Reunion Mission

He pulled up a stool. “Tell me about it.”

She held out the soft material. “It’s called sodium metal. It’s soft enough to cut with a knife.” She filled a beaker full of water, then put on her safety glasses and handed a pair to Matt. “But when it comes in contact with water, it combusts.” She dropped a small piece in the water and it bubbled and popped and smoked, giving about the same explosive reaction as a small firecracker. “I do this experiment every year. The kids seem to like it. I even have a video showing a university team that tossed a much larger quantity of sodium metal into a lake, then watched as it exploded, sending water spewing.”

“Wow. That sounds amazing.”

“It is fun. I hope it helps turn the students’ attentions, even if briefly, from the tragedy of Luke’s death.”

He picked up a piece of the soft, malleable metal. “It’s hard to believe this little piece of goop could cause such a reaction.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem. That’s why I like chemistry. Something doesn’t have to be big and bold to be strong. A chemical reaction isn’t about strength and bulkiness. It’s about what’s on the inside. It’s kind of like faith. You never know the true strength of someone until you mix it with something that causes a reaction.”

He smiled at her, his hazel eyes shining. Being here with him seemed familiar and comfortable, and she felt her attraction to him flare into an unhealthy area—the memory of his whisper-soft touch and the sound of his heartbeat as she’d pressed her face into his chest. She pushed those kinds of thoughts away. She couldn’t think of him that way anymore. Yes, he’d made her feel safe and protected, but the past was the past. He wasn’t that same boy from high school any more than she was the same girl.

Instead, she turned her attention to the present. “I’ll be glad to have the kids back in class tomorrow. Of course, I’ll be operating out of a makeshift classroom, which isn’t ideal, but I’m anxious to evaluate how they’re coping with Luke’s death.”

“You really care about those kids, don’t you?”

“It’s why I became a teacher. These kids need someone to look after them, to nurture them. To see their potential and help develop it.”

“That’s nice, Claire.”

Truly, teaching had been her lifeline when she was trying to rebuild her life after the accident. After the months and years of rehab and forcing herself to get up every day to acquire her degree. She’d had to fight for each and every accomplishment.

But Matt had not stuck around for that part. He’d left her broken emotionally and physically. He’d not been interested in a less-than-perfect girlfriend. Sure she’d forgiven him for not wanting her then and for not sticking around, but with him back she knew she had to guard her heart. She wouldn’t let herself fall for him again. She’d worked too hard to rebuild her life only to have it shattered once more by his rejection.

She stood and rubbed her hip. It was stiff and painful after the past few days, and she knew her limp would be more pronounced than usual. Others might not notice, but Matt would. She felt the way his eyes looked at her, examining her, curious to discover how well she’d healed from her injuries. Perhaps he was looking to ease his guilt, but he needn’t have worried. That was the past and this was the present and Claire knew there was no future for them together. She knew it... Now she just had to keep reminding herself of it until he was gone from her life again.

He must have sensed the change in her determination, or maybe it was the reminder of her injury, because he put down the metal and stood. “Well, I should get back. I’m working on background checks on all the faculty and staff, starting with Luke’s teachers and those he had regular contact with.”

“You really believe someone at the school killed Luke? I still find that hard to believe.”

“I’m only going by what Luke told me. Someone inside this school is involved with this drug ring and I won’t stop until I find out who.”

She was touched by his determination to wipe out evil lurking in the hallways. They were both in the business of protecting kids, and she liked that. Again she felt that dizzying chemistry between them, bubbling and popping, readying for an explosion. She was glad he was leaving her classroom. She simply didn’t trust herself with her own emotions when he was around.

She was so focused on Matt that she didn’t even notice Principal Spencer standing in the doorway until he cleared his throat and both Matt and Claire turned to him. She felt her face redden at being caught in what, to her, seemed like an intimate moment. There was no denying the attraction between them and she was certain even Principal Spencer could sense it.

Thankfully, he didn’t mention it as he entered. “I’ve spoken with the superintendent and we’ve decided to hold a school meeting tonight as a way for parents to come and express their feelings about what’s happened as well as for us as school officials to reassure parents that their children are safe here.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Claire said. She knew the community was overwhelmed with worry and grief for their children. This forum would give parents the opportunity to voice their concerns and receive reassurances before sending their kids back to school tomorrow.

“Six o’clock in the auditorium. I’d like for all teachers to be present.” He glanced at Matt. “It would be good if you could come, too.”

Matt nodded but turned his gaze back to Claire. “If Claire is going, I’ll be there, too.”

“Wonderful. Well, I’ll leave you two to get back to...whatever it is you were doing.” He quickly walked out.

“Well, I guess we know what we’re doing tonight,” Matt said. “What do you say we get an early supper before the meeting?”

She nodded. “That would be good.”

“Well, then I guess I’d better let you finish what you’re doing. And I have a stack of background checks to dig through.”

She watched him leave, then turned back to her prep work. She was glad Matt was nearby, but she had to remember not to let him get too close. Her heart simply couldn’t stand another of his rejections.

* * *

The school auditorium was packed that night. Claire caught the stares of her students’ parents. All she saw were angry glances and worried expressions. Claire was glad Matt was here with her as they walked together to the front of the auditorium and took a seat.

Daryl Brown, another chemistry teacher, came and took the seat beside her. “These parents look ready to riot,” he said, and Claire agreed.

“They’re worried about their children. I suppose it’s natural.”

Daryl shook his head. “They’re looking for someone to blame. In the absence of a suspect, they’ll blame the most convenient person.”

She realized where he was heading with his logic. “You mean me, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “A female teacher meeting with a male student after school hours? You have to admit, it looks suspicious, Claire. If I were a parent, I would demand answers.”

His blunt assertion surprised her, but she realized he was probably right. She glanced around again and suddenly felt the angry stares of hundreds of pairs of eyes boring into her back. She moved closer to Matt, and he stretched his arm across the back of her chair, not touching her but still giving her a sense of comfort and protection from the mass of people who might be looking to her for answers she didn’t have.

Principal Spencer called the meeting to order and tried to maintain it as several of the parents jumped to their feet to express their outrage over the state of the school where they’d placed their kids’ futures.

“How can we be assured our kids are safe when we send them to school?” one parent demanded.

“Who is watching out for our kids?” another asked.

Principal Spencer attempted to be heard over the outbursts. “We are working with the police to bring whoever committed this terrible crime to justice, but as you know the school was closed and the victim was on school property alone. I assure you we do everything we can to ensure the safety of our students while they are on campus. We’ve even gotten some help to overhaul our security measures.” He scanned the crowd, then pointed at Matt. “Agent Ross, would you come up here please and recount some of the security changes you’re implementing?”

Matt glanced at her and she could see he wasn’t pleased about being put on the spot by Principal Spencer. But he stood and walked onto the stage. Principal Spencer handed him the microphone, then stepped away, giving him the floor.

“I heard he was murdered,” someone shouted. “A murder in our school. And what have the police done to find the one responsible?”