Using my phone, I found the contact number for the Norris center and waited through what felt like two dozen rings before someone answered. It was Saturday night. I was sure the place was busy. I asked to be transferred to security, and this time a gruff voice answered immediately.

What to say?

“One of your faculty members, Karly Chance, is meeting someone in the coffee bar on the second floor. You need to get up there and get her away from him. He’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How do you know?”

“Please, just go talk to her and tell her she isn’t safe. Karly Chance. Do you know who she is?”

“No, I don’t. You need to tell me what’s going on, sir.”

“Karly Chance. She’s on the English faculty. Blond hair, ragged cut down to her shoulders, fair skin, blue eyes, about thirty. She’s with a man named Dylan Moran. Messy black hair, lean, not very tall. He’s wearing a checked purple shirt and gray vest. You need to hurry.”

“I’m heading up there right now, sir, but you need to tell me what this is all about.”

I needed a story he’d believe. I needed something. Anything.

“Look, Dylan’s my roommate. He’s obsessed with this woman. He read her book, and now he won’t stop talking about her. He was on campus the other night stalking a girl near Goodrich who looked just like her. He’s unstable, takes a lot of meds. When he left the apartment tonight, he took a knife. Search him. You’ll find it.”

“A knife? Are you sure?”

“I’m absolutely certain.”

“Okay, hang on.”

The sound on the phone grew muffled. I could hear the background noise of a large crowd of people, and then I heard the man’s voice again, talking to someone else. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. The length of time felt excruciating, and I squeezed the phone impatiently.

Finally, he came back on the line.

“Karly Chance? English professor?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

“She hasn’t been in here tonight.”

“She must be. We were supposed—I mean, Dylan told me that he was meeting her there at nine o’clock.”

“Well, she didn’t show. The coffee guy knows her. He hasn’t seen her. He’s been here all evening.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think. “Okay. Okay. Can you put out a security alert to the rest of the campus? Have them look for her. She lives in Goodrich. Somebody needs to check her apartment.”

“First you better tell me your name, sir.”

I hesitated. You really can’t hesitate when somebody asks you your name.

“What’s this all about?” the guard went on, a new shadow of suspicion in his voice. “Who are you? How do you know Ms. Chance?”

“Just look for her! Please!”