One day.
Allie leaned forward. ‘Isabelle, I know why you’re afraid but please trust me. This man, Nine. He could get us inside. If we take this chance, he really could help us get Carter home.’ Seeing Isabelle about to argue she spoke quickly. ‘If he says no, the worst thing that happens is we reveal our hand. It doesn’t really help Nathaniel. All he would know is that we know where he is.’
‘Actually, I think the worst thing that happens is we end up with both you and Carter on our computer screens in chains.’ The look Isabelle shot her was challenging. ‘Are you ready for that?’
Allie suppressed a shudder. But when she spoke her voice was firm.
‘You know Raj better than that,’ she said. ‘It won’t happen.’
‘Isabelle.’ Zelazny said her name with uncharacteristic gentleness. ‘I think you know she’s right. She’s trained and experienced. She’s willing to take this chance. We can protect her.’
The headmistress held his gaze for a long moment, then lowered her head to her hands.
‘I can’t do it, August.’ Her voice grew unsteady. ‘I can’t dig another hole in that churchyard.’
Zelazny paused. When he spoke, his tone was firm. ‘You won’t have to. I promise you that.’
The headmistress let out a long breath and straightened her shoulders. With obvious reluctance she said, ‘If I were to agree to this, when would you want to do it?’
Allie’s heart jumped. She tried to disguise her triumph behind a solemn expression.
‘As soon as possible. But first we’ll need to find out everything we can about him. We don’t even know his name, do we?’ Zelazny glanced at Allie.
‘Yes we do,’ she said, fighting the urge to grin. ‘Christopher said his name is Owen Moran.’
Christopher hadn’t known much about the guards, but Moran had been assigned as his driver for two months.
‘Doesn’t talk much, that guy,’ he’d said. ‘Never told me anything about himself. Seemed angry about something all the time, but I never knew what.’ He’d paused to think. ‘Hell of a good driver.’
Isabelle picked up her pen and wrote it down. She spoke without looking up.
‘I want to be included in every element of this plan.’ Zelazny nodded, as if this went without saying but she was still talking. ‘And I want Dom and her team to find out absolutely everything there is to know about this man. I want to know what he thinks, what he eats, where he sleeps. Nobody goes anywhere to meet anyone until I know him as well as I know you.’
She fixed them both with a steely glare. ‘I don’t like this. Not after everything we’ve been through. But I fear we don’t have any choice. We need to get Carter back, and then get out of this school as fast as we can. It’s time.’
24
When they walked out of her office Allie turned right, to head back to Dom’s office, but before she’d taken a step, Isabelle grabbed her arm with a firm grip.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ she said. ‘You’re exhausted. You’ve hardly eaten or slept all day. I’ve already told Dom and the teachers, now I’m telling you: all students are to get some rest. I’m banning you from work for the next hour, and I’d rather you took three. The staff have left food out in the dining hall for those who missed dinner. I want you to eat and rest. Come back later.’
‘No way.’ Allie stared at her in disbelief. She glanced to Zelazny for help, but he’d already headed down the corridor.
This battle he was leaving her to fight alone.
‘You can’t do this. Not right now.’ In her mind she could still see that red clock, ticking down.
Isabelle was unmoved. ‘I’m giving in on a lot of things Allie. But I’m not having students passing out from exhaustion. Now, go.’ She pointed down the hallway towards the stairs. ‘Eat. Rest.’
Seeing the stubborn look in Allie’s eyes, she sighed and dropped her hand. ‘If Dom needs you I promise we’ll send for you, OK? Now will you go?’
Allie accepted her fate with ill grace. ‘Fine. But I’m only taking thirty minutes.’
The thing was, now that she had a moment to think about it, she was starving. She’d been up since before dawn and she really hadn’t eaten much all day.
In the dining hall, buffet tables had been set up along one wall and stacked with food. Sandwiches and salads, vast bowls of fruit and platters of biscuits were arrayed in a tantalising display.
Copper urns of coffee and tea steamed. Nearby, bottles of energy drinks poked out of frosted silver ice buckets.
It was nearly ten o’clock and the atmosphere had a nervy late-night buzz. Students clustered at tables talking and clutching energy drinks. Guards relaxed nearby, their feet propped up on chairs, steaming mugs of tea at their elbows.
Cimmeria was always at its best when everything was going wrong.
After piling a plate high, Allie turned to look for a place to sit.