A dark smirk climbs his cheeks. “I’m sure you will.”
35
Dark Little Heart
Violet
“Violet, can I havea moment?” Professor Perry looks at me over the top of his glasses as the class starts to empty.
“Uh-oh, what did you do now, girl?” Mila nudges my arm. “Too much time at Sigma House, and now you’re being sent to the principal’s office. Not verygood girlof you.”
“Very funny.” I roll my eyes, even if inside my stomach plummets.
There’s only one reason Professor Perry would hold me after class, and that’s to tell me if I made it into the summer internship program with Professor Gray in Los Angeles or not. Patience found out yesterday that she got in, which meant it was only a matter of time before I faced the music.
“You’ll be fine.” Mila stops in front of me. “You’ve got this.”
She must sense my nerves because she drops the teasing act for reassurance. We both know what this is about, and I don’t have her level of confidence.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am.” Mila crosses her fingers and smiles big as she walks out of the classroom.
I slowly walk to the front of the room, where Professor Perry is focused on his computer screen. His glasses sit at the edge of his nose, and his dark eyebrows scrunch with whatever he’s reading.
“Ms. Morrow.” He pushes his glasses up, looking at me. “I have something for you.”
Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it over. And the moment I read the first words, my heart balloons. The cloud that’s been hanging over me all day lifts, and for the first time in weeks, I’m flooded with a sense of relief.
“I got in.”
“Did you doubt you would?” he asks, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.
“I wasn’t sure.”
He watches me as I read the welcome letter. And quickly, what was excitement starts to settle heavier as realization sinks in. Mom will be so proud of me, even if it will mean a bigger burden on her if I can’t find a summer job that pays for food and rent.
I hate that my dreams are costing her so much, especially when I’m suddenly torn about thisinternship.
When I first applied, things were clearer. Back then, my criminal studies were between the pages of books, not between my sheets like they are now.
I was an observer. Learning.
Now I’m one of them.
I’ve witnessed two murders, and I’ve said nothing. Worse, I’ve fallen for the killer. Who am I to study criminals when I can’t see clearly when it comes to them?
“You don’t look as excited as you should be.” Professor Perry doesn’t take his cool gaze off me.
Holding the paper to my side, I try to force a smile. “I am. There’s just a lot going on.”
“Does this have anything to do with Liam Westwood?”
Swallowing, I hope my panic doesn’t show. My palms sweat, and I feel the blood draining from my face.
“You were dating him when he went missing, weren’t you?”
I nod, my tongue swelling in my mouth with each passing moment.