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tell you that.”
    Looking after Russell for just a moment he sipped his tonic water
then laid the cup down on the shelf just inside the door. “They
all do,” he said, “you’d be best off keeping a
distance with them,” he offered unsolicited.
    “You’ve said that about every man in my life,”
she chided, clasping her mirror and pushing it away. “Now, are
we going to stay here all night or are you going to be a gentleman
and take me home?”
    Nodding to her without hesitation he took her own coat off the
hanger and helped her get it on, “Sorry,” he said in
apology, as if he should have anticipated her need. “I just
worry for you is all,” he intoned so familiarly.
    “It’s fine, Martin. I know how to handle guys like
him. Come on, this is my third year, it’s not like it’s
new to me,” she slipped her arms through the silken lining of
her winter’s coat. “Now, did Turing seem fine? I’d
rather not have him trying to sabotage my efforts at graduation.”
    With a sigh the young man slipped her coat on and got her scarf
before retrieving his own. “He was stewing about Dr. Russell,
that’s all really,” he said. “The two obviously
don’t like one another,” he offered. “But then none
of them do. That’s the sort of people they are.”
    “That’s the kind of people we love and surround
ourselves with,” she pat his chest before moving and exiting
the room, “besides, it’s so hard to like them. Really
like them, I mean,” she looked at her friend, giving a small
shrug. “They’re so egotistical they barely know how to
interact with others.”
    With his own brown coat on he moved to get the door for her, ready
to guide her along the familiar path to her apartment across the
dark, snowy campus.

Chapter 2
    One Week Later
    The first day of classes was also the last day of the week, which
came as a great relief to many. Though as Eva made her way down the
hall towards her final class of the day—the introduction to her
fourth year psychology class with Dr. Sinclair—she saw the
familiar visage of the smartly dressed man, his coat on and tying his
scarf into place, heading towards the exit rather than away to the
class itself.
    “You lost, young man?” she called out cordially, her
smart pea coat buttoned down to her thighs. It was a royal blue which
perfectly complimented the navy of her skirt, her dark stockings and
calf high, button up boots completing the look. A matching hat was
affixed to her dark hair, and her red lips were obviously freshly
made up.
    His attention caught immediately, he turned towards her and she
saw a flash of recognition, not only for her but her lovely attire,
and the care she went through for her appearance. “Eva,”
he said, smiling as he approached her. “How lovely I got a
chance to see you before class,” he said, so soft spoken and
formal around others.
    “I’m afraid I shall have to miss today’s class,”
he said, some other worry seeming to creep into his handsome,
movie-star good looks. For that’s what he reminded her of, some
strikingly dashing elder gentleman that belonged with his silver hair
upon the silver screen.
    She frowned, looking truly disappointed. There wasn’t any
wryness or cleverness to the look, her brown eyes instantly turning
to one of concern as she stared, “What’s wrong? Surely
you wouldn’t miss the first day for no good reason. It’s
not like you’re a first year professor.”
    With a light laugh he looked to her and gave a comforting smile,
finishing doing up his jacket. “It’s just the
introductory class,” he explained, “but no, I wouldn’t
blow it off for just anything. However,” he hesitated just a
moment, “something’s come up. I have to go home and
resolve something before tonight’s party with Mrs. Sinclair,”
he said, the topic shift perking his interest, “You will be there, won't you?” he asked, and she could make out a little
twinkle of something in his gaze as he tilted his head