Every so often his eyes met hers and his eyebrow arched questioningly. Each time she shook her head.
Not yet.
She knew from experience he only needed a minute to do what he was about to do. But if he was spotted it would be disastrous; she had to be certain it was safe.
Finally, the hallway went quiet. Twisting her neck, Allie checked the stairs and the corridor behind them. Empty. She turned back to where Carter waited, poised.
‘Now,’ she said.
Moving with swift confidence he bent over the lock to Isabelle’s office door and inserted a shiny metal pin.
As he worked, Allie stood beside him, blocking him from view as she watched the empty corridor for any sign of activity.
‘Still clear?’ he murmured without looking up. Glancing down, she had to admire the way – even under pressure – his steady hands worked the pin in the lock.
‘Uh-huh.’
The hallway was so quiet, the click the lock made when it gave seemed to echo.
‘They really should replace this lock,’ Carter said softly, as the door swung open. ‘It’s too easy.’
Slipping inside, they closed the door behind them.
The windowless room was very dark. The noises of the building were muted here; the quiet was unnerving. Allie could barely make out Carter’s shape but she could hear the sound of his even breathing.
She moved swiftly, dropping her blazer from her shoulders, stuffing it into the crack underneath the door.
Feeling his way around the furniture, Carter flipped on the brass desk light and the room leapt into life.
In the yellow glow, he met her gaze and pointed at the desk. ‘Let’s start here.’
As usual the imposing, mahogany desk was covered in stacks of paper and they looked through them hurriedly for anything about Eloise or Nathaniel. Anything that could give them some idea what was happening right now.
With no idea when the headmistress might return – or even where she was – they had to be quick. Getting caught would be the end of everything for both of them.
For ten minutes they searched in silence. Most of the papers were English essays the headmistress had been reviewing or normal school paperwork, bills and accounts. Nothing useful at all.
As Allie opened a file that proved to contain only utility bills, Carter stopped her. ‘Here.’
Looking up she saw he was reading something hand-written on a sheet of white paper.
‘What is it?’ He lowered the paper so she could see.
‘It’s the allegations against Eloise.’
The page held a numbered list of charges in square, precise handwriting, mostly related to the fact that she said she was alone on many of the dates and times Nathaniel’s spy was suspected to be active.
‘Look at that,’ Allie whispered, pointing at the page. ‘It ignores the fact that she couldn’t have got in the chapel to light those candles before we got there.’
‘It’s Zelazny’s handwriting.’ Carter’s tone was flat.
She looked up at him doubtfully. ‘Do you think…?’
He shrugged, his lips in a tight line. ‘If he’s accusing her… I have to wonder if he’s got something to gain by doing it. The real spy knows it’s not her.’
His words gave Allie that same sensation she’d had earlier of having ice at her core, and she shivered. ‘It’s just… hard to believe. Zelazny seems so loyal.’
In the glow of the desk lamp, Carter’s eyes were fathomless. ‘I don’t trust anyone any more.’
Unsure of how to reply to that, Allie turned back to the papers on the desktop.
The history teacher was grumpy, yes, and a stickler for the rules. But he’d always seemed like the most rock-solid of all the teachers. The one who never shifted. Utterly loyal to the school.
How could he possibly…
Her mind in a whirl, she was half looking at papers relating to the school’s accounts when something about the numbers struck her. Picking up a page she held it closer to the light.
‘Carter,’ she whispered, ‘this is weird.’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s just… Are we broke?’
‘Broke?’ He frowned, reaching for the paper. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Look here…’ She pointed at the bottom line. ‘It says the school has negative three hundred and seventy-four thousand pounds in its accounts. That’s a lot of minuses.’
He scanned the paper quickly and shook his head. ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘That’s not possible.’
But Allie was looking at another paper now. ‘Wait. Look at this one.’
She read aloud: ‘… as nearly half the parents have failed to pay their fees this term, I’m depositing the necessary funds into Cimmeria’s account to make up the difference. However, this indicates that Nathaniel is preparing to make a move during this term. Thus we must increase our efforts to stop him and his group before this can occur. Otherwise, the school could be destroyed. And the organisation lost to us.’
The letter was signed with Lucinda’s sweeping signature.
‘So they knew this was coming,’ Allie said. ‘That’s why they’re all hoping they’ve caught the spy.’
Carter met her gaze. ‘They think it’s their only chance to stop it.’
When he reached for the page to read it again, his fingers brushed against hers, causing an electric spark and Allie jumped back, letting go of the paper. The page floated to the floor.
‘Sorry,’ they both said simultaneously, bending over to pick it up at the exact same moment and hitting heads with a cracking sound.
Clutching her head, Allie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she reeled away from him.
Carter held his own temple. ‘Are you OK?’
Though her head was throbbing, Allie gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘I’m fine, I think.’
But as she ran her fingers through her hair she felt a lump beginning to rise. It was sensitive to touch and she hissed from the pain. Seeing this, Carter’s face darkened with concern.
‘What is it? Let me see.’
‘No, I’m fine, really…’ Allie demurred, but he shook his head sternly.
‘Come on. Let Dr Carter have a look.’ He held the lamp up close to her head and, with a touch as soft as silk, parted her hair.
Allie stayed very still – afraid if she moved he’d stop. And go back to ignoring her.
He whistled softly. ‘That’s a nice goose egg you’ve got there, Sheridan.’
She shot him an ironic look. ‘Will I make it, doctor?’
His replying smile made his eyes crinkle.
It was just the way things used to be between them – so natural and easy. Allie wanted the moment to last and last. But as if he’d suddenly remembered who he was with, Carter cleared his throat and took a step back, returning the lamp to its place. When he spoke again his voice was cooler.
‘We’d better hurry. Why don’t you check the drawers?’
‘Oh… yeah.’ She moved to the other side of the antique desk, keeping her face down so he couldn’t see the colour in her cheeks.
This is so hard. Can’t we just be friends again?
With a sigh, she tried the top drawer.
Locked.
The one below it was locked, too. And all the rest.
‘No joy,’ she said.
‘I —’ He began to reply then stopped.
They both heard the sound at the same moment. Frozen in position, Allie stared at the door in horror.
Somebody was trying to get in.
Without a word, Carter grabbed her hand, pulling her to his side. Then he turned out the desk light.
The room was plunged into darkness.