With that she whirled and stomped off into the utility room.

FOUR

Justin and I stared at each other. Diesel meowed several times, and I knew the tense atmosphere bothered him. He butted my thigh, and I scratched his head.

“Man, what’s up with her?” Justin kept his voice low. “I’ve never heard her use that tone before.” He shook his head. “Who’s she talking about anyway?”

I answered the last question first. “Vera Cassity.”

Justin’s expression turned sour. “Oh, her.” He had a sip of coffee.

“How do you know her?” Did everyone in Athena know and dislike the woman?

“Scholarship.” Justin shrugged. “She endowed one of the four-year scholarships I received. I’m grateful to her, because it really is a good one.”

“But?” I prompted when he fell silent.

“She wants a thank-you letter at the beginning and end of every semester. Plus, you have to tell her about the courses you’ve taken and how they have contributed to your growth as a mature, moral person.” He sighed. “I guess it’s really not that big a deal, but it takes up a lot of time. Because those letters sure aren’t short.”

“Does she actually read them?” I thought two detailed thank-you letters per semester excessive. The woman evidently needed massive sops to her ego.

“She sure does.” Justin laughed. “Because you always get a letter back, and she comments on things. So you don’t dare skimp on the details when you write to her.”

“That’s going way overboard on her part.” I grimaced. “I admire her for endowing scholarships, but requiring written proof of gratitude so frequently is just weird. Not to mention the bit about growth as a mature, moral person.”

“Well, yeah, it is weird.” Justin shrugged again. “But without that money I’d have to go to school part-time and work full-time probably.”

The more I found out about Vera the more fascinating—albeit distasteful—she became.

“But why does Miss Azalea hate her so much?” Justin forked some egg into his mouth.

I shrugged. “I haven’t the foggiest.” Had Azalea worked for Vera at some point? I couldn’t see Azalea tolerating Vera’s high-handed manner, but her reaction to Vera argued a more serious offense.

“She must have done something pretty awful.” Justin ate more. “I mean, Miss Azalea’s not exactly a warm and fuzzy person”—his eyes glinted with amusement—“but she doesn’t usually go around bad-mouthing anybody.”

I agreed. Azalea’s reaction implied deep animosity.

“Definitely a mystery.” I had a bite of bacon, and suddenly a paw tapped my thigh. I glanced down at Diesel. His gaze riveted on the bacon in my hand, he chirped. “You’re incorrigible.” I broke off a piece and fed it to him.

Justin laughed. “He does love bacon.”

“That he does.” I fed the cat another piece. “That’s all.” I held up my hand to show Diesel that it was empty.

He glared at me for a moment before he turned and walked over to Justin’s chair. His tail bristled with indignation.