I felt better in the morning when we received word that Porter was recovering. And when we loaded the bus, Liam was on it. Even though he probably hated me, I was relieved to see him. Surely if he really was being accused of planting the Factum Virtus, someone would have come for him by now. I boarded the bus with more baggage, both figurative and literal, than I’d left with at the start of the week.
I had no idea what to think anymore, and I felt myself slipping into shutdown mode when I looked at Liam, Bradley, Naomi, even Seth and Maddie who squeezed into a seat together toward the back. I couldn’t work out how everyone fit together, couldn’t understand even the most subtle connection between Alistair, Clayton, and now Porter.
Maybe everyone was right. Maybe it was time to give up and move on, let other people clean up these messes. But all I could think about was getting called to another emergency meeting, seeing some terrible message on Amicus, watching my parents shrivel under the news of one more tragedy. And then I found myself right back where I started. But for now, with everyone crammed on the bus, Liam was safe, we all were safe, and that had to count for something.
I just wished I hadn’t ever found Grace’s message.
I felt a slight tug on my bright red hair and turned to find Naomi peeking through the crack in the bus seat.
“Hey,” she said. Her face was unreadable. “I have no idea what’s going on, but I want you to know that I’m here for you. Everyone is. We all just want to help.”
Right, I thought. Just as soon as you achieve Conventus.
“Liam has nothing to do with any of this, Naomi. Just leave him out of it. Please, just leave him alone.” My dad’s head bobbed in the seat we shared. Most people were dozing after the crazy events of the previous night stole everyone’s sleep. I was wide awake.
“You just…I just wish you understood, but you never can, Kate. Everything is so complicated, and I know this stuff with Liam doesn’t make it any easier, but you have to take a step back. For you.”
She had to be kidding. I raised my eyebrows and nodded. So that’s how she wanted to play. A quote from Grace’s journal entry was on the tip of my tongue, but I wasn’t ready to tip my hand just yet. At this point, I wanted Naomi to think I was a complete idiot.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
She smiled and started gathering up her stuff. We were home. Well, almost home anyway.
And that’s when I saw it.
When we pulled down the lane onto Pemberly Brown’s main campus, I blinked in rapid succession, willing the scene in front of me to dissipate like fog.
I blinked again.
I was seeing things. I had to be seeing things.
But it was still there.
A police car parked in front of the school, silent and ominous.
Maybe there was a break-in at the school. Or maybe it was just an alumnus stopping by to walk through campus. Maybe someone had pulled the fire alarm or dialed in a bomb threat.
But deep down I knew the truth, and when I saw Ms. D. standing next to the uniformed officer, it was confirmed.
The bus rolled to a stop, and moments later, the police officer and Ms. D. were talking to the driver and then making an announcement.
“Everyone please stay seated.” The police officer’s voice rang with quiet authority. “Liam Gilmour?” My stomach dropped when Ms. D. called his name. This couldn’t be happening. Porter was wrong. This was a huge mistake. It had to be.
I pushed out of my seat and up the aisle to explain. “Wait!” I shouted to no one. To everyone.
“Miss, I’m sorry, but you need to go back to your seat immediately.” The police officer’s hand squeezed my shoulder just a little too hard.
“But you don’t understand. I need to talk to Ms…er… Headmistress Bower. I need to explain. Liam isn’t the person she’s looking for. I just need more time.”
The policeman gave me a stern look and then turned to my father. “Please control this student.”
“Yes, sir.” My dad’s arm snaked across my lap like a seat belt.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed. “This is why you’re always in trouble, Kate. I know you care about Liam, but you need to let him fight his own battles.”
Tears sprung in my eyes as I watched Liam walk slowly up to the front of the bus, only to be led outside into the waiting police car with Ms. D.
The problem was that Liam wasn’t in trouble for fighting his own battles. He was in trouble for fighting mine.