The black "Impala" smoothly rolled up to the gates of Nevermore Academy. Dean carefully pulled into the parking area and parked the car. As soon as Alex stepped out, he immediately noticed Sheriff Donovan's pickup and another police cruiser. He exchanged a brief glance with Dean — the situation was clear — and they headed toward the entrance.
Alex understood perfectly well that the sheriff was most likely already in Principal Weems's office, so they went straight there. As usual, students turned to look at them as they walked across the academy grounds.
For the kids at Nevermore, the last few days had turned into pure chaos: police and two "federal agents" showing up far too often, raising tension throughout the school.
Passing by groups of teenagers, Alex and Dean heard whispered conversations — everyone was talking about Rowan.
Some insisted he had attacked Wednesday and fled into the woods. Others claimed Wednesday had told them a monster tore him apart right in front of her.
Alex and Dean exchanged another glance and shook their heads tiredly. Teenagers managed to spread rumors faster than the police could shut them down.
Meanwhile, Wednesday was questioning Sheriff Donovan. He was grim, irritated, and clearly sleep-deprived.
"How is it that you didn't find the body?" Wednesday asked coldly, staring directly at him.
"Because it wasn't there," the sheriff replied evenly. "No body. No blood. No signs of a struggle. The search team combed the woods until dawn. The only thing we found was a piece of a log that, according to Agent Voldigoad, was thrown by the runaway student."
Wednesday stopped and frowned.
"Maybe your search team left their seeing-eye dogs at home? The monster tore Rowan apart right in front of me."
The sheriff raised an eyebrow.
"You saw a monster... then tell me, why did Agent Voldigoad — who came to help you — see only Rowan? Or maybe someone else from the school attacked him?"
"Sheriff, that question is inappropriate," Principal Weems cut in sharply, giving him a hard look.
"I don't care. I've got four bodies in my morgue. Three tourists and one local," Donovan snapped irritably.
"The mayor stated it was a wild bear," Weems reminded him calmly.
"And I think otherwise. And I'm sure the Federal Bureau agents will back me up," Donovan said, not taking his eyes off her.
Weems tilted her head slightly, her voice taking on a faintly mocking tone.
"So you're ready to accuse one of our students of murder without a single piece of evidence?"
Donovan let out a short laugh.
"Oh right, of course. How could I forget? At your school it's perfectly normal to use your 'talents' to pin a classmate to a tree. What a charming sense of humor you all have."
The principal and the sheriff locked eyes, neither willing to give an inch. Weems would defend her students at any cost. Donovan wanted to find the killer and calm down the residents of Jericho, who were already whispering that someone from Nevermore was behind the deaths.
Wednesday watched them silently, coldly. She finally understood why Alex had told her yesterday that revealing information about the monster would only make things worse.
If the rumors spread outside the school, it would turn into a witch hunt. The people of Jericho wouldn't stop to consider how many innocent kids might get hurt. To them, Nevermore students were already monsters.
The argument on the stairway was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Everyone turned — and saw Alex and Dean approaching.
"Sorry for being late," Alex said, holding a tray of coffee. "We had to make a stop on the way."
"You're just in time, agents," Principal Weems said, her calm, almost serene smile returning.
Alex smiled subtly and approached the group with Dean. Climbing the steps, he handed a cup of coffee to Wednesday. She looked at him in confusion — her gaze cold and analytical — but Alex only responded with a gentle smile.
He also handed coffee to Sheriff Donovan and Principal Weems. The sheriff nodded gratefully, and Weems acknowledged the gesture with a warm smile.
Principal Weems invited everyone to her office to continue the discussion, and Alex and Dean agreed without hesitation. Dean wanted to know whether they had found any trace in the woods, and Alex was equally eager — waiting for the moment when the "revived" Rowan would walk through the door.
Alex walked beside Wednesday, who took small sips of her black coffee — with four shots of espresso. Only after tasting it did she realize it was exactly the coffee she always drank. She shot Alex a brief look: attentive, slightly suspicious.
Alex only smiled and winked at her — hinting that he knew far more about her than she did about him. That only fueled Wednesday's desire to dig into all his secrets… even though she had no idea where that could lead.
Dean, walking nearby, noticed this exchange and barely suppressed a laugh, rolling his eyes and nudging Alex with his elbow — as if to say, Here you go again, flirting with girls. Alex responded with a lazy, almost indifferent glance.
