Untrained Eye

by Jody Klaire

  Renee’s shoulders slumped. “That costs more than you have in your account.” She rubbed a hand over her brow. “Do you think it counts if I kill the POI myself?”

  That was a lot of money, considering I owned the entire town of Oppidum. “Kinda against the protection ethos.”

  I tried my best not to laugh. The pair were so drunk they couldn’t stand. So drunk that they didn’t notice all the bumps and bruises they’d sustained during their . . . activities. They didn’t even notice us. “If it counts, they’re gonna be feeling it when they sober up.”

  “Roberta, are you . . . ?”

  Again, there was Professor Owens. What, was she a puppy dog? Did she need to follow Renee everywhere? Renee turned, and smiled. “As you can see, they are fine. I’m fine.”

  Fine and cranky as anything.

  Owens looked past her to the statue as Renee thumbed at it. “On the other hand, that may take some fixing.”

  “You can fix it?” I asked. I didn’t know what Jed had used but it looked permanent.

  “The perks of having a brain, Riley,” Owens shot at me. “You should try it sometime.”

  “Want to find out how well it works when I—?”

  “Samson!” Renee elbowed me in the side. Her shrill warning cut through the lovebirds’ haze and Miranda belatedly covered herself up.

  I grabbed Jed by the scruff as he darted toward me. He couldn’t stand straight let alone sprint. “I got an idiot to sober up. Control that mouth of yours.” I scowled my best scary scowl at Owens. “Wouldn’t look so pretty without teeth now, would you?”

  The inmates back in Serenity would have heckled me for that pathetic line but I’d never been much for cat fights. Owens got me riled and I didn’t know why.

  I must have sounded more threatening than I thought though ’cause she stepped aside, shielding Renee from scary ol’ me as I hauled Jed out the door.

  I didn’t miss the dumbstruck expression on Renee’s face. If her mouth had hung open any more she could have caught flies.

  Yeah, I could be badass—I winced as another wave of nausea washed over me—sort of.

  Chapter 19

  RENEE HAD SPENT much of the evening attempting to sober up her best pupil, which had sent her mood further south. As she sat on the seat beside a snoring Miranda’s bed, she was tempted by the hope that the girl would suffer a bit in the morning. At least then she might not be so stupid ever again.

  Renee ignored the voice that reminded her she’d been in the same state not long ago. Aeron had been there for her. She was always there.

  Renee sat there, in semi-darkness, as light from the hall seeped under the door. All she could do was think. Her mind kept replaying Aeron’s obvious dislike of Owens. She knew why Owens had issues with Aeron. She was meant to be a hardened criminal.

  Owens was a typical alpha-female charmer. Renee had doubted she’d ever been told “no.”

  It made her chuckle, the very un-Aeron cattiness. Granted some of it was for show. She was doing a remarkable job in her first undercover post. For some reason, Renee could feel an undercurrent. There was something else going on behind those deep beautiful eyes.

  Aeron had reacted that way to someone before. In St. Jude’s, with Brad Jewel, and he’d been attempting to seduce Renee.

  It was the same aggressive attitude, same body language, and same pointed show of physical prowess. If it had been anyone else, she would have called it proprietary, she would say Aeron was jealous . . .

  Renee shook her head at the empty room. Aeron didn’t get jealous. She didn’t dislike people or get catty. No, that would make her . . . well . . . not Aeron.

  Renee sighed and stretched out her neck. Aeron Lorelei confused her at times. She was stubborn, difficult, and oh so utterly adorable.

  Renee hung her head. Why couldn’t she just stop feeling this way?

  Hope wriggled in and whispered that maybe Aeron had sensed that Owens was making a beeline for her and wanted to show Renee she wasn’t happy with that. Logic told her not to be so stupid. If Aeron felt anything of the sort, she would just come out and say it.

  Aeron didn’t do games.

  Owens was different. There was something about that easy smile and charming manner that made Renee uncomfortable. On the surface all was as it should be. Owens had been diligent, interested in her students if not strict. She could just feel something wasn’t right.

