Page 62 of Second Chance

“Great.” Tony slouches against the bookcase. “Any other ideas?”

Colette stares at him blankly.

“He was here,” Tony offers, “or the door would be locked.”

“Maybe…” Colette hesitates. “Maybe Lily Peterson stopped by?”

“He promised he would text every half hour when he saw her.” But that was on Saturday, and he didn’t plan on seeing Lily today. On the other hand, Daniel decided she didn’t do it, so maybe he also decided he could relax around her.

“I could try to email her.”

“Odds on her answering in the next ten minutes?”

Colette snorts. Not likely, then. “I suppose…”

“Hm?”

“I could try her boyfriend. I do have his phone number.”

At Tony’s encouragement, Colette calls with the phone on speaker.

After a long while, Sean picks up, sounding confused and a little panicked. Which is fair; Tony would have been the same if one of his college professors cold-called him. “Professor Ravel?”

“Yes, hello Sean.”

“What’s, uh…what’s up?”

“I’m afraid this is a very odd question, but you mentioned your girlfriend Lily to me?”

“Uh-huh?”

“She sees Professor Rosenbaum in his office frequently, and now I can’t reach him. Could you get me in touch with her?”

“Um…”

“Just to ask if she’s seen him.”

Colette uses the same voice with Sean as with counseling services, as if she needs to psych herself up or practice her phrasing before talking to a student. Maybe she does. Tony’s only ever seen her truly at ease when there’s no one but him and Daniel around.

“She’s…I mean, she’s not answering me right now, so…”

“Ah.” Colette pauses. “Is it because of what we talked about?”

Something loud happens on Sean’s end, a door slamming or something else abrupt and startling. “No, no, I didn’t…do it. Yet. But I think she knows I want to, and it’s… I think she’s doing worse. So, uh, if you can reach her, maybe that would be good. I’ll text you her number.”

“Thank you, Sean. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, prof.”

The number he sends goes straight to voicemail, same as Daniel’s.

“What did you talk to him about?” Tony asks.

“Breaking up with Lily.”

“Oh.”

Colette tries Lily’s number again and then types out a message on her phone.

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