Chapter 34

Keane zoomed in on the footage until the lines were sharp. The pattern Valerie had drawn looked eerily like a Lodism sigil, and the ink was the distinct red cinnabar used by Lodists. Keane and Lucius stared at each other for a long beat before Keane finally found his voice. "Did Ms. Collins' thank-you gift save my life?" He wouldn't have believed such miracles could happen to him if he hadn't lived through it. To say that he wasn't shocked would be a lie, but on second thought, how could a young lady in her early 20s possess such abilities? Ignoring Keane's reaction, Lucius continued reviewing the security footage, including Valerie's exchange with Hannah, and the way she'd nonchalantly twirled the priceless puzzle ball between her fingers. … Unaware that the protective talisman she'd casually given Keane had caused a stir, Valerie was currently dealing with another matter. To keep her from skipping classes this year, Philip had come up with a tailor-made attendance system just