  Renee rolled her eyes and got to her feet. It would be wise not to get drunk anytime soon . . . or ever. It was bad enough she’d seen Nan, twice. Things were getting weirder every day. She had no reason to be worried when Miranda wasn’t in class. Sometimes she would practice alone on the top floor and forget the time. Yet, she knew.

  Maybe she needed to see if Nan was around. If it was a delusion maybe it could tell her what she needed to be committed for.

  “Roberta?”

  Renee stared up at the ceiling for a moment, wondering if someone up there was enjoying making her life difficult.

  “Yes, Nikki?” She plastered on a smile and turned to the door and Owens’s annoying clear blue eyes.

  “I’ve fixed the redecoration effort.” Her smile was smooth. “Just came to check on our star pupil.”

  Renee sighed. “Well, there’s nothing left in her stomach, that’s a definite.” Miranda murmured in her sleep. “I hope she plays well with a hangover.”

  Owens leaned against the doorjamb. Her hands tucked in her jeans so her thumbs poked out. Manicured nails, short. “The principal will spit venom if she doesn’t.”

  Renee nodded. “Good thing they drank themselves into too much of a stupor or I’d be worried about the long term implications.”

  Owens raised her dark eyebrows. Her tanned skin had the smoothness of a model’s. In fact, Renee wondered just why she wasn’t a model. Most people would buy any product that she was selling. And now she was staring. Wonderful.

  “She should be fine now.” Renee cleared her throat, ignoring the amused look on Owens’s face. “Thanks for the help.”

  “Roberta?”

  There was something about the tone that set alarm bells ringing. She felt a soft hand on her arm and slammed her eyes shut.

  “Yes?” Squeaky at best.

  “Are you . . . okay?”

  Renee opened her eyes. She hadn’t been expecting the concern or the real genuine warmth in Owens’s voice. “Excuse me?”

  “Riley,” she said, eyes clear and open but Renee’s instincts still didn’t believe it was genuine. “It’s got to be hard with your sister. I just . . .” She sighed and ran her free hand over her short hair. She hadn’t let go of Renee’s arm. “I put two and two together.”

  And made five.

  Renee swallowed the truth and the pinball machine of emotion thundering through her. Weird emotions, which were filled with too much energy, considering she was exhausted. “Serena and I didn’t get along. Riley had nothing to do with it.”

  “She’s missing. You said . . . it’s no coincidence that Riley has showed up here, right?” Owens was too nosey for her own good. Far too inquisitive for a teacher. Renee’s defenses kicked in.

  “If Samson is Riley, if she had an issue with my sister, it has nothing to do with me.” It sounded cold but she hoped it would make Owens back off.

  The words “honey trap” flashed before her eyes. She could work with that.

  “No?” Owens still hadn’t let go of her arm.

  “No.” Renee removed her arm as not to spurn but not encourage either. She would need to keep Owens on side. “After my ex-husband, she’s nothing.”

  Owens’s lips twitched in a smile. She wore clear gloss that caught the yellow light from the hall. “Right, because he was a criminal?”

  Renee clamped her mouth shut. She hated anyone thinking that Aeron was anything of the sort. She was a hero, a beautiful, wonderful hero. “Far worse. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “So liking scum runs in the family?” Owens cocked her
head. “Maybe there’s a better way?”

  Renee had no intention of finding out what that meant. “If you find me a good man, send him in my direction, won’t you?”

  She strode past Owens, not missing the amusement dancing across those glossy lips. Owens could see right through the act, Renee could tell that much.

  Before Aeron, she could have pulled it off. She had blended into whoever she needed to be. Loving Aeron had done something to her. She couldn’t not be herself. The more her little Missourian was around, the more she was Renee Black.

  Not helpful.

  Aeron liked Renee, she drew her out with a smile or, like now, even the thought of her.

  Renee wandered back to her villa. Her emotions were soaring and plummeting at random. Now she wanted to burst into tears and curl up in bed.

