The door swung open.
Isabelle was leaning back in her chair, her mobile to her ear. When she saw Allie, she straightened abruptly.
‘I’m sorry, Dom,’ she said, ‘Allie’s here. I have to go.’
Setting the phone down on her desk, she hurried to where Allie stood.
‘How are you feeling?’ Her critical gazed swept across Allie as if looking for new damage.
‘You drugged me.’ Allie shot her an accusing look. ‘I feel drugged.’
‘I’m sorry.’ The headmistress spoke without a hint of apology in her tone. ‘You were exhausted and in shock.’ She motioned for her to enter. ‘Come in. Sit.’
‘How long was I out?’ Allie asked. ‘How much time is left?’
Isabelle didn’t ask what she meant. ‘Seventeen hours,’ she said.
Allie’s breath caught. No time at all. Not even a day.
‘Why did you drug me?’ she said, fighting to control her temper. ‘I was out six hours. I could have helped.’
‘Come on, Allie.’ Isabelle’s tone was even. ‘You were no good to anyone last night. You still look wobbly. Now, please.’ She gestured at a chair. ‘Sit.’
Allie didn’t want to admit she needed to sit down but she did feel light-headed. Reluctantly, she did as she was told.
The headmistress bustled to the corner of the room where she kept the kettle. Allie tried to focus on the job at hand. But the residual drugs in her blood made her brain sluggish.
‘Has anything happened since last night?’ she asked.
Isabelle shook her head. ‘There’s nothing new. The feed to Carter is still down. Raj has been out at the farm most of the night.’
She poured hot water into cups, steam rising in a cloud. Allie watched her for a moment, gearing up for the next question.
‘Does Nathaniel know? About Gabe, I mean?’
The headmistress handed her tea in a white mug with the Cimmeria crest on the side in midnight blue.
‘His absence has been noticed.’ Isabelle walked around the desk to her chair and sat down. ‘It doesn’t appear they have any idea what happened to him.’
Neither of them used the ‘D’ word.
Allie took a sip of tea. It was sweet and strong.
She made herself think about how Gabe had acted on the roof last night – the things he’d said about Nathaniel.
‘I don’t think Nathaniel knew what Gabe was up to.’
Isabelle’s eyebrows winged up. ‘Explain.’
Allie told her what he’d said – his criticisms of Nathaniel. ‘To me, it sounded almost like he was standing up to Nathaniel.’ She frowned as she thought it over. ‘Defying him.’
‘Interesting.’ Isabelle tapped a finger against her chin. ‘If Gabe acted outside of orders, Nathaniel won’t be looking for him. In fact, I suspect he’ll be glad he’s gone. If we continue as normal, he won’t know he’s lost his rogue henchman. He’ll still be afraid of what he might do. That could distract him.’
It was easier to think of everything from last night like this – looking at the technical side of it, the strategy. Like a giant game.
The headmistress glanced up. ‘There’s something else I need to tell you.’
Allie didn’t like the look on her face. It was like she was gearing up for a fight.
‘Raj is going to meet Owen Moran this afternoon.’
‘What?’ Allie set her tea cup down on the table next to her with a thud. Hot tea sloshed on her fingers. ‘Raj is going to meet him? Since when?’
‘Allie, you’re injured…’ The headmistress sighed.
‘I know I’m injured.’ Allie pointed at the bandage on her throat. ‘It’s kind of hard for me to miss. But that doesn’t mean I can’t sit and talk to a man.’
‘Don’t be unreasonable, Allie,’ Isabelle said evenly. ‘If it went wrong you’d need to run. To fight. And you must know you’re in no fit state —’
‘Isabelle, enough.’ Allie slammed her fist against the arm of the chair with such force the headmistress stopped talking and looked at her in surprise.
‘I am fully aware I’m injured. I am also aware that makes this meeting more dangerous for me.’ The headmistress opened her mouth to speak but Allie held up her hand to stop her. ‘But this doesn’t change the fact that I have a better chance of convincing this guy to join our side than Raj does. He knows what Nathaniel’s doing is wrong. But if a security expert he doesn’t trust tells him it’s wrong, I think he’ll swing at him. If a wounded girl tells him it’s wrong… I think he’ll listen.’
‘Allie, it’s too dangerous,’ Isabelle said.
Allie held up her hands. ‘And I am willing to accept the danger. Just as willing as I was last night.’
‘What if I’m not willing?’ The headmistress met her gaze defiantly.
‘It’s just not your decision, Isabelle,’ she said. ‘Not this.’
The headmistress looked stunned – as if Allie had unexpectedly betrayed her. Spots of colour rose high on the planes of her cheeks.