Since school was done for the day, there weren’t a lot of students present. I glanced around and saw a group of kids gathered in an enclosed classroom off to the side of the circulation desk. Laughter echoed and when voices spoke, they sounded excited and passionate. I smiled, glad Danny had found a group that encouraged such a positive energy.
Moving toward the doorway, I peeked inside. At the front of the room, a tall guy who looked maybe three years out of college was standing in front of a white erase board. His sandy-blond hair flopped into his eyes as he jumped around. I suppose he was handsome in a white-bread-and-missionary-position sort of way. He wore a corduroy blazer, a skinny tie with a wrinkled white button-down, dark-washed jeans, and a pair of battered Converses.
Kids called out the names of famous dirty potions and he wrote them on the board. His movements were so animated, I realized this was a teacher who absolutely loved his job. Not one of those pruney government employees who never went off the script the state curriculum provided. This guy was too new to be cynical, and I liked him immediately.
“Yes, Josh, that’s right,” he was saying, “some people use vanity potions to impersonate other people. The stronger the potion, the more convincing the transformation, but those stronger ones are almost more addictive.” As he turned back to write this on the board, his gaze blew past the door, where I stood. He paused and stood up straighter. “Oh, hi. Can I help you?”
“Sorry. I was early for pickup. Thought I’d come watch.” My eyes scanned the young, eager faces for Danny’s.
When I spotted him, he slid down in his seat as if he wanted the floor to swallow him. I frowned.
The teacher glanced at the clock. “Okay, everyone, time’s up.”
A collective groan of disappointment filled the room.
“I know, I know,” the teacher continued. “But don’t forget: Next week we have a very special speaker stopping by.” He took a deep breath to draw out the drama. “We owe a huge thanks to Danny for inviting the one and only John Volos—”
He said more, but the instant he’d said that name, anger flared in my belly, like flames licking the inside of an alchemist’s athanor. “I’m gonna kill him.”
The room fell silent. “Pardon?” the teacher asked.
I jerked upright, realizing too late I’d said it out loud. “Nothing,” I said with a lame chuckle, “carry on.”
My gaze slashed toward Danny, who was busy smiling at his classmates’ praises and studiously avoiding any glance in my direction.
“Remember to bring in your lists next week, too,” the teacher continued. “Other than that, have a great weekend, guys!”
I ducked farther inside the room to get out of the way of exiting teens. The teacher approached with a hand extended. “Brad Hart.”
“Kate Prospero,” I said, returning the shake. “I’m Danny’s sister.” Who, I noted, was lingering at the back of the room, instead of coming to greet me.
He tilted his head. “The cop?”
“Guilty,” I said, forcing a smile.
Hart smiled back. Something about the expression gave me pause. It took me a minute to realize there wasn’t a problem with it at all. Instead, Brad Hart’s smile was totally lacking in guile and his eyes were clear, like maybe his conscience was, too. In my line of work, it wasn’t often you ran into anyone who didn’t have some sort of secrets or ulterior motives behind their smiles.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah sorry, long day,” I said.
He crossed his arms and leaned in a fraction. “Cleaning up the streets is tough work.”
I gave him a sideways glance. Despite his fashionably shabby clothes, the guy didn’t look like he’d spent much time on any street that didn’t boast large houses with top-dollar alarm systems and security gates.
“Sure,” I said. He was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve my sarcasm or jaded comebacks. “Listen, thanks for putting this group together. Danny’s very excited.”
Hart beamed. “We’re thrilled to have him. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when he told me you wouldn’t be able to be one of our monthly guest speakers.”
If he’d knocked me upside the head with a two-by-four, I would have been less shocked. “Huh—”
“I understand you’re busy and all,” he continued, oblivious to my distress, “but I think these kids could really benefit from your stories from the front lines of the War on Dirty Magic.”
My gaze sought Danny out like the red beam of an assault rifle’s laser. The kid looked up and paled at whatever he saw on my face. “Yeah, actually,” I said, holding my brother’s wide gaze, “I could probably make some time if you think the kids would enjoy it.”
Hart’s expression opened up. “Really? That would be awesome!” He thought it over for a second. “We have Mr. Volos in this month, but maybe in November.”
I shot a glance at my brother, who was working hard not to look like he was trying to hear our conversation from the other side of the room. I smiled real wide for his benefit. “I’d be happy to help.” I pulled out my wallet and handed him my card.
He glanced down at my newly minted MEA business card. His eyes widened. “Wow. I’d heard you were a cop from some of the other teachers, but I had no idea you were a detective working with the MEA.” He waved the card. “If it’s okay, I’ll call you soon to set up a date.”
I frowned.
“To speak to the, uh, class and stuff,” he finished lamely.
Something in my belly warmed. Brad Hart wasn’t my normal type. He was more like a puppy dog than a guard dog. But, I thought, it’s not like hanging out with the assholes I normally went for was getting me too far lately.
“Definitely do,” I said with an encouraging smile that felt foreign on my face.
“Great.” He smiled that sweet smile again. My poorly socialized inner voice whispered something about devouring him. I hushed her and reminded the minx it had been so long since we’d both had sex with something that didn’t require batteries that we couldn’t be too choosy. “In the meantime, try to behave yourself, Detective.”
I looked up and paused. Those clear, guileless eyes had darkened to reveal the promise of a few intriguing shadows in Brad Hart. And on top of that, I was pretty sure he was flirting with me.
Well, well, I thought, things just got a lot more interesting.