by Clea Simon
Especially if a woman he wanted had resisted him. She thought back to what Emily, the room-mate, had said. Not her comment about Josh Blakely being possessive. But that Mina wasn’t the sort to cheat on her boyfriend. Besides, she might have not even been tempted. Josh might not be as prepossessing or, Dulcie admitted, as sexy as this man, but he undoubtedly had different charms. He was sincere, Dulcie could tell. Serious. And if Rogovoy couldn’t see that, well then, it was her duty to point out that there were other suspects.
‘Wow.’ Trista’s hushed voice had broken into her reverie. The talk had finally come to an end, and Dulcie had stood automatically, joining Trista and the rest of the crowd in clapping as, with one more smile, Lukos acknowledged them and left the stage. ‘If he’d been the department head, I would’ve taken a few more years for my dissertation.’
‘Trista.’ Dulcie couldn’t help it. This was getting silly.
‘Come on,’ her friend nudged her. ‘Tell me you didn’t get dressed up for him.’
‘I didn’t actually,’ Dulcie heard herself lying. ‘Though I do want to talk to him.’ All around them, students were standing and retrieving coats, and the friends were carried on the tide to the end of the row. ‘I think, well, I’m worried that he might be dangerous.’
‘The lone wolf?’ Trista was laughing. ‘I bet.’
‘Wolf? Why do you say that?’ Dulcie grabbed her friend’s arm, but just then she felt a hand on her own and, spooked, she whirled around. It was Josh Blakely, Mina’s boyfriend.
‘Excuse me.’ He was flushed again, though that could have been the heat in the overcrowded hall. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘This is my department.’ She didn’t mean to sound so defensive; she’d been startled. ‘I’m sorry, I’m Dulcie Schwartz, and I’m a doctoral candidate in English, so for me …’ She shrugged.
‘Busman’s holiday?’ He smiled, and she found herself warming once more to the chubby man.
‘Well, professional curiosity, anyway. Though, to be honest, the Victorians are not my area of expertise. Or,’ she leaned toward him, ‘of interest.’
‘Not that into antimacassars?’ he said, to her relief. Here was one other person who hadn’t fallen under the mysterious scholar’s spell.
‘Not at all.’ Behind Josh, she saw Trista gesturing. Still, this was too good a chance to pass up. ‘What brings you here?’
‘Mina,’ he said, and Dulcie gasped. He must have heard about his girlfriend, about the professor …
‘You know about her and the professor?’ It wasn’t the smoothest move, but she couldn’t help herself. ‘That she and Lukos …’
‘What?’ He looked confused. ‘What are you saying?’
Dulcie swallowed and took a deep breath. After that, there was nothing to do but go on. ‘Mina met up with the professor yesterday. He, well, I heard he liked her.’
She watched the round-faced young man, waiting for jealousy or rage. Instead, she just saw him shake his head. ‘I’m not surprised. She could give as good as she got.’
‘What do you mean?’ Now it was her turn to be confused.
‘Mina hated all that post-everything theoretical stuff. You know, that nothing is real. That’s why she switched out of the English department. Sorry, but it’s true.’
‘No, I can understand.’ Dulcie found herself nodding. Emily had said that she and her room-mate would bring different perspectives to their common material. ‘But then why did she – I mean, why are you here?’
‘She loved to debunk those theories. Argue with them. And she will.’ He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a mini recorder. ‘Once she’s back on her feet.’
Back on her feet. From what Dulcie had heard, she was near death. ‘How is she?’ It sounded better than asking if she was expected to recover.
He shrugged. ‘She was hurt pretty bad. Someone – somebody cut …’ He put his hand over his mouth, his eyes tearing up, and immediately Dulcie regretted asking.
‘I’m so sorry. I mean, I had heard, I just didn’t know.’ Trista was looking daggers at her now, but really this was more important. ‘I’m sure she’ll recover.’ It was too weak as far as condolences went, and Dulcie realized she had more to offer.
‘Look, Josh, I know it’s none of my business.’ He had taken his hands from his face, blinking instead to keep the tears at bay. ‘I’m so, so sorry, and I’ll let you go. I just want you to know, I spoke to the cops. I know the detective on the case, and I thought, maybe, there was someone else they should talk to.’ She felt a bit disloyal: Thorpe was her thesis adviser, and she had only just met the young man in front of her. ‘Maybe two someone elses,’ she added. ‘And I’m going to make sure they know.’
