Fisher seemed to genuinely consider the answer, clicking her tongue. The rhythm sounded convincingly mechanical.
It wouldn't take long for someone to tell the teachers what happened, and it'd take even less time after that for one of the said teacher - Hartley, she'd bet a goddamn pound of silver it'd be Hartley - to drag her by the figurative scruff to Face The Consequences. The mental picture felt tiresome and predictable.
On the other hand, what was that expression - one might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb...
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "I am feeling aquatically inclined, ja. Coincidentally, do you know if the chlorine tablets were restocked already?" The thoughtfulness turned slightly canny. "It would be good to check the stock. Water hygiene is very, very important, I think. We should go do so now, ja? Yes!"
Putting a chummy - and surprisingly strong - arm around Van's shoulders, Fisher began towing towards the pool.
She doubted being able to convince the boy to carry any of the loot, but people tended to ask Fisher less questions when they saw her chaperoned - or equipped with a hostage.