‘There’s a meeting at 1700,’ Six said, ignoring his sarcasm. ‘At headquarters. You should be there. Things are happening.’
‘Well, miracles never cease,’ Nine said. ‘Maybe we’ll get to do something useful at last.’
A voice she didn’t recognise spoke up. ‘Hey Six – any idea what’s going on?’
There was a pause.
‘All I can tell you is something’s happening,’ Six said, clearly pleased to be the one in the know. ‘Tonight. We’re making a move.’
Allie took the news straight to Dom. By the time five o’clock arrived that evening, the office was packed.
Isabelle and Raj were there, along with several of Raj’s guards, Zelazny and Eloise. Dom put Nathaniel’s comms through the wall speakers so everyone in the room could hear. Then they waited.
The minutes ticked by slowly. Allie began to doubt herself. Maybe they hadn’t said 1700. Maybe she’d overblown the importance of what she’d heard.
When it reached six o’clock, and still not one guard had spoken, the mood in the room changed from eager curiosity to disappointment.
Raj turned to Allie. ‘You’re certain they said five o’clock?’
Despite her unspoken doubts, Allie nodded. ‘Positive.’
The instructors exchanged dubious looks.
‘Could they still be in the meeting?’ Eloise asked.
No one replied.
An hour was a long time just for Nathaniel to give his guards an assignment. If Allie had been right about the meeting time, something was definitely up.
Sylvain walked up to Raj and murmured something too quietly for her to hear. Raj nodded, looking at his watch.
‘We’ll give it five more minutes,’ he said.
Allie looked away quickly, but she could feel Sylvain looking at her. There was no way he hadn’t noticed she’d been avoiding him by this point.
At that moment, a voice rumbled from the speakers. ‘Well, that was illuminating.’
Allie’s breath caught.
It was Nine. Sarcastic as ever.
‘Wasn’t it just?’ Five sounded amused.
‘Well,’ Nine sighed, ‘I guess that’s me cancelling all my plans for tonight. I had big plans, too, with that hot blonde from the other night…’
‘Copy that.’ The other man snorted a laugh. ‘She’ll have to wait while we go pay the boss’ family a little visit.’
Allie stiffened. The family? Does he mean Nathaniel’s family?
Across the room she saw Raj pull his phone from his pocket.
The only family Nathaniel had left was Isabelle.
The headmistress stood very still, one hand gripping the back of the chair in front of her, listening intently.
‘When are we rolling out?’ Nine’s voice was loud in the frozen silence of the room. ‘Did he say eleven?’
‘That’s affirmative,’ Five replied.
‘Just let me powder my nose,’ Nine said. ‘And I’m good to go.’
The two fell silent.
Isabelle turned to Raj. She looked pale, but when she spoke her voice was steady. ‘Eleven, then.’
He headed for the door at speed, his phone pressed to his ear. His reply was crisp.
‘We’ll be ready.’
Allie was still hunched over the computer an hour later, earphones pressed to her head, when Eloise tapped her on the shoulder.
‘I want you to take a break,’ the Night School trainer said. ‘It’s dinner time. And you’ve been here too long already.’
‘I’m fine,’ Allie insisted. ‘I’m not hungry.’
Eloise scanned her face. ‘When was the last time you took a break?’
When Allie, who had actually not stopped since eight o’clock that morning, hesitated, Eloise pulled her from her chair.
‘Nothing’s happening for hours,’ she said. ‘There’s plenty of help here. And you look hungry to me.’
Soon the headphones had been handed to one of Raj’s guards and the librarian was shooing her out the door.
‘Don’t come back for at least an hour,’ she said. ‘There are child labour laws, you know.’
Allie, who had no idea what she was talking about, made her way downstairs, grumbling to herself.
She knew in her heart she was unlikely to miss anything – there’d been nothing new for hours. Nine had disappeared, along with Six and several other guards. Raj believed they were preparing for whatever they had planned for later tonight.
But she still wanted to keep listening. Just in case.
