Torn - Cynthia Eden Page 0,18
your relationship with Kennedy?”
The doctor blinked. He had green eyes—a light, almost icy shade. “I was her advisor. I helped her pick her classes each semester and I guided her research.” His stare became a bit distant. “She had enormous potential.” He rose from his chair and moved to a framed photograph on the wall. “She was our student of the year,” he said as he tapped the frame with his knuckles. “Such potential,” he murmured.
Victoria’s eyes narrowed as she rose and moved closer to the photograph. It depicted Dr. North handing Kennedy Lane a plaque. She had a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
So did Dr. North.
“You two were close,” Victoria said as her gaze cut toward him.
One of his shoulders lifted and fell in a careless shrug. “I suppose we were.”
She didn’t think there was any “suppose” about it. The doctor was tall, fit, maybe in his late thirties or early forties. He was also attractive, in a somewhat cold, hard way.
His blond hair was cut very precisely, falling away from his high forehead. His suit was top-of-the-line and his shoes gleamed as if they’d been freshly polished.
He felt like old money. Power. But there was something else about him . . .
“Are you close with all your students?” Wade asked. He hadn’t moved from his position on the couch. He still looked way too comfortable. Way too casual.
She knew his pose was a lie.
“I try to be,” Dr. North said as he headed back around his desk. He didn’t sit, though. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, “I want to guide them. Help them.”
“And you . . . helped . . . Kennedy?” Wade studied him with a neutral expression.
“Kennedy needed very little help. She was incredibly driven. She was going places. I’d written her a letter of recommendation for graduate school just before—” He broke off. “Well, before she went missing.” Then he shook his head. “I don’t understand . . . why are you all looking for Kennedy now?” And he reached forward, picking up the card that Wade had handed him when they first entered his office. It was a card Dr. North had only given a cursory glance before placing it on his desk earlier. “Last Option Search Team?” He peered over at Wade. “That’s what your questions are about? You’re still searching for her? After all this time?”
“We’ve been hired to look into her disappearance.” Wade rose to his feet and closed in on his prey. “As I said when I arrived, Dr. Palmer and I have just a few questions.”
“About Kennedy . . .” Dr. North said.
“Actually . . .” Wade smiled at him. It wasn’t an overly friendly smile. “Our questions are about you and Kennedy.”
The other man blinked. He even took a step back.
Victoria eyed him with more interest. She really enjoyed watching Wade work.
“Were you intimately involved with Kennedy Lane?” Wade queried.
“I . . . I was her advisor!”
“Were you sleeping with her?”
Dr. North sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t have to answer that question.”
“Well, that kind of is an answer.” Wade ran his fingers over the edge of the desk. “You say her name like it’s some kind of caress. You keep her picture on your wall—”
“Because she won a prestigious award from the school!”
“Psychology student of the year. I got that.” Wade glanced toward the wall. “So why aren’t any other winners up there? Why just her? I mean, surely, in five years, there have been other winners.”
Dr. North didn’t answer.
“I’ll tell you why . . .” Wade said with an inclination of his head. “Because you were involved with her. I think you were lovers.”
Dr. North didn’t flush. Instead, he went almost deathly pale.
“You were,” Wade pushed. “Weren’t you?”
Well, well, Wade certainly worked fast. In town for just a few hours, and he already knew the identity of Kennedy’s secret lover.
Victoria had to admit it, she was impressed. Wade was good. So good that she thought she might learn a few things from his interview techniques. So this is what fieldwork is really like.
“One time,” Dr. North finally rasped. “We slept together once.”
Wade shook his head, and she could see the disgust on his face. “You never mentioned that fact to the cops, did you? You kept it secret.”
“I would have lost my job! I’m not supposed to have a sexual relationship with a student! I had to keep silent, I—”
“You didn’t want to look guilty,” Wade charged. “That’s why