Page 526 of Lessons in Cruelty

“Deputy.”

I briefly squeeze my eyes closed.

How can I forget when you keep fucking correcting me?

“Any idea what happened to her foot?”

“None whatsoever. Now, I’m sure you have more important work to get to than⁠—“

“Oh, this is important.” He glances behind him, dismissing the crime scene tape dangling from Haven’s bedroom door with a flick of his eyes. “Not this.”

Ice percolates through my veins.

“Not this?” I ask lightly.

Thatcher shakes his head, mouth turning down at the edges. “There’s a boy in serious condition over at Agony Memorial.”

Ezra.

It’s been months since I’ve so much as greeted Kai’s brother. It’s never a good idea to draw attention to yourself or the student you used to fuck when you’re trying to stay in the dean’s good graces.

Thatcher is watching me intently, but he needn’t have bothered. I’m making sure my face is as blank as the next page in his notebook.

“Ezra Jordan.” I nod, then shake my head too, sighing. “Yes, that was…that was an unfortunate incident. You say he’s still in bad shape?”

“Heavily sedated, from what I’ve been told. I’ve asked the hospital staff to notify me as soon as he’s well enough to make a statement.”

“Well, let’s hope that’s soon.”

Fuck it, Kai. Like I don’t have enough shit to deal with?

“Do you know either of the Jordan boys?”

I shrug as I plan a path to the least incriminating answer. My hands desperately want to drag through my hair, but I keep them clenched in my pockets.

“They’ve both been students of mine.”

In more ways than one.

“And Kai is currently my TA.” I clear my throat when I hear how strained my voice sounds. “Speaking of which, I have a stack of papers to grade, so if that’s all⁠—“

“I realize you’re busy, Professor. I’ll be as brief as possible,” Thatcher says, not lifting his eyes from his notebook filled with lines of cramped handwriting. He seems to have found whatever evidence he was looking for, smiling grimly as he lifts his head. “Let’s discuss Haven.”

My stomach twists. “What about her?”

There’s a beat of silence, the deputy watching me with unreadable eyes as I glare back at him. When I realize what I’m doing, I have to force my face to relax.

“What exactly is your relationship to her?”

“I just told you, she’s a student of mine.” I speak slowly and carefully, like I’m not sure if Thatcher understood what I said the first time round.

Thatcher nods, grim smile growing tighter as he completely ignores my insinuation that he’s an idiot, and instead encourages me to elaborate.

Fucker.

My lips are dry as chalk, but I don’t dare lick them. Why am I here to see my student Haven?

Overdue assignment?