Soraya

 

“Come on in and take a seat,” he’d said.

Oh, shit. I almost said.

I couldn’t take a seat. Not in his classroom.

But what was I supposed to do? Leave? Run? Would that be too obvious?

Desmond Devoy is teaching this class? What are the chances? How did this happen?!

I hadn’t even bothered to read anything beyond the classroom number as I was still infuriated at being reassigned to the northeast. Add that to last night’s disaster with the vigilante, I’d been in no mood to slog through the slush to get to my first of two undercover classes.

Why had I been given his class? Was he involved? My eyes narrowed. Was this Piper?

“Hi,” Desmond said, with a little wave. “Miss, can you please take a seat?”

Snapping back to reality, I kept my scarf up to my nose as I moved past him, then I stopped again and gave him a once-over. I couldn’t help myself.

“Armani and Tims,” I said out loud, impressed. “Bold.”

A well-dressed man was as rare as a sale at Sephora. Professor Devoy did have a sartorial eye, I’d been told as much by Piper. However, I’d secretly thought my cousin had been exaggerating to pique my interest.

But here he was, wearing dark gray slacks and a sports jacket, with a lighter gray undershirt. And heavy, waterproof boots. It was professional with an edge of militancy.

Add that to his wire-rimmed glasses, broad shoulders and a strong chest filling his clothes to the seams, he could have been imposing. But Desmond Devoy was genial and open, with zero thought to how sexy he was.

And I was suddenly surprised to find that kind of sexy. There was no arrogance in his dark face at how handsome and built he was. Only intelligence, kindness, and patience.

I took Desmond Devoy in fully in that second and suddenly I wanted to take this class.

We were standing almost face to face and an amused, patient look flitted across his face at my words. He thought I was trying to compliment my way out of trouble.

“First day you get a pass,” he said gently and nodded his head to the side.

Swallowing as heat rushed up my neck, I scuttled to a seat and sat down. Desmond, no, Professor Devoy in here, began to talk and the girl next to me leaned in all sympathy.

“Green Line?” she whispered and I nodded. “Can’t take that in the rain, snow or sunshine, sweetheart.” Her thick accent made the R into a flat ah sound. A Boston native. “Try getting’ the shuttle or walkin’. That’s your best bet.”

Nodding, I noticed Professor Devoy giving us side-eye and I seized up my bag. I suddenly felt twenty-three instead of thirty-three. I knew I had a baby-face, people sometimes thought Talori and I were the same age, but I still had to be careful here.

Heart beating a little strangely, I eyed Professor Devoy and wondered if he’d seen pictures of me. Would he recognize me? I looked a lot like my mother, whereas Talori and Enele looked like our father. But still, there was a “Lafi look,” as my family called it. Something that most people could pick up when we were all together and could see we were related.

He could blow my cover.

But I couldn’t sit here with a scarf over my face, no matter how cold I was. Taking a deep breath, I reached up and plucked it off my face, then removed my hat and quickly took out my glasses. Adjusting them, I glanced around the room. I saw a few glances flick to me and most of the males did a double take. Inwardly, I sighed. I was used to it by now, but sometimes it was irking.

Professor Devoy was walking around and handing out syllabi. I met his eyes as he handed me mine, poised and expectant. But he merely gave me a friendly smile and kept walking.

Huh. I should be relieved – it didn’t seem like he’d recognized me – but why did I feel disappointed? I was brimming over with it, in fact.

Settling back in the chair, I couldn’t understand it. He’d looked at me like I was anybody else. No little smirk or raised eyebrows. No look of stunned amazement or just looking too long.

Nothing.

Oh, God, what was wrong with me? First, I didn't want that attention and now I did? I had to get a grip here – even I knew when I was being way too unreasonable.

Pulling out a notebook and a pencil, I realized I was the only one and I winced, hoping that wouldn’t make me stand out all the more. But I preferred old-school note-taking to a laptop.

What’s wrong with old school?

The voice came into my brain and I almost snapped the pencil I was holding in half. Oh, that damn King Cheetah vigilante. He was going to get his.

“Mya Eames?” Professor Devoy called out.

“Me,” I said, head flying up. “I mean, I’m here.”

He chuckled. “Good to know. Robert Fairhaven?”

“Yo, Professor D,” said a boy lounging in the back row. I glanced at him and he shot me a wink, causing me to roll my eyes.

Boy, you are so out of your league and age group, I thought.

At that moment, my phone buzzed and I fished it out surreptitiously.

Nothing yet on Crane. Enele had texted me and my face twisted.

In spite of myself, I had my brother looking into what the vigilante had said. Something about it didn’t sit well with me. How had he known we had Crane in custody?

In fact, I had so many questions about that damn vigilante, I’d spent most of my night writing them down instead of sleeping.

“Phones away, please,” Professor Devoy said, standing over me and I winced, shoving it away. “Now, let’s take a stroll back in time. In a place now called the Omo Valley, in Ethiopia.” He continued on, telling us about the people who lived there and the stories they told.

My hands were on my chin and I listened, entranced as he wove us a lecture that was more a story than anything else. I almost forgot to take notes.

It was like he’d taken us to that place – stepping through the cool waters of the wide river, walking on the sunbaked earth and slipping through the thick trees.

I wasn’t the only one who started when he announced, “And that’s it for today.”

The class surged to their feet as Professor Devoy leaned back against the table in the front, nodding as we exited. Fumbling with my scarf, mittens, and hat, I wound up being the last one out the door. I paused for a second, glancing back at him in spite of myself.

His phone went off and he looked down at it. Then he lifted his head and smiled.

