TST
“Someone is here to grill you” warden notified Leo after entering the school cell
“Police, soldier or─”
“You should answer her questions”
“Have nothing new to say”
“Didn’t come to ask for consent” warden snapped. “I came to tell you to get ready”
After five minutes, a woman of about fifty-five in a majestic dress entered into the cell. She sat on the opposite side, facing Leo
“So, you’re Leo?” the woman said
“Don’t fritter away your time, I have─”
Warden pounded the table with his fist, “silence! She’s the dean’s wife. Show respect”
The woman raised her hand, “it’s alright… you can leave us alone”
“Madam─”
“I said it’s alright”
Warden left the cell, looking at Leo heatedly.
Leo had heard rumors of Dean’s wife before. She was a stringent woman when it comes to laws and orders. He also heard the school was firm and unwavering because of the woman. She's the woman who had managed to live with the Dean for ten years, many lasted a month. She never gives a shit.
“I’m Sonia Japheth, you can call me SJ!” Dean’s wife said
“I didn’t do anything─”
“I know”
“What?”
“You saved my daughter’s life”
“Why am I still here?”
“We have an urgent matter to discuss”
“About forsaking your daughter?”
SJ smiled, “about the future of the school”
Leo chuckled, “dean’s wife and scholarship student..?”
“The fate of the school is at the stake”
“That’s none of my business!”
“I’m trying to help you”
“You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved”
“If we don’t find the real culprit behind the fire break, the whole guilt will fall on your shoulders”
“I have nothing to lose”
SJ smiled, “I know… but you have something to pay”
Leo leaned on the table, “How will you help me?”
"Good" SJ smiled, "there is a document in the forbidden library, if it falls in the wrong hands the school will collapse. Want you to get that document for me"
“You mean ashes?” Leo chuckled, “because that’s what I’ll find in the forbidden library by now”
“Burning the library was just the first step” SJ cleared her throat, “they are now after the document”
“I think I’m confused”
“The document isn’t in the library… it was buried under the library”
"Looks like you know much… why don't you go and take it yourself?"
“This is not a physical war, Leo… it is a brains' war. Go get the document for me and I clear off your charges"
“Why should I believe the school will be safe with the document in your hands?”
“It has always been”
“And what if when the document falls in those wrong-hands the school will improve?”
“People in your generation perplex between improvement offers and new opportunities” she chuckled, “people need new opportunities and not improvement offers”
“Babysitting me?”
“Get the document to me and I clear off your accusations. You will be safe and so will the school”
“You’re as cunning as the rumors suggest”
She extended her hand to Leo, “Are you in?”
Leo dodged the hand, "the only bond we have is the fact that I give you the document, and you clear off my accusations. Out of that, we never met”
SJ smiled, “thought you were my future son-in-law”
“I’ll need more information to get the document”
“Tonight, at my office. Come discreetly”