"Still running that smart mouth? Still think you can dodge?"
She advanced on me, marker raised.
"I'm going to write 'homewrecker' across your face! You'll never wash it off! The whole school is going to see exactly what you are!"
The laughter below cut off like a switch had been flipped.
Someone sucked in a sharp breath. Someone else shouted that she'd gone too far.
The instant the marker tip nearly grazed my cheek, I drove my foot into her midsection and sent her crashing to the ground.
Delia shrieked in pain, her face draining of all color.
My other hand was already pulling my credentials from my pocket. I held them in front of her eyes.
"Read it. Carefully."
She squinted, leaning closer. Then her eyes went wide.
Printed in bold black letters: City Board of Education, Deputy Director — Judy Fox.
"You... you..." Her lips shook. Every drop of color vanished from her face.
I let go.
Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.
I turned to face the two thousand students below, held my credentials high above my head, and let my voice ring out clear and strong.
"I am Judy Fox, Deputy Director of the City Board of Education."
The entire assembly went dead silent.