The Surreptitious Mr. Wolfe

Part Nine- Wolfe In Sheep's Clothing

What to do? Ella fretfully thought to herself while getting ready for school. She knew she'd be in mammoth dilemma if she walked into her school unprepared. Mr Hadley, their English teacher, was not a man to be fooled with. His punishments were rigorous and unforgiving.

She then had a hazardous plan. She put on her school uniform, crammed a few things into her school bag and darted out the bedroom door. On her way to the outside, she conveniently bumped into Mrs Valour in the hallway.

"Morning, dearest Ella!" Mrs Valour chirped in her signature piercing voice. Ella tried to conceal her annoyance as best she could.

"Morning, ma'am." She returns with the widest smile she could plaster on her face.

"Ready for a wonderful day of learning?" Mrs Valour over-enthusiastically asked.

"Yes, ma'am, speaking of learning, I'm going to walk to school today. We're doing a task on the various forms of, um, pollution. I need to take pictures and jot down notes." She lied.

"It's a far walk, Ella. I'm not sure..." Mrs Valour hesitantly began.

"-I have to, ma'am. I really want to get this task off my chest. It's due tomorrow." She hastily fibbed, feeling her palms get clammy.

"Tomorrow? Well then, hop to it, Ella! We don't want you falling behind, now do we?" Mrs Valour exasperatedly stated.

"No, ma'am." She replied with a smile."Ma'am, if a driver comes looking for me, could you please tell him I walked because of my project? His name is Alton Sullivan."

"Alton, got it." Mrs Valour confirmed. "Now off you go." She rushed.

Ella gave a small nod and walked off, letting out a deep sigh of relief. She was glad Mrs Valour was gullible as she was promiscuous.

Ella reached the ground floor and walked out the prestigious hotel. Her plan was immovable from her mind. Instead of walking down Blossom Street, she made a right turn to Duvall Boulevard. She took out her phone and texted Jace.

I won't be at school today, Mr Hadley would never let you guys do the presentation if one of the members were absent.

She walked to a bus stop and planted herself down. It was then when her phone buzzed.

El, don't be silly, you'll miss the other lessons too. Just come to school ,we'll figure it out.

Jace was way too lenient. She wanted him to be angry with her, to, at least, make her feel like she deserved punishment. He didn't do that and it made her feel guilty.

I want to do this, Jace. Please understand.

Her phone buzzed.

Fine, El. What'll you be up to this whole day?

She was a bit dejected when he gave in so easily, but she easily brushed it off.

I'm going to take the bus and explore the city, I've never really had the full experience, but now I can cause the hotel is relatively close to it.

She hit send and got a response instantaneously.

Ella, why didn't you play sick like normal teens? You're going to explore around a city without any chaperone, that's irresponsible. Go back to the hotel, Ella. No good can come from this.