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I blinked, a little startled at her sudden coldness. “I-I’m sorry. Have I done something?”
Professor Saunders smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course not. I had something very important to me stolen by someone I thought was my friend, but it’s not your fault. It’s just…human nature.”
“I…yes…that does sound bad.” I was really thinking,What the fuck? It almost sounded like she was accusingme,but that didn’t make sense, so I decided I must have misunderstood her. Either way, I was ready to end this awkward encounter. “Well, I better go. Lots of shopping to do and I didn’t come with a list. I could be here forhours.”
“I hope not. I’m sure your mother will be missing you by her bedside.”
This time, I couldn’t keep my bewilderment from my expression. “How did you know my mother was in the hospital?” Professor Saunders and I hadn’t spoken in weeks.
She blinked and then seemed to recover. “I have a friend on the nursing staff at Ossella Memorial.”
“Ohh…okay.” But that still didn’t make any sense. How did her nurse friend know that Kareena was my mom or that I was friends with the professor?
“Welcome home, Atlas. I wish you and Owen the best. I’m sure you two will be very happy together.”
Owen? I’d only ever referred to him as Rowdy in our emails.
I watched as Professor Saunders walked away, set her empty basket aside, and headed straight for the exit without purchasing anything.
I waited for a beat, and then I did the same.
Outside, I watched her climb into a silver Tesla and drive away. Feeling my heart race, I rushed to my mom’s car and didn’t think twice about it before deciding to tail her.
“Okay, class. That concludes our lecture for today. Don’t forget to complete this week’s practice exam on Canvas. You’ll be automatically bumped half a letter grade on your final if you complete each one. See you next week.”
It was another half hour before the last student left and another three before my last class and office hours ended.
I was packing up my materials for home when the door opened, and Susan, the department chair for the arts and sciences, walked in.
“Hello, Susan. Did you need something? I was just about to head out.”
“Good afternoon, Professor. I’m sorry to delay you, but this shouldn’t take long.”
I released a nervous chuckle. “Sounds serious.”
Susan’s expression didn’t soften. “Yes, I’m afraid it is. I understand that two semesters ago, you had a student by the name of Atlas Beck.”
I schooled my expression as I regarded the department chair. “I may have. I’ve had a lot of students, Susan. It’s hard to remember them all by name.”
“I see.” Susan sighed as if she was disappointed in my answer. “Well, you should know that I’ve received a complaint from the student’s mother that you’ve had inappropriate contact with her daughter that involved exchanged emails and disturbing letters sent by you to Miss Beck.”
I frowned. “Her mother contacted you?”
“Yes. This morning.”
“Well, Susan, I find that to be pretty impressive indeed, considering Kareena Beck has been in a coma for the past week.”
“And how would you know that, Professor, when, as you said, you can’t recall having Atlas as a student?”
My skin flushed from my careless slip and I brought myself up to full height which wasn’t much even with heels. “I’m not saying anything else without a lawyer.”
Susan nodded. “That is your right. It is also your right to know that a formal investigation will be launched, and if there is any truth to these allegations, your position at the university will be in serious jeopardy.”
“Well, good luck with that,” I mumbled as she left my classroom.
I already knew they wouldn’t find anything on my work email or computer, and that this would soon become nothing more than a black mark on my reputation.
Still, someone had to pay, and I had only one guess as to who was really behind this.
