Miss Daly? What was she doing at the Free School? Had some Beyonder case happened here?
Though puzzled, Abner put on a look of surprise and stole several glances at Miss Daly.
The school was close to the East Borough, after all. A woman as beautiful and well-dressed as she was a rare sight here. It would have been stranger not to look.
Miss Daly suspected nothing. She ignored Abner and climbed straight into a carriage bearing the Church of Evernight's emblem.
Abner watched the carriage leave before entering the school and heading to his office.
His four students were already waiting there.
Few people were willing to teach at the Free School, so it had developed an unusual approach. Teachers arrived early and gathered the most advanced students, taught them the day's material, then had them teach separate classes. The teachers moved between classrooms, correcting mistakes as they went. It was called the "Student-teacher System."
After assuming his current identity and securing a position at the Church of Evernight-funded school, Abner had met four promising students and memorized their names.
Three were boys and one was a girl. Their clothes were worn but clean and tidy, and all four were polite.
The only girl was Daisy, daughter of the laundry worker rescued by the Gentleman Thief "Black Emperor" during the Capim Case.
Thanks to Aitris's help, Daisy's family had since moved out of the East Borough, though they still took in laundry.
Abner checked the homework he had assigned, then asked as if on a whim, "Has something happened at the school?"
What else would bring a Nighthawk here?
"Yes, sir. A lady came by just now. She's a bishop of the Church." The boy who answered respectfully was thirteen or fourteen, with faint freckles on his face.
His