He told himself he might need the annual later to look up pictures of students, but in his heart he knew there was only one picture in it that interested him.
SEVEN
D anielle looked down at the steak on her plate, laid her fork aside and glanced at the customers in the restaurant. Soft conversation drifted from the young couple seated next to them. She smiled at the looks the two directed at each other. You could always tell when two people were in love—they seemed more interested in each other than the food.
Across the table Nathan pointed to her plate. “Aren’t you hungry, Danielle?”
She sighed. “I suppose I got too interested in studying the customers. I love this restaurant, Nathan. Thanks for bringing me here tonight.”
He pushed his plate back and leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “I should be thanking you. It’s been a nerve-racking week, and I couldn’t stand to think about eating alone tonight. Thanks for joining me.”
In the three years since she’d been back at Webster, she and Nathan had often gone to dinner. Usually they discussed school business, but when he’d asked her today, the sad expression on his face told her he needed company. She’d agreed to dinner in the hopes of helping a friend.
In her heart, though, she knew there was another reason. One she couldn’t understand. She missed Jack Denton, butin the week since their conversation in Tricia’s room he’d made no effort to contact her. Now she sat with another man who’d been her friend for years.
She reached across the table and covered Nathan’s hand with hers. “I know it was difficult, but you did a great job of addressing the student body and faculty when we resumed classes on Monday. Your words comforted all of us and got everybody back on course.”
He smiled. “I hope so. I didn’t know if I could hold up. This horrible situation is a nightmare.”
Danielle nodded. “I know. I’m sorry it’s presented you with so many problems. I’m here to help you any way I can.”
He smiled, but sadness showed in his eyes. “Maybe tonight has helped you, too. You’ve stayed to yourself too much since you’ve been back, Danielle. You need to get out more. You have to face Stan’s death and get on with your life.”
Jack’s face flashed into her mind, but she pushed it away. She drew her hand back and picked up her coffee cup. “I don’t suppose I’ll be getting out much until after Christmas. The fundraiser is going to take up most of my time.”
“I know. I really appreciate you taking that job.” He smiled. “You know I’ve always told you that you do a better job than any previous Dean of Students we’ve ever had.”
Danielle laughed and waved her hand in dismissal. “No need to butter me up now. I’ve already agreed to help with the fundraiser.”
The waitress stepped up to the table and pointed to Danielle’s plate. “Would you like for me to get that out of your way?” When she’d picked up the dish, she smiled down at Nathan. “Would you care for dessert? Our crème brûlée is very good tonight.”
Nathan looked at Danielle. “Want some?”
She shook her head. “Just coffee, thanks.”
The waitress returned with a coffeepot and poured some in their cups. As Danielle took her first sip, Nathan spoke again. “Detective Denton came by to see me today.”
Danielle gulped and tried to keep from choking. “H-he did? Did he have any news about the investigation?”
“No. He said they haven’t heard from the lab reports on Tricia yet. When they do, they may know more.”
“Why would it take so long for the medical report to come back?”
“I asked him that, too. He just laughed, or rather grunted I guess you could call it, and said we weren’t dealing with a television show that gets its medical results in hours. The Webster Falls Sheriff’s Department has to rely on the state lab, and they stay so backed up it could be weeks before they know anything.”
Danielle traced
SEVEN
D anielle looked down at the steak on her plate, laid her fork aside and glanced at the customers in the restaurant. Soft conversation drifted from the young couple seated next to them. She smiled at the looks the two directed at each other. You could always tell when two people were in love—they seemed more interested in each other than the food.
Across the table Nathan pointed to her plate. “Aren’t you hungry, Danielle?”
She sighed. “I suppose I got too interested in studying the customers. I love this restaurant, Nathan. Thanks for bringing me here tonight.”
He pushed his plate back and leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “I should be thanking you. It’s been a nerve-racking week, and I couldn’t stand to think about eating alone tonight. Thanks for joining me.”
In the three years since she’d been back at Webster, she and Nathan had often gone to dinner. Usually they discussed school business, but when he’d asked her today, the sad expression on his face told her he needed company. She’d agreed to dinner in the hopes of helping a friend.
In her heart, though, she knew there was another reason. One she couldn’t understand. She missed Jack Denton, butin the week since their conversation in Tricia’s room he’d made no effort to contact her. Now she sat with another man who’d been her friend for years.
She reached across the table and covered Nathan’s hand with hers. “I know it was difficult, but you did a great job of addressing the student body and faculty when we resumed classes on Monday. Your words comforted all of us and got everybody back on course.”
He smiled. “I hope so. I didn’t know if I could hold up. This horrible situation is a nightmare.”
Danielle nodded. “I know. I’m sorry it’s presented you with so many problems. I’m here to help you any way I can.”
He smiled, but sadness showed in his eyes. “Maybe tonight has helped you, too. You’ve stayed to yourself too much since you’ve been back, Danielle. You need to get out more. You have to face Stan’s death and get on with your life.”
Jack’s face flashed into her mind, but she pushed it away. She drew her hand back and picked up her coffee cup. “I don’t suppose I’ll be getting out much until after Christmas. The fundraiser is going to take up most of my time.”
“I know. I really appreciate you taking that job.” He smiled. “You know I’ve always told you that you do a better job than any previous Dean of Students we’ve ever had.”
Danielle laughed and waved her hand in dismissal. “No need to butter me up now. I’ve already agreed to help with the fundraiser.”
The waitress stepped up to the table and pointed to Danielle’s plate. “Would you like for me to get that out of your way?” When she’d picked up the dish, she smiled down at Nathan. “Would you care for dessert? Our crème brûlée is very good tonight.”
Nathan looked at Danielle. “Want some?”
She shook her head. “Just coffee, thanks.”
The waitress returned with a coffeepot and poured some in their cups. As Danielle took her first sip, Nathan spoke again. “Detective Denton came by to see me today.”
Danielle gulped and tried to keep from choking. “H-he did? Did he have any news about the investigation?”
“No. He said they haven’t heard from the lab reports on Tricia yet. When they do, they may know more.”
“Why would it take so long for the medical report to come back?”
“I asked him that, too. He just laughed, or rather grunted I guess you could call it, and said we weren’t dealing with a television show that gets its medical results in hours. The Webster Falls Sheriff’s Department has to rely on the state lab, and they stay so backed up it could be weeks before they know anything.”
Danielle traced
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