The key was that Alfred Garland had a very good relationship with Ms. Quinlan, and one could tell it was the kind of friendship where peers could tease and play with each other. Mr. Zachmann was once worried that Ms. Quinlan and this Justin Wafford were in a puppy love relationship and even used this topic to tease Amadeus.
Alfred Garland's mood was complex. He observed the man in the back seat through the rear-view mirror, pursing his lips, clearly not enjoying the feeling, and asked, "…How did he run off to Beijing? Doesn't he have school?"
Nathalie Quinlan glanced at her phone, which had a location message from Justin Wafford. She suppressed the slyness in her eyes and replied indifferently, "It's Friday. He seems to have asked for a day off from school."
She sent the location Justin Wafford had sent her to Alfred Garland and looked up, saying, "I've sent you the address."
*