Page 25 of The Proving Ground

She shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I didn’t want this to happen. I’ve gotten past it. None of it was my fault.”

“What about Rebecca Randolph?” I said. “The boy who killed her is in custody and will be prosecuted. But how will the company be held accountable if no one will stand up to them?”

I saw fire enter her eyes and knew I had misspoken.

“That is completely unfair,” she said. “I did my job. I warned them. I have no guilt over what I did.”

“I know, I know,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. But I have nothing. I need your help.”

“I saw a story on the internet this morning about a man who was going to be your witness. The police said he killed himself. Are they sure?”

I nodded. I’d wondered if she had seen the stories.

“They seem to be,” I said.

“He was your witness and now you want me,” she said. “I don’t want to end up like that.”

“Look, we knew he had problems. There is a good chance that what he did had nothing to do with this. With the case.”

One of the doors at the top banged open and Kitchens startled. A man entered, passed by McEvoy, and quickly came down the stairs to the stage. I turned so that Kitchens was behind me.

“It’s okay,” she said. “He teaches in here next.”

I relaxed and turned back to her.

“Can we continue this somewhere?” I asked.

Before she could answer, the next teacher was at the stage. He was wearing a tweed jacket and looked like a cookie-cutter college professor.

“Naomi, everything all right?” he asked. “Is this man bothering you?”

“No, Moses,” Kitchens said. “I’m fine. I’ll clear out of your way.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Moses was looking at me suspiciously. I just nodded.

Kitchens put her backpack strap over one shoulder and headed toward the steps. We started up, side by side.

“Do you know where Joanie’s is?” she asked.

“Uh, no,” I said. “What’s Joanie’s?”

“It’s a restaurant off campus. On California Avenue. I’ll meet youthere. I don’t have a lot of time. Tuesdays I have office hours from two to five.”

“We’ll meet you there. And thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’m only doing this because of the way you stepped in front of me down there. To protect me.”

I nodded.

“I will protect you if you work with me,” I said.

“I’m not promising anything yet,” she said.