“Your father is no longer the sheriff, but most people address him as such.”

With Henry, sometimes there was no winning.

“I’m happy to speak, on occasion—once a semester, maybe—guest lecture like I did today. But I’m not generally interested in shaping young minds or grading papers. But thank you anyway.”

“I’m going to ask again.”

She smiled, sipped her drink. “Of course you are. The answer will still be no.”

Regan saw movement in the hallway outside the door. Classes were on the first floor, staff offices on the second. Because of his position in the CCJ department, Henry was afforded the largest, quietest office at the end of the hall. He never closed his door.

A student stood in the doorway about to knock when he saw Regan. He was skinny, about five foot nine—same height as Regan—with dark hair that curled at his collar. Dark eyes, naturally tan skin, dressed in an NAU Lumberjack sweatshirt and jeans, like half the students on campus. His most distinguishing feature was his bright green Converse high-tops. And because of the Day-Glo shoes, Regan recognized that he’d been at her lecture that afternoon.

“Lucas! Come in.” Henry spoke before the kid said anything.

Henry was unsurprised at the interruption, which immediately made Regan suspicious.

“Regan, Lucas is one of my top students. A CCJ and biology dual major.”

“Forensics,” Regan said. She’d been a CCJ and psychology dual major because she had considered criminal profiling and had even thought about becoming a psychiatrist. Time and money—and the fact that the thought of years of medical school made her hyperventilate—had her ending her academic career with two degrees in four years and no regrets.

“I’m hoping to get in with Phoenix PD,” Lucas said, his scratchy voice showing his nerves. He cleared his throat. “They have an awesome lab, but mostly, that’s where my family is. My older brother is going through the police academy now. My mom’s a nurse, my sisters are still in high school. I really enjoyed your presentation today.”

“Thank you.”

“Lucas has developed one of the most interesting capstone projects I’ve seen in my two decades teaching here,” Henry said. “He’s hosting a podcast about an unsolved campus murder that happened a few years ago. Lucas, please, sit down. Join us.”

Lucas sat in the other guest chair, the one still facing the desk. He had surprisingly good posture—maybe because of his short stature. Too often Regan saw kids who had perpetually slumped, misaligned shoulders because they carried heavy backpacks on one side for years.

“Tell Regan about your podcast. The Sorority Murder. Isn’t that a provocative title?”

“It is,” Regan concurred. “Is this about that nursing student who was killed three years back? My dad talked about it once or twice.”