When she reached the ground floor, the rumble of conversation from the dining hall let her know most people had already gathered for dinner.
Rich cooking smells floated from the kitchen. Candles glittered on the tables, which were set, as always, with heavy silver cutlery and crystal glasses. Allie couldn’t decide whether she was glad that the staff so determinedly ignored the school’s crises, or found it absurd.
The others had already gathered at their usual table. There was an empty seat next to Sylvain. Allie knew she had to take it. Anything else would be impossible to explain.
Taking a deep breath, she slid into the seat. ‘Hey everyone.’
Sylvain turned to her. His expression was neutral, but Allie thought she sensed a new distance. He didn’t smile.
‘Hey.’ Rachel waved from across the round table where she sat between Zoe and Nicole. ‘Any news?’
Allie shook her head, then glanced at Sylvain again, conscious that he hadn’t spoken.
‘Hey,’ she said. ‘You OK?’
His response was immediate. ‘I’m fine.’
But his tone was cool.
Before Allie could think of what to say, Zoe distracted her with a question. It was a while before she looked back at him. By then, Sylvain was eating silently, stony faced.
Allie felt terrible. She’d effectively ignored him since the moment he arrived. He had no idea what was going on in her head. In her life.
‘I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk to you,’ Allie said.
Sylvain stopped eating. When he turned to look at her, she thought she saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes.
‘Things have been crazy,’ she explained, not very convincingly. ‘Maybe we can talk later.’
‘Maybe.’ He studied her for a moment without speaking. ‘Or maybe it’s something else.’
Then he turned away and resumed eating, as if she wasn’t there.
Allie froze. Had he guessed? Had Katie told him?
She didn’t dare ask what he meant – she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
From across the table, Rachel watched their exchange, puzzlement knitting her brow.
Allie turned back to her plate. She had to tell everyone the truth.
Soon.
‘Anything happen while I was gone?’ Allie asked, slipping into the chair next to Shak. She was so glad the stressful dinner was over, she could have hugged her headphones.
‘Radio silence.’ Shak leaned back in the chair and stretched. ‘Nathaniel’s boys suddenly got discipline.’
Allie slid the headphones on anyway. ‘Maybe they’ll start talking.’
But he was right about the silence – not one of Nathaniel’s guards spoke on the comms system for nearly two hours.
During that time the room filled steadily, until it seemed all the senior students and instructors were there. Everyone wanted to know what Nathaniel was up to – whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
Dom was in constant motion – on the phone, on the comms, coordinating Raj. Rachel sat in a chair at her desk, acting as an assistant. Nicole sat next to Rachel while Zoe and Lucas worked with Shak.
Sylvain stayed away from the other students, with Raj and Isabelle in one corner, talking quietly. He never looked at Allie.
After the long silence, at eleven o’clock precisely, Nine’s voice rumbled from the speakers at last.
‘Roll out, boys.’
‘Copy that,’ someone said.
<
br /> Allie stared at her laptop, willing them to say more. But the wall of silence descended again.
A sense of unease crept up her spine. This didn’t feel right.
Nathaniel’s guards had been talking non-stop for days. All of a sudden they were far too quiet. It was as if Nathaniel knew they were listening. As if he was taunting them.
Everyone fell silent as they waited for any sound from Nathaniel’s guards. Any clue as to what they were planning.
In the quiet, they all heard the footsteps pounding down the hall, growing steadily closer. The door flew open with such violence, Sylvain had to jump out of the way.
It was Eloise. She looked winded and pale.
‘It’s Nathaniel.’ She looked at Isabelle. ‘He’s here.’
14
The room erupted.
Voices tumbled over voices in a chorus of panic.
‘What?’
‘Where?’
‘How did he get in the building?’
Allie found herself standing, although she had no memory of leaving her seat. She felt numb with fear; her hands had turned to ice.
Isabelle and Zelazny huddled with Eloise by the door. Seconds later, Zelazny sprinted from the room, Eloise right on his heels.
