“How did that half-wit get into Northeastern? And why the hell are we stuck with her?”

“Dr. Bimm. Remember, the NEA is heavily dependent on charitable donations.”

Dr. Barb was practically dancing from one small black-flat clad foot to the other; he imagined she’d rather go for a quick jog around the lobster tank.

Then: “Why are you here this morning? Neither of you are on the schedule.”

“Uh,” Fred began, then looked at Jonas. It must have been a long night for all three of them, because they all looked a little helpless. “We—”

Jonas coughed. “Hey, Dr. Barb, you had breakfast yet?”

“I—what?”

“The first meal of the day? Start you off right? Give you sprinting energy through the lunch hour? Eggs? Bacon? Pancakes with real Vermont maple syrup?” As if there were any acceptable substitute in New England.

“I had a cup of yogurt,” she replied, blinking up at him with her exotic, almond-shaped eyes. Oooooh, he was getting that trembly/firm feeling he got whenever he talked to Dr. Barb. And not just because he knew he could give her a kick-ass makeover. “Nonfat.”

“You call that breakfast?” he cried.

“Well. Yes.”

“Ham and eggs, that’s breakfast. Grits and anything, that’s breakfast,” he added, taking her by the elbow and trying not to be obvious about dragging her away from the group. “Eating nonfat yogurt is punishment for jaywalking, right? Come on, I know a great place right across the street.”

“Well,” she began, and it must have sounded so good she said it again. “Well… I couldn’t be gone for long.”

“Aw, who are you kidding? You probably weren’t on the schedule for this morning, either.”

“Well… I’m the one who draws up the schedule…”

“So cross yourself off it long enough to have a bagel with yours truly.” He noticed her toes were practically skimming the tile and eased up, but didn’t let go of her arm.

“Well… as I said, I couldn’t be gone very long…”

“Right, right, place’d probably implode if you left for more than ninety minutes. We’ll have you back in eighty-nine.” After Fred and the guys get lost. “But you can’t expect to go charging all over the NEA on yogurt. I thought you were smarter than that, Dr. Barb.”

“I had no idea you were so worried about my welfare. Thank you, Jonas.”

Jonas felt a thrill inside. Was it possible that Fred—dour, sour Fred—was shooting him the most grateful, sweetest smile of her life? And he was about to take his longtime crush on their first date?

This is the greatest day of my life! he thought, exalted, as he steered Dr. Barb past the throngs of tourists and students. He saw Madison’s stare turn into a glare, but managed to give her a cheery wave. And it’s not even ten fifteen in the morning!

Chapter Nineteen

Barb Robinson was having a a puzzling morning.

First, her dry cleaner hadn’t had her eight lab coats ready, so she was down to three, low starch. Having so few symbols of her authority available to her made Barb extremely nervous. How was she expected to keep order at the NEA when everyone else there was so much smarter, younger