When they entered the office, Weems opened the door and ushered everyone inside. Sheriff Donovan and Wednesday sat down across from the principal's desk. Alex took a seat by the fireplace, and Dean leaned his back against the door out of habit.
"As Agent Voldigoad reported yesterday," Principal Weems began, folding her hands on the desk, "Rowan could have run off and be hiding in the woods. The police were alerted, and I contacted his parents. Unfortunately, he still hasn't reached out."
"So the kid spent the whole evening and night running around the woods while I was out there combing the area with the officers?" Dean snorted, crossing his arms. "I get that certain abilities can fry your brain a bit, but not that much."
"Usually the dead aren't capable of hiding from the police. And they certainly can't make phone calls home," Wednesday remarked coolly.
"Better tell us what you were doing in the woods, Miss Addams," Sheriff Donovan said, staring at her intently.
"I saw Rowan running into the woods and went to find out why. He attacked me, and I witnessed the assault. Later Agent Voldigoad arrived to help, and the rest you already know," she replied calmly, nodding toward Alex.
Alex didn't take his eyes off the fire in the hearth, the flames reflecting in his eyes.
"Agent, are you certain you didn't see anyone besides Rowan?" Donovan asked. "A bear, for example? Or any other wild animal that could have attacked the student?"
"While I was chasing Rowan, I didn't see anyone," Alex replied with a faint, almost lazy smile. "Even though it was dark in the woods, I would've noticed if someone else had been there."
"I wintered with grizzlies," Wednesday said coldly. "I know what they look like."
"You've got some fun hobbies," Dean commented with a smirk.
Wednesday glanced at him for only a moment, then shifted her gaze back to Alex. She disliked the feeling that he was hiding the truth — even if they had agreed yesterday to deny the existence of monsters.
Alex clearly felt her stare. Cold, sharp, catching even the slightest movement. But he simply kept looking at the fire and smiling, as if noticing nothing. Dean observed it all like a romantic TV show — while trying, and failing, to hide his grin.
All Alex wanted at that moment was for Principal Weems to suddenly turn into Rowan and walk into the office. That would perfectly confuse the investigation and give him the time advantage he needed.
He was trying to understand whether Tyler had become a host of the Darkness by accident… or if someone had obtained a fragment of Amara's power. And if Laurel Gates really had gained such power — he'd have to act very carefully. Otherwise, all of Jericho risked turning into a second Collingwood Hospital or, worse, a second Bright Falls.
If he pushed Laurel too early, she could snap — and then a few dead tourists would look like an innocent prelude.
Alex listened with half an ear as Wednesday answered clarifying questions, while Dean and Sheriff Donovan recalled how they'd searched the forest all night without finding a trace of blood or a body. He didn't intervene; there was no point in this conversation.
"Thank you, Sheriff, agents. But I believe Miss Addams should be going," Weems said, rising from behind her desk.
"Actually, I need to speak with the agents and the sheriff alone," Wednesday said calmly.
"I can't allow that," Weems replied in the same calm but strained tone.
"I can take her down to the station and we'll talk there," Donovan suggested.
"It's all right, Miss Weems," Alex interjected, turning to her with a gentle smile. "We'll just hear Miss Addams out. It'll only take a minute."
Larissa Weems looked at Alex's calm demeanor. His confident posture, soft smile, and the very way he carried himself seemed to inspire trust simply by being there. Dean and Sheriff Donovan were also watching her, waiting for her decision. Larissa quickly ran through all the possibilities in her mind and realized that, if she could trust anyone with this situation, it was Alex.
"All right…" she finally said, stepping toward the door. "But only under your responsibility, Agent Voldigoad. I'm giving you five minutes — and strictly off the record. Understood? Otherwise I won't hesitate to file a complaint with your Bureau."
"Of course, Miss Weems. And before you go…" Alex turned his head slightly toward her. "Will you allow my partner and me to inspect the school grounds? Even if we're not required to ask for permission due to our authority — as a decent person, I still believe I should."
"Go ahead," Weems replied, opening the door. "Just don't interfere in the students' personal lives."
Alex nodded with a pleasant smile. Dean mirrored the motion, signaling that they had no intention of bothering any children or poking around unnecessarily. Once she received confirmation, Larissa left the office — but not before casting a long, pointed look at Wednesday, who sat with the same cold expression, unchanged from the start.
When the door closed, Alex and Dean exchanged a quick glance: access to Nevermore's grounds was secured — meaning their hands were now untied. Alex had already told Dean the day before about the three teens who had been slightly touched by the Darkness — it amplified their negative emotions and threw them off balance. Now they needed to find out whether that Darkness had spread to other students.
