Page 68 of Bachelor

“Did something else happen?”

I gritted my teeth, regretting saying anything. “There’s a bookstore in town owned by a local man who’s dating one of Whitney’s friends. Jessica Lowry, she’s one of my sociology students. Last night Christian confronted Whitney and Jessica in front of the bookstore and Bill—William Livingston—he intervened, and I just happened to be walking up the road when I heard the conversation and what Christian said to Ms. Dahl.”

“And what were you doing?”

“Me?”

“You just happened to be there?” The skepticism in his eyes was palpable.

“I do business with Bill. He’s a very skilled purveyor of rare books, which I need access to for some of my upper graduate lectures. And yes, I just so happened to be there. I ended my study session early and decided to pay him a visit and pick up an order I placed last week. I came upon Whitney and Jessica on the sidewalk, and Bill yelling at Christian to leave the area. Christian called her—he said something to Whitney that was derogatory and highly inappropriate.”

“Did you intervene?”

“Of course, I did,” I said, allowing the anger to bite through the words. “He threatened me, and I told him exactly what would happen if he ever spoke to Whitney again.”

“And what was that?”

“Do I have to say it?” I said tersely.

Robert looked at me, taking in my cold demeanor and rigid jaw, and sighed, shaking his head. “You should have reported the incident this morning.”

“It happened off campus.”

“Christian already has several strikes against him. He’s lucky to still be enrolled.”

“Is the reason he’s still allowed to terrorize other students because of his family’s contributions to the university?”

Robert went still, and shame briefly crept over his withered face. He looked up at me and gave me a tight, knowing smile. “Things are different here. You said it yourself.”

“Then what can be done to protect Ms. Dahl from further assaults on her person? And me, for that matter. He is obviously the one spreading rumors.”

“Well, that’s all they are. But in the event any of this were true for any professor and any student within their department, there would be repercussions.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then you know what would happen.”

I eyed him, wondering if he were baiting me, but he seemed more inclined to just clear the air. “What exactly is the protocol?”

“Suspension for the student, and a review of the faculty member’s performance, to start.”

“That’s all? It sounds like the student would be held responsible—”

“I don’t make the rules.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Anyway, I’m sorry I had to pull you into this right before class. I’ll see what can be done with Christian, but he’s not part of my department.”

I nodded, feeling more than strange about the conversation. Robert left without another word, and I walked to my first class of the day wondering how much worse this could get.

Thankfully the day flew by without any more interruptions, and I was walking back to faculty housing when I spotted Whitney and Tyler walking toward the library. Tyler saw me and waved, then picked up his pace, reaching out to take Whitney by the elbow. I came to a stop in the shadow of one of the large, stone buildings housing the business school classrooms.

“Hey, professor.” Tyler grinned, then looked around to scan the area for anyone who might be around to overhear our conversation. He stepped out of the way, allowing Whitney to take a step toward me, and then turned his back and shielded us from view of the trail that snaked through campus.

“Hey,” she said in a near whisper.

“Hey.” I took a step forward and took her hand, squeezing it. “How was your day?”

“It was fine.” She smiled. “I wish... I wish we could go get a cup of coffee and talk about it like normal people.”

“Soon, okay?” I knitted my fingers in hers. “I had a visit from one of the deans today.”

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