Geri Krotow - Her Secret Christmas Agent

Was Mitch blushing? Not for the first time she had to wonder if he was only a chemistry teacher.

“The one that they think might have been partially responsible for the church fire last Christmas, and the huge takedown that happened at Mayor Charbonneau’s daughter’s wedding.” He looked directly at her as he spoke.

He was telling her the truth, per se, but her gut never proved incorrect. Mitch knew more than he was telling.

She’d let it go, for now.

“Yes, well, that’s a scary thought. That a girl you knew as a bright, confident student is suddenly under the thumb of controlling parents, who might be connected to a dangerous group. Do we know if her parents have actually had contact with the cult?” She didn’t want to reveal anything she knew to Mitch. Not yet. Even with his military background, he was still a civilian and didn’t need to know everything.

“Again, no. I have no idea about her family.”

He leaned back and touched the holiday lights strung around his desk. “Tell me something, Nika. I appreciate that you’re dedicated to your job, and that you no doubt always get your man. But you seem really, really intense about this. As if it’s personal. Is there something you haven’t told me about this case? Have you been affected by this group of wackos?”

She shook her head. “No, no. It’s not that.” She looked into her coffee before she faced him squarely. “The deal is that I’m first-generation Polish American. My mother and father came over right after the Berlin Wall came down. They had nothing, just the clothes on their backs. They were political refugees. They’d fought against tyrants and an oppressive system that essentially brainwashed its citizens to believe its lies. Granted, the True Believers Cult is much smaller, but if we can save one child, one family, from suffering, and help get those bastards, it’s worth it, right?”

“Getting the bad guy is always worth it, yes.”

He had a pained expression on his face but again she didn’t feel she knew him well enough to push it. But she wanted to. She wanted to know more about Mitch than she had any business to.

“Hey, Mr. Everlock!” Neel faltered when he spotted Nika sitting in the office, his bright red sweatshirt emblazoned with the face of a red-nosed reindeer.

“Good morning, Neel. What can I do you for?”

Nika smiled at Neel. “Um, we’re done here, Neel. Mr. Everlock just gave me a list of universities a mile long. I had no idea there were so many places I could major in chemistry just in Pennsylvania! See you in class.” She bolted for the door. And prayed that it was what any other high school student would do, and that her being in Mitch’s office so early wouldn’t draw attention to her.

Chapter 5

The next several days were like any other school day, save for Nika trying to comprehend all that had changed since she’d wandered these same halls over a decade ago. Gone were the blatant Christmas decorations, replaced by generic wintery lights and garland. One hallway of the large school had tables and bulletin boards dedicated to the several different holidays celebrated by students this time of year, including Hanukkah, Kwanza and Christmas. What hadn’t changed was the fun air of expectation—a long school break was near, and the big dance would put an exclamation point on the anticipation.

When the bell rang after each class, Nika did her best to look like all of the other kids fighting to get to their lockers, change out books and report in to their next class. All in four minutes. With a high school as large as SVHS she wondered how any of the students ever made it to class on time. How had she done it?

Since she was only interested in Mitch’s class for the case, and the other kids thought she was doing special assignments for Mitch, she was spared the genuine worry of making it to class on time. It would have been a nightmare, because if she were late she’d bring attention to herself. Every extra bit of attention was a risk at being discovered.

Each time a kid or teacher looked at her funny, she worried they were going to shout out, “Hey, aren’t you a cop?” or “Didn’t you give me a parking ticket last month?”

Her second Thursday at Silver Valley High she was on her way to Mitch’s classroom when she realized she needed to use the restroom. She ducked into the nearest bathroom and smacked into a woman dressed in yoga pants, a polo shirt with the school’s mascot emblazoned above her left breast, and a referee whistle.

Kristine Rattner, one of the high school’s four physical education teachers. Kristine had graduated with Nika. Please don’t let her recognize me. Kristine had been the girl Nika had wished she could be back in school. A cheerleader, her classmate had always been perfectly made-up, and a cute-boy magnet.

“Excuse me, young lady. Don’t be late for class.” The leggy blonde crossed her arms in front of her and Nika looked away. Crap. This was too close for comfort.

Recognize her? She’d never even noticed her all those years ago.

“No, ma’am. I have a pass.” She held up the pass she’d obtained from the principal when she’d started to prepare to go undercover. Other than Mitch, Principal Essis was the only person in SVHS who knew Nika was an SVPD officer.

“What grade are you in?”

“I’m a new transfer senior.”

“I thought so. I don’t recognize you. I’ve had all of the senior class at least once since they were freshmen. Where are you from?”

“My family just moved here from Iowa.”

“Huh. You look familiar. Do you have cousins who went here?” Kristine stared at her and Nika did her best impression of a distracted teen, refusing to meet her eyes.

“No.” She made a show of shaking her leg. “I have to go really bad.”

“Very well.”

Nika locked herself in a stall, grateful for the small but significant barrier.

Apparently she’d done a good job of reassimilating into a teenaged population. Maybe too good. Did Mitch think she looked like the mousy teen she’d been?

Get over it.

The bathroom was empty as she washed her hands and checked the makeup she’d carefully applied this morning. No, there was no reason Kristine would remember her from ten years ago. She’d never worn makeup as a student, and she’d been much meeker around teachers back in the day.

Heading back into the hall she hoped this last class period would go more quickly than the last seven. Being a high school student again was exhausting.

* * *

“You really like the Rainbows, huh?” Nika hoped she kept her expression as neutral as possible. Rachel was the smartest kid in the senior class, according to Mitch. Which made Nika all the more determined to get to the source of Rachel’s misery and discontent.

“Yeah.” Rachel didn’t bat an eye as they sat across from one another in the back corner of Mitch’s classroom, where he’d set up a sofa and two easy chairs. She’d noticed that during the chemistry classes he allowed some of the students to sit here if they preferred, as long as they continued to actively participate in class. It made a great place for students to hang out after school.

The last bell had rung and other Rainbows members were straggling into the room, many of them with heavy backpacks.

Mitch had told her that while not all of the Rainbows identified as LGBT, many of the members were interested in showing support for their friends or family members who were. So she figured she could join the club without it raising any suspicion. So far no one had questioned her about her attendance at the meetings.

“Hey, everyone. Shane and Erika should be here shortly—they have the funds to get pizza and sodas from the cafeteria. Jon, do you want to go ahead and open the meeting for us?”