Grey Dawn by Clea Simon

manuscript and her most recent article. What she was focusing on, however, was entirely different – and entirely silent. Professor Lukos had gone white and was staring, mouth open, at her. As if he had seen a ghost.
    â€˜But you … You’re …’ The speaker who had enthralled hundreds less than forty minutes earlier now seemed incapable of finishing a sentence.
    â€˜Dead? I think not.’ Dulcie pulled herself up to her full five-foot-four inches, and stared at the academic. ‘No thanks to—’
    â€˜Dulcie.’ Nancy broke in. ‘Are you feeling well? Perhaps you should sit down.’
    â€˜No, I’m fine.’ Dulcie kept staring at Lukos, but he’d recovered.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Miss … Ms Schwartz, is it?’ He had the temerity to smile at her, but she kept her eyes on his, avoiding even thinking about those big, white teeth. ‘You must have confused me with someone else. I know, I thought you were—’
    â€˜Mina Love, I know.’ Something was off here. He should be more unnerved.
    â€˜Yes, that’s it. Ms Love. Are you her sister?’ He seemed genuinely interested and not at all concerned.
    â€˜No, I’m not.’ Dulcie felt herself growing bolder. ‘I do know that you were one of the last people to speak to her last night.’
    â€˜Oh, that.’ He started to turn away. ‘Ms Shelby?’ Nancy straightened up.
    â€˜Oh
that?’
Dulcie moved between them. ‘A woman is attacked – is seriously injured, and that’s how you respond?’
    Lukos turned. Behind him, Dulcie could see Nancy, gesturing furiously, but she wasn’t going to be stopped now. She looked up at the visiting scholar, trying not to notice how his teeth gleamed. He was, she realized with horror, smiling.
    â€˜I am so sorry, Ms Schwartz.’ His voice had grown soft, and colder somehow. ‘Obviously, you are one of those young women who dislike the idea of socializing between the sexes. You are also, undoubtedly, misinformed.’ He paused. Dulcie saw Nancy, behind him, sink onto her desk.
    â€˜Yes, I met your
friend
, Mina, last night. Mina Love, such a charming name, despite her most unaffectionate attitude. But, no, I was not the last person to see her, since quite clearly whoever attacked her must have seen her. I was not that person. I spent the remainder of the evening in the very pleasant company of two of your more
welcoming
colleagues. As I have already explained to the police.’ The smile, and its accompanying charm, were gone. ‘Now, if you don’t mind.’ He turned away so quickly, the coat – still draped over his arm – slapped Dulcie’s face. It couldn’t have been intentional, but she stepped back as if it were, right into the arms of her friend.
    â€˜Yikes.’ Lloyd righted her as she stumbled. ‘That was intense.’
    â€˜You okay, Dulce?’ He looked concerned. She nodded, afraid to turn back around. ‘Don’t worry, Nancy’s gone after him.’ Her office-mate filled in the gaps. ‘She’ll smooth his feathers.’
    â€˜You heard?’ Suddenly, Dulcie felt foolish. Her friend nodded.
    â€˜It was very brave. And he probably won’t get the job anyway,’ added Lloyd. At that, the magnitude of what she had done – of whom she might have just offended – kicked in, and Dulcie swayed on her feet.
    â€˜Here.’ Trista appeared, handing Dulcie yet another of those tiny glasses. ‘There’s beer, but I know you don’t like beer.’
    â€˜Thanks.’ The warmth was welcome, and Dulcie drank down her dose. ‘But this just means …’ The room, it was turning.
    â€˜Steady there.’ Lloyd had his arm around her. ‘Maybe we should get some air.’
    â€˜I’m ready to blow this popsicle stand anyway,’ said Trista. ‘I don’t think Professor Charming is even going