Free The Devil Makes Three by Julie Mangan Page A

and blush at the same time, I turned back to the book. “Is there a specific aspect you wanted me to focus on, or just white-collar crime in general?”
    “You could focus on the effects of white-collar crime, or since you’re a history major perhaps you’d enjoy the development of the crime over the last century.”
    “The subject sounds a little dry. I prefer more spice.”
    “Yes. But I would prefer not to read 30 papers on serial killing. It gets a little old.”
    I glanced at him and noticed he averted his gaze to the book to avoid my eyes. Perhaps it was pride. Perhaps insanity. But perhaps I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed these little encounters. Talking with Professor Collin was much more pleasant than speaking with Corbin. Our conversations had no underlying threat of exposure or violence.
    He glanced back, and I kept my eyes intent on his face, refusing to turn away first. So he did it again, turning to the bookshelf. The silence that hovered over us was thick and tense, escalating the impression of contained energy and emotion.
    As he studied the shelf I considered the man before me. He obviously had legitimate credentials since he had classes and an office. He was a genuine professor, albeit a very young one and probably a very crazy one. Certainty abounded that he would not get himself involved in something that would damage his career. To have gotten so far so early in life he had to be smart, and smart people didn’t make moves that would negate their previous work.
    Like pursue romantic episodes with their students when it went directly against the university code of conduct.
    “So…” I picked up another book at random and turned it towards him. “I was thinking about this one.”
    He took the book and read the title with skepticism. “The criminal mind and the Occult?”
    “It was just a thought.”
    “I’m thinking you’ll have difficulty finding enough to fill your paper. At least enough reputable information. The internet is packed with junk on the topic. And of course, it will always lead you back to--”
    “Son of Sam?”
    “Exactly, and others like him.”
    “White-collar crime it is then.”
    He smiled and rose to his feet, holding out a hand to help me up. His skin felt soft and warm to the touch.
    “Use the bibliography in the back of the book to point you to others. You should have no trouble getting your 20 pages.”
    “Thanks. It’s one less thing I have to worry about now.”
    “When you get your thesis and introduction written give it to me and I’ll be happy to give you suggestions.”
    “Okay.”
    We stood there in silence for a moment which was broken by a sentence I couldn’t believe escaped me.
    “Do you act like this with all your students?”
    He blinked once and stepped back, smiling a sort of half grimace. “Oh, well I try to be helpful. I remember what it’s like to have a bunch of classes and every professor thinking theirs the most important. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
    “I didn’t say that, Collin,” I said, trying to ease his tension. If he felt a bit more interest than professionally accepted between professor and student, I didn’t want to scare him off. After all, I’d certainly dated less worthy candidates.
    With shock I realized what I’d decided. I’d decided I wouldn’t rebuff him if he tried to pursue something. But hooking up with professors was not my style. Of course, usually my professors were either female or old and wrinkly, not to mention sane, and they were less than interested in me as a person, let alone as a woman. On the flip side, my fellow students had the same chance at getting my attention as I had of getting a professor’s attention. I found people my own age vapid, spastic and totally random.
    He fit neither of these categories.
    A couple of students wandering into the main aisle woke me from my considerations and seemed to do the same to him. Taking a deep breath I held up the book. “I better go