Wednesday, meanwhile, shifted her gaze first to Sheriff Donovan, then to Alex, who had once again turned toward the fireplace, watching the flames. Dean stepped closer, ready to continue the conversation.
"Someone is covering up Rowan's death. That's why you didn't find any evidence in the forest," Wednesday said, looking between the sheriff and Dean.
"Professional opinion of a murderer's daughter?" Donovan replied coldly.
"You don't know my father very well. The only thing he can kill is an aria in the shower," Wednesday answered calmly, unfazed by the jab.
"Or the monster has an accomplice who's cleaning up after it," Dean said, folding his arms. "But even if such a monster existed… do you really think it would bother covering its tracks? We wandered around that forest half the night and found nothing at all."
"Miss Addams," the sheriff said tiredly, "my men and I haven't slept all night. I'm exhausted from all these games."
"I'm not playing. This is the truth. You want to hear me — but you can't," Wednesday said coldly.
"And why's that?" Dean leaned forward, resting his hands on the back of a chair. "If a monster were living in that forest, it wouldn't stop at four victims."
Listening to their argument, Alex couldn't help but feel a slight surprise: Dean had hit the mark twice. Yes, someone had been covering their tracks — and it wasn't just Larissa Weems, but the real culprit as well. And yes — if Hyde had acted on his own, without whoever was controlling him, there would have been far more bodies. Yesterday, while studying information about Hydes, Alex realized: an unrestrained Hyde was an uncontrollable killer who swept everything in his path. But he didn't share this with Dean — it was too early to reveal his cards.
While Wednesday tried to explain what she had seen to Dean and Sheriff Donovan, there was a knock at the door. A female officer appeared, looking flustered, saying that "everyone needed to see this." And immediately after her, the living Rowan stepped into the office — a quiet, strange smile on his face.
Those few seconds stunned everyone. Wednesday raised an eyebrow in surprise. The sheriff froze and looked at Wednesday, because she had insisted she had seen Rowan's death with her own eyes. Trust in Wednesday's words collapsed instantly.
Alex just raised the corner of his mouth, watching the "resurrected" Rowan. He knew perfectly well that Larissa Weems had taken his appearance to cover the tracks completely. Dean, for his part, raised his eyebrows sharply: just yesterday, Alex had said the monster had killed Rowan and dragged the body away, and that someone would surely try to hide the evidence. And here — confirmation.
The imposter Rowan quickly apologized for his behavior and left, leaving far more questions than answers behind.
Alex and Dean weren't going to discuss their business inside Nevermore, so they quickly left the academy grounds and got into the Impala. The moment they closed the doors, the rear doors unexpectedly opened and then softly clicked shut again. Alex and Dean turned in unison — Wednesday was calmly seated in the back seat, her face completely impassive.
Dean glanced at Alex with a silent question: "Why did your new creepy girlfriend get in my car?"
Alex just shrugged lightly — he didn't understand either.
Wednesday watched their silent exchange, remaining stone-cold calm.
"And how long are you two going to keep staring at each other?" she said coldly. "I need to go into town for a psychologist appointment."
"You could have called a cab," Dean said, starting the engine.
"There are no cabs around here. And why would I, if someone can give me a ride?" she shot Alex a long, icy look. "I think this counts as minimal compensation for someone insisting they didn't see the monster."
"Yes, yes, my fault, my dear Wednesday," Alex drawled lazily. "And I'll say it again: it's better if no one knows the monster is real."
"I asked you not to call me that," her gaze grew even colder. "And what do you think about the 'living' Rowan?"
"I don't even know what to think," Dean snorted, turning onto the road. "Maybe the kid was resurrected. Or maybe that wasn't Rowan at all. What if our monster gained shape-shifting abilities? Or the killer wasn't the monster, but someone who can turn into a monster to avoid suspicion. The list is long, pale girl."
"I don't think you can resurrect someone the monster tore to pieces," Wednesday replied, clutching her backpack.
"Why not?" Alex said, lighting a cigarette. "There are plenty of spells capable of that. And it doesn't have to be resurrection. Sometimes puppet magic is enough."
"That exists?" Dean glanced at him — and scolded again: "And stop smoking in my car."
"I've said it a hundred times," Alex waved lazily. "My cigarettes don't stink and aren't even harmful. And yes, such a spell exists. If you read more books, you'd know about it."
