It was a dangerous curiosity, she knew, this pull she felt toward him despite herself. But as Daniel turned back to her, his features smoothing into a mask of professional composure, Juniper couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she was being drawn in against her better judgment. Was it the mystery that pulled at her, or the fleeting moments when he felt like something she could lean on? She couldn’t tell anymore.

This is ridiculous, she thought, unsettled by her own inability to simply focus on the work. I don’t even know what I’m looking for here. The mystery? The support? Some explanation for why he left her standing alone earlier? She pressed her lips together, frustrated with herself as much as with him. Just get through the case. That’s all that matters.

They were wrapping up with Ms. Rivera, exchanging final courtesies and gathering their materials. Daniel pocketed his device, and just like that… the wall dropped. The tension that had carved itself into his shoulders disappeared as smoothly as if it had never existed.

He moved to help Ms. Rivera straighten the classroom, organizing a displaced stack of picture books on the shelf without a word, without being asked. His movements were easy, natural, like he hadn’t just been locked behind whatever that call had been moments ago.

Mrs. Thompson, a teacher from one of the classrooms down the hall, appeared in the doorway, observing quietly with the assessing gaze of someone who’d witnessed countless interactions in these halls.