  Not only had she gone and fallen in love with someone who was clueless about it but loving her had compromised Renee’s strongest trait.

  Being in love had erased every skill she had undercover.

  It sucked and it was mean.

  She picked up a pillow from her sofa and punched it.

  Really freaking mean.

  Chapter 20

  JED, MY DEAR little Casanova, had chucked his guts up for Texas most of the night. I didn’t know how much he’d drank but by the morning I was ready to clonk him over the head with the bottle.

  Thankfully, Frei had come to my rescue and fed him a hangover cure. It had made him a lot less green. She’d found him amusing as he whined about his headache but my humor seemed to have deserted me.

  Go figure.

  She’d advised that I confine him to bed for the day and had told me what to say to Harrison in order for us to get away with it.

  By lunchtime, I couldn’t keep my eyes open without effort. My group carried on with their fitness regime while I sat at my desk staring into nothing.

  “Riley, we need to talk.” The sound of Owens’ voice was unwelcome and my grumpy mood would achieve nothing good.

  “Get lost.” I couldn’t be bothered to raise my head off my fist. It was too much hard work.

  “Let me make this clear,” she snapped, slapping a paper down on the desk. “I know who you are.”

  Same old headline declaring “The Face of a Killer.” I wondered if the vulture who wrote it had royalties or something. It sure seemed to follow me around wherever I went. It didn’t matter that it was the doctored version, that the name said Alex Riley not my real one, it still irritated me.

  “You want me to sign it?” I threw it to the floor and glared at her.

  Owens flinched. I must have looked how I felt. “Did you kill her?”

  Who was she on about?

  Wait. Who? Oh no.

  My heart pounded into a speedy rhythm.

  “Worthington?” I got to my feet, getting woozy. “Where is she, what’s happened to her . . . ?” Stars popped before my eyes and I gripped onto my desk.

  Owens stood there, staring at me. I closed my eyes, trying to fend off passing out and to cover the fact I’d just slipped up, big style. I was a vicious criminal. Why would I care about anybody? The wooziness got worse.

  “Roberta is fine,” Owens said in a cautious tone. “I meant Serena, her sister.”

  Uh oh.

  How did I get out of this? Renee had always told me that a convincing cover meant keeping it close to the truth, with a twist. I could do that. The truth with a twist.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shoved my hands in my pockets.

  Owens narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t kill her?”

  “Why would I do that?” My heart sped up until my knees wobbled. I took a deep breath. “Miroslav, sit down already!”

  I rubbed my clammy hand over my face. So I couldn’t feel as much but feeling something wasn’t fair. I was meant to be burden-free.

  “Wait,” Owens said, drawing me from my panicked plotting. “You sound like you care.”

  “Whatever.” I didn’t know where she was headed but I was confused. Confusion and exhaustion were not a good mix for me.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Explains it.”

  It did?

  “Does Roberta know?”

  I was way past confused. Know what? This was why bumbling dimwits like me were never sent undercover.

  “What do you think?” I hoped my best shrink-like answer would conceal how lost I was.

  I needed Renee, or Frei, or maybe a life raft.

  “Take it the ex-husband is back.” She folded her arms like we were having a team talk.

  Renee’s cover was in place, sure, but I had no details. I wasn’t even supposed to know her.

  “Ask her.” I was too tired for this. I spotted my escape route in Harrison storming toward my office. “I got work to do.”

  Owens followed my gaze and her eyes narrowed as they fell on Harrison.

  “Good luck with her.” She tapped her nose. “Thanks for the heads up.”

  What heads up? Oh man, Renee was gonna kick my butt. “Sure.”

  Owens offered Harrison a tight smile as they crossed in the doorway. Harrison didn’t afford her the same.

  “Jed.” One word that said it all.

  Here went nothing. “He’s sick.”

  She put her hands on her hips.

  “Sick?” she snapped. “He smells a bit funny for someone who’s sick.”

  I shrugged. “The kid thought he was tough. If he’s gonna walk the walk . . .” Because I drank? Let’s hope I never had to back that one up.

