You report a meeting

"If you could weaponize Luisa the military budget could be cut in half," Diana chuckles. "I never expected you to stand down so quickly."

"Like Honey says, it's never wise to get the cook mad," you say with a rueful smile, then turn serious. "I've got to tell you about something that happened at breakfast though. I met that reporter, Holly Piper. She said she saw me leave the school and followed me."

"And?" Diana says warily, her face stony.

"I told her that inquiries should go to you. But in trying to convince me otherwise she told me about some events last year."

Diana and Holly share a quick glance, the Cajun teacher turning her gaze away to a corner of the ceiling while the Headmistress searches your face.

"Such as?"

"That a student was killed by a train. And that teachers were fired or resigned, and that students were expelled. That there is some doubt that the **** was accidental. And that the granddaughter of a organized crime boss is a student here."

Diana looks at you without expression, hearing you out.

"All true, so far as it goes. Although the poor girl's **** has been conclusively ruled accidental. A very unfortunate accident, but an accident nonetheless," she says. "And after she told you all this, what did you tell her?"

"That she should direct her questions to you. I know how to follow instructions from a designated authority."

She nods thoughtfully, holding your gaze, while Honey continues to find the ceiling fascinating.

"But you have questions of your own."

"I may have. I'm not sure that I'm ready to ask them. Or whether I ever will be."

"I see." She looks away for a moment, then looks back at you. "Veronica Samuels **** is a sore point among the faculty and many of the students. If you decide you do have questions to ask, I request that you come to me first, rather than conducting inquiries elsewhere. It won't serve any purpose to needlessly upset others."

You hold her gaze for a moment before answering, admiring the steely calm in her face. Not for the first time you think that this pretty young headmistress would make a formidable poker player.

"You have my word on that Headmistress," you answer.

"Thank you Dean."

A formidable poker player, and the kind of officer you would be proud to serve with, you think with a hidden smile.