That made her feel a little better. The dashing professor was not only a more likely predator than Thorpe, he certainly looked more formidable than the chubby young man now standing before her. And if the young, pretty student had been arguing with the professor, she might easily have angered him – especially since he seemed so accustomed to adoration. Not that she wanted to explain any of that to Josh. ‘You’ve got to stay strong,’ she said instead. ‘Okay?’
He nodded, blinking faster. But he didn’t ask for details, for which Dulcie was grateful, and she let him go.
‘What was that about?’ Trista watched the big man lumbering out the door. Dulcie suspected, from the way he moved, that he was crying already.
‘That was someone I know,’ she said, unwilling to explain further. ‘He’s had some bad news.’
‘Huh,’ Trista shrugged and turned away, and Dulcie followed. The reception would be starting already, at the offices. If this crowd was any indication, the little clapboard would be packed.
‘So what did you think?’ Dulcie’s mind was reeling with what seemed like new evidence.
‘I’ll be honest, I was barely listening.’ Her friend turned to her with a conspiratorial grin. ‘Those late Victorians are really over-the-top obsessive anyway. But who cares? Hey, there’s Lloyd, heading out now.’
As they made their way out of the building, Dulcie saw the earlier clouds had disappeared, leaving the night clear. If anything, she realized, the moon was brighter tonight than it had been, although its edges were obscured by the branches overhead. Maybe tonight was the true full moon, and last night was only a build up. If so, could that mean …
Her thoughts were interrupted as Trista pulled her toward their friends. Lloyd and his girlfriend, Raleigh, were standing at the foot of the stairs. By the way they were holding themselves, leaning in as the exiting crowd surged around them, Dulcie figured they were having an argument – or at least an intense conversation. She pulled away from Trista’s grip, ready to stop her from interrupting, but her friend surged ahead, skipping down the stairs.
‘Hey, guys!’ The couple split and turned toward her. ‘You going to the reception?’
At that, the two exchanged a look. ‘I think we should.’Lloyd said. Raleigh, Dulcie noted, was shaking her head slightly, her mouth set in a grim line.
‘Of course you should.’ Trista was too high on her own experience to notice what was going on. ‘Come on. We are.’
She put her arms around the pair and started marching them off. Within a half a block, however, Raleigh had disengaged, and Dulcie had a chance to pull her away.
‘Are you okay?’ Dulcie had her own suspicions, but she also knew how easily she could project onto a situation.
‘Yeah.’ The first-year grad student sounded resigned rather than angry. ‘I just hate guys like him.’
‘Lukos?’ She couldn’t mean Lloyd. At least, Dulcie hoped she didn’t.
‘Yeah, everyone was in love with him. Including him. Just loves the sound of his own voice, you know?’ Dulcie nodded, relieved to see that not every female had fallen under his spell. ‘And I just feel so bad for Thorpe.’
That was unexpected. Dulcie opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond, but Raleigh kept talking.
‘I kno
w Thorpe’s a pain. Lloyd’s had a hell of a time, trying to keep up with his fussy little bureaucracies. And, well, I hope it’s okay, but Lloyd’s told me some of what Thorpe has put you through, too. All that nit-picky stuff. It’s just that he’s our guy, you know? Came up through the ranks just like, well, just like we are – Lloyd, too. But he doesn’t have that star quality.’
‘No, he doesn’t.’ Dulcie felt herself softening. ‘I don’t think he ever means to do harm.’ Not in the way she had most dreaded. Thorpe was pitiable, really. Even if her worst fears were true, and he had become – No, she didn’t even want to think that. Recent events had spooked her; that was all. There was no way her thesis adviser could be a creature of the—
‘Hey, guys, catch up!’ Trista had run up between them, this time catching Dulcie and Raleigh in her embrace. Dulcie looked at her friend, her blonde hair lit by the moonlight, and wondered if she’d been drinking. Then again, the pink in her cheeks could be attributable to the frosty night.
