only thing I’m enjoying these days.”
“I’m not surprised.”
She sighs, like I’m boring her. And I probably am.
“I mean, lab results, I don’t know what you’re doing as far as that goes. I can see you enjoy your field of study, so the joy you get from teaching seems in line, and the fact that you have no plans for your break pretty much sums up the rest of your social life here on campus.”
I get a scowl from this and that makes me smile because I know she has no plans.
“Do you have something you’d like to discuss with me, Agent?” She stops walking. The rain is dripping down the sides of her black umbrella, and I’m well on my way to soaked. “Because I already told you what I know and I’ve got nothing to add.”
“Well,” I say, lowering my voice to something just above a whisper, “I’ve got some news.” I clear my throat to give her time to react, but she is passive and still. “There’s been some buzz in the Agency that Nick Tate might be planning a trip to the US.”
She shifts from one foot to the next, like she’s anxious to get away from me. “I’m not sure what that has to do with me.”
“I think he’s coming to see you. And quite honestly, I’m worried about it.” I frown to illustrate my concern. “You’re locked up tight in that house of yours, but you walk to school. Maybe you can let me drive you from now on?”
She shakes her head and starts walking again. “No, thank you.”
I walk alongside her until we get to the corner and have to cross the street. We let a car pass and then step off the curb together. “I’d make it worth your while.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She walks faster now. School is only two blocks away, and we’re not very far from the museum where she has her tiny grad school office. I glance over my shoulder and see one of the students Madrid has placed on Sasha, and give him a nod. He drops back into a crowd of girls and lets them pass.
I only have a few minutes to make my move. “I’ve just noticed you’re not very social. No boyfriend, no dates, not even a girls’ night out. Nothing on your calendar the entire semester. And I get it. You’re not one of those pretty, popular girls—”
“Excuse me?” She huffs out a laugh.
“—so I thought you could use a date.”
Now she lets off a guffaw. “Wow, that was a pretty pathetic way to ask a girl on a date. And even though I might appear hard up and undesirable, I’m going to have to pass on that.”
I take her arm, gently, not wanting to startle her. Something tells me a startled Sasha is a bad thing. I lean into her space. She smells like shampoo and flowers. “Miss Aston, I’m not saying you’re undesirable at all. I’m just saying you could use a night off.”
She looks down at my hand on her arm and I remove it, but when her blue eyes meet mine, I feel a little wave of apprehension. “I said no, thank you.”
She starts walking again. I let her get a few paces ahead, so she can wonder if I will pursue, and once she shoots that glance over her shoulder I jog a little to catch up. “OK,” I say calmly. “But everyone needs to have some fun, Sasha. And I’ve been on this boring job for months. I’d like to have some fun.”
“Agents don’t have fun with suspects.” She laughs.
I like the sound of that laugh. It was real and this girl is so serious. I had started wondering how deep her unhappiness runs. “I told you months ago, you’re not a suspect. We just want to work with you.”
“Agents don’t have fun with prospective agents, either.”
“Since when?” I chuckle.
“So date Madrid if you need to get laid. I’ll let her spies know that you’re interested. She’s pretty, but I doubt she’s getting much action the way she’s all over me.”
“Madrid isn’t even in town.” She is, but she’s behind the scenes. Only watching from remote locations. “Besides, she’s not my type.”
“So what’s your type?”
“Ah, I knew you were interested.” I take her arm and wrap it in mine as we walk. She tries to pull away, but it’s a half-hearted attempt at best. So I grab hold with my other hand. “Madrid is all sorts of