“Of the six captains who took an athletic extension on assignments, everyone’s completed them except you and me. Declan and Eden have been asked to follow-up with team members who still have incomplete coursework. From the wording of the text, I don’t think Declan wants to police other team captains.”
“Nor should he,” I say.
Arya shrugs. “I’ve got one thing left for a Smith-Hall business class, but I’m sure he didn’t send a notice to Academic Affairs. Probably his TA did since he’s out of town. Anyway, I’m almost finished. I’ll turn it in Monday. You’ve still got four open assignments?”
I lean back and fold my arms across my chest. “Sounds right.”
“Three days left and then it could affect your eligibility for next year.”
“If it does, it does. I may enter the NFL draft this year anyway.”
Her brows rise, and she purses her lips. “I didn’t realize you were considering that.” Her pretty eyes scan my face, flick to Shane’s, and then back to me. “But if you don’t, you’ll want to keep your options open, right? What are the classes?”
I exhale audibly and frown. “I’ve got two priorities right now. Writing articles I oweThe Dispatchand finding Casanova. Everything else can wait.”
“I hear you, but what classes? Any finance or math stuff?”
“Two for Business Admin 101. Haven’t even started them.”
“Jenkins doesn’t update his course materials very often. I took him last year. Loop me in on those, and I’ll knock them out for you.”
I shrug. “Get my laptop.” Her offer is surprising. A warm feeling, slow and sweet like molasses, curls through me.
After Arya leaves, my head turns back to Shane. “Can you find out where Delmer will be tomorrow? He’s in a band, so I assume he plays around Foxgrove. I wanna catch him alone. When I do, I’ll get everything he knows about Casanova, if anything.”
“Is that a good idea? You questioning a man you’d like to break in half?”
I give him a hard stare.
“Heard you punched him in the gut the other night. If he turns up bloody and bruised, people will know which direction to look. Why don’t you let me take a run at him?”
“You heard about the punch, huh?”
“Man, you’re news. You get that, right? You just won a national championship, and you’re impossible to miss. If you think you can go incognito to a campus bar to settle a score with Bray Delmer, forget it.” He leans forward, lowering his voice. “If he needs a message, someone else should deliver it.” Shane taps his chest. “On a night when you have a clear alibi.”
“No.” I rub my jaw and push down my anger. I want to tear Delmer apart someday, but the smart play is to wait. Just as Shane and Arya are advising me to do. “I appreciate the offer, but let’s let it lie for now.”
“All right,” Shane says. “Maybe none of us need to talk to him right away. I’ll see if I can get information out of another Lambda Delta brother. Someone who isn’t happy about the lavender roses and the implication that the frat is aligning itself with a killer. Dead and missing girls makes the Platinum Party a bad look for them. The rest of the Greek Life Council came down on them hard. Wait, here’s your girl.” Shane sits back.
Arya approaches, hands me the laptop and sits on the coffee table across from me. I log into my account and hand her the computer.
“What would you think about spending a night at Heyworth House?” I ask.
Her dark sculpted brows rise. “You don’t think we’re safe here? Even with the precautions?”
“Safe enough for me, but I’ve got things to do. Heyworth House has the best armed security money can buy. I can drop you off for a night.”
Her eyes narrow. “I don’t know. If it’s just one night, maybe I’ll stay with Eden.” Licking her lips, she glances around. “I’ll think about it.”
As she walks away, Shane says, “Tough cookie.”
“Yes, and no.”
“I hear her approach to weak links on the dance team is to suggest they quit.”
“Arya’s been winning national championships since high school. She’s got more titles than Declan and I combined. That doesn’t happen by giving hugs when people choke.”
“Agreed.” Shane smirks. “And as far as that goes, she seems just like someone else I know, Iceman.”
