Chapter 14
Joline’s stomach sank as she saw the x of tape under the air vent near the classroom they were using as their meeting place.
How much did Grimm overhear before they thought of checking for spies?
She looked to Ariel. Her green eyes narrowed as she took in the x.
Then a slow smile spread across her face.
It did boost Joline’s confidence. They wanted Grimm to come to FUCN’A to get, well, fucked.
From what she heard about the evil scientist, if he knew about their plan or not, she figured he’d be too tempted to not want to recapture his past experiments who escaped or to get revenge on Ariel for betraying him.
It was time to egg him on. “Is Grimm really as stupid as you think?” she asked Ariel, hoping she’d find the right words for the task. Joline was surprised she didn’t think to suggest they practice or role-play out what they wanted to say. Winging it would have to do.
Even though the shifter hidden in the vents may not be able to see them, Ariel nodded. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it at the time. I guess I was the stupid one, too.” Her face wilted, looking dejected.
Joline found herself putting a comforting hand on Ariel’s shoulder.
She knew this really was something she struggled with.
Ariel wasn’t acting. “It’s okay. There was no way for you to know.
” Joline paused, searching for the right words.
“Is that why you want to throw the party? To finally be rid of him?”
“Yes. I think all of his ex-experiments need that. A way to feel like he’s finally gone from our lives.
Instead of messing with our bodies for the hell of it.
” She sighed in frustration. “Looking back, none of his experiments made any sense. He had no genius plan. I can’t believe I couldn’t see that in the moment.
And I let him use me. He tricked me. The party is also to say, never again.
We won’t let him use us ever again.” She shook her head, sending her greying hair swaying.
Joline smiled. “I like that idea. We should probably find Huggie so we’ll be ready for tomorrow. You said you want the party on the obstacle course?”
Ariel nodded. “Yes. Some people in my group weren’t shifters before. They were regular people. I thought it would be a nice way for them to practice and work towards celebrating their new identities.”
Joline wondered if that was true. She knew they picked the obstacle course because it seemed the best place to trap Grimm.
But what if Ariel did also choose it to support and help her new friends?
All Joline’s fears of Ariel not genuinely trying to be better and reformed slipped away like dew being burned off by the morning sun.
Ariel wouldn’t be different overnight, but it was clear she was trying her best. And Joline could tell she was being honest. Ariel was telling her things that didn’t always put her in the best light, but she admitted to them anyway. Like starting the group for revenge.
They walked through the halls, slowing down at the few x’s they found.
There were only three in total, but they made sure to talk all about their party, what time it was starting, and where it would be.
They changed the conversation each time so that when the spies reported back to Grimm, each of them had a different piece of the puzzle to tell.
That way, hopefully it sounded like a real conversation and not the trap they had planned.
When they looped back to the hospital wing, Joline was glad to see no vents in that area were marked.
Hopefully they still had a leg up on their planned surprise.
Most of the details discussed were only mentioned in the classroom that they already cleared of spies.
While they were dropping information at the vents that were marked, Joline used her keen sense of smell to identify each shifter that was hiding.
That way, she’d hopefully be able to recognize them if they changed position.
So far, they all seemed to be staying put.
It must be some sort of stakeout led by the henchmen to gather information.
Joline glanced at her cell phone. It was almost nine—time to meet up at the classroom and see where they were all at. “Let’s head back and see what progress everyone else made.”
Ariel looked around at the familiar face of the club members.
They were all there by nine pm with a look of triumph on all their faces.
Even Arty appeared to grin with his ostrich beak and a twinkle in his yellow eyes.
She beamed at them all, proud of them coming together for a cause and all the hard work they put in.
They piled their supplies on the front desk, giving her return grins as if to say they were equally proud of their progress. Arty even found rope somewhere.
“How did you get that?” she asked him, wondering how he could even score such a prize.
He managed to turn his beak up in an uncomfortable-looking smile. “The gym.”
