Alibi by Sharon Shinn

Author:Sharon Shinn [Shinn, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Crime & Mystery, General, Romance
Google: cW0jEQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Fairwood Press LLC
Published: 2024-11-11T23:00:00+00:00

*

I didn’t make it to the hospital on Thursday, since students dropped by my office continually from nine in the morning to nearly six at night. I did call Quentin a couple of times, and he sounded so cheerful that I started to relax.

Friday, I arrived at the hospital around three in the afternoon, bearing cookies I’d baked myself and a new hardcover by Ardel Hawke. I found Quentin and Bram Cortez playing chess while Francis gave Quentin sotto voce advice. Nonetheless, the home team appeared to be losing.

“Chocolate chip cookies! I didn’t know you could bake,” Quentin observed, stuffing two in his mouth in rapid succession.

“Is that an insult? Why couldn’t I bake?”

“You’re a teacher. All you do is read.”

“Well, I eat, too.”

“These are excellent,” Francis said, sampling one. “Better than mine.”

“Your cookies are great, Francis,” Quentin said loyally. Then he looked at me. “But these are supergreat, Taylor.”

Bram Cortez was on his third one before he offered a comment. “Almost makes a man want to get sick if this will be his reward,” he said.

I risked a glance at him. Once you’ve kissed a man and he’s walked out your door, you’re not always sure what you’ll say the next time you see him in front of half the people you know in common. But he looked completely at ease, happy enough to see me but not so ecstatic he couldn’t keep his blushes down.

I tried to match his nonchalance. “If you ever end up in the hospital, I promise I’ll make you cookies.”

“This day’s getting better all the time.”

Quentin was restless. “Hey, Taylor, you want to play a game of chess with me once I beat Bram?”

I glanced at the board. “Doesn’t look to me like you’re going to beat him any time soon. Anyway, I brought you another diversion.” I handed him the book.

“Strato!” he exclaimed. “I can read it tonight.”

“Why wait?” Bram asked. “Kick us out and start it now.”

We all laughed and moved on to new topics. I settled myself into a chair next to Francis, who leaned over and began to quiz me on my favorite recipes, so we debated the merits of hotboxing and conventional baking. When Quentin seemed sufficiently absorbed in his game with Bram, I quietly inquired about his condition, which Francis assured me was improving.

“He’ll probably be home tomorrow.”

“Has his father been by to see him?”

Francis shrugged. “Not that I’ve heard.”

I glanced at the players, who did not seem to be paying attention to our conversation. “He dropped by to see me,” I said.

Bram Cortez’s eyes lifted quickly to my face, though Quentin hadn’t seemed to catch my words. Cortez didn’t say anything, though. Francis asked, “Dropped by to see you where?”

“Sefton. Came to my class with the dean and the department head. Talking about how he was going to make an endowment to the school. But it was pretty clear he was there to see me. I can’t tell you how creepy it was.”

“You need to start being careful,” Bram said.

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