Page 63 of Under His Protection
“Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at one o’clock.”
Bauer checks his wristwatch. “I probably won’t get a chance to talk to her before your class this afternoon, but I’m sure we can arrange something by Friday. Now, is there anyone else you can think of? Anyone I should look into?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t think of anyone else.”
* * *
After our meeting with Bauer, we head back across campus in the direction of her chemistry lab. We still have a few minutes before class starts.
While we’re killing time, we find an available park bench in the student quad and have a seat beneath the shade of a huge oak tree. I lay my arm along the back of the bench, and Haley tucks herself against me and lays her head on my shoulder.
After the meeting with Detective Bauer, she seems so demoralized. I’d love to get my hands on whoever is doing this to her.
Five minutes.
That’s all I need with him. Just five minutes, and I guarantee he’ll never think of bothering her again.
Haley places her hand on my chest, and I cover it with my free hand, linking our fingers together.
I lean over and kiss the top of her head. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I hate this,” she says, her voice so quiet I can barely hear her. “I’m supposed to be focusing on my classes, furthering my education, but instead I’m dealing with this insanity.”
“This won’t go on forever,” I tell her. “We’ll identify him and he’ll face the consequences for his actions. Then you can go on with your schooling as if nothing ever happened.”
“I hope you’re right. This is making me paranoid, and I hate it. Like, right now, he could be watching me. Watchingus. And where am I going to live? I can’t stay in the dorm, and I don’t want to take this crap home to any of my parents.”
“Your dad wouldn’t like it, but you can stay with me. The building’s pretty secure.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you either. And how would I get to school? Take a taxi back and forth? Or call a rideshare service? That would get pricey pretty quickly.”
“Let’s just wait and see what Shane has to say at this afternoon’s meeting. I’m sure he’s devising a plan as we speak.”
* * *
Soon, it’s time for her to go to her chemistry lab class. I can tell she’s dragging her heels, and I don’t blame her. She has to endure sitting beside Hoffman for the next hour. And if he is the culprit, he’s not going to take my presence well.
When we reach her classroom, we see Hoffman is already seated at their lab table. Haley hangs back in the hallway as long as she can.
I reach out and touch her cheek, gently brushing her soft skin. “I’ll be right here the entire time. If there’s a problem, just give me a signal.”
“What kind of signal?”
“Just holler as loud as you can. I’ll come running.”
She smiles at that, as I hoped she would. “Thanks.”
She’s so apprehensive. Constant anxiety is eating her alive. I can see it on her face. She’s barely eighteen. She’s not equipped to deal with something like this. I pull her into my arms, wrapping her in a bear hug.
The instructor comes forward to shut the door. “Haley, are you coming?”
“Yes.” Haley glances up at me one last time before she turns and walks into the room.
The instructor pauses as she’s about to shut the door. “I’m sorry, can I help you?” she asks me. “It’s time for class to start. You can come back in an hour.”
Looking a bit irritated by my presence, the instructor shuts the door in my face and stares at me through the glass.
Fortunately, from my vantage point, I can see Haley clearly. Hoffman, too.
