Page 31 of The Perfect Obsession
“I got off the phone with her ten minutes ago,” Jamil confirmed.
“I’m calling her back,” Jessie said as the phone rang.
Amanda picked up almost immediately.
“Ms.Hunt,” she said.“Your researcher already called me to put the fear of God in me.You didn’t have to follow up.Alex and I are already planning to leave town for a few days starting tonight.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Jessie said, “but this isn’t about that.”
“What then?”
“What can you tell me about Dr.Marcus Carroway?In particular, any allegations that might have been made against him?”
For several seconds, there was silence on the other end of the line.
“He never did anything to me,” she finally said, “but I definitely heard rumors about him.”
“What kind of rumors?”Jessie pressed.
“That he would get girls in his office for academic meetings and then proposition them.That he would offer extra help getting them into elite colleges if the girls…accommodated his needs.”
“Do you know if he ever tried that with any of your friends?”
“Like who?”Amanda wanted to know.
“Maybe Caroline?”
“I don’t know,” Amanda said uncomfortably, “We never discussed anything like that.I guess that could mean that he never pursued her.Or it’s possible that he did, and she was just too embarrassed to talk about it.Caroline was always a people-pleaser, and she might not have wanted to create a whole scandal.”
“Would it surprise you to learn that she filed a complaint against Carroway after she graduated?”
Amanda was quiet, taking in the news.
“Yes and no,” she eventually answered.“That’s a bold move for the Caroline I knew back then.But she went on to become this big-time studio marketing executive, so maybe that was the beginning of her finding her future self.Plus, she might have waited until after graduation because at that point, he couldn’t do anything to torpedo her future.”
That last theory made a lot of sense to Jessie.
“Thanks, Amanda,” she said.“That’s all for now.But please make sure to send us the contact information for wherever you and Alex decide to go tonight.And remember to stay alert to your surroundings.”
She hung up and turned around.Beth had an excited look on her face.
“What is it?”she asked the young researcher.
“I found Carroway,” she said.“He teaches at a private school in Camarillo.”
“He’s not the headmaster?”Jessie asked.
“Nope,” Beth said.“It looks like those days are over.He teaches history.”
“I guess he was banished to the boonies,” Ryan noted.“Camarillo is over an hour away from here, even without traffic.
“Well, partner,” Jessie said, standing up, “it looks like we’re headed to the boonies.”
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Kat prepared to go over the plan one more time, trying to keep her frustration in check.
She was currently sitting in her parked car on Figueroa, on a conference call with Hannah and Wren.The latter’s voice was filled with fear.She understood Wren’s apprehension.The woman was being stalked by a guy with a criminal record.She had every reason to be concerned.
