Alexis's POV 

It was four o'clock in the afternoon, quitting time for teachers everywhere, and I was ready to leave work. It had been a brutal week. Exams to grade, papers to proofread, and preparing to proctor the latest standardized exams had kept me late every day. 

Until today. Today, the afternoon was mine. I was looking forward to a long walk with Neumann and some mindless television. 

"Alexis Sterling, please report to the front office," the ...