With the signed documents securely in place, Liam handed over the substantial sum of money to the principal. Gratitude filled the air as the principal marveled at the unexpected turn of events. Liam, in his composed manner, spoke up, "Sir, can I talk to Mr. Lane."
"Of course you can," the principal responded warmly.
"He must be in his class."
"Wait, let me call him to come here," the principal added, summoning a staff member to fetch Mr. Lane to his office. Moments later, Lane entered the room with a beaming smile.
"Mr. Liam, you are here," Lane greeted him enthusiastically.
"Yes, Mr. Lane," Liam replied, standing up to shake hands with the English teacher.
The principal, sensing a positive rapport, suggested, "Sir, can I see around your school?"
"Sure, Mr. Liam," the principal approved.
"Mr. Lane, please escort him."
Liam and Lane exchanged glances, smiles playing on their faces, as they exited the principal's chamber. The trio embarked on a tour of the school, weaving through corridors and classrooms, with Lane acting as a guide.
As they walked, Liam observed the school environment with a discerning eye, occasionally engaging in small talk with Lane about the students, teachers, and the overall atmosphere of the institution.
Lane, in turn, answered Liam's inquiries with enthusiasm, showcasing the pride he held for the school and its community.
Liam took a deep breath, his gaze scanning the surroundings. The school campus appeared serene, oblivious to the clandestine conversation that was unfolding between Liam and Lane.
"Everything is okay, right?" Liam inquired, his voice low but filled with a sense of urgency.
"Yes, Mr. Liam," Lane responded in a hushed tone, the weight of their secretive dealings hanging in the air.
Liam, seemingly unperturbed, lit a cigarette as they stood within the confines of the school grounds. The smoke curled upward, blending with the stillness of the atmosphere. The mundane facade of the school masked the clandestine operation underway.
"The drugs are inside the suitcase," Liam stated, exhaling smoke into the air.
Lane, maintaining his composure, replied, "The money will be in the same spot."
As the revelation unfolded, the seemingly respectable English teacher revealed a hidden side — he was not only an educator but also a dealer in illicit substances. The school, chosen as the meeting place for this covert exchange, provided a facade of safety for their illegal dealings.
Liam nodded slightly, a tacit acknowledgment of the risky alliance they had formed.
"Did you see anything unusual around since morning?"
Liam inquired, his eyes darting around as he surveyed his surroundings.
"It's normal, like other days, Mr. Liam," Lane assured him, his responses calculated and guarded.
"Hmm," Liam murmured, the sound carrying a weight of contemplation as he took in the information.
Lane's casual tone belied the gravity of the information he shared with Liam.
"Today just one teacher joined, that's all the news," he mentioned, as if it were a trivial detail.
Liam, however, narrowed his eyes, sensing there might be more to this seemingly innocent piece of information.
"Okay," he replied, his voice carrying a note of suspicion.
"But your school really likes to be clean around," Liam observed, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings where sweepers and gardeners diligently worked.
Lane, maintaining a smile, curled his upper lip as he responded, "Umm, not every day."
A sudden realization seemed to dawn on Liam as he looked around, connecting the dots.
"But I think today is a bit different. They are working too much."
Lane, attempting to downplay the situation, suggested, "Maybe the principal told them to clean because you are coming," accompanied by a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What?" Liam's shock was palpable, his suspicions deepening.
"I think it is..." Lane hesitated, becoming a bit nervous under Liam's scrutinizing gaze.
"And maybe the principal hired new staff too," he added, his words tinged with hesitation.
Liam absorbed the information, his eyes scanning the school grounds. For a fleeting moment, he felt an unusual tension in the air, as if the entire staff were casting surreptitious glances in their direction. The sense of being under scrutiny sent a shiver down Liam's spine.
He considered Lane's words, the possibility that the school's unusually meticulous preparations might be connected to his visit. A sense of urgency compelled Liam to act.
"I need to leave," he declared abruptly, his instincts urging him to extricate himself from the situation.
"Leave?"
Lane questioned, his voice tinged with nervous uncertainty.
"What happened, Mr. Liam?"
Lane asked in a nervous way.
"Damn it, you should have stopped the principal about this. Don't you know how risky this is? What if it is something else?" Liam's frustration erupted, his teeth gritted as he fixed an intense gaze on Lane.
Lane, eyes narrowed, responded in a hesitant way, "No way! If it is, then I have known it before, Mr. Liam."
"Shut up," Liam muttered under his breath, not wanting to raise his voice in the potentially compromising situation.
"Just remember to take the drugs from the case," Liam added, pointing his finger at Lane's chest as a stark reminder of the gravity of their dealings.
Lane nodded in reluctant acknowledgment, the weight of their clandestine arrangement settling heavily between them.
Meanwhile, the new teacher, Freddie, adeptly disguised, conducted his class. Engrossed in his role, Freddie noticed two men walking along the street outside the school premises. The air shifted subtly, and Freddie's instincts kicked in. Narrowing his eyes, he continued giving instructions to his students while covertly observing the unfolding situation.
From the vantage point of the second floor, Freddie's keen eyes spotted Mr. Lane and the mysterious man he had earlier seen with the principal. A surge of suspicion coursed through Freddie's veins as he connected the dots. The puzzle he presented to his students became a mere distraction, a guise to maintain his disguise while keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding events.
'What are they doing?'
Freddie's mind raced with questions, and the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.