Page 44 of Make No Mistake

Twelve

I woke up to knocking.When I opened my eyes, it took me several seconds to remember where I was. Aubrey was missing. I looked around the room but didn’t have any clues of where she had gone.

The knocking continued, so I rolled over and slid out of bed. Jay greeted me with a bagel and a smile.

“Good morning.” He handed me the bagel and stepped past me into the room where he grabbed my phone, bag, and shoes. Once he was back to the door, he put his hand on my back and led me through the house and out to his car.

The entire time, I held my bagel and wondered what was going on.

“Eat. We don’t have much time. I’ll take you by your place to change clothes, but you don’t have time to shower, sorry.”

I looked down at the toasted cinnamon sugar bagel with cream cheese and shrugged. I took a bite while he drove.

“You obviously didn’t wake up when Mr. Jowett texted you.”

I shook my head since my mouth was full.

He laughed. “You’re adorable when you wake up.”

Had it been any other time, I would have argued with him, but I was still too out of it to care. Before I’d finished my breakfast, he was parking in front of my building. He took the bagel from me and opened his door. I watched him rush around and open mine, wondering why he’d taken it from me.

“Out. Come on, we don’t have much time.”

I scowled at him but followed his orders.

I unlocked the door and headed directly to my room. Apparently I didn’t have time to shower, so I changed clothes and washed my face before meeting him back in the living room. If I was being forced awake at—the clock read six a.m. Gross—people were going to have to deal with looking at me barefaced.

Once we were back in his car, he handed me back my bagel and smiled. “You’re still not awake?”

I took another bite and shook my head.

“Aubrey was up at five, and I drove her back. That’s when I got the text for the emergency meeting.”

I nodded and chewed. At least I knew Aubrey was okay.

He parked in a suspiciously close space to the lab and we got out. There wasn’t a chance I could have ever claimed that one, but it was still early. Maybe he had a special spot since he was the editor-in-chief.

There were about ten others gathered in the lab. I waved to Mallory and Lennon before sitting at a table behind them.

Mallory turned to me with a tired smile. “I’m surprised you made it.”

“She didn’t want to. It’s been a struggle to get her to move this morning. It’s like watching a sloth hurry.”

Mallory’s eyebrows shot up. “You were together?”

I started to protest, but Jay was first. “We went to dinner last night with her cousin and her boyfriend. When we got back to their apartment, the cops were there. She couldn’t get into her apartment since the cops were still searching the area, so she and Aubrey stayed at my house.”

Mallory nodded, but I could see a glimmer of something else in her eye. I knew she would demand more answers later. I realized then that Lennon had turned in his seat slightly and had been listening to us.

“Did you guys already hear about the attack?” It was the first time I’d spoken this morning, and it was the only thing on my mind.

“Another one? I thought they’d arrested him.” Mallory looked concerned.

Lennon just nodded. “Yeah, I bet that’s why we’re here.”

Jay and I agreed, and Mr. Jowett stood at the front of the group.

“I’m not sure how many of you have heard, but there was another attack on a student last night. Another female following the same pattern as the last two. It seemed that the person they arrested was not the correct suspect.” His eyes met mine for a moment before continuing. “It seems that this is no longer a fluke. Someone is attacking women on campus.”