"And what kind of spell is it?" Wednesday asked, clearly interested now.
Alex held up two fingers.
"There are two ways. First — you simply control the body like a puppet. If you look closely, you can notice unnatural movements. Second — transferring consciousness into a body."
"Oh, I remember," Dean said. "We had a case like that. A bunch of little idiots pulled something similar with Sam — swapped souls."
"Or," Alex continued, flicking ash out the window, "Rowan's body was roughly stitched up and brought to life without a soul. Memories remain in the brain anyway, so distinguishing the fake is extremely difficult."
"So the body moves normally, but there's no soul?" Wednesday asked for clarification.
Alex nodded.
She frowned, thinking over his words. If Alex's theory was correct, Rowan's behavior should have changed. But Wednesday barely knew him — or rather, didn't know him at all. That meant she needed to ask the one who had lived in the same room with Rowan.
Alex, watching her, lazily stared out the window. He was curious how far she would go if he planted a few complex but plausible false leads. And he hadn't lied about the puppet spell — he had indeed seen it in one of the bunker's books, and a similar spell was in his own arsenal as the Demon King.
Reaching Jericho, Dean stopped in front of the building where Wednesday had her appointment. She got out of the car without even saying goodbye and disappeared inside.
Dean looked at Alex with a wide grin. Alex raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Dude, you're going to have a hard time thawing that ice block," Dean said. "You've got better odds with that rainbow werewolf."
"Back off, Chum. At least the sister of the god himself doesn't appear in my dreams," Alex snorted. "And seriously, why can't you just sleep normally?"
"That's a low blow, dude," Dean smirked. "But aren't you worried that this pale girl will shove a knife in your chest when she finds out you were flirting with her? Especially since you're already engaged to three of them."
Alex glanced at Dean's smirking face and just rolled his eyes. Even the girls who were watching the stream and observing Alex's adventures couldn't resist — they all rolled their eyes in unison.
Of course, Dean had no idea that Alex didn't actually have three wives — far from it — the number had long been double digits: goddesses, demigoddesses, representatives of other races, and ordinary humans. But Alex had no intention of sharing those details with Dean… at least for now.
Seeing that Alex wasn't reacting to the joking warning about a potential knife in the chest from Wednesday, Dean mentally noted: this guy definitely has no fear and likes dangerous girls.
Alex, however, didn't hold back — calmly reminded Dean that Alice, by the way, was a vampire, a very strong one, and far scarier than Wednesday with her knife. Hearing such a compelling argument, Dean could only nod, having seen Alice dart around the bunker at inhuman speed, cleaning up any mess.
Realizing this, Dean muttered that if Wednesday didn't stick a knife in Alex's chest, Lucina, Alice, or Samantha would… or worse, all three at once. The only thing Alex could do in response was roll his eyes even harder.
Back at the hotel, Alex and Dean went up to their room and immediately changed into regular clothes, ditching their agent suits. Neither of them liked staying in those suits any longer than the situation required.
After a while, Dean decided to take another walk in the forest — to look for tracks, clues, or at least the approximate lair of the monster. Alex just waved his hand, pretending he was still trying to figure out what kind of monster or monsters they were dealing with. No one knew if it was alone or if a whole pack was lurking behind the trees.
After Dean left, Alex lay down on the couch, pulled a book from his inventory — the very "Return" by Alan Wake — and immersed himself in reading. He became so absorbed that he didn't even notice an entire hour passing until a knock at the door brought him back to reality.
Alex closed the book, got up, and opened the door. Wednesday was standing there, looking at him with the same calm — almost disarmingly calm — expression.
"What brings you here?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Take me back to Nevermore. I'll pay for the gas," Wednesday said, pulling twenty dollars from her pocket.
"Better buy me a strawberry ice cream with that," Alex replied. "Alright, come in. I'll grab my things, and we'll go."
Wednesday silently put the money away and stepped into the room.
She immediately noted who lived where: Dean's bed was half-made, while Alex's was neatly arranged. The next thing that caught her attention was the book lying on his bed.
Walking closer, she picked it up, looked at the cover — and recognized the author. She herself wrote a crime novel about a serial killer and had read many similar authors. But Alan Wake's books hadn't been released for a long time. As far as she knew, he had disappeared, and no one had found him.
While she studied the book, Alex tidied up, making sure nothing was left lying around.
"Where did you get a book by this author? He hasn't published anything for thirteen years," Wednesday said, still holding the book.
