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Kota checked his phone for the ti soon”

Victor kept his gaze on the wo filled with nuot her marked for observation,” he said softly “But it’ll be better just to talk to her She see”

“Part of the plan,” Kota said “We expected dissention”

“This was planned?” I asked “What’s next?”

Victor turned his eyes on e,” he said “Let his own network fall into chaos Drive him out”

“How?” I asked

He turned a little, put his arainst and smiled “You want to help?”

I nodded repeatedly Of course I did This was the group’s job I was part of the group

“I don’t know if now is a good time,” Kota murmured

“She’s one of us,” Victor said “And she’s perfect” He turned his attention back to o alone, but you should be visible to Mr Hendricks around school Make hi him”

“Play his own game?” I asked “Like how he has us watched?”

“Exactly,” he said “I’ll give you an earpiece You co class times But any time between classes or at lunch, you stay in view Make it very obvious you’re watching him But if he confronts you”

“Don’t let him,” Kota said a little too sharply He turned to check if he was too loud He lowered his tone and then leaned into Victor and o somewhere that he can corner you You don’t even talk to him Just make him uncomfortable”

“It ht be good ti”

“We’ll have to concoct a way to keep Marie away froet her out And we don’t knohat that means for you,” Kota said

I didn’t have a proble out Danielle worried me more “What about Danielle?”

“She’s still sixteen Legally, she can’t yet So we’ll have to coe her mind”

What would she tell her parents when they found out she dropped out of school, anyway? Or did she expect to go to the Acadeo to?

Only, she didn’t strike me as the academic type, either

I observed theinto Victor as I watched Victor’s hand reached out to ether

I keptmy pinkie into his In a way, it was like Victor was supportingme with a touch whatever happened, he ith me I believed him

I wished I felt as confident about the others It wouldon Ms Johnson and Hendricks a whole lot easier I realized then why they often said family first, Academy second as a rule It was probably why Mr Blackbourne was eager to help us get a house

But Hendricks was in the way of that

It made me more determined to take him down

I Spy

I listened to the first class bell when students were in the hallways trying to get to where they needed to go It was odd not to be shuffling off to a classroom Homeroom would only take a short tiave me an earpiece

Dr Green had hung up on us by then Mr Blackbourne took over, co back to where ere at the piano “Mr North and Mr Luke Taylor,” he said, “I need you both following Ms Johnson fro school We’ll set up a rotation Keep us in touch I want to knoho follows her”

Luke and North immediately headed for the door No questions The efficiency of the teaotten to admire when Mr Blackbourne used their formal names It wasn’t just that Southern culture, what I heard from people ere out It showed exactly how much he respected other people The others did similarly on occasion, and always did so for him

“Mr Coleman, let’s put you with Dr Green I don’t want anyone on our team alone Join his classes”

Gabriel clapped his hands together “Yeah! Tier at Victor’s face “Going to catch up with you”

“Good luck,” Victor said with a smirk

As Gabriel alking out, Mr Blackbourne turned to the rest of us “Mr Korba,” he said He paused, and then pressed a finger to his chin

“Shouldn’t he come with me?” I asked “I need so here, aren’t we?”

“I was going to go with you,” Kota said “But”

“I’ve got her,” Silas said “We’re just walking around between classes Better if I go”

Kota pressed his lips together and nodded “Watch her back”