Principal Whitfield.
The shock of recognition hit me like a physical blow as I stared at the woman who had welcomed me to Hudson Heights with professional courtesy, who had provided me with my schedule and briefing materials, who had appeared genuinely concerned about my safety after the poisoning attempt. She stood next to Ms. Patterson with the calm composure of someone who had been planning this confrontation, her administrative authority now revealed as the perfect cover for coordinating an international assassination conspiracy.
The tactical implications flooded through my mind with crystalline clarity. As principal, she would have had access to every faculty member's personnel files, including detailed information about their backgrounds, skills, and previous employment. She would have known exactly which teachers had combat experience or intelligence training, yet she had never questioned the presence of federal operatives like Damon among her staff.