‘I need everyone to be calm.’ The headmistress held up her hands for quiet.
Slowly the room fell silent.
‘Nathaniel is outside the gate. He is not on the grounds.’ Isabelle surveyed the room. ‘We have been here before. I need everyone to follow protocol for this. Security team, please report to Raj. Night School students – Zelazny and Eloise will coordinate. For the moment, I need you all to stay inside the building. Nathaniel has asked to speak with me.’ Her eyes searched the group until they found Allie face. ‘And Allie.’
There was a collective intake of breath.
‘Allie… no,’ Rachel whispered.
But Allie didn’t hesitate. She jumped to her feet and crossed the room to join the headmistress.
The headmistress studied her, concern clouding her eyes. ‘I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this situation is.’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘We have no idea what he’s planning. You don’t have to come with me. Nathaniel has no right to ask that of you and neither do I.’
Allie thought of Carter, shoving her into the car. Slamming the door behind her. Knowing he’d be left behind.
He’s not the only one who can be stupidly brave.
‘I’m going with you.’ Her voice emerged strong and steady. ‘I’m not afraid.’
The look Isabelle gave her then was bittersweet. ‘And to think, I just promised your mother I’d keep you safe.’
They turned towards the door, but then Sylvain stepped between them, his eyes blazing. ‘You can’t do this, Isabelle. You can’t take Allie out there. It’s incredibly dangerous.’
Allie opened her mouth to argue, but Isabelle didn’t give her the chance.
‘Sylvain, Allie is neither your possession nor your responsibility.’ Her words sliced through the air. ‘Nor is she mine. She’s quite capable of making her own decisions. Now, let us get on with what we have to do.’
Allie was astonished. She’d never heard the headmistress speak to Sylvain like that. She’d always treated him like an equal.
Colour rising to his face, Sylvain pivoted towards Allie. ‘Don’t do this,’ he pleaded. ‘Don’t you understand? You can’t trust Nathaniel. He could kill you.’
Allie’s fury flared. There was a time when his protectiveness made her feel safe. Now it seemed insulting. Didn’t he know that she could look out for herself? Didn’t he understand how much she’d learned?
‘I’m not an idiot, Sylvain,’ she snapped. ‘I know how dangerous this is. I don’t need your advice.’
She saw the hurt in his eyes and felt the quick sting of remorse. Then Isabelle pulled her away.
‘We must hurry, Allie.’
Together they ran from the room. Soon Sylvain was forgotten behind them.
Allie kept her focus on Carter. He could be outside right now.
She clung to that hope as Isabelle talked low and fast. ‘There are five vehicles, each holding at least four guards. Eloise believes Nathaniel is among them.’
‘What about Carter?’
‘No one has seen him. But it’s dark.’ Isabelle glanced at her. ‘He could be there.’
They ran down the stairs, their voices echoing. Below, Allie could hear the rapid-fire footsteps of the guards racing into position. Her heart thudded hard in her chest.
She loved this feeling. The adrenaline. The danger.
She felt wide awake for the first time in days.
‘Is there anything else I should know?’
Isabelle’s lips tightened. ‘Nathaniel says he has a message for you. He insists on giving it to you directly. That’s the only reason I’m willing to put you in such danger right now.’ She looked away. ‘He hasn’t left me any choice.’
They reached the foot of the staircase and headed down the hallway at a run. In the shadows around them Allie could hear the sound of activity – people rushing in all directions, urgent voices, doors slamming.
The front door stood open. Dozens of guards were on the lawn, scanning the grounds through night-vision binoculars.
Zelazny intercepted them as they turned into the drive. ‘Everyone’s in place.’ His eyes darted from Isabelle to Allie and back again. Perspiration dotted his high forehead. He lowered his voice, directing his words at Isabelle. ‘I don’t like this. The situation’s too fluid. We don’t know what he’s up to.’
‘I’m aware of all of this, August,’ Isabelle said evenly. ‘Keep the students safe. I’ll look out for Allie.’
