CHAPTER 42

PANCAKE STEPPED INSIDE the cafeteria and got his first glimpse of Zattora. The guy had some nasty bruising across his nose and under both eyes. Pancake forced himself not to stare . . . or smile. Unfortunately his schnoz didn’t have the farmyard quality of Skirt’s, but it definitely looked bigger than before. He sat down at the lunch table with Maggie.

“Why are you so happy?” Maggie asked.

So much for him hiding the smile. “I just saw something funny.”

She looked past him. “Where’s Hudson?”

“Mr. Cutter pulled him aside for a chat.”

Maggie gave him a curious look. “That’s kind of strange, don’t you think?”

Pancake looked back at the doors. What was strange was that Hudson and Pancake hadn’t been hauled into the office before this. Maybe their luck was running out.

She uncapped her water and took a sip. “When he stood up to the pack like that, I knew they’d get him back. But seven against one? He didn’t have a chance, did he.”

Pancake sighed. Yesterday, she’d been guessing. But now she stated it like it was a fact. How she knew, he had no idea. The best he could do was make sure she kept quiet. “He wasn’t looking for trouble, and he doesn’t need more than he’s got. You’re not going to say anything, are you?”

Maggie shook her head.

They’d been so careful to keep their identity secret, but she’d figured it out. “How did you know?”

She smiled slightly. “I didn’t. Not for sure anyway. Until you said that.”

“What?” Pancake wanted to kick himself. Better yet, kick her.

“Sorry, Pancake.” She held up her hand. “I promise I won’t tell.”

“And I’m supposed to trust you —after that?”

Maggie nodded. “When he helped you Tuesday, I thought he was heroic. Then I thought maybe he was a bully too. Another Wolfe, but without a pack.”

“Hudson’s no bully.”

“I’m figuring that out.”

“And exactly what was your problem at the bike rack this morning?”

She waved him off. “It was stupid. Forget it. But I really appreciate what he did —what you both did with the shoes and spray paint.”

Pancake nodded. “Hudson was pretty hot about the things they were saying online. He wanted to show you support, like Robin Hood suggested.”

Maggie smiled slightly. “The paint was definitely creative.”

Pancake didn’t feel like eating before Hudson got there, but he pulled out his lunch anyway. He glanced back at the doors. Still no sign of him.

“I saw Zattora on my way in. Hudson do that?”

Pancake glared at her.

“I already told you, I’m not going to snitch.”

She seemed genuine enough. But she’d already gotten too much out of him.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Maggie smiled back. “You get bullied, and Hudson stands up to them. So they jump him the next day. It all fits. Is it over now?”

“What do you think, mind reader?”

She studied Pancake for a minute. “Hudson’s going to strike back somehow.”

Pancake wasn’t about to answer.

She took a bite of her sandwich. Chewed it slowly. “What does he want to do, start a war?”

“He wants to stop one. He wants to stop people who bully. Change them.”

Maggie worked the food to one cheek. “So you’re telling me this isn’t all about him making a power play?”

“Not a chance.”

She stopped chewing. “He’s doing this to help others? For real?”

Pancake nodded. “He’s logging the results and going to use it for the Creating Change project. Actually we’re working on it together.”

Maggie swallowed and washed the food down with more water. “This is too big. Someone’s going to get hurt.”

“Tell him that —but I don’t think it will do any good. He’s totally focused. He’s on a mission.”

Maggie glanced over at Wolfe’s table. “Yeah . . . a suicide mission.”