Read Online Midnight Scent (Amour Toxique Book 1) by Dori Lavelle - Free Book Online
Authors: Dori Lavelle
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and run my hands over my camel capri pants, smoothing out the wrinkles. “Really well, thanks.”
We’re both quiet for a while. I feel her eyes on me, though I keep mine downcast. Can she read my mind? Is she able to see what I’m hiding?
Paulette crosses her legs, the material of her melon pleated skirt spilling onto the couch on either side. She clasps her hands over her knees. “The reason I asked to see you was to find out if any more letters have arrived for Jennifer.”
“No. None.” I avert my gaze again. Please, don’t ask more questions , I silently plead. I’ve never been good at lying.
Paulette is quiet again, and I swear I can hear the wheels turning inside her head. She knows I’m avoiding something. I look up to meet her eyes and force a tiny smile.
“Ivy, is there something you want to tell me?”
“No, nothing at all. Things have been great.” The words tumble out of my mouth too fast. I must sound completely full of it.
Paulette leans back on the couch, eyes glued to me. “I hope you’re not in contact with Professor Devereux, Ivy. He’s a dangerous man.”
“I don’t know why you would think that. There’s no reason for me to be in contact with him. I don’t… I don’t even know him.”
“I see.” Paulette stands and goes back to her desk. She lifts her apple to her lips and takes a bite. She chews silently for a while as she moves toward the window.
She turns back toward me. “I’m sorry if I’m getting it wrong. But in case you are in touch with him, I want to warn you. Psychopaths can be charming. You have to be extremely careful.”
“You think he’s a psychopath?” I realize too late that I haven’t disputed the accusation. Have I dug a hole for myself? I’m better of letting her believe what she wants to believe, and refrain from confirming her suspicions.
“The man murdered somebody… brutally. There’s something terribly wrong with him. And he can be dangerous to any person he comes into contact with, even from a distance.” Paulette returns to the couch, still eating the apple.
Something hot and furious forces its way up my throat, forming words that pour out of my mouth before I can stop them. “What if—what if Oliver Banes really raped Jennifer?”
Paulette dips her head to the side. “If that’s the case, if he really was a rapist, you think he deserved his fate? You think he deserved to die like that?”
“I’m only saying Jud—Professor Devereux might not be the only bad guy in all of this.” I can’t seem to stop myself. “I mean, does righting a wrong really make someone a psychopath?”
“I don’t know how deep you are in this, but the simple fact is, if that’s the case, Professor Devereux’s act of vigilante justice still makes him dangerous. Any person who kills another human being is dangerous. I really hope you haven’t gotten yourself wrapped up in his web.”
A little too late for that.
“I should go.” One second I’m sitting on the couch, and the next I’m on my feet, my eyes burning hot. I can’t let her see me cry; that will certainly give me away. I pick up my backpack and walk to the door.
“Ivy? Is something troubling you?” Paulette gets to her feet and attempts to walk toward me.
I hold up my hand. “I’m okay.” I’m blinking too fast. “Really, I’m fine. I just... I have a lot of work to do today. I’ll send you an email to make an appointment for another day.” With each word my throat constricts, clogged by the sobs I’m forced to swallow.
“Please do that.” Paulette’s voice is tinged with worry.
I shut the door quickly.
As I rush down the stairs and away from the Student Support Department, the tears come. Why am I even crying? What Paulette told me is the truth: Judson could be a murderer, and murderers are dangerous. Any normal person would think that. Whatever Oliver Banes might have done, it does not justify his death. And yet, here I am, feeling as though I have to defend
We’re both quiet for a while. I feel her eyes on me, though I keep mine downcast. Can she read my mind? Is she able to see what I’m hiding?
Paulette crosses her legs, the material of her melon pleated skirt spilling onto the couch on either side. She clasps her hands over her knees. “The reason I asked to see you was to find out if any more letters have arrived for Jennifer.”
“No. None.” I avert my gaze again. Please, don’t ask more questions , I silently plead. I’ve never been good at lying.
Paulette is quiet again, and I swear I can hear the wheels turning inside her head. She knows I’m avoiding something. I look up to meet her eyes and force a tiny smile.
“Ivy, is there something you want to tell me?”
“No, nothing at all. Things have been great.” The words tumble out of my mouth too fast. I must sound completely full of it.
Paulette leans back on the couch, eyes glued to me. “I hope you’re not in contact with Professor Devereux, Ivy. He’s a dangerous man.”
“I don’t know why you would think that. There’s no reason for me to be in contact with him. I don’t… I don’t even know him.”
“I see.” Paulette stands and goes back to her desk. She lifts her apple to her lips and takes a bite. She chews silently for a while as she moves toward the window.
She turns back toward me. “I’m sorry if I’m getting it wrong. But in case you are in touch with him, I want to warn you. Psychopaths can be charming. You have to be extremely careful.”
“You think he’s a psychopath?” I realize too late that I haven’t disputed the accusation. Have I dug a hole for myself? I’m better of letting her believe what she wants to believe, and refrain from confirming her suspicions.
“The man murdered somebody… brutally. There’s something terribly wrong with him. And he can be dangerous to any person he comes into contact with, even from a distance.” Paulette returns to the couch, still eating the apple.
Something hot and furious forces its way up my throat, forming words that pour out of my mouth before I can stop them. “What if—what if Oliver Banes really raped Jennifer?”
Paulette dips her head to the side. “If that’s the case, if he really was a rapist, you think he deserved his fate? You think he deserved to die like that?”
“I’m only saying Jud—Professor Devereux might not be the only bad guy in all of this.” I can’t seem to stop myself. “I mean, does righting a wrong really make someone a psychopath?”
“I don’t know how deep you are in this, but the simple fact is, if that’s the case, Professor Devereux’s act of vigilante justice still makes him dangerous. Any person who kills another human being is dangerous. I really hope you haven’t gotten yourself wrapped up in his web.”
A little too late for that.
“I should go.” One second I’m sitting on the couch, and the next I’m on my feet, my eyes burning hot. I can’t let her see me cry; that will certainly give me away. I pick up my backpack and walk to the door.
“Ivy? Is something troubling you?” Paulette gets to her feet and attempts to walk toward me.
I hold up my hand. “I’m okay.” I’m blinking too fast. “Really, I’m fine. I just... I have a lot of work to do today. I’ll send you an email to make an appointment for another day.” With each word my throat constricts, clogged by the sobs I’m forced to swallow.
“Please do that.” Paulette’s voice is tinged with worry.
I shut the door quickly.
As I rush down the stairs and away from the Student Support Department, the tears come. Why am I even crying? What Paulette told me is the truth: Judson could be a murderer, and murderers are dangerous. Any normal person would think that. Whatever Oliver Banes might have done, it does not justify his death. And yet, here I am, feeling as though I have to defend
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