policy. Even Sherlock would be forced to comply.”
“What would Sherlock Holmes be without his pipe?”
“A bland do-gooder just like the rest of them. But you know how it is in institutions, Tyler. Rules are effing rules.”
CHAPTER 10
A S SOON AS McAdams heard the car pull into the driveway, he came out of the house and waited on the porch. It was a little past two in the afternoon and his studying had been slow going since he had returned from lunch and spoke to Decker about Mallon Euler. He wasn’t sure why he had such an uneasy feeling. Part of it was suspicion, but he was savvy enough to realize that part of it was attraction. It had been a while since he had felt soft lips and vulnerability. The women he knew in university were identical to the men: smart and all about the competition. He had nothing to offer any of them other than his sarcasm and snobbery, which was guaranteed to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Rina got out of the Porsche and waved. Tyler waved back. “What ho, as Bertie Wooster would say.”
“What ho right back at you.” Rina bounded up to the front door. “Where is Jeeves when you need him?”
“Sure be nice to have someone bring me tea and solve my problems.” McAdams shook his head. “I am wondering about the wisdom of my coming down here.”
Decker walked up to the porch. “Yeah, let’s talk about that.” He threw his arm around the kid and the three of them went inside the house. “You need to go back to Boston, put some distance between you and the girl.”
“If she’s determined, she can still contact me.”
“If she’s rational, she’ll know it’d be inappropriate. I am concerned about stalking.”
“She’s not … I didn’t get that feeling. But I’m not too good at reading people.”
Rina gave Decker her jacket. “You can hang this up while I make coffee.”
“Fair division of labor.” Decker turned back to McAdams. “She already has a thing for you from the past. Just go back up and finish out your term.”
“I should have told her no—or that I have a girlfriend or I’m gay. Anything except to agree to go out with her.” He hit his head. “What was I thinking?”
Rina said, “She threw you a curve ball.”
“She seemed so uninterested yesterday.”
“You do realize that she was talking to us in a tank top and shorts,” Decker said. “She made no move to change into something more suitable considering we were the police.”
“Yeah, I should have picked up on that. Damn those women and their wily ways.”
Rina said, “I’m going to fix myself a snack. Anyone hungry?”
“You know I’ll eat whatever you bring out,” Decker said. “I’m hopeless.”
“I’ll fix something healthy.”
“Not too healthy.”
“I’ve got some leftover cookies.”
“Who doesn’t like cookies and coffee?” McAdams said.
“And there lies the problem.” Decker patted his belly.
“I’ll be back in five. You can start without me, but then you’ll have to fill me in.”
“Will do.” Decker turned to McAdams. “Reception wasn’t great, Tyler. Tell me what happened again.”
He recapped the conversation. “When she asked me out, I should have just said no. What I told her is that when I’m done with finals and the case is resolved, I’d go out with her. And then she kissed me. Twice.”
“And you don’t think she’s a stalker?”
“I think she’s way more interested in the hidden papers. She thinks it’s her research and she doesn’t want it getting in the wrong hands. Plus, if I go back, I’d feel like I’m escaping something I should be able to deal with.”
“Tyler, you’re not even supposed to be here. The case is getting in your way.”
“No, it’s not.” When Decker gave him a look, McAdams said, “Okay, it is. I’ve spent the last half hour trying to trace her from Exeter to Kneed Loft. It seems she left high school after two years.”
“And?”
“I don’t know. Could be she started college early.
“What would Sherlock Holmes be without his pipe?”
“A bland do-gooder just like the rest of them. But you know how it is in institutions, Tyler. Rules are effing rules.”
CHAPTER 10
A S SOON AS McAdams heard the car pull into the driveway, he came out of the house and waited on the porch. It was a little past two in the afternoon and his studying had been slow going since he had returned from lunch and spoke to Decker about Mallon Euler. He wasn’t sure why he had such an uneasy feeling. Part of it was suspicion, but he was savvy enough to realize that part of it was attraction. It had been a while since he had felt soft lips and vulnerability. The women he knew in university were identical to the men: smart and all about the competition. He had nothing to offer any of them other than his sarcasm and snobbery, which was guaranteed to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Rina got out of the Porsche and waved. Tyler waved back. “What ho, as Bertie Wooster would say.”
“What ho right back at you.” Rina bounded up to the front door. “Where is Jeeves when you need him?”
“Sure be nice to have someone bring me tea and solve my problems.” McAdams shook his head. “I am wondering about the wisdom of my coming down here.”
Decker walked up to the porch. “Yeah, let’s talk about that.” He threw his arm around the kid and the three of them went inside the house. “You need to go back to Boston, put some distance between you and the girl.”
“If she’s determined, she can still contact me.”
“If she’s rational, she’ll know it’d be inappropriate. I am concerned about stalking.”
“She’s not … I didn’t get that feeling. But I’m not too good at reading people.”
Rina gave Decker her jacket. “You can hang this up while I make coffee.”
“Fair division of labor.” Decker turned back to McAdams. “She already has a thing for you from the past. Just go back up and finish out your term.”
“I should have told her no—or that I have a girlfriend or I’m gay. Anything except to agree to go out with her.” He hit his head. “What was I thinking?”
Rina said, “She threw you a curve ball.”
“She seemed so uninterested yesterday.”
“You do realize that she was talking to us in a tank top and shorts,” Decker said. “She made no move to change into something more suitable considering we were the police.”
“Yeah, I should have picked up on that. Damn those women and their wily ways.”
Rina said, “I’m going to fix myself a snack. Anyone hungry?”
“You know I’ll eat whatever you bring out,” Decker said. “I’m hopeless.”
“I’ll fix something healthy.”
“Not too healthy.”
“I’ve got some leftover cookies.”
“Who doesn’t like cookies and coffee?” McAdams said.
“And there lies the problem.” Decker patted his belly.
“I’ll be back in five. You can start without me, but then you’ll have to fill me in.”
“Will do.” Decker turned to McAdams. “Reception wasn’t great, Tyler. Tell me what happened again.”
He recapped the conversation. “When she asked me out, I should have just said no. What I told her is that when I’m done with finals and the case is resolved, I’d go out with her. And then she kissed me. Twice.”
“And you don’t think she’s a stalker?”
“I think she’s way more interested in the hidden papers. She thinks it’s her research and she doesn’t want it getting in the wrong hands. Plus, if I go back, I’d feel like I’m escaping something I should be able to deal with.”
“Tyler, you’re not even supposed to be here. The case is getting in your way.”
“No, it’s not.” When Decker gave him a look, McAdams said, “Okay, it is. I’ve spent the last half hour trying to trace her from Exeter to Kneed Loft. It seems she left high school after two years.”
“And?”
“I don’t know. Could be she started college early.
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