The early morning air carried a crispness that seemed unusual for time, and the quiet streets leading out of Eastbridge High were nearly empty as Professor Kim maneuvered her car through the familiar roads. Her mind, however, was anything but calm.
The strange phone call she had received the previous evening replayed in her thoughts, over and over, with a peculiar mix of intrigue and irritation. The voice on the other end had been casual, almost teasing, yet the instructions were clear—she was to meet the caller at a specific location just a short drive from the high school.
Professor Kim had spent the night weighing her options. Her responsibilities at Eastbridge High were considerable: mentoring Stella Graham, overseeing tutoring programs, and ensuring the school’s academic reputation