"That's a long story involving Alan. I'll tell you another time," Alex replied, throwing on his black coat with the red lining.
"Can I read it?" Wednesday asked, looking at him a bit more closely.
"There are two books in this series," Alex said, pulling Departure from his backpack. "Alan slightly changed genres… here, take it. Just don't lose it."
He handed her the book.
"And what changed?" Wednesday asked, putting both books in her bag. "He used to write crime thrillers about investigations and serial killers."
"He inserted himself into his own story," Alex shrugged. "Like I said, it's a long story closely tied to my work. And yes… don't lose these books. They're one of a kind. There are no others, and there never will be."
Wednesday watched Alex with slightly more interest than usual. Several things caught her attention at once: how he had both books from an author who disappeared thirteen years ago, and why Alex spoke with such confidence, as if he personally knew Alan Wake.
Alex simply checked that he had everything and headed for the door to leave the room. Wednesday cast a quick glance at the table: a map marked with body discovery locations, sketches of possible monsters, copies of coroner reports. For a second, she wondered if she should do something similar herself to better understand what was happening. And yes, she definitely wanted to show how far she could go in the investigation on her own.
They left the hotel. Alex turned into a narrow alley and, making sure Wednesday wasn't looking, pulled his motorcycle from his inventory. But as soon as she entered the alley, she saw Alex already sitting on the bike.
She sat behind him, resting her hands on his waist. Only after she held on tightly did Alex start the engine and ride onto the road, heading toward Nevermore.
When they reached the academy, Alex parked the motorcycle. Wednesday jumped off without a word and headed for the gates. Alex watched her go and, remembering that Larissa Weems had allowed him free access to the grounds, decided to take a little look around.
Turning off the engine, he caught up with Wednesday, and they stepped into the spacious courtyard together. Alex looked around, noticing the students busy with their own activities — chatting, laughing, hurrying somewhere. Even in regular clothes, he stood out, but now, without the agent suit, people treated him much more calmly.
While he thought about how nice it would be to build a similar school in Orario, where children of different races could study together, Wednesday spotted Enid and headed toward her.
Enid was just preparing for the upcoming race.
"If Bianca wins again this year, I'll gouge my own eyes out," she muttered, trying to boost her morale.
"I'd love to see that," Wednesday said coldly, approaching.
Enid spun around sharply, her face immediately lighting up with a wide smile. She practically bounced toward Wednesday, beaming with joy. But a second later, her eyes started darting around as if she were looking for someone. Wednesday, of course, noticed this.
"Hi, neighbor! I'm so glad you decided to stay!" Enid said cheerfully.
"Weren't you dreaming of living alone?" Wednesday asked, crossing her arms.
"To be honest, I don't like living alone. And Thing gives a great neck massage — that's a big plus. So…" She relaxed a little on her heels. "Why did you change your mind?"
"I'm not going to be a pawn in someone's game. And I won't leave until I get to the truth, whatever it may be. I don't like being fooled," Wednesday replied calmly.
"You mean about Rowan?" Enid asked, much quieter, with a hint of doubt.
"Enid, I saw the monster kill Rowan. And I wasn't the only one. Alex also saw the creature take his body," Wednesday said confidently.
"But…" Enid hesitated. "This morning, Rowan was seen alive. And Alex himself said he chased him. And that Rowan threw a log at him to escape."
"I know that. But Alex said it might not have been Rowan. Or maybe I'm starting to go insane — and it's not nearly as fun as I thought. You're the queen of gossip. Tell me about Rowan. Who he was friends with, what he was like," Wednesday said, glancing at the sky for a moment. She remembered her conversation with Alex and Dean about how the "new" Rowan's personality might have changed.
"He was… well… a little strange. A loner. Didn't really talk to anyone… oh, sorry," Enid said with an embarrassed smile, realizing who she was speaking to.
"I forgive you," Wednesday replied impassively.
"His roommate was Xavier Thorp. You could ask him. If you had a phone, you could call him. Or just go to the archery club — he's usually there," Enid said enthusiastically.
"I'll keep that in mind. It'll come in handy for the investigation," Wednesday nodded.
"And where is he? Back to work? Searching the forest again? Making a list of suspects?" Enid asked, suddenly animated.
"If you mean your beloved federal agent, the one you call at night… he's somewhere around here. Ah, there he is," Wednesday said, looking around and pointing to Alex.
