The Mercedes pulled up to Coastline's main gate at 8:42 AM.
Ten minutes late.
Marco opened my door and I stepped out onto the pavement. The campus was quiet. Everyone already inside. First period already started.
I walked through the gate and headed straight for the admin building.
Inside, the front office smelled like coffee and old paper. Mrs. Chen sat behind the desk, grey hair pulled back in a bun, reading glasses perched on her nose.
She looked up when I walked in.
Smiled.
"Mr. D'Angelo. We were expecting you."
I blinked.
"You were?"
"Saw you on the news this morning. Quite the incident at Fifth and Harbor." She was already filling out a tardy excuse slip. Yellow carbon copy. Official stamp. "Professor Delacroix has been informed. Your absence is excused."
Oh.
Oh that's convenient.
"Thanks."
She handed me the slip.
"Try not to make a habit of it. Even Angelo money doesn't get you unlimited late passes."
"Understood."
I took the slip and headed out.
