“That’s a terrible thing to happen to a student. The very thought of it disgusts me. It would disgust any right-thinking person. And I want you to know the university is changing. They’re taking claims made by women more seriously. The culture is different. That kind of thing that happened in the past shouldn’t happen anymore. I know that. Our department head, Dr. White, he’s committed to that. I promise you. And what I’m asking you to do is to go to the police. To help them solve a crime.”

“Cops don’t take women seriously either. It’s all the same.”

“These cops want to solve these crimes. I know because I’ve been in the station with them. I’ve had them coming to my house. You need to remind them of the thing with Zach and Madeline. They have a lot of information to sift through.”

She reaches back and pulls her phone out of her jeans pocket. She checks the time. “I’m going to be late to the writing center. I’m already late. I barely had time to get a coffee in Troy’s. And now . . .”

“The police can write you a note,” I say. “Or call the writing center.”

She stares at her phone as if I’m not here. Her teeth clamp down on her bottom lip again. Doubt creeps in. I think I’m losing her. She’s going to turn and go and never tell the cops what she knows.

And I’ll be the guy they want to arrest.

“Are you going to go with me?” she asks.

“I can’t really do that, Rebecca. It’s not good for me to go there.”

“Why not?”

“I’m going in to talk to them soon.”

She still stares at the phone, but the corners of her mouth turn down.

“I don’t know about going there alone. I’ve never been in a police station. That just seems like too much—”

“Rebecca, I’ll call the detective in charge of the case. Her name is Alicia Bowman. She’s decent. She’ll treat you well. And maybe you’ll feel like they’re taking you more seriously because the cop is a woman. Do you know where the station is?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve never been there.”

“It’s two blocks that way. Over on Kentucky Street.” I point east. “It’s right on the corner. You can practically see it from here.”

She remains rooted in place, staring at me. She’s looking to me for answers, and I’m not sure I have any. I just hope she can summon the courage to make that two-block walk.

“I’m going to call my mom on the way. I want to know what she thinks.”

“You should do that. Absolutely.”

She heaves a big sigh, the motion lifting her heavy jacket up and down. “Okay.”