Enid followed Wednesday's gaze and saw Alex — he was standing a little apart, talking with two Nevermore students, smiling so warmly it almost looked suspicious.
Alex, meanwhile, decided that since he was at the academy, he might as well combine business with pleasure: create the appearance of working while gathering information. So he stopped the two vampire guys to ask a few questions about the academy and about Rowan.
The Nevermore students, used to avoiding "normies," weren't eager to talk at first — but Alex's warm manner quickly disarmed them. He effortlessly steered the conversation into a comfortable flow, and soon the guys were chatting as if they had known him for years.
After finishing his questions, Alex said goodbye with a smile and was about to approach the next group of students… when he noticed Wednesday and Enid. The latter was already waving at him with a wide grin.
Alex smiled back, shoved his hands into his pockets, and headed toward them. As he got closer, he immediately noticed the boat that Enid's friends were painting. He even remembered that the vampire girl Yoko was Enid's best friend — Enid had mentioned it in their correspondence.
When he reached them, Alex raised his hands, and Enid, beaming, gave him a double high-five.
"Yahoo! What are you guys up to here?" Alex asked, still smiling.
"Getting ready for the competition… Yoko, let's make those mustaches shine! The Poe Cup isn't for the gloomy!" Enid said, turning to her group.
"By the way, what's this Poe Cup? And why's everyone making such a fuss about it?" Wednesday asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"This cup — it's the meaning of my life!" Enid blurted out. "First a water race, then on land. No rules! Teams pick an Edgar Allan Poe story for inspiration."
"Ah, a competition in honor of the writer Poe. I thought…" Alex trailed off, instantly losing interest.
Wednesday squinted.
"And which Poe did you think of?"
"What do you mean? The Great Dragon Warrior. A panda named Po," Alex said with a completely serious expression.
Wednesday just blinked — she clearly had no idea what panda he was talking about. Enid, on the other hand, blinked in surprise and then burst out laughing — she caught the reference immediately.
Alex remained serious, thinking that naming a competition after a gloomy writer was a rather dull idea. A panda was much more lively.
"Was that a joke?" Wednesday asked, still staring at him in astonishment.
"Yeah. Although, honestly, a tournament in honor of a panda sounds way more fun than one for a somber novelist," Alex said in an almost mechanical tone.
"I like both options!" Enid said happily, bouncing on the spot.
Alex couldn't resist and ruffled her hair.
Wednesday just snorted.
"Whatever you say…"
"Want to help? Join the group? Miss Novak ordered pizza!" Enid suggested in a tempting tone.
"Sounds tempting, but that's not really for me. I have a book to write. And books no one else has, that I need to read. So, lots to do," Wednesday waved off.
Alex tilted his head thoughtfully."And if I help — do I get pizza? Or do I have to be part of the school? Or… maybe just steal the pizza when no one's looking?"
"Of course you get some! If you help — I'll grab you the biggest slice!" Enid said, immediately grabbing Alex's hand.
Alex smirked.
"Then I'm in. As my family's rule goes: as long as the client pays — I do any job."
He took off his coat, showing he was ready to work for food.
"Then have fun, I'm leaving," Wednesday said, turning toward the exit.
"Wednesday, if you want… you can come cheer us on. Or just stand on the shore. Whatever's easier for you," Enid added, still holding Alex's hand.
Wednesday didn't answer — she only cast a blank, unreadable look at them and walked away.
Once she disappeared, Enid, still holding Alex's hand, dragged him toward her friends.
At first, the group of girls greeted Alex without much enthusiasm, but he quickly won them over. Within ten minutes, he was laughing with them, sharing funny stories, and listening to fresh gossip that the girls eagerly shared.
Enid shone brighter than anyone: Alex had blended into her group surprisingly effortlessly. All the while, she kept circling around him, as if afraid to stray too far.
Even Miss Novak, in charge of the pizza, didn't react to Alex's presence. He behaved as if being among students was completely normal and natural.
And Director Weems watched everything from her office window. She understood perfectly what Alex was doing and didn't interfere — as long as he didn't drag her students into trouble or overstep.
To be continued…
(So, on the advice of my dear reader, Alex will drag things out by planting false leads so that the main culprit doesn't show up prematurely, and Alex can relax and spend time with two potential family members. As for Dean's situation, I'll only show a little bit, to show how he reacts to Amara. Or not. I'm not sure yet, unless I forget, of course. And finally, Come and Get Your Love.)
Early access to chapters on my patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter