Page 2 of Cody

“Do you know who threatened you?” I ask again.

“No.” Another twitch.

“But you think it’s a student?”

“I do.” Another twitch.

“Why?”

“Because the hockey team and their coach will stop at nothing to protect their program.”

No twitch. Interesting.

“Havenwood University is known for having one of the top college hockey teams in the country,” he explains. “We’ve won the NCAA Division One men’s ice hockey championship three years in a row.” He nods his head forward to indicate we need to keep moving.

“Then why would you cut their funding?”

He leans closer. “It’s a long story. But some money was being diverted for questionable activities. I cut it off.”

“What questionable activities?” I press.

Before he can respond, an older man smiles at us as he speaks into a microphone at the podium.

“Mr. Taylor, perfect timing.”

Joseph steps to the podium, shakes the man’s hand, then launches into a speech about the new building and he thanks alumni for their donations several times. While he does that, I scan the crowd. Thankfully, the sun is now at our backs and I’m able to clearly see everyone. It’s mostly young students.

I don’t believe for a minute that it’s a student Joseph fears. No, he’s lying. But why?

Taking a closer look at those that are gathered here, I catalog that no one seems to be focused on Joseph. There are just over twenty people standing around. Most are staring at the large poster board next to him that lays out the floor plan of the building behind us. I take one step away from Joseph in order to hear a conversation between three boys gathered near the front. It consists entirely of how cool the new labs will be.

From this angle, I see a row of people standing in the back that, based on their lack of jeans, are likely faculty. My eyes catch on a woman in profile, talking to a man beside her. Something about her is familiar. Then she turns her head, and I swear everything stops; I can no longer see or hear anything around me except the thump of my heart beating in my chest.

My instinct is to go to her. Is it really her? No, it couldn’t be her, could it?

Her brown hair is lighter and hangs longer than I remember, but there is no doubt it’s Lucy. She’s wearing a long red coat. Red must still be her favorite color. I smile at the thought.

Why is she here, and in this crowd? Then her eyes catch mine. At first, I wonder if she’ll recognize me. I’ve changed over the years. But the moment her eyes widen, I know.

She turns to leave, and I panic. I need to go after her, yet I have a job to do—I can’t leave this man here unprotected.

She ducks into the building next door.

All these years, I’ve never looked her up. I couldn’t. I knew she must have moved on, and I didn’t want to know the name of the bastard she was likely married to.

A few minutes later, the students applaud, and Joseph steps away from the podium.

“Cody, let’s go back to my office.” He’s by my side now, and the crowd is dispersing. “Did you see anyone suspicious?”

“No.”

Thank God since all I can think about now is Lucy.

He nods. “Let’s walk and talk. I have another meeting in a few minutes.”

We head back the way we came. I stare at every face we pass, hoping to see her again. My heart is still racing, and my stomach is rolling. What if that was my only chance? No, she has to work here. My gut says she must. It’s a small school. Maybe this guy knows her. I shove my hands into the pockets of my suit jacket, hoping I appear casual.

“I saw a woman I used to know in the crowd.”

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