Page 108 of Love and the Laws of Motion
“Because I love you.”
“No, really.”
“Really.I love you and I wasn’t about to let anyone get away with hurting you if there was something I could do about it.And it turned out, there was something I could do about it.”He glanced back at the dean, who nodded.
“I don’t understand.”
“Well—”
But before he could say more, there was a knock on the outer office door.
Nick’s eyes cut toward the door.“That’s probably my ride.I gotta go.”
The door opened and two men in dark suits stepped in.One held up a badge in a billfold.“FBI.We’re looking for Nicholas DeSantis?”
Livie turned back to Nick, who didn’t look the least bit surprised to see them there.
“Nick, what’s going on?Why are they looking for you?”
“Right here, guys.One second.”He took her face in his hands again.“Livie, I’m sorry.The last thing I want to do right now is to disappear again, but it can’t be helped.”
What the hell was he talking about?All she knew was that the FBI wouldn’t be here looking for him just to say hello.She was nearly light-headed with panic.“Nick, what—”
“I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to contact you.I know I can’t ask you to wait for me, and I’m not going to.It wouldn’t be fair.But know this—I love you and I’m coming back for you, no matter how long it takes me.The rest, well, it’s all up to you.”
Then he kissed her again.Hard, like he was trying to imprint himself on her that way.He didn’t need to worry.Nick’s kiss was pressed into her soul, along with the rest of him.Long before she was ready to let him go, he released her and stepped back.
The two FBI guys were advancing toward him.He turned to face them.“You don’t need to cuff me or anything.I’ll come.”
Cuff him?“Nick, what have you done?”
She reached for his arm, but the agents were already moving him toward the door.Politely, but firmly.He looked back at her one more time, his eyes overflowing with emotion.“I did exactly what I had to do.This is your choice to make.Nobody’s got the right to force it on you.And now you can.I love you, Livie.I’ll see you around.”
And then he was gone, ushered out the door between two FBI agents.Livie stood frozen, staring after him, desperately trying to understand what had happened.
“Miss Romano?”
She spun around.The dean was still there, still watching the whole thing play out.Except she had no idea what that “thing” was.
“What just happened here?”
“Perhaps you should come in so I can explain the situation.”
“Please.”
He looked at his secretary and sighed heavily.“Vicky, clear my schedule for the rest of the day and all day tomorrow.I’m going to have my hands full.”
In his office, after she’d sat in one of the two leather chairs facing his desk, the dean fell heavily into his own chair and threaded his fingers together.On his desk, under his hands, there was a scatter of paper, computer printouts, lists of numbers.She couldn’t read any of them from where she sat.
“Earlier this afternoon, your friend Mr.DeSantis came to me with a rather explosive allegation.He claimed Professor Langley, the Acting Chair of your department, has been skimming funds from a grant awarded to the Chair, Professor Finch, who’s indisposed with an illness.I’m guessing that’s what you intended to tell me during your appointment today?”
“Yes.”Livie nervously ran her fingers down the line of upholstery tacks in the arm of her chair.“I can’t prove it, but he is, I’m sure of it.”
“Well, Mr.DeSantis proved it.”He leaned back and waved his hands at the papers strewn across his desk.“He presented me with a fairly incontrovertible chain of evidence, including banking records from Skylight Telecommunications listing withdrawals by the university and deposits in those same amounts to Langley’s personal checking account.He also produced electronic copies of the university fund request forms with Professor Finch’s signature on them.Since he’s informed me Professor Finch can’t yet walk or talk, I’m guessing these signatures are forged.”
He lifted a printout and skimmed the page.“I’m not sure I want to know how he acquired these records.”
Livie stared at the printouts.Skylight’s internal banking records, the forged request forms from the university’s internal system, Langley’s personal bank account activity, and the “how” was crystal clear to her in an instant.
