I lean back, arms stretched. “They loved it.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing.”
I don’t answer.
He opens the box, takes a bite. “So what now?”
“I need to soften my image,” I say.
“You taught puppies and crackers, boss. That’s pretty damn soft.”
“Not enough. Kairo’s still watching me like I’m going to smuggle napalm in my briefcase.”
“She’s not wrong.”
I give him a look.
He shrugs. “Okay, okay. What about a field trip?”
I blink. “What?”
“Take the kids somewhere. Show you’re invested in their education. Plus, it gives you a chance to interact with Kairo more. You think she’s gonna let you cart Ben across town without a permission slip signed in blood?”
I smirk. “Not a bad idea.”
“Maybe someplace safe. No weapons. No suspicious crates.”
“You’re killing me.”
“Hey,” he says, wiping his mouth. “You’re the one who said no murders this week.”
“I meant it.”
He eyes me. “You good?”
I pause.
Then nod.
“Yeah. For once… I think I am.”
CHAPTER 7
KAIRO
It starts with a knock on the door of my office, soft but persistent, like whoever’s knocking already knows I’m going to be annoyed.
I glance up from my terminal, where the blinking cursor on my draft article mocks me for pretending to care about zoning laws on Haven-7 when my brain’s spinning like a jumpdrive on max. I know who it is before I see her.
Principal Jennings pops her head in, hair askew, half a salad leaf clinging to her blouse.
“Field trip forms,” she says brightly, too brightly.
“Field trip?” I echo, because I’m not awake enough to pretend yet.
“Your son’s charming new instructor has planned one. Thought I’d deliver these directly so they don’t get lost in a backpack full of snack crumbs and smuggled space beetles.” She sets the stack of forms on my desk with a flourish.
My fingers twitch. I don’t touch them.
