Page 51 of June 7

"Yeah."

"Your suit is dry."

"I haven't gone swimming since before the noon class." She held on to his hips. "Why?"

"No reason." He stepped away from her. "See you in a bit."

She watched him leave, wondering what that was all about. Her stomach fluttered, remembering the night they'd sneaked into the pool. Maybe he, too, was thinking about what they had done in the water.

"Miss Hill. Miss Hill."

She turned around and found Henry, one of the eight-year-olds who had excelled in his lessons this summer, bobbing up and down on the other side of the half-partitioned door leading out to the pool. "What are you doing out of the water?"

His fingers hooked the top of the door, and he peered over it. "Can I use a pair of Goggles?"

"You know the rules." She stuck her hand out. "I need one of your shoes before I can give you the goggles."

Unfortunately, many kids took the goggles home after borrowing them from the office. There wasn't enough in the budget to keep replacing them. So, she'd made the rule to hold one of their shoes hostage until they returned the goggles to the office after their swim time. Since they'd started the rule, they hadn't lost one pair.

"I promise to give them back." Henry hopped from one foot to the other foot on the cement floor. "Zachary's waiting for me. We're going to read the secret message on the bottom of the pool."

The secret message the kids sought was the name printed on top of the drain cover at the four-foot line. For some reason, beginner swimmers loved to use their new skills by making it to the bottom of the pool.

Henry continued to jump in front of her. She crooked her finger and leaned down to his level. "Do you need to use the restroom in the locker room?"

He nodded. She pointed for him to go.

Alone, she murmured, "Teach them early. They'll learn."

"Who are you talking to?" asked Liz.

She glanced over her shoulder. "Myself."

"Bad sign, my friend." Liz raised her hand and circled her finger near her head.

"Too late to worry if people think I'm crazy." She smiled as Henry returned with one of his shoes, and she tossed him a pair of goggles. "Here you go, kiddo. Good luck finding the secret message."

"Thanks, Miss Hill." Henry ran off.

She blew the whistle hanging around her neck. "Slow down," she yelled, shaking her head.

"Kids are wound up today." Liz rolled the desk chair to the desk, looked at the computer, and groaned. "I forgot all about the private party for tonight."

"I noticed that earlier." She moved over to the computer. "I didn't take the reservation, so I'm not sure who rented the pool."

"Tara took the call." Liz looked at Daisy. "It's a women's Zumba class. They want to try dancing in the water."

"Fun."

Liz raised her brows. "Then, stay. Join us."

"Sorry, can't." She grinned, not really sorry at all. "Bane's waiting for me to get off so he can follow me home."

Liz frowned. "Speaking of Bane. I don't like what's going on with you."

"Well, that doesn't have anything to do with Bane." She shrugged. "I don't like what has happened either. Until now, I'd felt safe at the duplex."

Liz tapped the desk, looking at the floor. Daisy waited for her friend to say something else. But Liz was lost in space.

---