Spark and Burn by Diana G. Gallagher

Author:Diana G. Gallagher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter Six

Sunnydale

October 1997

Professor Dalton was stunned—but alive—when Spike left the building to explore the Crestwood College campus. Of course, the academic’s status was subject to change, depending on the du Lac Manuscript. Finding the book was only the first phase of Spike’s project to restore Drusilla’s health. Next, he had to take possession of the book. Then, depending on the language Josephus du Lac had used, he might need someone to translate it. If so, the good professor could be changed into a brainy henchman to do the job. In the meantime, since something unexpected could happen regarding the book or Rupert Giles, Dalton might be needed again—alive.

Besides, although the Sunnydale police had a peculiar nonchalance about the exceptional number of deaths and disappearances in town, it wouldn’t be wise to raise any red flags. Roman Shaw lived too far away to kill, and the agent knew that Professor Dalton had inquired about the du Lac Manuscript. If Dalton turned up dead, Shaw might tell Rupert Giles that someone wanted the text—badly. A long shot, to be sure, but Spike wasn’t willing to take the risk.

The book buyer’s identity could not be dismissed as a coincidence, either. Spike mulled over the connections between the du Lac Manuscript, Rupert Giles, and the Slayer as he walked through the Crestwood College campus. Several paths branched off a central courtyard toward the theater, academic facilities, student union, dorms, and fraternity row. Spike paused to read a signpost.

Three young men passed by without casting even a curious glance in Spike’s direction. They were all dressed in a casual Ivy League style: slacks and button-down shirts with V-neck sweaters or blazers. Spike followed them toward the dorms, out of sight in the trees that lined the path, eavesdropping with mild interest.

“So Brian Randolph wasn’t asked to pledge Delta Zeta Kappa either?” the tallest man asked.

“They only take guys from old money and/or old families,” his heavyset companion explained. “Brian’s father was an accountant before he became a dot-com millionaire.”

“New wealth buys your way into Crestwood, Cory,” the third man said, “but not into Crestwood’s version of Skull and Bones.”

“Don’t they ever make exceptions?” Cory frowned.

“Not very often.” The heavy man shrugged. “Why cut a stranger in on the wealth and success that’s practically guaranteed to everyone in the house?”

“There’s no ‘practically’ about it,” the third man remarked with a shake of his head. “Those guys keep getting richer, and none of them ever go broke. Must be nice to have connections.”

Indeed, Spike thought. Cory didn’t have a prayer of crashing the rich boys’ campus club. It was a familiar story: The offspring of wealth and privilege thought they were better than everyone else, and everyone else went along with the myth, creating a vicious cycle of power and abuse. Prompted by an old prejudice of his own, Spike left the students and headed toward fraternity row.

The Delta Zeta Kappa house didn’t look anything like the fraternities Spike had hunted in in other parts of the country.

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