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"Can I help you?" asked the secretary in the front office

"Yes, thank you I need a ith the principal"

"Are you a parent here?" the wo probleave hi away, picked up her phone and pushed a button "Bullying complaint," she said A second later, another wo hair and an ill-fitting suit

"Hey," she said "I know you, dude You box at ym"

"Hello," he said "Toonna ask you to spot hts Tournao pro at this point, but I love it I can press about two-fifty at this point How about you?"

"Uh, I’ partners!" She flashed hi? Come into ive her that Her office was typically crowded, and she whipped off her suit jacket, revealing ht?"

"Very impressive," he said "Anyway, I’"

Dr Didier sat down and tapped a few keys on her computer, then frowned "I don’t see you listed here under contacts What’s your relationship to Charlie?" she asked

"I was engaged to his ave a nod, then stretched her hands over her head, cracking her knuckles "I’m sorry to tell you this, but I won’t be able to discuss anything with you"

"I realize that I’m a professor over at Wickham"

"Cool beans!"

"But I did want you to be aware of the fact that I think Charlie’s being bullied"

Dr Didier sighed "So you’re still in touch with this kid?" she asked "Even though his uardians know you’re still involved? Because when an adult not related to a child expresses an interest, you knowthe bells, they go a little crazy"

Tom blinked "Excuse me?"

"Are you a pedophile, in other words?"

"Christ! No!"

"I’onna put in a request with the police to check you out, okay? It’s routine"

"I’m not a child molester! Besides, the police have already talked to the Kelloggs about"Look," he said randparents aredistracted, and his dad is barely in the picture I’ to look after the kid"

"And by look after, what do you mean?" Dr Didier asked "Because it sounds creepy, Mr Barlow"