Page 85

“You’re certain he’s been arrested already?” Jack queries, and the Dean nods.

“He was put in cuffs at the gas station and transported out. Seems the car he was driving wasn’t his, either. It ended up in the shop for a fault; I’m not sure of the protocol there. Do you think we are obliged to let the auto shop know, or would the police have done that?”

“I’ll handle it. It’s my fucking car,” I snap, instantly regretting my slip up. If the body count is now up to three known cases and they suspect Fox, they would have been monitoring his movements.

“Do I want to know why he was driving one of your vehicles, Professor?”

“Probably not,” I snap again. “Thank you for the heads up, Jack and I will handle Lukaz Vaskari and anything to do with Foxglove Muir. You handle anything specifically related to Wyldan University, including student concerns and any chaplaincy.”

“Where are you going?” he stammers, but we’re already out the door.

“Police and gas stations,” I shout back, giving credence to the partial lie. We’re going to loop Aspen into this shit show and get Fox the best possible legal representation. Hopefully, all of it can be done before Vaskari returns home. He doesn’t need any of this on his mind while he’s driving through horrendous weather on ice-slick roads dealing with his father’s injuries.

We pull up adjacent to a pump, springing out of the car toward a group of workers still discussing the dramatic arrest.

“The car he was driving?” I query, and a mechanic shuts me down.

“Impounded by the police as evidence,” he adds, eyes still wide.

“What about the girl?”

“What girl?”

“The woman, about this height, short, blonde hair with a pink streak. She was in the car with him.” My heart beats like a galloping thoroughbred, in no sign of slowing.

“No girl. The dude was on his own when he pumped gas and when he came in here pointing to the light on the dash. Didn’t speak, just pointed. Fucking weirdo.”

Jack is already trying her cell. He stabs at a button, cursing and retrying. Nothing. I type out a quick text before dialing too. Nothing.

“Fuck.”

“Call up the Dean. Get the details of where Tali is.”

Jack selects a different number, putting the phone to his ear. He grunts and nods before hanging up.

“Well?”

“Ryan lives a couple of blocks back from the college. We drove straight past his house.”

“Address?”

“I’ve got it.”

We’re outside the house in less than two minutes, taking the stairs two at a time and thumping on the siding loud enough to wake the dead. A huge, looming shadow hovers behind the frosted glass before the door is unbolted and opened.

“Hey, Ryan. Sorry to bother you,” Jack begins, before he’s interrupted by a female voice from elsewhere in the house.

“Tell ’em to fuck off.”

Ryan swivels, calling over his shoulder. “Relax, Ma. It’s not Jehovah’s.”

“I don’t care who it is. You’re letting the fucking cold in, and unless they’re paying my heating bill, close the damn door with them on the other side.”

Ryan rolls his eyes, offering his best silent apology. “Doctor Bonner, what’s up, man?”

“We were after a word with Tali. She’s meeting with Aspen, and we were wondering if she arrived yet, or might be running late.”

“Sorry, Doc. I wouldn’t know. Tali and I had a fight over a week ago, and she hasn’t spoken to me since.”