‘Trista, what you did mean, back there?’ The more she thought about it, the more likely that Thorpe was innocent. As for Mina’s boyfriend, well, she didn’t see him as the violent type at all.
‘What? When?’ She blinked at her friend. ‘Back when we were talking about Professor Sexy?’
‘Yeah.’ Dulcie nodded. She’d never seen her friend so besotted. So entranced. ‘You called him a “lone wolf,” and I was wondering …’
‘Dulcie, where’s your classical education!’ Trista smiled, open-mouthed, and Dulcie found herself looking at her friend’s teeth. Her strong, white teeth. ‘Lukos, that’s his name, isn’t it? Professor James Lukos? It’s Greek, Dulcie. Lukos means “the wolf.”’
THIRTEEN
The problem was, there was no food. Dulcie realized her mistake within minutes of entering the party. Raleigh and Lloyd had quit squabbling by then, both agreeing on the political expedience of attending. And Trista had calmed down, somewhat, as well. But by the time they reached the little clapboard, it had been packed. And although someone handed Dulcie a plastic cup of sherry as soon as she walked in, there was no refreshment of a solid kind to be seen.
She should have anticipated this, Dulcie realized. She would have if it had been any other night. Between her suspicions and her strange anxieties, however, it had slipped her mind. Besides, she had wanted to change and get out of the apartment quickly. She knew she wasn’t doing anything wrong, but to explain herself to Chris would have just taken too much time. If only she’d grabbed an apple, she’d be better able to concentrate. As it was, she was sweating in a packed room, and her stomach was rumbling.
‘Nancy!’ She saw the departmental secretary over by the coffee maker. If anyone would know about the snack situation, it would be her. ‘Nancy!’ The older woman’s usual confidence seemed shaken by the crowd, and she turned away. Dulcie started to go after her, when she was jostled by an overlarge teaching fellow, who nearly knocked the sherry onto her good blouse. Dulcie looked around for a surface. Not seeing one, she downed the small cup and knelt to leave the cup on the floor. The room was going to be trashed anyway.
‘Nancy!’ Despite the fact that both she and the secretary were shorter than almost everybody there, Dulcie had managed to keep track of her and finally caught up to the older woman over by the coffee maker. Up close, she could see: Nancy definitely looked upset. ‘Are you okay?’
‘What, dear?’ Nancy was looking around. ‘Did you need something?’
‘Well, I was hoping there were some snacks,’ Dulcie admitted, a little abashed.
‘There was a cheese tray.’ Nancy looked around in vain. ‘But those freshmen … I told Mr Thorpe that we should have ordered more. But he …’ She left it with a shrug, unwilling to bad-mouth her boss.
‘Ah.’ Dulcie nodded. Now it was becoming clear. Under the guise of being budget conscious, Thorpe was trying to sabotage the reception. ‘Is he here tonight?’
‘What?’ She was looking around again. ‘Oh, no. I don’t think he felt up to it. Poor man.’
‘He’ll still have a teaching position here.’ Dulcie tried to summon up some sympathy. ‘I mean, if the worst happens.’
Nancy shook her head sadly. ‘I don’t know, Dulcie. This has been awfully hard on him, and it’s just been getting worse. These last few days …’
Nancy let the thought trail off, and Dulcie nodded with what she hoped was a sympathetic expression. Nancy was referring to the pressure of knowing the Newmans were starting, Dulcie knew. But Dulcie couldn’t help wonder if the waxing moon had played a role as well. At any rate, her stomach was growling loud enough to be audible over the crowd. Before she could go in search of dinner, however, she had a mission. ‘Is Professor Lukos here?’
‘I don’t know if he’s arrived yet.’ The motherly secretary stood on her toes, trying to see over the crowd.
‘Is that whom you’re looking for?’ Dulcie caught herself. ‘And, may I help in any way?’
That won her a warm smile. ‘No, dear. You go have fun. I was actually looking for one of our students. She said she was going
to drop by tonight, but she was a little nervous, and I promised to introduce her around. Maybe the crush was too much for her.’
A bad feeling came over Dulcie. ‘One of our female students is missing?’ She swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘Who?’
‘Not missing, dear. Just – not here. I believe you know her. She’s an undergrad. Emily Trainor?’
