“You’re right, Madeline. Those details I gave you will make a lot of people look bad. It will cast guilt on more people than just Zach. And they will cause a lot of problems.” Hoffman took a step closer, crowding her. “You’ve found yourself in the middle of this quite by accident, haven’t you?”

More people than Zach?

He couldn’t mean Connor. Connor seemed to know nothing.

Hoffman meant himself. He knew the details. He was involved somehow. And he wanted Madeline to keep her mouth shut about what she knew.

“I think I should go. . . .”

“That’s a great idea,” Hoffman said. “Why don’t we pursue this conversation further back at your apartment? I figure you don’t want to come to my house again. But if I’m not mistaken, you live just a few blocks on the other side of downtown? Near campus? We could go back there and sort this out. It’s very important that we do. A number of people are involved, and I think once you hear what I have to say and how important it is, you’ll understand. I mean, you’ll have to.”

Madeline backed up, taking a step toward her car. “Sure, I think I do understand.”

“I thought you would. So I’ll see you there? That’s One-oh-nine Fourteenth Street, right? Apartment three?”

Madeline nodded. She struggled to find any words.

Hoffman’s posture stiffened like some of the weight had been lifted from him.

Madeline backed up and got into her car. Hoffman stood there on the sidewalk. He gave her a thumbs-up and turned and walked away, no doubt heading for his car. And then for her apartment.

Madeline shivered. She wished she had worn a heavier coat.

She wished she lived in the tropics, someplace she would never get cold again.

She started the car, knowing she couldn’t go home. She couldn’t go where Hoffman might find her.

PART IV

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

REBECCA

PRESENT

Rebecca sits on the steps on the side of Goodlaw Hall.

She has her head resting in her hands, her backpack by her feet. She sits alone, the concrete cold beneath her. She can feel it through her jeans. But she has her coat open, her hat stuffed in her pocket.

She tries very hard not to remember seeing what she just saw.

Like the rest of the class—the rest of the building, really—she went outside and looked up. She saw Dr. Nye and Dr. Hoffman in the bell tower talking to each other. Dr. Nye held some papers in his hand, and he seemed to be trying to get Hoffman to come in. Twice he waved his arms that way, as if he was saying, Come on, come on. It’s okay.

But Hoffman climbed over the railing and put his feet on the ledge.