House of Korba: The Ghost Bird Series: #7 (The Academy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was going on?
    “How’s Pam?” Kota asked Gabriel.
    “Peachy,” Gabriel said. He grunted, stilling his hand on my neck and leaving his palm there. “She’s got this new boyfriend, though. Not sure if I like him.”
    “We can’t make choices for her,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Is he a threat?”
    “He keeps her out at night,” Gabriel said. “I haven’t checked the accounts to figure out if he’s spending money on her or if she’s paying.”
    “I can check, if you want,” Victor said.
    Gabriel nodded. “It’ll help. If it’s his money, I don’t care. She doesn’t have a whole lot to spend on anything else right now. I don’t want to have to cover for her because of this.”
    “Are you there by yourself at night?” Mr. Blackbourne asked.
    “These days? A bit more than usual,” Gabriel said. “I can handle it, though.”
    “Maybe you should consider staying with Victor,” Mr. Blackbourne asked, although I sensed it really wasn’t a suggestion. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but there’s been more than the usual security issues lately. You should stay with others whenever possible.”
    “He could stay here,” Nathan said quickly.
    “He can stay with us,” Luke said. “We’ve got the new house fixed up better now. There’s a spare room.”
    “Victor’s closer to his home, just in case Pam needs anything,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Although we should consider moving her and you to a different location.”
    “She likes the place too much,” Gabriel said. “Still holding onto the past.”
    My head was spinning trying to keep up. I didn’t know much about Pam, and I wanted to ask questions. It sounded like Gabriel took care of Pam, rather than the other way around. The conversation also made me wonder exactly where Gabriel lived.
    “Maybe the new boyfriend will be good for her, then,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Maybe she’ll change her mind.”
    My lips were glued together, even with a hundred questions still hovering. They revealed so much about each other, looking out for each other. In a way, I also felt useless. I didn’t know to suggest anything.
    “I think that covers everything going on home-wise,” Kota said, although he checked with Dr. Green, who simply nodded. Nothing new there; he worked a lot, and his routine was fairly fixed.
    “There is one Academy issue we need to discuss with everyone,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Despite what Mr. Hendricks says about requiring me to be absent at these events, we need to focus on security for the homecoming game and the following dance.”
    At this, everyone sat up. I scanned the room. Eyes were attentive, focused. I had to assume North and Nathan had been filled in about Mr. Hendricks.
    Mr. Blackbourne focused on us. “I don’t take this lightly, but we don’t have a choice. There’s the safety of the students involved. Our anonymous bomber has become more brazen.”
    “So he thinks the bomber will focus on the game or the dance?” Kota asked. “If you’re not there, couldn’t he still be tempted to try, anyway?”
    “I think we’re dealing with someone who likes to show off,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “We don’t know what he wants, but he likes attention, whoever it is. I’m not convinced I’m the only one he’s trying to draw attention from.”
    “Isn’t it Volto?” Gabriel asked. “That punk kid with the mask?”
    “I’m starting to wonder,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Volto liked to make an appearance. He liked to show off, but he showed us his mask when it was him. He followed us off campus. This bomber is repeating himself and stays anonymous. He seems more focused on the school. He’s not following us anywhere else.”
    “He could be trying to throw us off,” Victor said. “I mean, Volto was working with Muriel. He could be working with someone else, someone we don’t see.”
    “We can’t eliminate any possibilities,” Mr. Blackbourne said, “but we can’t go with theories. Precautions