I’m finished, and I have to go to the bathroom,” the little girl in the front row said as she walked up and placed her test on Cara’s desk.
“All right, Diane. But no dilly-dallying. Go straight to the bathroom and come straight back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the girl replied.
Cara gave the girl a smile of encouragement and watched her leave the room. The shadows near the door seemed to waver and move. Cara felt her skin prickle, and the hair rose on her arms. Something wasn’t right.
Raven? Cara sent across space and time to find his mind.
Are you all right? What is wrong? Raven’s voice came into her head almost immediately. She could tell he was still in New Mexico.
I’m not sure. I feel like someone is near me, someone in the Shadow Dimension.
You are amazing, Cara. I’m not sure even our warriors would know someone is watching them from Shadow.
So someone is watching me? Cara asked indignantly.
Just to keep you safe, baby. Something has happened, but I would rather tell you in person. Are you free for lunch?
Yes, but, I don’t like this, Cara sent to Raven’s thoughts along with her feelings of frustration. What was going on that she needed to be watched?
I’ll explain at lunch. I promise, Raven was quick to reply.
§
A few hours later, Raven paced in front of the school. What should he tell Cara? Should he scare her and tell her she was in danger? Were he and Joe even sure Adar would come after her? If he didn’t tell her, would she be angry? Could he take the chance she might be caught unaware? No, if he warned her, she would have to accept his measures to keep her safe. He needed to tell her everything.
Making his decision, Raven turned to go into the school. He looked through the glass on the doors and saw Tyler Davidson duck back. So the principal was planning to spy on him? He would love to have it out with the man, but talking to Cara came first. Pasting a smile on his face, he opened the door and walked into the office to register. Davidson walked out of his office with a smirk on his face. Raven felt the hairs on his arms rise, he shivered with awareness of danger. There was something about the principal that seemed off. Davidson was gloating. What did he know that Raven didn’t?
“Mr. Darkwood? Here to escort Miss Hamilton to lunch, I see. Make sure she gets back in time. It would be a pity if she were late. Too many marks on her record, and her contract could be dissolved.”
“Miss Hamilton won’t be late. But if she did lose her job here, I am sure Isanti, Inc., could find her a new one,” Raven replied.
As Davidson turned and walked out of his office and down the hall, his eyes shot daggers at Raven.
The feeling of danger persisted. Something wasn’t right. Raven reached across time and space and touched the mind of Joe Running Bear.
Joe, run a check on Principal Davidson’s financials. See if anything fishy is going on.
I thought I took care of any problems when I visited him last week.
Something is not right. I feel danger, and it’s coming from Davidson, Raven sent.
Roger, that. I’ll get right on it.
Thanks, Joe.
What was Davidson up to? Why did Raven’s sixth sense scream danger around the man?
Raven reached Cara’s classroom as the lunch bell rang. Children came pouring out of the room. Cara was inside, admonishing her students to walk to the lunchroom. When the last child ran by, Raven peeked around the door.
“Hey, beautiful. Can I buy you lunch?”
“Since you asked me out, I guess you should pay,” Cara said, her eyes twinkling.
§
“What do you mean? Why would a group of terrorists be interested in me?” Cara asked.
How was this possible? The special lunch waiting in the back of the limo had been such a romantic gesture. Driving down Highway One to a turn-off by the ocean only added to the ambiance. Then, the champagne and brie, her favorite, with strawberries. She could get used to living this way. When Raven started to talk about spies and Iranian terrorists, it was too much.
“I’m sorry, honey. We never meant for this to happen.”
Wasn’t this her worst fear coming to life? When Raven had explained about the men in his tribe and their work for the government, she had understood it could be dangerous. But not dangerous to her.
“I think you need to take