Rae walked faster as she took the stairs two at a time. As she rounded the corner, she nearly ran into Betty, who was coming out of the teachers" lounge. "Good afternoon, Betty."
"Good day. Sarah is waiting for you, I"m sure. I thank G.o.d she has no more cla.s.ses today."
"Me too." Rae laughed.
Sarah opened her door just as Rae breathlessly came bounding up the last stairs and stood in front of her.
"Whew! You need an elevator, I"m not getting any younger and..."
Sarah pulled her into her office and shut the door. She then turned to Rae and pulled her into her arms, kissing her pa.s.sionately.
Rae sighed and returned her kiss, putting her arms around her waist, holding her so close she could hear her rapid heartbeat. Pa.s.sion took over as she eagerly unb.u.t.toned the top of Sarah"s silk blouse.
"Rae, we can"t," she exclaimed halfheartedly.
Rae pulled back and gave her an unwavering look of pure unadulterated l.u.s.t.
Sarah melted on the spot and quickly locked the door. "Now we can." She sighed helplessly.
Rae grinned and pulled her back into her arms.
They jumped moments later when someone knocked at the door.
"Ignore it," Rae said in a rough voice.
"I can"t. They know I"m in here." Sarah regretfully pulled away and straightened her blouse. "How in the h.e.l.l did you unb.u.t.ton this so quickly? You octopus." She hastily b.u.t.toned the blouse and ran her fingers through her hair.
She opened the door to find the dean standing there. "George, what is it?" she asked, blocking his entrance to her office.
"Just a reminder about the department meeting in a few days."
"Oh, fine. Just email me. I"m on an-" She felt Rae"s hand on her a.s.s and jumped.
"Are you all right?" George asked.
Sarah rubbed her hip. "Touch of rheumatism. Email me, please. Thanks, George." She quickly closed the door and whirled around to see Rae grinning childishly. "You a.s.s. That was the dean of..."
Rae pulled her once again into her arms. "I don"t care. I can"t seem to get enough of you."
They looked into each other"s eyes and jumped as the phone rang.
Sarah took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, and answered it. Rae smiled and watched her. She was completely flushed, her neck red and blotchy as she fanned herself with a paper as she talked. Rae sniffed the flowers and winked at her.
"I"ll be back. Where"s Molly Eastman?" she whispered.
Sarah juggled the phone on her shoulder and scribbled the room number on a piece of paper. Rae picked it up, walked around the desk, and pushed the back of her chair. Sarah was still on the phone, trying to sound professional as Rae bent her chair backward. Rae then smiled and kissed her tenderly as her hand lightly palmed her breast.
Sarah sighed and dropped the phone. She scrambled for it as Rae chuckled and walked out of her office.
Rae walked to room 232 and waited in the hallway. In a moment or two, the cla.s.s was dismissed, and Rae looked for and spotted Molly Eastman.
"Excuse me, Miss Eastman?" Rae asked, and Molly stopped and looked.
"Yes?" she asked nicely. When Rae introduced herself, Molly stopped smiling. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I"m hoping to shed some light on Amy Davis"s death," Rae said.
"I thought it was an accident."
Rae thought she was honestly befuddled. "There are just a few things I find odd. Do you know why someone would break into her apartment?"
"No. I don"t. Really, I only knew Amy from cla.s.s."
"What about Mike Porter or Jerry Truman? How well did they know her?"
"I have no idea. Now if you"ll excuse me." She started to walk away.
Rae gently but firmly held her arm. "Well, how about Mark? Where can I reach him?"
Molly froze for a split second. To anyone else, it would have gone unnoticed. To Rae, it was like a beacon. She watched her and said nothing.
"I don"t know who you"re talking about, Miss Jefferson." She tried to sound firm and confident. It was a slight glistening of perspiration that broke out on her upper that belied her voice.
"I will find out, Molly. Amy was murdered," she a.s.sured her.
Molly pulled free. "If she was, then I sincerely hope you do." She turned in a huff and was lost in the crowd of students.
Rae walked away and headed back to Sarah. Then for just a moment, she turned back and followed Molly. She wove her way in and out of the humanity and saw her up ahead.
And as she suspected, Mike Porter was there waiting for her at the door. She saw the two of them exchange comments. Mike looked around, took her by the arm, and guided her down the steps and to their car.
"What the h.e.l.l is up with you two?" Rae asked impatiently as she walked away.
She was determined to find out.
Chapter 22.
Sarah"s last cla.s.s was just letting out as Rae stood by the cla.s.sroom. Sarah was sitting behind the desk, smiling. She chuckled, took off her gla.s.ses, and shook her head. Rae knew what she was thinking; Rae was thinking the same thing.
"What are you thinking?" she asked as she walked into the room.
Sarah jumped and put a hand to her chest. "You stay right there," she warned, and Rae stopped.
Rae smiled sheepishly and put her hands behind her back. "All done for the day?"
Sarah narrowed her eyes at her. "Yes, and we have a wake to go to," she reminded her, completely ruining the mood, by the deflated look on Rae"s face. She filed her papers in her leather briefcase and skirted by Rae.
