She ducked into the ladies room, one door away from the break room. No one in here. Good. She let the door drop to close, then caught it with her hand,

listening. She frowned. Couldn't make out what they were saying, but they sure

were being friendly. It was early afternoon. Shouldn't he be in class? He hadn't

mentioned anything about a visit to Nitrovex last night. But then, if it was to see Penny, he wouldn't have…

Okay, this was ridiculous. There must be some reasonable—

“Okay,” Peter was saying from the hallway. “See you in a bit?”

See you in a bit? See you where and why and how in a bit?

“Sure thing,” Penny's voice said. “And thanks for understanding.”

“I should thank you,” Peter said. “This has been overdue for some time.

Glad we could finally squeeze it in.”

Squeeze what in? Kate could hear Penny's heels clacking down the hallway

in the opposite direction and quickly pulled the door shut. She didn't need Peter

catching her eavesdropping on his little rendezvous.

She punched on the hand drier and let it roar for a while, then poked her head out the door. All clear.

She paused, leaning against the wall next to an oil painting of a combine.

She couldn't worry about some tryst between Peter and Penny. She had a presentation in a few minutes.

“Kate? You looking for something?” It was John Wells, coming down the

hallway behind her.

She pushed off the wall. “Oh. No, I was just stretching my legs. Before the

presentation.”

He passed her, heading towards the reception area near the front of the building. She followed automatically.

“You have everything you need?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, thanks. You've been very helpful.”

“Nothing but the best for one of our own.”

She swallowed.

“Hope you're not nervous,” he said. “Only the whole board is going to be there this afternoon.”

It was supposed to be a joke, she knew, so she chuckled as best she could.

“I'll be fine,” she said as she turned the corner into the reception area, almost

running into Peter's back. She wobbled on her heel but managed to not stumble

into his arms. She couldn't decide if that was good or bad.

He turned, blue eyes fixed on her.

“Well, Peter,” John said, hands on his hips. “Getting ready to cart your impressionable young minds around our facility?”

What did that mean? Then she remembered. The first drive out to Nitrovex,

in the Mustang. He'd mentioned a field trip he always took his students on.

Peter didn't answer at first, still staring at Kate. Then he turned to John.

“We'll try not to let anyone fall into the centrifuge if we can.”

John gave a laugh. “I'd appreciate it. Just had it cleaned last month.” He leaned to look past Peter. “Penny.”

Kate hadn't noticed Penny yet, still wobbling a little. But she was there, behind Peter, bright smile beaming.

“Say, this is old home week for you three, isn't it?” John announced.

They must have all given him the same blank stare.

He gestured. “You were all in the same high school class, weren't you?” John

asked.

Penny nodded. “Yes, I guess we were. Go, Griffins,” she added with a little

fist swipe.

Go Griffins? Kate had to force herself not to roll her eyes.

“Peter, you were the runner, right?” John said, tapping his finger on chin. He

turned to Kate. “And Kate here…I believe my wife mentioned something once

about—”

“She won your Scholarship Fair,” Peter blurted.

Kate's eyes grew huge. If she could have shot lasers out of them, she would