Besides, Rebecca knows people in power don’t really like it when you bring up unpleasant or unusual things. They like to see the world a certain way, and they don’t like to listen when someone has a different opinion. Nye isn’t totally like that, she knows. He’s pretty good about listening to students and trying to understand them. But still, he’s a professor. And a dude. And they just don’t always listen the way they should.

She wishes she’d kept circling the building. But she’s in it now.

“Did this person talk to you? Or say something to you?” Nye asks.

“No, she left before I could.”

Nye takes his time speaking. He scratches his head and seems to be carefully formulating a response. He looks like he wants to let Rebecca down easily, not just come out and say how ridiculous and immature she’s being. And Rebecca would hate it if any of her professors thought she was immature. She’s not that kind of student. She meets every deadline, comes to every class. Visits office hours for every professor, even those she really has nothing to ask.

When Nye does talk, the irritation is mostly gone. He sounds . . . Rebecca isn’t sure. Does he sound relieved?

“So maybe you just wanted this person to be Madeline,” he says. “Maybe you found yourself thinking of her because the book is about a murder in a town like Gatewood, and your mind played a trick on you, so you could only see what you wanted to see. Were you and Madeline good friends?”

“Not really,” Rebecca says. “I liked her. But we didn’t hang out much. Just one class. Sometimes I’d see her at a party. One party in particular . . .”

Rebecca doesn’t want to say more. She won’t get into that night. She won’t tell Nye about Zach and the thing in the alley. She thinks Nye would understand better than most. She thinks Nye would be the kind of person to give her the benefit of the doubt and really listen.

But how could she be sure?

She remembers that woman in her dorm back during her freshman year. The one who transferred away . . .

Nye goes on, his words more forceful. “I did see that woman in the back of the room, the one with the red hair. I couldn’t miss her, like you said. But I didn’t think she looked anything like Madeline. Not at all. If you wanted to hide, you wouldn’t show up with hair dyed that bright of a color. And I think we’ve all had to face the harsh truth that Madeline is probably not coming back. Not after two years. It’s really unfortunate.”

“Yes, I know the statistics.”

Now Nye leans forward, his brow furrows. “Do you know something about Madeline’s disappearance? Is there a reason why you think she would be here?”