes widened. Did he know? I wasn’t sure if anyone, maybe Mr. Blackbourne, or my father, called about it. “I suppose so,” I said, trying to be very vague. I swallowed back some of my trembling. “I’m fine, sir.”
“Was it Academy recruiting week?” he asked. His dark eyes focused on me. “Did you have some special tests to take? Or a series of interviews?”
My mouth popped open, surprised by his proposed idea. “Academy recruiting?”
His thick eyebrows shot up. “Mr. Blackbourne entered your schedule into the school computer. I thought he was only doing that for his own students. When I checked your transcripts, the records show your previous schools. You’re not from the Academy. Not yet at least.” He sat back in his chair, crossing his legs at the ankles, planting his elbows on the rests. “Mr. Blackbourne hasn’t picked up a student for the entire year, except you. I just wondered if they were talking to you about joining them. Maybe they’re promising you some sort of scholarship if you help them? I’m curious.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure how to reply. Would honesty work or should I refer him to Mr. Blackbourne? “I’ve never been to the Academy. I couldn’t tell you anything about it.”
He rubbed a finger under his chin as if considering. “Still, you are the only one they’ve taken any interest in.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to this. There wasn’t a question. My mind was flying with what I should have said. Should I let him assume they are trying to recruit me? My fingers itched to touch the phone, but it was awkward. My phone was in the cup of my bra, hidden but using it now would be too obvious. I wished I’d let North or Luke follow me now.
His crocodile smile returned. “This is probably a good thing. I don’t know what you’ve heard about this Academy,” he said. “What have the boys told you about it?”
“It’s just a private school,” I said.
“Did you know they don’t allow visitors? Did you know the location of the school is unknown? Are you sure you want to trust a group of students like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s full of secrets, Miss Sang. The only reason to keep secrets is to hide something you’re doing wrong. What goes on there? Why are they so closed-lipped about it? Wouldn’t a school full of very intelligent students want to be known for their genius and caliber?”
“I don’t know,” I said quietly, my eyes casting to his desk rather than look at him. While his questions did give me something to think about, he made it seem like they were bad. They weren't. They helped people. They helped me.
They were always doing something then, and they’re always up to something now.
They were thieves, once. Derrick had said so. Could their seemingly good deeds actually be a ruse for something bigger? What could a poor school, one that couldn’t afford new books for the library, offer if they were looking to steal something?
“I wanted to know if you could help me out, Miss Sang. I’m a busy person and I can’t always keep tabs on everyone. I was wondering if you couldn’t keep your eyes open for me. Maybe find out what these so called gifted students are really up to.”
“Me? Why?”
“You’re a smart girl,” he said, “taking all those AP classes. I think I can trust you. This Academy, you have to admit, is dangerous. I’ve seen their fighting, and it resembles training I saw in the military. The school board has demanded they be here so my hands are tied. They’re not interested in hearing about secret school locations and military training. You, however, might be able to learn something more interesting so that they’ll reconsider.”
I frowned. I knew he didn’t like them and didn’t want them. He expected me to help get rid of them? “What do you want from me?”
“It’s very simple,” he said. “Find out why they’re here. What interest do they have? You can’t tell me they’re here out of the kindness of their hearts. No one does that. Blackbourne and Green are barely out of high school themselves. They’re not being paid to be here. Why would they stay? Something’s not right. Don’t you agree?”
Again, I didn’t know how to answer him. While I agreed that I was curious about what was going on, I was pretty sure his ideas were incorrect and the boys weren’t dangerous. Maybe he wasn’t so far off about there being another agenda though. Were they really here because the school board asked them a favor? Maybe I’d been thinking about this the wrong way. Favors were returned. What could the school board have that Kota and the others would want?
“I think we can help each other,” he continued. “Those AP classes can be tough on a new student. I’m sure I can assist you with your education.”
I inched my head back at the bribery. “I think I can handle it.”
“I can make it easier,” he leaned in on his chair, sloping over his desk a little and lowering his voice. “Or perhaps you may find those AP classes a little harder than you thought?”
The question hung in the air and the meaning behind it was written all over his face. Tell him about Academy or he’d make sure I couldn’t keep up. It could get worse as well. He could request to see my parents, or give me detentions for the rest of the year if he wanted. What Mr. Hendricks didn’t know was that I was the last person that needed this kind of attention, and if he did know, I had no doubt he’d use it to his advantage.
“Think about it,” he said, leaning back again and putting on that wicked smile. “But I’m sure you will keep your eyes open for me, won’t you? Just tell me where the school is. Tell me anything that you find out. I can figure it out if you give me some place to start.”
My heart thundered but I steeled my body against a shiver, sharing eye contact but not replying. His threat made me curious. If he thought I wanted in the Academy, why was he using me to spy on them? Maybe that’s why he focused on the school classes and my grades. Maybe he thinks if I had poor grades, it was possible an elite Academy wouldn’t want someone like me. If I didn’t help him figure out what the Academy was or help him try to get the boys out of his school, he’d make sure I couldn’t join them.
He stood up, motioning to the door. “I’ll call on you again, Miss Sang. I hope I don’t have to tell you to keep this to yourself?”
What could I do? He had to be insane to believe I wouldn’t contact Mr. Blackbourne about this the first chance I got. What if I saw something else and neglected to report it? Not that I would, but it still meant Mr. Hendricks could do something to my grades. Next year, the boys would be back at their Academy and where would I be?
I released a slow puff of air, standing and keeping my eyes focused on the floor. I didn’t want to confirm or deny anything he had said. I st
epped quietly past him and out into the hallway, hugging my arms around myself.
“Have a good day,” he said. He closed the door behind me.
I shook in my sandals in the empty hallway, remaining for a moment as I contemplated whether I should find Mr. Blackbourne or go back to class to find Kota.
Mr. McCoy materialized at the other end of the otherwise empty hallway, strolling toward his office. His thick mustache twitched. His dark brown suit seemed tight on his body. My skin crawled at the sight of him and I ducked my head to attempt to brush past without speaking to him.
His head lifted as we got close. “Sang Sorenson,” Mr. McCoy snapped his arm out until his palm was pressed to the wall and blocking my path. “What are you doing out of class?”
“Principal Hendricks asked for me,” I said quietly, focusing on an office door nearby to avoid getting a close up look at his face. “But I’ve been dismissed.”
“In trouble,” he said. He made a clicking noise with his mouth.
“No, it wasn’t that.”
“You’re not a very good liar,” he said.
The arm that was on the wall slid down, wrapping around my waist. His fingers curled at my hip and gripped tightly.
I winced, tears catching in the corners of my eyes. My mind went blank. I crossed my arms over my chest, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. His fingers felt like they were burning right through my skirt, scarring my bare skin. Let me go, I pleaded silently as my voice refused to work.