Rearview by Mike Dellosso Read Free Book Online Page B

girl’s voice came from inside the room. “Door’s open.”
    Dan Blakely was not confrontational by nature. Rather, he preferred to keep the peace whenever possible. Only when poked and prodded, when pushed to the point of anger and then some, would he confront head-on. Normally he opted to sidestep opposition and find an alternative route.
    This was not one of those times. With sweaty hands and his heart in his throat, he turned the knob and pushed open the door. From the doorway, Dan could see only half of the dimly lit room, one bed, and a cluttered desk. The walls were nearly covered with posters of music and movie stars and half-dressed men. Warm air wafted out, carrying a flowery aroma, but neither Erin nor her roommate, Rachel Fissel, were in view.
    Dan stood at the threshold and forced himself to swallow. “Hello?”
    â€œYeah, come on—” Rachel stepped out from around the corner, looked at Dan, and said, “Oh.” She glanced toward the bathroom. “Erin, it’s, uh, for you.”
    Erin came out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her head. She wore tight jeans and a thick wool sweater. “What . . . ?” When she saw Dan, her eyes widened and the color drained from her face. A faded, blue-green bruise darkened her right eye and another shadowed the corner of her mouth.
    Composing herself as one might when pleading the Fifth Amendment at the advice of her attorney, she clamped her lips tight and set her jaw.
    â€œWe need to talk, Erin.”
    â€œI don’t have anything to say to you.” She tried to shut the door on him, but he held it open with his hand.
    â€œNo,” Dan said, panic now climbing into his chest. “You need to listen to me. Please, you can’t do this.”
    â€œI have nothing to say to you.” She tried again to shut the door, but this time he stepped forward and blocked it with his foot.
    â€œGet out,” she hollered. Rachel backed up a few steps. In the hallway a couple students stopped to gawk, mumbled among themselves, then kept moving.
    Dan shoved his way into the room. “Erin, listen—”
    â€œCall the cops, Rachel.” She kept her eyes on Dan as she spoke.
    To Rachel, Dan said, “No. Don’t do it. I’m not here for trouble. Just to talk.”
    He raised both hands, palms out, and said to Erin, “Listen to me. Think about what you’re doing.” He spoke fast, running his words together. He didn’t have much time and had to say what he’d come to say before this unwanted confrontation attracted too much attention. “Think about how it affects everyone. My wife, my two little boys, Jack and Murphy—you’ve met them.” Dan had brought the boys to class a couple times and Erin in particular had shown them special attention.
    Erin crossed her arms and dropped her eyes to the floor.
    Dan lowered his voice. “Please, Erin. You have to take it back. Come clean. Do the right thing here. You have no idea the damage you’re causing.”
    She lifted her head and glared at him. “The damage I’m causing? What about the damage you’ve caused already?”
    He knew she was referring to his decision to give her a failing grade for the semester. It was school policy for anyone caught cheating, written in stone, had been for nearly two centuries. Daniel Boone was no cheater and it would not be tolerated in his namesake school. “You cheated, Erin. You know you did. And you know the policy. You sign off on it at the beginning of every year. This is bigger than just you. Take responsibility for your actions. Think of someone beside yourself.”
    â€œI want you out of my room or I’ll call the police myself.”
    More students had gathered in the hallway. Their murmuring and whispering grew louder as if they anticipated a WWE event to spontaneously break out. Dan had to get out of there soon. He knew nothing of