I snatched my keys and purse and ran off to the college. Within fifteen minutes I was hoofing it toward the computer lab building. I ran inside and headed straight for the lab. I breathed a sigh of relief to find it empty. I didn’t want anyone to know why I was there, nor did I want to explain myself.
I spotted the filing cabinet in the far corner under the window. Wasting no time I darted toward it, dropping to my knees. Sweat beaded my back as I wiggled it from the wall a bit so that I could feel behind it.
“Anything,” said Rachel.
I continued to feel around under the cabinet. Frustration creased my brow as I found nothing. I was about to give up when I felt a lump under the carpet. Quickly, I pulled it up just enough to reveal a small flip phone. I snatched it.
“Lose something?”
I cursed silently at being caught. Slowly, I stood up shoving the phone in my pocket hoping that no one noticed. Professor Vincent stood behind me.
“Contact lens,” I said, even though I didn’t wear them.
He nodded in affirmation. “Hope you found it.”
I looked around the empty room wishing that there were more people. I felt very uncomfortable with Professor Vincent here and a bit trapped. “I wouldn’t worry about it,” I said making a move to leave.
Professor Vincent cut me off. “What’s the hurry?”
“I really need to leave,” I said.
Professor Vincent cornered me against the filing cabinet placing both arms on each side of me. “There’s no hurry,” he said. He glanced down my shirt.
“Professor,” I said, “I have to go. Now, please leave me alone.”
“Please,” he said, “You don’t mean that. You know you are a very beautiful woman. Very hot blooded I’m sure. I love that.”
He leaned in for a kiss. I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away with all my strength.
“A little spit fire,” said Professor Vincent charging for me again.
A scraping sound filled the room as a metal basket with papers in it flew across the cabinet. It struck Professor Vincent in the head. Stunned, he cradled his forehead a moment staring at me in disbelief. I was too far away to have touched it and he knew it. Rachel appeared and kicked the man in the knee caps. He fell to the ground groaning. Hurriedly, I bolted from the room and left the building.
“What a creep,” said Rachel, “I knew I never liked him. How did he get to be a professor?”
“I don’t know,” I said wanting to get as far away as I could.
“You should report him,” said Rachel.
“And who would believe me,” I said, “It’s my world against his and he has tenure. And it’s not like I can use you as a witness.”
“Good point.”
I went back to my apartment and locked the door once I got in. I waved the phone at Jackie and Greg. They both beamed. I found my laptop and turned it on. While I waited for it to boot up I relayed to them what happened with Professor Vincent.
“That bastard,” said Greg. “You should have let me come with you.”
“Doesn’t matter right now,” I said, “Rachel took care of it. Unfortunately I still have to take his class.”
My computer had finally finished booting up. I took the memory card out of Rachel’s phone and placed it in the card reader on my laptop. Instantly a file opened. We watched in horror at the video that played on my monitor.
Professor Vincent and a woman appeared on the screen. The two struggled violently. Vincent slapped her across the face sending her flying to the ground. He proceeded to violate her in a manor I do not wish to describe. Let’s just say he ripped off her clothes and lay on top her. Afterward, he zipped up his pants. The woman lay unmoving. She was clearly very hurt.
Then, another guy appeared.
“That’s Detective Reiss,” said Greg.
Reiss and Vincent argued and shoved each other around a bit. Later, Vincent stormed off, but Reiss remained. The man pulled something out of his pocket. The way he held it told me it was a needle. He bent down and injected the woman with something. Then, he turned and noticed Rachel with the camera. After that the screen went blank.
We all sat in stunned silence.
“Now I know who killed me,” said Rachel.
“I think we’re all in deep shit,” I said stating the obvious. Everyone agreed.