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But Hunter didn’t move away from Shelby. “You back with me now, sweetheart? You good?”

Not good, but…“I’m with you.” The memories had been shoved back into the depths of her mind. For now.

“Excuse me.”

His head turned. So did hers. Kimber waved at them from the foot of the stairs.

“Sorry to interrupt what is a very poorly timed make-out session, but I have a favor to ask.” Kimber grabbed the banister. Her sharp, red nails gleamed. “Can we not mention that crazy shrine or murder wall or whatever you want to call it to the reporters, at least not just yet? I’m trying to do some damage control on the PR end of things and if word gets out that the vic had a shrine to the Sorority Seven Killer, parents will panic. So will students. I can’t afford panic right now.” Her lips thinned. Her nails tapped on the banister. “This dedication was supposed to be good for the college. It wasn’t supposed to thrust us all back into nightmare land again.” Her gaze flickered toward Shelby. “No offense.”

Shelby’s heart raced far too fast, but her control was back. She was back, back in the present, with Hunter, and not still running through the walls of that blood-soaked house. “I’m not planning to tell any reporters about what we found in Tiffany’s room.” She doubted Jonah would be releasing that news to anyone else for a while. He would want a whole evidence team to come in and examine the space.

“We won’t be releasing it.” Hunter eased down a few steps as he headed toward Kimber. “But in return for our silence, how about a favor?”

Suspicion slid over Kimber’s face. “What kind of favor?”

“We want to talk with Tiffany Blake’s criminal psych professor,” Hunter told her. “Think you can make that happen?”

She toyed with her pearls. “Potentially.”

Shelby followed Hunter down the last of the stairs.

Kimber backed up as she studied Hunter and Shelby. “I do know most of the professors on campus,” she admitted. “But I think I’m going to need more from you than just the promise that you’ll stay quiet on what was…” She pointed upward. “Up there.”

“What do you want?” Hunter demanded bluntly. “Come on, Kimber. Cut the crap and name your price.”

“Her.” Kimber’s pointing finger angled down and extended toward Shelby. “When we finally get around to the dedication happening—because it will not be delayed forever, the college spent a fortune creating that fountain and the surrounding green space—I want Shelby to come and not just attend the event, but I want her to give a speech. A glowing speech about how the college has risen from the ashes of the past and become a beacon of hope for the future.”

Shelby shook her head.

“Do you know how hard it is to handle PR for Murder University? And, yes, that’s what we’re called online.” Kimber stopped pointing. She huffed out a breath. “I already have the speech written, okay? All you have to do is say a few words. It will make a major difference for me and the school. Come on, you must have some good memories of this place? One night shouldn’t wreck the school forever.”

No, one night shouldn’t wreck it forever.

One night wrecked me.

“The majority of our professors are gone for the break. There are no classes, so they won’t be on campus.” Kimber gave a little sniff.

“Not interested in the majority of professors,” Hunter returned. “Just interested in one. Dr. Gabriel Parker. He’s the man we need to interview.”

Kimber’s eyes narrowed.

“He was Tiffany’s criminal psych professor,” Hunter explained, “Checked the class descriptions online first thing this morning—he was the only professor teaching a criminal psychology class this semester.”

“You weren’t the only busy one this morning.” Kimber’s shoulders straightened. “I took the liberty of pulling Tiffany’s schedule first thing this morning. Before speaking to the press, I knew I would need to be informed about her. Looking at her class list seemed like a good first step when it came to her.” A grimace. “Seeing her murder wall was not the second step I anticipated. A very, very unfortunate turn of events.”

“I think her murder was an unfortunate turn of events,” Shelby had to say. “Far worse than the wall in her room.”

Kimber’s tongue swiped over her lower lip. “Of course, I grieve for the loss of student life. Do you think I’m so heartless that I don’t feel sorry for the poor girl? I do. I do. And I’ll give you Dr. Gabriel Parker’s home address if Shelby promises to speak at the dedication for⁠—”

“I can get his address, thanks.” He offered his hand to Shelby.

She realized he did that a lot. Offered, didn’t take.

“The address isn’t what I needed,” Hunter continued to Kimber. “I thought you might be able to convince him to cooperate fully with us, but I can see everything is a bargain with you, so—never mind.” Brisk words from Hunter to the the Public Relations VP even as his hand remained extended for Shelby.

She put her hand in his but… “I’ll speak at the dedication.”

Kimber’s eyes widened. “You will?” Then she lunged forward and hugged Shelby. “Ohmygosh! Thank you!”