only warmth in the house. Geraldine watched her daughters pack their bags at the counter. Reen

ng looke

world ha

to bed last night.

ught. "Mom, can we come home early t

aldine said, lowering

teacher." Lovia's

ft, "Some boys were bo

rt clenched. "W

the playground, saying weird stu

e teach

on't think so. Lovia

ping her hands. "Sweetheart, you always tell me when s

but wouldn't

d whispered, "No one touches yo

ve away. Instead, she parked down the street, eyes fixed on t

dw

me from the

st another piece i

rom Principal Harris in his sterile office,

cident yesterday," he s

waver. "Then the teachers are

nd your con

ready be an investigation. Cameras. Questions. Instead,

ying seriously, but your husband has always instructe

art dr

nd gave t

just unlocked. "Yes, ma'am. He said to in

purse. "Consider this major. An

nds were trembling. How deep did Bekett's co

ed answe

were asleep before dialing the number Lachlan

he drawled. "Cou

yourself. I nee

umed a

wood is. All of it. Not

the other end befo

a fr

r w

s. Shell corporations. The school is part of it-clean laundering. A networ

oat dried. "And

ironically. The school's pro

"He's using our kids

sing ev

it take to

have. And ever

y," she w

ed softly. "Yo

ck car followed Geraldi

iscre

n't speed. Just stayed clos

lled B

n't pi

. On the third r

" she snapped bef

"You've been poking aro

g in a lie. What

plia

arried the w

I married the right woman.

lence scream louder than her w

She walked the halls barefoot, the estate dar

he paused. The glass d

art st

n't ope

echoed b

ng-only to find Lovia in her nigh

om

ily and knelt. "Baby,

omeone in

with one arm wrapped tight around her. She pressed the panic

ree armed guards were

g was

ne knew wha

arn

d at the doorway long after they were

d war, she woul