Not his friendly professional professor smile, but one with a provoking edge to it. Mysterious and secretive. It changed his face, making the good teacher smolder as his hazel eyes danced. Running a hand over his head, Professor Devoy looked satisfied, as though he’d just found out something too delicious not to share, but wouldn’t. Couldn’t, maybe.

I want to know what that secret is.

Almost squeaking on the way out, I got a grip and ran.

 

A few days later, I was enjoying a break from the mix of ice and rain, even if the wind racing down the street was so cold it almost felt like a hot knife to the skin. Sipping a smoothie, I was perched on the top of a low apartment building and waiting.

Today was Friday. I had no classes but should have either been researching my paper or doing Anubis intel reports. But I was not doing either of those things.

Instead, was watching Desmond Devoy for the fourth day in a row. Making note of his movements and trying to spot if there was any connection to him and me being in this city at the same time. Wondering if I should tell everyone back in California he seemed okay after Bear Valley. Living his life and working.

Piper and Kesari had been sure there was a definitive and important reason Desmond had taken off after Bear Valley. My brother, Balt, Roy and Kai hadn’t been so sure.

Isla, Talori and I had wisely stayed out of it. Me, because I was the only one who hadn't met him. But now, at least, I could understand their worry.

I’d learned a lot about Desmond in the last few days. How considerate and gallant he was, holding doors, giving out compliments and easily striking up conversations. He was a good friend and they missed him.

Desmond was also normal. It was like peering into another world following him around. One where things weren't hemmed in by dark memories, bitter enemies, and ancient secrets. He got coffee at the same café every morning, went to work, hit the gym, and spent quiet evenings at home.

I found myself filled with envy at that. Deep down, as much as I hated being pulled from the front lines, I’d been craving peace. Not that I felt I deserved it, but I wanted it.

Somehow, with Desmond, I had a sense of it. Not having it, exactly, but close enough to feel the light on my face and the cool relief on my broken heart.

Tomorrow was the weekend and I knew I had work to catch up on, even if I wanted to continue to spy on Desmond. I also had a vigilante to catch, but he’d been curiously absent the last few days.

Ugh, there was nothing I hated more than a drawn-out game of cat and mouse.

At that moment, Desmond left his apartment and jogged down the steps. Shouldering his bag, he adjusted his winter hat, gloves, and glasses then set off down the street. I slunk along the rooftops, keeping an eye on him and hurrying. But he was in no rush. Got coffee and then continued heading into the heart of Cambridge, the neighborhood adjacent to Boston where he worked.

The buildings petered out and I was forced to make my way down the sidewalk, almost losing Desmond as the sidewalks became more crowded. He then ducked under a brick archway and a moment later, I did too, entering Harvard’s campus.

Turning, I saw him jog up a set of steps, pulling out an ID card and vanishing inside.

Dammit, I thought. What did I do now? Risk sneaking in or wait him out?

Or go home and admit this was a waste of time? Desmond Devoy wasn’t up to anything. This alone proved that. Who went to a library on their day off?

Piper and Talori would, chided a voice in my head that sounded like my mother’s.

I made a face at the building, apologizing in my head. It wasn’t that I’d been hoping Desmond would maybe hang around that café today and I could have casually bumped into him. Maybe told him who I was.

I blinked and shook my head. Woah, hell no. I couldn’t do that.

Deep in my pocket, my phone buzzed against my leg and I pulled out with a sigh.

“Hi, bro,” I said, turning and heading back the way I came.

"I do not know what to make of this, so I think you shouldn't jump to conclusions either," Enele said, his voice harried and breathless, like he was walking fast. "I'm on my way to tell Balt."

“Tell Balt what?” I demanded. “Enele, don’t go bothering him about this stuff – Piper just gave birth two weeks ago!”

“Dr. Crane is gone, sis,” Enele said grimly.

I stopped short and someone almost walked into me. Apologizing, I ducked into the doorway of a store not yet open and said, “Say that again.”

“He is gone. Not in SOA custody and for who knows how long," Enele said. "And the thing is if you look at the books, he is still in custody. Only he's not. His cell is empty and hasn't been used in a while, I can tell you that much.”

“Enele, are you sure?” I asked, biting my lip. I couldn’t understand it. “That’s impossible. How could he have gotten out from a SOA prison?”

“Sora, I saw it with my own eyes,” he said in a tight voice. “I had to sneak in there, but I saw it. And I double-checked every piece of paperwork we have on him. Everyone thinks he’s still there and being interrogated daily, but hasn’t given anything up.” He let out a short bark of laughter. “Well, how could he? He’s long gone.”

“I’m not sure if you should tell Balt,” I said quickly, my heart squeezing.

“We can’t coddle them because they’re new parents, Soraya,” he said flatly and I bristled. “They are the team who was handling the TLO up until the twins. And I want to hear what they have to say before I go the Heads.” He paused. “If I go to the Heads.”

“If?” I asked.

“I’ve been hearing rumors,” Enele said. But before I could ask him to explain himself, he abruptly said, “Listen, sis, I gotta go. I’ll tell Balt first, okay? He can make the call to tell Pi.”

With that, he hung up and I stared around, almost surprised to see myself in Cambridge.

I should have been home. There was so much to do. And Piper was a new mother – of all the times not to be with my family…

Dr. Crane is out.

I leaned back against the cool brick and let out a shaky sigh. Dr. Crane, the snake charmer who’d kidnapped my cousin Kai, then later Piper. One of the foul henchmen of Lilian Frost and the TLO. I knew his rap sheet. I’d expected Piper and I would be the ones to interrogate him.

Once we’d taken him in, it was a different story. We hadn’t seen him again. I’d been told it was because Piper was on probation and I was being sent back out, but now I had to wonder.

Why were we sent out of the country?

Does it have anything to do with the rumors Enele is hearing?

And where is Crane now?