Page 79 of Hidden Justice

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Page 79 of Hidden Justice

“Look…” I stop, hearing the secretary walk in with another pile of messages. I pause, swivel back to her, and nod. She does not smile back.

Gracie waits, understanding without me explaining that someone is here. This is the way we grew up. Everyone knows the super-secret society drill.

“Thanks, Dariana,” I say as theswooshof papers hits my desk. “Have a good night.”

Wordless, she leaves with the disgruntled scent of Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid trailing her. I don’t take offense at her non-reply. It’s been a long day for both of us, and her kids go here. She’s worried and as dissatisfied as everyone else with the answers being given.

At least, we’re making the right calls. Momma and the academy’s principal decided to close the school early for summer recess. Finals will be given online, and we’ll analyze and increase security during the off- summer months until this place is Fort Knox.

I wave away the perfume and lower my voice. “You read the article. What do you think it’s about?”

“I think we’re blaming our support of Sandesh and the IPT’s work in order to distract from The Guild and their operations.”

She’s no idiot. “It was Sandesh’s idea, just so you know.”

“Sure. But you jumped on it. I thought you cared about this guy, or was that a trick to convince him to join The Guild?”

“Hey!”

“Please. We all know you don’t do boyfriends, but you’ll use a guy and his work to perpetuate Momma’s global interests. He’s your built-in scapegoat. Really, that’s low.”

This is by far the most frustrating call I’ve had today. “You really think that little of me?”

She remains silent, answering me with her non-answer.

My throat goes tight. “You’re wrong, Gracie. To keep the kids safe, Sandesh told the FBI he had a history of confronting sex-slavers in Jordan. It was all his idea, and a good one. It doesn’t hurt him or his operation, because—guess what? It’s true. And if the FBI finds any link to Walid, this’ll make the most sense.”

“Sure, it’s all about keeping the kids safe.”

Byfar, the most annoying of my siblings. “Is there anything else, Gracie? Because I have to get back to my job.”

She pauses for a long, breathy moment.

Looks like I’m not the only person annoyed.

“Have you decided to follow the warning this bombing has conveyed?”

I sit forward, elbows on knees, head cocked to the right, phone clutched in my sweaty hand. My right eye starts to twitch. “What message is that?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? This is Walid forcing us to keep our heads down and stayinandatour school.”

Is it? It could be. Having the FBI and local law enforcement running around the school has made things difficult, limiting access to intel and the specialized equipment below-ground.

No one’s going anywhere near The Guild until the authorities combing this place leave. For now, all necessary research will be done aboveground or at Gracie’s club.

“Why would he want to scare us into circling the horses?”

“I think this first attack is meant to clear out the school, so Walid can launch the real offensive—reveal The Guild and take out those responsible for his brother’s death.”

Gracie has drawn some interesting conclusions about Walid’s mindset. Or the traitor figured it out because of her connection to Walid.

The sound of an engine firing up and a car fasten-your-seat beltbeep,beep,beeptells me Gracie is getting into her car.

“Hmm, good of you to provide Walid’s motivation and his future plans. Do you have a date and time you think he’ll be showing up?”

“Nice, J. I’m not setting you up. Just because I lob a common-sense grenade, make some obvious connections, you practically accuse me of being a traitor.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t accuse you of anything if you weren’t living alone at the club, keeping your distance from the family, and constantly criticizing us. Not to mention, mysteriously providing insights into Walid’s plans that are notobvious.”