Free The Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade

walked on, my mind drifting. Oh, Tommy. How I wished I
could have told him the truth, told him everything about my life.
    What would Tommy have said if he'd known who I really was?
It made me sad to think about.
    I shook off my melancholy and entered the headmaster's
office.
    He didn't stand, or even look up at me, when his secretary
ushered me into his office, just stared down at his oh-so-important papers.
    She closed the door, and I settled into one of the chairs in
front of his desk and reluctantly took off my sunglasses. My face would further
condemn my actions. After a moment, he looked up.
    "Ah, Sam, you look wretched. How are you feeling?"
    Not the opening I had expected. "Bit of a headache.
I'll be okay."
    He already had the oral briefing, but I followed standard
procedure. I'd been given time before the drugs to complete my written report
on the plane, and I placed that on his desk
    He flipped through it, then shuffled the papers that had
consumed his attention a moment ago and placed them neatly in his filing
drawer.
    I fidgeted with the zipper on my book bag. I wanted to ask
about the art contest, and the interview, but I didn't dare jump the gun after
involving the Feds in my assignment and threatening a client.
    "You know that stunt you pulled could have gotten this
entire organization in trouble," he said.
    "I know. And I wish I could say I'm sorry, but you
don't know what he was thinking, what Beaumont was going to do to that girl—and
other girls. Honestly, this is the biggest creep I've ever met. I had to make
sure he didn't get away."
    "You've always been one of our best, never causing
problems. This is your first mistake, so I'm going to let it slide. But this is
a once-in-a-lifetime freebie. Any more trouble and I won't be so nice."
    "I know." My whole body relaxed, releasing the tension
I hadn't been aware I carried.
    "Good. Well, I have some exciting news for you."
    Oh?
    "You've been accepted into Sarah Lawrence
College." He pulled out an official-looking letter and handed it to me.
    "Oh my God, really? But how? I haven't even had the interview
yet?"
    "I called in a favor. I wasn't sure if you'd be back in
time and I didn't want you to miss out on this chance at your dreams. Based on
the portfolio you sent in, a nudge from me and a glowing evaluation from Mr.
Krevner, they agreed to let you in without the required interview."
    I stared down at the fancy parchment paper, unable to fully
digest the news. Dear Sam Smith, It is our pleasure to inform you that you
have been accepted to the undergraduate visual art program at Sarah Lawrence
College....
    "Smith? That was the best you could do?" I
laughed, clutching the letter that represented my entire future.
    "It's a good name. It's common and doesn't draw
attention to you, all the things you want when you finally enter that
life."
    "It's fine, I'll take it. Thank you, Headmaster
Higgins."
    "You're welcome, Sam. You deserve it. You've been one
of our best and brightest students. We'll be sad to see you go. That reminds
me," he pulled out another file, "this job just came in, and I think
you'd be perfect for it."
    He handed me the brief. I flipped through it: two kids with
para-powers had been beaten and nearly killed at a prep school in New York. I
needed to infiltrate the school and see if any other paranormals attended. I
also needed to track down the perpetrators. Not so bad. At least I'd be in New
York and helping kids like me—but, wait. Oh God. I so do not want this job.
    "Mary? You're sending me off with Mary? You've got to
be kidding me. She's horrible. And what's she supposed to do, seduce the teachers?
I can handle this alone, or send Lucy with me. She's great at these kinds of
assignments. Anyone but Mary."
    "I'm sorry, Sam, but Mary has some unique skills that
could come in handy, especially as it's likely that one of the leaders is a
man. You'll need her with you."
    "But I just got back! And you promised that was my last
assignment before I