The Devil Makes Three by Julie Mangan Read Free Book Online Page A

swore and jumped down, letting the shelf rock back into position.
    Without bothering to wait for library authorities to find me, I snagged the book and my bag from the mess on the floor and darted down the aisle. As I hurried away I flipped it open. Automatically, it went to the center where a light brown envelope – sealed – lay, folded. Taking the envelope out, I stuffed the book on a random shelf and continued out of the section.
    I stopped only when I ran smack into somebody.
    “Oh, sorry,” I said then looked up to find myself face to face with Professor Collin Cade. At least I thought it was the professor. He wore a Polo shirt, which sort of gave it away. The man could have made a living as a model for Ralph Lauren, Polo or even Armani if he chose. No woman would have objected to anything he suggested. At least not one in her right mind.
    “Oh. Hello. Sorry about that,” he said with slightly raised eyebrows. “But I do believe running is off limits in buildings, unless you’re on the track.”
    “Trying to make it to class on time.” I held the envelope up to my chest, wondering if I was wrong about the identity of the man before me, and if he intended to take it from me.
    He stepped aside, making way for me in the aisle. “By all means, don’t let me hold you back.”
    “Thanks. And sorry again.” I licked my lips and edged past him, stuffing the envelope in my pocket.
    He smelled like heaven.
    And was probably crazier than anybody currently residing in the Jamestown Mental Health Facility.
    #
    I made it to class on time, but with only moments to spare. The professor had already arrived, set up for the lecture, and handed out the syllabus. I had to fetch one from his desk before planting myself in a random chair, forgetting about searching for an outlet. It didn’t matter anyway. I wasn’t about to focus on anything he said. Instead, I couldn’t help but wonder what I had gotten myself into. It seemed obvious that Corbin did not care for the other two, alternate personalities or not. Or perhaps I assumed wrong. Perhaps they really were separate people. But what were the odds of triplets falling into my life at basically the same time? Pretty slim, I would bet. This brought an uncomfortable clench to my stomach. If this psycho paraded around as three people, claiming to be a different third of a triplet set at the drop of a hat, what had gone wrong in his head? And why did he decide to focus his attention on me?
    I’m not that hot, I thought.
    Without a possible explanation as to the reasons for the crazy’s attentions, I found myself drawn back to the stacks after class. Slowly I made my way back to the proper section and aisle. Three library employees worked at the shelf, replacing the books one by one in their proper order, and talking amongst themselves about the idiocy of their fellow students. Cringing, I slunk away, trying to ignore the slurs against my intelligence but not quite feeling they were entirely misplaced.
    All that mess, just for some stupid envelope.
    Stopping mid-step, I considered the offending object for the first time since I had snagged it. Turning from the stacks I made my way to a table that felt inconspicuous, but not obviously so. The only reason people used the tables in the back of the stacks was to sleep, pass drugs or make-out. Instead, I picked an empty table by the circulation desk.
    Twenty feet away, two bored university employees tinkered on Facebook. On my other side a group of girls gossiped about nothing I cared about. Neither group noticed me and I slipped my laptop out of my bag and booted up. I placed the envelope on top of the keys and examined it.
    It was a plain brown envelope the size of a letter with a crease running down the middle. From the size of it, I would say it contained only a sheet of paper or two. No writing graced either side and the envelope seemed slightly discolored where someone had licked the seal. I figured the sealer had used a sponge