“Great work,” she said to Artie before turning to the rest of the group. “Great work, everyone!” She was about to get on with the planning when the door opened and in walked Agents Talbot and Quackenbush with grim expressions on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” Joline asked, her forehead crinkling in concern.
Agent Talbot sighed, her floating shadows seemed to briefly dissipate as if her breath blew them away momentarily.
Ariel found them mesmerizing and creepy at the same time.
“Agent Stone sent a team to intercept the shifters hiding in the marked air ducts.” Ariel was about to protest that her plans would be ruined and decided to hold her tongue.
FUC was only trying to ensure the safety of her and her friends.
Looking around the room, she didn’t want anything bad happening to anyone in the room.
“They were already gone by the time the agents coordinated their attack.”
Ariel felt her brow furrow. “What’s that mean?”
Agent Quackenbush locked her teal eyes on Ariel, her face set in determination. “We’ve beefed up security. The ancillary security guards, in addition to some agents who were off duty, will be patrolling the campus through the weekend. And we want to join your party tomorrow.”
“That’s fine. Why do you look so upset?” Ariel was genuinely curious.
As far as she was concerned, everything was going according to her plan.
The shadow cat shifter was actually already invited to the party to stay hidden and stand watch.
So there was only the small change of increased security and Agent Quackenbush tagging along.
Agent Talbot crossed her arms. Her shadows floated up off her arms, circling slightly around her hands before wafting away. “We don’t like the idea of bad guys hanging around WANC. We take the security of this campus very seriously.”
Ariel nodded, trying her best not to look too pleased. “We did share near the vents that our party is starting around three tomorrow, but we don’t know what they overheard prior to us marking the vents.”
Agents Talbot and Quackenbush shared a look. “What?” Ariel asked, starting to grow impatient with them. It felt like they were keeping a secret from her and she didn’t like it.
The platypus shifter sighed. “I didn’t really take you guys seriously earlier. I thought you were pulling my tail until I detected the first spy.”
Ariel did her best to give the agent a reassuring smile. “That’s okay. At least you were able to mark the vents. It was a big help.”
“But we didn’t catch them yet.” The corners of her teal eyes wrinkled as if she felt dejected. It was clear that catching the bad guys was her number one priority. They shared that in common.
“We will tomorrow. Whether Agent Stone’s plan pans out or ours, we’ll have them by the end of the day,” Ariel reassured her. No matter what it took, she was determined to have Grimm.
“What can we do to help?” Agent Talbot asked, her short blond hair swinging as she turned her head to take in the pile of supplies on the front desk. “Is that a leg?” she asked, taking in the prosthetic rolled up in the blanket on the desk.
Gabby looked about to speak up. Instead, Ariel interrupted before the crow shifter could find her words.
“It’s the leg Grimm gave me. It had brass knuckles, a taser, throwing knives, some zip ties, and a tracking device in it.
I’m hoping once Grimm sees that I’m wearing it again, it will help to lure him out.
Plus, the taser could be helpful.” She shrugged as if to say it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Both the agents looked immediately concerned. “We’re going to have to at least confiscate the throwing knives,” Agent Talbot said. Her shadows swirled off of her faster, appearing agitated.
“I wasn’t going to kill anyone,” Ariel nearly whined. With a deep breath, she tempered her heating emotions. “My plan was to pin henchmen to the obstacle course. And that was only if they make it through FUC’s defenses.” She hoped that if she talked up the low chances, they’d let the knives slide.
“By all rights, we should be taking the leg back,” Agent Quackenbush explained, a tinge of sympathy softening her tone. Her brow wrinkled as if she were still considering just that.
“But what if Grimm does find a way to sneak on campus and tries to nab Ariel?” Joline asked, her coppery skin appearing more flushed than usual. If Ariel didn’t know better, she’d say Joline was mad.
“That’s why we’re leaving her the taser. We’re trusting that she’ll use it appropriately.” Agent Talbot locked her icy blue eyes on Ariel. They silently spoke of the trouble Ariel would be in if she broke their trust. She didn’t need the reminder.