  “So you got him inebriated?”

  “Yeah,” I muttered. Although I got the urge to cower under her scrutiny, I stood up straighter. “He’s sniffing around your prize jewel. Do you want her swayed by his pathetic bad boy routine?”

  “Miranda?” Harrison’s eyes lost their edge and widened.

  “No, Miss Texas.”

  Harrison glanced out of the window. “He hasn’t . . .”

  I did not ever want to know or think about it. “Thanks to Professor Worthington and me, don’t think so.”

  I would have been caught on camera heading into the block with Renee, so it was better I keep it simple. Truth with a twist.

  “Professor Owens was just delivering an update. Miranda’s fine and they’ll be keeping her extra busy.” I smiled my best arrogant smile. “Not like they realize her worth.”

  Harrison tapped her long nail to her thin lips. “It’s better we just get rid of him—”

  “No.” I fixed her with my best stare. Idiot or not, Jed was not going missing. “He’s got potential. He won’t go near her again.”

  Harrison shook her head. “She’s too valuable to risk.”

  “Jed will stay away or I’ll deal with him.” I gave my best “I’m a scary criminal” face. “He’s worth a lot of money to me.”

  It sounded cold and creeped me out. Harrison responded with a wince. “Very well. If you’re sure.”

  “Oh I’m sure. Runt will be too tired to move.”

  Harrison glanced around the room as if searching for a gun or knife.

  I hardened my gaze as much as I could. “Wouldn’t go looking for things you don’t want to find.”

  That sent her scurrying.

  I would have laughed if I didn’t want to stand in a shower and disinfect myself for just saying it. I slumped down into my chair—I’d had to. The students needed me to.

  Jed, Miroslav, and the others, they all needed me to keep it together and keep it convincing. It wasn’t helping much. It was so exhausting being mean. So much effort went into pretending to be somebody I wasn’t. It felt like such a waste of precious energy just maintaining the illusion.

  Looking on the sunny side, I, at least, wasn’t mean for real. I could be grumpy, sure, but I didn’t want to hurt nobody.

  Well, unless you counted pickle juice, which I didn’t.

  That thought made me smile. I kinda liked being me. I liked not holding onto all the negative stuff that hurt. It ha
d taken me a long time to let go of it, a long time to accept that I was okay with being in my own skin.

  It felt good to acknowledge that. As much as I’d messed up in the past, I couldn’t change that. I was a better person for what I’d gone through. I was a happy person, happy just to be. I had been locked in my shell once, and there was no way I was ever going back.

  Chapter 21

  MY AFFECTION FOR my group of brats was severely tested over the next couple of days. They were hard working. I had eight in the year group that I was trying to save. I taught the younger ones, but like a proper gym teacher, but my eight were there all day every day.

  Three of the girls in the group had decided to hit PMS all at the same time and were either screaming at each other or howling like babies. The “I can’t train because I’m having my period” made me push them harder.

  They had no idea that I could feel things. Suffering was relative, I got that.

  I’d been trapped in a concrete block full of hormonal women for over a decade. I knew what period pain was. These kids were just being whiners.

  The boys, on the other hand, had become gladiatorial with each other. Every session, they were pushing to be better than the guy next to them. Whereas I was having to force a few of the girls to train, I was having to force a few of the boys to stop. Not surprising, Jed was one of them.

  Aside from the wonders of teenage angst, there was Miroslav and Jessie.

  Every teacher had their favorites. Something I’d hated as a kid but those two made me proud to watch them. Miroslav’s body was starting to adapt to his regime. His calves were building up and his confidence with it. He was lanky and skinny before but now he was starting to change. His shoulders were getting broader and he was beginning to look buff.

  Jessie was a skinny little mouse with long, wiry brown hair. She had wide eyes that took in everything as if soaking it up for the first time. Her enthusiasm for learning was matched by her quiet, sweet demeanor. Now her asthma was under control, she seemed a lot calmer than before. I still kept in mind that Renee had said she might need to talk sometime but baby steps.