"Keep your hands to yourself," she mumbled as she pa.s.sed.
"Yes, Professor."
As they drove to the funeral home, Rae told Sarah about Molly Eastman. "I know there"s something going on. I can feel it." Rae lightly tapped the steering wheel.
Sarah stole a glance at her and put a hand on her arm. "Rae, relax. You can"t do anything tonight," Sarah a.s.sured her as they pulled into the parking lot.
"I hate these things. They"re so barbaric," Rae grumbled as they approached the building. "I need a drink of water or something."
Sarah handed her a stick of gum. "Here, you big baby."
As suspected, the mood was subdued. Rae and Sarah looked around and saw Jane standing with who Rae a.s.sumed were Amy"s parents. Pam stood in the back with a few women.
Sarah made her way up to Jane, and Rae followed. G.o.d, she hated these things. Then the vision of John Higgins"s family flashed through her mind. All of the sudden, she began to perspire, and Sarah looked back at her and noticed her pained expression.
"Are you all right?" she asked quietly. Rae nodded, and Sarah handed her a handkerchief. She gratefully took it and wiped her brow.
"Are you getting sick?"
"No, I"m fine." Rae pushed her through the small crowd of people.
Jane looked up and smiled. "Professor Connelly, Rae. This is Mr. and Mrs. Davis." She made the introductions, and they all shook hands.
She looked at Rae. "Were you able to tell Detective Grainger?"
Rae smiled slightly. "I think she"ll come, don"t worry."
"I truly am sorry," Sarah was saying sincerely, and both parents nodded. "I was one of Amy"s professors. She was a bright student. This is very tragic."
Mr. Davis, tall and thin, looked to be about fifty-five. Mrs. Davis was a bit shorter but in extremely good shape. Her gray hair accentuated her watery blue eyes. She smiled sadly now and took Sarah"s hand, holding it tight. She instantly looked more at ease, holding her hand. "Thank you. I still can"t believe she"s gone."
Rae once again marveled at Sarah"s ability to rise to any occasion. She smiled and put her hand on the back of her neck, giving her an affectionate squeeze. Mrs. Davis then looked at Rae.
"How did you know my daughter?" she asked, and Rae froze for a moment.
Jane"s eyes widened, grateful Pam was not in earshot of the conversation.
Rae recovered quickly. "I only met her a week ago, Mrs. Davis, through Jane and Pam. I can"t tell you how truly sorry I am. I think I may have been one of the last people to see her. She was full of life. I"m sorry." She fought back the tears; Sarah noticed her hands trembling slightly. Mr. Davis nodded, then Jane led them away.
"Let"s sit for a second," Sarah suggested, noticing the beads of perspiration forming on Rae"s brow.
As they made their way to the back, Delia walked in. She took off her sungla.s.ses and looked around. She spotted Rae and waved slightly. She walked up to them and kissed them both.
"I hate these things," she grumbled, and Rae nodded emphatically.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Will you two stop it?"
"My mouth is dry," Delia grumbled.
Rae gave Sarah a smirk. "Mom has gum." The moment it came out of her mouth, she wanted it back. She felt Sarah"s glare and avoided it completely.
Delia"s eyes widened in horror, but she said nothing as she took the stick of gum from Sarah, who said nothing.
"Thanks." She smiled sheepishly.
"Jane"s been asking about you, go pay your respects," Sarah said.
Delia walked away. As she pa.s.sed Rae, she whispered, "Nice going."
Rae glanced at Sarah, who had a touch of sadness in her eyes. Rae felt like a heel as she cleared her throat.
"Sarah," she started, and Sarah laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Forget it. I understand. Let"s sit."
Rae couldn"t help but hear the trace of resignation in her voice.
They sat in the back, watching the small crowd of people paying their respects. Then Rae noticed a tall young man making his way to the front. He had blond, almost white hair, cut short but spiked on the top. He sported an earring in both ears and had his lower lip pierced. He wore baggy blue jeans with a hole in each knee and steel-toed work boots.
Sarah watched him, as well, and leaned into Rae. "Good grief, you"d think he"d at least wear a decent pair of jeans," she whispered as Rae watched him. She was grateful Sarah was talking to her again.
The young man glanced her way, then looked away. "It"s a wake, for heaven"s sake. He looks like a..." She stopped and looked at Rae. She was frowning as she watched the tall blond stand by the casket. "What are you staring at?"
Rae wasn"t paying attention to her. She just watched him with intense curiosity. Sarah watched, as well, knowing Rae was not going to answer her.
The young man c.o.c.ked his head, then reached over and touched Amy"s hand. He smiled, turned around, and hastily made his way through the crowd.
"I"ll be right back," Rae said and followed him.
Sarah reached for her. "Wait," she hissed, then sat back.
Delia walked up to her and sat. "Where"s she going? And who"s the blond?"
"I have no idea. Is she always like this?" she asked seriously.
Delia chuckled and put an arm around her. "Yes, that"s the old Rae. Once she gets something in that head of hers, she"s oblivious to everything else. You"ve got your hands full."
Outside, Rae caught up with the tall blond. There was something familiar about him.