The Vanishing Girl: A Gripping Serial Killer Thriller (Darkwater Cove Psychological Thriller Book 4) by Dan Padavona

Author:Dan Padavona [Padavona, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A curled snake on a red flag hangs outside The Harad, a student eatery on the basement floor of Brockway Hall. A map depicting Tolkien’s mythical land adorns the wall, replete with sailing ships and elves waging war against orcs. The magical land illusion dissipates inside, where students swiping through phone messages shovel food into their mouths. Some pour over their studies in late night cramming sessions. A group of males and females wearing Greek life sweatshirts laugh over a pizza in the far corner. A few heads turn in curiosity when Julian and Darcy enter.

Julian orders a lamb gyro with a side of fries, while Darcy opts for two slices of tomato pie and a salad. The red-haired boy behind the counter eyes them and asks if they wish to pay with their student ID cards. Then he hoots over his joke and accepts Julian’s Visa.

Darcy finds a quiet table along the wall and sets down her tray as Julian slides into the chair across from her.

“Cheers,” he says, lifting his cup of Pepsi.

Darcy grabs her Sprite cup.

“What are we toasting?”

“Let’s toast open lines of communication.”

“I can drink to that,” she says, touching her cup to his. “To us.”

“To us. And finding Jo.”

The easy laughter fades from his eyes. She wishes she could help Julian bring his niece back. Observing the students as they eat without a care in the world, she worries over Hunter at college. He’s smart. Cold reality taught Hunter to look over his shoulder for danger, that it’s not safe to walk into shadows. But being a young adult and caring for oneself for the first time builds confidence, and confidence encourages you to let your guard down. Carelessness will get you killed. Jennifer’s days as a high school student are numbered. Losing her daughter to college will cause Darcy’s anxiety to explode. Jennifer already takes unnecessary risks. And pretty girls like Jo and Jennifer are targets. An unfortunate truth. If Darcy could keep Jennifer safe forever, she’d give her life to do so.

When a group of students rise to leave, another figure enters the eatery. Darcy pauses with the straw against her lips.

“What’s wrong?” Julian asks, his back to the entrance.

“Don’t look. That’s Paul Thompson.”

Julian’s eyebrows shoot up. Darcy glances down, but Thompson spots them. And he’s striding with purpose toward their table.

The professor wears the same black cashmere trench coat Darcy saw him in along the sidewalk earlier. He’d stared at her then. Now his glare burns holes into Darcy as he unravels a scarf and unbuttons the coat.

“A lot of nerve the two of you have, showing your faces on campus,” he says, towering over their table.

Until now, Darcy hadn’t appreciated Thompson’s size. He stands half a head taller than Julian, his eyes a match for the pitch of his coat.

“Professor Thompson,” Darcy says, gesturing toward an open chair. “Would you like to join us?”

“I would not. I know what you’re up to. The sheriff called the dean with questions about my relations with certain members of the New Sherill student body.

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