Page 13 of Lady Killer

“I’m afraid my present isn’t nearly as good,” I said, apologizing before she even opened it.

The end of term had been a flurry of exams, coupled with the unfortunate incident with Aaron, and I had completely dropped the ball on getting Autumn a gift. It wasn’t until she texted me during the break about how excited she was to give me my present that I realized we were exchanging anything at all.

Stuck in my hotel room, I’d been forced to shop online for the girl who already had everything. I’d considered buying her something outrageous and putting it on theBlackwells’ credit card, but something about that idea left a bad taste in my mouth.

“Oh my God, Luz, it’s from you. I’m going to love it no matter what.” Autumn scoffed. “Now, gimme,” she said, making grabby hands.

Sighing, I handed the carefully wrapped present over to her, nervous energy expanding rapidly in my chest.

Autumn ripped open the wrapping paper gleefully. “What’s this?”

Inside was a small women’s self-defense kit, including a miniature high-powered flashlight, 10-million-volt taser, and a panic alarm. All pink. All bedazzled.

“It’s not safe on campus right now,” I said hesitantly.

Aaron was gone, but there was still at least one other sheep, not to mention the Virgin Sacrifice Killer. Autumn was a likely target due to her friendship with me, and I needed her to be safe.

“It’s just a little self-defense kit . . .”

“Luz,” she said, giving me a watery smile. “Thank you.”

The air suddenly felt heavy. We hadn’t talked about Aaron’s murder yet, but the conversation was inevitable.

It was Autumn who broke the silence. “I can’t believe he’s really gone,” she began, her eyes downcast and brimming with tears.

I offered her a gentle grimace. “I know. I keep thinking he’s going to walk through that door right now and say it’s all a big joke.”

I didn’t like lying to Autumn, but I could hardly tell her that our so-called friend was a murdering rapist who deserved a worse death than what I gave him. Or that, if by some miracle Aaron walked through the door right now, I would do it all over again without an ounce of remorse.

Even I knew that making her an accomplice after the fact was pushing the boundaries of friendship.

“They’re saying his body was found like those girls, with his heart ripped out of his chest.”

Technically, it had been cut from his chest.

“That’s horrible.” I shuddered. “I just hope he didn’t suffer.”

“Yeah, same.”

“Did you see him again after I left that night?” I asked.

I knew she hadn’t, but it was better than her asking me when I had last seen him.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Everyone got so sick so quickly, Simone just wanted us to get out safely.”

“She sounds smart,” I said with a genuine smile. “I’m glad she was there to look out for you.”

A rosy blush swept across Autumn’s cheek.

If this was her response to the enigmatic Simone, I wondered how I had ever thought she had a crush on Aaron.

The jingly sound of the door to the coffee shop opening pealed through the small café. It had been quiet, with most of the students still off campus, and I looked up to see a familiar face entering.

Michael Schultz, my brilliant but dull Intro to Japanese instructor.

Tall and lean with dark hair, he always looked like the quintessential graduate student. Tired.

Looking around the coffee shop, his eyes caught mine, and he gave me a polite nod of recognition before shuffling forward to get in line.

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