Without waiting for his response, she headed down the long, gravel drive. Allie hurried after her.
She kept trying to think of more questions – there had to be more to know. A better way to prepare. They hadn’t even changed into Night School clothes. Isabelle wore black trousers and a white silk blouse. Her office shoes were all wrong for running. Allie was still in her school uniform.
There was no moon tonight. The darkness was so complete, they could barely make out the road ahead.
It was nearly a mile to the front gate. Their steps took on a kind of rhythmic synchronicity. Despite her shoes, Isabelle ran with fluid ease. Her hair had begun to spring loose from the clips that held it back; stray golden-brown strands tumbled into her eyes.
‘Do you think,’ Allie asked after a long time had passed, ‘this is a trap?’
Isabelle didn’t reply immediately. ‘Probably,’ she said after a moment. ‘With Nathaniel, everything’s a trap.’ Unexpectedly, she smiled. ‘In a strange way, he’s predictable.’
It was an odd response. Even after what had happened to Lucinda, Nathaniel didn’t seem to intimidate her. He seemed, more than anything, to disappoint her.
But then Allie thought of Christopher. Her own brother had sided with Nathaniel, but then saved her from his thugs in London. He’d helped her escape. Maybe Isabelle’s relationship with her stepbrother was just as conflicted as Allie’s own.
Suddenly, she saw something in the distance. A faint, sulphurous glow flickered through the trees. Allie squinted at the light, trying to understand what she was looking at. Then it struck her.
Headlights.
Soon they were close enough to see the source. Several large vehicles, arrayed in a row, faced the school’s intimidating front gate. She recognised the biggest one – the huge tank-like vehicle that had pursued them on the way back from London.
Her stomach flip-flopped. The thing was so big – surely Nathaniel could just bash through the fence with it if he wanted.
The closer she got to the fence line, the less she could see. After the darkness, the light was blinding.
Shading her eyes with one hand, she peered into the glare. She thought she could make out figures facing them but she couldn’t tell if they were men or women, armed or unarmed.
<
br /> ‘Nice trick, Nathaniel.’ Isabelle’s voice rang out in the silence. ‘Turn off the lights.’
For a moment nothing happened. Then all the lights went off at once.
Now Allie was even more blind. She blinked hard but it was as if a curtain had fallen, hiding everything.
She stopped walking. She didn’t dare take a step.
She felt helpless. Exposed.
‘Stay close.’ Isabelle’s whisper came from the darkness right next to her; Allie couldn’t see her at all.
How am I going to stay close if I don’t know where you are? she thought.
‘What do you want Nathaniel?’ Isabelle asked from a few feet away. Allie took a cautious step towards the sound. ‘There’s no need for all this drama.’
‘Aren’t you glad to see me, Isabelle? How disappointing.’ Nathaniel’s familiar voice sent ice into Allie’s veins. ‘I’ve brought you a present.’
‘It’s not my birthday,’ Isabelle said with veiled sarcasm. ‘You didn’t have to bring anything.’
‘Oh, but I did.’
Allie’s vision began to clear. She could make out a hazy image of the scene on the other side of the fence. There were about ten large men. They appeared to be pulling something from a car.
On the other side of the fence from this group, she and Isabelle were alone. Surreptitiously, Allie peered around, looking for any sign of Raj’s guards nearby – but she saw no one.
They had to be there, though. Somewhere.
Nathaniel’s guards shoved two men towards the gate. They were handcuffed and blindfolded. Each wore the distinctive black gear of Raj’s security team.
‘I’ve brought your men back,’ Nathaniel said, a touch of glee in his voice. ‘A peace offering.’
He was as handsome as ever. His dark hair was neatly combed, his expensive tie perfectly straight. He might have been going to a business meeting, instead of a nocturnal prisoner exchange. But Allie knew better than to underestimate him. There was nothing ordinary about Nathaniel.
The guards surrounding him all, like him, wore dark suits and ties. As far as Allie could tell, all were male, with short hair. She scanned their prisoners quickly, searching for Carter.