It couldn’t be coincidence. Another woman, the room-mate of last night’s victim. Had something happened to Emily? Dulcie looked around. Neither Thorpe nor the charismatic Lukos were here, which meant either could be out there … in the moonlight. Without responding, Dulcie turned and left.
‘There you are!’ Raleigh and Lloyd seemed to have made up – over sherry. Raleigh was red cheeked, her flush strangely pretty against her dark auburn hair. On Lloyd, it was less appealing, possibly because he had a greater face to hair ratio. But despite Dulcie’s murmured refusal, he reached behind him and grabbed two more plastic cups of the sweet drink.
‘Did you find him?’ Lloyd asked, handing her one. ‘Lukos?’ At the sound of his name, Raleigh made a face.
‘No,’ Dulcie took the cup, but kept trying to see past her friends. ‘I’m actually looking for a junior who’s in one of my sections. Emily, Emily Trainor. Nancy is trying to find her.’
Lloyd shook his head. ‘Who could tell, in this crowd. Oh, wait!’
An excited murmur had them all turning toward the front of the room. The door had opened, letting in a blast of cold air – and the visiting scholar. For a moment, he stood in the doorway,
and Dulcie could see how the moonlight illuminated his dark curls. Then he stepped inside, and the room exploded in cheers and applause. Raising one hand in a general greeting, he nodded and smiled, but seemed more interested in ducking off into a side room than greeting his admirers.
‘There he is.’ Dulcie looked around for a place to jettison the sherry. The surge of the crowd had moved them forward, however, and once again she ended up downing the sticky drink.
‘Go get him.’ Raleigh was laughing. Dulcie, however, was serious as she pushed her way through her colleagues back into the room she had just left. She found Lukos there, leaning in toward Nancy. Although he was surrounded by a wall of admiring students, the two seemed to be having a private and very serious conversation.
‘If he hurt Emily …’ Dulcie realized she was speaking out loud when one of the admiring throng turned toward her. It was Tom Jones-Smith, the department’s Anglo-Saxon star, and from the look on his boyfriend’s face, he’d succumbed to the visiting scholar’s appeal. ‘Tom, may I?’ Ryan gladly pulled his partner back, allowing Dulcie to move in closer.
‘Worried …’ That was all Dulcie heard before Nancy saw her, and turned toward her with a smile that was patently false. ‘Why, Dulcie, here he is. Professor Lukos? Have you met Dulcie Schwartz? She’s one of our top graduate students.�
� Dulcie vaguely heard what Nancy was telling the visitor. Something about the newly discovered manuscript and her most recent article. What she was focusing on, however, was entirely different – and entirely silent. Professor Lukos had gone white and was staring, mouth open, at her. As if he had seen a ghost.
‘But you … You’re …’ The speaker who had enthralled hundreds less than forty minutes earlier now seemed incapable of finishing a sentence.
‘Dead? I think not.’ Dulcie pulled herself up to her full five-foot-four inches, and stared at the academic. ‘No thanks to—’
‘Dulcie.’ Nancy broke in. ‘Are you feeling well? Perhaps you should sit down.’
‘No, I’m fine.’ Dulcie kept staring at Lukos, but he’d recovered.
‘I’m sorry, Miss … Ms Schwartz, is it?’ He had the temerity to smile at her, but she kept her eyes on his, avoiding even thinking about those big, white teeth. ‘You must have confused me with someone else. I know, I thought you were—’
‘Mina Love, I know.’ Something was off here. He should be more unnerved.
‘Yes, that’s it. Ms Love. Are you her sister?’ He seemed genuinely interested and not at all concerned.
‘No, I’m not.’ Dulcie felt herself growing bolder. ‘I do know that you were one of the last people to speak to her last night.’
‘Oh, that.’ He started to turn away. ‘Ms Shelby?’ Nancy straightened up.
‘Oh that?’ Dulcie moved between them. ‘A woman is attacked – is seriously injured, and that’s how you respond?’
Lukos turned. Behind him, Dulcie could see Nancy, gesturing furiously, but she wasn’t going to be stopped now. She looked up at the visiting scholar, trying not to notice how his teeth gleamed. He was, she realized with horror, smiling.