“Sorry,” we said at the same time.

“I need to talk to you,” I said, leaning against her desk, too much adrenaline to sit in the chairs before it.

“Okay,” she said, eyeing Dean and then back to me.

I took a deep breath, the image of her immediately running and telling Tanner what we saw, how we were ratting him out, icy clear and terrifying in my mind. The anger for that girl outweighed my fear, and I opened my mouth.

Ms. Howard listened to me recount exactly what we’d heard and seen only minutes ago. Nodding and pinching the bridge of her nose as the story ended. My chest rose and fell when I finished as if I’d run a 5k.

She parted her lips, but a knock on her door jolted each of us.

“I’m heading home,” Principal Tanner said, opening the door without an invitation. “Do you need me to walk you to your car—” He spotted us standing there. Dean gave a little wave, whereas I stood frozen solid. “Oh,” he said. “I didn’t realize you had students here.”

Ms. Howard smiled. “I asked them here,” she said, and Tanner tilted his head.

“After hours?”

“After Code Club,” she said, and I was immediately shocked. She deserved so many props for covering for us. “I wanted an update on their progress. See if they needed any help recruiting new members. It’s a great idea you’ve had,” she said, grinning at Tanner. He actually smiled slightly. “They’ve both taught each other things I think they didn’t even know they needed to learn. And the academy’s website has never looked or worked better.” She glanced at us and we both nodded.

“For sure,” Dean said.

“Absolutely,” I added.

“Wonderful,” Tanner said. “You’ll be working a little later, then?”

“Yes,” she said, motioning to her desk. “I’ve got some things to wrap up here. I’ll be all right on my own, though. Thank you for the offer.”

He nodded, then eyed Dean and me. “Keep up the good work.”

I smiled, and Dean nodded. Then we all took one damn deep breath when Tanner closed the door behind him.

Too close.

What had I been thinking?

That Tanner was using his power for evil.

Oh right, that. Okay, so maybe not totally evil, but clearly he was immersed in his personal vendetta.

Anger returned. I refocused on Ms. Howard, who had stepped around her desk, her ear pressed to the door. After a few moments of silence, she sighed.

“I hate that you two were put in this position,” she said, her green eyes sincere. “But I’m also honored that you trusted me enough to come to me with it.” She held her hands over her chest, her pink sweater complementing her lavender nails. “Unfortunately,” she continued, “this isn’t the first time I’ve heard something like this happening this year.”