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she asked, stopping in front of the car.
    “Honey, this is officer…” He looked at Jake.
    “Jake Corey.”
    “I ran into him on my way out. Almost literally.” He gave Jake a sheepish glance.
    “Some kind of trouble?”
    Jake let Smeltzer explain. His wife nodded. She didn’t say, “Oh, man,” after each of his sentences. She didn’t say anything. She just frowned and nodded and kept glancing over at Jake as if expecting him to interrupt. “Is this true?” she finally asked him.
    “He covered it pretty well.”
    “You think there might be a killer hanging around here?”
    “He didn’t kill anyone today, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Have either of you seen anyone?”
    She shook her head.
    “But we’ve been working inside,” Smeltzer added.
    “You folks have a home in town, don’t you?” Jake asked. He seemed to remember hearing that they’d bought the Anderson house.
    “I was on my way there,” Smeltzer said, “for the ice.”
    “It’s certainly your decision, but if I were you, I’d close up here for today and go on back to your house. There’s no point in taking unnecessary risks.”
    Husband and wife exchanged a look.
    “I don’t know,” Smeltzer said to her. “What do you think?”
    “We’ve got to get this place in shape before they bring in the equipment.”
    “I guess we could come in early tomorrow.”
    “It’s up to you,” the wife said.
    “This guy does sound like he might be dangerous.”
    “Whatever you say, Ron. It’s your decision.”
    “You’d rather stay,” Ron said.
    “Did I say that?”
    “I think we’d be smart to leave.”
    “Okay. It’s settled, then.” She smiled at Jake. It was a false smile. See? You got your way.
    Hey lady, he wanted to tell her, sorry. Just thought you might want to know there’s an asshole in the neighborhood and maybe you’re his type. Forgive me.
    Smeltzer turned to Jake. “Could we give you a lift?”
    “Yeah, thanks. I could use a ride back to the road.”
    “Fine. We’ll just be a minute. We need to lock up.”
    He and his wife headed up the porch stairs.
    Jake glanced at the woman’s rear end. He didn’t find it especially interesting. She was a fine-looking package, beautifully wrapped, but Jake had the idea that he wouldn’t like what he found inside.
    So much for lust.
    They were inside the restaurant for longer than Jake expected. At first, he assumed they were probably delayed by a heated discussion about leaving ahead of schedule. Then he began to worry.
    What if the guy from the van was in there and got them?
    Not very likely.
    But the possibility stayed with Jake. He counted to thirty, slowly, in his mind.
    They still weren’t out.
    He went for the stairs, took them three at a time, and reached for the door handle.
    The door swung away from him.
    “Sorry it took so long,” Smeltzer said. “Had to use the john.”
    “No problem.” Jake turned away, not even trying for a glimpse of the wife, and trotted down the stairs.
    From behind him came her voice. “This really is the pits.”
    “Better safe than sorry,” Smeltzer said.
    “Of course.”

C HAPTER T HREE
    A few classes were still in session and Bennet Hall had terrible acoustics that seemed to magnify every sound—especially on the stairways—so Alison climbed to the third floor with excessive caution, holding onto the old, wooden banister to keep herself steady.
    Alison knew she was early.
    She couldn’t help it.
    She’d tried to stay away until four, but Chaucer let out at two and she had no classes after that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it just isn’t easy, killing two hours. The walk home only used up ten minutes. Neither of her roommates were there. Too bad. A conversation with Celia or Helen would’ve been good for making the time pass.
    She’d tried to study, but couldn’t concentrate. Not on the book, anyway. Just on the clock, the minute hand of which seemed to move one space every ten minutes. If she could just take a