CHAPTER 34

HUDSON DIDN’T SEE MAGGIE again until history. Which was a good thing. She’d asked way too many questions at lunch. And he wasn’t so sure his tactic of laughing her accusation off really worked. Would she talk to somebody in the office about her suspicions? Or had she done that already? The period dragged by.

The only thing in Hudson’s favor with Mr. Cutter’s seating arrangement was the fact that Maggie sat a couple of seats ahead of him. At least Hudson could keep an eye on her here.

If she’d already ratted him out, wouldn’t he have been called down to the office by now? Mr. Cutter stood in front of the board, writing a new assignment with a red marker. Hudson checked the time. Fifteen stinking minutes until he’d be free. And if the office didn’t figure out today who was involved in the fight, there’d likely be less emphasis on it tomorrow.

Keep telling yourself that, Hudson.

Maggie looked back at him. Through him was a better word for it. That same look she’d had when she named him as being the one who’d been beat up. Like she was trying to make him react and somehow confirm her suspicions. He smiled. Nice try, Maggie.

The classroom door opened partway, and the principal poked her head inside. Mrs. Jackson motioned for Mr. Cutter to join her in the hall.

Uh-oh.

“Excuse me, class.” Mr. Cutter left the room and closed the door behind him. Like a switch had been flipped, the kids came alive. Some got out of their seats and walked to the windows or to a friend’s desk. Hudson stayed put. Pancake followed his lead.

Kat was on her feet and sauntered over to Maggie. “So who’s your new friend?”

Maggie looked confused. “I don’t have a new friend.” She looked past Kat and spoke directly toward Giovanna. “I don’t even have an old one.”

Hudson smiled. Inside anyway. Nice shot, Maggie.

“Really?” Kat jerked her head, making her hair sweep over her shoulder.

It was one of those moves that pretty girls with long hair did to get attention. As if their drop-dead gorgeous hair was nothing more to them than a nuisance.

Maggie looked toward the door. Probably hoping Mr. Cutter would come back and put an end to this. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Kat gave her a look of disbelief. “Robin Hood?”

Maggie smiled. “Oh, that friend. I heard about him. The one who likes my shoes.” She lifted one foot and waggled it.

“Who is he?”

Maggie pretended to lock her lips with an invisible key. But the smile was still there. In that moment Hudson knew Robin Hood would be back for another visit. Actually, it would fit perfectly into the plan he’d been turning over in his head all day.

Mr. Cutter stepped back inside the room and closed the door. “Back in your seats, savage beasts.”

Hudson held his breath. Checked the clock. Ten lousy minutes until the liberty bell. Did Mr. Cutter know?

“Park it, Katrina.” Mr. Cutter motioned her back to her seat as if he knew how miserable she made Maggie. Cutter didn’t miss much.

Kat did that hair thing again and took her seat.

Mr. Cutter stepped up to the smart board and uncapped his marker like nothing had happened. “Early this morning I went through my emails and read the essays you turned in. How does a country attain peace in a hostile world? I found the papers very interesting —but one in particular.”

Hudson scanned the class. Mr. Cutter definitely had everyone’s attention.

“Most of the papers were short, and that was okay.” He started pacing. “But one of you nailed it in only three words. Three.”

Laughs and chatter echoed through the room. Hudson slunk lower in his seat.

“Three words?” Alexa said. “Let me guess. I don’t know. That’s three.” She nodded and looked around like she was trying to raise support.

Mr. Cutter shook his head.

“What were they?”

Others joined in.

Mr. Cutter stepped back to the board. “How does a country attain peace in a hostile world?” He uncapped the marker and scanned the room slowly until he was sure he had everyone’s attention. He wrote in all caps: PREPARE FOR WAR.

The class was buzzing again. Hudson stayed slouched in his seat. Great to know he’d gotten it right. But it wouldn’t be so great for everyone to know it was his paper.

Mr. Cutter spent the next few minutes explaining through history why preparing for war was a solid way to keep peace.

Hudson kept thinking about getting home in one piece today. Did whatever Mrs. Jackson say to Mr. Cutter have anything to do with him?

Mr. Cutter glanced at the clock. “Wish we had ten more minutes to talk about this. Time to pack it up.” He turned back to his desk.

At least Mr. Cutter didn’t say who wrote the paper despite Kat, Wolfe, and a chorus of others asking. Hudson didn’t want the attention. He had a plan, but the chances for success were iffy at best. His only hope was to stay under the radar. Undetected. He didn’t want to be labeled as someone preparing for war . . . even though he was.