Smoke in Mirrors

alumni,” Roberta reminded her. “Most of them never knew Professor Kern, except, perhaps, as an instructor they had at one time. And very few of them were acquainted with his victims.”
    “That’s true, I suppose.”
    “I saw Ed Stovall yesterday,” Roberta continued. “Hetold me that they found a stash of illegal drugs in Rhodes’s cottage and some unusual chemicals. They think he was concocting the stuff right there in his kitchen. Can you believe it?”
    “Unfortunately, yes.”
    Roberta watched the crowd. “The world is a much different place these days. Sometimes I look back on my own college years and I can’t believe how life has changed.”
    “I’ll tell you one thing,” Leonora said. “Your successor is going to find you a very hard act to follow.”
    Roberta glanced around the glowing rooms with a wistful air. “I’ll miss it, you know.”
    “Running Mirror House? Look on the bright side. Just think, no more dealing with crotchety professors. No more having to train new student assistants every quarter. No more soothing difficult alumni who threaten to cut off funds for the endowment if they don’t get their way.”
    “All true. Still, it’s going to seem strange to wake up in the morning next month and realize that I no longer have to come in to the office every day.”
    “I have a hunch that when you wake up that first morning on that beautiful cruise ship bound for all those exotic ports of call, you’ll forget about the office routine very quickly.”
    Roberta chuckled. “You’re right. And there’s another big plus. In my position as retired executive director of Mirror House, I’ll be able to attend the annual alumni reception next year without having to do any of the work ahead of time.”
    “That will be something to look forward to.”
    Roberta looked at Deke and Cassie, who stood a short distance away, talking to a small knot of people.
    “One good thing has come out of all the terrible events of the past few days,” she said. “Deke Walker appears to be a new man.”
    Leonora followed her gaze. Deke had his arm aroundCassie’s waist in an intimate, casually possessive manner. Cassie’s magnificent figure was displayed to advantage in the black dress. Her face was alight with happiness.
    At that moment Deke laughed at something someone in the group had said. Leonora thought back to the first time she had met him, his face grim and haggard in the light thrown off by his computer screen. The transformation in him was even more breathtaking than the one that had occurred in Mirror House.
    “Yes,” she said. “He does look like a new man.”
    “It was getting rid of that dreadful beard that makes the difference,” Roberta said. “He should have done it long ago.”
    Leonora caught Cassie’s eye at that instant. She smiled. “I don’t think it was the beard.”

    Deke looked at Cassie standing in the doorway. She was silhouetted against the seductive glow of the lamp she had left burning in the living room. It occurred to him that he had never seen the inside of her house.
    “Thank you for a wonderful evening,” Cassie said.
    “This is the first time I can honestly say that I actually enjoyed one of those damn alumni receptions.” He hesitated. “We’ll, uh, have to do it again sometime.”
    “Next year,” she said a little too brightly. “Same time, same place. I’ll mark my calendar.”
    “I was thinking of maybe dinner this coming Saturday.”
    “Oh.”
    He waited but she did not say anything else.
    “Can I take that as an affirmative response?” he asked eventually.
    “Oh. Oh, yes. Yes, that would be great. I’ll look forward to it.”

    “Is there something wrong here?” Deke asked. “I’m getting mixed signals.”
    “No, really, I’d love to go out with you on Saturday night.”
    He reached up to stroke his beard in a gesture that had become a habit. When he touched bare skin he winced. He dropped his hand.
    “You’ve been very patient with me, Cassie. Very kind. I feel like I’ve been living in another world for a while. But I’m back.”
    “I’m so glad,” she whispered.
    “I’m okay,” he plowed on. “I don’t need any more acts of charity. Do you understand what I’m trying to say? I don’t want you to go out with me just because you feel sorry for me.”
    “I do want to have dinner with you, Deke, it’s just—” She trailed off.
    Panic hit him. He struggled, trying to figure out how to handle the situation.