True Grey by Clea Simon Read Free Book Online Page A

meeting the mysterious scholar was a real possibility, Dulcie felt a little twinge of nerves.
    The look on Lloyd’s face – a grimace of discomfort as he shook his head – didn’t help. ‘There’s the catch, Dulce.’
    Dulcie held her breath. She’d have to sneak in. Dress as a bartender.
Be
a bartender. But Lloyd kept talking. ‘You see, there’s a little bit of weirdness you should know about.’
    â€˜More than I’m already dealing with?’ Lloyd nodded. ‘Shoot,’ she said.
    â€˜Turns out this Melinda Sloane Harquist is not a complete stranger to the university. Or to Dardley House.’
    â€˜Oh?’ Dulcie couldn’t read Lloyd’s face.
    â€˜Melinda Sloane Harquist – better known as plain old Mellie Harquist – did a term as an exchange student, back when she was an undergrad at Ellery.’ He was watching her, so Dulcie thought back.
    â€˜The name sounds vaguely familiar.’ She remembered a lot of dark, curly hair, and a lot of fuss at mixers.
    â€˜They called her “Mellie Heartless” then,’ Lloyd offered.
    â€˜Oh, yeah.’ Dulcie remembered now. ‘Every guy was crazy for her. She was the It Girl of Comp Lit.’ At the time, Dulcie had been suffering from an unrequited crush on a junior who rowed crew – one of the many who had fallen for Mellie. In retrospect, the pain was gone – but not the sense of awe.
    â€˜That was her, but I bet you don’t remember who finally won dear Mellie’s favors?’ Dulcie shook her head and waited. ‘Rafe Hutchins, then the boy wonder of the lit department. They were the hot couple for, oh, about a summer. Then she went back up to New Hampshire, and broke poor Rafe’s heart.’
    Dulcie felt relief wash over her – so her rower hadn’t gotten his heart’s desire either! This was followed immediately by guilt. ‘Poor guy. So the “Sloane” in her name? She must be married.’
    â€˜No, it’s an old family name. Maybe her mother’s maiden name, or something.’ He paused, Dulcie’s situation clearly in mind. ‘She was always looking for her roots or something, Rafe said.’
    Dulcie nodded that she understood. At least she’d had the commune. ‘And after all that, he has to host her?’
    Lloyd nodded. ‘It’s not that bad. It’s been a while. He’s got a new girlfriend. It’s just – awkward, you know?’
    She did. ‘And calling on old intimacies to sneak in a visitor would probably be uncool.’
    â€˜To sneak in a potential
rival
.’ Lloyd stressed the last word in a way that made Dulcie smile.
    â€˜May the goddess hear you,’ she said. ‘And thanks, really, for setting this up. I’m a little afraid it’s going to be more like me in Oliver Twist mode, begging for scraps.’
    â€˜You’re getting your Dickens – oh, never mind.’ Lloyd reined in his Victorian mindset, and turned serious once again. ‘Really, Dulcie, I know she’s got this book ready to come out, but there’s something more going on. If her work is set in stone, then why does she need access to the Mildon now, at this late date? And if she weren’t worried about competition, then why would she have it closed to anyone else – closed to you? I mean, you’re the only other person who is researching this author.’
    â€˜That we know of,’ Dulcie responded automatically, her mind already wandering. ‘It is funny. I mean, I published about that essay. But it’s not like I’ve found anything solid since.’ She thought of the handwritten page. Of the handwriting. ‘Nothing I can prove, anyway. It’s really lousy timing.’
    Lloyd was watching her, waiting. Despite everything, she couldn’t help but smile. ‘’Cause I think I’m this close, Lloyd. In fact . . .’ She looked