“Wow. Where’d you hear that?” My voice lowers to a whisper and my guide does the same.
“Check out hashtag Stacy on social media. I shouldn’t say more.”
“Wait.” I reach over the center console and touch her arm. “What motive are the students giving?”
Her brown eyes grow wider. “Most say his wife found out he was sleeping around so he killed her.”
“Huh. Seems to me, a divorce would be a whole lot easier.” Chuckling, I try to make light of the whole thing but she shudders.
“Maybe he’s a psycho serial killer. Who knows?” As she stops the car in front of a granite building, a chill travels down my spine
From there, she refuses to say more. We say our goodbyes and after thanking her for the tour, I hike back to the English department.
“Can I help you?” A woman I recognize from the funeral, looks up from her desk.
The engraved plaque outside the door reads, Dr. Jeff Kincaid.
“Hi, I was, ah, looking for the ladies’ room but… Do you work here?”
“Yes. I’m Dr. Kincaid’s graduate assistant.” Her proud tone gives me an idea.
“Oh wow. He’s famous, right?”
She blushes. “He is. Someday, he’s going to win a Nobel Prize.”
“Right? I saw him on C-News. He’s so attractive, too. He could go into the movies.”
Her face whitens and voice turns cold. “Jeff is so not like that. The bathroom is down the stairs and to the left.”
Huh. What did I say?Figuring I won’t get more from her, I walk toward the campus commons. Frozen, I order a latte and sit.
Speak of the devil and he appears. Fists clenched, face red, my person of interest shouts my name and stomps toward my table.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Unaware of the student paparazzi, my number one suspect looks ready to commit murder. I doubt he’ll hurt me but I can’t be sure.
Despite all the cell phones pointed in our direction, my knees shake under the table. “You might want to keep it down.”
“Back off or you will be sorry.” He lowers his index finger, glances around, and when he realizes we have an audience, storms away.
Some students go back to studying, some thumb their devices, and others chat excitedly. Me? I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding. Sweating and glad to be out of the limelight, I remove my coat and sip my now lukewarm coffee until my heart stops thumping.
Then, my phone pings. It’s a message from Sherlock. He’s sent me an address and forwarded an email chain from the club. They’ve unanimously voted I use money from our treasury to fly to Florida and interview one of Jeff’s victims.
While I’m pricing flights, a large man slides into my booth, startles me, and I scream.
Chapter 9
Cole
“Watch it!” Danni drops her cellphone on the table, and before she turns it over, I read the display.
Dammit. She’s headed to Florida.“Trip to Disneyworld?”
“No. Maybe. None of your business.” Snatching the device, she sticks it in her pocketbook.
Oh yeah, she’s up to something.I understand why she might be jumpy. Jeff looked pretty pissed in the videos streaming live to the sheriff but the professor’s anger is nothing compared to mine.
“What’s going on, Dan?” I don’t need to see my stupid face to be certain it turned crimson. Her nickname slipped out, reminding both of us of that night long ago.
