Page 9 of Inferno

Chapter 3

“Good morning, Dr. Wolf,” Gayle Abrams greeted Prissy when she arrived at work that morning.

Prissy smiled at her secretary, a pretty Jamaican sister with beautifully braided hair and a liltingly accented voice that always transportedPrissyback to her romantic honeymoon in Ocho Rios.

“Good morning, Gayle,” Prissy greeted her warmly. “Got any messages for me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”Her efficient secretary passed her a small stack of phone messages. “Mrs. Cohen called to confirm that you’re still coming to speak to their group today about the upcoming bond election.”

Prissy nodded.“Absolutely.”

With $17.4 million of taxpayer dollars at stake, Prissy had made it a priority to meet with as many civic organizations as possible to address their questions and concerns about the school district’s proposed capital improvement plan. Since Rose Cohen’s auxiliary league had many members who were active in the community, Prissy knew that having the group’s support could be crucial to the passage of the bond proposal.

“Would you like some coffee?” Gayle offered.

“No, thanks,” Prissy declined, sifting through her phone messages. “I’m still wired from the brew Stan made this morning.”

Gayle grinned suggestively. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that that husband of yours makes potent coffee?”

Prissy laughed as she left the reception area to head toward her office. It was early, so the other members of her staff hadn’t arrived yet.

At the end of the corridor, her office was identified by a brass nameplate on the door that readDR. PRISCILLA WOLF, SUPERINTENDENT.

For the past two years, Prissy had served as chief officer of a small school district right outside of Denver. Although she had a Ph.D. in education administration and several years of experience as a high school principal, her status as an outsider was what had given her an edge over the other candidates vying for the job. In an unprecedented move, Coronado’s school board had hired Prissy to improve relations between the district’s administrators and the board of education, whose bitter stalemates had become notorious. Since Prissy had no baggage, no alliances and no axes to grind, she—unlike her predecessor—had been able to propose a $17.4 million bond to address the district’s educational and infrastructure needs.

Entering her office, Prissy strode across the large room to her desk and set down the monogrammed leather briefcase that Stan and the boys had given to her for Mother’s Day last year. She’d just sat in her chair when the intercom on her desk buzzed.

“Dr. Wolf, you have a call.”

“Who is it, Gayle?”

Her secretary paused for a long moment. “Celeste Wolf.”

Prissy tensed, her chest tightening with anger. She considered instructing her secretary to take a message, but she’d been doing that for the past two months. Sooner or later, she’d have to break her silence and talk to her ex sister-in-law.

“Dr. Wolf?” Gayle prompted tentatively. “Should I tell her you’re not available?”

“No,” Prissy murmured. “I’ll speak to her. Thanks, Gayle.”

When the call was transferred, Prissy drew a deep, calming breath before lifting the receiver. “Hello,” she said coolly.

“Hey, Pris.”Celeste sounded nervous. “Thank you for taking my call this time. I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

Prissy stared up at the ceiling. “I’ve got a full afternoon of meetings that I need to prepare for, so I don’t have a lot of time to talk.”

“I understand,” Celeste said meekly. “The reason I’m calling is to find out whether you’re still attending the educators’ leadership conference this weekend.”

“Of course I am. I told you before that I’m one of the workshop presenters.”

“I know.” Celeste paused for a moment. “Since the conference is in Minnesota this year, I was hoping I’d get an opportunity to see you.”

Prissy frowned. “What do you mean? Are you going to be in Rochester?”

“Um, actually, I’m already here.Have been for over a week.”

“Why?”

Another pause, this one longer.“I’m here with Grant. He’s working at the Mayo Clinic.”